Spring Sing {2012}

I'm playing serious "catch-up" with my posting...I should have gotten this up early in March.  Oops.  Anyways, with being a student at OC and a member of Gamma Rho, I found it to be an integral part of my spring semester to participate in a little thing called Spring Sing.  Okay, it's not really little.  It's actually a pretty big deal at OC.  And it's a pretty big deal to Gamma.  I had a lot of fun with it my sophomore year (we placed 2nd), so I figured I would give it another go around...despite the fact that my classes and clinical schedule were far more time consuming.  Let's just say, I'm glad to have survived the experience.  There were many LATE night practices (some of which were before and/or after a clinical day).  The combination of practice on a Sunday night (10p-12a), clinical Monday, late practice on Monday (yes, still 10p-12a), and clinical Tuesday actually put me in an arm sling for a week.  It was really fun.  Then there were a couple of lock-ins, which, fortunately, did not precede a clinical.  It's a lot of work.  I feel like as participants we put a lot of work in, so I can't imagine how much effort goes in when you're directing or in charge of costumes or something.  It might actually be crazy, but it's what we do!  Show week is my absolute favorite part.  By then, you know the moves and songs, and you're just ready to get out there.  Getting into costume and having an audience brings new energy and excitement.  It's a really great time!  Here's a video of Gamma's show, along with some of my pictures:

Maybe not my best look. Ha.

Friends since forever ago.

Tate-Kidd Family.

Junior Class.

Alright, I still have some serious catching up to do!  I still have a book review, Mexico mission trip, Applesauce Bars, and end-of-the-school-year post....But it's going to have to wait until I get back from Honduras!  I hope you all have a great couple of weeks.  Then, I will get caught up...and hopefully start posting some tasty recipes and crafty things...

Flourless Chocolate Cake

I made a flourless chocolate cake with chocolate glaze for Easter lunch.  (There was other food too.  I just made the cake, though.)  Obviously, being flourless, it didn't have the texture of what most people consider cake.  Looking at it, it could have been brownie texture, but it wasn't that either.  I don't really know how to describe it, but it was delicious.  Very rich and chocolate-y.  Goodness.  Also, the batter was absolutely heavenly.  Like chocolate silk.  In my mouth.  I served it up with some vanilla ice cream.  It's also really good if you warm it up with the chocolate glaze and peanut butter.  Just saying.  Everyone really liked it.  Even my brother.  Here it is: 

Flourless Chocolate Cake (Gluten-Free Goddess)

Ingredients:

16oz dark chocolate (I used Ghirardelli 60%)

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup white cane sugar

3/4 cup very hot strong coffee (I used Maxwell House Colombian) 

2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

8 large eggs, at room temperature

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Prepare a 10-cup Springform pan by lining the bottom with buttered parchment

{Note: Using a smaller cake pan will result in a longer baking time; adjust accordingly and keep an eye on the edges; if it browns too much while the center is still wet, wrap edges in foil.}

Break up the dark chocolate into pieces and pour the chocolate into the bowl of the food processor. Pulse until the chocolate breaks up into small bits. Add the sugar. Pulse until the chocolate and sugar turns into an even, sandy grain.

Pour the hot water or coffee slowly into the feed tube as you pulse again. Pulse until the chocolate is melted. Magic!

Add the butter pieces and the cocoa powder, and pulse to combine. Add the eggs and vanilla, and process till smooth. The batter will be liquid and creamy.

Pour the batter into the lined Springform pan. Wrap the outside of the whole pan with a big piece of foil. Bake at 350º F in the center of the oven, till puffed and cracked and lovely - about 55 to 65 minutes. (Note - it takes an hour plus 15 minutes when baked at high altitude.) Use a wooden toothpick to check the center of the cake; pick should emerge clean, with maybe a crumb.

Place the cake pan on a wire rack to cool. The cake will deflate. Don't worry! When cooled a bit, press down on it gently with a spatula to make it even, if you wish. Or not.

When the cake is completely cooled, cover, and chill it for at least three hours (best up to eight hours), until serving. Overnight is even better.

Serve thin slices with drizzled chocolate sauce or a sprinkle of sifted powdered sugar. Garnish with a fresh berries or mint leaves.

Yield: 15 slices

Satiny Chocolate Glaze (All Recipes)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

3 tablespoons butter

1 tablespoon light corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Melt the first three ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl.  Do about 10-15 second intervals in the microwave, depending on your wattage.  Just don't burn it!  Stir in the vanilla.  Drizzle over cake. Eat.  Enjoy.

[Book Review] Praise Habit

I have to admit, I've been meaning to do this book review since like February...but there was school, Spring Sing, and a mission trip.  I also have to admit that Praise Habit has been on my bookshelf since high school.  Let me just say, I'm so glad I finally took the time to read this book!  It was really good, and David Crowder (the author) shared many insightful thoughts that challenged me to reflect on my faith and my praise habit.  What I didn't realize getting into this book was that it incorporated 21 days of lectio divina.  If you don't already know, there's this theory that if you do the same thing for 21 days in a row, it will become a habit to you--it will be a part of you.  "Lectio divina" can be described as the practice of scripture reading, meditation and prayer intended to promote communion with God and increase one's knowledge of God's word.  Rather than treating the Scripture as words to be studied, lectio divina emphasizes the Scriptures as the Living Word.  This sounded brilliant to me.  21 days of spending time with God and increasing my knowledge of His Word.  Then, it would be a new habit for me.  Second nature.  Unfortunately, I have not kept up on a daily basis.  I did all 21 days in a row.  I made it a few days past that.  But then I didn't know what passages to read, what to focus on, so I'm back where I began.  With that said, I would really appreciate it if you shared any good devotional guides or reading plans with me.  I seem to do better when I have a plan for what I'm suppose to do everyday.  That's why I have to do workouts with plans and numbers (e.g., P90X).  I'm to OCD to miss a day.  So while it's not the cure-all for inconsistent devotional time, I would encourage you to read Praise Habit.  And make sure you have a pen, or pencil or highlighter to mark things as you go! Here's a couple of the thoughts I marked:

"A habit is influenced not only by elements that bring the behavior about but also rewards or punishments that follow the behavior." (p. 25)

"But the wonder and the joy and the surprise are that even in the middle of darkness and loss is the unexpected presence of God." (p. 43)

Be looking for new posts that will be coming soon (hopefully)!

• [Book Review] Jesus for President
• Flourless Chocolate Cake
• Spring Sing 2012
• Mexico Mission Trip 2012