Chocolate Log Roll with Hot Butter Sauce

Oh dear me!
This is such a dangerously rich dessert ~ 
I only make it a few times a year.
My Dad always requests it for his birthday ~
Traditions like this one die hard! :)

It is such an elegant looking cake ~ but really not difficult to make.
I have provided step-by-step pictures 
to walk you through the process.
You can easily get eight servings out of one recipe ~ let me know what you think!

The yummy cake ready to be eaten!

The chocolate and eggs whites...fold together carefully.

Spread into prepared pan with spatula...

Sprinkle parchment paper with icing (powdered) sugar.

Fresh from the oven...

Turn immediately onto prepared parchment paper.

Roll up and place on wire rack to cool.

When it's completely cool, unroll and spread with whipped cream.

Roll it up again and place on serving plate.

Sprinkle with more icing (powdered)sugar...

Cover and refrigerate until serving time.
Make the hot butter sauce about 45 minutes before you require it.

Chocolate Log Roll

Separate 5 eggs and whip the whites until stiff.
Set aside.

Blend 5 egg yolks with 3/4 cup icing sugar.
Add 2 heading Tablespoons cocoa powder and 
1 Tbsp and a wee bit more flour.
Blend together well.

Fold in 5 whipped egg whites ~ add in a pinch of salt.

Grease jelly roll pan, then line with parchment paper and grease again...make sure you do this well...
or it will stick! Spread mixture into pepared pan.

Bake 425* F for 10 minutes.

Turn out onto parchment paper heavily sprinkled with icing sugar.
Roll up width-wise and cool on wire rack.
When cool, unroll and spread with 2 cups (before whipping) whipped cream and re-roll.

Place on serving plate and sprinkle with icing sugar.
Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Just prior to serving make the hot butter sauce...slice and pour sauce on individual servings.

~ Hot Butter Sauce ~

1/2 cup butter
1 cup icing sugar

Mix together and heat in a double boiler until melted.
Boil some water and crack an egg into a mug.
Whip the egg with a fork as you pour 2 Tbsp boiling water into it. 

(This helps to prevent curdling when you add it to the hot butter and sugar mixture).

Using a whisk stir the butter and icing sugar 
as you add in the beaten egg.
Continue to stir and simmer 1/2 hour stirring frequently.
Pour over individual slices of cake immediately before serving.

ENJOY!

A Christmas Story

In our home Christmas Morning is when gifts are opened. The children are allowed to open their stockings (to buy Mum and Dad some time) at a specified time and not before. :) In past years we have had to wake Emma up (she is one that needs her sleep)...so we were not prepared for what transpired this year!

Emma does not have a digital clock in her room...she was excited (obviously)...and was awake in the wee hours of the morning. When her Daddy found her it was 4:40 AM and she had opened everything in her stocking and was roaming the house wondering why no one else was up! Apparently she had turned on all the Christmas lights in the house ~ tree and all. She was told it was NOT morning yet and was tucked back into bed. THAT's where we found her...still asleep when the rest of the house was stirring just after 8:00! A great Christmas memory for sure!

This picture of Emma was taken by her big brother Calvin ~ she was thrilled with her victorian doll carriage...the only thing she really wanted. :)

Christmas Eve 2009

Four excited kids heading off to bed!

May you all have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year ~ From our home to yours!

"And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins."

Matthew 1:21

Merry Christmas!

May the Lord richly bless each of you this CHRISTmas and throughout the coming year. My prayer is that every one of you would KNOW the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and that HE would be very real and precious in your lives.

I would like to share a lovely hymn...I think it beautifully sums up the real reason for CHRISTmas!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King:
Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

Christ, by highest heaven adored; Christ, the Everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come, Offspring of the virgin's womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; Hail th'Incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

Come, desire of nations, come, Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman's conqu'ring Seed, Bruise in us the serpent's head.
Adam's likeness now efface, Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above, Reinstate us in Thy love.
Hark! The herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King."

Charles Wesley (1707-1788)

Sentimental Decorations

We have some sentimental decorations around our home that have a special place year after year. This snow-family was purchased quite a few years ago when the children were very little and they delight in it still.

When you enter our home the banister leading up the stairs is always decorated the same way...I am a creature of habit and traditions. My little Emma nearly begged me to get these decorations up as soon as the tree was done. She has taken it upon herself to plug in all the lights each morning...such a little homemaker!

This little candle has a great history! It was about 20 years ago it made its first appearance. We were not yet married and Howie bought it for a date we had one evening at my parents home. We lit it and enjoyed its light for only a few minutes...decorative candles are not really meant to be burned. :) Since then I take it out every year...it now has a tea light candle in its hat...very happy memories indeed!

This tree topper angel was bought for our first married Christmas...we can't bear to put anything else at the top of our tree!

A decoration lovingly made by my (at the time) ten-year-old Austin...it was not a school project ~ just something he created at home for me! :)

These ornaments are precious because they were made by the boys when they were in grade one in the little local Christian school.

Fraser's...

Calvin's...

Austin's...

Journal of Thanks

Continually counting HIS gifts and seeking to give thanks for ALL THINGS ~ joining in with the "Gratitude Community" once again this Monday. Please consider joining with us...even in a private journal ~ You will not regret it...in fact, you may become addicted!

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I Thessalonians 5:18

66. A piano-playing hockey enthusiast ~ Fraser

67. Christmas welcome!

68. Raindrops on evergreen...HIS handiwork!

69. A precious Grandpa and Emma moment!

70. Hidden talents...ability to play even while wearing mittens! :)

71. A creative girl...umbrellas are for playing with in bed apparently!

72. Gift ready to give...

73. Rare opportunities!

74. Skating equipment

75. Christmas photos of years gone by...

76 & 77. Christmas cards to write and a little girl who wants to give...

78. Central heating when the need arises! :)

79. Wood supply

80. Crackling fire when the night is cold

81. Festive yumminess...

82 to 100!

Children laughing as they play
Christmas lights
Loving husband
Hand-me-down clothes
A full tummy
Extended family
Parents who love the Lord
The Lord Jesus Christ ~ The reason for everything!
Things to donate ~ Overabundance of provisions...may we be truly thankful!
Warm home
Clothes to wear
"Old Betsy" ~ Faithful family van
Church family
Husband who studies the Scriptures and leads the family in Truth
Singing our little girl to sleep
Christmas carols sung by little voices
Christmas carols played by little hands
Second-Hand Hockey equipment
Arms, legs, eyes, ears, hands, etc that all do as they are supposed to

Many Blessings,
Camille

Unto Us a CHILD is Born!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful, Counsellor,
The mighty God, The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace."


Isaiah 9:6

Caramel Corn

This is one of those things I make every year to give away to special people. 
Those little clear cello bags are perfect for filling and tying with a pretty ribbon. 
I have yet to meet someone who doesn't (secretly or otherwise) want some of this!
Is it healthy ~ NO!! BUT...is it yummy?? Oh dear me! 
I dare you to make some and not keep just a little for yourself. :)

Caramel Corn

**From "Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook" ~ Tenth edition

8 cups popped popcorn (about 1/2 cup unpopped)

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup butter

3 Tbsp golden corn syrup

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp vanilla

Remove all unpopped kernels from the popped corn. 

Place popcorn in a large buttered stainless steel bowl.

In a medium sized heavy saucepan combine the brown sugar, butter and corn syrup. 

Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pot (do not allow it to touch the bottom of the pan,

but make sure it is immersed in the liquid). 

Cook and stir over medium heat until the thermometer reads 255* F. 

This will take about 4 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in baking soda and vanilla. 

DO NOT FORGET this step or it will not turn out!! (I speak from experience). 

Pour over popcorn and stir gently to coat.

Bake in 300 degree oven for 15 minutes ~ stir and return to oven for 5 more minutes. 

Turn popcorn out onto large pieces of foil and cool completely. 

Break into clusters and store tightly covered.

Makes about 9 cups.

**I usually add 1 1/2 cups of cashews to this...

it makes it extra special and gift worthy! 

You would add the nuts to the popcorn before the caramel mixture is mixed in.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Many Blessings, Camille

Gift Baskets

You will never go wrong with a gift basket...put together with love!

All you need are some lovely little personalized gifts for a special person
and some clear cello bags to dress them up a bit...add some berry clusters,
pretty ribbon and cello wrap for the finishing touch!

Get creative...the possibilites are endless!

Whatever you choose to do it will surely be a blessing to the one you've put it together for.

 Everyone loves a personalized basket of goodies...specially assembled just for them.

Have fun!  Merry Christmas!
With Love, Camille

A Rare Treat!

This was a first for our children ~ skating in the great outdoors! It is a rare thing for there to be enough outdoor ice to skate on...but it did happen in our area last week.

My husband dropped everything so that he could take the children and ENJOY! What a wonderful spot they found ~ and what great fun they had!

Gratitude...

Continually counting HIS gifts and seeking to give thanks for ALL THINGS ~ joining in with the "Gratitude Community" this Monday. Feel free to join us...even in a private journal ~ You will not regret it...in fact, you may become addicted!

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
I Thessalonians 5:18

45. Experiencing wonder...through the eyes of the children

46. Two hockey players...Austin and Calvin

47. Low key hockey league that doesn't put undue pressure on the boys...it's for fun, after all!

48. Budding Architect

49. Drafting board and supplies ~ gifts from God

50. Quiet reading hour!

51. A boy that asked with shining eyes if he could read!

52. Wonderful novels that stretch the imagination and expand the horizons...

53. Sisterly love...a sister to grow up with ~

Camille on the left and Janine on the right...vintage photo! :)

54. Christ came to bring lasting peace...eternal peace...such blessings!

55. Reminders of what they were...Summer 2002

56 - 59. Austin, Calvin, Fraser, and Emma

60. Evidence...

61. Sentimental decorations...

62. Memories...

63. Budding pianist

64. Blonde hair reflecting sunlight...

65. Another of my hockey players...Fraser!

Many Blessings, Camille