Layers of Deliciousness

For our Halloween potluck at work last week, I made a cake. It wasn't any ordinary cake, but instead, a 4-layered candy corn cake. If that doesn't sound like a lot of work on its own, add four different kinds of cake into the mix. So many different flavors packed into one little cake. It was a hit at work.

My inspiration came from Curly Girl Kitchen, where she created a soft pastel-colored cake that made me swoon. While my rendition didn't turn out exactly how Heather made hers, I am really quite pleased with my efforts. The feedback I received alone for constructing this sweet concoction was fabulous.

You may find the original recipe here, amongst many of her other fabulous recipes.

I opted to simplify the recipe a bit by omitting the vanilla buttercream frosting altogether, mainly because I was unable to find powdered meringue on such short notice. I found a chocolate buttercream frosting from my Betty Crocker cookbook, which did the trick and used this in between each layer, and obviously around the entire body f the cake.

I decided that since my trimmed cake didn't turn out so pretty, covering it in frosting would camouflage some of my imperfections. I also skipped on the ganache as my buttercream was so rich, no one would be able to eat more than just a bite.

The next time I make this cake, I will not let it bake as long (to prevent over-baking on the edges) and I'll add just a tad bit more food coloring to the orange and red cakes so that there is more contrast against the white cake for the orange, and so that the red cake doesn't appear pink.

The flavors and the moist texture were delicious, and the almond cake was my absolute favorite! A huge shout-out and thank you to Heather for coming up with this tasty treat.

Now I'm off to sip my leftover pumpkin spice latte and drift off to dreamland.

Nighty night!

I Didn't Know What to Say

This world is full of both wonderful and heartbreaking circumstances that wear us down daily. As a nation, we are mourning another tragedy where violence has torn apart communities and families - and for what purpose? We just don't know.
I didn't write on this yesterday because I didn't know what to say. I've read that it's the deadliest mass shooting in American history. I don't know what's more sad to me: that this deplorable act is something that I feel numb towards given the increasing numbers of shootings and tragedies we are seeing nationally, or the act itself: where some random person unbeknownst to even his own family made a decision that forever altered the lives of millions of people.
The biggest encouragement and consolation I can try to provide is to continue to shine the light into the darkest corners of the world. Whether you emit joy and love, peace or kindness, these are a few ways to impact the world in a positive way that anybody can gi…

Compassion

Months ago, I filmed a video about compassion and empathy. When I downloaded it to my computer, I didn't have the time or the drive to edit and upload it... until today. I re-watched the full 11:37 video and realized that my message was very clear and that it applies just as much to today as it did when I originally filmed it in November.
Compassion. It's something that many people lack - not on purpose, but out of convenience. Out of carelessness. Without a thought. People aren't bad because of it, rather unaware and lacking mindfulness of who is around them and how they may be feeling.
I wanted to share this video as a reminder for people to view other people as humans - as people just like themselves. To have empathy and compassion because you just do not know what another person is going through.

Lovingly yours,
Em

A Spring in My Steps

For those of you who have followed me for some time, you must know by now that one of my favorite spots here in Seattle is Green Lake. There's something so serene in walking the almost-three mile path around the lake - all while never even leaving the city. It's a short drive away and I find myself longing for a visit when I think only of its lush natural scenery and everything you could want in a park.
I went to Green Lake earlier in the day than normal and spotted these lovely little crocuses, reaching their aubergine-veined petals through the soil. I see them every year scattered about the city, but something about how they always reach for the sky makes them so relatable.
Starting my walk, I noticed the eerie sky and how white it was with overcast - there were crows cawing and screeching from all over, fields and branches full of birds. My assumption is that after all the earthworms were about and crows were swarming to get a shot at their evening meal.
Concluding my wa…

Bellezza di Vita

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