MAYVILLE LIMESTONE SCHOOL CAKE

In 1857-1858, after almost ten years' existence in a small frame schoolhouse, the people of Mayville decided to build a larger school to accommodate a growing population. A stone structure sixty by forty feet was erected, which was at that time one of the finest school buildings in the state. White limestone used for the building came from stone quarries at Farmersville, Knowles, and Browns Comers. E. J. Foster was the first teacher in the new building. In 1876-1877, because of the still growing population due in large part to the success of the local iron smelting industry, a seventy foot addition, nearly identical in design to the original building, was added on the south end. Local mason Friedrich Fischer was the master builder. A new pillared portico and cupola gave it a grand statehouse appearance. The original school bell, donated by T. Sherin in 1857, was moved to the new tower and rang out for many years. The original bell is now on display inside the building. Mayville's "White Limestone School" building was used as a
Public school for 125 years, from 1857 to 1981. It is currently a museum.

I was chosen to make their anniversary cake.

Everything is edible on this cake..including the signs and even the flag!

I made the roof out of gingerbread, and then iced it.

View of the back...no window was missed, and trust me there were ALOT of  them!! The railings are royal icing, and the flag on top is made from edible paper.

Thanks for letting me share!

THE ART OF CONTENTMENT

For many years, I was able to think of contentment only in terms of material possessions. During that time, if you asked me why people are not content, my automatic answer was, "Because they want more and more stuff without appreciating what they already have."
The harder I work, the greater my income, and the increase of possessions have not brought me well being. The car will soon be outdated, the toothbrush worn out, or the new TV fail.

Tim 6:7 we have brought nothing into the world and neither can we carry anything out
8]So having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things
9]However ,those determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires,which plunge men into destruction and ruin.


Philippians 4:6-7;
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
Heb 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Happiness is the product of fulfillment. Content is the product of self-satisfaction.

One completes, the other abates.

Building my character is essential for happiness. When I am true to myself and others, I  will be in peace.You can only be happy if you become who you are. Don’t live other people’s life by trying to meet their expectations. People may expect you to have certain job or certain way of living but don’t be intimidated by them.To have a fulfilling life, you should find your life purpose and follow it faithfully.


Being happy is easy if we are grateful. Unfortunately, seeing what we don’t have is often easier than seeing what we have. Sometimes we need to experience loss before appreciating what we have. So don’t take things for granted. Look at what you have and soon you will have plenty of reasons to be happy. Happy people know how to control their mind. They don’t let negative thoughts come in. While a situation may seem bad to others, happy people look at them in a positive way. They always believe that no matter how bad a situation seems, there is always something positive to take from it. Your mind can make or break you, so guard it well.


When I work creatively on something I  find happiness.Happy people don’t need something they don’t have to be happy. They don’t need certain job or certain level of income. Instead, they learn to be happy with what they already have. They have learned the art of contentment. Be content with what you have and you will be happy.


Happiness depends upon ourselves.I choose to be happy.
Happiness is about :
- following ones dreams
- having a choice
- life being full of experiences but not regrets- helping others but not expecting anything in return.

The decision is ours to make, so, life is very short, lets learn this simple lessons early on, tomorrow is to far, lets do it today, believe me, I fight with myself, especially in my darkest hours, but even that I don’t have any problems, human nature sometimes can’t be satisfied, so, in order to defeat this mind set, practice to be more humble, and as easy as being happy for what we got, and not miserable for what we don’t, that will help, as a starter. I might add, GOD, please grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change, courage to change the ones I can, and wisdom to know the difference!

GARLIC GREEN BEANS

Ingredients:
1lb fresh green beans (washed with strings removed, ends trimmed)
Sauce-
1 tablespoon black bean sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 ½ teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
1 tablespoon ginger (minced)
2 green onions (minced, white part only)
½ teaspoon chili paste
3 tablespoons oil (for frying)

Cooking Instructions:
Step 1: In a small bowl combine black bean sauce, soy sauce, sugar and rice vinegar. Set aside.
Step 2: Heat your wok and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Add green beans and fry for 10 minutes or until beans have reached your desired tenderness. Remove beans from the wok.
Step 3: Add 1 tablespoon of oil to the wok. Add garlic, ginger and green onions. Stir fry for 15 seconds. Add chili paste. Add the sauce mixture a cook for a few seconds. Return beans to the pan tossing to coat. Serve.

NO BAKE NUTELLA TORTE

This makes a 9 by 13 pan..and trust me there           won't be leftovers!

Ingredients:

• 8 ounce container of Cool Whip, thawed
• 2 (3.5 ounces each) containers of vanilla pudding
• 3 cups milk
• 16 ounce package of graham crackers
• 6 1/2 oz Nutella
• 2 tbsp Frangelico

Take your pudding mix and combine it with 3 cups of milk. Once you have that mixed well, add Nutella and Frangelico....fold in the Cool Whip. Mix it together until it looks like a little bowl of heaven!




Assembly:

1. To assemble icebox cake, line cake pan with a layer of graham cracker (9 cracker per layer) and top with 1/2 cup of pudding. Smooth pudding evenly using an offset spatula. Repeat with another layer of graham cracker and pudding three more times until you have 8 layers in total. The top layer should be Nutella pudding. Level with offset spatula. You may have a bit of pudding leftover. I don’t think you need me to tell you what to do.
2. Wrap the pan with plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for 24 hours. During this time, the moisture from the pudding will soften the graham crackers until they take on a cakey texture. Don’t rush it! If you want very clean neat cuts, I would put it in the freezer for 3 hours until solid.

POLAR BEAR WEDDING CAKE

Well....It's not my taste in wedding cakes, but after I got it completely set up, it is adorable.We had to set this one up at the Milwaukee Zoo.I never got escorted through the whole park while being in my vehicle. It was fun. I had to make a pit stop by the monkeys and say Hi.
 My bride didn't like the way her wedding turned out the first time, so she redid the whole thing again !!! Let me tell ya she was gonna make sure she was happy with everything. And she was.The top catering company in the area was doing  all the food, and pulled me aside to tell me this was one of the best cakes he's seen.That made me feel good, along with the bride being extremely satisfied.

Yes there are 8 tiers,13 bridesmaids polar bears, and 13 groomsman penguins. All of them I hand sculpted out of fondant, and painted with food coloring. Oh ya ...and the bride and groom also! Every icicle had to be piped on individually after the layers were set up. My back killed after this one.

Edible glitter and hard candy blue and clear "ice cubes" set the winter scene.

Large snowflakes made of royal icing serve as a backdrop for each couple.

 This whole cake was set up on a table of mirrors to reflect the candle glow. Large acrylic ice cubes anchor the  spaces in back. Ice blue tulle and organza set off the cake beautifully! 

TIERED ROSE SWAG WEDDING CAKE

This beauty is a 4 tier Champagne flavor cake with Raspberry filling covered in Italian Buttercream icing.

 The satin swag and pearls are edible.

 This wedding took place at Country Springs in Milwaukee.

 The stand is embossed sterling silver.



Thanks for letting me share ....

ADDING VINTAGE SPARKLE BACK INTO YOUR LIFE

Audrey Hepburn

Recently, my daydreams are enchanted visions of  a beloved child in lavish comfort, gently being pushed in a handsome, ornate, Victorian antique baby carriage perched up high on spoke wheels. It's a somewhere-in-time procession that conjures dreams of yesteryear. The dreams that tug at one's heart and stimulated the writing of this blog. Being a lover of antiques I too would love to wheel my new grandson in a carriage of the golden years.Would people find it strange? They wouldnt say anything about a classic car or would they ?

My Buggy though it may be old  is in perfect working order, it just goes to show how well made they all are that they are still here and in use, how many of todays buggy prams will still look as good in 50yrs time? I dont think any will as they dont seem to last much longer than a year or more, I have seen many a buggy dumped because it has broken.

These prams provide a warm dry haven in winter and an airy protection from the sun in summer, a place to sleep, play and be up out of the way of fumes from exhaust pipes of cars, there is also the added bonus of interaction between child and parent, not something you can have when baby or child faces away from you, there is plenty of space underneath for shopping to be put that wont cause the pram to tip up as so often happens with shopping loaded on handles of a buggy, they dont need extra plastic covers to keep the pram dry.

Too many people are lazy from using the car so much even for short journeys,the coachbuilt prams are eco friendly, I could use the exercise from walking.Maybe even organize a Pram Walk?

Did you know that in 1888 they had to have licenses in Germany before they could take their baby out in a pram.You had to show the license should you be stopped and you had to drive it on the right side of

the sidewalk.

.
 Have things really changed much since the 1800's? Strolling in the fresh air was considered a joy and necessary for good health and motherhood. Strolls thru the park were social events and the Victorian’s loved to meet with people and show off their wealth. This type of carriage acted a almost like a movable throne for displaying an infant. A woman could not proudly advertise her position as a mother without her little ones at her side. This type of baby carriage ensured her child was presented prominently facing passers-by rather than facing herself, demonstrating to all around her that she was a successful wife and mother.





The Victorian woman was concerned for proper ventilation and hygiene. Social books such as Rules of Conduct for Polite Society stressed that one should rejoice with nature. One's passion for nature was seen everywhere and eagerly brought indoors. Delicate flowers and leaves were collected to be pressed in books for keepsakes. In the parlor, collected shells were displayed and often crafted into mementos. This obsessive passion for nature and the outdoors visibly enhanced the quest for carriages.










 I am truly in love with a wicker carriage I purchased 20 years ago in a little antique store for $50.00.Its airy appearance increases a feeling of union with nature, and yet pleasing to the eye.To complete a carriage required three days of 12 to 14 hours. The hand process was slow and tedious, however, it enabled carriages from the golden era to survive today.While early carriages were made of willow, reed was preferred as it had the capability to take stain. Interior upholstery was made available in soft silk, tapestry, damask, velour or broadcloth in lush colors of sapphire, cardinal, golden brown, myrtle and more.I'm thinking I should give my carriage[ which I have named Daisy ] a coat of varnish and a new tapestry lining, or maybe go funky and leopard.She was made by The Fulton Company.Originally a go-cart manufacturer in Milwaukee, the Fulton Manufacturing Company was purchased in 1918 by legendary Bay City businessman William F. Jennison, renamed the Fulton Company and moved to mid-Michigan. It was organized to manufacture and sell children's furniture and accessories. The company no longer exists.

As the turn of the century drew near, the Golden Age of Carriage embellishment was tarnishing; sadly it was the end of the Victorian era. With the new century brought new ideas and styles. Carriage fanciers now considered them too garish and overdone. The modest, straight lines of the arts and crafts movement was in vogue. Carriages by the thousands were simply thrown away or burned, no reminder of such vulgar taste was considered proper.

So to end on a very positive note... each carriage that has survived over all these years carries with it the wonder of a child as he or she rode loving with his mother or nanny at his side. And each daughter, mimicking her mother would push her doll or bear in one that looked just like the one she rode in when she was small.The innocence of youth and the spirit of a child will always bring with it a warmth and charm that never goes away.

BAKED ICE CREAM CAKE

by Deidrea Stanke

 I miss her. It's as simple as that. No long, rambling stories recounted, no wisps of nostalgia or idle memories rekindled. I simply miss my mother.Much too often, as was our case, the cancer disease swallows up the loved one both physically and mentally, allowing us, the family, barely the time to prepare financially, legally, emotionally or psychologically.

Thoughts of food are gracefully intertwined with memories of my mother: baking our first muffins from scratch or pulling taffy across my childhood kitchen as we attempt our first homemade sweets.Food infused with memories; memories infused with food.
As I make a small attempt to spread a bit of understanding, share my own family's experience with this mysterious, destructive disease, I offer you a now-favorite recipe, one handed down to me by mom.A cake filled with love and chocolate and memories. Life is filled with many things and not all of them happy and good; my Mother's loss has left a dark, gaping hole yet I try and fill that empty space with fond memories, laughter and our shared love of food.

Please vote for Mom's recipe at Edible Nation Contestant Submission | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/contest/rachael-ray/100001213702751/#ixzz1OqauybcU

 BAKED Chocolate Ice Cream Cake 

1 box chocolate cake mix (or any other flavour)
1 pint chocolate ice cream, softened (again, any other flavour)
3 eggs
1 c water

Preheat oven to 350^o. Grease a tube or bundt pan, then dust with cocoa powder.

Beat all ingredients together for 4 minutes, pour into pan and bake 45 minutes. Serve with a dusting of confectioner’s sugar, a thin icing, whipped cream or the frosting of your choice.

 I can't wait to try different concoctions!!!

                                        THANKS FOR LOOKING

FAB FRENCH DIP

Ingredients

• 4 pounds rump roast OR sirloin
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can beef broth
• 1 (10.5 ounce) can condensed French onion soup
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer {NO LIGHT STUFF}
• a dash of pepper
• i teaspoon garlic salt
• 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 pound sliced mushrooms
• 1 onion sliced
• 6 French rolls
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Mozzarella cheese sliced or shredded

Directions

1. Trim excess fat from the rump roast, and place in a slow cooker. Add the beef broth, onion soup,pepper,salt,Worcestershire,onions, and beer. Cook on Low setting for 7 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. Split French rolls, and spread with butter. Bake 10 minutes, or until heated through.
4. Slice the meat on the diagonal, and place on the rolls,top with cheese. Serve the sauce for dipping.Or you can add 2 tablespoons flour and make it into gravy,serving it over mashed potatoes!

                                Thanks for stopping by.