Holiday Treat

A few years ago, I got my first bread machine and broke up with my grocer's bakery.  Then the bakery came out with a seasonal chocolate bread.  Yes,  that's right.  Chocolate and Bread.  These are a "few of my favorite things."  It was heavenly.

I asked them for the recipe.  No dice.  I tried others from online but they were never really chocolate-y enough.  It has taken me years to replicate it.

  (And it still may need some tweaking so if you have suggestions after making it, by all means let me know!)

So my Christmas treat for you:

Chocolate Bread (1.5lb loaf)

(This is a bread machine recipe, but I'm sure it could be modified) 

1-1/4 c milk

1-1/2 t vanilla

1 egg

3 T brown sugar

6 T cocoa powder

3/4 t salt

1 T butter

3 c bread flour

1 t active dry yeast 

1 c chocolate chips * 

Add ingredients in order, reserving the chocolate chips for the add in "beep".  If your machine doesn't have an "add in" beep, it's the 3rd kneeding session (about 1/2 an hour in). Set for sweet bread, 1.5 lb loaf. 

I love it toasted with butter.  Hubby loves it (un-toasted) with peanut butter.  You get the idea...


Enjoy!

A Reading Challenge

I don't tend to participate in reading challenges.  They're usually designed with certain books in mind or time limits that are unattainable for me.  But Girls Just Reading's friend Adam over at Roof Beam Reader is hosting a challenge that is perfect for me, to finally read 12 books from your "to be read" pile, within 12 months.

"What?!?"  You're asking,  "That doesn't sound so hard!  You read thirty-some books a year!"  

While this is true, I'm actually only skimming the surface of my TBR Pile.  Often times new books and/or requested reviews get pushed to the top of the pile and other things, things I really want to read, get lost in the mire.  This will be a chance to make sure I get to read some things I really want to read and haven't had a chance to yet.  My list won't be quite as lofty as Adam's (who's list includes authors like Dickens, Hemingway, Vonnegut, and Updike), but it will be varied.  I'm excited.

Now for the hard part... to construct the list.  (EDITED TO ADD:  The list is up!)

Want to participate too?  Here's a link to Roof Beam Reader's 2011 To Be Read (TBR) Challenge.  You need to have your list posted be 12/31, so start compiling... :)

Movie Review: Tangled

I haven't seen a Disney movie in the theatres since I was my daughter's age.  I've never really felt a burning need to do so.   But I love Zachary Levi, and I thought, 'well, my daughter's got the attention span and loves princesses of any kind, let's give it a try.' (For a few weeks shy of three, I think she did really well, too.  She's still recanting the story of "Parunzzel" and wants to know why we can't watch it on TV.)

 I think the movie is brilliant. Although I loved The Princess and the Frog, I thought it was a little dark with all the Voodoo and creepy shadows.  While Tangled has it's scary moments, they aren't spooky. Its witty and charming and I'm not just sayin' that because Zachary Levi is in it! The scene at the 'Snuggly Duckling' pub was a hoot.  And it's not just the dialogue, but the animation as well, because Maximus, the horse of the Captain of the Guard, and Pascal, Rapunzel's pet chameleon, have so much personality that they become main characters too.  I even thought there was a nice little twist to the ending that I didn't see coming.

I love that this is another installment of a Disney movie where the princess can fend for herself.  (You can count those on one hand.)  She may have a lot to learn about the world after being locked away in a tower, but she's not going to accept anything at face value.  It's also one of the few Disney animated movies where there isn't a dead parent. (Think about it, there aren't many. The only other one I can think of is Mulan... EDITED TO ADD: Sleeping Beauty -thanks, Amy!)

The music is also fabulous. It's not Newman's incredible jazz score from The Princess and the Frog, but it's Menken at his best.  Mandy Moore is not a bit pretentious or over done, something I respect about her.  She's perfect (as my daughter would say).  And Donna Murphy, who plays Mother Gothel, knocked it out of the park.  I actually mistook her for Vanessa Williams while watching.  Zachary Levi even gets a few bit parts to sing, and it's a shame they didn't give him more, because he really can sing.

Every once in a while a song really resonates with me, such as 'Home' from the Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast. Such is the case with 'I See the Light'.  It's beautifully animated to be sure, but the lyrics are haunting and the song brings tears to my eyes.

It was smart and funny and everything you could want out of a Disney movie.  Like my kidlet, I can't wait to see it again.

Movie Review: Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows

I know many people were unhappy with the last movie.  I wasn't one of them.  I thought Half Blood Prince captured the spirit of the book, even though so much had been cut, which is something I found lacking in Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix.  This movie blew me away though.  So much so that I was ready to go back to the theatres the next day and see it again just to take in any details I might have missed.  Deathly Hallows, Part 1 is the closest any of the movies have stuck to the book since Philosopher's Stone.

Even the dialogue is as close if not closer than ever before including some of my favorite lines, "Always the tone of surprise," and some new gems, "Dobby didn't mean to kill anyone. Dobby only meant to maim or seriously injure."

It started with the Dursley's leaving, and though I missed the awkward goodbye scene with Dudley, it was a small thing.  Lupin's self doubt was omitted as was Potter Watch, but not to the detriment of the film in any way.  The only part that was slightly awkward for me was that they threw Bill Weasley in, when, for six movies, they've ignored his and Charlie's existence.  But it was a quick introduction and it was forgiven as soon as the action started...

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Identity Theft is...

...so frustrating. 

I bought my daughter replacement straws for her sippy cups, and the company's information was hacked.  I received one of the standard issue letters from them and really didn't think much of it at the time.  I've received similar letters before but nothing's ever come from it. 

Not this time.

I went to use my bank card and it bounced.  I knew that couldn't possibly be right so I checked.  Sure enough, there were almost $500 worth of charges that weren't mine. I called the companies immediately and had them cancel the orders.  No problem, I thought.  I've caught them before the charges actually went through.

BIG PROBLEM.  A week later, I went to pay my bills for November and found I didn't have the funds to do so.  Even though I had the charges canceled by calling the companies to whom the fraudulent charges were made, my bank is still charging me $150 in over draft fees.  I called the bank thinking there must be an error as I canceled the charges before they even went through.  No error.  Because the money was held, it was subtracted from my account.  The bank will not reimburse these fees until both companies write letters stating they don't reimburse fees caused by fraudulent charges (Seriously?!?  There are companies out there that DO reimburse fees to non-customers for charges that aren't their fault?!?).  I felt ridiculous even asking for such a letter, but if it was going to cancel the charges?  So that's what I did.

Another week has gone by and still my money has not been returned.  Called the bank this morning because I am now in desperate need to pay my now overdue bills.  The letters did not meet their specifications.  One didn't list the charges separately, another didn't state the charges were erroneous...  you get the idea.  This morning I am calling business AGAIN requesting letters.

It's rotten not to be able to pay your bills for reasons out of your control. Even more so at this time or year.  I can't use any of my credit cards, as I haven't made November payments, and have no money in my bank account.  It gives a whole new appreciation for those that are out of work and can't make ends meet. 

The funny thing is that it took more than 2 weeks to get the replacement straws from the company so, I finally just ordered them through Amazon.  It's what I should have done all along, order from Amazon.  The straws from the original order finally did arrive, but I had already vowed never to order from that other company again.  This fiasco has only strengthened that decision.

And so it begins...

Still hard to believe, but my little one turns three in less than a month. She also received her first school birthday invitation last month, and that got me thinking, I guess it's time for a kids party.

I am not brave enough to allow a bunch of toddlers into the house so, after much investigation, we chose one of our favorite places, Rolly Pollies.  Kidlet takes classes there and I know that the facility is clean and they will be well supervised. 

When it came to gifts, though, my husband and I decided against it.  Because her birthday is between Chanukah and Christmas (both celebrated in our house), she gets plenty of gifts. Quite frankly, my daughter doesn't need tons more toys. Besides, it's a hard time of year for some families to come up with an extra gift...

So we are asking instead that donations be made to our local pet rescue, Black Dog, Second Chance.  (We considered perinatal hospice, in honor of my friend's daughter, but thought that might be a little too much for a three year old's party.)  We have a rescued black lab, so it's a cause that's near to our hearts.  It can be something as small as a can of dog food or a dog toy. 

My father thinks I'm taking away from the excitement of birthdays.  But at this age, I think most of the fun is playing with all your friends.  Anyway, she still has a family party with gifts...  and I think it's importat that she knows that there are more important things in life than presents.

A Struggle



Perinatal  Hospice

Today is a struggle.  It is the anniversary of the death of my best friend's daughter.  She was born with Trisomy 18 and outlived her life expectancy of a few days to almost make it to being a month old.  While I'm sure today is much harder for my friend, her husband, and son, I can only speak from my point of view. 

Last year this time, I was angry.  Angry that such things still happen in our world of modern science.  It was cruel.  I do believe in a supreme being, but I was angry at Him/Her too.  It was a hard anger to let go of, and it took me well into the new year to ease out of it.  This year I'm just sad.  Sad that my friend and her family are hurting and there's nothing I can do to help. 

However, it always reminds me to hug my own daughter.  And to have patience no matter what, because I'm lucky she's here with me every day.