Julia Barrett's World

Prescript: Captured is out in print on Amazon! OMG! http://www.amazon.com/Captured-Publishing-Classic-Rachel-Barrett/dp/1606018582/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1274500727&sr=8-2

My baby girl is flying home tonight.

You know how it is. I love my kids so! They are my greatest achievement. I always knew I wanted kids, the husband was optional. Got a good one despite myself.

Anyway, she’s coming home after having two flights canceled out from under her and since she’s flying from the East Coast, she won’t have eaten for hours - maybe a pack or two of peanuts. So…

I put together a cheese plate with Petite Basque, Gorgonzola Dolce, and Brillat Savarin, sliced melon and muscat grapes. I quick cooked some asparagus, roasted a couple gigantic purple artichokes - still trying to decide if I want to stuff them with crab.

I’ve got fresh bread and I’m baking our favorite chocolate sheet cake - my great gramma’s recipe. Oh yummo!

I think I’ll chill a bottle of Prosecco.

You all have a wonderful weekend!

Oops! Here’s the recipe:

Melt two sticks of butter with one cup of water and 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder.

Mix together 2 cups flour, 2 cups sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda. Set aside.

Beat two eggs, mix with 1/2 cup buttermilk and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Pour melted chocolate mixture into dry mixture. Stir in liquid mixture.

Spray a rectangular cake pan with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350′. Pour in batter. Bake 35 minutes. Remove. Let sit ten minutes and frost.

Frosting:

Mix together 1 stick butter, 6 tablespoons buttermilk, 3 heaping tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 box powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Enjoy!

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My dad always says,

“There is nothing so over as Christmas.”

He’s right. It’s a bittersweet feeling, especially this year. All three of our children have been here, and on the one hand, I feel as if I’ve done nothing but dishes since Thanksgiving…on the other hand, I don’t want them to leave!

My husband and I were talking about it in bed this morning. We find ourselves at a point in life where our children are stretching their wings and flying off toward the next stage in their lives - independence - I mean, it’s kind of hit or miss, but they are most definitely on their way. At the same time, our marriage and our commitment to each other has never been stronger.

I knew two things about me from the time I was a kid - one, I wanted children - a husband was incidental, and two, I would raise those children to be good people. I somehow managed to achieve both those goals. And meet the love of my life in the bargain.

Last night, we watched old videos of when they were just little things and we laughed and cried and reaffirmed our love for each other. Unfortunately all good things must end. Now it’s over and everyone hops a plane or drives off to his and her new home.

My husband and I have decided to embark upon a joint venture for the new year, or perhaps I should say, adventure - stay tuned - more on that after I get my house cleaned up!

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