Friday, February 25, 2011

Secret Garden Cake


Makes one 9-by-13-inch layer cake



Old-Fashioned Vanilla Cake

10 cups Swiss Meringue Buttercream

One 11 1/2-ounce package milk chocolate morsels

40 chocolate wafer cookies

Two 2-ounce packages pretzel sticks, at least 4-inches long (about 100)

1 cup candy pebbles

Marzipan Flowers

1 teaspoon vegetable oil

Directions

1.Place cake on a clean work surface. Using a serrated knife, trim top to make level, and split cake horizontally to form 2 layers. Place a dab of buttercream in the center of a 9-by-13-inch cardboard rectangle. Center 1 cake layer on top. Using an offset spatula, frost top of cake layer with 5 cups buttercream for the filling; place remaining cake layer on top. Frost entire cake with remaining 5 cups buttercream. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.

2.Meanwhile, melt chocolate morsels in a double-boiler or a medium heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water (do not let bowl touch water). Stir in vegetable oil until combined. Remove from heat. Dip pretzels into chocolate to coat, and transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Let sit in a cool place until chocolate has set.

3.Using white glue, affix cardboard rectangle to a cutting board or piece of plywood covered with adhesive-backed paper, approximately 14-by-18 inches. Process chocolate cookies in a food processor until finely ground; you will need 2 cups of crumbs. Sprinkle top of chilled cake with crumbs. Place marzipan terracotta pot in center of cake. Sprinkle candy pebbles on top of cake to form a path. Arrange marzipan flowers and garden hose in clusters on either side of path.

4.Gently press pretzels into sides of cake, about 1/2-inch apart. Serve at room temperature.

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Read more at Marthastewart.com: Secret Garden Cake - Martha Stewart Recipes

Friday, February 4, 2011

Osan Community Garden

Hello: The area behind the hospital is our Osan Community Garden that was given


to us through a Newmans Own Grant specifically for the Osan Parent Network. We

are glad that the weather will be warming up here shortly and the garden will be

back in bloom. There is an application if you are interested in having a plot in

the garden and there are also lots of volunteer opportunities open within the

Osan Parent Network and the Community Garden. The Family Advocacy Office is the

POC for both groups and I can be reached at the above email or my work email at

kristina.gasaway.ctr@osan.af.mil.

With this being said PLEASE do not use this area as a dog walk. We have left the

gates open so the community can come and go as they desire. I am hoping this is

being used as a dog walk area because people were unsure of what is was designed

to be used for. Thank you all in advance and hope to hear from lots of people

soon!



Happy New Year!!



Kristina Gasaway

Wednesday, February 2, 2011