Current Inspiration

Egle’s No-Flour Chocolate Cake with Brigadeiro Topping

Warning!!!  This is NOT health food. This is only for people who love to eat.    If you are on a diet, you won’t be by the time you finish eating this!

My girlfriend Egle made this cake for my mother-in-law, Diana, when she came to visit.  We all had such a lovely time chatting and drinking coffee.   It was one of the special memories I will always have about Brasil.

Thanks Egle and Diana.

Cake

6 eggs

6 Tablespoons sugar

8 Tablespoons powdered chocolate drink mix (Nestle’s Quick works well)

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup grated coconut

Put all ingredients into a blender and mix on High for 2-3 minutes.  Pour into a greased bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Brigadeiro Topping

1 can sweetened condensed milk

4 Tablespoons powdered chocolate drink mix

2 Tablespoons butter

In a 2 quart saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.  Stir in chocolate and then stir in condensed milk.  Blend well and stir over medium heat until it becomes the consistency of caramel.  Pour it over the cake and save whatever is left in a jar.   Keep it in the fridge for up to 2 months.

Serve this cake warm with ice cream on the side.

Add a hot cup of coffee and you got yourself party!!  Bon Appetite

Graffiti Art in Tatui, Brazil

  My family and I have lived in Tatui, Brasil for just over a year.  One of the first things I noticed upon driving around town was this very distinctive graffiti art.

A couple of months ago, I took my son and my digital camera and we all went out looking to capture all of the different pieces thru-out the town.  I don’t think I’ve captured every single one, but I did get a large portion of them.

The artist has been very difficult to track down.  Because what he does is considered “vandalism” in the eyes of the law, he doesn’t advertise himself.

Since I can’t buy his work, I decided to do the next best thing and collect whatever I could, even if it is only digital.

I define art as something that makes a lasting impression upon someone other than the artist. This art has definitely grabbed my attention.  It gives me something to look out for when I’m driving around and thru Tatui.  What a treat!

Blake uploaded these photos just the other night, and while I was out shopping yesterday, I managed to find 3 more new ones!  AND these have writing next to them.(I will ask for help from Blake to upload these new ones asap).  Seems our neighborhood artist is also dabbling in writing as well.  Well, that sure feels familiar!

I am so glad to be able to share this artist with you.  I love all of the different colors and patterns he uses.  I am intrigued by his methods.  What kind of paint does he use?  How does he make the patterns?  What does he do for a day job?  How long has he been making these?  What does he look forward to with his paintings?  If anything?  Has he ever gotten into trouble?  Would he stop making them if he did?

He is mysterious.  His productivity is astounding.  I’m in awe.

What do you think?  Is this “vandalism” or “art”?

How do you define “art”?

Tchau for now,

Pam

Article in The Citizen Newspaper

September 2008 BB&E Newsletter

End of the Line

It’s Monday and time for this weeks Inspirational song of the week!

End of the line by the Traveling Wilbury’s

This is one of my favorite songs of ALL TIME!!!   With the combined talents of George Harrison, Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynn, Tom Petty and Bob Dylan, the Traveling Wilburys were like the All-Star team of fun and inspiration!

I hope you wake-up with this song in your head every day for a week.

Here are the words, so you can sing it out loud (which I hope you do so you can share the love, baby!)

Lyrics:

Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze

Well it’s all right, if you live the life you please

Well it’s all right, doing the best you can

Well it’s all right, as long as you lend a hand

You can sit around and wait for the phone to ring

Waiting for someone to tell you everything

Sit around and wonder what tomorrow will bring

Maybe a diamond ring

Well it’s all right, even if they say you’re wrong

Well it’s all right, sometimes you gotta be strong

Well it’s all right, as long as you got somewhere to lay

Well it’s all right, everyday is Judgment Day

Maybe somewhere down the road aways

You’ll think of me and wonder where I am these days

Maybe somewhere down the road when somebody plays Purple haze

Well it’s all right, even when push comes to shove

Well it’s all right, if you got someone to love

Well it’s all right, everything’ll work out fine

Well it’s all right, we’re going to the end of the line

Don’t have to be ashamed of the car I drive

I’m just glad to be here, Happy to be alive

It don’t matter if  you’re by my side. I’m satisfied

Well it’s all right, even if you’re old and gray

Well it’s all right, you still got something to say

Well it’s all right, remember to live and let live

Well it’s all right, the best you can do is forgive

Well it’s all right, riding around in the breeze

Well it’s all right, if you live the life you please

Well it’s all right, everything’ll work out fine

Well it’s all right, we’re going to the end of the line.

My best wishes to you this week!!

xoxoxooxox Pam