Simply Efficient

To help secure our home, we leave our lights outside on the entire night. With the cost of power increasing, doing this every night is a big dent on the wallet. What my husband did was to install energy efficient outdoor lighting. Aside from keeping our home safe at night, it also helps cut power cost. We’ve been using energy efficient lighting indoors, why not use it outdoors as well. What can I say, they’re simply efficient.

Dark Chocolate Steamed Cake

There is only one recipe I found for the steamed cake. The original calls for plain chocolate, I just changed it to dark chocolate.

For this recipe you will need:

• 125g dark chocolate
• 125g butter
• 4 eggs
• 100g caster sugar
• 100g plain flour

Procedure:
1. Line the bowl/basin you are using (does your steam come with one?) with microwave plastic wrap.
2. Separate the eggs.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to stiff peak stage.
4. Cream the butter.
5. Melt the chocolate in a bain marie. When melted, beat in the butter and the egg yolks.
6. Gently fold in the sugar, flour and the whisked egg whites. Pour the mixture into the bowl/basin.
7. Cover the bowl/basin with microwave plastic wrap and place in the steamer.
8. Steam for 40 minutes.
9. Allow to cool slightly before turning out.

WW – My Uncle’s Birthday Cake

Strawberry-Rhubarb Meringue Pie

For this recipe you will need:

• 1/2 package (15 oz.) refrigerated pie crust
• 1 lb. frozen rhubarb, thawed
• 1 lb. frozen strawberries, halved
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup strawberry jam
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 egg whites
• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar

Directions:

1)  Heat oven to 400°F.  Line a 9″ pie plate with pie crust; crimp edges.  Using fork, pierce bottom 5 times; line with foil and pie weights.  Bake 10 minutes.  Remove weights and foil.  Bake 3 minutes, or until golden.  Cool.

2)  In pan over medium-high heat, cook next 5 ingredients 5 minutes.  In bowl, combine cornstarch and 3 tablespoons water; add to fruit.  Bring to a boil.  Let simmer 2 minutes; pour into crust.

3)  In bowl of electric mixer, beat remaining ingredients 4 minutes, or until stiff peaks form; spread over hot filling.  Bake 3 minutes.  Let cool.

I Need It At My Age

Women are more susceptible to calcium loss and deficiency as they grow old. Aside from drinking milk regularly, I also take calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis. I don’t want to lose my teeth or have brittle bones. I’ve sen how my husband’s aunt got shorter and bent as she aged. By the time she passed away, she was a foot shorter. Pregnancy also drains a woman’s calcium level. Women go through phases in their lives that affects their health. Supplements are my constant companions through this phases. I need it at my age.