Orange Cake with Orange Zest and Orange Juice with Cream Cheese Frosting

Epicurious recipe\
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Carrot-Orange-Cake-with-Cream-Cheese-Frosting-904


4 Forks, the highest rating.

My lower-sugar version of this Christmas' Orange Cake is at the bottom.

Cake

• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1 tablespoon grated orange peel
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups finely grated peeled carrots
• 1 cup raisins

Frosting:

• 2 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter

• 6 tablespoons orange juice
• 2 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 5 cups powdered sugar, sifted

For cake:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly butter 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Line bottom with waxed paper; butter paper. Using electric mixer, beat oil and both sugars in large bowl until well blended. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in orange juice and peel. Sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt into large bowl; add to sugar mixture and beat to blend. Stir in carrots and raisins.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Transfer pan to rack. Cool cake 15 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack. Remove waxed paper and cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly in plastic and store at room temperature.)

For Frosting:
Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until light. Beat in orange juice and 2 teaspoons orange peel. Add sugar; beat until smooth. Refrigerate until thick enough to spread, about 30 minutes.

Using serrated knife, cut cake horizontally into 2 equal layers. Place 1 cake layer on platter. Spread with 1 1/2 cups frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Using icing spatula, spread remaining frosting in thick decorative swirls over top and side of cake. (Carrot cake can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.) Serve cake cold or at room temperature.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Carrot-Orange-Cake-with-Cream-Cheese-Frosting-904#ixzz19F8z7x25

My lower-sugar version of Christmas Orange Cake:
Reduce sugar to 1/2
Reduce oil by 1/3- Sometimes I substitute 50% of the oil with buttermilk/yoghurt/curd/applesauce - yes, I've made it several times!

Orange zest of 1 whole orange, and fresh orange juice from 2 oranges. 

I didnt have carrots this time, but- with them, will give a nice orange color, and make the cake dense and moist.

No frosting- instead I top with small chunks of white chocolate.
If doing the frosting, cut down the sugar, its way too sweet.
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Enjoy!!

Immanuel- The Sign of the Lord. When can you Ask for a sign.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

The birth of Emmanuel, is a sign. To what?


History-
In the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah, 2 armies marched against it- Kings of Aram & Israel. They  warred against it, but couldn't overpower it.


At this double trouble, "the hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind."

And the Lord sends a message to Ahaz saying,  “‘It will not take place, it will not happen"  7:6

And He goes on to say something stupendous: "ASK ME A SIGN" - A physical manifestation- in the depths or in the heights 7:10

And Ahaz replies, foolishly, or perhaps, faithlessly , "I will not ask"

Before He says, ask for a sign, He speaks to Ahaz saying in 7:9 - If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.’” 

In the distortion of his mind, Ahaz may be thinking not putting God to the test, may make him honorable.

But it is open rebellion to the word of God, sent directly to him.

So the Lord, Himself, volunteers a sign, a timeless sign : the Sign of Immanuel. 

A sign that Ahaz would not see in his lifetime.

A sign is not to the unbeliever.

A sign is to strengthen belief & faith, for the believer to stand in the battle ahead.

When I first met Christ, I would think, if God gave a sign, so many atheists would believe.

And when I spoke to people about Christ, I would say, ask for something you need, I'll pray for it, and you can believe in Him, then.

But when I grew up, I put away childish things. I found the way God moves.

A sign, a miracle, is for the believer (and sometimes to an unbeliever actively seeking God).

The revelation of God is restricted.

The sign of the Lord is restricted.

Ahaz would never see it.

The critical, and the faithless, and the openly rebellious would never see it.

Is there no sign for them, then? Yes, the sign of Jonah: (Matt 12:39)

Destruction is set for those who do evil, but the privilege of Restoration is available if they fear the wrath of God and repent.

To the unbeliever, the sign is that of the wrath of God, of destruction, of hellfire.

But to us, those who believe, the spirit born children of God, miracles and signs, will follow. This is the word of Jesus. And what He says is true.

Several stories & several situations are spoken about in the Bible, when the miraculous is sought for and got (Seek and find principle)
Based on this story, I believe valid situation arises to seek and find a sign.
1. Ask God for a sign, when warfare against you is doubled up, more than you can handle.
2. Ask God for a sign when you hear Him sending a message through a messenger (like now) - God has already started moving.
3. Ask God for a sign when fear besets you and faith falters.

Have a miraculous Christmas.

Anti-Aging Beauty Mask- Look instantly youthful- Pics from Holistic Serums

The Beauty Secret Masque from HolisticSerums

is a unique Anti-aging Mask which will make you look instantly youthful- well.. after 25-30 mins.
Made with special ingredients: Ayurvedic Aswagandha, mineral -rich Dead Sea Mud,  detoxifying Activated Charcoal, anti-oxidant -rich Pomegranate Peel, enzyme-rich Bee Pollen & Honey and other goodies

Holistic Serums are Anti-aging Serums & Cremes with 100% natural ingredients. Free of color, fragrance, preservatives, synthetic chemicals & water.

This mask gives incredible results even in a single use as the pic shows.

Notice the firming of the cheeks and around the lips, smoothing of wrinkled furrows on the neck and a youthful looking glow on the face. Mild anti-tan activity is also seen. 
Since it is detoxifying, skin feels cleaner and fresher, smoother and suppler.
Effect of this firming & tightening of skin remains for about 1 week.
 This is not a lightening product.

How to use: Mix a small amount of mask with a few drops of water, or any floral water- Orange Blossom hydrosol is my favorite. Make it a thin, almost watery, paste. Apply on Face, Neck, Hands & Feet and any wrinkled areas. Wash off after 30 minutes for smooth, youthful skin.

Flower bowl with Mask at the Trade Show- a Big Hit because of the instant results!

Sample jar (blackish) is behind the 3 off-white creams.

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Trial size (below) comes with a mini-brush for application.
Gives 5-6 uses for Face. Great as a pre-Party mask.

 

Color of the Mask is brown-black and has a thick texture. 

Below is the 1oz size Jar, which can give 25-30 uses for Face. US & International Buy Here

Beauty Secret Masque is part of our Anti-Aging Sampler Kit - A great way to sample our Anti-aging Bestsellers

If in India, See here

Trade Show, India Line, Spa Fit 2010

At my first Trade Show, in Hyderabad, India. Shilpa Kala Vedika, Hi-tech City  

Holistic Serums USA Hair regrowth & Anti-aging Serums Looking for agents, resellers, distributors in India

100% Natural Serum Bottles

3 US Top Sellers : Natural Hairgrow Serum, Orchid FaceLift Serum
& Tummy Tucker Xtra

Natural Hairgrow, Orchid Face Lift Serum,
Hairgrow+AntiDandruff, Tummy Tucker Xtra

TRY-ME Platter was a big hit!
Atleast 40 people tried one of the following
Rose Anti-Wrinkle, Coffee Anti-wrinkle, Active Stretchmarks Reducer
& the top hit- Beauty Secret Masque in the bowl
Brightening Soap, not in pic, also did good

 

Full Sizes of above
Also seen: Lip Rejuvenator Pen for firmer, smoother, youthfully fuller lips

Ran out of the 50-odd brochures & Business cards I got with me.
Put together a quick powerpoint presentation.
Called Dad to get some more from home- a 60 min drive for a 75-yr old!
People came back in the seminar's other breaks to check if the brochures & cards had arrived. There was a lot of interest.

If you're in India & interested in reselling, distributing, email care121@gmail.com with India in subject line.

For outright purchase, products ship internationally from USA : www.HolisticSerums.com

India Line: www.HolisticSerums.in

Importance of Chanukah to a Christian - Look to your Root.

Jewish Roots : Chanuka or Hanukkah

I've never read the story of Chanukah, and was amazed at the rich symbolizm in it.

God says, look to your root (to Abraham & Sarah who bore you) - and this has all the making of a root.


President Bush lighting the Menorah with the middle candle which is lit first. Every night, a candle is lighted.
The middle candle is called Shamash meaning "Helper" or "Servant", which are names used for the Holy Spirit and Jesus, the Lighter & Light of our lives.
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The following is an modified version by Pr. Larry Huch. See full article here until available.

Chanukah (meaning Dedication) celebrates the Miracle of Deliverance and Supernatural Provision for God's people, 150+ years before Jesus was born.
The armies of Alexander the Great plundered Israel and later, Antiochus, defiled the Temple in Jerusalem. In this persecution, a Jewish priest named Mattathias and his sons – led a successful rebellion, and cast out the invaders.

Then they prepared cleanse and re-dedicate the Temple to God and light
the Menorah, the light that was supposed to burn perpetually, symbolizing the presence and power of God dwelling with His people continually. .
But there was a serious problem: a lack of oil to light the menorah. This special oil, only to be prepared by the priests, took 7 days to prepare.

They had enough consecrated oil for a single day and began the 7 day- long process of preparing fresh oil. But in the meantime, as an act of faith, they went ahead and lit the menorah … to release the presence of God again in the Temple.
The next day, to their amazement, the menorah was still burning.
It burned the next day, and the next, and the next … it burned continuously, for eight full days – when they finally had a fresh supply of consecrated oil!

God had superceded the laws of physics!

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What is of value to us, is that Jesus celebrated Chanukah. John 10, the Feast of Dedication.
Jesus, the Light of the World, has come to Jerusalem for the Festival of Lights. where He plainly states- I and My Father are One.

Because Chanukah, is a picture of God’s power and presence among His people, Jesus shows us an incredible opportunity for the Release of Miracles into your life

Why should you celebrate this special season? So that you can discover a new dimension of God's divine presence, His promise of miracle provision in your life!

Chanukah is also a time for special tzedakahs – acts of righteous charity and good deeds.
Today I ask you to continue the tradition of tzedakah at Chanukah with a special gift of support for our ministry.

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Modified from Pastor Larry Huch's web message. See full article here until available.

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In view of his request, we have decided that 10% of sales of our special Christmas Edition: EverLast Creme for Luminous, Youthful Skin go to his ministry.

EverLast is a limited edition, 100% natural cream, made with 23K Gold, Myrrh & Frankincense.
In celebration of Christmas, this new "Creme for Luminous, Youthful Skin" will be available Dec 1- Dec 25 and when I read this message, the timing seemed to fit right into Pastor Larry's message!

We made this cream to celebrate the rich Spiritual symbolism of Gold, Frankincense & Myrrh. Read about it here.
Available in Gift Packages of 1, 5 & 10. Buy here.

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Please share your insight on the message

Blessings in Christ.
Esther Jo