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Hello Farmgirl friends! I hope you have had the loveliest of holidays.
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I received the sweetest gift in the mail from our very own Farmgirl, MaryJane, and I’ve just been so excited to share it with all of you! Along with a very amazing recipe (more on that in a minute) was the sweetest little mini cocotte casserole ceramic dish with a lid. In my favorite color of aqua! I think I’m going to be buying more because honestly this is so darling and I can see so many uses for it. (If you’re interested, you can buy them here.)
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She also enclosed the sweetest friendship bracelet from her grand-daughter Mia and it is so pretty and it makes me so happy! (Do you see it tucked in the picture above?)
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The enclosed card was such fun though… the words really struck a chord with me, as they will with all of you farmgirls. I have it tacked to my bulletin board above my office table so that I will read it often.
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But, because I am a Gram that has grand-girls about the same age as MaryJane’s I am absolutely in love with the recipe for a Chocolate Gift Cake that was enclosed in the package. This recipe was developed and photographed by her grand-daughter Stella Jane.
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I’m not going to share the recipe because I believe it is coming in the Feb-Mar 2021 magazine and you’ll want to read it there!
But I’m so impressed with Stella. I went to her public Instagram page and started following her there and reading about her recipes and her baking. She has such fun videos to watch and WOW what an awesome young Farmgirl she is! She also has her own website bakery where locals can order from her. I want to just pick up the phone and place an order!
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So today I was so excited to make her tiny little Chocolate Gift Cake in the ceramic mini Cocotte that was gifted to me along with the recipe.
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Her recipe uses almond flour and is gluten free and so moist I could hardly believe it. It also calls for maple syrup versus sugar and that made me really happy too.
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The recipe is for two 4-inch layers with frosting in between. And the frosting recipe shocked me… I didn’t think it would work. It also only uses maple syrup for sweetening and its like MAGIC. And oh my goodness… SO GOOD!!!
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I can’t tell you how many times I just want ONE piece of cake! And this little cake could not be more perfect! It was enough for me to have a piece, my husband to have a piece and to share with my grand-girls… because of course I had to tell them all about Stella and what she has going on!
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Gone in just a quick minute! I think I will make another cake tomorrow and take it to a friend that could really use some cheering up. It is the PERFECT size gift cake!!!
If you don’t subscribe to MaryJanesFarm magazine, now might be the time to do that here. You really want to get your hands on this crazy good recipe of Stella’s! I’m hoping she has plans for a cookbook soon!
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And NOW… GIVEAWAY TIME!
MaryJane has so graciously offered to give a gift subscription to her magazine to one lucky reader! All you have to do to enter is comment and tell me what your goals and hopes are for yourself in the new year.
I am so thankful for all my special farmgirl friends… those that I have “met” here through the years of blogging for MaryJane, those that live local that mean so much to me, and those that live too far to see often but we keep in close touch. My goal and hope for myself in this new year is to keep in much closer touch with these precious friends. I feel it stronger this year than I ever have before. May we all feel the need to reach out to each other to encourage, lift up, motivate and inspire.
I will randomly choose the winner next week on Friday, January 8. The winner will be notified via email!
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Until our gravel roads cross again… so long.
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Dori
My goals and hopes for the coming year are to get to a place of feeling normal again. The past year caused us great economic upheaval losing job and home. We are planning to have a garden and exercise outside where we are now living and having our grandchildren help us grow and harvest vegetables.
I’ve started to dye my hair light pink. I love it! I plan to continue dyeing my hair pink next year. I’m trying to lose weight; I’ve gained 10 pounds during the holidays. My neighbor gave me a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree; she bought 3 of them, gave 2 away; she brought over ornaments and snacks and meals for me to enjoy. I plan to celebrate the New Year’s Japanese style. I’ve set up my kagami display mochi (rice cakes) with tangerine and Good Luck paper that has Mt. Fuji on it, with a red rising sun with sunrays all around it, and 2 flying birds, and purple eggplant; I have a small bottle of Sho-Chiku Bai sake (rice wine) next to the mochi. Happy New Year, everybody! Love, pearl!
My goals are to organize my UFO projects and to complete as many as I can. I am also determined to learn to say “no” to too many new projects.
I love the smaller sized cake – perfect for gifting or for a small snack.
I haven’t learned to say “No” .lol…still to many projects going, but its fun.
Love that the tiny cake is gluten free. I will need to be on lookout for the recipe. In 2016 I lost my only child and in 2017 my only grandchild. Fortunately, I still have an eleven year old great-grandson. My main goal has been, and will remain, to not lose touch with him as he lives in PA and I am in TN. I am lucky to have a room devoted to my crafts, but it needs a lot of organizing. My second goal is to finish the organization and get back into crafting. Hope you and all the family have a wonderful, healthy new year.
What a year it has been, looking forward to viewing it in the rear view mirror in just a couple more days. My word and goals for the new year are “organization”. I am admittedly a closet hoarder at heart and ready to let it go! Looking forward to emptying drawers, cupboards and closets, making piles for donate, sell and keep (the things that bring me joy and are truly useful) and organizing my life so that I can actually find what I am looking to rather than digging through disarray.
That cake looks scrumptious, maybe once my cupboards gave room to spare I can order a set of those lovely cocotte casseroles!
Thank you for a chance at winning your giveaway 🙂
My goal for 2021 is to donate things that I don’t use and to read more books.
My goal for 2021is to donate things that I no longer use and to read more books.
Since I have just started reading Mary Jane I have taken an easier, slower walk with my days. I love the easiness of the articles and how it makes me feel to react to my surroundings. I love making my own products, and I feel I have accomplished something.
Than you for making a magazine with wonderful ideas. Happy New Year
That chocolate cake looks delicious. My goals are to start doing my dance lessons and exercises,get back to my crafts and learn to sew and continue studying Latin and sign language. Wishing you and yours a Blessed,Happy and Healthy New Year. Thank you for the giveaway.
Marilyn
Hi Dori, Season’s Greeting from BC Canada. Each of your blog posts are like a visit from a friend. Thank you for sharing your farmgirl life with us I really enjoy your adventures at home and away.
For the coming year I hope to find a way to show up for myself again instead of just being in a holding pattern. Life is to short and precious not to enjoy every moment to the fullest. Stay safe and have a happy healthy New Year!
My hope/goal for 2021 is to do all the good I know to do and to then learn a few new good things, too!
My goal? Survival. With Gratitude and Hope for a better world.
My goals are to have more grace towards others and smile more often!
My plans for this coming year, are to continue to attempt to have a positive attitude, as many people have suffered and many have learned how to become closer to family.Its been difficult at best, however the light for me is reading Mary Jane Farms and all there wonderful articles, the covers always make me smile, and i cant wait to get into them and find a comfortable spot to sit and read it cover to cover. The cake looks delicious, my favorite is of course chocolate! Im an artist and i find so many interesting articles that inspire me!
That recipe sounds so good and well I want to make me a gift cake right now. I have several little cake stands that it would look amazing on for the photo because I’m sure it wouldn’t be long before it was eaten up. Love your posts. They make me smile of course this post just made me want cake!
I guess I got off task commenting on that beautiful little cake that I forgot to mention my 2021 goals. I hope to be creative everyday either quilting, sewing, designing or writing and sharing joy along the way.
This is perfect. Can’t wait to get the recipe. thanks much
Hugs
That cake is so cute & rich looking!
My goal for 2021 is to try & forget all the bad things of 2020 & hope for more peace & goodwill for everyone. I will try to finish a pile of UFO quilts I have started in 2020!
I’m looking forward to Spring gardening this year and expanding my garden space to grow and preserve more than I did in 2020. Love your magazines.
That’s chocolate cake!!!
My goals for next year or get serious with homesteading and keep on homeschooling. We are looking to move to a new state, expand our beef herd, and I really REALLY want to get a homemade natural soap and skin care business going. Best wishes for a HAPPY New Year!!
As everyone else is, I’m hoping 2021 is COVID free! I plan to be thankful for what I have and who I love!!
Finish up loose ends of home projects so I can finally feel nested.
My goal for the new year is to cherish every moment. I have cancer without a cure but tomorrow is another day. Never say never. I am enjoying life and able to live a normal life doing everything I did before and surprising my doctors. No time to mope. I enjoying spending time with my two grandchildren. Hopefully the new year will bring peace for our country.
Irene, If ok I would like to put you on my prayer group list. I believe in miracles! Every. Day is a gift…blessings to you and your family.
Irene I will pray for you too. I have a friend with the same situation. No cure and surprising her Doctors. You both have a wonderful outlook on life.
I absolutely love this little “gift cake!”
I’ll be making these and giving them away as prizes from my bakery!!
It’s funny I just had a conversation about the new year with my husband this morning over coffee. I asked him what his one word might be to help toward his goals in the upcoming year and he said “peace.” I asked how he defines peace and he said “faith!”
I told him my one word for this year is going to be the same as last year—simplify.
This sweet little cake is exactly that! Simple, sweet, and scrumptious!
Thank you for sharing. I always enjoy reading your writings. Happy new year!
My plans for the coming year is to LISTEN! That is my word of the year. I get so consumed by my job (first grade teacher) that I don’t take time to just listen! I also want to get back in shape again. Things have kind of slid since school has started in person. I live in a very rural area I love Mary Jane Farms and I actually got to tour the farm one year when we took our daughter to college at the University of Idaho!
My plans for 2021 are much like everyone’s, to find happiness in the little things, to give God the glory for all we need and have, and enjoy reading how others help one and another. To also bring smiles and love to those less fortunate….and pray for those in need.
I am so thankful for the cheer, hope and camaraderie that comes through every issue of this magazine. It’s like leaning over your back fence to chat with your wonderful neighbor.
My Farmgirl goals:
Share our farm with others that need time for refreshment and hope! Knowing that all “good and perfect gifts come from above!”
Using our farm for His Glory!!!
Lori
Scrumptious looking cake and I too love the color of the cocotte —even though I had never heard that word before now
I really enjoy Mary Jane magazine It is so different than any other magazine I receive. It brings me such peace when it comes in the mail
During this difficult times especially as a healthcare worker I am always looking for peace
My hopes and goals for 2021 are pretty simple…good health for me and my family, and spending more time outdoors!
I plan to retire from teaching, and start a flower farm!! You are an inspiration!!
Good luck! What a happy thing to do.
Hello -Well I adore chocolate cake, its just my favorite, to be able to make one this size would be great for one! I totally and completely love your magazine, with so much to read its a joy to look forward to every month. I live in the suburbs but always wanted to be a farm girl!Im looking forward to adding Janet Dailey to my reading list. Love the farm house selected items,I grew up in a small town which is now huge, but when i was a little girl we had milk delivered to our door, in glass bottles, and ice was kept in an ice box chest! My grandmother washed her clothes in a Maytag wringer washing machine. These items bring back so many cherished memories of people in my life that have passed on.Your stories from your readers inspire me and remind me to just be, when im down or feeling a little lonely because of covid-19 and staying indoor so much.I pick up my Mary Jane farms and I am am once again back to my child hood or baking a cake, it brings a joy that no other magazine can bring. Gotta run my chair and magazine are calling me with a cup of tea! thanks for being there for us all!
Loved the article and pictures of the chocolate cake! My goal for 2021 is to keep my family and friends safe, give compassionate care to my patients (I am a registered nurse), and to be a little kinder and gentler to everyone……
Oh my, that cake looks delicious!! What a fun gift Mary Jane sent you too! Happy New Year
I received my copy of the magazine today. Cake looks pretty easy, I’ll try to make one soon. I definitely need chocolate after the year I’ve had.
Turns out I already have a pair of these in cast iron. Bought them thinking I would do baked eggs in them. Oh, well. They’re clean anyway.
I think my goals are going to be changing very soon. Moving on may be in my future this year. We’ll see.
Hi Dori: Wow! I will be glad to see that cake recipe. I have never been able to make any desserts without sugar added and I will try to make this one. Maple Syrup and Almond flour. Very different.
My goals:
1. To send each of my living relatives birthday and/or anniversary cards this year through the mail: also to write more letters to all of them and to encourage them to write back. Friends also.
2. To visit with those who live close enough or to call them often.
3. To keep up with my cycle riding every day. I bought myself a “slim cycle” because my legs were beginning to get weak and I felt if I could peddle a cycle as opposed to walking in bad weather it would help me more. I just turned 76 in November of 2020. I also put the cycle together myself when it arrived.
4. To help my neighbors more whenever we can be of help. We have some really great neighbors.
5 . To get our home painted this spring.
6. To make sure I keep myself healthy and my family healthy.
7. Charlie Chaplin said the 6 best doctors are: sun, rest, diet, exercise, self respect and friends. Stick to them at all stages of life and live healthy. I plan on doing that. I am wishing a Very Happy New Year for all of America and may all our problems be short lived.
8. To keep faith in God and learn from Him every day something that will help others and myself and to share it. God bless you and your family, Dori.
I am fairly new to the Mary Jane Magazine and truly appreciate it’s lushinesses, if that is a word. (It is now:) I have so felt for years that we need a magazine that teaches and guides young and seasoned the values of simplicity, kindness, encouragement, hope, home-worthiness, home making and business skills, family oriented as well as single woman oriented thoughts and opinions. I have needed and also love sharing wisdom with the older helping the younger as well as the younger guiding the older in gentle, loving ways together in unity. I am just so into this magazine and website and appreciate the writers and creators and all those contributing. I hope to this year become more involved here and help bring joy in blessing others. Thank you!!!
Hi! I’ve had your magazine for a long time. You always encourage me to DO something. I retired just before Covid hit. I am a nurse. Then because of age they didn’t let me go back
Buy, now there is such a need that age doesn’t matter. Sooop, I am attempting to try travel nursing. We’ll see! I just gained 5 pounds looking at that delicious cake. Can’t wait to find the recipee
I made this little cake on Monday. Delicious!! Can’t post a picture but it came out perfectly fine. Even BF liked it!
Oh my! Such a sweet read on a cold snowy morning in Western NY❤️
To sew more which relaxes me, NOt stress over the small stuff, to keep my eyes and ears open and research instead of believing what we hear, turn the TV off and enjoy Nature!! Think positive thoughts and block out the Negative!! Pray more and read the Bible more!! Love Laugh and Live!!