Blackberry Upside-down Cake

This last birthday my mother gave me one of the coolest gifts ever! She gave me an anthology of short stories, and a cook book of sweet desserts using only natural sugars.

Today I Blackberry Upside-down Cake. It is made with whole wheat flour and fruit juice reduction. (You boil a can of frozen fruit juice, white grape or apple are recommended most, for about 10 minutes until the juice reduces into a syrup). The fruit juice reduction takes the place of any sugars that would naturally be used in a cake. The cake called for no shortening, instead just 2 tablespoons of oil. I was initially a little worried that all the healthy stuff wouldn't taste so great, but clearly I was wrong. The cake has a heavier texture than boxed cakes, is less sweet, but tastes better than most traditional cakes. The best part about the cakes was that I didn't feel bad about eating it, and I could eat two servings in one sitting and not feel like I was being too unhealthy. Oh, and any cake with blackberries in it is completely ok with me!!!

I got the official Bill and Audie approval as well. :)

It's Been a Long Time

Indeed it has. Things are picking up here in Caldwell. I have started only teaching part time so that I can work on my thesis the other half of the day. I am sometimes to worry if I will be able to finish my work by July 13th, the deadline. Each time I work on my thesis, the more work I realize I have to do. I had given my thesis to one of my readers, and upon gettiong it back from him I found a whole new list of reading to do. Although I love being in the Master's program, and am enjoying the opportunity to research so thoroughly something I care about, I am also anxious to be able to read a novel again. Needless to say, I spend the majority of my afternoons and evenings burried in the basement of Terteling Library.

Graduation is coming up quickly for the rest of ACI. I will be walking with the class of 2005 on June 4th at 10 am, even though my program does not end until July. I am excited to be able to walk with a hood, but miss my grandfather. I had always imagined he would be there to see me walk across the stage to get my masters as well.