Today is my 16th wedding anniversary and I am in a serious need of really good chocolate. Honestly, today kinda stinks, big rotten egg stinks. I guess my rose colored glasses are broken, every time I think of the fabulous, happy memories about our wedding day I get all teary eyed. Even blogging about chocolate is trying my patients(I've been typing this post all day!). I decided to make 2 kinds of turtle desserts, the first one is the pictured scrumdiddliumptious one above, a Paula Deen delight, the second one was this tried and true favorite. Both are equally rich, gooey and definitely filled that need to devour chocolate goodness. Why did I make two you ask? Today being my anniversary I was afraid that if I made the cake and it was disappointing I would be left wanting the other turtle bars, so better be safe than really sorry and grouchy(thanks for the life's lesson Brenda). *Warning about the Turtle Cake, my top cake layer didn't cook exactly how I thought it should, it was gooier than I would have liked it*
Turtle Cake
Cake:
1 box German chocolate cake mix
1 14 oz package of caramel candies
1 stick butter
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 c chocolate chips
1 c chopped nuts
Frosting:
3 T cocoa
1/2 stick butter
1/3 c milk
1 T light corn syrup
1/8 t salt
2 c powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare cake according to directions on box. Pour half of batter into prepared 9x 13 pan, reserve other half. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely. Don't turn off oven. Meanwhile, melt caramel candies with butter in a pan. When completely melted, remove from heat an stir in condensed milk until smooth. Let mixture cool completely. Add chocolate chips and nuts. Spread mix over cooled cake. Pour remaining batter over mixture and return to oven for another 25 to 30 minutes. While cake is baking, prepare frosting. Mix together cocoa, butter, milk, corn syrup, and salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and allow to boil for approximately 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Using a handheld mixer, beat powdered sugar and vanilla into cocoa mixture: beat until smooth. Pour icing over warm cake.
Duane and I were the best of friends, completely madly in love. I miss him dearly and wish he were by my side this day, like he was those 16 short years ago. Really I do know that he has never left me, I am not alone, but sometimes that faith that you cling to slips and sadness sweeps over you. Right now I feel that sadness, just a longing to hold him, share with him some of my yummy creations, laugh with him about some of the children's antics, use him as a sounding board for my frustrations. I miss him.
We were two peas in a pod!
6 comments:
You look absolutely beautiful in that wedding dress, so blissfully happy. You are so very blessed to have had that and it sucks so so so bad that Duane is gone. Now I get your turtle facebook reference...I thought you were talking about ice cream sundaes and getting out of your turtle shell for parent obs week!! I love that you used chocolate therapy today. I wasn't sure what the proper etiquette would be for acknowledging the anniversary...I know this is so very far from "happy"...but know that I have prayed for you today and that Duane was remembered fondly.
You are definitely peas in a pod! Today I thought about how in all that time, you guys never took each other for granted. To not know it would be only 16 years together, but to always act as if it would be is the testimony of what a special couple you guys are. Hang in there! I know he must be so proud of you! I am.
What an amazing person you are Becky!! I admire you everytime I see you. You have helped me to realize so many things about myself. As my Grandma said, she knows that my Grandpa is always with her, comforting her when needed. What a wonderful thing to know that you will be with Duane again, those two peas in a pod.
wedding pictures are beautiful and that turtle dessert looks absolutely delicious!
You have been on my mind. Jessie told me what this weekend was and I hope you feel the prayers in your direction.
you guys are sooo cute. so grateful for eternal families, but even more for hte spirits peaceful bandaide while your heart hurts and misses him so much
I think about you just about daily and am sorry for your hard times especially as you think about and miss your EC! I know there aren't even really words to help. Hopefully it helps just to know that people love and care about you.
NOW--about the chocolate turtle cake! Holy Cow, you've got some yummy amazing chocolate goodies up your sleeve! Gooey or not gooey, that looks SO good! One of my old roommates used to make a killer brownie with caramel oozing out of the middle that I just loved. This reminds me of that! Mmmmm!
Love the pictures of you and Duane!
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