Turkey Day Gang 2009

[ICEMANPAD]

Yep...leaving for the port tomorrow evening as we decided today to drive up at night...got cheap hotel room too.

Chuck

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Happy 20th Anniversary to Karen & Steve, and Priscilla and Rob! We just celebrated 19 years a week ago.

Thanks

Rob

 

[ICEMANPAD]

well we just got upgraded from our cat 7 to a cat 5

Chuck

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Happy 20th Anniversary to Karen & Steve, and Priscilla and Rob! We just celebrated 19 years a week ago.

Happy Anniversary to ya'all!!

Lisa

 

[ICEMANPAD]

well we just got upgraded from our cat 7 to a cat 5

Chuck

Yea! It's the first time we rec'd a telephone call from DCL w/ an upgrade!! The funny thing is that our new stateroom is literally next door to our original stateroom. We had originally booked a secret veranda cat 7!!

Lisa

 

[Ima Princess]

well we just got upgraded from our cat 7 to a cat 5

Chuck

That's fantastic! Have a WONDERful time!

 

[sherreis]

Congratulations to the other 20th anniversary couples - Rob & Priscilla and Karen & Steve. We had ours on March 25.

Bon Voyage to Chuck, Lisa, and Mason. Congrats on the upgrade!

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

So you just celebrated your 20-year wedding anniversary? Congratulations! Rob's and my 20-year wedding anniversary is today! Even though we're dining out, I love to BAKE! (I'd love your 'from scratch' chocolate cake recipe!)

Priscilla

Well, technically our anniversary is tomorrow (June 3). We just celebrated early since we were without Andrew for the entire weekend (love those grandparents!).


Happy anniversary to you all too....

And....here's my special chocolate cake recipe:

Hershey's Cocoa Fudge Cake (from the 1920s and 30s)

1 3/4 cups unsifted all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup Hershey's cocoa (the unsweetened variety)
1/2 cup plus 1 TBS hot water
1 cup sour milk (take 1 TBS of vinegar and put in the bottom of the cup and fill the rest with milk)

Grease bottom and sides of cake pans (I use a bundt pan). Preheat oven to 350.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt on wax paper.

In a large bowl beat shortening and sugar together, add eggs and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy. Blend cocoa into hot water to make a smooth paste. Gradually add cocoa mixture into creamed mixture...blend well. Add flour mixture alternately with sour milk into creamed mixture. Remember to begin and end with flour. Pour into pan(s) and bake until top springs back when touched. (Note: if you bake it in two round pans it will take about 30 minutes....if you use a bundt pan it will take about 45 minutes +/-). Remove from oven and cool on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely.

Priscilla, I usually use a bundt pan and when it cools I sprinkle it with powdered sugar. In my family we usually serve it with homemade (real) whipping cream or homemade vanilla ice cream. Steve just eats it with the powdered sugar and a huge frosty glass of milk!

Hope you enjoy it. My mom used to make this cake with her grandmother when she was little and that's how I got the recipe...my great-grandmother shared it with me when I was about 8 or 9...and it's always been a family favorite. My mom swears that the soured milk is the secret to this recipe!

One note, I usually mix up the cocoa paste in a 2 cup tupperware measuring cup and then I put the vinegar and milk in the cup after I dump the cocoa paste out so that I can get all of the chocolate out...it's what Granny B did...except her's was a glass one....and I just imitate her!

Karen

 

[alwayslisad]

Oh my gosh that looks amazing -and my mouth is watering now...

May have to make that for a party coming up soon!

 

[The LK 4]

Have a WONDERful cruise, Chuck, Lisa, and Mason....and for the upgrade!!!

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Thank you for the recipe Karen! I can't wait to prepare it! Your tips were very helpful too. (I like to do that too, when I give someone a recipe. Makes it easier for the new person making it!)

Thanks again, I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

Priscilla

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

You're welcome Priscilla. It is Steve's absolutely most favorite cake in the world. One thing I forgot to tell you is that I don't "flour" the pan...I use cocoa powder instead (which is the same thing Granny B did). Also, be sure to "store" the cake in the microwave or under a cake cover as it can dry out and become crumbly. If you store it in the microwave or under a cake cover, it stays really moist.

Karen

 

[Mickeyhugger]

You're welcome Priscilla. It is Steve's absolutely most favorite cake in the world. One thing I forgot to tell you is that I don't "flour" the pan...I use cocoa powder instead (which is the same thing Granny B did). Also, be sure to "store" the cake in the microwave or under a cake cover as it can dry out and become crumbly. If you store it in the microwave or under a cake cover, it stays really moist.

Karen

Priscilla better get in the kitchen this weekend and make it for Rachel and Me

Rob

 

[Pixie Dust for Me!]

Priscilla better get in the kitchen this weekend and make it for Rachel and Me

Rob

Well, you know Rob...you and Rachel could always come up to St. Louis and share it with Steve!

K

 

[ICEMANPAD]

Hello from the Disney Wonder...docked in Nassau and it is raining a bit, but who really cares since this is nassau. And, all the stores (OK almost all) are closed today b/c it is labour day. That said, we did get to see an authentic Junkaroo parade down Bay Street...weather held for the Sailaway party yesterday and the Dismeet had full attendance. Nice group. And Lisa won at chipaway golf in the atrium today. On to CC tomorrow which I understand they are in the process of expanding significantly to accomodate the new and larger ships.

Chuck

 

[ICEMANPAD]

We are now home. Overall, we had a wonderful time on the Wonder!! We are looking forward to seeing ya'all on the Magic in November!! There were a lot of castmembers that had been on the Magic last Nov. that are now on the Wonder.

Mason was in heaven in the Lab!! Some of his favorite counselors remembered him and made him feel very special!!

We had a lovely view outside our stateroom on CC of a crane. They are getting ready for the larger ships to be able to dock.

The only downside was something we had no control over...the weather!! The seas were very calm all weekend, but we had quite a very clouds and quite a bit of rain over the weekend.

Now...back to reality and laundry...

Lisa

 

[sherreis]

Now...back to reality and laundry...

Lisa

The worst part of any vacation. Glad to hear that everyone had a good time.

 

[izma]

Hi everyone!

Just checking in. I have been lurking but haven't had anything to post. I hope everyone is having fun planning!

Does anyone know if you can request certain dining room servers if they are on board?

Thanks!

 

[ratt1345]

Lisa, I am so sorry that you had such bad weather. You sound like you had a great despite that. Congratulations on winning the chipping contest. It looked like a lot of fun the last time I was on the ship. I know what you guys mean about Nassau. It's nice to go to Paradise Island, but other than that I don't care too much for that place. I liked it when they went to Freeport more than Nassau. It's great to hear that Mason had a great time, too. It must be wonderful to not have to worry about him and enjoy yourself.

Just 166 days to go!!!!

Charlie

 

[izma]

Can anyone recommend a Limousine service from the park to the port?

Also, the flights I'm looking at don't leave for home until 5:30 at night after the cruise. Any suggestions on what to do between disembarking the magic and going to the airport? We will have our luggage with us as they will not handle it for you if you are travelling to Canada.