'Tis the season for gifting and so I am giving you the gift of my grandma's best-ever German Chocolate Cake recipe!



Grandma Frieda’s German Chocolate Cake

4oz bar Bakers German Sweet Chocolate
½ C boiling water
1 C butter
2 C sugar
4 egg yolks
4 egg whites stiffened
1 tsp vanilla
2 ¼ C flour or 2 1/2C cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 C buttermilk
1 1/3 C Coconut
1 C pecans
1C evaporated milk
 
 
Break up chocolate in small bowl- pour hot water over (not over heat)- cover and set aside.
Mix butter and sugar- beat fluffy.
Add yolks one at a time and beat after each.
Blend vanilla in with chocolate- let cool.  Then add to egg/sugar mixture.
Mix flour, baking soda and salt.  Mix this alternately with the buttermilk ending with flour.
Stiffen egg white.  Fold into mixture.  Pour into pans- will make 3 round layers.
Bake 350 degrees, 30 min’s.
 
Frosting:
 
1C evaporated milk
1C sugar
3 slightly beaten yolks 
1/2 cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/3 cup coconut
1 cup chopped pecans

Mix evaporated milk, sugar and yolks together in saucepan.
Add ½ C butter and 1 tsp vanilla.
Stir over medium heat until thick about 10-12 min’s.  Scorches easily!
Take off heat and add 1 1/3C coconut and 1C chopped pecans.
Spread over tops of layers, not down sides. 
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YOGA SECRET SANTA! 
For those who submitted their names, a reminder our SECRET YOGI GIFT EXCHANGE
is on Sunday Dec. 22 after the Restorative class.
*For my Tuesday class, I will email you the date!
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 Yoga Class Schedule
*Gentle/Restorative classes every Wednesday evening from 6-7:15pm.
Healing Arts Metaphysical, 4 E Wilson Street, Batavia (parking lot in back)
All Levels, Walk-ins, $15
**Because Christmas, New Year's and the Full Moon Celebration all fall on Wednesday's in December, we will only have Wednesday class on Dec. 4 and 18th!

*Gentle/Restorative classes every Sunday from 10-11:15am.
Healing Arts Metaphysical, 4 E Wilson Street, Batavia (parking lot in back)
All Levels, Walk-ins, $15

*Inspired Vinyasa (Level 1), Tuesday's, 9-10:15am
Healing Arts Metaphysical, 4 E Wilson Street, Batavia (parking lot in back)
$15/walk-ins
**Because Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall on Tuesday's, our class will be on Monday for those two weeks: Monday Dec. 23 and 30th
 
Reiki Sessions, Reiki Classes and Oracle Card Readings are available as you need.
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FEATURED HEALING STONE: TANZANITE
by Maryann Sanfilipp, Crystal Writer Extraordinaire

December’s birthstone is the beautiful blue violet Tanzanite.  This stone was discovered for the first time in 1967 and was named by Tiffany and Company in honor of the site on which it was found in Tanzania. Scientists, however, still refer to it as blue Zoisite.   Since it is a rather newly discovered gemstone, legend and superstition surrounding it have not existed for centuries as is the case with many other stones.  
 
It is supposed to be one of the most important metaphysical stones as it integrates the energies of the mind and heart.  This integration takes place through the linkage and attunement of the heart and third-eye chakras.  This allows one to perceive situations, experiences and circumstances from the perspective of enlightened compassion.
 
In Tanzania, women who have given birth wear Tanzanite to bestow a healthy, positive life to their newborns.  It is purported to dispel lethargy, detoxify and reduce inflammation in the body and strengthen the immune system.
 
As a creative stone, Tanzanite assists it helping a person to manifest themselves rather than being influenced by others.  It aligns the heart and mind, allowing for a more balanced, centered experience of spirituality.  It can be used to help calm the overactive mind and calm exhausted adrenals.
 
During the month of December when everyone is so busy getting ready for the holidays amid work and other obligations, one would do well to remember the calming properties of Tanzanite and use this stone to bring peace and calming to our world.
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FEATURED QUOTE:

Where there is cake, there is hope. And there is always cake.
Dean Koontz