I am so excited for our guest post today! The lovely ladies of Mercy River have released a new CD, Higher. It is wonderful, uplifting, harmonious, and joyful. To spread the word {their giving one away today!} and help you get to know them a bit better, I’ve asked them to write about the music of motherhood {they have 13 children between them!} and share a favorite chocolate recipe.
These women of Mercy River are real. They are just like you and me. They are mothers and wives who love the Lord, as evidenced by the music they share and the lives they live.Without further ado, here’s Brooke.
Some of my earliest childhood memories involve music. My dad would play the guitar and sing for my sister and me, as we would take our bath every night. Our favorites were John Denver classics and this funny song about what people were wearing to a wedding. He would start the song in a super high falsetto voice whenever the girl would ask “Whatcha gonna wear to the wedding?” And then he would sing the answer in a low, Southern drawl as the man, saying “I think I’ll wear my overalls”. My sister and I would laugh like it was the first time we heard it, and then beg him to sing it again.
Road trip memories are tied to the Judds and Colin Raye. Whenever I hear one of their songs, I’m back in my parent’s minivan, coloring with a pack of brand new crayons and playing card games with my siblings. So I guess I’ve always experienced the power of music. It can change a mood, heal a heart, and transport us to a different time in our lives.
As a mom, I’ve tried to capitalize on this power. We play classical music during homework time. At bedtime we play Primary music. During dinner there’s often Mercy River or Michael Buble playing through the kitchen. (Um, Michael Buble is darling.)
But my newest idea involving music has been my favorite so far. Last year I set a goal to become a better mom by creating more memories with my kids. So now, whenever I feel like we’re doing something that has the potential to be a “memory”, I turn on music. If we’re making cookies, music goes on. (We make cookies a lot. Probably too much.) If we’re doing a craft or coloring, music goes on. Even if we’re doing chores, there’s music. My hope is that in 30 years my kids will hear a Bethany Dillon song and automatically think of chocolate chip cookies…or dusting.
So my dad taught me the power of music, and my mom taught me the power of chocolate. When you combine good music and good chocolate it’s like an unstoppable force; a guaranteed journey towards happiness. Lest I get too dramatic, let’s share a recipe, shall we? This is the PERFECT potluck dessert, but be warned. You may be bombarded with requests for this recipe. Your life and the lives of your loved ones may be threatened if you don’t share it. So be prepared to share, or at least go into hiding. (Thanks to Cooks Illustrated, for this gem.)
TEXAS SHEET CAKE
2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 large eggs PLUS 2 yolks
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. sour cream
8 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
4 Tbsp. butter
3/4 c. oil
3/4 c. water
1/2 c. dutch processed cocoa powder
FOR THE ICING:
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. dutch processed cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. corn syrup
3 c. powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 c. toasted pecans, chopped (optional)
CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 18×13 rimmed baking sheet. Heat chocolate, butter, oil, water and cocoa in large saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until smooth, 3 to 5 minutes.
Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.
Whisk eggs and yolks, vanilla, and sour cream in another bowl until smooth.
Whisk chocolate mixture into flour mixture until incorporated. Whisk egg mixture into batter
At this point you can reward any helpers you may have.
Then pour the rest into a baking sheet.
Bake until toothpick comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes.
ICING: About 5 minutes before the cake is done, heat butter, cream, cocoa, and corn syrup in saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally until smooth. Off heat, whisk in sugar and vanilla. Spread warm icing evenly over the HOT cake and sprinkle with pecans. (We left off the pecans because I happen to have very.picky.kiddos.)
Let cake cool to room temperature on wire rack for 1 hour then refrigerate until icing is set, about 1 hour more.
Then…devour.
Thanks Cocoa, for letting us kidnap your blog for a minute! We adore you.
Thanks so much Brooke! Now tell me that doesn’t sound just like my growing up years! We even made Texas Sheet cake whenever we had to feed a large crowd. Now that large crowd is my own family. ☺
Mercy River is on a blog tour for the rest of the month. Check out their schedule here. You will not be disappointed as you get to know these wonderful women. I loved Whitney’s post over at Diapers & Divinity, Mothers: Symbols of the Savior. Really it will help change your perspective on the great calling of motherhood!
Mercy River is giving away a copy of their new CD, Higher. Follow instructions on the rafflecopter to enter.
© 2007-2011 Chocolate on my Cranium, LLC all rights reserved
I always loved music. I remember sitting in childrenscamps around the fire and singing funny songs. At the moment I often feel back in my teenages as on the radio they play these songs I listen to 30 yeaers ago. Funny!
ooh, cake! I love the idea of tagging memories with music. Totally makes sense, but I’d never thought of it before.
I have been listening to the new album all day, it’s wonderful! Lovely post and insight into Mercy River.
I LOVE Mercy River! I wish they were visiting MY blog!! 😉 Haha my mom taught me the power of chocolate, too! I still sing the songs my mom sang to me, to my little girls 🙂 It is tradition each night!
I heard Mercy River at a Time Out For Women. LOVE IT!
Music is my life. I love all the new music you are introducing us too! 🙂
tigertfam@gmail.com
It has been sucha fun week to follow Mercy River around everyone’s blogs and learn more about them, personally. I am even more endeared to them–I already loved their music, now I know why. Exceptional women.
Thanks Cocoa!
The only music that was a tradition in my family was the oldies we heard at car shows. As an adult, I’ve developed more of an appreciation for music. I do still like the oldies, but I have a lot of uplifting music on my MP3 player. Mercy River is a great group. Thanks for the giveaway!
For me, memories are associated with food. 🙂
I do have a few memories of many “oldies” being played on an old reel to reel and later my Dad’s record player. We loved it when my parents would put on a new record and we would all just lay on the floor and listen to it. Now as a Mom, we put new music on our computer and dance around the living room. 🙂
I’m so grateful for the new music you post on here, I often cannot remember group names so I never buy new music. Thanks!
I love music. It has such a power that goes with it. Though I am not an exceptional musician, I did grow up singing in church, school choirs, playing the violin, and participating in orchestra and school musicals. Now, my kids are starting the same with piano lessons, and violin at school, and singing at church. I enjoy Mercy River’s music because it adds a spirit to my every day life that helps me get through it all with having the Spirit ever near.
Love having music going when doing chores and such.
I feel like music can touch a spirit when often times nothing else will. It can reach deep inside and move you.
My mom used to make a Texas sheet cake when I was growing up too. Funny the little
things that stick with you and you don’t even realize it.
I am a music-aholic! I always have music playing in the background. I really have a testimony of the power of music to influence our spirits for good or for bad. I always feel closer to people I sing with, and some of my greatest memories are of singing with my family – especially Christmas caroling. We didn’t just sing Jingle Bells or Rudolph. We sang REAL Christmas songs in 4-part harmony. And this past Christmas, my family (meaning myself, my husband, and our 8 children) did our Christmas caroling in 4-part harmony for the first time! Loved it!
Music has always been a big part of my life. My dad didn’t sing or play, but he had the best stereo in town. Because of this I learned to love all sorts of music from blue grass to classical to country to R&B to jazz. Learning to play the violin, guitar, piano, and sing, I learned that making music allows one to communicate to God and others at a spiritual level even if that music making is only mediocre. At church I learned to love hymns that praise God. During nature studies with my children (and even before that in my childhood), I learned to love the symphony of the forest. Living on Oahu, I learned to love the rhythm of trade winds and ocean waves.
Brooke, you mentioned John Denver and I laughed. Country Roads was the first song I memorized (probably around 4 or 5) and I would sing it constantly. Whenever I am around my cousins (and we’re all in our 40’s now), that’s what they remember! Music is such a big part of my life, too. In fact, each blog post I write has a musical line as the title. It’s how I think and how I link memories together.
Learning songs during Family Home Evening.
I remember being home alone and singing along to popular music for hours, it was my definite feel good system!
What could be better than chocolate and music?
I just love listening, playing, and singing music! I mostly listen to churchy type music now that I have gotten older and have so many little ones running around, I guess I just like the peace it brings into my life. But when I was younger my sisters and I would sing for hours along with our favorite cds, it was such fun!
My favorite music memory is how my husband sings to our boys at bedtime…they love it!
My favorite memory is how my husband sings to our boys at bedtime…they love it!
I have so many “music memories” – music is a big part of my life. I love how songs can bring back memories, take you back to a different time and place. I love the power of music to change your mood and to bring the Spirit. I’ll always remember singing in a youth choir for a regional conference. We sang “Press Forward Saints” and the Spirit was so strong. Now every time I sing that song, I remember the Spirit I felt and my testimony is strengthened again.
I too, have experienced firsthand the great power of music. I love the idea from this post of making a conscious effort to ensure there is music playing in the background when making memories.
My music memories are more from my role as a mother.. Music has become a big part of the culture in our home. I love playing with my children. I love seeing their faces light up when they learn a new song or master a new technique. I love that they see me struggle as I have picked up playing the violin as an adult. It has be so rewarding and every now and then I get a tiny glimpse of why this is so important for me and my family and it is exciting.
I love music and Mercy River. They are wonderful ladies. They willingly came and sang at a benefit concert we had.
Hey Montse,
So I tried to leave my comment on that raffle thing, but I didn’t know how! Anyways the comment questions was “…memories of music?” We here at the Adams house have DANCE PARTY day. We crank up the tunes and dance in the kitchen! The boys love it. GLen loves it. I hope my boys will remember these fun times when they get older and pass it on to their kids.
Thanks Montse.
Denise
Most of my music memories are of times with my sister. She loves music an incredible amount. The first thing she asks whenever we hop in the car is “Can I pick the music?”. Fortunately, because her choices are limited to my library, we’re always able to find music that we agree on. I hope that as my sister gets older that she will always choose music that will bring her closer to her Heavenly Father, remembering those good times in the car.
Thanks for the excellent recipe!
Connor
What fun times making sheet cake and listening to music
One of my favorite music memories is singing Shirley Temple songs with my Mom and Grandma when I was little.
Mckinzie Cole
mcole@vandals.uidaho.edu
My wife would love to win this CD! I never listened to the Sounds of Sunday until I met my wife. We enjoy listening to it every Sunday.
Michael Cole
michaelcole623@gmail.com
Being musically inclined is not something that could be listed as one of my talents or skill, but I thoroughly appreciate those who can produce it and share their music. Thanks for the giveway for another opportunity to appreciate the music of others.
Hey, I entered the giveaway, but DO NOT PICK ME. I was just testing out the new Rafflecopter (way cool) and I actually already have their album. So thanks for letting your giveaway be my testing ground.