When the holidays are over and relaxation is what you seek pull out this gift basket sit down and take a peek Enjoy the goodies tucked inside and pop in the DVD for memories of days gone by are what you are going to see

This one is good and easy to make -- not sure if you want something this casual Chill Chasers 1 20 oz box devil's food or dark chocolate cake mix (tested with Duncan Hines) 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ancho chili powder 1/4 to 1/2 tsp cayenne (I used 3/8 tsp) 1 egg 1/4 c water 1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup sliced almonds, very finely chopped Stir spices into cake mix in mixing bowl. Add egg and water, then stir in chocolate chips. Divide dough (a bit sticky) into half and shape each into a roll about 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Roll each roll in the finely chopped almonds, then wrap in waxed paper and chill or freeze several hours. Slice chilled dough about 1/4" thick and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees about 12 min. Makes about 3 dozen. I was thinking that a Texas Sheet Cake would also be good made with a similar amount of chili and cayenne in the cake batter. I want to try that. Here's the classic recipe -- Texas Sheet Cake 2 cups flour 2 cups sugar 1 tsp. cinnamon 1 cup butter or margarine 4 Tbsp. cocoa 1 cup water 2 eggs ý cup buttermilk 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp vanilla Prepare a 9x13 pan or a sheet pan (11x15 �" cake will be thinner) by greasing and flouring or spraying with nonstick spray. Measure flour, sugar and cinnamon into a mixing bowl. Place butter, cocoa and water in small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Turn off heat and pour hot mixture over flour mixture and stire to blend. Add eggs. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk and add to mixture with vanilla. Blend together. Bake at 350 until cake tests done in center (about 25-30 min for sheet pan and about 35 min for 9x13). Make frosting while cake is still hot and pour over warm cake. Spread just enough to cover cake and let cool without disturbing. If you want to use buttermilk powder, add the powder (2T) to the flour and sugar and mix well. Dissolve the baking soda in ý c water and add with vanilla. Chocolate Fudge Icing 1 cup sugar or 1 lb powdered sugar (1 box or ý large bag) ý cup (1 stick) butter or margarine 4 T cocoa ü cup milk 2 tsp vanilla 1 cup pecans (optional) Mix all ingredients in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Mix well from beginning to avoid lumps. Stir constantly and boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and beat until thick enough to spread on cake. Spread over warm cake, spreading just to move into corners. Icing will cool and form a skin that will crack and crinkle if you continue to spread, but it will usually settle over the warm cake on its own.

publickman, thanks for the mention that Pernigotti can still be purchased! I don't know why I never thought to search on Amazon.com for it, but I just did and have ordered it from chefshop.com through Amazon's Marketplace. It is NOT eligible for Prime membership's free 2-day shipping, but if you're registered at Amazon it's a one-click to order it...so convenient! Oh boy, my Black Bottom Cupcakes are going to be soooooo good again with this stuff. They're good anyway, but with the Pernigotti they jump up a whole level higher. Scharffenberger's cocoa is okay but Valhrona is better. But I like the Pernigotti best of all.

SS, I find it extremely hard. I just don't say much about it here. Mary's first post above describes a lot of how I feel. And especially when DD was younger. There are so many things you're supposed to be doing to be the best parent, I just think it's overwhelming. I think there's so much competition not just for the children, but for the parents, to get your kid into the right schools, to have the best/appropriate clothes, to do the right sports, to volunteer for the best organizations, have a certain standard behavior instilled by *this* age. I was overwhelmed when I had DD and I still get that way. I have always had a hard time balancing work and spending time with DD. I feel guilty a lot. But who else is going to put bacon on the table? Bottom line, I can't do it all and I can't be all. Sometimes DD goes to bed without brushing her teeth, sometimes she eats MickeyD's twice in a weekend. I know I'm not the best parent, I do things cause they are easier sometimes and I feel tremendous guilt at other times for not being the perfect parent. But you know what, that's just how I cope with it all and no one is perfect. I think you do a fine job and I'm sorry for laughing above, I didn't realize this was a little deeper than what you had originally posted. I think you should let up on yourself some.