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butterflydreamingIt's been nearly a full week since I went to that chocolate tasting at Rose's, and as you can see, I still haven't written anything about it. In short -- I will be doing oneseveral of these again. I took lots of notes, and there is much to tell, but I... just... don't... feel... like... writing that post.
So instead, I'll tell you about the chocolate cake that's in my oven.
2 Cups sugar
1 3/4 Cups all-purpose flour
3/4 Cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 Cup milk
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Cup boiling water
Set oven to 350 F
Grease & flour two round or one rectangular pan (13x9x2"). In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for two minutes (or wisk it -- you don't need a mixer, really). Remove from the mixer and stir in the boiling water for a thin batter.
Pour into pan(s) and bake 30-35 for round, 35-40 for rectangular or until a wooden pick comes out clean from the center of the cake. Cool 10 minutes, remove springform from round pans, then completely cool and frost.
Or if your me, let it cool just until you can start picking at it. ^_^
I've had this one turn out great every time but the once when I misread tsp as tablespoon on the soda & powder. (Ech.) It's one of those "light" recipes, and is meant to be made with nonfat milk, so it tends to be a handy around-the-house recipe; I already have everything. (Actually, I had to go buy oil. I only had olive oil and peanut oil, and a few drops of sunflower oil left.) The boiling water makes it work, keeps it moist and slightly cooks the batter before it bakes.
I needed something to make the apartment smell good, and something to keep me from thinking about feeling crummy. [low-spirited mumblings edited out]
The one thing that I need is a good frosting recipe. I'd love to do a cooked frosting, but I never have before. Anyone have one to share?
Oh, and my credit card company has decided to up my credit line again. It's now more than I make in a year -- though not more than I've ever made in a year -- which is just ridiculous. This is the card that I have nearly paid off... after which I will be 100% debt free. That's right. I can do it before the end of this year, too, without much effort. Very, very liberating, that thought.
I'm not at all tempted by the credit limit, not even when I'm feeling crazy. What would I want that I could buy? Paying with cash is so much more satisfying... no bad aftertaste... and if I can't pay for it in cash then I don't want it. Not really.
You probably don't know that line from Labyrinth, when Sarah shoves off the junk lady, remembering her quest. (It's not delivered very believably, but, then, I think that they could have casted better for the character.) But it's fairly significant. Because it's so easy to get lost in stuff. Pretty things, practical things, useful things that make your life easier, decorated, accessorized. Maybe some people need them, but I don't. You know that question, "if you could only save one thing...?" that everyone has been asked at some point? Well really, if it was just one thing, not a person or animal companion, and unless it had some irreplaceable importance (like in The Day After Tomorrow, with the Gutenberg Bible, which I found embarrassingly touching)...
...if it could only be ONE thing, then why bother at all?
Haven't you ever just wanted to walk away?
It is all junk.
~Cake's done.~
So instead, I'll tell you about the chocolate cake that's in my oven.
2 Cups sugar
1 3/4 Cups all-purpose flour
3/4 Cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 Cup milk
1/2 Cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 Cup boiling water
Set oven to 350 F
Grease & flour two round or one rectangular pan (13x9x2"). In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. Add eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for two minutes (or wisk it -- you don't need a mixer, really). Remove from the mixer and stir in the boiling water for a thin batter.
Pour into pan(s) and bake 30-35 for round, 35-40 for rectangular or until a wooden pick comes out clean from the center of the cake. Cool 10 minutes, remove springform from round pans, then completely cool and frost.
Or if your me, let it cool just until you can start picking at it. ^_^
I've had this one turn out great every time but the once when I misread tsp as tablespoon on the soda & powder. (Ech.) It's one of those "light" recipes, and is meant to be made with nonfat milk, so it tends to be a handy around-the-house recipe; I already have everything. (Actually, I had to go buy oil. I only had olive oil and peanut oil, and a few drops of sunflower oil left.) The boiling water makes it work, keeps it moist and slightly cooks the batter before it bakes.
I needed something to make the apartment smell good, and something to keep me from thinking about feeling crummy. [low-spirited mumblings edited out]
The one thing that I need is a good frosting recipe. I'd love to do a cooked frosting, but I never have before. Anyone have one to share?
Oh, and my credit card company has decided to up my credit line again. It's now more than I make in a year -- though not more than I've ever made in a year -- which is just ridiculous. This is the card that I have nearly paid off... after which I will be 100% debt free. That's right. I can do it before the end of this year, too, without much effort. Very, very liberating, that thought.
I'm not at all tempted by the credit limit, not even when I'm feeling crazy. What would I want that I could buy? Paying with cash is so much more satisfying... no bad aftertaste... and if I can't pay for it in cash then I don't want it. Not really.
You probably don't know that line from Labyrinth, when Sarah shoves off the junk lady, remembering her quest. (It's not delivered very believably, but, then, I think that they could have casted better for the character.) But it's fairly significant. Because it's so easy to get lost in stuff. Pretty things, practical things, useful things that make your life easier, decorated, accessorized. Maybe some people need them, but I don't. You know that question, "if you could only save one thing...?" that everyone has been asked at some point? Well really, if it was just one thing, not a person or animal companion, and unless it had some irreplaceable importance (like in The Day After Tomorrow, with the Gutenberg Bible, which I found embarrassingly touching)...
...if it could only be ONE thing, then why bother at all?
Haven't you ever just wanted to walk away?
It is all junk.
~Cake's done.~
