“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” ~ Elizabeth Barrett Browing 1806-1861
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Before this day of love flies by, I did want to stop, wave hi, wish you much love and share a delicious chocolate cake recipe. You may have a homemade classic that you love, but I have to say THIS cake recipe never fails to be rich and delicious. Even today, when I ran out of cocoa, and used Baker’s unsweetened melted squares in my cake mix AND my frosting…it turned out so GOOD!
It’s all in a good base.
And since it was Valentine’s day today, I decorated it with a little red heart made out of sprinkles. The kids loved it. I’ve never been a HUGE cake eater…and my family will tell you that chocolate cake was never my fav either. I know,
CRAZY!!!
but I had a bad experience when I was a child and was off chocolate cake for years.
Every year on my birthday I looked longingly towards having a vanilla or lemon cake and each year my mom would present me with a beautiful cake…but it would be chocolate. I know, that seems so rude, and so unappreciative, but hey, it was MY birthday. I know there are four girls in my family and maybe she really couldn’t remember who liked what kind of cake best but I think, when she went to buy my cake, because SHE loved chocolate soooo much, she just couldn’t understand why I didn’t and she ended up bringing me home what she liked.
….until I think I was 40, she finally clued in and you know what…by then, I had grown to appreciate chocolate and you know what, at the end of her days, she liked a light vanilla or lemon cake.
Go figure!
Judging by how fast this cake disappears…I mean the day I make it, it’s gone, I know this is a good recipe to share with you.
If you are looking for a rich, moist, delicious cake…a chocolate cake, then try this recipe…and there will be no going back to french vanilla again,
Well, until Easter anyway.
In the next month I’m going to perfect a homemade white cake, ’cause my mom’s bunny cake was ALWAYS a white cake and gee, that’s only a month away.
Once Valentine’s day comes and goes, it’s just a hop, skip and a jump before we are to spring. But, for now, I’m going to share this with you, make a pot of tea and go and see if there is one more slice left before the day is over.
 |
| Will (above) and our twins, Victoria and Kathryn, working on their Valentine’s day cards (thanks for the stickers Auntie B) |
Let me know what you think…I would love to hear a comment. Is anyone reading my blog???
 |
| I made this cake last week and I didn’t even decorate the top…it was inhaled! |
Rich and Moist Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
2 cup all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp baking powder
11/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp of instant coffee powder
1 cup milk (I used an unsweetened vanilla almond milk and it was yum)
1/2 cup vegetable or canola oil….and if you have coconut oil that would be AMAZING
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup of boiling water
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt. Mix dry ingredients on low speed, until everything is well combined.
Slowly add the milk, oil, eggs, one at a time, and vanilla. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Boil 1 cup of water and add 1 tbsp of instant coffee powder to the water until it’s dissolved. On low speed, slowly add the boiling water to the mix, gradually increasing the speed until it’s on high for one minute.
Note: This mixture will be very thin and runny, after adding the water but don’t worry, that is the correct consistency and your cake will turn out to be rich and set beautifully.
Distribute the batter evenly, into two prepared cake pans. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes on middle rack in your oven. When toothpick comes out clean it’s done.
Let cool in the pans for about 10 minutes before removing the cakes, cool on a wire rack. Before icing, chill cake in the fridge for an hour or until well cooled.
Now the part my kids love the best, ’cause they love to lick the bowl,my spatula, the beaters, and hope there is a bit left…there always is a bit in the bowl just for them.
Chocolate Mocha Buttercream Icing
1 cup of butter softened
3 cups of powdered sugar
4 tbsp of cocoa powder or 2 ounces of bakers unsweetened chocolate squares, melted
2 tsp of vanilla extract
2-4 tbsp of heated milk and 2 tbsp of instant coffee dissolved in it
Whip butter in a mixer, add 2 cups of powdered sugar until creamy
Add the cocoa or the melted chocolate squares
Add vanilla extract
Add the heated milk with instant coffee
Add remainder of icing sugar until your icing reaches the consistency you desire to spread.
I whip it on high until the icing is light and fluffy
With butter knife, frost cooled cake and decorate with coconut, nuts, sprinkles, or as I did a few days ago when I was in the hurry…nothing. My family inhales this cake.
 |
| If you knew how little time I had to frost this cake and pull Valentine’s day together….but it can be done and you know what…it gets eaten so fast that it doesn’t have to look perfect….but boy did it taste delish! |
And before I say a final goodbye, I just wanted to share something that has been going on around here…it’s always something.
In the last 2 weeks, our family dynamic has changed again. I’m going to write a blog post about our oldest daughter Alyssa leaving home, again well, in truth, she was only home for a long visit this last time but she is off on another life adventure. Working and living on Vancouver Island.
 |
| Our oldest daughter Alyssa up early to get going on her latest adventure…teaching and living on Vancouver Island |
And our son Mitchell is also no longer at home, having chosen his University town to be his chosen place to call home.
 |
| Our number 2 son, Mitchell…home at Christmas time….love you wherever you are and whatever you are doing |
As our family changes and shifts, I’m thinking a lot about love and letting go this year and I wanted to share a wonderful video by Dr. Maya Angelou on loving and letting go.
She shares a special message and reminds us that it doesn’t matter where your loved ones are, the message for them is…..”I love you…”
And this Valentine’s day….it’s dedicated to my children, Mitchell and Alyssa…. I love you!
If you can’t see below, click on the hyper-link to see Dr. Maya Angelou on loving and letting go
What a beautiful message. What a beautiful person Maya Angelou was.
1 Corinthians 13:13
~And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.~
Until we meet again, may you be well, happy and peaceful.
Blessings from Hope