Fathers Day/Birthday Cake

On Fathers Day we went over to my in-laws for family dinner. My food assignment was dessert and since we were combining a birthday and Fathers Day I made this cake. It was a Chocolate Black Out Cake (recipe follows). I found the idea online (can't remember where) for the decorations and thought it looked like a fun cake. It was a hit with everyone and we all enjoyed devouring it.

I know I have posted this cake recipe before, but this one is worth mentioning again. The cake layers are moist and slightly fudgy and the pudding used to fill and frost the cake is sheer heaven. To date this is my favorite chocolate cake recipe.

Chocolate Blackout Cake
America's Test Kitchen


Serves 8-10 -Easily!

Pudding
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup whole milk
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cake
3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder, plus extra for dusting pans
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup strong brewed coffee, room temperature
1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. FOR THE PUDDING: Whisk the granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium saucepan and slowly whisk in half-and-half and milk. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the chocolate and cook, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Off the heat, stir in the vanilla. Transfer the pudding to a large bowl and press plastic wrap directly onto the surface. Refrigerate the pudding until cold, about 4 hours.

2. FOR THE CAKE: Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and heat the over to 325 degrees. Grease two 8-inch cake pans, then dust with cocoa powder and line the bottoms with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt together.

3. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 3/4 cup of the cocoa and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Off the heat, whisk in the coffee, buttermilk, and the sugars until dissolved. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla, then slowly whisk in the flour mixture until no streaks remain. (The batter will be very loose.)

4. Give the batter a final stir with a rubber spatula to make sure it is thoroughly combined. Scrape the batter into the prepared pans, smooth the tops, and gently tap the pans on the work surface to settle the batter. Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few crumbs attached, 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through backing.

5. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes. Run a small knife around the edge of the cakes, then flip them out onto a wire rack. Peel of the parchment paper, flip the cakes right side up, and let cool completely before filling and frosting about 2 hours.

6. Line the edges of a cake platter with strips of parchment paper to keep the platter clean while you assemble the cake. Slice each cake into two even layers using a long serrated knife. Crumble one of the cake layers into medium-sized crumbs.

7. Place one of the cake layers on the platter. Spread 1 cup of pudding over the cake right to the edges. Top with a second layer of cake and spread with another 1 cup of pudding. Place the remaining cake layer on top and press lightly to adhere. Frost the cake with the remaining pudding. Sprinkle the cake crumbs evenly over the top and press them onto the sides of the cake. Remove the parchment strips from the platter before serving.

*** To decorate the cake, I frosted it with the pudding and then used just about 4 large packets of kit-kats for the border and 4 packages of M&M's to sprinkle on top.***

Strawberry cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting- YUMMO!

This is the recipe for the strawberry cupcakes with cream cheese frosting that I made for my friends baby shower. These were so delicious. I was worried that despite all of the fresh strawberries added to the batter that the strawberry flavor wouldn't come through. Though it was subtle, for me it was just the right amount and these were delicious! They were a definite crowd pleaser. I got the baby idea from Wilton's website. Aren't they cute!

Strawberry cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Adapted from Martha Stewart recipe
Ingredients:
1 1/3 c. whole fresh or frozen strawberries, thawed
1 sugar or honey
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. coarse salt
1/4 c. whole milk, room temperature
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 c.sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
2 large egg whites, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with cupcake liners; set aside.
Place strawberries and honey or sugar in a small food processor; process until pureed. You should have about 2/3 cup of puree, add a few more strawberries if necessary or save any extra puree for frosting; set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a small bowl, mix together milk, vanilla, and strawberry puree; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter on medium-high speed, until light and fluffy. Gradually add sugar and continue to beat until well combined and fluffy. Reduce the mixer speed to medium and slowly add egg and egg whites until just blended.

With the mixer on low, slowly add half the flour mixture; mix until just blended. Add the milk mixture; mix until just blended. Slowly add remaining flour mixture, scraping down sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary, until just blended.

Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Transfer muffin tin to oven and bake until tops are just dry to the touch, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer muffin tin to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool completely in tin before icing.

Cream Cheese Frosting
(from Ina Garten)
Ingredients:
2 pkgs. (16 oz. total) cream cheese, at room temperature
2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 lb. powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine cream cheese and butter thoroughly. Add sifted powdered sugar, and beat until combined. Beat in vanilla.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookies and Cream Frosting

On the third Sunday of every month we get together as a Family for Sunday dinner at my in-laws house. Each month the three of us older sisters have a food assignment which rotates (salad, rolls, dessert). This month it was my turn to make dessert. I made these YUMMY Chocolate Cupcakes with Cookies and Cream Frosting. I knew I wanted to try this recipe for the cookies and cream frosting so I just had to find a recipe for a good homemade chocolate cupcake. I found this recipe on http://www.stephanieskitchen.com/ Stephanie’s blog always has yummy treats so I knew I could trust her recipe. It did not disappoint. I also liked that these cupcakes had a different method that I had ever seen before. They were fun to make.

I did run into some issues when piping my frosting though- my fault entirely. I didn't have a big enough tip (I used a round 12 tip) and I found that pieces of Oreo would occasionally clog my tip. I definitely need to use a bigger tip next time. All things considering I think they turned out quite cute. My son was sick on Sunday so I had to miss out on family dinner. I was bummed that I didn't get to see everyone enjoy these.

Chocolate Cupcakes

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cocoa
1/2 cup boiling water
Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and vanilla and mix well. Dissolve baking soda in buttermilk and add to creamed mixture. Blend in flour. Blend cocoa and boiling water, to make a thick paste.
Combine chocolate mixture with creamed ingredients. Pour into cupcake papers that have been placed in muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. Makes approximately 18 cupcakes.
Adapted from Cooks.com


Cookies & Cream Frosting
http://phemomenon.blogspot.com/
5 oz cream cheese, softened
4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 Tablespoons heavy cream
5 Oreo cookies, processed to crumbs

Beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and cream and beat on low to incorporate. Once mixed together, turn speed to high and beat approximately 3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add the cookie crumbs on low and just mix in lightly. Pipe as desired and sprinkle with additional cookie crumbs if desired.



My Gabe gets so excited when I break out my hand mixer because he knows that his mum can't resist giving into him and letting him lick the beaters. I did it when I was a kid, it's fun to let my little guy do it now. He certainly approved if you can't tell by the look on his face.

A BIG and BUSY Thanksgiving weekend

I don't remember who's motto it was to "Go big or go home", but that sure seems to be how things have been for us lately and why not? Tis the season.

This past weekend was a big and very fun one. It all started the night before the night before Thanksgiving at my place making pies with my sister in law Shanna. Every year my mother in law has a 'pie night' the night before Thanksgiving at my in-laws house for family, friends and neighbors. There is loads of people and loads of pie. This year Shanna and I were asked to help make pies so we decided to get together at my place to make them. Though we had both been at work all day prior to our pie making venture and were a little tired we had lots of fun flouring up my kitchen. Shanna made a strawberry pie (which was sooooo good) and an apple pie and I made a mixed berry pie and a Hershies Kisses Mint cheesecake.






So on Wednesday night, we headed over to the in-laws house for a slice of pie or two, three, four and enjoyed visiting with family and friends.

On Thanksgiving, we headed to Brads Aunt and Uncles house, Terry and Cerena Welch for a thanksgiving dinner. Now I know for most people Thanksgiving means eating yourself sick and silly, but when you are a foreigner such as I and you don't like Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, American yams or green bean casserole then its just a fun time to visit with family. That I did. Oh and what I didn't eat for dinner I sure made up for with dessert! I had a blast hanging out and laughing with Liz and Shanna and the other cousins and we were all thoroughly entertained by our two one year olds. Any party with two one year olds never seems to disappoint.

The Bentley girls.





Gabe had so much fun playing on the floor. Uncle Brian would smell his feet and say "Peeeuuu Gabe, your feet stink!" and Gabe would laugh and laugh.



This is the pear cake I made to take for dessert for Thanksgiving. A friend of mine had made it recently for a Young Women’s thing and I just had to have the recipe. I don't even like pears but this cake is moist and refreshing, not to sweet and sickly. It is served with a divine homemade caramel sauce.



Thanksgiving also happens to fall on my little nephew's birthday and this year it was his first! So after dinner, Shanna came to my house and helped me make a special birthday cake for Andrew. In all honesty I didn't have as much time and or energy to work on it as i would have liked but I was still pleased with the end result. I was so thankful that Shanna was there to keep me sane whilst I frosted away and was willing to help out when my hand was paralyzed from all the squeezing. Once the cake was ready to go we went to Blake and Liz's house for a little cake and ice cream party for Andrew and had more fun visiting while the CRAZY shoppers in the family sifted through adds for the big day after sales.

The train cake.



On Friday morning we had a lovely brunch for the married Bentley kids at our place. I attempted to decorate a nice table and we had yummy breakfast casserole (made by Liz), strawberry stuffed French toast, pancakes, fruit, milk and juice. Again we had fun visiting some more and laughing at the little ones. No shopping for us this year. Instead we enjoyed hearing the stories of Brian and Shanna who had been up since some unholy hours in an attempt to get some great deals.





Saturday and Sunday were spent at home cleaning the house, raking leaves, napping and generally just recovering from all the family get-togethers. Gabe had fun raking leaves with Daddy and even enjoyed a little pie of his own...mud pie that is. On Sunday night we did have some fun finger painting with Gabe though.

Notice the dirt around his mouth!





What touches the hands, must also touch the mouth!



This year our little family has much to be thankful for and i could go on and on. Most importantly though, we are thankful to have each other and we were so grateful for the time we had this past weekend to be together. We hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving and we send our love and best wishes for a memorable Christmas season. Go do some good!