The Strawberry Chocolate Cake that Almost Wasn't - Recipe Included

Recently I had a bad day.  And a certain someone (I won't name names) was teething so badly that I thought I might have to dope him with tylenol and pull out all my hair give him some extra nap time.  During said nap, I decided to make a strawberry chocolate cake to use up the strawberries we'd picked.  I hadn't made this cake in years.  And I'd forgotten.  Forgotten what an absolute PITA it is to make.  Not to mention the recipe is asinine.  It calls for things like 2/3 cup of butter.  Why couldn't they pick a normal amount?  Furthermore, you have to make a MERINGUE and fold it into this really dense batter.  A whole separate meringue?  Now if that isn't an annoying cake recipe, I don't know what is.

So there I was, pretty annoyed.  To make matters worse, it didn't get done within the prescribed time.  Nope, I had to cook it an extra 10 minutes.  Stupid cake.

And then?

The frosting.

Well, it makes a RIDICULOUS amount of frosting.

Look at all I had left after frosting both layers of cake:

Can you believe this?  There must be 3 cups there!  Not one to let things go to waste, I stuck it in the freezer for use on sugar cookies later, but by this time I was TOTALLY over this cake.  Me and this cake?  We were gonna have it out! 

But then there was this: 

And then I took a bite.  Layers of cake and strawberries and the most fudgey of frostings ever. 

Oh yes. 

That's why I made that silly old cake.

If you would like to torment yourself, here is the recipe -

Really Annoying Chocolate Strawberries Cake with Overdose of Frosting:

(from Taste of Home)

2/3 cup of butter, softened

1 1/2 cups sugar, divided

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup milk

4 egg whites

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

FROSTING (save yourself the trouble and just half this):

7 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

1 1/2 cups baking cocoa

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar.  Beat in vanilla.  Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture alternatively with milk.  In a small mixing bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form.  Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 1 tbsp at a time, on high untill stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved.  Fold into batter.  Fold in strawberries.

Pour into two greased and floured 9 inch round baking pans.  Bake at 350* for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to cool completely.

For frosting, in large mixing bowl combine sugar and cocoa.  Beat in butter and milk until smooth.  Beat in vanilla.

Spread frosting over bottom cake layer; top with sliced strawberries.  Top with remaining cake layer; frost top and sides of cake.  Store in fridge.

The Love of Reading - Memory Lane Friday, 5th Grade

Welcome to Memory Lane Friday, a weekly blog carnival where you can blog about your memories and link up.  All are encouraged to hop in.  This week's topic is 5th grade.

I've always loved to read.  I can't remember a time that I haven't turned to books as a form of stress relief, an escape from the real world.  I've read so many books I couldn't even possibly pick a favorite. 

When I was in 5th grade, I got strep throat.  I was in bed feverish, and had run out of library books.  I needed something to read!  And so it was I stumbled upon my grandfather's copy of Gone with the Wind.  Thick blue hard back, with gold leaf designs, and a built in blue ribbon book mark.  It was a pretty book, and over 1000 pages long.  I'd heard about Gone with the Wind, although I'd never seen the movie.  As famous as it was, it simply must be a decent read.

So I settled in, my throat on fire, sweat dripping down my head.

And I was transported to the past.  To plantations and gowns in the South.

And do you know I forgot all about how lousy I felt?

I stayed in that bed reading for two or three days.

I only got up to use the bathroom or get something to drink.

As you know, Gone with the Wind is one hefty read.  For some reason, I totally took to it though.

This picture is from 5th grade, but I'm reading a different book in the picture:

Want to join in on Memory Lane Friday?  Just add your link to the linky below.

Then please go visit the blogs of others and leave them a comment!

Come back next week - it's a no theme week!

Sarah's Journey - The Red Dress Club

The prompt for The Red Dress Club this week is gluttony, and so I continue Sarah's story.  The closest thing you'll find to where Sarah is right now is from the first piece I wrote on her story, which you can find HERE.  There are plenty of happenings between now and then, but you'll have to use your own imagination until I get around to writing them down!  Critique is welcomed.

It was four days since Sarah had torched the cabin with Granny Rose’s carefully washed body eternally resting inside. On the move since then, she’d spent the days walking, avoiding the little towns in the hollows and staying up on the ridges of the Appalachian mountains. Her feet, already well-calloused, were toughening up even more, and soon they would no longer feel the brutal wear of twelve hour walking days. Oh, Sarah had a pair of shoes. But when she’d tried them on, they were too small and pinched, and she liked her toes to breathe anyhow. She could’ve taken Granny Rose’s boots, but somehow she couldn’t bring herself to do so.


Spring was in the mountains, and the trees provided canopies of green protection from the sun. A few thunderstorms had rolled through, but Sarah didn’t mind getting wet. She had Granny Rose’s good shawl, which was thick and warm. The biggest challenge had been food. Sarah was no stranger to foraging for food in the woods, but there were no nuts to be found this time of year, and it was a bit early for berries, but already past the morels. She’d found some tubers and some ramps, but she was hungry most of the time. She forced herself to embrace the hunger like an old friend.

And so it was on the fourth day that she found herself getting shaky. She knew she was going to have to descend a bit to try to find a better food source, and she needed water too. The last stream she’d passed was yesterday morning. She began making her way down, figuring she’d covered at least 40 miles since leaving the cabin. Soon, she’d be out of the territory of Preacher Robbins and she’d be able to breathe a little easier.

The ground was rocky, and several times she started to slide downward, catching her fall with her wrists, which were now covered in a hatching of bloody scrape marks. Tears welled in Sarah’s eyes, and she hated feeling so alone, here in the woods so far from home, with no living relatives. She knew she had to keep pushing, though, so she fought those feelings, pushed them down, and continued walking. It was then that she sniffed the air and smelled something sweeter. Just a touch of sweet and sour hit her nose. Pausing, she looked around, and spotted the raspberry bushes to the right.

They weren’t ripe yet. Sarah knew that. But her stomach grumbled angrily, and she figured there wasn’t any other choice. The first one was so tart that she felt a cramped burn across her jaw and up to her ears as she chewed and swallowed. After so many hours without food, the tartness felt good, and she greedily began picking berry after berry. A few she didn’t even bother to chew, just swallowed whole, in a pathetic attempt to fill up her shriveled stomach. She picked the bush raw, leaving it naked and exposed. Then she wiped her mouth with the back of her arm, stood, and started walking down again. She needed water.

It wasn’t 30 minutes later when she started feeling the cramps. Her stomach gurgled. Soon, she couldn’t even walk. She laid on the moist dirt, curled up as pains raked across her midsection. Moaning, turning, she couldn’t find an escape from her boiling intestines. Her head swam with it, and sweat ran down her face as she rocked on her heels over and over, letting forth a fury from her bowels that left her weak and shaking. By nightfall, she’d collapsed in her own filth, passed out in her soiled, ragged dress, the moon caressing her forehead in the only comfort to come that night.

Putting the Boys to Work - the Strawberry Patch

Originally for Mother's Day I'd hoped to go on a family hike.  That is, until I saw it was supposed to rain all morning.  So then my plans changed to take Pierce to the strawberry patch while Paul stayed at home with the twins during their afternoon nap (the rain was supposed to stop for the afternoon).  This worked out well until the car broke down on the way to the strawberry patch.  So then Paul and the twins had to come get us, and we decided to just forget the nap (not for the faint-hearted) and all go to the strawberry patch.  I'm glad we did!

About 30 seconds after I started picking I yelped, after sighting a small black and brown striped snake wiggling just under my picking hand.  I was more careful about my picking after that!

The twins actually loved the patch.  Even though they kept eating white berries, instead of red. 

They had a fun time wandering up and down our row (while I kept hoping the two of them didn't run into any snakes!) 

The berries were divine.  So much more tender, juicy, and flavorful than what you get at the store. 

The kids did more eating than picking. 

Paul and I had to pick up the slack, or else we would've gone home empty-handed! 

Notice Pierce's empty bucket... 

The final yield (about 15 pounds in 30 minutes, not too bad!) Paul's bucket, my bucket, Pierce's bucket: 

We got home and washed the berries.  Then I froze some, and we started some in the dehydrator.  We also plan to make some jam, and a strawberry cake. 

And of course, the boys' final reward for their "hard" work: 

The strawberries are so wonderful that we're already making plans for another trip to the patch!

Community School's Strawberry Festival - Roanoke, Virginia

This past weekend was the annual Strawberry Festival in Roanoke, which benefits Community School.

Back when I was pregnant (both pregnancies) I worked right downtown.  And I'd dream about the Strawberry Festival.  I would OBSESS over it!  When it would finally roll around, me and my preggo belly could barely stand the wait for the afternoon, when I'd slip down to the festival with my boss for strawberry shortcakes.  Pregnancy seems to intensify the tastebuds, and I can say that nothing ever tasted as good as those shortcakes when pregnant.

First, you have to get your tickets.  The twins and I decided to split a shortcake, and Pierce got a child's sundae. 

Then you have the lines.  You can also get chocolate dipped strawberries, strawberries and cream, and smoothies.  We got there early (10 am) so the lines weren't bad. 

No words necessary - just chomping: 

We ate our treats in a shady spot, listening to some young drummers: 

That's a lot of sundae for a little boy: 

Cort and Reid, post shortcake semi-comatose state: 

Can you believe he ate every last bite?! 

We walked around, where there were many craft vendors.

I really liked the pretty baskets at this one: 

After that, we walked two blocks over to the Farmer's Market. 

Pierce talked me into buying corn on the cob, one of his favorite foods.  We cook it on the grill, in the husk. 

We saw this interesting homemade ice cream maker: 

And so many gorgeous plants: 

We also saw beautiful handmade soaps, jewelry, artwork, candles, and baked goods.  It's rather crowded and narrow in the walkways, so I didn't take too many pictures.

Now we have to wait a whole 'nother year for the Strawberry Festival to roll around again!

Please go visit A Taste of T today - I'm guest posting there for Tanya, who is on blogging maternity leave (congratulations Tanya!).  It's a post all about my hoarder tendencies sentimental side.

Muffin Tin Monday with Savory Corncakes Recipe

This week Pierce had a bunny skewer of cheddar cheese, a medley of roasted beets/orange bell pepper/summer squash, strawberries, and corncakes topped with sour cream and verde salsa.  What a pretty meal with all those colors, huh?

The recipe for corncakes was a new one, out of my June Runners World magazine.  Figured I'd share the recipe, as it's easy.

1 can (14.75 ounces) creamed corn

1 cup yellow corn meal, divided in half

1/2 cup water

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 large egg

1/2 cup all purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

Heat creamed corn in a medium saucepan over medium high heat.  Stir in 1/2 cup cornmeal.  Whisk in water, then oil, then egg.  In a bowl, mix remaining 1/2 cup cornmeal with flour, salt, and baking powder.  Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients until just combined.  Heat a griddle (I'm sure you could use a frying pan instead) over medium heat; brush lightly with oil.  Working in batches, drop batter in generous 1/4 cup portions over hot griddle.  Cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes.  Finish with a dollop of yogurt and honey or (like us) sour cream and salsa verde.  Makes 12 cakes.  Serves 4.  Calories = 325 per serving

Also, last time I made roasted beets several people requested the recipe.  All I do is just peel the beets and chop them into 1/2 inch sized cubes.  Place on a cookie sheet and drizzle with balsalmic vinegar and olive oil.  Sprinkle with a little freshly ground pepper and sea salt.  Roast in the oven at 400* for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway. 

You can link up with Muffin Tin Monday for more fun kids' lunch ideas HERE.

Quick and Easy Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders

This is a quick, easy, and healthy dinner recipe and will spice up your chicken.  The kids approved this one too.  It's modified from a Taste of Home recipe.  Last time I made it, I served it with sauteed summer squash and zucchini, plus couscous.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup dijon mustard

2 tbsp. honey

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. water

1 pound of chicken tenders

In bowl, combine the first six ingredients.  Broil chicken for 3 minutes on each side.  Brush with mustard sauce.  Broil 4-6 minutes longer or until juices run clear, basting and turning several times in the process. 

That's it - how simple and quick is that?

Happy Mother's Day to all of my wonderful mother friends out there, and especially to the best mom I know-- my own Mom!  Hope you all have perfect days!

This post is linked with: