First Goal Finished!

           On Friday I completed goal number number 9.

           #9. Make a chocolate cake from scratch.

           If I do say so myself, it was delicious!!

           Here is the recipe and pictures!

 Cake Ingredients:
    1 c. Butter
    2 c. Sugar
    2 Eggs
    1 c. Buttermilk (I made my own with
              1 T. Lemon Juice and 1 c. Milk)
    1/2 c. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
    2 1/2 c. Flour
    2 t. Baking Soda
    1/2 t. Salt
    1 c. Boiling Water

   Side Note:
As I mentioned yesterday, I've been sick with a cold/nasty cough this weekend.  I just discovered a tea I really like so I've been sipping on it all weekend. Including while I made the cake.  Just an FYI, I washed my hands all the time and did not lick any spoons or beaters.  Anyhoo...this tea is a new favorite.

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease and dust pans with cocoa.  (I really liked this, I usually use flour, but I'm going to try using different things.)

    Use 9 x 13 or 2 - 8" round pans.

    Sift together cocoa, flour, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

    In a large bowl cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in eggs one at a time.

    Beat in the flour mixture and buttermilk alternately.  Mix just until incorporated.

    Add the boiling water and beat for one full minute.

     The recipe said bake for 30 to 40 min, but it was more like 50 to 60.

    So, the picture....I thought I had 2 - 8" pans...turns out I had 2 - 7" pans.  I just kept baking the cake like normal and this is what spilled over.

    Like I told my mom, when I called to ask her baking advice, I chose to look at this, not as a failure, but as...I get to eat cake for lunch!  Even the overflow cake was nummy.

    I baked the cakes in the morning so they would have lots of time to cool.  In the afternoon I made two batches of chocolate ganache.

Chocolate Ganache:
9 oz. Chocolate
1 c. Heavy Cream

The recipe called for bittersweet chocolate, I ended up using mostly bittersweet and a little semi-sweet.  I think next time I make it I'll use half and half or all semi-sweet chips.

Heat the cream until just boiling, stir occasionally.  Once it's boiling pour over chocolate chips.  Whisk until smooth.

    I made two batches of ganache.  The first one I let cool and then whipped until it was light and fluffy.  That was the filling and edging.  The second one I poured over the top, starting in the center.

    Here's the finished product!

    The girls I had over to help me eat it told me it was good.  So...goal number 9...check!









           319 days left.  24 goals to go.



Your's affectionately,
A.H.