Well, hello there. I really didn't forget about you...I actually think about you every day. Somehow I just run out of minutes and hours to come and visit, though. But here I am....TuhDUM!!!
We have had a lot on our plates - mostly me feeling less than meh and just not wanting to do anything but sit on our new and glorious couch. Our old couch was horrid. We had it for-ev-errrr (you know you are saying it like Squints in The Sandlot, so just do it again with pride this time...) Literally every time you sat down, you took a piece of it with you when you got back up. It was oh-so-comfortable, but pleather only lasts so long. The jungle kitty wasn't kind to our furniture while she had her claws, and between her and the boys using it as a trampoline/superhero launching pad/rolling mat, it had a very difficult life. Poor old couch. So, off to Goodwill it went. Home came the new baby that is so big and nice and comfy. The best thing...the vacuum fits under it. No more lost cereal under the couch, no more lost toys that are 'just...out...of....reach....oh....whatever just stay there dumb toy blah'. I can reach it all and I love it. We all love big blue. The boys are still learning not to use it as a diving board...but they are boys, after all, so it is bound to happen sometimes.
Little Transformer's birthday is just around the corner and I am trying to plan but still keep things low-key. It is his 5th birthday, so it does have to be somewhat spectacular! But, I don't want to over-do because his memory is astounding. If we live it up one year, we will have to top it every year afterwards. At that rate, by the time he was 16 we would be on that ridiculous show that was (is?) on MTV about the parents spending a million dollars on the dumb birthday party. Yep...that won't be happening. So..I'm aiming for fun but mellow and memorable. With bunting. We mustn't forget the bunting. : )
The one thing we are struggling with for this event though is....(dun dun dun).....what gift!?? This sweet, wonderful boy asked for, "hugs and kisses....and maybe something to open, too." But when you ask him what he really, really wants he says "hugs and kisses". Well, of course my sweet, shining little star! I will shower you with love and kisses and hugs forever and ever just because you said that! And, because that is your adorable little answer, I want to give you more! Just because you are so dang cute! Let the cycle continue. *sigh* We know we are getting him a new Bible. That is all we know. Hugs and kisses and a Bible. I am sure he wants something to PLAY with, though. We'd be the lamest parents ever if he didn't even get something to play with from his mom and dad, haha. I guess I just need to go shopping - without kids. : )
He has asked for a chocolate cake (without the amazing chocolate frosting I made...boo). I played around with this recipe. It was pretty dang good. It actually tasted like real cake...with real flour. Not like those gross cakes you get at the grocery store (I hate that kind of cake), but moist, dense enough, still soft and springy. It did have a little bit of crumble to it, but honestly...it is cake. What cake doesn't do that other than creepy grocery store cake? If you try it let me know what you think. And no, it is not low-cal, it is not health food, and no your thighs and/or butt will not thank you, but your belly will say yum-yum. Just sayin'. I wish I still had one of those cupcakes right now! Nomnomnom.
Chocolate Cake
Dry Ingredients
1/2 C sorghum flour
1/2 C millet flour
1 C gluten-free all purpose flour (I use Bob's Red Mill...love me or hate me...we like it)
3 T potato starch
3/4 tsp. xanthan gum
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
2/3 C sugar
2/3 C brown sugar
1/2 C unsweetened cocoa powder
Wet Ingredients
1 C heavy cream
1/2 C coconut milk
3/4 C very soft butter
3 large eggs
Preheat your oven to 350.
Grease and flour two 8-inch rounds if making cakes, or use liners if making cupcakes.
1) In a smedium (if you're not hip to that term, it is a small-medium sized bowl...) size bowl, sift together all of your dry ingredients. Make sure you really sift well to get all of the GF ingredients combined.
2) In a separate, larger bowl, mix cream, coconut milk and butter just until blended.
3)Add half of dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix well.
4)Add two eggs and mix, then add the rest of the dry ingredients. About halfway through add the other egg. Mix well to combine thoroughly.
Separate batter into your two cake pans, or scoop into cupcake liners, filling 3/4 of the way. For cupcakes I have found that if I keep them a little more rounded in the liner, they bake up prettier.
Bake 2 8-in rounds until the top springs back...though I still do the toothpick test. Unfortunately I don't know how long to tell you on this size since I have only made the cupcakes...But I would start checking around 28-30 minutes probably. That seems to be what is usually on the cake mix boxes haha.
For cupcakes, bake 18 minutes, though 17 minutes is probably sufficient. Mine were perfect at 18.
* I don't have a Kitchen Aid stand-up mixer, so I have to vary the way I mix things to prevent my little hand mixer from burning out! If you have a heavy-duty mixer you could probably just throw this all in your bowl and beat until it is all combined. Gluten-free batters tend to climb up the beaters and are very thick and sticky, so sometimes you just have to be careful : ) I have never had any issues with the mystery batter creature trying to overtake my mixer....ha. Just like I never speak in sarcasm. Ever.
Oh My Stars The Best Chocolate Frosting Ever
8 oz cream cheese, softened
4 T softened butter
2/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
1-2 tsp. vanilla
powdered sugar
coconut milk
Mix softened cream cheese and butter well with a mixer, and slowly add in half of the cocoa powder. Be careful because it will probably 'poof' at you! Add a little coconut milk to thin it a bit and then add the rest of the cocoa powder, mix until combined. It will probably be really thick, add the vanilla, a bit more coconut milk and some powdered sugar. Add enough powdered sugar and coconut milk to achieve a sweetness and consistency that you like. Add a little bit at a time because you can always add more, but you can't take away! : )
I really can't wait to make these again. We all really enjoyed them....and I enjoyed way too many of them. Yikes. Who doesn't love a good chocolate cake though? Seriously?
Well, I'm outta here now that I have a lovely craving for cake to lull me off to sleep. We'll see how that treats the baking bug tomorrow... we'll see what I can leave you with next time!
xo
