Monday, December 29, 2014

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cake Recipe

Hi dolls! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. This year, my husband and I hosted Christmas Eve and it ROCKED. It was so nice to have both families together under one roof. For the special occasion, I wanted to make a really awesome dessert. My boss is an avid baker, so I knew she would have some fun ideas for me. She gave me this recipe, and said that she makes it for every holiday at her home. Her family BEGS for it! I took her word for it, and she wasn't wrong. This cake is absolutely delicious! My husband is not a big chocolate person, and even he couldn't get enough of this cake.

I made a few minor tweaks to the original recipe (outlined below). What made this cake extra special to me was the sprinkles. A co-worker gave them to me - they are from her family in Holland. They are the real deal, no joke chocolate sprinkles and they were the perfect topping for this cake! She said when she visits her family in Holland, they melt these sprinkles on top of bread for breakfast (OMG). Check out the pictures below, and the recipe from Hershey's. Enjoy!






What You'll Need
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1-2/3 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1-1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/3 cups water
1/2 cup finely crushed hard peppermint candy (optional - I didn't use)
Buttercream frosting (recipe follows)
Additional crushed hard peppermint candy (optional - I didn't use)
Sprinkles (not from the original recipe, I added these)

Directions for Cake - Hershey's Old Fashioned Cake Recipe

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans or one 13x9x2-inch baking pan.

2. Combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large bowl; beat on high speed of mixer 3 minutes. Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and baking powder; add alternately with water to butter mixture, beating until blended. Add candy, if desired. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.

4. Frost with buttercream frosting. Just before serving, garnish with peppermint candy, if desired. Makes 12 servings.

Buttercream Frosting (makes one bowl)

6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2-2/3 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1/3 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Beat butter in medium bowl. Add powdered sugar and cocoa alternately with milk, beating to spreading consistency (additional milk may be needed). Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.



Hope you guys have a great New Year's! Until next time .. xoxo




Monday, December 8, 2014

20 Unique Gifts Under $100! For the Baker, Chef or Food/Drink Lover on Your List!

Tired of seeing all the same boring crap on every website for the “food lover in your life?” Not here! I have a lot of bakers, chefs and food enthusiasts in my life, so I myself have been searching the internet high and low for the perfect gifts. I’ve compiled some that I thought were unique and interesting, and where to buy them. I tried to include different price ranges for everyone on your list. All gifts are $100 or less. Enjoy!


  Single Serve Stack Wines
Single Stack - $12.99
Set of 4 Stacks - $49.99


Picnic Backpack for Two
$90


Muffin Top Baking Cups
$15


Berry Measuring Spoons
$4.99


NJ License Plate Cutting Board (available in other states)
$24


Zoku Ice Cream Maker Gift Set
$40.95


 Set of 6 - Hawaiian Salt Collection by Spice Lab
$34.95


Ice Cream Cone USB Drive
$11.99



Foot Network Magazine - 1 Year Subscription + Free Tote
$12.00



Bodum Caffettiera Colored French Press, 8 C. - Assorted 
Originally $34.95, now $14.95
www.chefcentral.com



 Mackenzie Childs Teapot
$100


 Toaster Grilled Cheese Bag 
Dishwasher safe, can re-use one bag up to 50 times!
$9.99


 Spiderman Apron
$19.99

  Pizzacraft - The Perfect Pizza Grilling Pizza Stone
$59.95

Alice in Wonderland Silver Flask
$25
ValleyGirlDesigns on Etsy.com




Nostalgia Electrics Retro Cookie Gun and Decorator
$19.99



kate spade new york Pearl Place Set of 2 Collection
$50 for set of two
Flavored Olive Oil Sampler Set (6 Bottles X 50ml Each)
$18

Mini Cupcake Spatulas
$3.49 each


Wilton Checkerboard Cake Pan Set
$15.99

Hope you guys got some good ideas from my list! And remember - always look for coupons or coupon codes online before purchasing. There are a lot of good deals during the holidays, so do a little research before buying. I also love the Retail Me Not app - it gives you coupons daily and tells you which stores are having sales. Happy shopping!