chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting

i finally did it! my first ever cake & frosting made from scratch. i have to admit that the whole baking process was nerve wracking. [i think any novice at baking will share my sentiment]. but practice makes perfect, so here goes my first attempt.

Ingredients:

Chocolate Cake

• 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cups cocoa powder
• 2 tsps baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup half & half
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee (1 tsp coffee w/ 1 cup water)

Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

2 sticks of butter, room temperature  

1 1/2 cups confectioners sugar 

1/2 cup cocoa powder 

1 tsp vanilla

5 tbsp half & half 

Instructions:

1. in a bowl, mix flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

2. in a separate bowl, mix half & half, oil, eggs & vanilla.

3. add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. then pour the hot coffee. mix well.

4. pour the batter equally in 2 round pans. bake in a preheated oven at 350F for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

5. cream the butter & sugar for about 3 minutes until it is light & fluffy. slowly add the cocoa. add vanilla & half & half.

6. completely cool the cake before frosting. 

i got the original recipe from baked bree. i cut down the amount of sugar & made substitutions on some ingredients. i need more practice with frosting for sure. this is certainly a recipe keeper for me.

overall, its a very moist cake. my hubby's family enjoyed it as well. i'm giving myself a good pat on the shoulder. i can't help but smile while eating the cake [because honestly, it was delicious].

ranch pasta salad

i'm sharing my 15 minute ranch pasta salad today.

combine all the ingredients in a large bowl & mix well. refrigerate & chill for an hour before serving.

this is an easy side dish to bring for a potluck, picnic or get together. and i'm taking this to our in-laws place for easter lunch later.

happy easter to all!

my dearest little girl (28 mos)

you are officially 29 months old today. i got all my days mixed up. this was meant for yesterday. but it's just a day off, so no biggie.

your potty training has progressed. as long as we're home, you're very consistent. you still need help pulling down your undies [or sometimes you don't want to wear anything at all].

another funny [but somehow alarming] situation that happened this month...you heard us cursing. and of course you started saying it too! honestly, i was worried. you shouldn't be learning this but it's our fault. so sorry. when you blurt it out, we just ignore it. and thank goodness it only lasted for days! you haven't spoken any of those words until now. hopefully, it stays that way [bite our tongues].

B-I-N-G-O dance

DIY - homemade playdough (part II)

last summer, i made my first homemade playdough for avery. she played with it a few times before i found this recipe.

combine ingredients in a bowl & stir until smooth. pour mixture in a pot & cook on medium high heat for about a minute. stir constantly & make sure it does not stick to the bottom. remove from the pot & cool in the counter. knead a few times until it is nice & soft. 

 

this is the basic recipe & can be doubled or tripled. for more colors, divide the mixture before adding the mixade (or food coloring). then cook individually.

the playdough is so soft...much softer than a stress ball. and it is actually therapeutic [for me]. =)

chocolate fudge cookies

i was going thru my printed recipe binder yesterday & found this. luckily, i have the exact cake mix on hand so i went ahead & baked.

Ingredients:

• 1 (18.25 oz) package devil's food cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. In a bowl, stir cake mix, eggs & oil until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls & place 2 inches apart on the cookie sheet.
2. Bake for 8-10 minutes in a preheated oven @ 350F. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

after i took the cookies out of the oven, i added more chocolate chips on top.

hmmmm! chocolate rush! chocolate overload! one bite & i'm done. don't get me wrong. it's good [but just too sweet for me]. maybe next time i'll try a different chocolate cake mix [like dark chocolate].

my shopping brag bag [3]

days go by so fast when the weather gets warm. march felt like spring & summer this year. and as a result, winter clearance items came early as well.

these were my clearance finds:

@ Target

*girl's ankle boots - $6.88 [70% off]

*women's sweater tights - $0.60 each [after $3/1 tpc] (orig price $12)

@ Kohl's

got this gift card in the mail

*girl's sundress - $2.99 [after $10 gift card] (orig price $26)

i also received a $10 *printable coupon in my email

*girl's leggings, denim pants & cargo pants - $1.00 [after $10 pc*] (orig price $55)

@ Macy's

*junior girl's faux fur sleeveless vest - $2.98 (orig price $34.99)

*junior girl's knit sweater - $7.99 [orig price $29.99]

*junior girl's knit tights - $3.99 [orig price $19.50]

*2 women's tights - $4.99 each [orig price $20]

*women's ankle boots - $12.15 [orig price $49]

*girl's sweater - $2.98 [orig price $19.99]

*girl's ear muffs - $2.99 [orig price $14.98]

*girl's winter hat - $3.48 [orig price $16.98]

and my grocery savings:

@ Walmart

*3 huggies slip on diapers - $7.97 each [after $1.50/1 mic]

*4 glade air freshener - free [after $2/2 mic]

*1 pampers soft care wipes 72 ct - $1.22 [after $0.75/1 mic]

*1 reynolds wrap 85 sq ft (heavy duty aluminum foil) = $1.98 [after $1.50/1 mic]

@ Target

*3 huggies pull-ups = $7.49 [after $2/1 tpc]

*1 huggies pull-ups (night time) = $7.49 [after $2/1 target catalina]

*3 pamper's soft care wipes 72 ct = $1.22 each [after $0.75/1 mic]

*4 up & up facial tissue 100 ct = $0.49 each [after $.50/1 tpc]

*2 reynolds wrap 50 sq ft (100 recycled aluminum foil) = $1.49 each [after $1.50/1 mic]

> mic - manufacturer's internet coupon (coupons.com)

> tpc - target printable coupon

checkout my brags from previous months

|january| |february|

my homemade applesauce

all the healthy pancakes & muffins i cooked & baked always included applesauce. and i'm proud to say, i make my own applesauce. it's very easy to prepare and i'll show you how....

ingredients:

6 lbs gala apples (16 medium sized), cubed & washed

1/4 cup water

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tbsp lemon juice

put all ingredients in a crockpot & cook on high for 2-4 hours. stir occasionally. [that's it!]

after the applesauce cools down, place it in quart size freezer bags [each contains 2 cups]. store in the freezer.