In pharmacy school, I excelled in lab work, especially compounding. Come to think about it, that’s the only thing I excelled in. Oh well, the end goal was met – I graduated. Now as an adult, I excel in culinary skills. Compounding and cooking/baking are similar in concept. So, it’s only natural I can hold my own in the kitchen. Come to think about it, that’s the only thing I excel in. But let’s not go there. This is a happy post about cake. Besides, I’m still working on THAT end goal. Okay?
This past weekend, Traverse City had a welcome break from the heat. No, it didn’t snow, but we did get shit loads of rain. And, when I say heat, I am being a bit dramatic – mid 90’s in August is expected. Still, the temps dropped twenty five degrees. Since the summer average highs aren’t conducive to quality kitchen time, I took advantage of this un-heatwave and turned up a different kind of heat to bake a cake – the oven. A few months back, I posted that I often use the grill as an oven for dinner items. (#billowing smoke 06-03-2016) But, baking a cake on the grill … . #not going to happen.
random cake crumbs
- yellow cake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles remains my cake of choice
- raspberry filling totally rocks my palate
- fuck that whole ‘red food dye is bad for you’ shit – a good red velvet cake can put me in a dessert coma any time, baby
- I usually only have ice cream with chocolate cake
- never understood that lava cake craze a few years back
‘the recipe’
- 1 egg
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1/3 cup applesauce
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups flour
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoonful baking soda
- 1 teaspoonful salt
- 1 cup brewed coffee
Combine first 4 wet ingredients; whisk 5 dry ingredients together. Beat wet ingredients into dry; slowly incorporate coffee. Mixture will be thin. Grease 13×9 pan, then dust with cocoa powder. Bake at 350 for approximately 33 minutes.
Finish with frosting of choice – chocolate, vanilla buttercream, and cream cheese all work well. I usually alternate my kids, asking their frosting preference. A local coffee shop makes an espresso frosting that is just fucking amazing.
When I was thinking about cake and the post, this song immediately came to mind. Truthfully, I think it’ the dumbest song ever. The dude goes from singing about cake anxiety to cotton dresses. It was 1968. So, … . I’m sure there’s some deep metaphorical shit going down in the lyrics, but I ain’t that deep. I just like cake.
someone left the cake out in the rain
Last slice
If you are at a party and someone asks the question, “What kind of cake is it?” Think of my friend Paul and politely respond “it’s good, you should have some.” ( The Cake Test 05-27-2013 )
