Yumminess in a cup (#8)

I just heard Jubilee fuss in bed.  Why is it that the minute I finally sit down to write in a quiet house my baby decides to wake up early from her nap?  Seriously, I don't get it.  Mark took the other three to gymnastics  and to a movie.  He thought I could have some nice alone time.  I can see how that is already working out.  So I will type fast and may have to pause to go get her.
This weeks cake was truly divine.  I know I say that about a lot of the cakes but this one really and truly was and is one of my favorites.  I think I'm on a wintery spicy kick.  Because this week I made pumpkin spice cake in individual ramekin's.  Did I spell that right?  Anyway,  they were so happy to eat.   I have made them a few times this winter and plan to keep making them.  Everyone loves them and gobbles them up.  They are  great for breakfast or anytime of the day.  One ramekin is quite filling so I end up eating it half at a time.  Unless I'm being a piggy.  Which has been done before.   Now pausing to get Juby.........
Alrighty, one poopy diaper changed and said pooper is now attacking sleeping cat by the fire place.  I don't have much time.  Must work faster..

Recipe:
3/4 cups butter
3/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup pureed pumpkin (real pumpkin) not pie filling
blend above together
1 &1/3cup spelt or any flour
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. allspice
mix together and then add to wet ingredients
Spray dishes with olive oil or whatever you have on hand
Fill ramekins and bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or so.
This recipe makes 6 individual desserts.  But you can easily share one.
I almost forgot the glaze frosting.  Now you could skip this I suppose but I don't think
you would want to do that. 
Glaze recipe:
2 Tbs. real maple syrup
1 Tbs. melted butter
1 Tbs. milk
2 cups powdered sugar.  Add more or less to get desired consistency.
Pour over warm cakes and proceed to eat warm goodness.

Cake batter

finished cakes

glazed: more like frosted. It came out a bit thick

Eating the yumminess

Random picture of the kids in the snow last week.

Just because!

Happy Valentines Cake (#7)

This past Monday was Valentines day.  I hope you all had a squishy, lovey day.  It was happy in the Peterson home.  I had thought about making a special heart shaped cake or something particularly valentinish, but I couldn't really think of anything and besides, I woke up thinking of my honey and what he would appreciate most, so Prune cake it was.  It's his favorite and I must say I love it too.
So for breakfast we had prune cake and eggs and fresh squeezed orange juice.  It was the perfect way to start the day.
Sorry I didn't post this sooner.  It has been a bit of a nutty week.  I guess that's just life with
four kids and homeschooling.  Even now, Juby is sitting on my lap eating dried fruit and playing with some little cups.   Mark took the other three to a movie.  So it's kind of quiet in the house. 
This is going to be a short blog.  My neck and back have not been nice to me this week and I don't want to sit here long at the computer.  But I didn't want to keep you waiting a minute longer for this delicious cake recipe.  I have to tell you it's another Pioneer woman cake.  She just rocks, what can I say.  I love her book, I love her food.  It makes me happy.  It's a pretty easy cake to make but there are a few steps and honestly I just can't sit here any longer so please go to her website and bake this cake asap.  It is glorious and if you didn't make your honey something yummy this valentines day it's not too late for some tonight.  Just be prepared for some singing and dancing as he takes a bite.  And then you might want to prepare for something else too. :)  
p.s.  Only married woman should read this post and make this cake for their honey.  I'm sorry if it's too late and you already read it.  Save it for the future.  Or make it if you want a marriage proposal from that special someone who's dragging his feet.  I can almost gaurantee he will start chasing you around the house begging for your hand in marriage.  Because he will never want to live without this cake.  And of course you too.

#6 Joy's birthday cake

Well I know I just blogged a few hours ago about last weeks cake but so that doesn't happen to me again I'm going to tell you about this weeks cake that I made today in honor of my dear Joy that turned eight.
Juby and Joy are both in bed and the boys are quietly playing legos down stairs so I really should take this opportunity while I have it.  I am tempted to go watch another episode of Pantry Raid but I will refrain.  This is my latest show by the way.  I just finished watching two seasons of Cake Boss and now I'm on to this show.  Did I tell you about my little addiction to the Cake Boss.  It got a little cheesy and dramatic but I just loved watching the cakes they would create.  And now when I go to New York this summer I must go over to Jersey and try some of the yummy looking pastries and cakes.  I'm totally serious.  It's on the list of to do's for our summer RV trip.  Two months in an RV with the whole family, travelling, sight seeing, lots of monuments, cooking on a little stove and small oven, glorified camping basically,  You can start praying for me now.  I'm already thinking about what kind of cakes I'll turn out then.  Oh goodness me.  I know it can be done.  Dear Katie did it for almost a year.  I can surely do it for two months.

Ok, back to todays birthday cake.  I have to tell you this cake has become our family birthday cake traditon.  It is such a yummy cake and super easy.  Also one of the main traditions that all the kids love to do is to decorate their own cake.  I'm a bit of a junky when it comes to sprinkles and sparkles so I have a lot of them.  So every year we just go crazy on the cake with them.  And at the end of it all it's not only covered in chocolate frosting but covered thick with colorful sprinkles.  Did I tell you already how amazing this cake is?
The first time I had this cake friends had brought it over for dessert.  It just looked like an ordinary chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.  After eating it I told her how delicious it was and then she told me these three words.  Chocolate Mayonaise Cake.  What the heck?  Are you kidding me?  Gross!  But no, she was completely serious.  I had to have the recipe.  We've been making it since.  It's just stinken good.  And the beauty about this cake is that it is so easy and fast to make.  And if you don't have eggs or butter or oil in the pantry, no problem.  There are no eggs or oil or butter in this cake.  Believe me when I tell you, you do not taste even a hint of mayo in this thing.  It is just moist, yummy chocolatey goodness.  I probably should not leave a fork on the tray.  No cake in any amount will be going in the trash this week.  Sit ups and long brisk walks are on the list.  Along with dentist appointments, mom's group, ballet, play practice, awanas, homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, Ya know, everything....  But I'm not complaining.  Just saying.

Here is the recipe:  350 for 25 minutes.  I used and 8x11 rectangular cake pan lightly spayed with oil

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. baking soda
3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa
mix altogether then add
1 cup mayo
1 cup water

That's it, Can you believe that.  So easy.  Takes like 5 minutes.
Bake it and then let sit for a few minutes before dumping it on a cookie sheet
or cutting board.  Let cool for about an hour and frost with this chocolate frosting
or frosting of your choice
 
1 stick butter melted
2/3 cup cocoa (unsweet)
1/3 cup milk
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

If you bake any of the cakes I've made so far,  you really, really should make this one asap.  Just so you can
see that I'm not lying.  Who knew mayonaise could do such wonders.

No more issues over the scooter.  Joy has her very

own now.  Yes!

Spinkles were done quickly today. She was going to

be late for ballet and wanted to quick have a piece.

Can you see the moist goodness coming forth?

How does this happen to me.  I feel like I do dishes all day.

# 5-Red Velvet Cake

I don't know how the whole week went by and I didn't get a chance to blog about last weeks cake.  Oh I know,  Joy was sick all week, and life just felt insanely nutty.  Even as I type I am thinking I really could use a break from life right now.  And now my window to blog just closed.  Juby just woke up.  But I'm going to try anyway, even though she is now sitting on my lap and wanting to nurse.  Well there a was a short pause just now.  Not that you would know it. :)  But I had to nurse.  I'm thinking it's time to wean her.  She is becoming quite violent in her asking to nurse.  We had friends over the other night and we both had a good laugh as Jubilee about ripped my shirt off.  She will be 18 months next week and I don't know how that happened so fast.   Well enough about nursing babies.  But I'm sure most of you can relate and have all been there at one time or another.

My yummy cake last week was Red Velvet Cake.  A friend made one and I thought I should do the same.
I ended up making it quite late in the day again and frosted it at 9:00pm and found my self eating a piece at 9:30 at night.  I told the kids they could have it for breakfast.  They had already eaten a donut for dessert.  Yes, there is that good mothering once again.  The donuts were Mark's fault.  I actually think thats what started Joy's puking.  But I can't prove it.  I just really hope it was though because I do not want what she had.  Ok, back to the cake.  Sorry I'm so distracted.  The phone is ringing but I'm going to ignore it. 

I should also let you know that I have been exercising.  Yes it is true.  It's not been terribly strenuous but none the less it has been exercise.  Just walking for now but it sure feels good.  I can't say it's been all the cake baking or the good weather we are having.  But I'll take it any way it comes and say that my plan is working. 
Another side note is I have purchased four new cake pans.  Two round and two square.  After making last weeks cake in a rectangular pan and then cutting in half to stack it, I thought this is lame.  I must go and buy some cake pans.  So I did.  I also bought a cheap glass cake stand with the nice dome lid that goes over top.  I was getting tired of trying to wrap foil around my cakes without it sticking to all the frosting.  Terribly bothersome.  And I also don't want to have the same old cake stand in every picture for the rest of the year.  I may have to keep buying little cake stands or cute plates to show case my work. :)  Robin has an amazing cake stand collection.  I may have to come over and have another looksy.  Maybe she wouldn't notice if one or two went missing.  This would be totally by accident of course.     

So now on to the recipe.  I compared two recipes from different books I have and they were almost the same. 
1 cup butter (called for shortening) but I don't have this item in my home.
1&1/2 cups sugar
cream together

2&1/2 cups flour
1&1/4 tsp. salt
sift together

2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1&1/2 tsp. vinegar
mix together

1 ounce red food coloring
1&1/2 tsp. cocoa powder
mix together

Add them altogether in mixer.  Adding the food coloring mixture last.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.  It says to use two round 10" pans.  You can use any pan.
I used a rectangular pan that would have been about the size of two rounds. 

I frosted it with a cream cheese frosting.  It was yummy.  We ate it for about 3 days and then it had to go
in the trash.  Cake just doesn't keep well after a few days with foil loosly wrapped around it.  Not to mention I'm just not walking enough yet to eat that much cake.