Fact:  I've been filling my freezer and pantry shelves a whole lot more than I've been cooking lately.  I feel a bit guilty about it and even a bit lazy for it but there it is.

Fact:  Sometimes I get to run and bike all in the same day.  I feel neither guilty nor lazy for that one AND, however strange this may sound to you, it's a huge treat.

Fact:  Even though I'm not cooking as much, I'm still knee-deep in birthdays.  So, I've been baking.

Fact:  One week ago my grass was brown.  Now it is green.  We are presently experiencing our first rainy day in what feels like a very long time, with temperatures below 25 degrees.



Fact:  Kids like cake a whole lot more if there are sprinkles on it.  Especially if putting the sprinkles on the cake turns out to be an art project.  The sprinkles on top of this birthday cake are in the shape of a 'T' at least, our 'art project' version of a 'T'.  (lot's of quotation marks in that one)



Fact:  I will bake you the cake of your choice for your birthday... eventually.  It might not get there for your birthday.  Right now I owe my BFF nothing less than: Bread, rhubarb/blueberry/strawberry sauce, vanilla cupcakes and... something else that I can't remember at the moment - I'll probably have to ask her about it.  My BFF's birthday is in July too.


Mom-in-law had a rainbow birthday cake last week.  This week my close friend T was coming over for dinner and a late celebration of his July birthday.  He said, 'Let's just get together and drink'.  I responded with a choice word or two and then told him, 'You'd better just tell me what you would like me to make otherwise I'm gonna go ahead and make you something and you might think it sucks.  It's your birthday Bitch!'  Nice friend eh?  He responded with a choice word or two of his own and then told me he wanted my Shepherd's Pie (nice choice, I agree) and chocolate cake.  T absolutely can't stand fruit in his cake (that includes jam - I found out).  So this is what I made him.  We had a great time eating Shepherd's Pie, drinking some great stuff and eating our cake too.


Chocolate Birthday Cake
adapted from Nigella Lawon - 'Nigella Bites'

2 2/3 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup + 1 tbsp sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cocoa powder (I use Cocoa Camino)
3 tsp instant espresso powder
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3 lg eggs
1/2 cup + 2 tbsp sour cream
1 tbsp vanilla
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cup chilled water

Icing:

6 oz bittersweet or dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids and up)
1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups icing sugar, sifted
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tbsp cream (a little extra if necessary)

Butter and flour (or use parchment) two 8 inch round cake tins.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix the flour, sugars, cocoa, espresso, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a bowl.  Mix and set aside.
Mix the eggs, sour cream and vanilla in another bowl.  Whisk together until creamy and set aside.
Beat together the butter and veg. oil using a machine or by hand until just mixed together.  Beat in the chilled water.
Add the flour mixture and mix together nice and slow.
Add in the egg mixture and mix until everything is blended well.
Pour equally between the two tins.
Bake for about 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Cool for about 10 minutes in the tins and then remove to cooling racks.  Cool completely.

Icing:
Melt the chocolate in a bowl over simmering water.  Set aside once melted to cool slightly.
In a large bowl beat the butter until it's all creamy.  Add in the icing sugar and beat again until well blended.
Add in the vanilla and chocolate and mix until well blended.
Add in the cream just until it reaches the desired consistency.
Ice the cake one the cakes are completely cooled.