Spicy, tender Pumpkin Cake to eat warm with whipped cream.
Lovely for dessert, but devoured 'round these parts...for breakfast! When we ran out of whipped cream I just poured heavy cream over warm pieces, in a bowl, and made my son very happy. A little grating of fresh nutmeg over the top is a nice finish.
Happy Almost Thanksgiving! Recipe for Pumpkin Cake at Dara & Co./Minnesota Monthly Magazine.
Duck eggs are prized by gluten-free bakers for adding loft and softness. My recipe for Cardamom Cake with Rhubarb Sauce & Whipped Cream (Gluten Free) at Dara & Co./Minnesota Monthly Magazine.
What do you bake a 17-year old with perfectly clear skin for her birthday? Chocolate cake with killer chocolate icing, of course. Or cupcakes, in this case, because they're so damn cute (and because you can easily send the leftovers far, far away, like to your husband's office). Yes, my stepdaughter Sasha is 17, an unbelievable number. Nathan is about to be 14, John's about to be 50, and I've got one foot in the grave myself. Good Lord.
But wait...we're celebrating! Spring birthdays and Spring itself and this cool news... I'm going to be blogging weekly - in addition to this blog - over at Minnesota Monthly magazine's website for Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl's new venture, Dara & Company. I'll be joining fellow local writers:
Yeah, that's a seriously talented group of people to be associated with and I am over-the-moon excited and honored, sheesh. There will be five posts each week, one from each of us, mine on Tuesdays about...cooking at home. Check us out!
And oh, the cake! This is a classic recipe, moist and easy, straight out of my Grandma Meyer's Bethany Reformed Church cookbook from Clara City, Minnesota. Yes ma'am it is! The icing is my killer chocolate sauce recipe, posted several times before, just a little chocolate and butter and cream. Mmmm hmmm.
Bethany Reformed Chocolate Cake
This makes two, full 9-inch cakes, or 24 cupcakes. I've halved the recipe successfully. You could bake the full recipe in a bundt or 9x13 pan (adjust baking time accordingly).
1 3/4 c. sugar
1 3/4 c. flour
3/4 c. cocoa powder (use the good stuff, it works well)
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 c. milk
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. boiling water
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans. In the bowl of a mixer, stir together the dry ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. With the mixer on low, add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients until just combined - scrape down the bowl. Turn the mixer to medium speed and beat for 2 minutes. Turn the mixer to its lowest speed and slowly add the boiling water. Turn off the mixer and stir by hand until the batter is just combined; it will be quite thin. Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool cakes in their pans for 10 minutes, then invert onto racks and cool completely. Frost with your favorite icing.
Killer Chocolate Sauce
Makes about 2 cups
Good on everything! Especially as a poured icing for chocolate (or any) cake, or warm over ice cream or cream puffs. Stirred into hot milk to taste, it makes incredible cocoa.
1/2 c. sugar
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (worth buying good chocolate)
1 c. whipping cream
3 Tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Combine all but vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Bring to a simmer, stirring several times, cook for 5 minutes, stirring several times. Remove from heat, carefully stir in vanilla. Cool to just-warm before pouring over cake or serving over ice cream or cream puffs.
Can be cooled completely and reheated later. Keeps well for up to one week in the refrigerator.
I’m Stephanie Meyer. If you're looking for fresh, delicious food to share with those you love - welcome! In addition to the recipes you'll find here, I post Tuesday recipes at TC Taste/Minnesota Monthly magazine with a focus on local, seasonal ingredients. I also cook and take photos for Andrew Zimmern's Kitchen Adventures/Food & Wine magazine, post gluten-free recipes at Stuffed Pepper, cook with food photographer Susan Powers for Shooting the Kitchen, and organize the Minnesota Food Bloggers. Let’s eat!
