And Then There Was Cake

Growing up we would have leftover cake or pie for breakfast.  I continued this with my children.  The highlight of a holiday was the next morning eating chocolate pecan pie, apple pie or ooey gooey cake for breakfast.

When I was told about the blog Desserts For Breakfast I knew it was a marriage made in heaven.

Cathie sent me a link recently about the Oreo Olalleiberry Chocolate Layer Cake suggesting the cake shots would be delicious.  I replied back, in order to make the cake shots one needed to make the cake. And the challenge was accepted but a learning curve needed to follow.  I was not familiar with olalleiberries.  Olalleberries are genetically 2/3 blackberry and 1/3 raspberry and have a short growing season.  I didn't think this time of year that was going to happen so I decided to substitute the raspberry as it is on the sweeter side.  Then the next query was what was black cocoa? 

Turns out when a recipe calls for Dutch cocoa the cocoa does not need to come from Holland, although mine does.  According to David Lebovitz Dutch-processed cocoa powder is made from cocoa (cacao) beans that have been washed with a potassium solution, to neutralize their acidity. Black cocoa is cocoa powder that has been heavily-Dutched.

Onward I went with the recipe.  Although I was able to find black cocoa online I did not find it locally and I did not want to wait so moving forward I used a full cup of my Droste cocoa which seemed to be acceptable in the cocoa world..  That was last week.   Unfortunately I did not read the part about needing 8" pans.

Nine inch  pans do not cut it when making a cake that requires cutting each layer in half.  My 9" cake pans made a very low and puffy cake. Off I went on the search for 8" cake pans.  I did not own any, Raley's did not have any and either did Rite Aid.  So I called my friend Cheryl.  She did not have any either.

  Jo-Ann Fabrics is a vendor for Wilton cake supplies so with my coupon on Monday off I went to buy cake pans.  Some fabric and two 8 inch cake pans later I was in business.

Wednesday I started baking my cake. Other then using a cup of my Droste cocoa I followed the cake recipe from the blog. After that I diverged a little.  I used the buttercream icing recipe that Kelsey and I learned when we took our cake decorating class. 

2 cups Crisco

2 tsp butter flavor

3/8 cup water

2 lb. confectioner sugar

2 tbl meringue powder

7/8 cup raspberry puree

4 tbs. cocoa

To make the raspberry puree I defrosted one l0 oz package of frozen unsweetened raspberries in a sift.  Force the thawed berries through the sift using the back of a spoon.  Add to this 1/4 cup sugar and 1 tsp lemon juice.

For the dark chocolate ganache I also did not change up the recipe.

After splitting the layers of your cake, spread a layer of buttercream frosting and coarsely chopped oreo cookies.  I used four per layer.  Frost your entire cake and then spread the cooled ganache over your cake.

         This next step is my favorite - eat some cake - for breakfast, lunch, dinner or anytime of the day.

The only thing I would do different next cake is using the leftover puree between each layer of cake giving an even more berry flavor.

I also did not have any cake to make the shots but I do have leftover buttercream and puree.  Hmmm -I  need to figure out what to do with those.

Clue #2

I finished Clue #2 on my Roxanne Mystery Shawl today.  I hit a bump or two.  Sunday I realized I was turning the cables incorrectly so I had to frog back to Clue #1. 

Clue #3 comes out on Friday and it is my understanding there will be no more "ssk ml p2".  My hands do hurt a little.

Now back to working on the Rose Stole KAL.

Hoppy Easter

Since the children are in Texas and I'm in California I like to send a box of seasonal treats each holiday. I also lately have been including a knitted washcloth in the girls boxes.

Sugar & Cream

I thought tulips were appropriate for Easter.

Nashua Creative Focus Cotton

This is the Spring Time dishcloth designed by Pam Walker.  I used a size 5 needle on both of them. 

I love making dishcloths because I can have a finished project in an evening and I need that instant gratification every so often.

I Couldn't Help Myself

Liz Abinante recently posted a new Mystery KAL. As a fan of her Saroyan I just couldn't resist the call of a mystery KAL.
First to go stash diving to see if I had any sock yarn that would work.  I needed between 410 to 430 yards in a somewhat solid color.  The one yarn I had was some Temptation which is 80% superwash merino, 10% nylon and 10% cashmere I had purchased at Madrona from Abstract Fiber that was destined to be a pair of socks for Jim in blues.  Not really my colors, so what does a girl do, she goes online shopping at Abstract Fiber for Temptation in a color she would wear.  I seem to have a thing for red right now and that is what I bought.  What is even better, Abstract Fiber is donating 50% of the purchase price of the color Red to the Red Cross to support Earthquake relief in Japan through April 30. 


The first clue was posted last Friday.  I finally worked on my shawl last night and this is what the first clue produced.

Today the second clue was posted.  I have decided to wait until a few others have knit Clue 2.  This way I get to enjoy their expertise and sharing of knowledge.

In other KAL news the Rose Stole is now half done.  It looks like a lump so I don't plan to take pictures again until it is finished and blocked.

Cassidy Finished

My Cassidy has been finished for several weeks I just haven't been able to get anyone to take my picture while I have it on.  I decided today to just take pictures.  I made this using Berroco Vintage and have enjoyed wearing it.  I've even used the hood one night after a knitting guild meeting when it was raining.

I

I got the buttons at Muse in St. Helena.  Muse is a small yarn shop in Napa Valley that I have visited and been ignored now three times (and let me reiterate - it's small)  but I do like their pearl button selection. 

The weather here is warming up so I will be probably have to put my Cassidy up but any chilly night I will look forward to wearing it.

Grilled Salmon

Jim mentioned to me the other night we had some 2008 reserve chardonnay we had purchased two years ago when the Millers were visiting that we probably need to think about drinking.  You don't have to tell me this twice.

Tonight we are having grilled salmon, risotto and a mixed green salad along with a Frank Family Vineyard 2008 Reserve Chardonnay.

Cheers!!

Rose Stole KAL

As many of you know I work in a yarn shop part time.  This week we are starting two new KAL's   I will be the moderator of the Rose Stole by Susanna IC from the Spring 2011 Interweave Knits Magazine on Thursdays.  We are doing a KAL on Saturdays of the Pinkerton Shawl by Susan Dittrich also from the Spring Interweave.

I had a skein of Jaggerspun Heather in my stash and decided to use it for the stole.  Although the pattern does not call for beads I wanted to add some in the rose bud lace border.  This project is started using a provisional cast on knitted from the center back so you will have a mirror image of the border.

Tomorrow we will begin with the provisional cast on.  The method I will be showing is one Jean showed me several years ago where using waste yarn you crochet on to your knitting needle and then you knit on to those stitches with your working yarn. 

If you want to knit a long you will need approximately 850 yards of lace weight yarn and a size 7 needle.  And of course a copy of Interweave Knits Spring 2011.