YUM: Making a Cake with a Can of Soda

Yes. You've seen it on Pinterest and other blogs... I am here to tell you... IT'S AWESOME! And that easy. Box of cake mix. Can of soda. No icky fats. Just a chemical dump. LOL... who knows which is worse! All I know, it is cake and cake is lovely. I ate it for breakfast :)

I used a sugar-free devils food cake and a diet dr. pepper. I had hoped it would 'spice' up the chocolate a little. I couldn't taste it. But the chocolate was really really yummy! The cake is SO moist you will get it stuck all over your fork. I made cupcakes :)

Yeah... that's my messy desk in the background and my new Valentine card project.

Enjoy the cake!! here is the whole recipe:

One box of cake mix
One can of soda

Bake as directed on the box based on what you're using - cake pan/ cupcake pan... etc.

Some yummy combinations might be:

Yellow Cake - Cream Soda
Rainbow Chip - Cherry 7up
Chocolate - Dr. Pepper/ Cherry Pepsi/ Coke
White Cake - Orange Soda/ Strawberry Faygo?? Hmmm... Could be fun to try?

I don't know if I'd go the Mountain Dew route... but a Red Bull super caffeinated cake might be just what I need today... :) Possibly a Red Bull/ Carrot Cake??

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

I hope you've noticed my absence. Maybe some have, maybe some haven't. Either way. I've noticed it! I have been on a whirlwind weird and wild ride since we landed back in Michigan. Some of it wonderful... some of it depressing, harsh and just down right ugly.

Mostly I've stayed away because I didn't have anything good or positive to say. So, I just didn't! I would start a post and it would inevitably start down the nastiest spiral. I've gotten over it. I have decided if that is some of what I need to say. I may say it. Regardless, I have hit a new higher road with all that has been dragging me down. I am happy to say that! John was on the roller coaster with me. He's also doing a lot better here. He's found a great job at Stryker and started this week! That has made a huge difference in the mood of our little home here on the Michigan prairie.

I thought I would start our return to blogging off with a really, really delicious recipe!!

Zucchini Bread... Don't give me that look!! I know, I know... been there done that. So you know I had to make it different! Vegan and less oil. But then balanced the universe back with chocolate chips. Pure love... Baked love.

I got this recipe from an awesome customer I met while I made my way through the 3rd layer of hell as a part-time employee at Lowe's. Yup. I had a great time! And Robyn made it even better! We all need a job somewhere at different times in our lives. I was lucky enough to grab a great gig at Lowe's while other things in my life were trying to balance out. It was a great anchor... I just put in my two weeks notice yesterday. I've been hired, as an independent consultant, to work on several planning/ urban design jobs for the forseeable future and Lowe's, Xan and John are all competing for attention.

So, Lowe's had to be told good-bye. I now get to stay home and work with Xan! And John is happily working 1st shift and gets home at 3pm!! So, like I said, things are going really well for us again. That isn't a monetary thing, it is just a stability thing!! Feeling like we are on the same road traveling together as a family. So many upsetting things were happening (we will get to them eventually) that we couldn't find our way for a while. I was making every sacrifice I could, so was John... but nothing was coming together. Until two weeks ago. We both had awesome returned phone calls, meetings and JOBS waiting for us on Monday!!

Anyway... until next post... that will be TOMORROW... 

"Happily!", she exclaimed. 

Please enjoy Robyn's recipe handed down from her mom. To make this vegan, substitute flax seed for the eggs (3 T and 9 T of water) And applesauce for oil. That is it!! And instead of nuts, I chose to add chocolate chips!

Eat: St. Patty's Brownies

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! Maybe you've been up since 5am making some kind of kegs and eggs celebration for a local parade... Or you're a die hard Irish fan so you're thinking Rudy and maybe you'll break out the only green shirt you own because it has an ND leprechaun on it. Okay, now that I'm looking, I have 2. Either way, I am certainly the latter!

I was happily attending Notre Dame during Brady Quinn's stint as a quarterback...

We have fond memories of each other in the South Dining Hall.

No Guinness for me this year as I've recently found out that it is NOT vegetarian. Neither is Foster's, Red Stripe or Newcastle. They all contain fish guts. Using 'isinglass' which is made from fish bladders. Hmmm... yuck. And all of my dearest friends know what a huge disappointment this will be to me. I used to love Guinness. Now, I feel a little sick.

On to better things... Like brownies slathered in a mint buttercream. Oh yeah baby!!

These are incredible brownies and not one single time have I brought or sold these and not had a dozen more orders. I think they are pretty special too. I used them to woo my husband. He has a HUGE sweet tooth. I had him over for dinner and I made this incredible polenta dish and then brownies for dessert. We were engaged the next week. I'm not sayin' it was the brownies... But I'm not sayin' it wasn't a factor!!

Brownies {you could make these GF}

Get out a medium sized, heavy bottomed sauce pan. Yup, you read that right. NO BOWL. SAUCE PAN.
Oil and parchment line the bottom of an 8x8 pan. Preheat oven to 350.

Add to sauce pan over medium/ low heat... Go slow... no burning.

1 stick of butter. {I haven't had too much luck with margarine... sorry vegans :(...}
...when melted...
Add 2 T of canola or veggie oil.
...stir in...
Add 1/4 c dark chocolate chips
...melt in...
Add 1/2 c sugar {i've used all kinds to experiment - raw, truvia, etc... raw works best, you can half it with truvia if you'd like.}
...melt in...
Add 1/2 c cocoa powder {i swear by Penzey's. Use amazing cocoa and you will have amazing brownies. That's a huge benefit! You can order it online. DO NOT get dutch process}
...stir in...
Take off the heat. Turn off stove top.

A slow constant stir makes sure everything is getting together and lovely!

Add 2 whole eggs - for high altitude add another yolk. {I've tried flaxmeal... mixed results. sorry again vegans :(...}
...stir in slowly and completely...
Add 2 t of VERY good vanilla. {Not the cheap stuff}
...stir in...
Add 1/4 c of unbleached/ unbrominated flour
...stir in...

Using a rubber spatula get your mixture into the 8x8 pan nice and even. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes. You should start smelling those yummy brownies just about the time they are ready. Test your oven, of course if you know it runs hot, adjust accordingly.

High altitude folks, I lived in Denver and 350 for 25 to 30 min worked well for me! The extra yolk was KEY in the cakey factor!!

Cool those brownies and get ready for the minty buttercream!

I wish I could say I was an amazing frosting gal... but Baked out of Red Hook in Brooklyn has the best mint buttercream recipe on the planet. So I will be sharing their love with you!!

Minty Buttercream {ala Baked}

3/4 c sugar
2 T flour
3/4 c milk
2 T heavy cream
1- 1/2 sticks of butter softened but still cool, cut into small cubes
3 T creme de menthe
1 T peppermint extract

In a medium heavy-bottom saucepan, whisk together the sugar and flour together. Add the milk and cream and cook over medium heat, whisking occasionally until mixture comes to a boil and has thickened, 5 to 7 min.

Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat on high until cool. Reduce the speed to low and add the butter and mix until thoroughly combined. increase the speed to medium-high and beat until filling is light and fluffy.

Add the creme de menthe and peppermint and mix until combined. If the frosting is too soft, chill slightly in the refrigerator and then mix again until it is the proper consistency.

If the frosting is too firm, place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and re-mix to the proper consistency.

This makes enough for 2 batches of brownies :}

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
~Irish Blessing

photo from whitelotuscooks.com - YUM!!