Chocolate and Roses . . . in June

Here's my favorite foodie Friday post -- featuring the flora of my backyard and . . . chocolate cake!

Summer Baking and Berries

So recently I discovered that the Cake Boss show is on Netflix...! Needless to say I have been watching show after show drooling over Buddy Valastro's confectionary creations. Last night my husband noted, "I see the physical pain in your eyes knowing you 'can't' have cake anymore. Why don't we just bake our own cake?"

Genius!

We set out right away to bake up a gluten-free, double-layer chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and strawberries.

I used a treasured recipe from a family friend, so I won't be posting the cake's recipe. The frosting, however, was the simplest thing of my life: 1 can of chocolate frosting and 1/2 a tub of Cool Whip. Delicious! Here are some photos of the process.

Doesn't that batter look fantastic? We only snuck a few tastes off the spatula...

In the oven! While they were baking...we whipped up the frosting! As previously mentioned, it was simply a can of chocolate frosting and 1/2 a tub of Cool Whip blended together. We covered the entire cake easily with it (as well as between the layers), and had no leftovers.

Yum!

The cakes cooled and we prepped the decorating area, pretending to use cake lingo from the Cake Boss.

And the decorating begins!

Props to my husband for the gorgeous frosting rope, smooth sides, and pretty strawberry flower!

So much fun!! And seriously, so delicious. It was fantastic eating cake again! I'm so thankful to the sweet lady who helped me make my own cup-for-cup flour.

On another summery note, berries are awesomely cheap at Aldi. There will be much enjoyment of berries to come.

Enjoy with life.

Funfetti Valentine Cake with Fudge Frosting

 For my favorite Valentine -- Funfetti cake with chocolate frosting is his favorite!

For the cake recipe, click here!

I've had the Fudge Frosting recipe for a while, but honestly don't remember where it came from! In my recipe files, I actually titled it "Perfect Chocolate Frosting" with a sub-heading that reads: Finally, a gorgeous, delicious frosting simple enough for me! If I had to guess, I'd say it probably came from my 1950 Betty Crocker Cookbook. You seriously can't go wrong with her cake and frosting section.

Ingredients:

2 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate (or cocoa powder equivalent)
2 Tbsp. butter or margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
3 Tbsp. hot water

Melt chocolate and butter on stove in a saucepan on medium heat.

Once combined and melted, take off heat. Stir in powdered sugar and hot water. Voila! Ready to frost!

I decorated with bright red, round sprinkles and a dusting of powdered sugar. My Valentine actually helped me decorate, which made it extra fun!

Perfect!

Now...to round up the scissors, glue, Sharpies and scrapbooking paper...


Happy Valentine's Day!

Wordless Wednesday...

I recently noticed another food blogger engaging in "Wordless Wednesdays." I absolutely love that idea! I have no idea which food blog I was on, so unfortunately, I can't give her the props. But here's to Wordless Wednesdays...photos of the aforementioned tea cups, tiramisu cake and a chilled watermelon gazpacho.