Not only found a way to make your boxed cake taste really homemade, I’ve included a frosting recipe which might be less expensive than the canned variety.
Chocolate Peppermint Cake1 box devil’s food cake mix
1 small package instant chocolate pudding mix
1 cup sour cream
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
½ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
2 teaspoons espresso powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a very large bowl, mix together everything. Batter will be thick. Pour batter into cake pan of choice. For cooking time use the cooking times on the back of the devil’s food cake box as a guide. It usually takes 25-30 minutes for two, 9-inch round pans and a bit more for a sheet cake.
Butter Cream Frosting1 cup shortening
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (or two ounces, melted, cooled, baking chocolate)
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
½ crushed peppermint candy
In a mixing bowl, cream shortening until fluffy. Add sugar and continue creaming until well blended. Add cocoa or melted chocolate, beat well. Add salt, vanilla, and whipping cream. Blend on low speed until moistened. Add extracts. Beat at high speed until frosting is fluffy. Fold in peppermint candy.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Peppermint Chocolate Cake
I discovered a recipe for Peppermint Chocolate Cake and tried it last night. The recipe was a bit detailed and I'm not entirely sure it was worth the effort. I'm not saying it wasn't tasty but I think it could have been accomplished with a lot less effort. A friend asked for the recipe and I came up with an easy alternative which should be better and moister than the one I labored over.
Simple ingredients - buy a boxed mix of devil's food cake, a bag of peppermint crunch bits (or grind up a couple of candy canes!), and a can of fudge frosting.
Bake the cake according to directions with the addition of a teaspoon of peppermint extract and two teaspoons of espresso powder. Mix the peppermint bits into the canned fudge frosting and frost your cooled cake.
I prefer baking from scratch but when the time and effort aren't rewarding enough, you can come up with a great alternative from using the help of a boxed mix - especially if you are in a hurry!
If you research the Internet, there are also suggestions on doctoring up an ordinary cake mix, too.
Simple ingredients - buy a boxed mix of devil's food cake, a bag of peppermint crunch bits (or grind up a couple of candy canes!), and a can of fudge frosting.
Bake the cake according to directions with the addition of a teaspoon of peppermint extract and two teaspoons of espresso powder. Mix the peppermint bits into the canned fudge frosting and frost your cooled cake.
I prefer baking from scratch but when the time and effort aren't rewarding enough, you can come up with a great alternative from using the help of a boxed mix - especially if you are in a hurry!
If you research the Internet, there are also suggestions on doctoring up an ordinary cake mix, too.
Won the shopping game . . .
Okay, it wasn't exactly a game but I managed to get through the store, buy up their sale items, and save half on the cost of my groceries. Just about every item I purchased was on sale. The prices were almost the amount of our economy four years ago! I don't use coupons that much, anymore. Most of the available coupons are for items I don't generally use. Even if I get an item for a good price using the coupon, it isn't likely to be worth whatever low price I get it. I seem to do better just watching the sales and buying items I regularly need/use when they are reduced rather than stock up on products just because I can use a coupon. Also, I value my time and am not interested in a full-time job working on coupons. Everything in life has a value and we have to pick and chose.
I did enjoy using coupons when my children were younger. They would happily clip coupons that would get them free candy bars or trial offers on some new cookie or cracker. I saved and they got a treat. So, I'm not saying coupons are a waste of time but they seem to have a time and place in each of our lives.
My son laughed at me when we were on vacation as I soon came to recognize the word for 'sale' in both French and German. Hey, habits don't die easily!
Candy making didn't happen today but with the beef I got on sale along with the marked down mushrooms, my husband should be very happy with his dinner. It's early so some cinnamon rolls might rise to the occasion and heat up the house and his heart when he comes home from work.
I have a midnight date with the community college class enrollment. My son's date to register for them is tomorrow and I want to get on-line the moment it hits 'tomorrow' in hopes of getting him at least one or two classes this Spring. Nothing like a State government that can't provide an education for a knowledge-hungry citizen. Have to wonder, however, why the teachers salaries seem to increase, the administration get their annual raises, yet they have to cut back on college classes. Something not right with the world. Anyway, we have been praying for a reasonable outcome for getting into a couple of classes and finally getting started in college.
I did enjoy using coupons when my children were younger. They would happily clip coupons that would get them free candy bars or trial offers on some new cookie or cracker. I saved and they got a treat. So, I'm not saying coupons are a waste of time but they seem to have a time and place in each of our lives.
My son laughed at me when we were on vacation as I soon came to recognize the word for 'sale' in both French and German. Hey, habits don't die easily!
Candy making didn't happen today but with the beef I got on sale along with the marked down mushrooms, my husband should be very happy with his dinner. It's early so some cinnamon rolls might rise to the occasion and heat up the house and his heart when he comes home from work.
I have a midnight date with the community college class enrollment. My son's date to register for them is tomorrow and I want to get on-line the moment it hits 'tomorrow' in hopes of getting him at least one or two classes this Spring. Nothing like a State government that can't provide an education for a knowledge-hungry citizen. Have to wonder, however, why the teachers salaries seem to increase, the administration get their annual raises, yet they have to cut back on college classes. Something not right with the world. Anyway, we have been praying for a reasonable outcome for getting into a couple of classes and finally getting started in college.
Photo of the Day . . .
http://floppingaces.net/2011/12/09/photo-of-the-day-12/
This has got to be the sweetest, saddest, most poignant pictures I have ever seen.
This has got to be the sweetest, saddest, most poignant pictures I have ever seen.
Peanut Butter Fudge
Sharing a recipe I plan on making today, time permitting. I like complicated fudge recipes but don't mind having an easy time of it with a fudge recipe that doesn't require a temperature gauge for success! You could add some peanuts to the mix and raise it up a notch, too!
Peanut Butter Fudge
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon orange extract*
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup marshmallow creme
Sift the confectioners' sugar into a large bowl; set aside. Grease a 9-inch square pan; line with plastic wrap.
Combine brown and granulated sugars in a medium saucepan with the butter and milk. Heat over medium heat, stirring, until blended and butter is melted. Bring to a full boil; continue boiling, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Quickly stir in the vanilla, orange extract, peanut butter, and marshmallow creme; pour over the confectioners' sugar and stir to mix well. Spoon into the prepared pan.
Cover with plastic wrap, pat down to level out and chill until firm. Cut into squares when firm. If the fudge is difficult to cut, let it stand at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting.
*I think a touch of orange really brings out the flavor of peanut butter. You can skip it if it isn't to your liking.
Peanut Butter Fudge
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
6 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon orange extract*
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup marshmallow creme
Sift the confectioners' sugar into a large bowl; set aside. Grease a 9-inch square pan; line with plastic wrap.
Combine brown and granulated sugars in a medium saucepan with the butter and milk. Heat over medium heat, stirring, until blended and butter is melted. Bring to a full boil; continue boiling, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Quickly stir in the vanilla, orange extract, peanut butter, and marshmallow creme; pour over the confectioners' sugar and stir to mix well. Spoon into the prepared pan.
Cover with plastic wrap, pat down to level out and chill until firm. Cut into squares when firm. If the fudge is difficult to cut, let it stand at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting.
*I think a touch of orange really brings out the flavor of peanut butter. You can skip it if it isn't to your liking.
Funny AND True . . .
"Those who believe in telekinetics, raise my hand"
-- Kurt Vonnegut
-- Kurt Vonnegut
"Ours is the age that is proud of machines that think and
suspicious of men who try to."
-- H. Mumford Jones
-- H. Mumford Jones
"Government is too big and too important to be left to the
politicians."
-- Chester Bowles
-- Chester Bowles
Encouraging thought . . .
"What we think or what we know
or what we believe is, in the
end, of little consequence.
The only consequence is what we do"- John Ruskin
or what we believe is, in the
end, of little consequence.
The only consequence is what we do"- John Ruskin
Happy Sunday Morning . . .
I always look forward to Sunday Mass but a friend arrived home for vacation, yesterday, so we are all looking forward to seeing him today. That's the trouble with children . . . they grow up, go back and forth on planes, and act . . . well, grown up! It doesn't seem to take long, either!
Discovered a way to make a 'crunchy' cake frosting without nuts! I made a chocolate layer cake and added crushed candy cane to the fudge frosting. It was a success and gave just enough peppermint to the cake to make it interesting but now overpowering. My son had it for breakfast so I guess it passed inspection.
Staying up until midnight this evening as my son's second try at registering for college classes is tomorrow and I want to be on the computer a minute after midnight in hopes of getting at least a couple of classes. It isn't much fun for an eighteen year old to have to sit out his first semester at college because there wasn't enough room at the community college. It's a misguided State Government that wants to enforce the Dream Act for undocumented students when they can't even provide for the ones born and raised here. A friend with an earlier registration has been kind of watching the classes and told us that as of yesterday, there were no more English or Biology classes available. Not sure what we are going to do if my son can't get anything again and miss out on an entire year of college . . . What was supposed to be his first year of college!
Looking forward to the rest of the week, however! My oldest daughter is coming home, diploma in hand, from college. Over the weekend, we pick up my youngest daughter. She graduated in September but stayed at the college to pick up some extra classes that apply to her ultimate goal.
I think we have 'lived out of the refrigerator' as far as we can this week! Last night's dinner was more interesting than usual. Time to find some meat on sale.
The wind has finally stopped and rain is in the forecast. It has been beautiful and relatively pleasant during the day but you can always feel the cold creep in under the door when the sun goes down.
Discovered a way to make a 'crunchy' cake frosting without nuts! I made a chocolate layer cake and added crushed candy cane to the fudge frosting. It was a success and gave just enough peppermint to the cake to make it interesting but now overpowering. My son had it for breakfast so I guess it passed inspection.
Staying up until midnight this evening as my son's second try at registering for college classes is tomorrow and I want to be on the computer a minute after midnight in hopes of getting at least a couple of classes. It isn't much fun for an eighteen year old to have to sit out his first semester at college because there wasn't enough room at the community college. It's a misguided State Government that wants to enforce the Dream Act for undocumented students when they can't even provide for the ones born and raised here. A friend with an earlier registration has been kind of watching the classes and told us that as of yesterday, there were no more English or Biology classes available. Not sure what we are going to do if my son can't get anything again and miss out on an entire year of college . . . What was supposed to be his first year of college!
Looking forward to the rest of the week, however! My oldest daughter is coming home, diploma in hand, from college. Over the weekend, we pick up my youngest daughter. She graduated in September but stayed at the college to pick up some extra classes that apply to her ultimate goal.
I think we have 'lived out of the refrigerator' as far as we can this week! Last night's dinner was more interesting than usual. Time to find some meat on sale.
The wind has finally stopped and rain is in the forecast. It has been beautiful and relatively pleasant during the day but you can always feel the cold creep in under the door when the sun goes down.
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