Looking out the window

Clara Valley is very quiet other than the birds which are starting to arrive from the south to give us their beautiful early morning songs . One of us is pretty good at hearing a bird and knowing what kind it is.  The other one is better in the kitchen :)  I always feel the birds come back too soon, especially the Robins..No worms to be found here.  Then again maybe they enjoy this cold, clean fresh air that makes me want to take a few deep breaths when I let the dogs out in the morning.

Traffic is occasional and usually we can tell who went by from the sound of the vehicle.  If not it's a quick glance out the window.   Taking the dogs for a walk is a pleasure, no leashes, few cars or dogs if we decide to do a road walk. For some reason they have learned when we say, "car" they come running to sit next to us until the car goes by.   Ruby loved chasing rabbits and it was fun to watch her, unfortunately one time she came out smelling like a skunk.  This is life in the country. Our favorite walks are in the woods and usually up hill at some point. All  worth it because the dogs do double time and are completely tired out when we get home.  Of course we are too!

If I am sitting on the porch or looking out the window at the hills, fields, Clara Creek and farm animals I tend to  get lost in thoughts and memories. It's always nice to revisit even for just a little bit.  Not all memories are happy ones but even the sad ones refresh what use to be.  I wonder, do others have these moments or just me and my rotating memory files?   Taking time to go back gives me an inner peace and now it also gives me ideas for future blogs.  It can be as simple as picking wild strawberries with my mom on the farm up Horse Run.  Now we pick them  on our own little farm in Clara.  The difference being I was much shorter, younger and didn't  moan when standing up way back when ;)   It is worth the pain to enjoy the free fruit and a beautiful day.   ~thankful~
So with that passing thought gone...........Let's bake a cake or two!   What better way feel cozy on a cold day than to start the oven and smell cake baking?

Let's go back to yesterday :)  Buttermilk was the topic and I still have two wonderful recipes to share or pass on!

Molasses 6 Layer Stack Cake:  Bake at 350 degrees, grease and flour the bottom of 8 or 9 inch cake pans.

Cream together 1-cup sugar, 1-cup shortening, add 1-egg and 1-cup of molasses.  Sift together 3-cups flour, 1-tsp baking soda, 1-tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp-ginger, 1/2 tsp-cloves, 1/2 tsp-nutmeg and 1/2-tsp of salt.  Add alternately to creamed mixture with 1-cup of buttermilk.  If you are lucky enough to have more than 2 round cake pan that is great.  I don't so I have to re-grease and flour the pans between baking the layers.  You will have to judge how much batter to put in the pan to end up with 6 layers..If you end up with 5 or 7 it is no big deal..  When you take them from the oven wrap them in a warm towel, I put a paper towel between each layer.  When they are all done start the stacking.  Between each layer spread apple butter or spice up some applesauce to use.  Either or is tasty!  You can use the frosting of your choice or whip cream.   Instead of frosting I dust the cake with powdered sugar.  It's a refreshing change from the usual chocolate or vanilla cakes and has that old fashioned taste to it and goes great with my maple tea.  Yep, there's that "ahhhh" feeling ;)

Half of the Molasses Stack Cake, I always share with my neighbors ♥

One more buttermilk recipe and that will be it for a little while.   My family has always said, all it takes is an ounce of "Gross" blood in you and chocolate is your choice of flavors!  This cake is light, moist and just plain delicious.  I wish I could think of better words to describe the cake it deserves.                              
Here's to the family and chocolate.

Chocolate Mocha Cake: Bake at 350 in greased and floured 8" or 9" cake pans.

In a large mixing bowl add-1 3/4 cups of flour, 2 cups of sugar, 3/4 cup of dark baking cocoa, 2 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 tsp. salt and mix together.  In a smaller bowl add 1 cup buttermilk, 1/2 cup veg. oil, 2 large eggs(room temperature), 1 tsp. vanilla, mix together and add to dry ingredients and beat on low speed adding 1 cup of  fresh brewed hot coffee.  Divide in baking pans and bake for 30-40 minutes until toothpick comes out clean from center of cake or center springs back to the touch.  Cool on a baking rack.

Shave some chocolate on top and call it "triple chocolate mocha"

Mocha Frosting:  6 ozs of semisweet chocolate melted in a double boiler and set aside to cool a little. (my term ;), in a mixing bowl beat 2 sticks of butter til light and fluffy, stir in 1 lg. egg yolk and 1 tsp of vanilla. Now beat in 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, the warm melted chocolate and 1 TBSP of strong coffee (not hot).  Beat til blended about a minute.  Don't over beat.

I know some are leery of raw eggs, me not so much when there is only one in a recipe.  One, two or more I guess it only takes one..I am lucky to have farm fresh eggs from my lovely girls.  I trust them :) This is is the only recipe I use that calls for a raw egg yolk.  I don't know what the frosting would be like without it but can assure you it is so creamy and melts in your mouth.  No thick, sugary frosting with this, it's close to a whip cream texture.

The guy that lives with me couldn't wait.  This is his favorite chocolate cake and his expert opinion is............not heavy but really moist and the frosting is not gloppy sweet.  I think he's hoping I won't give most of it away.  To late it's promised to the grands.

What ever you have to offer others............."Pass it On"   it's worth it :)