So, I pulled out the box and fingered through all the sweets. It's Christmas and my in-laws are in town. Ironically, it is also my father-in-law's birthday and he loves chocolate cake. Therefore, the "Favorite Company Chocolate Cake" sounded perfect. I had never made a cake from scratch so this was a bit daunting. I got out all the ingredients (I actually had most of them!) and stared them down. They were not going to scare me. I wanted to make a 2-layer cake, but the recipe said to use a tube pan! What's a tube pan? This, of course, began the calls to my mother. She didn't know anything about a tube pan either, great! Well, I will just double it and pray to the cooking gods! Her cake called for 3 squares of unsweetened chocolate. I didn't have that so I decided to use Toll house semi-sweet chips. I poured the chips in my hand in a square shape...it seemed technical enough to me! I melted it and threw it in. I sifted flour for the first time...we pretended it was snow. Okay, so the batter was all done and it was incredibly thin. Yes, this would be call number two to mom. Her questions were hilarious, "Is it like milk?" "Like pancake batter?" Unfortunately, my response was, "Uh, no." We decided that, because I had followed the recipe, it had to be okay. Yes, it was time to bake!
On to the frosting, "Cream Dream Dot Frosting" sounded delicious. Unfortunately, I had the same issue- needed Baker's Dot Chocolate. I did not have that; in fact, I don't think anybody did! The recipe called for a dash of salt, and I was so excited to use my mini measuring spoons. Yes, I have a dash measuring spoon. Hee hee!
I took the cake out a minute early...I just got nervous, like in Terms of Endearment when Shirley McClaine wakes up her daughter to make sure she's still alive! The cake was like my baby! I used dental floss to cut off the bump in the cake. Of course, everyone in the house had an opinion about what kind of floss I should use...I am sure Martha Stewart never dealt with this!! Well, I didn't butter the pan enough because it wouldn't come out. Argh! Then, I finally get out the first layer and place it on my pretty cake dish. (I had parchment paper down so I could frost it and still make it look pretty.) I put the next layer on. Ooooops, I forgot to frost it. Phew, it came off without breaking. While I was frosting, everyone munched on the cake scraps. It was delicious. And, I might add it went really well with the Bella Sera Pinot Grigio I was drinking. Yes, I was drinking...my in-laws are here for a week...you do the math. Anyway, back to the cake. I was so excited that everyone loved it!! And, I cried a little...my first recipe was a success and I owed it all to my beautiful grandmother.
Ultimately, the frosting didn't have the rave reviews the cake had received. Apparently, too sweet is just too sweet...note to self. I used the semi-sweet chips again and this time they didn't upstage their original counterpart. Oh well, I can't be perfect. Oh, and the recipe called for an egg. I didn't think anything of it until I was laying in bed that night thinking, should I have put the cake in the fridge...is that egg going to go bad...am I going to make everyone sick on Christmas...is everyone going to get violently ill on the first recipe...this would be a disaster...my chest was burning...I think I was having a panic attack...the pretty cake dish won't fit in the fridge...but everyone could get sick...can I call my mom this late...chest pains...the stress of it all...toss...turn...snore...
By the way, no one got sick. And, my father-in-law said it was a perfect cake...even after his fourth, maybe fifth, slice.
As it stands~
guests: 6
mistakes: 1
emotions: 3
meltdowns: 1
recipes: 2
The Recipes
Favorite Company Chocolate Cake
3 squares unsweetened chocolate (used 3 mini palm-fulls of Toll house semi-sweet chips)
1/2 cup margarine, softened (used butter)
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups hot water
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
Generously grease a 9" tube pan (doubled recipe and used 2 9" rounds). Melt chocolate in a double boiler over hot water. Cool. Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed just until mixed. Beat in cooled chocolate. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/4 hours. Cool on wire rack 10 min. Remove from pan and cool thoroughly. (Frosted with Cream Dream Dot Frosting)
Cream Dream Dot Frosting
5 squares Baker's dot chocolate (used 5 mini palm-fulls of Toll house semi-sweet chips)
3 cups sifted powdered sugar
2 1/2 tbsp hot water
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/3 cup margarine, softened (used butter)
dash of salt
Heat chocolate in a double boiler until partially melted. Remove from water and stir rapidly until entirely melted. Blend in about half of the sugar, the butter, salt and water, then remaining sugar, alternating with the egg, beating well. Makes about 2 cups of frosting or enough to cover the tops and sides of 2 9" layers.
