Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream

A picture is worth a thousand words. Or so they say.

But let me tell ya, this picture is worth perhaps ten gazillion words. Words that say something along the lines of how this is...oh, I don't know...the best chocolate cake ever.

Frosted with a ton of heavenly chocolate buttercream. Ooh.

Holy moly this was ONE AMAZING cake. I took one bite of the crumbs I cut off from the top, and I knew I had found my go-to recipe for chocolate cake. Fudgy, moist, sweet, aromatic, scrumptious. So good that I wanted to keep this for myself this time.

But I was good. I cut a slice, took a picture, then put the slice back where it belonged (which was NOT my mouth...sad, I know) then sent the cake on its way.

This cake is so easy to bake. So when you have a free Saturday morning or afternoon, bake yourself this most delectable treat.

I guess you can share... if you want, that is. If they beg and give you hugs and promise you roses for an entire week and swear their undying love for you and for this cake. 

;)

Pumpkin Pie

Is it an okay time to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving?

Because honestly, I can't wait until Thursday. :)

I am so thankful for so many of you who make my life with your awesomeness. I could go into more details about how cool you guys are as individuals, but that would take too much time...and I'm not even sure if I can finish talking once I get started.

See? That's how awesome you are.

So...here's a pumpkin pie for you. I baked it with love.

And I totally feel bad that it's not for you for real. Actually, by the time this post is published, it won't even exist in this world. It's gone already to a faraway place and I can't get it back.

But once I learn how to make a better pie crust, I will definitely invite you over for a piefest. Then you can keep being your awesome selves and I can keep feeding you delicious food.

I think this is the smartest idea we've had since our last smartest idea.

And I love you for getting my weird sense of humor.

Bruschetta with Tomatoes and Basil

Pizza is first on the list of foods to try in Italy.

And for good reason, I suppose. If not for the fact that it's hard to find someone who doesn't like pizza, it's hard not to pass up a slice of Pizza Margherita- "Eat, Pray, Love" style. I totally want to have "a relationship with my pizza," too, and not just because Julia Roberts makes it look deliciously chic.

My good friend Arya had the most fortunate time visiting Italy last summer. So, of course I had to ask him how the pizza was. I mean, it is the real deal, after all.

And you know what he said? He said that the pizza there is "overrated."

*GASP*

Not overrated in the sense that it wasn't good- that wasn't his point. But just that he expected a lot but ended up not being as impressed as he thought he would be.

But you know what he did rave about? Bruschetta.

Yes, bruschetta- crisp bread rubbed with raw garlic, drizzled with olive oil, and topped with tomatoes and basil.

Since I can't try Italy's pizzas for myself at this moment, I will have to be content with these for now. Which is fine with me, because these are nothing short of divine. I think Arya himself will approve :)

Warm Apple Cobbler

Well, I'm officially sick.

I am suffering from the worst chills I've ever had in my entire life. My hands can't seem to warm up no matter what...and I'm bundled up in my fleece plush bathrobe...sipping hot tea.

On top of that, my body doesn't seem to want to make up its mind over just how sick it should be.  One moment I'm feverish all over. Next I have a headache. Still I'm not sick enough to stay in bed.

Thankfully, apple cobbler is one of those things you don't have to make up your mind about.

Warm cinnamon apples with a delicious streusel topping? YUM.

Cinnamon Rolls

It was cold outside.

I had kids to tutor...which meant I had to go outside...in the blistering wind...in order to get into the car. Yeah.

It was a legit concern at that time, people. Let's not judge.

Because I present you lovely peeps with none other than... cinnamon rolls. You know, one of the best foods ever known to man, woman, child, your best friend, the practically invisible roommate, your cousin who lives in Cali, and even that guy who still doesn't have a clue, because let's face it: boys are kind of stupid.

We are lucky to have these cinnamon rolls. Yes we are.

Challah

Have you ever been invited over for a meal?

And I'm not talking one of those dinner parties where there's bound to be either holiday food or pizza. Though I hardly ever complain about pizza...nor holiday food, for that matter.

No, I'm talking about one of those events where someone cooks... just for you! Yes, you! They take precious time out of their schedule to choose the menu, shop for the ingredients, and set the plates just in time for you to ring the doorbell. It's quite a special meal.

I had one of those meals today. I felt most loved.

Knowing my hostess, I knew I would be leaving with plenty of food and presents, so I decided to bake her bread. I made challah, a Jewish bread that's traditionally served on the Sabbath. It's an egg bread with a beautiful dark-brown finish and sweet flavor that's perfect for making french toast.

Rustic Potato-Leek Soup

Leek rhymes with eek and that's just fine with me.

Because I'm "eek"-ing with glee from the loads of mild, sweet leek and hearty potatoes in the most wonderful and comforting bowl of soup.

It really is a "rustic" soup. Good with bread. Good without bread.

Flavorful, healthy, savory.

:D

Coconut Macaroons

Here I am, about to type up today's blog post...thinking coconuts... imagining tropical beaches with sunshine and sparkling waters...and envisioning the chewy, fragrant first bite into a warm macaroon that's been drizzled with milk chocolate.

But...

Andrew Zimmerman is on the background, eating baluts, which are fertilized duck eggs that have been boiled alive around day 18 of incubation. 

Duck embryos with beer. You can't not pay attention.

Anyway, the commercials are back on, which means I can stop yapping about unborn ducklings and go on with Coconut Macaroons. 

My sincerest apologies to those of you who really didn't want to know about baluts.

My other sincerest apologies to those of you who love baluts and rave about all its good and aphrodisiac qualities. Relax- I come from a country that invented soondae. :P