Let them eat cake!

We are gathering four to six eggs a day now and I've been baking about once a week.  Sometimes when life is crazy busy you just have to say "let them eat cake!"  Pay attention and I will show you how.

These children, are perfectly greased and floured Wilton cake pans.  Does it make a difference what kind of pan you use?  I think it does.  I used Crisco to grease the pans and lightly floured with flour.

Both layers cracked while baking.  Can anyone tell me why this happens and what to do to avoid it?  Or do we need to be concerned with such issues?  My mama always taught me to lift the pan an inch or so off of the counter top and drop several times before baking.  This does two things- it evens out your batter and it causes air bubbles to rise to the top. 

After allowing the layers to cool in the pan for ten minutes, I ran a butter knife around the edge and then flipped each layer onto a rack to finish cooling.  Doug was like a child asking how soon I could ice the cake so he could have a piece. 

Then I whipped up the icing.

I use a Wilton spatula to ice my cakel.  In another lifetime I dabbled in cake decorating.  I didn't take any lessons, just studied intensely on my own.  I was fairly successful.  I produced some birthday cakes and did the cakes for a niece's graduation and I wasn't too embarrassed with the results.  Doug was impressed with my cake icing skills, but maybe he was just trying to get me to cut a big piece of cake for him. 

Cake with a cup of milk?  It doesn't get much better!

Super-Moist Chocolate Mayo Cake

1 box chocolate cake mix

1 cup mayonnaise

1 cup water

3 eggs

1 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350degrees

Blend all ingredients.

Bake as directed on box.

The recipe says the cinnamon is optional, but to me that is what makes this cake.  And, just for your information, I don't eat mayonnaise in real life, but if it is in a recipe I will make an exception. 

Chocolate Mocha Frosting

3/4 cup Crisco

1 tablespoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa

4 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

1/2 cup strong brewed coffee

Cream Crisco, vanilla, salt and cocoa.  Add sugar and coffee alternately, beating until smooth.

The coffee in this icing is delicious.  Chocolate, cinnamon and coffee?  YUM.  Do you know that a piece of cake is excellent for breakfast?  YUP. 

I took most of the cake to work to share.  I think it was appreciated.  Or maybe they gobbled it up so I wouldn't feel bad.  Sometimes you just have to say "Let them eat cake!"