The Chocolate Cake

"Hershey's Cocoa" was the muse to my baking. After adding the cocoa to my brownies I discovered the chocolate cake recipe on the side label. Since I was still feeling a bit tense, I decided that I needed to bake something from scratch to help ease my tension. This cake recipe must be the easiest one I have ever made. Here is the recipe:

"Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake"

2 c. sugar 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda 1 c. milk

1-3/4 c. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. salt 1/2 c. vegetable oil

3/4 c. Hershey's Cocoa 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 c. boiling water

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder 2 eggs ""Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting"

1. Heat oven to 350F. Grease and flour 2 9-in. round baking pans. 2. combine dry ingredients in a large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on med. speed 2 min. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into pans. 3. Bake 30-35 min. or until wooded pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 min; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely. Frost with ""Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting". 10-12 servings.

Cupcakes: Line 2- 1/2-in. muffin cups with paper bake cups. fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350F for 22-25 minutes. Cool; frost. About 30 cupcakes.

Secret 1: Don't skip out on greasing and flouring the pans!

Secret 2: Yes! Beat for 2 minutes, don't cheat.

Secret 3: Be careful with the boiling water! Stir in boiling water with a wooden spoon to minimize spatters.

This recipe is super easy because you can just dump all of the ingredients together and beat! I will definitely keep this recipe in my back pocket. It also didn't hurt that I had my new kenmore hand mixer to help me out. My father gave it to me as a Christmas gift and I absolutely love it. The cord is retractable, and the best part is it has a compartment that stores all of the attachments! This mixer is so fast and easy. It whipped up the batter with ease.

""Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting"

1 stick butter 3 c. powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract

2/3 c. Hershey's Cocoa 1/3 c. milk

1. Melt butter. stir in cocoa. 2. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on med. speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups of frosting.

Secret 1: Use unsalted butter

I absolutely love this frosting as well! It is way better than pre-maid canned frosting. It is creamy and super chocolatey. It is very easy to make. The best part was that it was so easy to frost onto the cake. No mess at all.

The Taste Test:

Delicious! My father was at the table before everyone, waiting to dive in. It cut beautifully and impressed everyone there. I will never bake a chocolate cake from a box again. The creaminess of the icing is indescribable. The cake was moist, and when I say that I mean super duper moist. The compliments kept on coming and everyone could not stop talking about how good this cake was. We ended up with only 2 slices left. Mind you this cake came out to be very large in size. I give this recipe 5 stars.

The New Year is almost here so to whoever you are, eat well, and have Happy and Healthy New Year!

-The Curious Cook

Inspiration

Hello there, whoever you are. I was inspired today to start something, and since the new year is about to come marching in, well I thought I could share something about myself to whomever is out there searching for a little entertainment. The truth is, I am no professional cook. Just someone who has always had a burning passion for food. I love to eat it, look at it, create it. I just absolutely love it. Cooking is what keeps me going, it brings me joy. The most important thing, it brings happiness to others.

Today was a normal Wednesday. I woke up, went to work, plans for later fell through, and some people disappointed me. The truth is, it wasn't the best day ever. So what do I do? The most simplest answer is cook.

My father asked me to bake some brownies for a neighbor who had a loss in his family. Of course I put my hands to work. I can make the simplest box brownie recipe into something delectable. Here is a few secrets.

Secret 1: Add 1/4 cup of cocoa to the mix.

Secret 2: Beat the batter as little as possible.

Secret 3: Pour half of the batter in a foil lined pan and then sprinkle sugar on top. After, pour the rest of the batter in the pan and add a sprinkling more of sugar.

Secret 4: Bake the brownies 3 minutes before the box's actual cooking time.

Secret 5: If you need to cut the brownies warm, use a plastic knife.

Secret 6: A sprinkling of powdered sugar will seal the deal!

The Taste Test:

My mother and I sat down to share the perfect brownie square. The first bite was more than pleasing; fudgey, sweet, chocolately delectable. It all brings a smile to my face, and finally I can exhale.

After baking I feel much better. I just get into this zone, nothing can touch me, and I get to release all of the stress of life. Still feeling a little drop of the stress, I think that I will venture into making the chocolate cake recipe on the back of the "Hershey's Cocoa" box. I am up for the challenge, and New Years Eve is tomorrow. We will need a dessert.

-The Curious Cook