I spent most of the day, Gramma's birthday, in the kitchen. It was our normal bread baking day. I also had a couple of free-range chickens to debone that I'd cooked in the crockpot overnight. When it was time to bake the cake, I was beyond tired, even though I do enjoy (almost) every moment in the kitchen. I really have been having a problem with finding just the right cake for our birthdays. For one, I avoid using dairy and eggs due to Mikah's food allergies. We prefer natural sweeteners and whole grains. So far every cake we've tried has left a little to be desired. This is also not something I practice on a regular basis. When it comes time for a birthday, I try a new recipe. Today was no exception! Here is the recipe I tried this time:
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RICH CHOCOLATE CAKE
taken from http://www.theppk.com/recipes/dbrecipes/index.php?RecipeID=124
"Well the name says it all. This is the richest chocolate cake around. To make it a 2 layer cake, multiply the ingredients by one and one half and divide into 2 seperate springform pans. If you don't have springform pans, cover the bottoms in parchment paper or it will stick." ~ Isa, recipe creator
Ingredients
3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup all purp unbleached flour (I used whole wheat pastry flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup good cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plain soymilk
1/2 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups pure maple syrup (I used agave syrup)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9 inch springform pan with non stick cooking spray. Sift together flours and baking powder and baking soda. In a saucepan, heat the soymilk on low-medium heat. When it is slightly bubbling, add the cocoa powder and wisk well until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Combine the other liquid ingredients in a bowl and whisk well. Add the cocoa mixture and combine. Add the wet ingredients to the dry. Pour batter into prepared pan, bake at 350 F for 25 minutes until a toothpick or butter knife comes out clean. Let cool completely and frost with your favorite frosting.
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I made a big mistake when making the cake. I multiplied all the ingredients by 1 and a 1/2, except the agave syrup, which I doubled. I knew immediately that the batter was too runny! So I went back and added more of the other ingredients so they would be doubled, too. Instead of frosting, I spread a layer of fruit sweetened jam in between the two layers and on the top. I have two more layers in the freezer for the next time we need a cake! I think this might be a cake we'll have again.
Happy Birthday, Gramma! We sure do love you and we are so happy to have you with us on your day.
Hello Miss Wardeh! My girls and I have enjoyed catching up on your blog this evening. Darrell has been home so much in the past few weeks, that I haven’t been able to read many friend’s blogs or stay caught up at boards as I usually am.
Emma and Beka loved the photos of your children, but especially Haniya, of course.
We love the bird houses, as we are really into birding. 
I can’t remember which blog addy you have, if it is the Homestead Blogger one or Xanga. If it is the Xanga one, I shut down the old and opened up a new one with a better name. Here is that link:
http://www.xanga.com/Robinismyname
How have you been? Sounds like you’ve had a wonderful visit with your mother/MIL. Couldn’t tell if it was your mother or hubby’s mother.
I got my fabric for my stars from the closest quilting store to us, which is 45 minutes away. What fun this is, huh? Oh, I probably should put this on the board, but if you should have someone back out of the Friendship Star quilt block swap, we bought two sets of fabric for stars because we couldn’t decide. LOL Emma wanted so much to be in the swap, but I did not know this until after the cut-off date. So, should someone back out, we are prepared with fabric in hand!
Well, you have a terrific Tuesday, Miss Wardeh! Hugggggs to you, my friend! ~ Robin
Hi, Robin! So good to see you here. I did look at your block a couple weeks ago. I even tried to post a comment, but I wasn’t able. I couldn’t see the characters for verification. I’ve made a note of your new blog, just in case I visited a different one.
Haniya has gotten Beka’s letter. Now that Jeff’s mom is gone, she has time again for writing!
I will keep in mind that you could do two sets of squares. I hope no one drops out, but if they, do, I know just where to go now!
Love, Wardeh