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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Chocolate, Anyone?

A neighbor knocked on my door this morning. Now, this is a rare occurrence here in suburbia ... I don't know why exactly, but it is. So I was a little shocked to begin with and a bit embarrassed because at 9:30 am, when I heard that knock, I was curled up in bed on the verge of falling asleep. It doesn't happen very often - really, dear hubby, it doesn't - but some mornings I just have to go back to bed when NHV goes down for her morning nap, and today happened to be one of those days. Of course ... my neighbor who witnessed me stumbling to the door in my bunny pajamas probably thinks I am a class-A, #1 slacker of the year, but whatev ... I am totally secure in my need for a morning nap :)

So ... why did this neighbor knock on my door and interrupt what promised to be a delightful morning snooze? To ask for "Chad's recipe for Texas sheet cake. The one he made for the 4th of July party." I immediately knew which sheet cake he was referring to - my mom's freakin' awesome, out-of-this-world, chocolate Texas sheet cake - the one I made and brought to our neighborhood 4th of July celebration this year. But I let the Chad comment slide ... until he said it again, "My wife and I have been talking about Chad's cake since the 4th." Let me be clear, Chad had absolutely nothing to do with the baking of said cake and the recipe is my mom's, one she is famous for at family gatherings. Wait, I take that back. Chad did carry the sheet cake to the party. I have yet to hear Chad's side of the story on this, but I assume there is one ... in the meantime, enjoy my mom's recipe, we like to call it Grammy's Incredible Sheet Cake:


The Cake
2 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 cup of butter
1 c. water
1/2 c. buttermilk*
4 tbsp. cocoa
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
*Grammy suggests using 1 cup milk + 1 tsp. vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes. You need another 1/2 cup for the frosting.
Mix flour and sugar in mixing bowl. In a saucepan, bring to a rapid boil butter, buttermilk, water and cocoa. Pour over flour mixture and blend well. Stir in eggs, vanilla, baking soda, and salt and blend well. Pour batter onto ungreased cookie sheet (with sides). Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until done - I actually check mine at about 17 minutes.


The Frosting
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. buttermilk
4 tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. chopped pecans
3 cups of powdered sugar
Bring butter, milk and cocoa to rapid boil. Pour ingredients into mixing bowl; add vanilla and powdered sugar; mix well. Add pecans and mix well. Spread on Texas Sheet Cake as soon as removed from oven. Make frosting about 5 minutes before cake comes out of oven.


Disclaimer: I do not recommend making this cake during a PMS episode ... you will eat the entire thing ... and that's 3 sticks of butter and like 5 cups of sugar!

4 comments:

mrs.alderman said...

Haven't you learned yet??? NEVER answer your door, especially to DOM like Lance!!!!

Chi-town momma said...

Ummm, why is it that I have never had the good fortune of tasting this masterpiece??? You two always played it off like you couldn't bake so I always did it for you. I see how you operate. Next visit, I demand momma's cake!

Anonymous said...

Hey there Dana! This is my first time on your wonderful blog. Our friend (mrs. alderman) forwarded your link to make fun of that nutty neighbor that did an impromptu "drive by". Good story and fits Lance to a T. He's the king of the drive by and that's what we love about him. He's predictably unpredictable.

I also want to say that I enjoyed the story about the "Flattened B's". I have to admit though... When I saw the picture of the TJ's bananas I quickly scrolled down in search of the picture of the "other" flattened B's. To my dismay that pic wasn't there. :D For what it's worth... Us Dads don't care. Take heart in knowing that we love them no matter what they look like!! I'm talking in general... Not necessarily about YOUR B's (I wouldn't know since you've denied us of that pic). Which reminds me... Did you get any blog mileage out of the time when I saw your nipple hanging out of your shirt? :)

Take care,
Your ex-neighbor DannyD

Laura said...

Damn u sis! I just got done blogging about my gaining one pound and I come here to find mom's cake recipe. Damn you...damn all you skinny bitches...eheheheheheheheehe. :) Love ya!

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