It is Monday, but I am writing to you from Texas, rather Tracey from Michigan, because today is my birthday and I want to share the recipe for my all-time favorite birthday cake with you.
My mom was not much of a baker, but she did always make this cake for me on my birthday. Mom has been gone nine years and I can't remember the last time that I made the cake myself. With a daughter who is a pastry chef I have not gone without birthday sweets; they have just been different. This year I decided to make my own cake and return to this childhood favorite, Chocolate Cinnamon Cake.
CHOCOLATE CINNAMON CAKE - THE RECIPE
THE CAKE
Mix in a large bowl:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
Melt in a saucepan:
1 stick butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup water
3 1/2 tsp cocoa
Bring this mixture to a boil. Add it to dry ingredients.
With a spoon mix in:
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup buttermilk with 1 tsp baking soda mixed in.
Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes.
Let cool 30 minutes.
THE FROSTING
In a saucepan melt:
1 stick butter
1/3 cup regular milk
3 TBS cocoa
Pour the above mixture over a box (3 1/2 cups) powdered sugar. Mix until the sugar is incorporated. Pour over the cake.
ENJOY!!!
And here is another treat!!!
Because it is my birthday and I believe it is just as much fun to give gifts as it is to receive, Tracey and , with the help of Katrina Kennedy at Capture Your 365, are giving away a premier membership to Capture Your 365 for 2016! We want all of you to enjoy the community and friendships that are built by sharing a photo of your life every day with a community of like-minded people. It doesn't matter whether this year will be your first time taking a photo a day or your 54th, it is a wonderful experience! To see the details of what's included in the Capture Your 365 premier membership, click here.
All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is leave us a comment on this post telling us what you'd like to see here at Pixels, Plates, and LOLs in 2016. Is there a recipe for a particular dish or ingredient that you are interested in? Something you'd like to know about us? Something about our photography process? You name it. Almost anything is fair game!
We will announce the winner on New Year's Eve at 11pm Central time. Good luck and thanks for reading!!!
I would love love love to have you do an article on a series of photos on the same subject, and how you decide which one is the one! I have a hard time because I take too many shots, and then I'm left to figure out which one to spend time processing.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!! I would also love to see more of the different interpretations of each prompt from the both of you! Post lots more photos! :)
ReplyDeleteVariations on cropping and editing the same picture.
ReplyDeleteSome recipes of different kind of sauces will be great (from marinades, bbq, italian, sweet). I like your recipes and photography on the blog, good job girls!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! What an amazing thing to do to give on your birthday! I had no idea you girls had a blog!! I would love to see something more about making pies. I have never made one and it feels intimidating! So glad I have gotten to know you through CY365!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday! Fun blog-- I didn't realize you had one, either. Food photography is not my best subject, so any tips along those lines would be helpful. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo cool. . .how do you take food pics and make them look yummy! Many, many thanks!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday!! I love what you guys are doing on the blog already, so as far as I'm concerned, keep on doing what you do best! If I had to pick something I think it would be fun to see the whole cooking process in pictures, from ingredients to finished deliciousness and those wonderful food photo's that you and Tracey already share with us.
ReplyDeleteLovely blog! I would like to up my game in photography and get back into blogging! I too have never ever made a pie! Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about photography. I'm have been taking pictures for years of everything you can imagine - especially my kids. I take enough that I eventually get at least a few really good ones out of every bunch. I would like to learn more about photography basics and not have to shoot in automatic ask the time!
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday. I didn't know you all have a blog. Love the cake shot. I'd love to know more about background blur and related topics. I have one if the best point and shoot cameras available but (and it does have lots of manual or partially manual modes as well) I haven't invested in a DSLR yet. Any education in photography will be received with gratitude.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday. I didn't know you all have a blog. Love the cake shot. I'd love to know more about background blur and related topics. I have one if the best point and shoot cameras available but (and it does have lots of manual or partially manual modes as well) I haven't invested in a DSLR yet. Any education in photography will be received with gratitude.
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday. I didn't know you all have a blog. Love the cake shot. I'd love to know more about background blur and related topics. I have one if the best point and shoot cameras available but (and it does have lots of manual or partially manual modes as well) I haven't invested in a DSLR yet. Any education in photography will be received with gratitude.
ReplyDeleteI'm a new reader so I can't really comment on what you should post, but I'm excited to go back through your archives.
ReplyDeleteWow! You are awesome to give gifts on your birthday! :D Your cake sounds amazing but anything with cinnamon is always a win for me.
ReplyDeleteI would like for you and Tracy to share your process with your photography - how many shots do you take, how do you cull them down to one. I still struggle with choosing "the one." Thanks for the chance!
Omg! I totally didnt know about this blog. Even if i leave 365 I'm gonna bookmark this page to follow. I would like you to post info on how to take food photos that don't look like cellphone, "what i had for lunch" pics. Maybe info about POV or lighting. Also, i love BBQ recipies. Any/all of those would be super duper.
ReplyDeleteI also didn't know yall had a blog. Excited! Love your idea of candles for your birthday! I have been in a photography slump so I am hoping to get inspired again!!! Happy Birthday! Pray you have a day full of Blessinngs!!!
ReplyDeleteA lot went on this year, I can't remember the last time I was out and about taking photos so I'd love something to jumpstart my creative muse again. I've never actually tackled food photography so maybe 2016 will be the year I do that.
ReplyDeleteFood and Photography together is delectable - eye candy and tasty treats. I would love to see more info on the "recipe" for the capture - how did you put the photograph together, planning, lighting, etc. Happy birthday and a Happy New Year to you both. I hope to see you in the CY365 gallery if I can't make it to the FB group.
ReplyDelete