Classic Chocolate Cake (1943 recipe:) ♥

Happy Thursday Friends! ♥

As you can see by the title of this post, I made a chocolate cake.  Did I need a chocolate cake? No. Did I make it anyway? Of course.  And guess what? I have never posted a chocolate cake recipe on this blog. I was shocked when I went searching for a recipe on here and couldn't find one. Who am I? I felt I needed to rectify that immediately. 

So actually, I did it for YOU!  :) 

 

I wasn't in the mood for anything too fancy or too rich, just something quick, with simple ingredients to satisfy my sweet tooth.  I don't know about you, but I can't end a meal without something sweet.  And it appears all my Easter candy had dwindled away....oops😳

I remember a recipe I've been saving from a little cookbook that my mother gave me called "Recipes We Grew Up With."  I dug it out of the stack and thankfully had all the ingredients on hand to make it.  

I love that this recipe is from 1943.  Tried and true.  And here I am making it in 2026! 

Can you just imagine the generations of moms and dads that mixed up this batter and served it to their families.  All by hand.  All with love ♥

** I made two small additions**

#1 I added 1/4 cup of cold brewed coffee, just like Ina Garten taught us.  The coffee brings out the chocolate flavor.  And she's right!

#2 I added a tsp (measured with my heart) of vanilla, because every cake needs vanilla. 

The smell of chocolate filled my whole kitchen ♥

I didn't have anything handy to make frosting, so I improvised.  

I had a container of cool whip in the freezer that I let thaw.  I dolloped each slice and you know what???

Perfection! ♥

As I type this post I'm enjoying another piece.  I will probably regret it but not really.  Don't we have hard enough days? We can't be expected to give up cake too?! I promise to do my walk tonight and I'm drinking lots of water too, so see - I'm a health nut! ♥

I'll leave you today with this that I saw on Facebook the other day.  I'm quite sure the moms of 1943 would never in a million years imagine how much I would love to have that stove.  It seems to me that simple wins every time, but that's just me...with one foot in the past trying desperately not to step too deep into the future.  

Have a lovely night friends. It's almost Friday! ♥

Xx

Ordinary Day ♥

 

Hello Friends! ♥

I'm just winding down work for the day and I'd thought I'd pop in to say a quick hello.  

I've made myself a cozy tea to have with my afternoon chocolate fix. 

I know it's not good, but here we are :) 

I've spent most of the day in front of my computer working.  Usually by this time of the day my eyes are starting to cross, and I know it's time to stop. It's been very productive though so I'm happy about that.  It's amazing I can be this productive in sweatpants, but again...here we are. 

John just packed his drum kit into the car and off he went to perform his first "gig" with his band!  They are preforming at an art show at a neighboring town's high school.  He was so excited. They've been practicing for a long time and hopefully this is the first of many opportunities to play for an audience.  

Fingers crossed! ♥

It's been raining all day today.  A little while ago the rain turned to hail (which was fascinating to watch!).  When it finally stopped, the sun came out.  Yup, it's definitely spring!  I stepped outside when John was leaving and I was pleasantly surprised to see that my hydrangea has buds on it.  I've never seen this so soon.  

This is a very good sign ♥

With all the uncertainty and ugliness in the world, I know I can always count on nature.  The bushes will bud, the bunnies will visit us in yard, the birds will sing.  There is comfort in those things.  A constant that will always be there, and I'm grateful.

It's still on the chilly side today (cold and damp due to the rain) but the weatherman says we are headed for a warm up the rest of the week.  60's and maybe even 70 on Friday?!  That's a bit hard to believe but it's nice to think about!  I'm so looking forward to ditching the winter clothes and getting into lighter things.  I'm tired of looking at my same old sweatshirts. 

And that's pretty much it for today. A typical Tuesday over here.  Tonight we are having leftovers from last night which means I don't have to cook tonight and will have minimal dishes to clean.  That is music to my ears!  

I hope you all had a nice day.  Tomorrow is hump day! :) 

Happy Easter! ♥

 

Happy Easter! 🐰

Hello Friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  Our Sunday was lovely.  We started with church, breakfast, and then a lovely day at my brother-in-law's.  I wore a green sparkly top, my mother's gold watch, stud earrings, and I didn't take one picture!  Not even of the delicious grilled lamb chops my brother-in-law made or the yummy fruit pavlova with fresh whip cream my sister-in-law brought.  The food was divine and it was great day celebrating one of the most important days....we are blessed ♱ 

And even though I didn't take any photos, I must admit it was nice to have my phone tucked away for the day.  I'm trying to be better at that ♥

Easter (as with all holidays) are much different these days.  John is grown so there are no more egg hunts or Easter Bunny surprises anymore. That makes me sad, but there are still games, and laughs, and coffee chats galore.  And I love that.  My mom is not here obviously, and that changes everything about everything.  I'm still trying to get used to living with it.  My mom was the anchor of my family and now that she's gone, I cannot even begin to tell you how things have changed.  People and dynamics change and I've spent way too long trying to understand it.  It's sad, but I must carry on. And I will. 

I ate way too many jellybeans and Cadbury mini eggs and I have not one single regret. When we got home I managed the strength to do a lap around the neighborhood in hopes of digesting before bed.  It kinda-sorta worked, if not physically, then mentally at least :)  

I hopped into my stretchy pants, watched two episodes of Downton Abbey (I'm rewatching again!!!) and off to bed I went ♥ 

I love Easter.  I love springtime.  I'm so happy the flowers are starting to bud.  May good days lay ahead for all of us!

Happy new week, Friends! I'll be back tomorrow! Xx