Cravings

The past weekend was a good one.  I spent more time in the kitchen Friday and yesterday cooking than I had in quite some time.  Mostly it was due to cravings.  My friend craved meatloaf and mashed potatoes, which I made Friday.  Then Sunday rolled around, and I was reunited with a lovely Greek baked-shrimp recipe on epicurious.com.  That prompted another run to the grocery store and a prolonged affair over the kitchen sink peeling shrimp.  (Yes, in my haste I did not notice I purchased two bags of unshelled shrimp.)  Breakfast at Tiffany's played on my TV.  I followed the entire story while presiding over a bubbling pot of stewed tomatoes sprinkled with cinnamon, allspice and just a pinch of salt.  Once the shrimp were de-shelled, into the casserole dish they went!...followed by the fragrant tomato broth and then topped with lovely bits of crumbled feta.  The dish baked in the oven at 375 degrees for 18 minutes.


I took an interlude and went to wash my hair.  


With the baked shrimp out of the oven, I boiled some rice and set about making a yellow cake with chocolate frosting--the thing I have been craving.


Jim Parsons won the Emmy for best male actor in a comedic role.  Yea!  Congratulations, Jim!  The Big Bang Theory rocks!


Weekends are glorious.  Especially when they are unhurried--void of pressing appointments--and can be spent as you please.  Just a couple days ago I finished Of Mice and Men.  I felt so sorry for Lenny; George never redeemed himself in my opinion.  And EVERYONE misunderstood Curley's wife.  

"In every bit of honest writing in the world...there is a base theme.  Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other.  Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love."  -- John Steinbeck

Yellow Butter Cake with Chocolate Frosting

(Adapted from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook)

Serving: 1 nine-inch cake

1 stick unsalted butter, room temp

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar

2 large eggs

1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon milk

Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Mix flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In separate bowl, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy...(every time I use that word I think of Agnes)

Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla.  
(With mixture on low speed) Add flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the milk, beginning and ending with the flour. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.


Dark Chocolate Frosting
1 cup dark chocolate chips
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons (or more) of boiling water
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup powdered sugar


Place chocolate in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water.  (Use double-boiler.)  Stir occasionally until chocolate has melted completely.  Remove chocolate from heat and let cool.  Combine cocoa powder and boiling water in a small bowl, stir until cocoa is dissolved.

Beat butter, sugar and salt until light and fluffy...

Add melted chocolate, beat on low speed, until combined.  Beat in cocoa mixture.

It was lovely.  My friend predicted the cake won't last long.  We each enjoyed piece with a great cup of coffee (Panama) while watching Bang-Bang on the sofa.

Happy Monday!  

May your week be a pleasant one.