It’s that time of the year: I’m quickly spent. I just want the school year done for a while, but my various projects just aren’t in a position to coast while I rest. Plus now I’m suffering from frosting insecurities.
A Lesson from Frosting
My husband is partial to his grandmother’s—and mom’s—cooking. I don’t blame him. They’ve given us some really good recipes.
Except 13 years into my marriage, I’m suddenly wondering if I’ve misread a frosting recipe every time I’ve ever made it ever. Doubling the butter, if you must know.
Friends. Legit. I think I have. And, in retrospect, I can think of a wide variety of drastically different methods I’ve used to top that Texas chocolate sheet cake.
Yet despite my frosting insecurities—despite years of obviously being distracted or SOMETHING—the cake turns out. It’s nice & sweet with a nice luscious texture.
Being in my 40th year, I am also trying not to eat cake right now. Still, at least my cake taught me yet another hands’ on lesson in everything turning out ok-ish.
Let’s just keep on keeping on. Frosting insecurities, writing insecurities . . . let’s just keep on keeping on.
Meanwhile, I’m debating what to even post this week.
- Maybe a review or two, if I can get myself into that mindset.
- Maybe my endorsements for my recently released Trinity for Tots: I don’t want to annoy you, but, ya know, I do need to self-market. (Available from Pure Joy Creative, Ad Crucem, and Amazon, with shipping starting in about a week.)
- I’d also like to find, gather, and maybe write a few prayers for musicians. That is, prayers for musicians to pray pre-service rather than prayers about musicians. I think that may help me. I’m definitely improving as church accompanist, but I’m not sure my desperate, “Lord, have mercy! I’m sorry I didn’t practice more! Please, let’s just get through this. <guilt, guilt, guilt>” . . . I’m just not sure that’s the most helpful or faithful prayer at this point.
- What else. An updated list of confirmation book suggestions? But maybe this is too much from my life and I should just take a blogging break until I can be back to reading, writing, and resources.
Who knows. Not me. 🙂 Winging it, it is, unless I’m offered specific, doable guidance.
But I’m alright. Though I ate a lot of cake yesterday after the church voters’ meeting. Ha ha haaa. It had extra frosting!
PS. Cuz I’m awesome:
Moerbe Chocolate Sheet Cake
- 1 stick margarine
- 1 stick butter (or shortening)
- 1 c water
- 4 heaping tablespoons cocoa
Bring to a boil. Then pour over a mixture of the following:
- 2 c sugar
- 2 c flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Stir well (in a bowl or in a mixer) then add:
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 c buttermilk (or milk with a splash of lemon juice or vinegar)
Bake for 20 degrees in a greased and floured sheet cake (yes, sheet cake, which is larger and shorter than a 9×13) at either 350 or 400.
While cake is still hot, frost with the following:
- 1/2 stick margarine, soft (or, apparently a full stick of salted butter <shrug>)
- 2 heaping tablespoons cocoa
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 box powdered sugar (Who knows. A pound? If it gets heavy looking, add more milk)
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Lately I’ve been making that in a mixer like a regular fluffy frosting, but it melts into the cake in a delicious manner. However, part of me seems to remember melting the butter with cocoa, adding stuff as well we pecan bits, and then pouring it onto the cake. I should ask my mother-in-law. How is my memory so unreliable?! I really may have made this cake a hundred times.
I will note that, although I did not get this recipe from Pioneer Woman, her cake is practically identical. SHE uses a frosting recipe with 1 AND 3/4 sticks butter! I think maybe she uses a melted frosting. Anyway. Eat chocolate with cinnamon if you can. The End.
