UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish’s Comments (group member since Feb 24, 2010)

UniquelyMoi ~ BlithelyBookish’s comments from the Happily Ever After Cafe group.

Nice picture, Pamela! I have my 18 year old self posted. I look NOTHING like that now!

I was thinking about editing the review to add this, actually. Do you think that's copyright infringement?

I mentioned this recipe in my review of this book... it's one of our favorites. You'd NEVER know it's a boxed mix!

Old Fashioned Devil’s Food Cake

It's a Cake Mix Doctor version! So easy!

Serves 16

Ingredients

Solid vegetable shortening for greasing the pan

Flour for dusting the pans

1 package plain devil’s food cake mix (with pudding in the mix)

2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/3 C buttermilk

1/2 C vegetable oil

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Place rack in center of oven and preheat to 350. Generously grease two 9-inch pans with shortening, the dust with flour. Shake to remove excess flour.

2. Place the cake mix, cocoa, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer n low for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides again, if needed. The batter should look well combined. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula. Place the pans in the oven, side by side.

3. Bake the cakes until they spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 28-30 minutes. Remove the pans and place them on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Run a dinner knife around the edge of each layer and invert each onto a rack, the invert again onto another rack so that the cakes are right side up. Allow to cool completely, 30 minutes more.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the Fluffy Chocolate Frosting (Recipe below)

5. Place one cake layer, right side up, on a serving platter. Spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer, right side up, on top of the first layer and frost the top and sided of the cake with clean, smooth stokes.

Fluffy Chocolate Frosting

2/3C unsweetened cocoa powder

6 tablespoons boiling water (and additional if needed)

1 stick of room temperature butter

3C confectioners’ sugar; sifted (plus extra if needed)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Place the cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl and pour the boiling water over it. Stir with wooden spoon or rubber spatula until the cocoa comes together in a soft mass. Add the butter and blend with an electric mixer on low speed until the mixture is soft and well combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Place the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla in the bowl, and beat with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the frosting lightens and is fluffy, 2 minutes more. Add more boiling water, a teaspoon at a time, or more confectioners’ sugar, a tablespoon at a time, if the frosting is too thick or too thin for your liking.

2. Use the frosting to frost the top and sides of the cake or cupcakes of your choice.

Anna, I loved

Lisa Kay wrote: "Great, Pamela! In the Nothing But Reading Challenges Group: Ransom "Buddy Read". I hope you'll join us. ☺"

I'm so glad that group is doing well. It got off to such a bad, bitter start.

Loved Ransom, Lisa Kay!

I'm reading which is a sweet story. I'm enjoying it, but I hope it picks up the pace here soon.

Definitely good. It has some weak spots, but I did enjoy it! I saw it at Target and thought about picking it up. You know how netgalley copies are - messy. And it's one I'd like to keep.

It had some funny stuff going on. I hope there will be a sequel.

I haven't read much Contemporary Romance, but I did just finish which I enjoyed.

Here on Earth

next - gentle

Thanks!

**returns to her happy place**

**hangs head in shame while giggling shamelessly**

Well, I'm reading those all on my own.

Hey.... Poor Pamela started this thread in July and no one commented, so I thought I'd be POLITE and answer.

Before I archive it. :)

I know... I've got 3 going. As long as they're not of the same genre, I'm good.

I'm reading:

Smut - Belong To Me
Historical fiction - The Highest Stakes
Contemporary Romance - Don't Mess with Texas

I wondered if anyone would comment on that! LOL!!

It's a sickness I tell you, a sickness!

I'm reading It's more Historical Fiction with a light romance, and I'm enjoying the change of pace.

I'm sorry I never saw this thread, Pamela! And now I can't remember what we did on the 4th. *sigh*

Is it okay to archive this one?