Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Welcome to the US Chocolate Cake

Today something pretty exciting is happening: my cousin from Iran arrives! Considering the last time I saw him was four years ago, I felt pretty compelled to do something special. After skimming my cookbooks for something yummy (and easy) I decided on this chocolate cake recipe from Food to Live By, the Earthbound Farm Organic Cookbook I received last year for my birthday from a very darling friend. This cookbook is really comprehensive, it doesn't limit itself in any form or fashion. Its recipes come from a variety of culinary standpoints and their unifying feature is the emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables (I would hope so, considering this cookbook comes from people living on an organic farm and all...). Anyway, I made this cake, opting (out of laziness) not to make it a layer cake, and topped it with homemade whipped cream and berries. I didn't realize until I was photographing it that it's red, white, and blue, but I suppose that's fitting for the whole "Welcome to America" occasion.

Chocolate Layer Cake
serves 8-10

1 1/3 cups flour
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup canola oil
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and cornstarch into a large bowl. Whisk the buttermilk, oil, eggs, sugar, and vanilla in a medium-size bowl. Add the buttermilk mixture to the four mixture and mix well.

Divide the cake batter evenly into 2 9-inch cake pans and bake until a toothpick comes out clean (about 20-30 minutes).

3 comments:

Dora said...

I wish someone would make me cake every time I remember I'm in America! Looks delightful, berries make everything good.

Anonymous said...

Do you suppose you took the patriotism a little too seriously? ;)

Honestly, it looks like wholesome deliciousness. I hope it tasted that way. Dora, you are so right, berries are key!

Paola Westbeek said...

How beautifully patriotic! And delicious too, I bet!