BLACK MAGIC CAKE

Lately time has slipped away...unfortunately winter has not! The weather has been perfect to stay in and hibernate. Wanted to post this for a gal from the Frugal Living Forum and for a Valentine treat for you all to try. This is probably my favorite cake of all time.

This has been a recipe I have used for years. It is a bit different as cakes go, as you do not put frosting on it, atho it says frost as desired. It is so moist that it would be difficult to try to smear frosting on top. Usually I serve it with ice cream or whipped cream. You might even want to try a bit of carmel over it with the ice cream.

Black Magic Cake
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup cocoa
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup strong black coffee
1 cup of buttermilk or sour milk*
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9 inch pans or one 13X9X2 inch pan. In large mixer bowl blend sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add eggs, coffee, buttermilk, oil and vanilla; beat on medium speed with an electric mixer for 2 minutes. Batter will be thin. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes for round pans, 35 to 40 minutes for rectangular pan or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes then remove from pans to wire racks. Frost as desired.* To sour milk: use 1 tablespoon of white vinegar to 1 cup of milk

TUNA PATTIES WITH CREAM SAUCE

This has been a favorite of mine for many years. It is a very hardy meal and a good change from the usual fare. You may also make it with salmon or crab.

If you’d like, add bits of sautéed onions, green peppers or mushrooms to the patties or the cream sauce.

You can also just do the patties and have tuna burgers, add a slice of cheese and you have tuna melts.



Tuna Patties with Hard Boiled Eggs and Cream Sauce

2 hard boiled eggs – sliced

3 cans of tuna, drained
2 eggs, beaten
8 saltine or Ritz crackers, crushed fine
Salt and Pepper
1/8 t. dill weed (optional)

Mix all ingredients together and form into 4 patties about1/2-3/4’’ thick. If they do not seem to stick together because they are too moist add a few more crushed crackers. Fry in olive oil until brown on each side.

Cream Sauce:
This is just a medium white sauce, but I like to have it rather thick.
2-3 T butter or Margarine
2-3 T flour
1 1/2 c milk
¼ t salt
Pepper to taste
Dash of dill weed (optional)

In a small sauce pan melt butter or margarine. In a small jar mix the flour and rest of ingredients, shake well. Add to the butter and stir well. (Pre mixing the flour and milk helps prevent lumps.) Cook and stir over medium heat until bubbly, then cook a few minutes more. Set aside and keep warm. It is going to thicken up a bit.

Top tuna patties with cream sauce and a few slices of hard boiled egg. This is great served with peas and potatoes.

For those of you who are not experienced cooks: Cream sauce is a basic sauce with a number of uses, as a base for cream soups, milk gravies and many sauces. Add Parmesan cheese and you have Alfredo sauce for pasta or add other cheeses and you have a great sauce for veggies. There are a variety of herbs and spices which are wonderful on pastas also. Use with cooked hamburger over toast or noodles.BE CREATIVE!

Better than Hershey's Chocolate Syrup

When the weather starts getting cool there is nothing better than a cup of hot cocoa before bed. Skip the pre-made mixes and try this! It might take a bit of time, but is well worth it and less money for more taste. If you have the ingredients in stock, it will take less time than running to the store.
Actually this recipe is for ice cream syrup, but I use it for cocoa too. It probably came from one of my favorite recipe sites, Recipe Source.



Chocolate Syrup***** YUMMY!!!! Better than Hershey’s


1/2 cup cocoa

1 cup sugar

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla ( real vanilla is awesome, so I add a small bit more)

1 dash salt
Combine cocoa, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Add water, and mix until smooth. Bring this mixture to a boil. Allow it to boil for one minute, be careful this does not over boil. Remove from heat, when this cools add the vanilla. Store in a jar in the fridge.



When poured over ice cream it is almost a fudge sauce, if I remember correctly.

It looks like fall is in the air, so the pond and hoses have been drained and all the garden ornaments stored for the winter. It was a beautiful day in my neighborhood. Hope it was in yours too.