German Sweet Chocolate Tradition

 

This is the cake my husband request each year for his birthday. It's the only time of the year that I make it and that's a good thing! I'm sure I would not want to know how many calories are packed into a piece of this dense chocolatey goodness!  This year I added chocolate frosting to the sides which made it even better!


 

GERMAN SWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

4 oz. Baker’s German Sweet Chocolate

½ c. boiling water

1-3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

4 eggs, separated

1 c. butter

2 c. sugar

1 c. buttermilk

1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour three 9-inch cake pans.

Melt the chocolate in boiling water.  Set aside.

Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Set aside.

Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form;  refrigerate.

In the large bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar, allowing mixer to run for 5 minutes.  Add egg yolks, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Let mixer run an additional 2 minutes.  With mixer running, add vanilla and chocolate/water mixture.

Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk, combining well.  Gently fold stiffly beaten egg whites into cake batter.

Pour batter into three prepared cake pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.  Cool on racks.  Frost top of each layer with Coconut-Pecan Frosting.

COCONUT-PECAN FROSTING and FILLING

1 ½ c. evaporated milk

1 1/3 c. sugar

4 egg yolks, slightly beaten

¾ c. butter

2 tsp. vanilla

2 c. shredded coconut

1 ½ c. chopped pecans

Combine the evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks, butter and vanilla.  Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened, about 12 to 15 minutes.  Add coconut and chopped pecans.  Cool until thick enough to spread, beating occasionally.  Makes about 3 cups.

 

CHOCOLATE FROSTING (optional - for sides)

4 oz. semisweet chocolate chips

1 T. light corn syrup

1 ½ T. unsalted butter

½ heavy cream

powdered sugar (enough to thicken)

 

Place the chocolate chips in a bowl with the corn syrup and butter.  Heat the cream just until it begins to boil.  Remove from heat and pour over the chocolate.  Stir to melt chocolate chips and blend until smooth.  Add enough powdered sugar to thicken to spreading consistency.  Spread on sides of cake and chill to firm the frosting.

 

 

Of course we always have to make it even more sinful by topping it with our favorite Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream! 

Doggies Love Birthday Parties Too!

When Mark and Jennifer were in for Thanksgiving we also celebrated a birthday - Jake turned 15 years old. We made doggie cupcakes and invited our friends, Jennifer and Michelle, who have two Westies each.  It was a lot of fun but impossible to get good pictures because of their non-stop doggie shenanigans.

Jake and Jennifer

He was pretty excited about his cupcake!

They all loved their cupcakes.

They cleaned up every crumb!

The non-Westie is D.J., a bouncy Jack Russel Terrier.

Kenzie is ready for another cupcake.

Jennifer B. and Maddie

Birthday Boy - Jake

Finally all 5 Westies in one shot.  

This is little Jake after his big day - having sweet dreams of cupcakes.

Happy Birthday!

This is a few years back when Jeffrey was 6 months old.

Today is our son's birthday and since he lives out of town we won't get to see him, but tomorrow he is driving over so we can celebrate a day late.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SON!

Love you,

Mom and Dad

Happy Birthday!

Our family has 5 Birthdays this month! 

Happy Birthday Kailey, Jason, Johnny, Shirley, and Ben!

94th Birthday

My mother-in-law had her 94th birthday. Happy Birthday Memaw! Her goal is to make it to 100 and I think she will make it. She is in good health except for her eye sight. She has glaucoma and is almost completely blind. We were going to take her out to eat this evening, but it was really cold then started raining so we just brought dinner to her. One of her sweet sitters brought her a cake so we just had birthday party at her house. She was very talkative tonight, reminiscing about old times. I told her next year for 95 we will have to plan a big party!

HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY MOM!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM – To the

youngest 80 year old I’ve ever known.

I hope that I’ll be able to be a young

80 someday too! You’re very special

to all of us and just want you to

know we love you very much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SISTER

My little sister is a year older today : )

Happy Birthday Judy!
You've got a couple more before you take that leap to the next big one - then we'll both be old together! Just kidding - I'm not old and neither are you!! We're still just youngsters aren't we!

Also, Happy B.D. Buddy and Happy Anniversary to you both!

Judy & Buddy have the same birthday so a few years ago to celebrate their birthdays they got married. At least they won't forget the date of their anniversary.

Love Y'all,
Jeanne

A Few Birthdays Ago

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNIFER

7 Years Old!
Well, that was a few years ago wasn't it! We won't say just how many though.

Hope you have a Happy Birthday! We'll see you tomorrow evening.
Love, MOM and DAD