11/14

A Favorite Family Recipe

Happy Thanksgiving!!! I hope you are able to enjoy some time with your family. I am so incredibly thankful and grateful for my family and friends. I thought sharing this recipe would be the perfect Thanksgiving homage to all of those I hold dear.

Being from the south, my biggest holiday traditions are centered around the kitchen and baking with my family. The matriarch of baking was my Daddy’s Momma, named Bessie Sims. I called her “Grand” and she was incredibly grand and amazing! She would always make this Chocolate Sweet Cake for me anytime I was visiting. Baking this last week brought happy memories and tears to my eyes. My entire kitchen smelled like heaven and reminded me of home.

Chocolate Sweet Cake

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups sifted all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ Cup buttermilk
• 1-teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 eggs (well beaten)
• 1-teaspoon baking soda
• 1-teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 stick of butter
• 1 Cup of vegetable oil
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Icing

• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 stick of butter
• 6 tablespoons of milk
• 3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven to 325degrees.
• In a medium saucepan combine 1 cup of boiling water with butter, oil and cocoa powder.
• Stir until completely combined than pour over flour and sugar in a mixing bowl.
• Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
• Bake in a well-greased pan for 35-45 minutes. (13×9 or two pie plates will work as well)

For Icing:

• In saucepan combine butter, cocoa and milk bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat and add in the powdered sugar and stir well.
• Pour over cake and then sprinkle approximately one tablespoon of additional powdered sugar over the entire cake.