Chocolate Makes the Heart Grow Fonder…..

Have you ever made something that you are known for?  Something that everyone hopes you will bring to a pitch-in or dinner?  Somehow I have made something that my friends and family have really fallen in love with.
I posted this back in February and most recently I put one of these ‘cakes’ up for auction in a fundraiser.  Lark of Larks Country Heart is having a breast Cancer fundraiser to raise money for the Susan G. Komen charity.  Of course I jumped at the chance to donate something to her online “bake sale”!  Here is the link: Baking Up a Cure

This cause is close to my heart, literally, as I am in my 6th month of having no new tumor growth.  Every day is a challenge, every twinge, every ache and pain is scrutinized.  It may be this way for a while.  Who knows.  I feel like this is a small price to pay for life.

Photo courtesy of SOUTH Magazine

But this chocolate cake has gotten a lot of mileage.  Not only is it up for auction…I also have made it the last 3 Christmas’ for my extended family.  I take it to work for birthdays (by request) and 2 months ago I served it to 287 Daily Journal readers at the Southside Kitchen and Cooking Showcase!  What an experience that was for me.  My husband helped ‘man’ the table for me and my kids helped hand out the little samples.  It was a great night and I got to personally speak to each and every person.  Some had heard of my column..or their kids had ????  Let’s just say I am popular with a crowd that is slightly older than I am .  That’s OK.  At least I am popular somewhere ????

I had never served so many people let alone made so many cakes (I made 24).  I didn’t know where to begin.  I didn’t know what to buy, what to wear…how to serve it!  Ahhhh!

But it all fell into place and it went smoothly.  My parents and sister were there and I am so glad they got to see that.  So for this family experience alone it was worth it.

Here are a few pictures!

Samples of my columns as well as a print off of the recipe!

 

 

My cute little samples ????

 

Noah and I

 

This cake can be found on my post called: Melting Chocolate Cake

Here is another magical thing about this cake:   I emailed the person I got this recipe from to ask permission to use it as well as print it in the paper.  She immediately got back with me by email as well as on the phone!!  Can I just tell you how exciting that was!!!. She explained to me it was not her original recipe but one she adapted for her book and I was free to use it.  She loved it so much she had used it for her wedding cake!  (I recommend you check out her book A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg).

Photo courtesy of SunLit Images (taken in my kitchen)

When I was interviewed for the local paper when I started writing for them they also used a picture of my cake…

This recipe was also handed out to almost 100 guests at a recent The Simply Well Book  cupcake series for women held in May.  What a thrill ????

So the point here is if you have 1 thing…just 1 thing that others love…MAKE IT!!  This 1 cake has gotten me more mileage and more satisfied smiles than any basic baked chicken (that I used to think was my ‘Thing’) .

Thank you Molly W. for lending me your special recipe, thank you Jennifer R. for giving your guests my printed recipe card at their place settings and thank you Daily Journal for asking me to be involved in your cooking show!