I love a rainy day!

I guess summer's officially over for us.
My youngest son started back to school today.  Already year three of college for him.

We woke up to a dark, rainy morning in our little corner of Alabama.
But that means it's a Stay at Home, Play in the House day for me!

My favorite breakfast of buttered toast and apple-cinnamon jelly reminds me that I've opened my last jar of jelly and I can't run out of that!

So, I gathered my supplies and made up a new batch today.  I see many happy mornings in these little jars.

Apple Cinnamon Jelly recipe here

 

The rain is still coming down so I can't go out and play in my garden.  I'm TIRED of my garden anyway! Actually, I'm just plain tired. I don't mean to complain but I've canned 88 quarts of tomatoes this summer and put up hundreds of peppers.  I'll be happy to pull out those jars of sunshine this winter though when making batches of chili or vegetable soup on a cold wintry day.

 

So what should I do now?  Well, I guess I should get my dusting done.  But first, I think I'll bake up something to satisfy my hankering for something gooey, rich, and chocolaty.  Seriously, I've had this craving for months now and haven't had anything that's satisfied it yet.  That's because I've fed it everything except what it really wants. 

 

I search through my recipe books and boxes looking for THE recipe that will cure my hankering and come up with the perfect prescription: Chocolate Sheet Cake.  It sounds pretty innocent but believe me it is as rich as they come.  Mama used to make these sometimes when I was a girl and oh my, it's a cake you don't soon forget. 

 

So, to the warm smell of cinnamon that's already circulating through my home because of my jelly making, I now add the delicious scent of a chocolate cake baking. 

 

The cake is all made, iced and waiting on the kitchen counter to surprise my guys after a supper of pintos, fried potatoes, stuffed eggs, and cornbread.  It sounds like a meal from my childhood to me.  Heavenly!

 

I wish I could show you a picture of the cake but no-can-do on this dark, unphotographic day.

I will give you the recipe so you can make your own though. 

Enjoy!!!

 

Chocolate Sheet Cake

 

Sift together in a large mixing bowl:

2 cups sugar

2 cups plain flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

 

Put in a medium saucepan:

2 sticks butter

1 cup water

1/4 cup cocoa

 

Bring to a boil.  Stir constantly (will burn easily).

Pour over flour and sugar mixture; stir well and add:

 

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs, slightly beaten

 

Mix well.

Pour into a greased 9" x 14" pan.

Bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees.

 

Icing

Put in saucepan:

1 stick butter

1/4 cup cocoa

6 teaspoons milk

 

Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.

 

Remove from heat and beat in:

3 cups confectioners sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup chopped nuts

 (I roast the nuts in the microwave one minute on high before adding)

 

Spread on cake.

 

Note:  It's okay if the cake rises high in the center and cracks.  Just mash it down and add your icing.

 

 

Another note:

Don't step on your bathroom scales for a few days after eating this cake!