What I Wore:

I feel like a character from Downton Abbey when I wear this skirt. So, if you need me, I’ll be riding side-saddle on a horse and walking around speaking in a British accent.

What I Ate:

Devil’s Food Cake and Cake Truffles

FOR THE CAKE

Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups sifted cake flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk
2 eggs
2- 1 ounce squares unsweetened melted chocolate, melted
1 tsp red food coloring

Directions

Stir shortening just to soften. Sift in dry ingredients. Add 2/3 cup milk; mix until all flour is dampened. Beat 2 minutes. Add remaining 1/3 cup milk, eggs, melted chocolate, and food coloring; beat vigorously 2 minutes longer. Bake in 2 paper-lined 8×1 1/2″ round pans in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans and cool. Prepare a buttercream frosting (prepare without the lime zest, juice, and tequila for a devil’s food cake) and frost with a crumb coat. Chill. Once chilled, frost the cake with the rest of the buttercream. And decorate as desired.

FOR THE TRUFFLES

Ingredients

Cake trimmings
Whipped cream cheese
Almond bark to coat (aka bark chocolate)
Sprinkles

Directions

Use the trimmings from the cake above (since I carved my two layers into a shape, I had a good bit of trimmings to use) and crumble them into a bowl. Add whipped cream cheese and mix with a pastry hook until a dough ball forms. Roll into small balls and freeze. Melt the almond bark in a double boiler on low and roll the balls one at a time to coat and place on a wax paper-lined baking sheet, top with sprinkles and allow to dry.
Keep refrigerated until shortly before serving since they contain cream cheese.

I made this cake and these truffles for two friends who are leaving for new jobs this week. I am going to miss them a lot and work will truly not be the same without them sitting on either side of me making the days more fun. If you were wondering why one cake looks like a Sesame Street character, that is because one of those friends is named Bert and he is also a huge fan of The Muppets. I couldn’t figure out a character cake to do for the other friend, so cake truffles were in order! They’re small and so it isn’t as hard to justify eating one, and they’re fun and adorable, just like her!