It's been rainy, wet and cold. Low, gray clouds covered the sky for most of the week. As the storms rolled in, we watched and listened to the rumblings of the thunder. Come to think of it, my kids aren't afraid of storms. I've always told them that God sends the rain (and the lighting) to help the plants, flowers and trees grow big and strong. The day after a storm, they like run out to inspect our yard. What do they find? The grass is a brilliant green, flowers have pushed through the dirt and the trees are sprouting leaf buds! Oh, and a worm or two stranded on the pavement. It's such an exciting time for them, watching things grow!
My favorite rainy day book is Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco. I promised the girls we would make this delicious cake next time it stormed, and so we did!
Babushka's Thunder Cake recipe is written at the back of the book. I used a slightly different recipe for our cake. Unfortunately, it sat in the oven a bit too long and came out on the dry side. The kids didn't seem to mind, though. They ate it right up.
Thunder Cake (Original Recipe)
Cream together, one at a time
1 cup shortening
1 3/4 sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs, separated
1 cup cold water
1/3 cup pureed tomatoes
Sift together
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 cup dry cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Mix dry mixture into creamy mixture. Bake in two greased and floured 8 1/2- inch round pans at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Frost with chocolate butter frosting*. Top with strawberries.
* I made a chocolate ganache to drizzle on top of my thunder cake. See alteration below.
Ganache
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
To make the ganache, heat cream in s small saucepan over medium-low heat, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and whisk in chocolate until melted; whisk in butter, corn syrup and vanilla until combined. Pour and spread ganache over cooled cake layers.
My favorite rainy day book is Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco. I promised the girls we would make this delicious cake next time it stormed, and so we did!
Babushka's Thunder Cake recipe is written at the back of the book. I used a slightly different recipe for our cake. Unfortunately, it sat in the oven a bit too long and came out on the dry side. The kids didn't seem to mind, though. They ate it right up.
Thunder Cake (Original Recipe)
Cream together, one at a time
1 cup shortening
1 3/4 sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs, separated
1 cup cold water
1/3 cup pureed tomatoes
Sift together
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1/2 cup dry cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
Mix dry mixture into creamy mixture. Bake in two greased and floured 8 1/2- inch round pans at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Frost with chocolate butter frosting*. Top with strawberries.
* I made a chocolate ganache to drizzle on top of my thunder cake. See alteration below.
Ganache
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
4 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
To make the ganache, heat cream in s small saucepan over medium-low heat, and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and whisk in chocolate until melted; whisk in butter, corn syrup and vanilla until combined. Pour and spread ganache over cooled cake layers.
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