where all the kids have robot parts

So to push down that last kind of dumb entry, let me tell you about the cake I made on Sunday!

For some reason I was itching to bake a cake all weekend, and on Sunday evening B. and I finally got together to make it and enjoy its deliciousness. I needed a recipe with no milk, eggs, or butter (because I had none of those things), and I also ended up altering the recipe to include more whole grainy hippyness because I like my cakes a little more toothsome, actually. The frosting was completely made up but ended up working once it set up. Way too much sugar in it, but what can you do?

No pictures because it’s just a big brown rectangle, but here’s what I ended up making:

Combine 2 cups sugar, 2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 1 cup whole-wheat flour, a little less than 1/4 cup ground flaxseed, and 2 tsp baking soda.

Separately, melt down 4oz unsweetened baking chocolate and combine with 3/4 cup EVOO, 2 tsp vanilla, and 2 cups of cold water.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, mix together, pour into a pan, and bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees F. (Note: ours ended up baking for almost 50 minutes. It might be the lousy oven here at school, or it might have been the alterations I made to the recipe. I don’t know. Just keep checking it, I guess.)

For the frosting, I melted down 3 more squares unsweetened baking chocolate with some coconut oil (I just eyeballed it - maybe 2 tbsp?) I added some sugar but it was still really, really bitter (and both B. and I like dark chocolate - this was just beyond dark), so I kept adding sugar until it reached a nice “very dark” sort of flavor. Then B. had the idea to put in a dribble of cold water - it was seriously just a tiny dribble - and it made the melty gooey chocolate congeal a little bit into a more paste-like consistency. We spread it all over the top of the cake, and when it firmed up a little it wasn’t too bad. Not regular frosting at all, but not bad.

Anyway, there’s still like half the cake left. We nibble at it a little each evening when we hang out to do homework and/or read webcomics and/or watch Friends (or Return of the King). It’s so good, guys. Nom nom nom.

Anyway anyway, right now I have a pot of home-made tomato sauce a-bubbling on the stove. When it finishes, B.’s coming over and we’re going to make mini pizzas. With fresh tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella on top. NOM. And I think I’m going to bake some kale chips. NOM NOM NOM. I love having gift cards to the grocery store.

We just experienced the first thunderclap of the season, folks.

WOO MARCH.

Was just reading back entries on my Livejournal and was pathetically amused all over again at this nonsense:

April 15th, 2009:

Funny story: Tonight I was putting lotion on my upper arms because they’re still a bit dried out from the winter, and I suddenly thought, “Whoa! What’s that peculiar hard thing in my arm?” And then I realized it was muscle.

True facts.

Before I go to bed, I would like to make note of the fact that this afternoon, I put on a dress and sunscreen, and B. and I and a couple of our friends took a lovely long walk. We strolled down to the river and chatted on the foot-bridge, then crossed over to the other side and started flipping a coin each time we reached an intersection to randomize our path. After nearly an hour we finally came back to campus for dinner.

What did you do with your sunshine today?

froth:

dinosaurjam:

(Edited: Basically, I love/miss molletes.)

So what I’m saying here is that I think this summer I should make myself some watermelon juice and molletes and relive a little Mexico. (But my accompanying salad will be a million times better than the “salads” they gave us. Half a cup of iceberg lettuce, one tomato wedge, and a dry ring of onion does not a salad make.)

I miss these. The main thing I miss about Mexico every year was the food. Also, don’t you dare have that nostalgic Terremoto picnic without me. ;__;

Oh, don’t worry. I had planned to make them with you! Heck, I posted this knowing you’d see it and love it. :) We should think of other things to make, too. What other good stuff did we eat? (I’d love to make tamales, but oh my gosh, no way. Someday I’ll do it - this site is an awesome guide and even gives a link to an online Mexican grocer where you can get corn masa - but probably not anytime soon. Some Christmas, maybe.)

Guys.

I need to tell you how fantastic my dinner was.

So I’m doing this internship in Pittsburgh, and after work my supervisor was like, “Hey, I got us some comp tickets for The Price, wanna get dinner first?” And I’m like, YES. And we got there and she says, “So what are you in the mood for? There’s this great little Greek deli, a nice moderately-priced Indian place—-” And I said why Greek sounds delightful.

And we went there and I ate the falafel pita of the gods. The falafels were fresh and perfect and it was oozing hummus and the most perfect tzatziki sauce I’ve ever tasted and covered with shredded lettuce and onions and sliced tomatoes and olive oil and tons of lemon juice and herbs and OH MY GOD. If only I could describe just how good this tasted.

Needless to say, I am quite, quite satisfied. Even if I someday become a high-raw vegan, if I’m ever near that deli again, I will break all my own rules and drop a few bucks on that falafel pita. (Of course, if I’m ever a high-raw vegan, eating said dish will probably make me feel terrible. But it would be so, so worth it.)