valentine's buttercream cake with strawberries

Cake, strawberries and buttercream frosting.... yes please 

I have been craving cake lately and thought I would make a quick 

valentine's cake

to show some love this month. 

For my birthday, I always get white cake with strawberry filling and buttercream frosting from our local bakery. My family always makes fun of me that I have no variety- but I like what I like. And I LIKE!!! ...I'm liking this better though :) 

White cake 

4 egg whites

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter or shortening, softened
3/4 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
 1 1/3 cups buttermilk

1. Break eggs and separate. Set aside and let rest for 30 minutes 
2. In a medium bowl stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
3. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. 
4. Add sugar and vanilla; beat until well combined. 
5. Add egg whites one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Alternately add flour mixture and buttermilk to butter mixture, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Spread batter into the prepared pan(s).
7. Cook at 350 for 30 minutes in a round 8 inch cake pan 

Chocolate cake 

3/4 cup butter 

3 eggs

2 cups ap flour 

3/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder 

1 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder 

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups sugar 

2 teaspoons vanilla 

1 1/4 cups milk 

1. Warm butter and eggs to room temp 
2. Stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt - set aside 
3. Beat butter for 30 seconds, slowly add sugar and mix 4-6 minutes 
4. Add in eggs 1at a time
5. Add vanilla 
6. Alternate adding in flour and milk
7. Spread into 8 inch pans and bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes 
8. Cool in pan for 10 minutes on wire rack than remove to finish cooling. 

- recipes adopted from better homes and garden 

Butter Cream frosting 

you can also click here for recipe 

3 cups confections’ sugar

1 cup butter softened over night

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1-2 tablespoons whipping cream  

1. In a standing mixer equipped with the whisk, mix overnight soft butter and confection’s sugar. 
2. Mix on a low speed until blended then increase to medium and whisk for 3 minutes.
3. Add vanilla and cream and beat for another minute. Add more cream according to desired consistency

- you can get clear vanilla at most cooking stores if you want pure white frosting.

- make sure and whisk for the whole 3 minutes- it does make a difference. 

I decided to stack this cake to show its two flavors and because I can not frost a cake. They turn out ugly- very very ugly, not a skill that I have. 

I hope that you enjoy this wonderful cake. It is a perfect valentine or anytime treat. 

-ALIX 

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healthy habits coloring chart

Today the topic in my life seemed to be healthy habits and the childhood obesity problem. 

My eldest was having a hard time with dinner tonight so I thought it was time to sit him down and explain to him the food pyramid... He does much better when he understands the "why" behind the rule. He then expressed that he can't remember what healthy food he eats during the day. Me either I told him. So I sat down tonight and made him a coloring chart. (life is just so much better when you can mark/color in your progress). We also talked about exercise and trying new foods. Since I was so proud of my chart I thought I would share it with the rest of you. Wish me luck and let me know how it goes in your household. 

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