Yummy Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Frosting

Hershey's Black Magic Cake

I'm more of a "salty" girl than a "sweet" girl, so I halved (or is it halfed!) the recipe, and will give most of this to my Dad and his wife.  

Here's what you need:
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk or sour milk
2 eggs
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
 1 cup strong black coffee or 2 tsp powdered instant coffee + 1 cup boil. water (I used fresh coffee)
3/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
1 3/4 cup flour

Heat oven to 350.  Grease and flour 12 cup fluted tube pan, 2 9" round baking pans, or one 13x9x2 inch baking pan.

Sift together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in large bowl.  Add eggs, buttermilk, coffee, oil, and vanilla.  Beat on medium speed of mixer for 2 minutes (batter will be thin). Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 50 to 55 minutes for fluted tube pan, 30 - 35 minutes for round pans, 35 - 40 minutes for rectangular pan, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes.  Loosen cake from side of pan and remove pans to wire racks.  Cool completely.

Here's the frosting recipe I used:

1/4 cup margarine, melted (I used real butter)
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar

In a large bowl, beat margarine and cocoa together until combined.  Add milk and vanilla, beat until smooth.  Gradually beat in confectioners sugar until desired consistency.  Adjust with more milk or confectioners sugar if needed.

Enjoy!!

Jen

Jen's Crappy Craft time

That's right folks, it's time for another segment of Jen's Crappy Crafts!  By now you should know I am craft challenged, but I keep trying!

I love vintage children's clothing!  Especially girls/baby clothes, simple linen dresses are my favorite!

These linen shift dresses are my favorites!

So I got the glue gun out (everyone watch out!), and gathered up some pretty embellishments, and glued them on to little hangers to add an extra shabby touch to them!

These are some of my lovely embellishments!  Tiny pearls, little flowers, tulle, buttons, and more!  Yes, Katherine (my daughter) may recognize some of these, as I just found them in her room, and now they're mine!!

Vintage Christening Gown

 Well, this christening gown is also one of my favs!  

I hope I've inspired crafters and non-crafters!  Happy crafting!!

Jen

September blues!

I love summer!  Please do not end! It seems most people's favorite season is fall, but I am a summer girl!  Fewer clothes, no boots, no coats, etc!

Let's have a tea party!

I'm getting ready to list the cream and sugar set along with the pretty matching dish!

Flowers always make me smile, whether faux or real!

Pretty little bird cage (not vintage)!

So dainty and delicate, like me!! Haha!

Enjoy the last days of summer!  I know I will!

Jen

Happy August!  It's here too soon!  I love summer and do not want it to end! I know so many people love fall, but fall just makes me anxious for winter and snow!  In the summer you wear less clothes, no boots, and no coats!

Oh well!  I will soon move to my beach cottage!!

These will definitely be in my beach cottage!

These would be perfect in my beach cottage, but I sold them!

Keepers! Noritake Marvelle desser bowls!

Fenton milk glass is a must have! Classic and simple!

Enjoy the rest of the summer, I know I will!

Jen

Vintage Pretties

Some may step in my house and be shocked at all of the pretty vintage that lurks everywhere!  For me it's fun and oh so (happily) distracting!

Shabby sweet collection

 I buy what I like, and pass it on to my customers!  I sell a wide variety of antiques and vintage!  If you don't know already, I have three Etsy shops.  One of my shops is a fun mix of vintage, one is all vintage milk glass, and one is gorgeous vintage china!

I just may need to keep this cruet! Perfect for a beach cottage!

 http://giftbizunwrapped.com/jenscloset/ Check out this link! I was just interviewed regarding running my Etsy shops!

Simple and gorgeous vintage milk glass

 I hope everyone has a super-fantastic weekend!  I love summer!

Jen

Zucchini "Spaghetti" with Spinach Pesto

This is so yummy, and easy to make!

Veggetti

 

Get a Veggetti!  This one is the "pro" version, but I think there's a smaller, less expensive version (I think this one was only $20 though).

Zucchini "spaghetti" with pesto sauce

I had posted a pic (before I started eating this), on instagram.  I then realized I should blog about it, so before I ate the entire thing, I snapped a pic!

I just used one zucchini, boiled it for maybe 3 minutes, and added my homemade pesto!  I did add a tiny bit of parmesan cheese to mine, so my version is not vegan, but without the cheese, it's vegan, and so healthy for you!

I used a food processor and added spinach, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil, walnuts.  (I feel like I'm forgetting something, but what's new!?)  Add it to your hot "spaghetti", and eat!  You will love it!  You can make it with whatever you like, pine nuts, basil, etc.

Try it!! 

Have a great weekend everyone!
Jen

Happy June!

I love summer! Well, it's not actually summer yet, but close enough! Our weather has been gorgeous, and for that, I am grateful!

I need to be on a beach, but the closest I'll come to that this year would be Lake Erie beach!

Noritake Lacewood China

Okay, changing the subject now!  A couple of weeks ago someone contacted me in the Etsy china shop and asked if I was interested in some china.  I told her, no, that I was not buying right now.  She 
said she just wanted to give it to me, because otherwise, she would just donate it somewhere!  This lovely lady's name is Carrie, and I met her at my usual spot for meeting locals, in front of Nordstrom Rack.  Not only did she give me a complete set of this pretty Noritake Lacewood china, but also beautiful pieces of Johnson Bros. china in the Greydawn pattern!


So nice!  Now I must pay it forward!


Jen

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Here's to a fantabulous weekend!

Estate Sales

Gorgeous vintage Christening gown!

Wait, what's that!  It's an estate sale sign.  I had to go!!  This estate sale was full of vintage lovelies that were right up my alley, well, except that everything was way overpriced!  Oh my, there was even a pink mixer!!

Pink Elizabethan English bone china teacup set

 Of course I had to buy something!  I bought the beautiful vintage Christening gown, the teacup set (love the mauvy pink!), and the wonderful Fenton milk glass silver crest two tiered dessert stand!

Fenton milk glass silver crest two tiered dessert stand

 I just might go back tomorrow, when things will be discounted.  I really want that pink mixer set, but not for $90.00!!

Happy thrifting!! Enjoy your weekend everyone!
Jen

Vintage Tablecloths

Unique and lovely vintage tablecloths

They just don't make them like they used to!  I can say that about a lot of vintage and antique items, but especially vintage tablecloths!

Vibrant rich colors!

 Vintage linens never seem to fade!  They may get worn and stained, but oh those beautiful patterns!

Great for picnics!

 Vintage tablecloths are a great way to add a cottage feel to your kitchen!  They're also perfect for picnics!

So Mod!

 The last one is one of my favorites!  I love the abstract retro design!  

Vintage linens are also great for upcycling projects!  Make handbags, pillows, and more!

Vintage is the best!!

Jen

Jadeite - New and Old

Vintage Jadeite measuring cups

I am obsessed with Jadeite!

I am in love with jadeite, the old, and the new!  Technically the new  stuff is not jadeite, but just green glass, but it's still gorgeous!

World Market Bowls with Fenton Egg Cups

I am always on the hunt for vintage jadeite!  But recently I have discovered places like World Market for the classic jadeite-look glassware!

Vintage Rabbit and New Covered Rabbit

Vintage Basil Jar with new Salt & Pepper Shakers

Fire King Jane Ray Jadeite Teacups

Whether new, or old, jadeite is stunning!  My "someday" beach cottage will be filled with my jadeite collection!  What do you collect!?

Jen

Inspiration

Vintage china is inspiring!

I'm inspired by so many things, and so many people!  Funny people inspire me!  Happy people inspire me!  Instagram is so inspiring!!  Another place to get lost in inspiration is pinterest! Sometimes it feels like I'm on pinterest for hours at a time (maybe I am!)!

Roses are inspiring

I'm inspired by Haviland/Limoges, and can spot it a mile away! There's just something special about it!  Not just the look, but even the feel!  I absolutely adore these gorgeous pink rose salad plates!

Gorgeous salad plates!

I'm also inspired (and a bit envious) of beautiful blogs!  I haven't yet figured out how to have a pretty blog, so if anyone is willing to help me, I would love it!

Oh, I am also inspired by the fact that it is almost spring!  Today is a beautiful sunny day, and who doesn't love that!!?

Happy almost spring!
Jen

Fresh Flowers

Happy almost spring!! I usually always have fresh flowers in my house, especially during the dreary winter days!

pink roses

One of my favorites, Gerber Daisies!

Fresh flowers are really not expensive, and you can find a nice variety of flowers that will last a pretty long time!  Of course, I use my vintage vases! I especially love my large milk glass hobnail vases!

Spring is just around corner!! I can't wait!  Stay warm!!
Jen

Tea Time!

I've been keeping out of trouble by updating my Etsy shops!  The main thing I wanted to do was brighten up some dark dreary photo's!

This is a Hakusan Luncheon Set that got a makeover!

 

Since postal rates recently went up, I also needed to go through all of my listings and update shipping costs.  With three very full Etsy vintage shops, it's taken quite awhile!

Harmony House Crinoline vintage bowls

 I was surprised at just high shipping costs have become!  I'm in Ohio, and the difference in shipping something closer to me than somewhere like California, is drastic!

Elegant vintage Fenton milk glass hobnail candleholers

 So off I go to continue with my tweaking of photo's!!

Lunch Time!

Fresh Veggies!

I love making soups!! They're quick and easy! I usually start them the same way, sauteing the veggies in olive and coconut oil (of course you can use butter too!).

Kale Veggie Soup with Cauliflower Steaks

 Right now kale is super cheap, so I have a lot of it, and thus, lots of kale veggie soups!  I also love making kale chips!  That's very easy, just rip up kale leaves, place it on a tray with just a little bit of olive oil, season with whatever you like, low temp, like 300, after about 5 or so minutes flip them over, maybe another 5-8 minutes, until they're cripsy.  Delish!

The cauliflower steaks were so good (although my hubby wasn't as crazy about them as I was).  Slice into steaks, put on an an olive oiled baking sheet, I sprinkled Italian seasoning, pepper, and garlic salt, but you can use whatever you love!  The last time I made them was when my daughter Katherine was home from college, and she loves cumin, so I added that to them, and they were delicious too!

Back to the soup, so I sauteed the veggies for maybe 10 or so minutes, medium heat, I only had about 3/4 cup of chicken broth left, so I added that and then some water, seasoned with fresh thyme, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, and pepper.  Use whatever veggies you have, I used kale, cauliflower, red onion, white onion, celery, carrots, etc., after the broth has been added, boil low, for about 5 minutes.  The perfect quick lunch!

Sharing with my Dad and my Mother-in-Law

 And I always make enough to share!  Here I have some ready to freeze and deliver to Grace, my Mother-in-law, and my Dad, who I lovingly refer to as "JRP"!

Make up your own soup ideas, adding beans for protein, pasta for a bit heartiness!

Enjoy!

Jen
   

Happy Monday!

Yay for Monday!! A new week ahead and new opportunities!

Vintage mismatched dinner plates

 Here are some beautiful vintage mismatched dinner plates recently listed in my vintage shop! http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com

Rare Fenton milk glass hobnail egg cup

 And this lovely vintage Fenton milk glass egg cup!! Perfect for Easter!  You can find it here: 
http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com

Vintage Haviland Limoges Plates

And, last but not least!  These gorgeous vintage Haviland Limoges plates can be found at http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com

I'm thankful you are reading by blog!! Use code SUNDAY2011 for a 10% discount in all three of my shops!

Jen