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