Chocolate Buttermilk Pound Cake





I always smile when I read this recipe, I never did understand the take flour out and put cornstarch in but it makes a huge difference in the texture of this cake. Today I added 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder and I am mixing up a thin chocolate icing to drizzle on top.

The directions are not very clear. Before you start mixing measure 3 cups of flour. Take out 6 tablespoons of flour and add 6 tablespoons of corn starch. Add 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Sift together. I usually use my whisk and mix well.

Seperate the egg yolks from the whites. Set the whites in the refrigerator until ready to beat stiff.

Next use some (not from the 1 cup measure in recipe) crisco and coat the tube pan well on the sides and bottom and on the tube. Take some flour and lightly dust the bottom, sides and tube, tap away excess flour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Now you are ready to cream the crisco and the sugar about 3 min. at medium speed in mixer until light and creamy. Then add the egg yolks one each time. When blended well add the sifted flour, cornstarch and cocoa powder in 1/3 increments, alternating with 1/2 of the buttermilk. Add vanilla and blend well. When blended well scrape down the sides of the mixer and blend well.

Now take the egg whites from the refrigerator and beat with hand held electric mixer until stiff. Fold the whites into the cake batter until blended.

Pour into prepared cake pan and cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 20 min.

I think that the cake was a little dry with the cocoa powder added. I like really moist cakes. This one is moist and delicious but I know that the shelf life will not be as long as it would if it had a little more moisture. Wade loves it! He said no worry just add some ice cream. :) I think I will try it again and add a stick of unsalted butter. The crunchy top is fabulous though! The original recipe is moist and delicious. You have to try it.



Some pictures from Momma's Garden



I can't believe February is gone. Time is flying by. We have been having dense fog and humidity this past week and a little rain. I am continuing my garden project.I have planted about 40 daylillies so far, I still have more to plant. Today while I was working planting the lillies, I was remembering Momma Peacock  working in the garden in the early spring. She bundled us up and we played in the yard on the south end of the house out of the cold North wind, while she prepared the soil and planted her garden. Great memory, I miss her every day. The daylillies I have been planting came from her old house. My brother Keith lives there now.

Squash and Pumpkin update........

I should be able to transplant the seedlings I planted on the 16th of Feb. very soon.  Lots of lettuce. We eat a salad with almost every meal so this should save some money on my grocery bill! :)

The squash seedlings look great! They are loving the sunshine and have doubled in size in the past 3 days. Can't wait to get them in the ground.....waiting for 2 pairs of leaves before I put them in the ground. I went back to the horse barn today for some more of that great composte and some rose and camiella cuttings that I brought down here to root and plant.