Category Archives: Food

Chocolate Cake: Because Summer Needs Dessert Too

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Freshly baked chocolate sheet cake covered in thick white frosting and rainbow sprinkles, resting on a cooling rack in a home kitchen.

A Chocolate Cake Kind of Day

Lately I haven’t been testing too many recipes. We’re deep into the summer months, which to me means hamburgers, hot dogs, and steak. I grew up with steak — my Dad loved it — but beef has been outrageous this year. So when my local supermarket had sirloins on sale three weeks in a row, well… there was no contest. Steak it was.

Lunch was a salad so I could enjoy my dinner without guilt. During this all‑too‑brief period of indulgence, I ignored the recipes landing in my email with startling regularity. Eventually I decided it was time to clear them out — and found a hidden gem I had to try.

Deliciously Moist Chocolate Cake

I am not adverse to using a box cake mix. They’re perfectly fine: open a box, toss in an egg and some oil, beat, bake, done. No muss, no fuss. I also hate frosting layer cakes (unless it’s carrot cake… ummmm cream cheese frosting). But I’m getting off track.

Buried in my emails was a recipe for a chocolate cake that I couldn’t resist.

Cake Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups flour
  • ¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons espresso powder (optional)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs (room temperature)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup buttermilk (room temperature)
  • 1 cup freshly brewed strong hot coffee or hot water

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°. Grease two 9‑inch cake pans (I used a 9×13 sheet pan because, as I said, I hate frosting layer cakes). If using round pans, line with parchment rounds and grease the parchment.

Step 2: Whisk flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and espresso powder (if using) in a large bowl. Set aside.

Step 3: Using a stand or hand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, mix oil, eggs, and vanilla on medium‑high until combined. (If you’ve got a strong arm, a hand whisk works too.) Add the buttermilk and mix until combined.

Step 4: Pour the dry ingredients into the wet. Add the hot coffee or water and whisk/beat on low until the batter is completely combined. Batter will be thin.

Step 5: For 9‑inch pans: divide batter evenly and bake 23–26 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. For a 9×13 sheet pan: bake 35–40 minutes.

Step 6: Let the cake cool at least 1 hour, then frost with your favorite frosting.

What Makes This Cake Different?

For me, the biggest difference is the buttermilk. I went 60 years without ever using it, and now it seems I’m reaching for it at least once a week. This cake calls for a full cup.

If you don’t have buttermilk, here’s a DIY substitute: Add 2 teaspoons white vinegar or lemon juice to a measuring cup, then fill with room temperature whole milk to reach 1 cup. Let sit 5 minutes. It will curdle — that’s exactly what you want.

Coffee or espresso powder is common in chocolate cakes because it deepens the chocolate flavor. It does not make the cake taste like coffee. Still, I don’t like coffee — not even coffee ice cream — so I skipped the espresso powder and used hot chocolate instead of coffee. Hot water felt too bland.

The recipe warned that the batter would be thin, and it was. Very thin. But I soldiered on. It also said the center might collapse even if the cake is fully baked because cocoa powder can’t support the weight of such a moist batter. Another good tip. So don’t beat yourself up if it looks like your cake fell. Just wait until you taste it.

Final Thoughts

I used traditional Crisco‑based birthday cake frosting instead of buttercream. It’s messy to clean up, but so rich and yummy that it’s worth every sticky bowl.

This cake is more involved than a box mix or even my usual from‑scratch cakes, but the difference is noticeable. They aren’t kidding when they say moist. The crumb is beautiful, and it holds together nicely.

This one is definitely going into my special‑occasion rotation.

 

From Wine and Cheese to Cowboys

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A charcuterie board arranged with assorted cheeses, sliced cured meats, green grapes, blueberries, pomegranate halves, crackers, green olives in a small bowl, and a creamy white dip. Behind the board are four bottles of red wine, creating an elegant wine‑and‑cheese presentation.

Today’s a great day. Everything from Wine and Cheese to Cowboys

Today is a very special day. If you like food, ice cream, and the Wild West… July 25 gives us a triple‑header: National Wine and Cheese Day, National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, and National Day of the Cowboy. How good is that!

Here are a few ideas to make the most of it:

  1. Host a wine and cheese party. Brie from the Brie region pairs beautifully with Beaujolais — a red wine that complements the creamy texture of the cheese like they were born to be together.
  2. Finish your party with a hot fudge sundae station. Set out vanilla bean ice cream, homemade or artisanal hot fudge, whipped cream, crushed waffle cones, toasted peanuts or pecans, and plenty of cherries. (If you’re going to celebrate, celebrate properly.)
  3. Fun Fact: According to the first sundae story, customer George Hallauer ordered an ice cream soda on a Sunday. Ordinances at the time prohibited selling ice cream sodas on the Sabbath. So 18‑year‑old Ed Berners improvised: ice cream in a dish, chocolate syrup on top, no soda. He named it a “Sundae” in honor of the day. And just like that, dessert history was made.

Finally, wrap up your day by celebrating the Cowboy — that hardworking symbol of the American West. The world would be a better place if we all followed the Cowboy Code.

The Cowboy Code

Your Word is Your Bond A handshake and a promise carry more weight than any written contract.

Live Each Day with Courage Face hardships head‑on and never quit.

Take Pride in Your Work Whatever you do, do it well and finish what you start.

Protect the Vulnerable and Weak Be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.

Never Take Unfair Advantage of Someone A cowboy never strikes a smaller man or shoots first.

Respect Others Never touch another person’s horse or tack without permission.

These are a few of my favorite things. So glad to have a day to celecrate them all. 

 

 Gross‑out Foods for a Bizarre Buffet, Anyone?

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Andrew Zimmern posing at a media event, wearing round orange glasses, a blue blazer, a striped shirt, and a colorful pocket square against a dark backdrop with partial text.

Andrew Zimmern Host of the Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods

What Would You Bring to the Bizarre Buffet

Now that you’ve had a little time to think about it… have you come up with any bizarre foods? They’re out there — and Andrew Zimmern built an entire career around foods that sound questionable, look strange, or seem downright off‑putting, yet still fit into the so-called “Gross-out” category and somehow taste good. Maybe even amazing.

 

Let’s build a Bizarre buffet worthy of Andrew Zimmern himself. What dish would you bring? For some, the best additions to this buffet are the true Gross-out options from around the world.

Bonus if it tastes better than it sounds—especially if it belongs in the Gross-out hall of fame.

 

Frog Eye Salad and Other Foods That Sound Gross (But Aren’t)

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A blue bowl filled with creamy frog eye salad made of acini di pepe pasta, pineapple, mandarin oranges, and colorful mini marshmallows, with a spoon resting inside the mixture.

Frog Eye Salad

When a Name Makes You Pause

How much are you influenced by the name of a food. Have you ever looked at a menu and thought, oh that sounds good — or just as quickly said, absolutely not. Would you try something that sounds, well… disgusting.

Recently one of the food bloggers I follow sent out a recipe for Frog Eye Salad. Yup. Frog eyes. It instantly made me think of a witch’s brew. All it needed was a little eye of newt or maybe a bat wing to round it out. Now, if they said frog legs, I could get behind that. After all, we eat chicken wings and legs, turkey legs, and even chicken feet. Why not frog legs. But frog eyes. I draw the line.

Fancy Names for Questionable Things

And while we’re talking about things that sound questionable, let’s consider eggs. We cook with chicken eggs every day, but I won’t even consider caviar. It doesn’t sound bad, but it’s fish eggs. I can’t. I just can’t. Meanwhile, I do like escargot — especially with garlic, butter, and cheese. Leave it to the French to make a tasty dish out of something slimy, but at least they gave it a cool name. Escargot is much easier to swallow than snails.

Moving on, let’s consider foie gras. Another French concoction. It sounds exotic and high‑brow. How do the French do that? It’s just a fancy name for goose liver. Goose liver pâté. Slap it on a cracker and voilà — a tasty appetizer. Ummm… no thank you.

Halloween Foods Are Just Drama Queens

Bloody Brains for Halloween

Now, if you’re preparing a Halloween feast, you might reconsider that Frog Eye Salad. Remember what started this whole train of thought. Halloween foods are basically regular dishes with dramatic names. A plate of “bloody brains” is just spaghetti with red sauce or a strawberry Jell‑O mold. “Monster eyeballs” can be mozzarella balls with an olive slice. And no one can skip “spider eggs” for a total gross‑out — deviled eggs topped with olive slices arranged like spider legs.

But back to the Frog Eye Salad. Is it a real thing? Yes. Yes it is. And based on the ingredient list, I think it might even be edible. No bat wings required. Not even any frog eyes.

Frog Eye Salad

A sweet, chilled holiday dessert made with acini di pepe pasta, coconut, pineapple, mandarin oranges, and marshmallows.

 Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Additional Time: 9 hrs Total Time: 9 hrs 35 mins Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 1 ¾ cups unsweetened pineapple juice
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ teaspoons salt, divided
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 (16 ounce) package acini di pepe pasta *
  • 3 (11 ounce) cans mandarin oranges, drained
  • 2 (20 ounce) cans pineapple tidbits, drained
  • 1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
  • 1 cup miniature marshmallows
  • 1 cup shredded coconut

Directions

  1. Combine pineapple juice, sugar, eggs, flour, and ½ teaspoon salt in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until thickened.
  2. Remove from heat; stir in lemon juice. Cool to room temperature, about 1 hour.
  3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add oil and remaining salt. Cook pasta until al dente, 5–7 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water.
  4. Combine pasta, cooled egg mixture, oranges, pineapple tidbits, crushed pineapple, and whipped topping in a large bowl. Refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
  5. Before serving, add marshmallows and coconut; toss and serve.

*Note: In case you didn’t know (I didn’t) acini di pepe pasta is a very small, round pasta (about 0.2–0.3 cm). It’s Tender but slightly chewy when cooked al dente.

Let me know if you make it. I’m still struggling with the name.

And while I’m thinking about it, there are plenty of less‑than‑appetizing food names out there. Ants on a log comes to mind — and it’s actually a favorite of mine, though I’d never call it that. To me, it’s peanut butter on celery. Then we can head to England and enjoy Toad in the Hole (sausages baked in batter), same family as our pigs in a blanket. And while you’re there, would you like a dish of Spotted Dick.

There are a bunch more. What’s your favorite gross‑sounding food or meal. Or what’s something you’d never try just because the name is off‑putting. Bring it on. Inquiring minds want to know.

 

It’s National Ice Cream Day- Who Wants to Party?!

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Children walking outdoors in cool weather, happily eating ice‑cream cones, with buildings blurred in the background.

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Do you know what day it is? It’s National Ice Cream Day! A totally legitimate excuse to pig out on your favorite frozen treat — cones, sundaes, cups, bars, whatever makes your inner child happy.

A Little Nostalgia

Let’s get nostalgic for a minute. Do neighborhoods still have ice cream trucks? They used to cruise the streets with jolly jingles and ringing bells, and we all came running. We had to get our ice‑cream bar or our little “hoodsie” cup.

Anyone remember the old ice‑cream counters, or am I really dating myself? They were usually tucked inside the local drugstore or a Woolworth’s. You climbed up on a stool and ordered a shake or a cone, and life was good.

Right now I’m craving some Caramel Cup ice cream… and of course my freezer is empty.

Freebies for National Ice Cream Day

A bunch of ice‑cream companies are celebrating with deals and giveaways:

  • Dairy Queen: Rewards members get a free Dilly Bar with any order of $1 or more using the DQ App.
  • Baskin-Robbins: Rewards members get $5 off an order of $20 or more, plus a buy‑one‑get‑one free single scoop next week.
  • Friendly’s: Every guest gets a free cone or dish — no purchase necessary.
  • Dippin’ Dots: Participating locations are giving away free mini cups during a designated two‑hour window.
  • Häagen-Dazs: Rewards members can get a Buy One, Get One Free sundae at participating shops.
  • Insomnia Cookies: Get a free two‑scoop ice‑cream cup with any $5 purchase.

And while Boston isn’t hosting an official Ice Cream Day celebration, plenty of shops are scooping happiness today.

So… What Are You Doing for National Ice Cream Day?

I think I’m going to go buy a quart of my favorite flavors. Maybe two. It is a holiday, after all.