Even the Sparrow: April 2017

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Our weather this week

has been on the damp side.

And while it is lovely weather for ducks,

the dreariness calls for some cheering up.....

Well that's an improvement!

It's called Depression Cake, and its a simple, small cake that does not call for eggs or milk.

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water

frosting

2 Tablespoons butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup powdered sugar
1 Tablespoon milk (or cream)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

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Combine flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt and baking soda in a large mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine vanilla, vinegar, oil and water. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until completely combined and no lumps remain.
Pour batter into a greased 8x8 square pan.
Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Let cake cool completely before frosting.

for the frosting

Melt butter in a small saucepan (or in the microwave using a microwave safe dish.) Stir in cocoa powder, mixture will form a thick paste.
Transfer chocolate mixture to a medium size mixing bowl. With mixer on low speed, add in powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.
Once ingredients are incorporated, turn mixer to medium high speed and beat about 5 minutes, until frosting is smooth and creamy. Spread on top of cooled cake.

(gluten free baking mix substituted for the flour)

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Perhaps the rain has inspired ants to move into your house too. This Website has a 3 ingredient ant treatment that works quite well!

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Thanks to Jeanne there is a baby painted turtle in the water garden

Its been fun to watch it swimming, and it seems less spooked when we come up to say hello.

During this rainy weather it likes to hang out under a lotus leaf,

so it's been quite easy to find.

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The book club is discussing "Strangers in a Strange Land".

a couple quotes:

from Flannery O'Connor: "You shall know the truth, and the truth will make you odd."

"We need to break out of ourselves. Augustine famously described someone caught in sin as curved in on himself. We need to ask God to hammer us straight so that we can look at him, and at the world he created around us, in the light of his truth. We need to hope in God and in heaven not as heartwarming pieties but as our real and final home. When we do, we'll see that there's no more room for despair, no time for sloth, but an open vista of joy before us."