11/19/14

Cats and Cakes

This morning my inner baker and sugar fiend got a burr up her behind to try a cake recipe I saw online recently. It's a Double Layer Cranberry Ginger Upside Down Cake. It looked complicated, but I decided to give it a try anyway. I love upside down cakes. And I love cranberries. And I love it when it's November and December and cranberries are widely available. And I love candied ginger, and so this just seemed to me to be the perfect cake.

So basically, you make two cakes: one is plain, one is a cranberry ginger upside down cake. Also, you make a filling. When the cakes are done, you let them cool for a while, then slather the filling on the plain cake, then top it with the upside down cake and voila! You have something that looks like this:



Looks yummy, no? I haven't actually tried it yet. I'll delay gratification just for today and wait until after dinner. I'll try to remember to take a picture of it once it's been cut so that you can see the inside. But if you can't wait until then to bake your very own, here's a link to the recipe.

And as long as we're talking about recipes, I want to share a fun link with you. It's from the New York Times: Thanksgiving recipes from all 50 states, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico. I love the recipe from Oregon: Cranberry Sauce with Pinot Noir.




Since both cranberries and pinot noir are grown/produced in Oregon, it seems the perfect choice. Check out your state and see if you think the editors chose wisely. And let me know. I saw quite a few of these that looked delicious. I'm curious to know what you think of the recipe they chose for your home.

So the cake was sort of baked in stages. While I was waiting for things to "gel", I finished up the 10th cat. Recall that yesterday, I just needed to finish up the face:



Then I added the sashings to each side.


And here it is with the rest of the blocks.


It's getting pretty close! I've picked out all the fabrics for the next block, and I might get started on it later on today. For now, I'm taking a little break from it. As much as I want to finish it, I'm getting a little tired of looking at it.

As a handy diversion:


That's a little squeak toy I like to throw over his shoulders just to bug him. He looks thrilled, doesn't he?

And just to be extra annoying, I wrapped its tail around his neck and told him that all the fashion-conscious cats are wearing them.


I don't think he believes me. The things this cat puts up with.

In other news, I got my yaktrax yesterday. They fit perfectly on my shoes. Mike tried to convince me I'd be safe walking out to the culinary herb garden last night.


It was dark...and down hill...and I kind of felt like Smitty about this latest fashion. The downhill in the dark had me a little spooked, and so I told him I wanted to wait until daylight...and that I would prefer level ground for my first outing. And since the ice is almost gone, I might get out of this whole thing altogether. It was sweet of him to get me my own pair though. I'll get out there and be bold one of these days.

Some of you must be fairly well snowed in today. Are you staying warm where you live?

14 comments:

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Yum- your cake looks delish. I think an Apple Pie for the Big Apple state is perfect. I'll take mine with vanilla ice cream please. Smitty does not look like he is pleased with his fashion. We so lucked out (so far) on the latest storm - OH MY GOSH - Buffalo just is buried!!

Quilting Babcia said...

Here in Honeoye we only have 1-2 inches for the moment. But it looks like the next blast may just reach us too. That cake looks spectacularly delicious!

Betty said...

For Alabama it was "Lucy Buffett’s Oyster Dressing". Since I don't care for oysters, it didn't sound very appetizing to me. Maybe I'd be more inclined if I lived in LA (Lower Alabama), but I live about as far north as one can get and still be in the state. Here in the "North" we prefer chicken in our dressing.
Your cake looks wonderful! I'll look forward to your review after you've tried it.

Kate said...

For Oklahoma it was green bean casserole. I'll keep my comments to myself on that one I think. Your cake looks yummy.

Sheila said...

Your cat quilt is so beautiful. I love all of the great colors, my kind of quilt. Only a couple of inches of snow here south of Rochester. They are calling for temps in the mid fifties by Tuesday :)

quiltzyx said...

Gosh, only 2 more cats to go on this one - huzzah!

I love cranberries too. I was talking w/my friend the other day about how we both grew up with moms who used the canned c/berry sauce & neither one of us liked it, but we both love whole cranberry sauce! (Now I even like that other stuff too, but more as a sandwich condiment.) The cake does look delish, I don't know how you can wait!
It's cooling off a little here - not sure it made it much into the 70s today. I must have been cold last night because this morning I found most of the covers around my ears & my feet were *almost* sticking out!

Dasha said...

Poor Smitty. You give him such grief LOL. The cake looks delicious, 'cos I love cranberries too. We don't get them fresh here. They come dried and are called Craisins. Taste great in baking - not too sweet, not too tart.

Dana Gaffney said...

Right after you said Mike had ordered you a pair of yaxtrax I saw an ad for them, if you hadn't endorsed them I would have laughed at them. I hope they work for you.

Wilma Lee said...

Cake!! I love cake!!!

Diane Wild said...

I am so in love with the cat quilt. Not much snow here but freezing-freezing temps. However it's sunny.

Lynette said...

I just love this cat - her polka dots are so fun. :) Smitty - heee!

Dar said...

Your cranberry upside down cake looks scrumptious. And Smitty DOES look fashionable with his extra furr cowl. You are so funny. Almost had an accident laughing (sorry Smitty it was not at you, but your mom's creative writing) really! The Missouri recipe St.Louis Gooey Butter Cake is SPOT ON! http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/11/18/dining/thanksgiving-recipes-across-the-united-states.html?_r=1
They are delicious and that recipe would be one that I would try. We have some great bakeries in town that specialize in this cake and do the job faster Let me know if you ever try Molly's version.

Dixie said...

Mississippi's Collard recipe is just perfect. Yum.

Barbara said...

I don't know if mine are yaktrax but they do work. Try it - you might like it! But, go slowly.