Chocolate Cake + Middlest's Birthday

Well, turns out ol' number 89 wasn't our lucky number. We didn't win the chocolate extravaganza from the boulangerie but a nice man did and they took his photo with it and I'm sure he and his family had a wonderful time feasting on chocolate over the long Easter weekend.

{9x13 pan version, iced}

What is lucky, however, is that this past week my Middlest turned eight. And for his trouble I made him our favorite family birthday, rainy day, summer day, welcome home, i love you, chocolate cake. It's known at home as Texas Sheet Cake 'cause it's a big rectangular sheet of chocolatey goodness.

{baking tray version}

My Grandmother used to make it all the time. I remember sitting at the round table in her kitchen as she melted butter and cocoa, stirring with a wooden spoon. I'd get as close as I could when she mixed wet and dry ingredients so I could get a nose full of the heavenly smell--chocolatey butter mixing with the sugar and flour. Every time I make it I stick my nose real close and it takes me back. My kids all love this part too and we breathe in the deliciousness together.

{i wish it was scratch and sniff, you'd be so happy!}

I think she must have known the recipe by heart because it wasn't in her recipe collection that I was given when I got married, nor did anyone else ever remember seeing it written down anywhere. I looked and looked for it until one day P-Daddy's mom made us what she called 'brownies'. It was the cake I'd always had as a kid, the secret ingredient--buttermilk. And a whole lotta sugar. Thanks Belle-Mere.

{yum!}

Since then, I've memorized it like my Grandmother, but I've also written it down on two blue post-it notes. The Homesick Texan cookbook also has the basic Texas Sheet Cake recipe that comes pretty close, only omit the baking soda, cinnamon and pecans and use buttermilk for the icing instead of whole milk.

Every time I make it P-Daddy and the kids say it's the best one yet.
It's all about the love.

{helloooooo}

Now to the important part, da, da, da, dum! Happy Birthday Middlest!
Here are eight things I love about my first son.

1. Last week after his football match he shared his chocolate gouter with P-Daddy, offering him the first bite.
2. He loves to make people laugh.
3. He has the coolest hair and the raspiest voice.
4. When he gets a lot of presents he takes time going over each of them, playing, learning and figuring them out in turn.
5. He loves pâté, bleu cheese, terrines, calamari, oysters, mussels, you name it and he'll try anything once.
6. The other day he told me, 'There's no other girl like you'.
7. He's a night owl and a late riser, just like his mommy.
and
8. On his door hangs a homemade sign that says, 'No Aliens or Girls Allowed, except for Mommy and Sara'. Which one are we?!

Texas Sheet Cake

200C/400F

Grease a 9x13 inch pan OR lay parchment paper onto a baking tray, depending on if you want a thicker cake or not. I've made it both ways and the icing makes up for any thinness if you go for the baking tray.

To Make the Cake:

2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup or 2 sticks unsalted butter
4 tablespoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
1 cup water
2 large eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

Sift the flour and sugar together in a mixing bowl.
Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add in cocoa powder and water. Stir and bring just to the boil.

Call everyone close for this part.
Pour the buttery chocolate over the sugar and flour. Seriously. You've got to stick your nose in there!

Mix together until blended. Add in the eggs, lightly beaten, plus the buttermilk and vanilla. Mix well.

Pour into either the prepared 9x13 pan or the parchment lined baking tray.

Put in the hot oven for 30 minutes BUT check it at 20 minutes for doneness. If a toothpick in the middle comes out clean, you're done. If not, give it 10 more minutes, checking after 5. You don't want to overcook it.

Remove from the oven and pour on the sugar, I mean icing.

To Make the Icing:

1/2 cup or 1 stick of unsalted butter
4 tablespoons cocoa powder, unsweetened
6 tablespoons buttermilk
1 box or 1 pound/ 16 oz. of powdered sugar

Melt the butter in the same cleaned out heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add in the cocoa powder and the buttermilk. Stir well and bring to a boil.
Remove from heat and add in the powdered sugar.
Stir well and fast until smooth.

Pour this over the still warm cake and get ready to be crowned 'a girl like no other'.