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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

A Funny Little Story



We just got new neighbors. We first met them a couple of weeks ago while we were outside with our children. They hadn't moved in yet, but were at the house looking around and deciding on paint colors and furniture placement. They were really nice and had 3 kids like us. I was very excited and hoping we could be friends. I decided that when they got moved in I would make them a cake. I have a recipe for "Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake". It is absolutely amazing (seriously, I have dreams about this cake)! It is so good that it actually won Pillsbury Bake-off in 1974! I have made it for pot-lucks, parties, Bunco, birthdays, new moms, friends who've had surgery, and well just about everyone. I took it to a New Year's Party last year and had to give out the recipe 5 times!

So, last week I noticed that they had moved in. On Friday I made the cake and even went to Target and bought Cynthia Rowley plates and napkins and tied some plastic forks together with some grosgrain ribbon just in case they hadn't gotten completely unpacked yet and didn't have any plates, napkins and forks to eat the cake with. I packaged all that up in a cute bag, put the cake in my cake carrier and off I went.

I get there and knock and the door. She greets me warmly, I offer the cake and the bag, she says "you shouldn't have" and then invites me in. We stand in her foyer and talk for several minutes about her new paint colors (SO much better than the previous owners). I look toward the Dining Room and she says "Oh don't look in there, its a mess. I cater weddings on the side and I have one tomorrow and I've been piling everything on the table getting it ready."

I could have crawled under the table, better yet, I could have ran out the door and taken my cake with me. I was so embarassed. Here I am bringing a professional caterer a cake! Lord help me! She's probably wondering why in the world I would bring her such a simple cake. She probably picked it over and is laughing at me! Ugh, I'm not sure what to say to her when she brings the cake carrier back! Don't get me wrong, she was SO nice. But taking a cake to a wedding caterer in like telling a certified electrician how to do his job. Needless to say I told Hubs the story when I got home and he thought it was a hoot!

Anyhow, here is the recipe in case you want it. It really is amazing!

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cake

1 package (18.25 oz.) plain Devils Food cake mix
1 can (21 oz.) Cherry pie filling
2 large eggs
1 tsp. pure almond extract

Chocolate Glaze
1 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup whole milk
1 pkg. semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a bundt or 13x9 pan with vegatable oil cooking spray. In a large bowl mix the cake mix, pie filling, eggs, milk and extract with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl, increase mixer speed to medium and beat 2 minutes longer. The batter will look thick and well blended. Pour batter into pan. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes. Remove from oven and place on wire rack while you prepare the glaze.

For the glaze, place the sugar, butter and milk in a pan over medium low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until it comes to a boil. Boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips. When the chips have melted and the glaze is smooth, pour it over warm cake so that it covers entire surface (if you made it a bundt cake, it will just pour down the sides and pool around the plate), the glaze will be thin but will firm up. Cool for 20 minutes before serving.

Above is a picture of the finished cake and the goodies I brought them. (Doesn't the cake look heavenly!)

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Don't feel the need to compair yourself to her. I am sure she loved the cake, and is delighted to have such a thoughtful neighbor! Who cares if she's a caterer, don't you know that food always tastes better when you don't have to cook it yourself!?
And if I didn't still have a pesky 5lbs to lose, I'd be all over that recipe! That looks GOOD!!!!

Readings, Recipes and Rambles said...

Too funny.....don't worry...my brother is a professional chef..owns his own restaurant and has written a cookbook and I was always paranoid cooking for him. As it turns out..he loves to be on the other side and not "on" all the time! I am sure she loved the cake and will be calling you for the recipe!!!

Rachael said...

The cake looks great. And don't be embarrassed at all! It was a very sweet and thoughtful gesture. At least you didn't just BUY her some crummy packaged cake!

How's the running going? You're getting up there in your little meter! (Did you work out some babysitting yet?) :)

Carie said...

Thanks Jenn and Boo & Hooties mom, I guess you are right! It is so much better when you don't have to cook!

Rach, you would LOVE this cake! I know we have the same taste in chocolate and this is unbelievable, I'm just sayin. The running is going great. I did a little over 6 miles this morning. I would have done more, but I had to get home because Big Girl had a dentist appt. bright and early this morning.

Also, I forgot to ask my mom about babysitting when I saw her on Sunday. I will ask when I talk to her tomorrow!

Anonymous said...

Just wanted to say hi! I just found your blog and I love it! That recipe looks delicious, and like everyone said I'm sure she was just pleased by your sweet gesture! Maybe now she will return the favor and make you some tasty treats :)

BoosMom said...

I am sure she is so thankful to have such a thoughtful neighbor! She prob didn't even think anything about the way you thought about it. (does that make since??) Anyway, I would love to have generous neighbors that would take the time out of their busy lives to care that much for me.
That cake looks so YUMMY!!!

AR said...

I am sure she was tickled to receive such a sweet treat. She probably had a tall cold glass of milk and ate a HUGE slice after you left. Looks yummy!

A.D. said...

Too funny...but I bet she really enjoyed it. My neighbors (that I've lived next to for over a year!) have just now talking to us when we are out in our yards. I would love it if they made me a cake like that. Maybe I should move to your neighborhood :)! That cake looks amazing. I'm going to have to try that out on one of my "cheat" days!

Christel said...

If I were a caterer (ha ha),.... Anyway, I would be so glad that someone brought me a cake! I can imagine how nice it would be to eat someone elses cake instead of always being the one making the cake for everyone else! I know she loved and appreciated it more than you know! I bet it was also very nice to eat a different type of cake instead of the traditional wedding or shower cake! She's probably sick of that. I'm sure she will rant and rave over how good your cake was!

Carie said...

Come on over A.D.! The house right next door is for sale!

Christel, you know I will eat your food any day, any time!

Ellen said...

LOL...that's a cute little story! The cake looks delicious, and I'm sure she enjoyed it. She probably is thankful when someone bakes for her once in a while!

Lori said...

I'm sure she loved the cake, I will definitely be making it myself. Now that I'm exercising more I can splurge more too.
I'm sure some day after you two are good friends you'll laugh about it.

Unsweet T said...

I just found your blog today. Your cake looks delicious! I am sure your new neighbor appreciates your thoughtfulness!

clemsongirlandthecoach said...

I bet she LOVED it. No one brought me a dang thing when we last moved. I'll never forget the times before when someone did on other moves.

You'll be friends forever.

Kudos on being thoughtful!

ilovepink said...

It looks great no matter what your profession! I can't wait to try it out!

A.D. said...

Hey, I'm going to try to make this cake this weekend and I have a question on the recipe. It says "a large bowl mix the cake mix, pie filling, eggs, milk and extract with an electric mixer..." but there is no milk listed on the cake section. How much milk do you add here? Thanks!!!

Kate said...

Funny stuff...I love how you tied together the forks with ribbon and the plates are adorable! I can't wait for some new neighbors to move in so I can do the same! Hopefully mine won't be wedding caterers but I'm sure your new neighbor appreciated the cake just as much as anyone else would have.