Oxymoron- something (as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements.
Thankful hardship. This has been the hardest year of my life, but I have sincerely never been more appreciative of LIFE. Being able to pick my child up and kiss him on the cheek. Watching the sun rise with pinky golden hues gently glowing over the Chicago skyline. Holding my daughter's snug hand while she skips alongside me to school. Hearing my breath move in to my body, then fall out, my heart beat tick steadily on my wrist. A sweet impromptu caress from my love. A simple message from a friend with 4 heartfelt words, "How are you doing?" My parents who bleed with me, dance with me, pray with me. A hip hop song of hope and peace that guides me through the heated stormy seas of emotion. A genuine smile from a complete stranger. The taste of coffee with cream in the morning. Freedom from a hospital bed. Stubborn endurance through running many fiery trial-filled races. The ability to pipe a buttercream rosette. Small, power-filled words. Hope. Trust. Believe. My Father that shines bright where I am blind, never leaves me, always strengthens me.
Through enduring trials this year that stripped me from anything I called MINE I stumbled upon a deeply profound truth. Thankfulness does not ask to be elaborate, or need to be sexy, or beg to be understood, it just is. It's simple in its honest transparency and can pierce light in to the darkest of days, if we let it run free. On this Thanksgiving day I am in a humbled posture of gratitude and deeper knowledge of thankfulness more than I have known, and that, my friends, I honestly wouldn't trade for anything.
I am currently writing to you from my husband's hometown of Dallas, Texas... HOWDY! I wanted and needed to make something for Thanksgivng that didn't require a Kitchenaid so I decided to make a snacking cake. Once I finished the cake I wanted to level it, because I am crazy particular about such things, but then I was left a ton of cake scraps. So I decided to make some fun cake balls out of them to adorn the top of the cake. It was a really fun cake to play with and will be perfect for day of and days after Thanksgiving cake as it goes well with coffee, tea, cocoa, this apple pie that I also made, and pretty much any fall sweets. Happy Thanksgiving y'all!
Pumpkin Snacking Cake
Ingredients:
2 2/3 cups plus 1 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 tsp Salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
2 cups packed light-brown sugar
3 large eggs
15 oz canned solid-pack pumpkin
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a metal 13x9" baking pan.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and ginger.
Beat butter and sugar with a mixer (either stand mixer or handheld) on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time. Beat in pumpkin; add vanilla. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with buttermilk, and beginning and ending with flour. Scrape down side of bowl as needed. Pour batter into pan.
Bake cake until golden brown, pulling away from sides of pans, and until a toothpick inserted into the center of each comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Let cool in pan set on wire racks for 15 minutes. Invert cake onto rack. Let cool completely. Level the top of the cake and return to baking pan or place on rectangular dish.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
Ingredients:
1 pound cream cheese, softened
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions:
Beat cream cheese, butter, and 1 cup sugar with a mixer on medium speed until combined.
With machine running, add remaining 2 cups confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add vanilla extract, and beat until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes more.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cake Balls
Ingredients:
Leftover cake scraps from Pumpkin cake, broken in to bits
1 cup cream cheese frosting
1 lb white chocolate
Directions:
Mix cake scraps and frosting together in large bowl until mixed well and incorporated. Place in the freezer to cool for 45 minutes. Roll mixture into balls, place back in bowl once finished, then place the balls back in the freezer for 45 minutes to firm up. Melt the chocolate. Line a baking sheet with wax or parchment paper. Dip each cake ball in the white chocolate scraping any excess off the bottom. Place the dipped ball on the baking sheet, repeat with remaining cake balls. Place in the fridge to harden for at least 30 minutes.
Assembly:
Frost the top of the snacking cake with the remaining cream cheese frosting. Top with cake balls... et voila, fin!