Chocolate Equals Happiness

Chocolate is ground from the beans of happiness. ~Alexis F. Hope

If I had to choose a favorite food, chocolate would be among my top picks. Dark chocolate is my absolute favorite. When I do partake in chocolate consumption, I prefer it to be high quality. I prefer organic chocolate from Whole Foods (or the natural section of any grocery store) and have several favorite brands.

My Mother's birthday was in September and I offered to make her a cake to celebrate. She said that she wanted chocolate. I was ecstatic to get to make a chocolate cake! I made a mountain high chocolate cake, from scratch, and a rich chocolate icing. The icing recipe has been in our family for many years and it is so good that I never look elsewhere and always want this recipe. The icing contains coffee, but it does not add a coffee flavor. The icing is just rich and dark chocolaty tasting. Mmmmmm.....


This year, I decided to add a little pizazz to my Mom's cake. I bought organic raspberry jam and a tub of raspberries and got to work. After making cake one, I gave it a thin layer of icing and then a thick layer of raspberry jam. Cake two also got a preliminary coat of icing. Then, the whole cake was then iced and topped with raspberries.


I am my biggest critic and usually am very picky about what I make, but I must say that this cake was scrumptious! My Mom loved it, I loved it, and John loved it. My Dad would not try it because he does not like raspberries. He also refuses to eat vegan food. He surely missed out though! My Mom is not a vegan, or vegetarian for that matter, and loved the cake. She said she would never be able to tell that milk and eggs were not in the cake. I have made the cake and icing for others any they could not tell either. I will admit that I have made several vegan desserts that did not turn out, but you never know until you try. Right?!?!


I am not the best photographer in the world, but still think the cake looks yummy. In the end I do not really mind that my Dad did not have any because we got to indulge in more slices! Mm...mmm....mmm GOOD!