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Busy Days

We have ripped out carpet, sanded, stained, sealed, and are now putting a floor finish on the stairs.  They are looking pretty good.  In the meantime, I have been taking down pictures and putting away knickknacks in preparation for the painter and trying to keep after the sanding dust.  I am going through a whole lotta vacuum bags and tacky cloths.  Can't wait for this project to be done--just in time for a MAJOR cleanup for the holidays.

Saturday night and Sunday, I spent with my grand children--a welcome break.  I am almost finished with putting together the Advent calendars I make for them.  I collect stickers, trinkets, coins, activity books, treats, ornaments and such so they have 24 little surprises while counting down the days til Christmas. My kids had the kind of Advent calendar that showed a picture for each day, but I started this little gift tradition and now it IS a tradition.  It is fun to be a grandma!

I have to deliver my pumpkin pie and a cake for the Thanksgiving Dinner hosted by a Bulrington, VT restaurant.  This cake is eggless, dairyless (if you don't plop whipped cream on top), and quite low in fat.  It is also incredibly easy to put together.  The recipe was given to me by a friend about seven or eight years ago and I have made it often since then.

Chocolate Ginger Cake

Sift into a large bowl:
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons cocoa
4 teaspoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Whisk in a small bowl:
1 cup apple juice
1 teaspoon apple cider
3 Tablespoons of canola oil
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir til all is moistened.  Spoon batter into 8" pan and smooth top with a knife.  (Batter is thick, but pourable.)

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.
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Comments

  1. LindaNovember 23, 2010 at 12:46 PM

    I'm going to tell my daughter about this cake. She can't eat eggs and it's a challenge to find recipes without eggs.

    You are such a good grandma.

    ReplyDelete
  2. marciamayoNovember 23, 2010 at 1:15 PM

    Olga, what do you put the advent goodies in? Will you send me an email if it isn't too much trouble (marciamayo@yahoo.com). I've been wondering what to do for my grandkids and that's it! I had one for my kids when they wer little too. The one I had was felt I think with pockets.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I Wonder WyeNovember 23, 2010 at 3:01 PM

    This cake sounds delicious! I love your advent calendar idea. We have our only grandchild -- a girl born on our wedding anniversary. I am buying her an ornament every year for her future tree, and I am needlepointing her a special Christmas stocking...it will be fun to spoil her as the years go by...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Arkansas PattiNovember 24, 2010 at 7:08 AM

    You are such a busy bee. Now I am feeling inadequate. Oh well, I'm sure if I rest some more, I'll get over it.
    I have a potluck coming up with some friends who due to age have all kinds of restrictions. That cake should fill the bill. Thanks so much.

    ReplyDelete
  5. fiftyoddNovember 25, 2010 at 1:23 AM

    How do you keep up with 8 grandchildren? I am slowly gathering mine - two at the moment and one more on the way. But they live close by which is a joy as I see them all the time. I have always been sorry that my own children didn't know their grandparents very well because of great distance. My husband's parents lived in the Karoo (South Africa) - 500 miles from Cape Town and my parents were in the UK. It's a real privilege to be close.

    ReplyDelete
  6. myfuroshikiNovember 28, 2010 at 4:38 PM

    The cake sounds delicious and very straightforward which is plus:). I'm going to give it a go next weekend when my mum is over as she loves ginger. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete

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