So I just had the most amazing day with respect to my cakes. Last week in class, my marketing professor was explaining the concept of market segmentation by showing us the cake mix market. He asked if anyone would like to make cake for the class and bring it in on Monday. I, of course, was a little over zealous in my response because an assignment like this is a dream come true. How often does someone get to show off their talents to a class full of their peers? Sometimes it is hard for me to admit but I don't really think that there are too many things that I am good at but I am sure that I am good at three things.
1. Baton Twirling- I did this as a kid but I am sure that I still have some sweet moves.
2. Being a wife- It is easy to be good at this when you are married to your best friend and love of your life.
And lastly...
3. Decorating cakes.
I had a class of 80 people to feed, which is larger than any amount that I have ever had to feed before. To be creative, I decided to do 3 different cakes that would represent market segmentation. The first would be a light, low fat lemon cake with a light buttercream icing; the second would be the biggest cake made of butter pound cake with chocolate ganache filling and chocolate buttercream icing; the third cake would be a dark, fudgy chocolate cake with the chocolate ganache filling and chocolate buttercream icing. It took me (and occasionally Bryant) 5 hours to complete all three cakes but the feeling that I had when I brought them to class is indescribable. Am I the kiss ass? Yes. Am I the nerd? Yes. But did I make everyone in that class a little happier today? Yes.
I have been wondering for quite some time if I am ever going to find satisfaction in a career path. Throughout high school, I dreamt of becoming a History teacher. Then, in college, I wanted to have a career in politics but one year doing that and I found myself changing my path again but this time to the field of accounting. Now I know that most people do not work in the field for which they received their degree but I think that I am surrounded by friends that are actually using their degrees and I envy that. Well folks, I have changed my mind once again. More than anything, I want to bake cakes for a living. I want to get that feeling that I did when I delivered that cake to class today. Because the truth is, I am really good at making cakes.
So I want to give all of you a taste of the happiness that I felt. Here is the recipe for Cassie's fudgy chocolate cake with chocolate filling and chocolate buttercream icing. Enjoy.
Cassie's Fudgy Chocolate Cake
1 1/2 cup Sugar
1 1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
3/4 cup unsweet cocoa powder
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup buttermilk
3 eggs
2 1/2 tsp vanilla
6 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup hot coffee
Preheat to 325 degrees
In a large bowl, whisk sugar with flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt
In small bowl, whisk buttermilk with eggs and vanilla
In yet another bowl, melt butter with coffee
Beat half of buttermilk mix with dry ingredients. Then beat in half of coffee mix. Scrape bowl and mix the rest of the coffee and buttermilk mix with the other mix.
Pour batter into two 8 inch pans and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.
Chocolate Filling
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar 3 tbsp. oil
3 tbsp. cocoa powder 3 tbsp. water
mix well by with fork and pour between layers
Chocolate Buttercream
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
3/4 cup of cocoa powder
1 tsp. vanilla
4 cups of powdered sugar
3-4 tbsp. milk
Cream shortening and butter. Once mixed well, add cocoa and vanilla. Then gradually add sugar and once smooth, add milk one tbsp at a time.
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