simple chocolate berry layer cake

Combining two cakes I love into one!

chocolate berry whipped cream cake
Can make 2 layers for a much more fancy, and decadent dessert (make 2 cakes, and double the whipped cream, obv!) 
*The cake portion of this is vegan, FYI. 

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup cold water or coffee
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp cider vinegar

1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup powdered or regular white sugar
berries of your choice, washed and dried (if using strawberries, slice them)

For the cake: 
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and cut a circle in a sheet of parchment paper to line the bottom of a 8 or 9 inch spring form cake pan. (I often spray the bottom and sides of the pan to help the parchment paper stay in place.)

Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda, salt and sugar directly into the cake pan.

Make a well in the center of the pan and pour in the oil, cold water or coffee and vanilla. Mix the batter with a fork or small whisk. When the batter is smooth, add the vinegar and stir quickly.

There will be pale swirls in the batter as the baking soda and vinegar react. Stir just until the vinegar is evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Bake for 25-30 mins and set aside to cool.

For Whipped Cream Frosting:
Chill deep mixing bowl and beaters in the fridge for at least 30 mins.

Pour chilled whipping cream into bowl and beat with a mixer until soft peaks form.

Add in 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla extract. Beat until stiff peaks form.

To Assemble Cake:

Remove cake from spring form pan. Remove parchment paper

Turn cake over onto cake plate or stand (bottom should be facing up).

Use a spatula to spread whipped cream frosting over the top of the cake.

Place berries on top of the whipped cream.

Repeat if making another layer of cake on top, or serve and enjoy if not!

almond berry breakfast smoothie

I'm not a breakfast smoothie kind of person, but lately I've been making this every once in awhile. Marcy likes it because it always ends up pink or purple.

almond berry breakfast smoothie
makes 1 pint glass and 2 half kid cup portions

1/2 cup raw almonds whole or chopped
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup frozen berries
1 banana
1 cup milk or almond milk

Combine all ingredients into a food processor or blender, and blend until smooth. If using a blender, you should probably make sure your almonds are chopped first.

lemon berry pound cake

This was our rainy-day/sticker-chart-reward activity today.

lemon berry pound cake

1 cup butter, softened
1 1/3 cups sugar
4 eggs
4 tsp lemon extract or zest (2 lemons' worth)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 pint fresh or 2 cups frozen blue or rasp-berries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour the loaf pan.

Using an electric mixer, cream the butter until light. Add the sugar and cream until fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the lemon, baking powder and salt, and beat well.

Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour, mixing until well incorporated. When the batter is smooth and thick, just before pouring into the pan, fold in the berries.

Pour the batter into a loaf pan and bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 mins. Cool in the pan on a rack before serving.

peach berry crisp

yum - everyone loves this, including me!

peach berry crisp (adapted)

4 1/2 cups fruit, chopped (I prefer peaches and raspberries, but sometimes I use peaches with blueberries and/or blackberries)
1 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
3/4  cup butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir in butter until crumbly.

Place chopped fruit in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Sprinkle and spread crumble mixture over fruit.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30-40 minutes, or until fruit is bubbly and topping is golden brown.