Chocolate Oatmeal Cake For My Birthday

Yep, it's my birthday.  My 50th Birthday.  One half of a century old.  I have boys.  A 9 1/2 year old and 5 1/2 year old twins.  Hubby of 24 years.  Beautiful friends.  Some loving family.  Dogs, cats, mini horses, big ole pigs and an old goat.  I'm a Blessed and Happy Old Girl!

Here is my birthday cake.  I didn't want an overly sweet cake.  This is dense, moist, rich and chocolaty.  You may want to use regular cocoa and semi sweet chips if you want a sweeter cake.  Love and hugs!

Chocolate Oatmeal Cake

1 cup quick oats, my homemade instant oatmeal works great

1 1/4 cup water, boiling, I think I will use milk or buttermilk next cake

1/2 cup Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa, or any cocoa

1 1/2 cups King Arthur unbleached all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

3 Tablespoons molasses, unsulphured

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips or semi-sweet, optional

Put oatmeal in a bowl, sift cocoa in, add boiling water, stir and set aside for 20 minutes or until liquid is absorbed.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease bundt pan.  My bundt pan was too large  I think I have a 12 cup. 

In large mixing bowl whisk, or sift, together flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Beat together sugar, molasses and oil.  Beat in eggs until mixed.  Add flour mixture and beat just until incorporated.  Add oatmeal mixture and vanilla, stirring to mix well but not over mix.  

Pour batter in bundt pan and cook for 20 - 30 minutes.  It's done when toothpick comes out clean.  Always check before earliest time.  

Let cool for 20 minutes.  Run a plastic knife around edges, I use one of my twins old zoo pal knives,  ~smile~  Remove from pan onto serving plate or cooling rack. 

Top with ganache or dust with powdered sugar.  

Dark Chocolate Ganache

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup Hershey's Dark Special Chocolate Chips or semi sweet chips

Heat cream just until boil.  While heating but chocolate chips in a bowl. 

Once cream has come to a boil, pour over chocolate chips.

Whisk until chocolate is melted and smooth.

Spoon over cake.

Slice and enjoy warm or place in refrigerator to set chocolate. 

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Weekend Potluck #41

Homemade Instant Oatmeal

We love oatmeal at our house yet each boy wants their's a bit different.  I've seen this on the internet for some time now and I decided to make my own instant oatmeal so they can each have their own favorite.   Brown or regular sugar, sugar substitute, cinnamon, nuts, coconut, chocolate chips...the possibilities are endless! Putting the Instant Oatmeal in jars so they can be easily accessed and used in the desired amounts, has been great.   I'm cold and ready to make some Instant Oatmeal come on and join me.

Homemade Instant Oatmeal

Ingredients

4 cups 100% whole grain old fashion oats 

1/4 to 1/2 brown or regular sugar or sugar substitute, more or less, you decide
*make your own brown sugar*

1/2 teaspoon salt

ground cinnamon

vanilla beans

nut, chopped, optional

dried fruit optional

coconut, optional

chocolate chips, optional

anything else you may want to add that is a favorite and can be stored in a jar

To make

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Place oatmeal on a cookie sheet and bake 4 to 7 minutes, stirring every minute so it doesn't brown too much

Take out of oven when light brown.  Leave oven on if adding nuts or coconut to oatmeal.

Cool completely.

While cooling you can toast nuts and/or coconut if you are adding them.  Toast until lightly browned.  Around 3 minutes, stirring often.

Cool and set aside.

 Chop toasted oatmeal in food processor, I use my little food chopper and did it in batches. A blender may also be used.

Give a coarse to fine chop, however you like your oatmeal.  We eat it medium.

Put in a mixing bowl and add sugar and salt mixing well.  I just mixed in the jar.  

Add additional ingredients if desired.

Store in an airtight container.  

To serve

Heat water to boil.

Stir oatmeal before adding desired amount into a heatproof bowl.

Add boiling water, depending on how thick you want yours.

We use 2/3 cup Instant Oatmeal to 1 cup boiling water, more or less depending on how thick you like it.

Add cream, milk, fresh fruit or eat it as it is.

Enjoy!  

Instant Oatmeal Pancakes for One!

An easy way to make pancakes that are healthy and yummy!  By using one package of instant oatmeal, you can have pancakes in minutes!  Use any variety and your flavored pancakes possibilities are endless!  May also be viewed here: http://www.examiner.com/food-in-orlando/healthy-instant-oatmeal-pancakes-for-one   Enjoy! <3 and hugs!

Please check the Coupon tab to see if Instant Oatmeal, and other favorites, are there.  ~smile~

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