Sarah and Lunch

Today was the second Bible study I recently began in my home.  We're still in the Book of Genesis, and Sarai, whose name became Sarah, is the woman we studied.  Our 'take-away' from her life is that [1] God is a God of miracles [2] Never doubt what He says He'll do, because He works on a different time-table than ours [3] Don't mess up your life with 'do-it-yourself' alternatives when God has promised the very best for you [4] God accomplishes His purposes through us despite our frailties,  lack of faith, and self-reliance.

After Bible study we had lunch - 'copycat' Panera Broccoli Cheese Soup in bread bowls [which I ordered from a bakery], multiple cups of tea [Sweet Royal Delight - a black tea flavored with butterscotch, chocolate, and caramel which I repeated from the first Bible study since the ladies liked it so well], and Chocolate Fudge Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream between layers.

The recipe for the cake is one I made many times when I was a Sandy Clough tea lady.  It's the cake I served at all the home parties, and was a recipe Sandy adapted from the Texas sheet cake recipe.   Do you remember it from the early 1960's?  Here's the recipe:

2 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

2 sticks butter or margarine

4 teaspoons cocoa

1 cup water

1/2 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon orange extract [optional]

Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and coffee granules.  Set aside.  In a saucepan, melt butter or margarine.  Add cocoa and water and bring to a boil.  Pour over flour mixture.  Add buttermilk, eggs and vanilla.  Mix well.  Pour into a greased 9 x 13 baking pan.  Bake at 375 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until a tooth pick inserted comes out clean.

Icing

1 stick butter or margarine, melted

4 tablespoons cocoa

6 tablespoons buttermilk

1 tablespoon vanilla

1 teaspoon instant coffee granules

1 box powdered sugar [4 cups]

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

In a saucepan, combine butter, cocoa, and buttermilk.  Bring to a boil.  Stir in vanilla and coffee granules.  Reduce heat.  Add powdered sugar and nuts.  Mix well and pour over cake. When the icing sets up it tastes like chocolate fudge.   

Slice pieces of cake in half and put a slice of vanilla ice cream between the layers.  Top with whipped cream and a maraschino cherry.  Enjoy!

Below is the view from my front porch this morning when Mother Nature sent a new ground covering of snow.