Foodie Friday-Mocha Angel Food Cake

This recipe is for a light fluffy angel food cake with a bit of a twist.  It's mocha flavored!  I first had this cake when I was 11 or 12 and my step-grandma made it.  I wanted to devour that entire cake.  For some reason I haven't made very often if ever at all.  I was telling a co-worker about it and promised to whip one up sometime. Well since it was her birthday I decided I make it and bring it to the office to share. I have seen recipes online for making it from scratch but I cheated and used a box mix which makes it super simple to make.

 It's funny how the frosting looks almost exactly like the batter!  The original cake I had also had toasted almonds on it and was actually frosted. Since I was bringing it to work and I don't have anything to transport a cake I ended up cutting it into slices and putting the frosting in a container.

 

It's an easy recipe and one that seems to be a hit with everyone who tries it.

For the cake:

1 box angel food cake mix

1 1/4 cup cold coffee

1 Tbsp cocoa

Mix the cake mix and cocoa together then add the coffee and mix till nice and fluffy.

Pour into angel food cake pan and bake according to the package directions.

For the frosting:

1 tub Cool Whip

Cocoa

Blend Cool Whip with 1 Tbsp cocoa.  Taste and add more if needed.

Garnish with toasted almonds

Nature Pendants

 

I am not sure which swap I made these for since it was quite a while ago.... but both pendants were made from what were supposed to be earrings.  This way I could make one for my partner and one for me!  The bronze leaves were purchased from Pick Your Plum and the silver leaves were found at Walmart's expanded beading section.

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Manic Monday

It's a painting party!

Hufflepuff Bookmark

For the Old Fashioned Book Lovers Swap we had to send a book from our partners wishlist, a crafted item, and a bookmark.  I decided to make a beaded bookmark since I do enjoy playing with beads.  Since my partner told me she is a Harry Potter lover and is in Hufflepuff I decided to use that theme.  I created lots of different yellow beaded dangles and found some silver charms that reminded me of Harry Potter.

 

Here is a close up of the charms.  We have an owl to represent the Owl Post, a goblet for the Goblet of Fire and Cedric, and finally an H for Hufflepuff.

 

As always I hope my partner enjoyed the package I put together including this bookmark. 

Manic Monday

 

Felt Badges received from Quaggy.  I want another round of this swap!

Foodie Friday-Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches

 

Finally a new recipe! I had pinned the recipe for these sandwiches months ago and have been wanting to try them out.  The original recipe is from Martha Stewart and seemed way to complicated for a simple sandwich.  I mean who the heck needs egg, cream, and nutmeg for a grilled cheese?  So I took the idea and made it my own.  

I used sourdough bread and sprinkled on a little garlic salt after I buttered the bread.  Then I put sliced mozzarella in there and grilled it up.  It was served with a bread stick and some yummy marinara sauce for dipping.  Some of the boys in my house requested that I put pepperoni their sandwiches. I bet you could put any toppings that you like in the middle.

These were definitely a hit in my house and super easy to put together.  YAY for another easy weeknight meal that everyone will eat.

Epic Alphabet Sampler

 

I made this awesome sampler for my partner in the Triple Vs. Swap on Craftster.  The point was that I would embroider something for two partners and in return I would get one knit/crochet item and one sewn item.  

When I saw this particular wish on one of my partners Pinterest boards I knew I was going to make it.  I have been eyeing this particular pattern on Sublime Stitching for quite some time and now I had the perfect excuse to give it a go.  I bought the pattern along with a banner from Sublime Stitching and got to work.  I had a lot of fun with all the different color combinations.  In theD, P, and X where it called for French Knots (which I still haven't mastered) I sewed on seed beads instead.

This was another item that I had a hard time parting with.  Maybe one day I will make one for myself (yeah right!) or will get lucky and someone will make one for me....

Manic Monday

 

These are the wonderful crafty items I received from RougeRaven in the Old Fashioned Book Lovers Swap on Craftster.  What a wonderful package full of Harry Potter goodness