We have two days left here for my Birthday Bash and I hope all of you readers have had a little fun learning about authors and bloggers over the month of February. I hope some of you have found new authors to try, maybe a new genre to look into, a new publisher to seek out. I have loved having everyone here and posting. The comments have been great and I feel so incredibly lucky to know so many wonderful people and to call them friend.
Today, I have my very good friend, author Fallon Blake. We have a lot in common from food to BDSM, except she’s Vegetarian and I’m not. Grins…
Happy Birthday Lissa! May you get your forty spankings *evil grin*.
I have to be honest here; I have the most boring birthdays EVER. Well, that wasn’t always true, but no one wants to hear about my girl-gone-wild days and even if you do, I’m taking those secrets to the grave.
For me the very best part of the whole birthday deal is not feeling guilty about what you put in your mouth. I’m talking about food people! Well, I’m certainly not one to tell you to get your mind out of the gutter. Just make room for cake while you’re down there…dark chocolate cake…with raspberry. Sounds good doesn’t it? It is decadent even if you’re not veggie like me.
I wanted to share the cake recipe I make for my birthday every year. What? I like to bake, and this way I always get the cake I want. Anyway, it’s really hard to find a bakery around here that can do a good vegan cake. The best part is you’d never know it was vegan. Whenever anyone asks me to bring something to a get-together, I bring this baby. There is never a crumb left and everyone is always shocked it’s vegan. Of course I don’t tell them until after they’ve eaten it *snicker*.
Raspberry Blackout Cake
Recipe from Vegan with a Vengeance
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dark cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups plain soy milk
1/2 cup of canola oil
1 (10 oz.) jar raspberry jam – reserve 1/2 cup for batter *note: the original recipe calls for preserves, but I am so not down with picking seeds out of my teeth four hours after I eat a piece so I switched to jam. You’ll thank me.
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup sugar
Fresh raspberries for decorating and yuminess
Preheat oven to 350. Spray two 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. I use Wilton’s Cake Release to keep it from sticking *note: I have no idea if it’s vegan, but it rocks for baking cakes.
Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Combine the soy milk, oil, 1/2 cup of the preserves, the vanilla, and the sugar in a large bowl and mix with a hand mixer or strong fork. For the most part, the jam should dissolve with the rest of the ingredients, but some small clumps are okay. Add the dry ingredients to the wet in batches and mix until everything is incorporated. Divide the batter between the prepared pans and bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes.
When the cakes have cooled, spread one layer of cake with a thin layer of raspberry jam. Spread a layer of chocolate frosting on the top of the preserves. Place the other layer of the cake on top and spread its top with preserves. Spread chocolate frosting over the top, then ice the sides.
CHOCOLATE GANACHE FROSTING:
3/4 cup of soy creamer (Silk soy creamer, or plain soy milk)
6 tablespoons non-hydrogenated margarine
10 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
In a saucepan, over medium heat, bring the soy creamer to a low boil. All margarine, turn off the heat, stir in chocolate chips until smooth. Let sit for at least 1 hour. It should have a pourable consistency. If you want a spreadable consistency, then refrigerate for one hour. Do not refrigerate it for more than an hour, it will set too much to be spreadable. Allow the ganache to set then eat until your chocolate lovin’ heart is content!
Available at Ellora’s Cave
Plus-sized fetish model and aspiring chef Indigo Hartley has plenty of tattoos and a fiery attitude to match. When she’s offered a job as a sushi model for one of Miami’s trendiest restaurants, she jumps at the chance. Little does this country-mouse-turned-city-vixen know that what starts out as a modeling job will end up the answer to all of her kinkiest fantasies. Three days serving as a sub to this hot chef is too tempting an offer to refuse.
Banner Faust has worked his ass off and sacrificed his love life to become a rock star in the culinary world. On what should be the biggest night of his career, he realizes something is missing from his life—the submissive woman he’s always craved. The curvy new model with the blue-streaked hair and innate submissive nature just might be the one he’s been waiting for. And when he gets her home—and in his bed—he soon realizes three days will never be enough.
Visit Fallon at www.fallonblake.com
You had me at chocolate cake…LOL
Then you REALLY had me w/ the blurb!
aunt_cori@yahoo(dot)com
This sounds like it would be very good. Thanks for the recipe I’ll have to give it a try.
sstrode@scrtc.com
Love Chocolate and Raspberry – my favorite combo. I’ve not tried making anything Vegan before, but am going to have to give this one a try. Thank you for the recipe!
I am so trying this cake the next time I need one! I have been baking vegan for years because of my daughter’s food allergies (though she can have eggs now). This sounds awesome!! And I just found soy-free margarine (another allergy for her) so I can even make the icing!! Cake- here I come!! LOL
This book is on my list to get – sounds awesome!!
I’ve had my eye on this book and it’s on my wish list. Thanks for including the recipe. One can never have too many cake recipes 🙂
lenikaye@yahoo.com
Ooh that cake sounds yummy Fallon! I always take the easy way out and buy the box mix. I think I may have to break down and give this recipe a try!
cbandy10(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love this recipe, sounds super yummy! And I love the sound of your book too and have had my eye on it for awhile now. I love unconventional heroines and Indigo fits that image perfectly.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
I am definitely going to have to make this cake. I have quite a few vegan and vegetarian friends that are always looking for good cake recipes.
I love reading about heroines that aren’t stick thin. I haven’t come across many plus size heroines and I am very anxious to read this book.
iqb99@yahoo.com
That recipe sounds delicious.I’ll be writing it down.
I have Wrapped Around Your Finger, I just need to find the time to read it.
Thanks for the cake recipe Fallon! Sounds yummy…not a vegan but I am certainly willing to eat healthier and dad only drinks soy milk so it’s always around. Also thanks for the blurb for your book, definitely adding it to my list
Thanks for the recipe. Your book sounds very interesting. Can’t wait to read it!
kbassler@stny.rr.com
Oh wow, Fallon, that cake sounds delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe with us. I am a firm believer that anything consumed on my birthday has zero calories!!
follower
caity_mack at yahoo dot com
Chocolate and raspberry—yum!
Your cake recipe sounds fantastic. Definitely writing it down. And I love the blurp. I love reading a book where the heroine isn’t stick skinny. I don’t have anything against the skinny girls but that’s not me and not what most women are. I like more realistic heroines so thank you definitely adding it to my book list
Cool name for a cake, blackout cake!
Sounds delicious.
canadianluck[at]gmail[dot]com
Cake sounds wonderful. I’ll give it a try. Book has been on the wish list since it came out. lisagk at yahoo dot com
The cake sounds great!
jepeb@verizon.net
What a delicious post-I will have to try the cake-and your books.
I agree! You should totally indulge when it’s your birthday! Also, book sounds great!
YUM thanks going to try to make the Raspberry Blackout Cake. Wish me luck not a great baker….doesn’t always turn out well. LOL
forettarose@yahoo.com
Thanks for the recipe.
Lea Ellen {night owl in IL}
borg_66@hotmail.com
This recipe sounds good. I’m going to try it and take it to work; I’m sure my coworkers will love it.
Thanks for sharing.
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Thanks for the recipe, I’m not much of a cook but that would be fun to try. My husbands birthday is coming up so I now have something to make for him and we’ll see how it turns out. Hopefully good since I already pointed out I’m not great in the kitchen 🙂 Your book sounds amazing, I love finding a book where the heroine isn’t perfect. Most books I come across the heroine is young, beautiful and skinny, so it’s refreshing to have a character that is more real
Great cover. Definitely going to try out that recipe thanks.
I’ve had a hankering for something decadent… guess I know what I am making tonight!
mdwartistry at yahoo dot com
cake sounds good thanks for sharing
evelynmoly@yahoo.com
I like tats but not so big. I think it’s harder to see them. I keep saying I am getting one but chicken out…hate pain. LOL
donnasing777@yahoo.com
Sorry, forgot my email address – itmfiddler (at) gmail (dot) com.
oh that cake sounds yummy going to try it this weekend thanks
swkimbell@yahoo.com
book sounds great thanks
carol.byles@yahoo.com
Yummmy!!! The cake, the cover, and the book!!!
The book sounds great. Very interesting cover thanks for sharing
terrilee.byles@yahoo.com
I love to bake but never tried anything vegan. I think I will try this for the kids. Thanks
prettyunicorn78@yahoo.com
I love most sweets so I would love to try this cake.
linze_e at hotmail.com
I really want to read this book.
I am a follower
jepeb@verizon.net
Mmm…. OK, sign me up for that cake AND for that delicious story! Thanks, Fallon!
f dot chen at comcast dot net