Crave Wednesday: Chocolate Buttermilk Cake

As you may or may not know, it's been awfully rainy here the past few weeks.  Which always seems to surprise everyone but me.  You guys, it rains in Southern California.  It rains all winter.  It rains so much that every year the first few games and practice of baseball season are always cancelled.  You think they'd figure it out, but nope.  Just me.

So in fitting with the theme of the last few weeks here on the blog-o, when Thatkid's baseball game got called for rain a couple weekends ago, we threw our things in the car and headed out on an impromptu weekend getaway to the Happiest Place on Earth.

Because we weren't getting there until afternoon, we decided to spend the first day (or half day) at California Adventure.

As I expected, the rain kept crowds at bay.  That and the later hour had us waltz right through security, onto a tram, and into the park.  We arrived just in time to grab some lunch and take advantage of the Food and Wine Festival.

Thatboy and I each grabbed a flight of beers - hoppy for him, fruity for me, and pork bahn mi.

The boys were happy with their garlic macaroni and cheese.  Very happy.  This is where I confess that they ate macaroni and cheese more often than they didn't this weekend, and Thatkid declared this was the best.

And then it was time to ride the rides!  We rode several together before splitting up so that Thatkid and Thatboy could ride the bigger rides that Thatbaby was too short and too uninterested in.  Instead I brought him over to Ghiradelli and Boudin for chocolate and bread, while I enjoyed one more treat from the Festival - popcorn lemonade.

The big boys headed over to ride the one ride Thatkid was REALLY interested in - Guardians of the Galaxy.  Thatboy was only too happy to join him.

And they had a little celebrity sighting while waiting in line!

Thatkid thought the ride was scary, but still declared it his favorite of the whole weekend.

Meanwhile. Thatbaby and I did a little celebrity stalking of our own.  He REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to see Mickey, so I brought him over to where he was most likely to be.  He wasn't there, but we did get a chance to see Goofy.

And Minnie!

Minnie's friend told us that Mickey was expected to be arriving within the next 15 minutes (Disney Cast Members are so awesome), so we hung out for a little until we finally got to see the Mouse Himself.

After that, Thatbaby and I went to do our own rides.  Hollywood Studios was up first, and then Bug's Life - where every ride was just his speed.

And of course, Radiator Springs - Carsland!

The Mater ride was his FAVORITE and he couldn't wait to meet back up with the big boys to share it with them.  We traded ride partners for the last ride of the night before dinner and heading back to Thatmom's house for the night.

The next morning we headed over to Disneyland, and with nicer weather and an earlier start, it took a lot longer to get into the park!  It still was a pretty quiet weekend and we were able to jump right on to Haunted Mansion.  Which Thatbaby DID NOT appreciate.  Poor kid.  We headed up to Critter Country for a little Pooh, which was more his speed.  He got a chance to meet Tigger.

And "Seahorse" (which, to be fair, is a more recognizable word to him than Eeyore is) who he said was his favorite character he met.

And "Minnie the Poop" (which, to be fair, he only says to make us laugh)

Next came Pirates of the Carribean, which also failed the Thatbaby test, and we could tell the early morning was getting to him.  We went and grabbed lunch, then I tucked him into his stroller and he was out by the time I crossed the park.

Once again, the big boys went and rode their "big kid" rides.  Last time we went to Disney, Thatkid absolutely, positively, refused to ride Space Mountain.  This time, he was all about it.  And while he is tall enough to ride, he is not tall enough to be caught on camera in the back row. 

We met them over at the Matterhorn where Thatbaby woke up and then we got to ride Buzz Lightyear together before heading over to Toon Town.  Which is always a nice break for the kids to have a little freedom running around.  Thatbaby and I headed over to Small World while Thatboy tried to round up Thatkid, when I got a call that they were in line to see Pluto and we should hurry over.  Carrying Thatbaby, I sprinted over and got there just in time.

After Small World we did one more split up so the big boys could do Indiana Jones, before dinner and heading out of the park.  But not without one more stop to say goodbye to the Mouse behind it all.

It was a quick weekend with a lot crammed in.  Which is pretty much our style.  It was such a whirlwind, that when Thatmom mentioned the date, Thatboy and I realized it was our dating anniversary.  18 years together!  We did a bare bones celebration by doing our Disneyland dinner at the Blue Bayou, where he has always wanted to eat.

Once your're married, dating anniversaries aren't as big of a deal, but it still seems totally crazy that we've been together so long.  And 18 years?  Holy moly!  Sometimes I feel like I'm still a kid, but our relationship is old enough to have a kid of its own!  And that deserves something more than an amusement park with kids.  Something like...cake.  Because cake is what you eat to celebrate.  A great chocolatey cake that represents the sweetness of those years.  A buttermilk chocolate cake, because it takes a little bit of sour to really appreciate the sweet.

Chocolate Buttermilk Cake (From Cooking Light)

2 cups flour

1 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 2/3 cup nonfat buttermilk

3 tsp vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup egg substitute

1/2 cup whipped cream cheese, softened

3 Tbsp skim milk

3 oz semi-sweet chocolate melted

3 cups powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Coat the bottom of 2 8-inch cake pans with cooking spray and line with wax paper. Spray wax paper with cooking spray.  Combine flour, 3/4 cup  cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk until blended.
2.  Combine buttermilk and 2 tsp vanilla in a 2 cup glass measuring cup.
3. Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended.
4. Gradually add egg substitute and beat well.
5. Add flour mixture and buttermilk mixture alternately to sugar mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
6. Pour batter evenly into prepared pans. Bake for 38 minutes or until cooked through. Invert on wire rack and cool completely.
7. Place cream cheese and milk in an electric mixer and beat at low speed until smooth. Beat at high speed until creamy.
8. Add melted chocolate and beat well.
9. Combine powdered sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa.
10. Gradually add sugar mixture to cheese mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
11. Add 1 tsp vanilla, beat well 1 minute or until very creamy.
12. Remove wax paper from cake.  Place 1 cake layer on a plate and spread with 1/2 cup frosting.  
13. Top with second cake layer and spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.