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Cocoa Fudge Cake and A Holiday Giveaway from The Heritage Cook

Oakville Grocery in Healdsburgh CA

Oakville Grocery in Healdsburgh, Sonoma County

This weekend I was in Sonoma County for a business meeting. It was a beautiful weekend, with mostly clear skies, brisk temperatures just begging for sweaters and mugs of hot chocolate, wonderful new people to meet, and of course some of the most gorgeous scenery on earth. What’s not to love!

You can win this EatSmart Precision Retro Mechanical Kitchen Scale from in The Heritage Cook Giveaway!

Wouldn’t you love this EatSmart Precision Retro Mechanical Kitchen Scale on your counter?

For some reason my senses are more highly tuned when I am in the wine country. I know it sounds corny, but somehow the rest of the world drifts away when I am here. I breathe more deeply, the wine tastes sweeter (in a good way), food richer, and the sky is bluer. I am more at peace here than nearly anywhere else and it always feels like I am coming home. Maybe that’s a sign for the future? Fingers crossed, LOL!!

You can win The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook in The Heritage Cook Giveaway!

You can win The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook in The Heritage Cook Giveaway!

Today I am announcing a Giveaway on The Heritage Cook! It is a Retro Soiree Collection – everything you need to throw a 1960s era shindig that would make the cast of Mad Men feel right at home! With a value of over $160, it is full of so many fun things that I may enter myself, LOL! (Open to residents of the U.S. only, sorry my wonderful International friends!)

 

…. THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED, but please check out the recipe at the bottom of the article, I know you will enjoy it. 

  • An exceptionally fun cookbook based on the Mad Men television series, The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook features recipes based on events in the series. This cookbook will have you creating all the wonderful classics of the era for your guests and has a ton of serving ideas for your Retro Party!
  • An EatSmart Retro Kitchen Scale – your kitchen will be right in style with this adorable kitchen scale that looks like the old-fashioned scales my grandfather used to use in his pharmacy. If you are doing any gluten-free baking, having a scale to measure your flours makes it a snap to put together your own personal blend.
  •  A 60s-era Blue Polka Dot Apron (think I Love Lucy) to keep your cocktail dress pristine. All that is missing is pumps and a string of pearls!
  • A Mad Men CD sure to make you kick up your dancing heels and have a blast. Get ready to twist the night away!

 

Details on how to enter the giveaway follow, but first another terrific recipe from The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook. This chocolate cake is rich, easy to make, and sure to make every child’s eyes open wide with delight.

You bake it your handy-dandy 9×13-inch baking pan and frost it in the same pan. It is the perfect cake to take to potlucks, picnics, or birthday parties in the park. Just make sure you have a plastic knife and spatula to cut and serve. If you prefer, bake this batter into cupcakes, always the perfect serving size.

This is a great cake for young bakers to make, either by helping you or all on their own. One bowl and an electric mixer are all you need. There are no layers to worry about, nothing to seriously challenge little hands. They can proudly carry it into the dining room, presenting their creation to the enthusiastic audience. Trust me, there is nothing more satisfying to a young child than having their family appreciate what they made – I loved it when I was young and I still love it today!

Cathy's Sassy Sauce is part of the Gift Basket in today's Giveaway!

Jane’s Tips and Hints

In my grandmother’s era, very few people had electric stand mixers. She beat every cake batter, cookie dough, and bread dough by hand. Believe me, she had a huge right arm and was strong as an ox!

Gluten-Free Tips:

Utilize a gluten-free flour blend in place of regular all-purpose flour. Also make sure your baking soda and cocoa are also gluten-free. And don’t forget to use gluten-free flour blend to flour the cake pan!

 

Cocoa Fudge Cake and Frosting
Yields 10
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Ingredients
  1. Cake
  2. 1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour (or use a gluten-free blend)
  3. 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
  4. 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  5. 1-1/2 tsp baking soda
  6. 1 tsp salt
  7. 1/2 cup butter, softened
  8. 1-1/2 cups buttermilk
  9. 1 tsp vanilla extract
  10. 2 eggs
  11. Quick Fudge Frosting
  12. 1 cup granulated sugar
  13. 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  14. 4 tbsp (1/4 cup) butter
  15. 1/2 cup milk
  16. 2 tbsp light corn syrup
  17. 1-1/2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
  18. 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour (use GF flour if needed) a 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
  2. Prepare Cake: Stir the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together in a mixing bowl.
  3. Add the butter, buttermilk, and vanilla. Beat for 2 minutes at medium speed using an electric mixer, or 300 strokes by hand. If you use an electric mixer, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl often with a rubber spatula.
  4. Add eggs. Beat for 2 minutes more, scraping bottom and sides of bowl often.
  5. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 25 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack.
  6. Make Frosting: Mix sugar and cocoa in medium saucepan. Add butter, milk, and corn syrup. Bring to a boil. Boil for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat. Set pan in a bowl of cold water.
  7. When syrup is cool, stir in confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. If frosting is too thin, add a little more confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. If frosting is too thick, add a little more milk.
  8. Frost Cake: When cake is completely cool, frost it with the Quick Fudge Frosting. There is no need to remove the cake from the pan prior to frosting.
Notes
  1. Yield: approximately 8 to 10 servings
Adapted from The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook
Adapted from The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook
The Heritage Cook ® https://theheritagecook.com/
 

Cocoa Fudge Cake from The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook

Cocoa Fudge Cake from The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook

… And now, here are the details for today’s giveaway! …

THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED

Congratulations to our winner Rondah and thank you all for participating!!

Instructions for The Heritage Cook Giveaway

This giveaway is for a collection of items to help you throw a Retro 1960s era soiree. The entry period runs from Monday, Dec 10, 2012 to Wednesday, Dec 19, 2012 at 8:00 pm PST. The winner will be picked by Random.org and announced on Thursday, Dec 20th.

1. Leave a comment below (required) telling me what foods you would serve at a 1960s era party. This is required in order for any other entries to be counted!

Additional entries may be earned by leaving one comment each time you do any of the following (you get one entry per comment):

2. Like The Heritage Cook on Facebook (if you already “like” the page on Facebook, that counts as an entry); leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

3. Follow @TheHeritageCook on Twitter (if you already follow me, that counts); leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

4. Share this on Facebook: I entered to win a Retro Soiree Party Gift Pack with The Heritage Cook. You can enter too! http://tinyurl.com/atna4a7  Leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

5. Share this on Twitter: I entered to win a Retro Soiree Party #Giveaway @TheHeritageCook & you can too! http://tinyurl.com/atna4a7  Leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

6. Like The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook page on Facebook;leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

7. Follow @DineLikeDraper on Twitter. Leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

8. Like EatSmart’s page on Facebook; leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

9. Like Cathy’s Sassy Sauce’s Facebook page; leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

10. Like Bosco Chocolates’ Facebook page; leave a comment here telling me you’ve done this for another entry.

You must leave a comment on this post for each optional entry. Multiple comments for the same option will be counted as a single entry. Leaving one comment saying you did all of these things will only count as one entry.

If you choose to post anonymously, be sure to leave a contact email or I won’t have any way to contact you!

If you do not respond to my email alerting you of your win within 2 days of the end of the contest I will choose another winner.

Good Luck! 

Disclosure: The Unofficial Mad Men Cookbook, Bosco products, EatWell Retro Kitchen Scale, and Cathy’s Sassy Sauce Gift Basket were generously donated for your benefit from their respective companies. I am providing the apron and music CD. Prizes will be mailed to the winner from the individual companies, not in a single shipment. The collection has a retail value of over $160. Contest is open only to U.S. residents.

Unauthorized use, distribution, and/or duplication of proprietary material on The Heritage Cook without prior approval is prohibited. If you have any questions or would like permission, I can be contacted via email: theheritagecook (at) comcast (dot) net. Feel free to quote me, just give credit where credit is due, link to the recipe, and please send people to my website, www.theheritagecook.com.

The intention of the content on this site is for your inspiration and enjoyment. It is not a substitute for advice given by a licensed health-care professional. You are responsible for medically confirming any dietary restrictions and ingredient safety with product manufacturers before consuming or using any product. If you have dietary restrictions, always read the labels before including any ingredient in your cooking.

As an affiliate member, if you click on links in my posts and purchase a product, I may receive a small percentage of the sale. Any commissions received will be used to offset a portion of the costs of running The Heritage Cook. If I have received products for review or had travel expenses covered, I will disclose that in the content of each article where applicable.

Thank You!

Make sure you leave comments below to enter the Giveaway!

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Comments

  1. margi

    I would make Steak Diane, served with green beans (harcourt verts) and scalloped potatoes. For desert…I would serve cherries jubilee!

  22. Liz Blunt

    I’d start with those teeny little weiners in BBQ sauce, followed by iceberg lettuce salad and macaroni & cheese as sides. Main dish: salisbury steak. Oh my goodness!

  23. Avis Smith

    Oh I’m so excited! Here’s my list:
    1. done
    2. done
    3. twitter – done (Eden’s Cuisine)
    4 & 5: shared on facebook and twitter
    6, 8, 9 & 10 – all liked!
    7. followed! (Eden’s Cuisine)

    Keeping my fingers crossed!

  24. Avis Smith

    At my house the favorite Sunday was MEATLOAF with mashed potatoes, string beans (fresh – that she snapped and seasoned) gravy and mom’s biscuits! So delicious! So now, I take that recipe and make meatballs for a party served with a soup mix dip and good crackers. Don’t forget the cheese squares! 🙂 A shrimp cocktail for a little easy to cook and serve seafood. Yum