BYE BYE!

i made a cake.

try not to be too surprised.

i know,

i make a lot of cake.

i like cake, man; what more can i say?

oh, right- i could say a whole bunch about the taste, texture, consistency,

fluffiness, moistness, sweetness, and overall enjoyability of the thing.

well,

it's a fluffer-upper, and it's not dry at all.

it's got a hint of flaky coconut inside, which is great.

there's shaved chocolate and cocoa in the mix, which gives it a complex,

but gentle chocolate flavor.

the frosting?

that's hella expert peanut butter wizardry, and it's realllllllly good.

and then,

because rules is rules,

there's mini-baby tiny chocolate chips,

and ground cacao nib sprankles.

yeah!

a spice grinder is your friend.

if you've got one, you can mill all the things-

coffee, grains, actual spices, coconut, and those lil nibs, too.

mmmmmm.

check the teleport:

NOW THAT'S A CAKE, BABY!

yup.

it is.

just in time to say adios to the messy month of april.

ugh.

here's the details, just in case you're feeling motivated:

-

*

CHOCOLATISH CAKE!!

-

preheat your oven to 365℉

-

in your stand mixer, with the appropriate paddle in place,

mix:

1 cup brown sugar;

1 stick (8 T) softened vegan butter;

1/2 tsp salt;

1 tsp vanilla;

1/2 cup applesauce;

4 T cocoa;

2 T grated baker's chocolate.

combine totally, then pour in:

1 cup non-dairy milk.

whisk well, then sift in:

2 1/4 cups flour;

2 1/2 T non-GMO organic cornstarch;

1 tsp baking soda;

2 tsp baking powder;

4 T medium-flake unsweetened coconut.

-get that good and fluffed up,

and add it to a greased 9" springform (of course) ,

and bake for ~40 min.

or, until the top cracks and a tester comes away clean.

kaPOW!

just like that a whole cake is in effect, in a snap, neighbors!

-

let it cool completely, flip it over to the flat side, and frost it up.

-

*

PB FROSTY!

-

1/2 stick (4 T) vegan butter;

~2 cups powdered sugar;

1 tsp vanilla;

2 T peanut butter;

1/4+ cup s'milk.

whisked in your superior stand mixer until super fluffy.

C'MON!

that's crazy easy.

y'might need more milk, just add it 1 tsp at a time, so you don't get beige buttmud instead

of buttery fluffs.

you got it.

-

cake is the cure for what ails me.

except, the side effect is a blarpity gut that won't go away.

***********

i'll say this about april-

it sure was eventful.

i mean, there was sandwich week.

that's always a big deal around here.

we saw sylvan esso, and that was neat.

i was on my own for a week, with nearly no contact,

and coincidentally, i was laid out with laryngitis, which was torturous, 

but not the reason for the silence on the other end of the line.

i had a couple of substantial arguments, in which none of what i said was heeded.

i saw the effing mountain goats, 

and ate waaay too much good bread and even better chinese food in burlington, vt.

during an unprecedented two days off in a row for the first time this year!

...and then, in an unsurprising turn of events, i was all out on my own,

with nearly no conversation, nor consideration, for a whole other 'nother week;

and this time around, i think it took root.

yep.

i'm once again the solo sojourner for truth-telling 

residing and biding time in the Folk Life & Liberty Fortress .

uh-huh.

i'm not just saying bye bye to april,

i'm also giving a parade-wave to partnerships,

and a wistful salute to predictable outcomes.

and in between all of that,

i was baking cakes; 

and taking long walks with the dog;

working all the days;

writing all the words;

drawing, painting, cooking, exercising; 

and thinking long and hard about what it means to pursue my best self

with a Positive Mental Attitude in the face of rainy days and cold lonely nights.

now that's a busy month!!

it's all really happening,

and my eyes are open, blooshot, for sure, sand quinting for all the full-moonlight,

but i'm looking at What Is, and where i'm headed,

and i have to say:

i'm glad there's cake, man.

it's be a real hard style without those sweet slices;

never quiet, never soft.....