It's nearing 9:30 at night and I just got in from today's shift. After we closed the store, I had to run to the market for a few things and decided that a turkey and cheese sandwich would be perfect for supper. It beat the extra protein Speical K out by a land slide. So won't be buying that again.
At the market I always choose the most strategic line. I carefully inspect them all and then without fail always end up in the worst line. Sure, there's not much left to be rung in but something is going to go wrong, lights will flash, and there will be some sort of debate over coupons. Every. Single. Time. Which was exactly what happened tonight, but while this was going on the customer was asking the cashier all sorts of questions about her personal life, education, hours, things like that. And no, this was not flirting at all. It was just some sort of bizarre curiosity.
When it was finally my turn, I told the cashier that she should have totally made up answers. I do. All of the time. I lied to my customers for over a month about my name when I first started, replying with whatever was the most ridiculously over the top feminine name I could think of. I was Sophie, Lulu, and Candi. I own t-shirts sporting colleges from all over the nation and make it a point to where them to bars. When asked if I went to Princeton I reply yes and start making up stories. (I do not recommending wearing the name of any near by colleges or universities if you want to play this game, it will only end with egg on your face as someone will casually point out that said school does not have a bioengineering program).
I don't do this because I'm a jackass, well ok, there is that. I do it because it breaks the ice and gives the other person something to think about. A break in the monotony. I could be making this whole story up for all you know. 😉
Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake
from Food Network Magazine
Ingredients:
- 1 18.25-ounce package chocolate cake mix
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup unsalted butter, divided & melted
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 to 4 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder, to taste
- 2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 teas vanilla extract
- Whipped cream, for topping (optional)
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13 x 9 baking pan.
In a large bowl combine the cake mix, one egg, and ½ cup melted butter. The batter will be very dry. With a rubber spatula, pat the mixture into the prepared baking pan trying to press and cover the entire surface.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or with an old school hand held mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add 2 eggs, cocoa powder and beat until well mixed, scraping down the sides as needed,. Slowly add in the confectioners' sugar, ¼ cup at a time until all incorporated. Mix in the vanilla and ½ remaining butter until just incorporated. Pour batter over the cake mix in the pan.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, but keep in mind this is a gooey cake, so don't over bake it. Let it cook 20 minutes on a wire rack before serving with whipped cream.
Alright, so here's my problem with this recipe... Why even bother with the cake mix if we are still wasting money and time mixing other ingredients? Why not just add some flour and baking soda to the party? Even though I pulled this out at exactly 40 minutes (because I love me some underdone salmonella toting awesomness) it was nothing more than a brownie with a bit more effort. I could still taste 'cake mix' which I wasn't aware was a flavor until I realized I cook way too much. Handsome even asked if we had more 'brownies' and I tried to explain that it wasn't... oh yeah, just have more brownies... I will have to try another butter cake to see if I can get something a little more like what my guys used to bring out of Philly.
When I sat down and started typing this post was going to be about my cat. I'm not sure which of us is more easily distracted.
movita beaucoup says
1. I'd still like to read a post about your cat.
2. The name of the cake is totally awesome, and you're right, the cake mix is kinda weird when you're going to all of that other trouble.
3. Maybe the cake mix was meant to make people feel less intimidated? As in: this recipe has cake mix in it - no flour - so it must be easy.
4. 2.0's mother made a cake on the weekend that was super easy and tasted awesome, and it could definitely be made at 9:30 pm whilst one was munching on, say, Special K or a sandwich, and then be consumed for dessert. I will bake it in your honour.
Part Time House Wife says
I'm with you on strategically picking lines then ALWAYS picking the wrong one...I too am as distracted as a cat 😉 lol Your brownies/cake lol look delish
Belinda @zomppa says
Kinda fun to play for a while! All you had to see was chocolate gooey butter!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This looks so easy! I love it!
Blog is the New Black says
Looks delicious! I also love to make up stories to strangers a bars!
Amy's Cooking Adventures says
My inner fat kid is going crazy right now - I think I'm going to have to shut her up with some of this cake!
Erin says
And that is why I do the self-checkout line. As for this cake, I rarely want something that is pure chocolate, let alone DOUBLE chocolate, but I love this and want it.
Julia says
My husband always chooses the WORST checkout line.
We both lie about our names, we each have 1 made up name we always use. And we think we're hilarious.
Mmmm, gooey cake, YUM!
Billie says
Yummy, this looks so good! Yeh, I always end up in the wrong checkout lane, grrr.
RavieNomNoms says
Oh wow, that looks fantastic!! Nicely done!! I wish I had that cake in front of me right now
steph@stephsbitebybite says
You are bad, bad, bad!! But this cake looks good, good, good!
Julia {The Roasted Root} says
My friend used to start speaking in accents randomly and one time on a trip, she carried on a long conversation with some people at a hotel using an English accent. The next day they saw her at a coffee shop ordering with an American accent. Your post cracked me up about lying about your name...it can be fun to pretend sometimes. Cake looks great!
Mi Vida en un Dulce says
I'm completely impress with this so chocolate cake....!!!
Janet@FCTC says
Cake mix or not, it still look yummy lol. And now I'll be waiting for a cat post hehe
Terra says
Butter cake, OH MY YES!!! That looks like gooey heaven! Looks like a perfect late night snack too:-) Hugs, Terra
Anita at Hungry Couple says
Well, you knew that after you said 'gooey butter cake' we'd listen to whatever story you wanted to tell. Mr. Hungry Couple stakes out all the check out lines and mentally calculates what moronic thing each person on a given line is going to do to slow us down. He does the same thing when he drives, too. This is my life... Anyway, yes unfortunately, boxed cake mix is a flavor 🙁
Lora @cakeduchess says
Your cake has been on my mind all day. Rich and moist. Your story is too funny. I won't leave a smiley face with my comment. It's killing me to not be sunshiney. See, I did it.
Heidi says
what's your cat's name?
Kita says
I have two, Maddox and kiori. 🙂
jean @ lemons and anchovies says
Funny story but I sympathize with the lines--I always manage to get on the slowest one, too. As for using a different name, sometimes I'm tempted to do that at Starbucks but I always fear ignoring the call when my order's ready, LOL! Can this cake get any gooier? Looks awesome!
amanda @ fake ginger says
I totally did that when I worked retail! I got myself in some trouble with repeat customers but whatever, it was fun!
I want this cake for lunch. And dinner. And breakfast tomorrow.
Kim - Liv Life says
Kita... I so enjoyed your post! You had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion, the pictures area absolutely beautiful though! And I'm with you on the cake mix taste...
I get the distraction too!
Stephanie says
Haha. I love your lying ways.
And this cake.
Michelle says
HOLY CHOCOLATE MOTHER OF .......... I NEED A SLICE IN MY TUMMY RIGHT NOW!
Amrita says
Ha ha! I've been Jasmine, Sameera and Rene! Good tip with the T-shirt...and oh my, that cake. Looks almost like brownie, doesn't it? Anything as fudgy and dark as that is going on my "to try" list.
Parsley Sage says
HAHAH! I used to do that ALL the time. Especially when I was in college. I was ridiculous about it but it was fun pretending to be someone else. I got busted all the time too 🙂
Fantastic cake darling. Totally droolable
Tes says
Oh I felt intoxicating just looking at the pic.... it sounds so yummy 🙂
Emily @ Life on Food says
every part of this post made me laugh. I like the self check outs at grocery stores for all of the reasons listed above. however the post office always does me in. here is to the brownies 🙂
Magic of Spice says
What a story...you are too funny! Well brownie or cake, it looks delightful and so gooey!
Beth Michelle says
Here in Israel, every line is always the wrong line!! This cake looks so gooey and yummy!
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
Pinned. Wow. So dark, decadent & rich. Love it!