Winter at its "fullest"

Our yoga teacher often prompts us to do our "fullest expression" of a pose, be it it forward fold, downward-facing dog, etc.  Well, this winter has been at its fullest expression, too.  We don't seem to get a break from the cold and snow, so that a day in the teens feels like a heat wave.  I have even gone out to dispose of trash or compost in just a sweater on those "warmer" days.  

While this picture is from 11 years ago, our snowbanks are getting similarly high around here.  There are places around town where you have to inch your car out slowly in order to see if anyone's coming.

Yesterday was no exception as I drove downtown in the latest storm, sliding some of the way.  I had arranged for a speaker at the library who was coming from the Burlington area an hour away, and he had bravely said he'd give it a try.  Who was I to wimp out on my 5 minute drive down a major hill?  Only 8 people came to hear his talk on using DNA for genealogy, but it was an excellent program.  The road was "greasy" but I made it down and, later, uphill.  

The temperature started to drop into the single digits all day, so I was glad to be indoors, knitting and  baking a chocolate cake.  Here's my recipe for the very easy Wacky Cake:

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a square baking pan.

  Mix together 1 1/2 c. flour, 1 c. sugar, 1 t. baking soda, and 4 T. chocolate in a bowl. 

  You can add this to the pan and then make 3 indentations in the mixture.  Or you can add the following to what's in the bowl:  1 t. vanilla, 1 T. vinegar, 6 T. oil, and 1 c. water.  Mix well and bake 30-40 minutes.  (I find mixing it in the pan makes it stick, so I generally mix it all in the bowl and pour into the pan.)  Cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve with whipped cream or ice cream.  

You end up with a moist and delicious cake.  I have doubled the recipe and put it into a 9" x 13" pan for potluck suppers.  People love it and don't know how easy it really is.  

Today I'll head back to the sewing room to work on a tote bag.  I've never worked with "soft and stable" before, so it will be an adventure.  Have a great Sunday!