Monday, March 1, 2010

Celebrating 2nd Bloggiversary with A Cake,an Event and a Giveaway!!


Here I am,with my 300th post on Easycooking along with my 2nd Bloggiversary.Two joys in one post..wait there’s more!!


What started as a just-like-that blog has become two years old and has 300 posts in it.It is only because of YOU,my readers and fellow-bloggers who have made this possible.I wouldn’t have come this far if not for your appreciation and encouragement.I’ve gone from posting what I cooked for our meals to making dishes exclusively for the blog.Thanks to blogging,I learned to bake and can confidently say I can whip up a few baked dishes with ease.While saying that,let me also thank my dear taste testers-Ajay’s friends who eat whatever I bake with full gusto.With a licked clean box which comes back to making requests for the next cake-Thank you folks..:)

While thinking of the anniversary post,many things crossed my mind trying to decide on what to cook for the big day.After a lot of thinking I decided upon a Chocolate Cake.[Now I won’t tell you that was my first choice to begin with..psst].That got me thinking.We love Chocolate cakes and I have a couple of “go-to” chocolate cake recipes when hit with a craving.But,everytime I come across a new one,I scribble it down or bookmark it hoping to try it out next.I do try new recipes but invariably,come back to the old ones.

Do you have a safely guarded Chocolate cake recipe up your sleeve?Do you feel you have the best recipe for the Ultimate chocolate cake?Or have you tasted a cake so good and have been trying to replicate the taste??



Send them all to me for the “The Best Chocolate Cake” event.

It could be the one you have been baking for ages or it can be a new recipe you tried out recently.With eggs-without eggs,with fruits or with nuts,frosted or plain,baked-microwaved-steamed-pressure cooked.You get the drift don’t you?

Rules for the event-

1.Bake a Chocolate cake and post it on your blog between March 1st -April 1st.[Round-up would be posted soonafter]

2.If you already have the Best Chocolate Cake recipe posted on your blog,you can do a repost with a link back to this event.But it would be fun to try out something new,isn't it?

3.Send me the entries to divyakudua@gmail.com with The Best Chocolate Cake in the subject line with

*Your name
*Blog name
*Blog Url
*Post Url
*Picture


4.Non-bloggers can send in their recipes along with a picture and I will post it along with the round-up.

How about tempting you with a giveaway?



I've been so impressed with the book "1 mix,50 Cakes" by Christine France that I've decided to give it away to one lucky winner.A random winner* will be chosen from the entries and the winner will be announced during the round-up.[Pssst,the winner would be chosen by a special guest].

So what are you waiting for??Don your aprons and pull up your sleeves and bake the Best Chocolate Cake:)

*Shipping only within India.

Here’s one of my Best Chocolate Cakes.I tried this from Hershey’s site-Appropriately titled Celebration Chocolate Cake.One of THE BESTEST cakes I have baked so far.Ajay’s thumbs-up with both hands and half the cake consumed by both of us clearly explains the fantabulous taste of the cake.Oh-so-soft,melt in the mouth and intensely-deeply chocolatey-My first three layered cake..YAY!!!

Celebration Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

Hershey’s Cocoa – ¾ cup [I used Cadbury’s-I had no choice-we don’t get Hershey’s Cocoa here.]
Boiling water – 1 cup
Butter or margarine – ½ cup+ 2 tbsp[I used Butter]
Sugar – 2 cups
Eggs - 3
Vanilla extract – 1 tsp
All-purpose flour – 1 ¾ cups
Baking soda – 1 ½ tsp
Salt – ¼ tsp
Milk – ¾ cup
Dairy sour cream – ¼ cup [ I used Yogurt]

Method

Heat oven to 350°F.
Grease three 9-inch round baking pans. [I used 8' pan]
Line bottoms with wax paper-grease and flour paper.
Mix cocoa with boiling water in small bowl-stir until smooth. Set aside to cool.
Beat butter and sugar in large bowl until fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Stir in vanilla. Gradually add cocoa mixture, beating well.
Stir together flour, baking soda and salt- add alternately with milk and sour cream to butter mixture, beating until blended.
Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks; carefully peel off wax paper.
Cool completely.

Perfectly Chocolate Chocolate Frosting

Ingredients

Butter or margarine – ½ cup [ I used Butter]
Hershey’s Cocoa – 2/3 cup [ I used Cadbury’s]
Powdered sugar – 3 cups
Milk – 1/3 cup
Vanilla extract – 1 tsp

Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups frosting.


So what are you waiting for..send in your entries and let's have a bash!!

73 comments :

  1. Congratulations on completing successful 2 yrs! Who doesnt love chocolate cake? Wish you all the very best for the event, will try to send in my fav choco cake :)

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  2. Congrats on completing 300 posts and 2 years. :) Thats a big number for me. :) The cake looks absolutely perfect and yummmmmmy :)

    Will surely try to participate in your event.

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  3. Congraz on completing 2 years into blogging, really a spl one to celebrate, and wishing you many more such happy moments...congraz on your 300th post too...and what a lovely giveaway for your wonderful event, will surely participate...

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  4. congrats on the 2nd blog b'day Divya! Wishing your blog many more such b'days. Choco cake looks so perfect and yum!!

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  5. Congrats Divya and here is wishing you many happy years of blogging ahead.

    Cake looks sinfully delicious...

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  6. Congratulations on completing two years of blogging!! Wish you many many more years of happy blogging!

    The cake looks delicious, delicious!! Now that give away is seriously tempting, how I would love to have that book:-)) Will surely send my entry Divya!

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  7. Congratulation on ur 2nd anniversary and ur 300th post!!!!!!

    Nice way of celebrating ur milestones

    Cake looks soft and delicious:-)

    My best wishes for ur event.

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  8. Congrats on your blog birthday Divya. Cake looks really pretty and appealing! And happy hosting!

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  9. beautiful cake...ok..i am sending you a choco cake soon..

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  10. Congrat Divya, for completely 300post and 2years in this blogsphere, chocolate cake looks beautiful and awesome...will surely try to participate in ur event...

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  11. congrats! the cake cook so good. better than a bakery cake. gosh I wish I could have them all.

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  12. Lovely! congrats, and yr cakes are always so nice!

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  13. congrats divya! Yes, Hersheys choc cake ranks as one of the best that I've made, yours looks smashing!!

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  14. Congratulations on completeing 2 years! The choco cake looks so yumm n tempting, wish to have a slice:)

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  15. Hey Divya,
    Congratulations for completing 2 years and 300 posts!
    I am a regular reader of ur blog.. I just love ur recipes and write-ups.. keep up the good work! keep going!
    And thanks a ton for these wonderful recipes..

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  16. Wowo that is such a beautiful and so delcious looking cake.
    Congragulation and Haooy'bday to your wonderful blog.
    I would have loved to join up. I am in a diet together with hubby till April so chocolate is a prohibited till then.

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  17. Congrats!! cake looks just awesome..;-))

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  18. Congrats divya..u rock with this cake :)

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  19. Gorgeous looking cake! Looks so yum!
    Congrats on ur blog 2nd anniversary!

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  20. Congratulations!!! This is a fabulous cake, I'm always inspired by the simplicity of your cake decoration, so simple, yet so very elegant!! I hope you come up with a million more recipes for us to try :)

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  21. Congrats on your milestone! Chocolate cake is beautiful and delicious!

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  22. Congrats Divya. The cake is just sinful ;) Perfect like a a cake shop.

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  23. Gal 3 congrats- first anniver, second reaching a milestone and 3rd for the event :)
    As i said u lately freak with cake- I will keep in my mind ur event!

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  24. Congrats dear!! 300 posts, wow!! It's a great accomplishment. The choc cake looks sinfully delicious, perfect to celebrate your blog's anniversary!! I really do want to take part in your event, I will try my best :)

    Wish your blog many more wonderful years!!

    Cheers
    Maria

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  25. Congrats Divya!! This cake looks divine and sinful! Aww..I so want to indulge in this cake right now!!

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  26. Congrats on your blog anniversary and the 300th post!!! a double blast here infact a triple blast with the cake... The cake looks very yummy and soft!!! nice event hosted!!!

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  27. Nice cake. Does it have to chocolate frosting too?

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  28. Wow..the cake looks beautiful! CONGRATS on 2nd ann+300(do-able) posts! May there be many many more! U intend to put up an outlet in Chennai..'Divya's Bakes' :) The going is great here!

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  29. congratulations on completing 2 years and 300 posts Divya. I am also always on a lookout for the best chocolate cake.

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  30. Congrats!!! Amazing moist and perfect cake.Wil join ur event for sure!

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  31. Boy, I'm drooling.. lovely clicks of this oh so delicious cake.. u r so evil.. trying to coax me into baking a cake.. in the midst of the deit season..lol.. thanks for this lovely recipe will surely try it out when I'm ready for it.

    Anu

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  32. Congratulations on your milestone post and 2nd anniversary here. Chocolate is definitely the way to celebrate and your cake looks absolutely gorgeous, Divya.

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  33. Congrats dear...Cake sounds mouthwatering and soft..

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  34. CONGRATULATIONS sweetheart!Mwwwaahh!

    And I am definately going to send in an entry for you! That cake looks marvelous! I have baked it before, it definately gets a thumbs-up everytime!

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  35. Gorgeous cake! Congrats Divya :D

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  36. Divya,the first pic is soooo droolworthy...Congrats on your milestone
    Zeb

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  37. I want that book... please make me the winner!

    Would you accept brownies for this event?

    Congrats on the 300th post and on completing 2 years... that's a great average!

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  38. Congratulations on this fine achievement

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  39. Hi Divya,

    Congratulations on successful completion of your 2nd year.The cake is very elegant and looks delicious.I would like to participate in this event.I am Kiran and I just started blogging.My blog is http://kiranjay.blogspot.com
    Visit me sometime.

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  40. Congrats on completing 2 yrs.Anything Chocolaty and am in for it...my all time fav.Thats a great event.

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  41. Wow Congrats on the bloggiversary :) And this must be your first event and giveaway :) Good luck with all of it :) Cake has come out superb :)

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  42. Dear Divya

    Congratulations!I am a regular reader of your blog.The first recipe that I tried from your blog was the apple cake and it was so delicious that i am hooked for life...seriously now whenever i wanna cook something i just hop into your blog to see whether you have got any recipe with that particular ingredient and i just cook it...everytime its a hit!
    Thank you for filling my life with so much happiness:)
    And this choc cake is worth dying for...:)
    keep up the good work!!!
    much love

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  43. Congrats on ur second blog versary...good to know abt u..though,i m not regular reader of ur blog..i m inspired with ur posts..u r being senior blogger ,sure had loads of good things..congrats once again..will support u forever..

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  44. divya im so proud of yu....2nd anniversary and yur blog totally rock.s count me in on the event!!

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  45. Hey Divya..thanks for dropping by my blog.. you have excellent recipes here and I must say lovely pictures as well :).. will send an entry :)

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  46. Congratulations, Divya! You have an amazing collection of recipes, specially our traditional amchi ones. I first came across yr blog when I was searching for cabbage-a muddo.

    I just started my blog a few days back. I would like to participate in the event and will send my entry soon.

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  47. Happy Blogoversary to you!! Your blog has really grown!! About the event, till when do we have to participate?

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  48. u have a wonderful blog here and have to walk around a bit to discover more of ur eliciousness.....

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  49. U have a sweet blog here with wonderful recipes and i mus take a walk aorund to savour the deliciousness...

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  50. is it possible to freeze ths cake?
    Zeb

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  51. just visited your nice blog...will surely perticipate this event...happy blogging..you r welcome to my blog too...:)

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  52. I wish I can have a slice of that cake like right now. I am always scared of baking. Not sure when I will gather courage to do it. Surely, one day.

    Happy bloggiversary. I am a new fellow blogger, please do visit my blog.

    http://mharorajasthanrecipes.blogspot.com/

    ~ Priya

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  53. Hi Divya,

    I love your blog. Gt to know about it thru a friend of mine who I think your husband know's Shiny Chandran. We both baked to gether and loved the easy chocolate cake recipe. We JUST LOVED it,It's the easiest cake recipe I have ever tried. Great going

    Divya Ramprasad

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  54. Great event! Who doesn't love chocolate cake!

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  55. congrats divya and what a fantastic looking cake to celebrate with !

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  56. Hi Divya
    First time here . Congrats on completng 2 blogging yrs n whooping 300 posts . wonderful event will surely participate .....

    Smita
    @ Little Food Junction

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  57. Hi Divs,

    I am Vidya Santosh this side...Your school mate...Hope u rem me...! hats off to you and your passion in cooking...! Congratulations on your achievement...and has to confess that all your recipies are yummy and mouth watering....

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  58. What a precious milestone ... congrats DK!

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  59. WOW!! What a tempting chocolate cake, great clicks too!! Congrats on your 300th post and for completing 2 yrs..Keep going..

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  60. COngrtas dear....that cake looksone to die for....will make it on one of the potluck....no turning to other cakes when it comes to chocolate cake/...Looks perfectly baked.....

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  61. divya, any idea if this cake be halved and made in a 6" pan?..please let me know asap:)

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  62. Divay ..Congrats on ur 300th post and happy to know that u r in the blogging world for last 2 years.. congrats
    first time here you have a wonderful blog.I really missed your post ..anyway i like to come back to see ur new post so following you yarr.
    Nice event.Sure i will send some thing for this wonderful event..
    you are always welcome to my blog

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  63. Hey there,

    wonderful looking cake I have to say. Just a quick question - can I follow the recipe as it is to bake it in a convection oven in terms of preheat temperature and duration of baking?

    thanks

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  64. Thnx. This is a wonderful recipe. Could you please tell me how can i preserve the excess frosting that i made, so i can reuse it after some days?

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  65. Ramya,the frosting can be frozen upto 3 months.

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  66. love ur blog. have come here a few times tho not left a comment. thru u, I became a big fan of Hersheys site (iam crazy bt chocolates and cake!!!) i tried this recipe from their site....thanks to u... Ive linked this page also in my recipe.

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  67. hey divya....i just wanted to let you know that i tried this recipe n it came out so well...since the cake was a little too big for just the 2 of us...i did some major distribution n everyone loved it...:)...infact after keeping some of the leftover in the fridge for 2days i even tried heating it for 10secs in the MW n had it hot with icecream n it was just divine...i have a query...have u ever tried reducing the measurements to make smaller or one portion chocolate cake? if you have can you please give me the link or some tips on how to reduce the measurement? it has always hpnd with me that when i try to reduce the measurement to make a smaller cake than in the recipe i normally goof up....that is y i'm asking for your help. :)...anyways....this is a winner recipe for sure...:)..thank you for sharing it....:)

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  68. Hi Divya,
    I tried this cake,the taste and textire was fantastic .
    But the üroblem was the cake did not rise,i wanted to make layer cake but could not.
    Canadding baking powder help?
    How come ur cake has so many layers?

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    Replies
    1. Did u get your doubt clarified?I have the same?please help,it did not rise much to go for a tiered cake

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    2. I make this cake whenever I want a layered chocolaty cake and it turns out perfect.I use 8' pans and divide the batter into 3 and bake.Please check the expiry date of your baking soda,that could be the culprit!

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  69. Hi Divya ,
    I tried the cake came out wonderful.

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A blog is not complete without the readers feedback.Please let me know how you liked my post.Thank you so much for visiting my blog.

Love,
Divya.

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