A "Matilda" Party

In her latest move, my sister, Maggie, decided to once again "down size" her possessions. So, one of the items we inherited was a most beloved children's movie MATILDA....hope you've read the book by Ronald Dahl, so wonderful! Anyway, my kids love the movie and have been watching it non-stop over the last few months. Currently it's in the car...and at our house, you know a movie has hit the big time when it has made it to the car's DVD player.

Emry, who more recently wishes we'd named her Matilda, asked me why we never have chocolate cake like in the movie. I told her that I didn't know she wanted one. She said she did, so we decided to make one. Her sweet declaration reminded me that my other sister, Ali, had recently made the Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake off the back of the Hershey's Cocoa box...so the plan was born.

We put Carley down for a nap, tied on our aprons, retrieved all the ingredients, scooted a chair up to the counter and got to business! Luke and Emry are becoming quite the little kitchen helpers. I can hardly bake anything anymore without one of them offering their help. You might be thinking, "Wow, what nice kids." Don't be fooled, they are 100% opportunists! They know that at the end of the day, a bowl or spoon or beater or something always needs to be licked clean!
While the cake was baking we decided that we needed to share it's yumminess. We decided to invited Dylan & Charlie over as special guests at our Matilda Party. While the cake was cooling, the kids played inside and in the back yard. Then we frosted the cake and went to the park while it set up for a few minutes.

Dylan & Luke

Charlie & Emry (They are boyfriend and girlfriend, very cute)

Carley decided that she'd had enough of staying on the wood chips. So for the FIRST time, she climbed right up the playground toys, crawled over to the slide and down she went. I didn't have to coax her or anything, she just went for it! Headfirst it the preferred mode of transportation. It was pretty funny. I was in shock because she never wants to do anything but swing. Now all she wants to do is go down the slide over and over and over again!!

The "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake

...don't tell Miss Trunchbull,
but we're going to eat some!!

Hershey's "Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Cake
2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Hershey's Cocoa
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup boiling water

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans.
2. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat on med. speed for 2 minutes. Stir in boiling water (batter will be thin). Pour into pans.
3. Bake 30-35 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks. Cool completely.
   

"Perfectly Chocolate" Chocolate Frosting
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup Hershey's Cocoa
3 cups powdered sugar
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla

1. Melt butter. Stir in cocoa.
2. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating on medium speed to spreading consistency. Add more milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. Makes about 2 cups.
   

**for cupcakes: Line muffin tin with paper cups. Fill cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake at 350 F for 20-22 minutes. Cool; frost. Makes about 30 cupcakes.