by amvandenhurk | Life, Lifestyle, Small Town Life, Travel
We all have those places. Places where we go and we just feel at home. The Highway Diner is my comfort place. It is Cheers without the beer. It is where everybody knows your name and your order depending on what time of day you come in.
The Highway Diner hasn’t always been there, but it feels that way. It gives the authentic diner experience. An experience from the golden age of the diner. It is part of Americana. Hearty breakfast is served all day long. Coffee is always flowing. And the cakes are mile-high.
We go there at all times of day, but mostly on weekend mornings for breakfast. It is a great way to start your day. And the breakfast fills up me for the whole day. I usually order an omelet with homefries (the homefries are the BEST) or the U-Turn breakfast (right.)
Sometimes after school, we shoot over there for snack. Any of their cakes are good choices with ice cream or a basket of fries with a Coke.
While the food is great, the people are great there. They make it special. And keep us coming back more than we usually would.
by amvandenhurk | Dessert, Lifestyle
The Birthday Cake. It is one of the most important baked good other than bread. The birthday cake is just special. I really think so. And a birthday cake is best when it is homemade from scratch.
Yes, I just wrote that… best when it is homemade from scratch. I believe that cooking and baking while necessary part of life, can be done with love and passion. That’s what makes it special. A birthday cake from scratch is an action of love and appreciation in an age of the grocery store brought cakes and processed everything. Sure, it may taste differently each time you make it or not look perfect (case in point above), but it will be meaningful.
I asked my son, soon be to aged 6, what kind of cake he wanted for his birthday. His request was I bake him a cake. A chocolate cake. A special Momma cake. As a softie of a Momma, how could I have said no to the request even though life is moving at light-speed for me? Baking a cake is not only good for him by making him happy, but for me. I find cooking and baking good thinking time. And it makes me happy. He didn’t help me in the process this time, but he did enjoy licking what was left in the icing bowl.
One of my favorite cake recipes is a classic chocolate cake recipe off the Hershey Cocoa box. The cake is called
“Perfectly Chocolate” chocolate cake. It is easy to make make with ingredients in your cupboard. Within an hour from start to finish (plus some cooling time), you can make a wonderful chocolate cake. Rich and moist.
So next birthday, make a birthday cake from scratch. And will make it special for yourself or the birthday person.
Hello! I'm Ann Marie and I wear the well-worn apron. Join me as explore plant-based eating while I live on an island off the U.S. state of Rhode Island.