Recipe Box # 13 - Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Layered Cake

I am writing this, feeling frustrated, from a simple car "trip" to the grocery store.  This particular supermarket is located in a downtown shopping district and it is almost a straight ride down the main street.  There is lots of parking between the street and the large lots, behind the store.  I can't imagine, not finding, a relatively close space.  There are entrances, off the parking lot, so that is a better option, as far as I am concerned.  (too many commas in that last sentence?)

Coming home should have been a breeze but what should have taken five minutes, took at least, a half an hour.  Thankfully, I was not in a hurry so I amused myself, looking to see if there were any new stores or if any, had closed down.  In this economy, changes seem to be frequent, and can be found on most blocks.  Not enough book stores and too many restaurants, in my opinion, although we are a town of readers, as far as I can see.

On the way home, car after car was double parked, most with the drivers, in the cars.  The street does not accommodate 4 cars across plus those parked legally.  It does not accommodate 3 cars across either.  That did not stop, the many cars who just stopped their cars and sat, refusing to move, even when traffic came to a halt.  In one location, a woman could not get her legally parked car out of the space because of the double spaced car.  That did not stop her from trying and that affected all of us, simply taking a route home, to make dinner.

The most frustrating part was the car (seemed like it was behind me) honking the horn.  Believe me, if we could have moved, we would have.

I don't want to offend anyone but I am going to ask if, you do this, please reconsider the other folks who are inconvenienced by this.  Now, if you are pregnant and on the way to the hospital and need something desperately, stop, by all means.  I doubt, the folks, I saw were taking that trip.

Now on to happier thoughts and my yummy chocolate chip cinnamon layered cake from Dining In Again.  This is one of those homey cookbooks (professionally done) that always seems to have the recipe you want. It comes from a Boys' School (Moms' recipes).  I don't like the directions.  They seem to be sketchy but I have been able to make everything, I have wanted to.    There are four recipes on two pages and they are set up, nicely.  What is missing are photos.  I enjoy looking at food pictures even when I am not cooking the recipes.

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Layered Cake (adapted)

Ingredients:

1 cup oil
3/4 stick margarine
1 3/4 sugar
4 eggs
3 cups flour (gluten-free or all-purpose)
3 teaspoons baking powder
pinch salt
1 cup orange juice (the secret ingredient - incredible)
Topping:
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 cup sugar
1 plus cups of chocolate chips

Method:

Cream margarine, oil and sugar in electric mixer.  Add the eggs, one at a time.

Combine dry ingredients and add to bowl, alternating with the juice.

Spread half the batter into 9 x 13 inch pan. (Please grease it first.)

Combine cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle on top of batter.  Then sprinkle half of the chocolate chips.

Repeat layers.

Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F.

Eat up.  It is good.
*The instructions, although not exact, are the way the book presents them.  I think, it is important to mention greasing the pan and mentioning the oven temperature, at the beginning of the recipe so it has time to heat  up.

The other problem, I had was that they did not separate the topping from the batter and I almost included it, in the batter until I gave it a second thought and realized, it could not be so.  I reread and sure enough, it was separate.

Although, I have been critical of some aspects of this cookbook, I love it and use it, a great deal.  The recipes turn out beautifully and I have two of the books of this "set" and would like the third.

Looking back:

Frugal Thursdays made this unusual quesadilla . Go one over and find the secret ingredient in this one.




Shortbread Surprize from With a Blast - I have a feeling, one just keeps taking more of these yummy looking nuggets.



Every Weeknight Salad Bar (I would make this for company too.) from Make the Best of Everything.  Isn't that  a great blog name?

Chicken in Mustard Sauce from one of my favorite blogs, Ms. enPlace

  It is your turn, dear foodies and thanks for filling the Recipe Box.

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