Wee Mouse for Taylor.

I had to show off this sweet little mouse and her teeny teddy that I made for my granddaughter, Taylor!  I purchased the pattern from Larissa at the Mmmcrafts blog.  She has an Etsy shop here where she has some really cute patterns for sale, and on her blog you will find some free patterns!  I had so much fun making this little mouse and can't wait to hear how Taylor likes it!  The little mouse and her teddy fit inside a Altoids Mint tin.  The pattern was very easy to follow and had plenty of written and picture directions.  The only snag I ran into was when I cut out the mattress for the mouse's bed, only to discover it was too small for my tin!  Low and behold, Canadian Altoid tins are bigger than American ones!  Who'da thunk!!  It was easy enough to enlarge the mattress and blanket pieces though, and I made the pillow a wee bit bigger too.  I also added wee whiskers to my mouse.  It is so cute!!  I just love it!  Now I'm waiting for some other opportunity to make another one for someone!  Thanks, Larissa, for this sweet pattern!

Note the 50 grams!

Chocolate Wacky Cake-Super Easy!!

After re-introducing the Chocolate Cake in a Mug recipe to my kids, they have been making them for themselves quite often!  That brought to mind another fun cake recipe I used to make regularly, but haven't made for quite some time!  A Wacky Cake!  This is a cake that turns out great and is not too sweet.  It saves on dishes as it is mixed all in the cake pan!  Here's what you need to get it done!

Oil, baking powder, baking soda, flour, sugar, salt, cocoa,

vanilla, vinegar and water. plus a 9 x 13 inch cake pan.

Into the cake pan, (ungreased), put all of the dry ingredients.

Stir is all up with a fork....

...until it looks like this!

Now, make 3 holes or dips in the dry  mixture.

Put one of the 3 wet ingredients into each of the holes.

My oil overflowed it's hole, so I made a new one for the vanilla.

Next, pour the warm water over the whole works.

Stir it up until it is all evenly mixed and there are no lumps of dry stuff anywhere.

Pop it into a 350 F. oven for about 25 minutes. 

It's done when a toothpick poked in the middle comes out clean.

Baked!  I sprinkle chocolate chips over the top and let them soften, then spread them around instead of icing. You can ice this, eat it with whipped topping, ice cream or just all by itself. It's a nice moist cake.

And that's about it...well, except for the eating part. I'm pretty sure you can figure that part out for yourself! 

Here is the recipe:

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 cup cocoa

2 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbsp. vinegar

1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. oil (or melted margarine)

2 cups warm water

chocolate chips (optional)

I'd love to know what you think. Did your family enjoy this cake?  Did you find it as easy to make as I do? Let me know in the comments below and don't forget to 'like' and 'share'!