Saturday, April 23, 2011

Happy Easter!


I hope you all have a wonderful Easter! I am happy my dad and Lynn will be joining us for Easter and Les is off of work and able to celebrate with us. Last year dad and Lynn were out of town, and Les had to work, so the kids and I had to celebrate on our own. I am looking forward to tomorrow. Lynn is bringing her delicious scalloped potatoes, and I am serving Balsamic Berry Salad, ham, and green beans. We will have veggies and dip before and assorted treats for dessert. With so many sweets around on Easter, I like to keep dessert simple. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake is a perfect dessert when you want to keep things simple. The cake is a homey simple cake. It reminds me of a coffee cake, but it is a little sweeter. My daughter and I are making our way through the Cake Keeper Cakes recipes, and this is one of them.  I'm not a huge fan of cake with frosting, so these cakes are exactly what I like in a cake.  Simple cakes with just a dusting of powdered sugar a glaze.

Here is a sneak peak at my Easter table.

I used my Pier One white wooden charges and the green plates I picked up on the clearance shelf at Marshalls. I was eyeing some flower plates at Pier One, but I found these at Marshalls for half the cost, so I went with them. I also found these pretty green paisley Ralph Lauren napkins at Marshalls. I love Marshalls and Home Goods!



I don’t have many Easter decorations, but I found some really sweet bunnies at Marshalls this year to add to my table.
After trying my hand at my burlap and toile table runners I am really enjoying making my own. The fabric stores have such beautiful home décor fabrics. I have a few sewing projects I need to start (now that I’m finished with a gold lame jumpsuit. Don’t ask…Just know I’m not going to wear it!)

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cake
Adapted from Cake Keeper Cakes
Printable Recipe

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
¾ cups boiling water
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
½ cup whole-wheat pastry flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8-inch square baking pan.

Place rolled oats in a heatproof bowl, and pour the boiling water over the oats. Let the oats stand until cool.

Combine all purpose flour, whole-wheat pastry flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in a medium mixing bowl and set aside. Cream the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a medium mixing bowl until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and the vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in the oats. Slowly add the flour mixture (½ cup at a time) until combined, and stir in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Add the batter to the prepared pan smoothing the top with a rubber spatula. Bake the cake until it is golden and a toothpick comes out of the center clean, about 50 to 55 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Invert the cake onto a wire rack, and then turn it over so it is right side up. Cool the cake completely and cut into 9 squares.


Thanks for visiting!  I will be participating in the party over at Between Naps on The Porch on Thursday, so be sure to check out the beautiful table decorations over there!

10 comments:

  1. Your Easter table looks so sweet. That cake sounds like a delicious ending to your fab Easter feast. I have a sweet treat linky party going on at my blog and I'd like to invite you to stop by and link your cake up. http://sweet-as-sugar-cookies.blogspot.com/2011/04/sweets-for-saturday-14_22.html

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  2. Your table is filled with all the elements of Spring and Easter. I love that you found those cute flower plates at a bargain! Way to go!

    I like the colors you have chosen to accent. That green is a very pretty shade of green. It's wonderful that you can make table runners to switch things up. I really need to clear a path to my sewing machine. LOL!

    Your bunnies anchor your tulip centerpiece and provide just the right touch of Easter whimsy to your table. I love it!
    Happy Easter,
    Tammy

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  3. I will try your recipe sounds yummy Love the table linens andthe bunnies. Have a lovely Spring. I love SF area!!

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  4. What a pretty setting. I love your chargers and napkins.

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  5. Your table looks beautiful, Janice! I love your bunnies {I'm a bit of a bunny nut}. Don't you love those Pier 1 chargers - I got a few myself and I think they are such a fun addition to a table or I use one as a cloche base.

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  6. What a sweet table -- I love your bunnies and they may be the cousins of the bunnies on my table this week. I've been seeing those pretty chargers in blogland -- they're so pretty.

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  7. Hi Janice! What fun your Easter table is. Those bars look delicious. Hope your week has been good!

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  8. Darling Easter table...the bunnies and creamware pitcher filled with tulips are wonderful. Thank you for sharing the recipe. Gold lame jumpsuit?...someone is an Elvis impersonator! Cherry Kay

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  9. Beautiful, serene table...I have the same green plate and love them. Delightful centerpiece with the bunnies at each end.

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  10. wow! this looks so good.I'm tempted to make it right away!

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