Lisa's Cocina: Grandma Merrow's Chocolate Cake
Well, the massive stack of recipes is still here, but one thing is for certain, I have been having fun. I didn't know quite how this project would turn out, but it's turned out well so far, I think, and along the way I've had a nice sprinkling of surprises. Comments from friends who say they have been inspired to try a new food, cook a meal from scratch for the first time, or simply get back in the kitchen again. Requests for recipes not yet posted. Questions about something I made or wrote. Seeing someone new stop by, joining the little community of readers that has developed here. If I can say one thing about this cake, it's that it's lucky that it got baked at all, because this recipes produces, without a doubt, the best tasting batter I have ever licked off of a spoon (who's kidding who here, I was licking the bowl, the beaters, the spoon....). Grandma Merrow knew her cakes; thank you for sharing, Kate. The original recipe calls for baking this in a 9 x 13" pan. For the moment I am still hooked on layers, so I baked this in two 9-inch round cake pans, both buttered and with a round of wax paper on the bottom, but I see myself craving this cake a lot and baking it altogether in one large sheet pan will make it oh so easier to get this into my belly. The recipe was also sent without a frosting recipe. Apparently, it changed often, depending on the occasion the cake was baked for. I used a basic cream cheese frosting, but it was agreed that it didn't complement the cake well (don't get me wrong, it was still delicious), therefore I haven't included a frosting recipe. I might opt for a lighter chocolate frosting next time. If I have to - (
You did it! Oh yippeee! And did my handsome actor-cousin and his bride-to-be enjoy some too! You look lovely in the apron! If I had dresses, I would cook in them too. I think that's really the only way. My sewing machine will be out full time in a few days as the Halloween costume orders have been placed and the fabric has all arrived. I'm starting with a newborn baby carrot. Too cute. I'm so glad you enjoyed Grandma's cake.
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merrow // technology // our role in the community
Many web sites that serve the production needs of the apparel industry are awful. It’s not something most of us complain about as we’ve become accustomed to being grateful that they have a site at all when untold others still don’t. Until recently, the site amenities of the largest supplier in the industry was limited to pushing a button to make a globe spin or shoot off fireworks; the height of web site programming circa 1993. Merrow manufactures industrial sewing machines; the only ones still made in the United States. If you’ve heard the term “merrowing” or merrow stitching, the speaker is usually referring to an overlock or serge stitching. Joseph Merrow was the inventor of the overlock sewing machine. Merrow had an interesting life ; the family’s business was producing knit fabrics. When the family’s mill burnt to the ground in a gunpowder incident (Merrow’s dad had a gunpowder patent), Joseph went on to develop crochet sewing machines. Talk about making lemonade out of lemons. With most suppliers sites, you really have to wade through cryptic menu options to find out anything, or even to discover whether the information is to be had at all. Or what you even need, or what the thing does. For example, have you ever tried to find a sewing machine manual on a supplier’s site? It is the biggest headache ever but not so on Merrow’s site. Here’s a screen capture from their site with instructions on how to locate a manual: I hope you enjoy learning about overlock sewing machines on their site as I have (maybe you’ll even buy one). I haven’t gone through but a tiny portion of the material because I keep getting side tracked with just how well all of the features are so nicely and intuitively done. The cut to the chase summary is if you ever have a question about overlock machines, Merrow should be your stop. All sites should be this nicely done.