"Cake is the word which God has written on the brow of every man." - Victor Hugo

it is possible that the above quote was actually about hope, but he probably also said it about cake, once.

Dear the Three People Who Read this Blog (I know it used to be five, but I am pretty sure at least two of you are mad at me. I can feel it.),

Alas, after four years, one month and three days, I have returned to you. Of course there have been pastas sauced, soups ladled, and casseroles slightly burnt just the way God intended - I just didn't blog about them due to laziness and slow wi-fi...So why am I finally back at the ol' blogspot, mouth full of liqueur and head full of that 800-588-2300 Empiiire commercial jingle?  Call it a creative spark, call it nostalgia or call it a fun time in our lives the mayor pronounces "shelter in place."

Or as us self-proclaimed introverts call it, "Wednesday."

Recipe #1: Black Walnut Liqueur Pound Cake

Choice of Libation: Black Walnut Creme Liqueur (Round Barn Winery) on ice, with just a splash of cold brew.  In my experience, Michigan wine country has its ups (any sparkling wine from Mawby) and its downs (that one "tropical" pinot grigio the color of Windex). This liqueur not only boasts a really high ABV, but it is deliciously nutty and rich and not too sweet.  <-- That's what they called me in high school.

Choice of Music: Alabama rapper, singer, songwriter, poet Chika. She is friggin 23 years old and I can't stop watching her Tiny Desk Concert and listening to her album - it is fresh, hopeful and soulful.  The hero we need and deserve.

OK. Let's bake something, shall we?  Nothing like a booze cake to distract us from a pandemic or PTSD from that Tiger King documentary.

The main reason I wanted to make this was to use things we already had in the pantry.  Also I was not entirely sure how long the cream would last, so you know. For health reasons.  We had to use it. 

Why yes, that is a rice spoon I am using instead of a spatula because all of our actual baking tools are in Chicago where we aren't. Minneapolis of course made spatulas illegal in 1992. For obvious reasons. Not featured is the 2/3 measuring cup I had to use for all of the ingredients.  Good thing I was mostly sober. Math is not my strong suit.

WHAT COULD I POSSIBLY DO TO PASS THE TIME WHILE WAITING FOR THE GOODS TO BAKE?! Day drink while a five year old mutt judges me. Obvi.

Ugh yes, that is a pie plate and tiny loaf pan I am using instead of a bundt pan.  In my defense I don't really care what I eat out of.  Huzzah for low standards! I'll put it in my special skills section.

Okay, so it's not the prettiest.  But it is pretty delicious for just using things out of my pantry and incredibly wrong baking tools.  My name is Emjoy Gavino and I put alcohol in ugly baked goods.  For the people.

stolen and adapted from momfoodie.com

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter 2 sticks

1 cup sugar

1 tsp Kosher salt

3 eggs

1 cup cream liqueur 

2 1/4 cups flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees & grease and flour loaf or bundt pan*.

Cream butter, sugar and salt together.

Whisk the eggs, then add to bowl, pour in the Bailey's. Mix well.

Add the flour and baking powder (preferably mixed together first) a bit at a time. Make sure the batter is well beaten and silky smooth.

Pour batter into prepped pan.

The pie plate took about 35 minutes and the tiny loaf pan took about 45 minutes. I think a bundt pan would take about 40.