*****Note: I made this recipe and wrote this post a few weeks ago before my life completely changed in the blink of an eye. Posting it today is therapeutic to me as it helps me begin to restore a routine in my life that I have really enjoyed. I know other people going through what I am going through may not be able to do much but eat twizzlers in the dark all day. But to me, cooking will save me from isolation and being alone for the first time in 8 years. I know it may seem odd to some of you to take the time amidst the turmoil to post, but some semblance of normalcy is comforting to me during this time. I just wish that I had taken the rest of this cake out of the fridge when I took the rest of my things on Sunday. It was THAT good!



A few weeks ago our dear friend Zina from the beautiful Isla Mujeres, MX (originally of the Cleveland PD!) stayed with us a week while she was back NOB (north of the border). We had a great time catching up, helping her stock up before returning to the island, and shooting the breeze over some killer meals. She shares our love of food and while here introduced me  to one of her old haunts, Siam Cafe on St. Clair in Cleveland's "Asian Town." Thanks a lot Zina, I crave the shanghai curry noodles just about every day now. We went for lunch just the other day and shared a plate as it was enough for the two of us. I commented how I could eat these noodles once a week for the rest of my life and be very happy.

One thing I know I could NOT eat everyday are beets. Zina tried to suggest some recipes in light of her Russian heritage but I just wasn't feeling the beet(s). (Inward groan) After she picked up her rental car and drove around the old 'hood she brought us back a piece of Chocolate Beet cake from Johnny O'Neill's Tavern on Lee. We had never been there, somewhat dubious of typical bar fare, but after eating this cake I am sufficiently curious enough to check it out. Their version of the cake was reminiscent of a lava cake and just oozed goodness. After a failed savory beet recipe last week (that I still don't have the courage to post about) I decided with this week's beets I'd try a cake. We know we love the beet greens and I am determined to find a way to enjoy the beet themselves. I can hardly believe I'm saying this, I actually thought this cake could've used more... are you ready for it.. beets. I didn't have enough beets for the full 2 C the recipe recommended and I can only assume that is why the cake came out a little dry. I'm not in a hurry to find out but if I get more beets I'd certainly give it another shot before making my judgment. 

Chocolate Beet Cake
***There are many, many beet cake recipes out there. I chose to combine a few recipes based on my idea that more chocolate would make the beets taste better. The worst part about this recipe is that you have to boil the heck out of the beets before you can skin and puree them. Other than that, it's a breeze!






















1 C salted butter
1 1/2 C packed dark brown sugar
3 eggs
4 oz dark chocolate
3 medium beets, pureed (Most recipes recommended more, but that's all I had) (Source: FFM)
2 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
2 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
pinch nutmeg
1/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cook your beets by boiling them for at least 30 minutes. Let cool and slip skins off and puree the beets. I used my mini food processor but thought about using my blender so I'm sure either would work.

Cream 3/4 C of the butter with the brown sugar. Add eggs and mix well. Melt chocolate and remaining butter in microwave for 20 second intervals until melted. Let cool while you prepare the dry ingredients. Mix all the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Add chocolate to liquid ingredients, then mix in the dry 1/3 at a time. Mix until incorporated- be careful not to over mix!

Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan (9.75" is what I had but a 10" would be fine too) and bake for 30-45 minutes at 375F. I added some chocolate chips to the batter at this point because I was so worried about the beet flavor. In the end, they weren't necessary since we decided we actually needed MORE beets. Let cake cool before turning onto a cake stand and dusting with powdered sugar. 

***Note: Due to extreme unforeseen circumstances contributing to a devastating family emergency, I will be taking a hiatus from cooking and posting for a little while. It is my hope that things will be resolved quickly and I can return to my passions of cooking, eating, and writing. I hope all of you who have grown accustomed to the daily blog posts will stick with me during this time of transit


The IBUYNEO website.

July 3rd-10th is "local week,"  a time designed to promote shopping, buying, purchasing from local stores (locally owned stores that is, instead of from chains).  This means, finding those restaurants, boutiques, hardware stores, etc, that are owned and run by people who live in the very neighborhood you do.  For some of you out there, you already have good relationships with these stores and know where to find them.  For others, you might be left scratching your head wondering "is this store really local?"

Well, IBUYNEO has designed a site that will allow you to find stores, shops, etc, that are all local to you (you can search as broad as by zipcode, or as filtered as type of business/establishment you're looking for).  It's pretty easy to use, and a great reminder of why you should Chews Local! 

This excerpt was taken from their site:

Why Buy Local?

Because minor changes can make a major impact. Collectively, Northeast Ohioans have the ability to make a difference in the region through their purchasing habits by looking to locally owned businesses for their everyday shopping needs and services.

Buying locally helps to improve our community in many ways. Here are a few:

1. KEEP DOLLARS IN NEO'S ECONOMY
   For every $100 spent at a locally owned business, $45 stays in the local economy, creating jobs and expanding the region's tax base. For every $100 spent at a national chain store, only $14 remains in the community. [1]
   
   
2. EMBRACE WHAT MAKES NEO DIFFERENT
   Northeast Ohio is a region of neighborhoods where we shop, eat and hang out – it’s what make our neighborhoods our home.
   
   
3. FOSTER LOCAL JOB CREATION
   Studies show that locally owned businesses create more jobs locally and, in some sectors, provide better wages and benefits than national chains. [2]
   
   
4. BENEFIT FROM LOCAL OWNERS' EXPERTISE
   Local business owners and employees often possess a high level of expertise and a passion for the products they sell that is often unmatched by employees and managers of national chains. They also tend to have a greater interest in getting to know their customers -- who are, after all, also their neighbors.
   
   
5. CONSERVE YOUR TAX DOLLARS
   Small neighborhood and downtown businesses require less public infrastructure and make more efficient use of city services compared to sprawling big-box stores and shopping centers, which are far more costly in terms of road maintenance and police services, according to several studies. [3]
   
   
6. HAVE MORE CHOICES
   A marketplace of thousands of small businesses helps to ensure more innovation, competition, and lower prices over the long term. Independent businesses, choosing products based on what their local customers need and desire, not a national sales plan, guarantees a more diverse range of product and service choices.
   
   
7. NURTURE COMMUNITY
   Independent businesses are owned by people who live in this community and are committed to investing in Northeast Ohio's future. Studies have found that locally owned businesses contribute more than twice as much of their revenue to charitable causes as corporate chains do. And advocates of local causes find that local business owners are generally much more accessible than executives of huge corporations based in other states. [4]
   
   
8. PRESERVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP
   Entrepreneurship fuels America's economic innovation and prosperity, and serves as a key means for families to move out of low-wage jobs and into the middle class.
   
   
9. ENSURE THAT NEO STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD
   In an increasingly homogenized world, communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character are more likely to attract entrepreneurs and new investment.
   
   
10. PRIDE
    We should consider our homegrown enterprises a source of pride.
    
    
11. COMMUNITY LIFEBLOOD
    Independent, locally owned businesses are the lifeblood of our community. When we keep our dollars in the region, every purchase contributes toward our schools, our culture and the well-being of our friends, relatives and neighbors.
    
    
GET MORE FOR YOUR MONEY
Shopping locally means getting more for your money, especially in terms of customer service.

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12. INSPIRATION TO OUR YOUTH
    The success of locally owned, independent businesses provides real-life inspiration to our young people, proving that they can stay in the region and prosper on their own terms.