A Booze Cake For My Doctor!

Last week, I asked you all to guess how big the Mister would be at my appointment this week and I intended to come home and blog about it, but my doctor put me back in the hospital. I didn't even have the option to come home, I went straight there from my appointment. She was concerned about my protein levels because they spiked, but after 24 hours of urine collection and observation in the hospital, everything turned out fine and I was able to come home again.

This past time was very different though because it's been 3 weeks since I was last there and baby Boy H has grown plenty! I'm no longer concerned with him being so tiny. According to his measurements on Tuesday, he weighs approximately 5 pounds, 11 ounces! Holy moly! I was not expecting him to gain that much weight, but he's packing on the weight. Maybe he could sense my worry so he thought he'd eat more to please me??? ha ha! Either way, he is good to go in that department. Out of 45 comments, not one person guessed his weight correctly. But the one person who was the closest without going over was Bonnie who writes From A Writer's Kitchen. Her guess was 5lbs. 9oz. Bonnie, I'm not sure what your prize is yet, but please email me your address and I'll send something over to you! Congrats!

My doctor scheduled my c-section for September 1st. Can you believe it?! The little man (who doesn't have a definitive name yet) will be here in 2 weeks or less! Ahhh! I'm not quite prepared for that, but I'm not sure I'll never be. I can't wait to see his face and smell his feet. LOVE. Because my doctor and staff have been so wonderful, thorough and caring I wanted to make them a cake to say 'thank you'. And who doesn't like a little booze at lunchtime? I decided to make them a chocolate Kahlua cake, that I experimented with back in December. I remember it being really good and moist, though I didn't get a slice of it this go round. I didn't think it would be very polite to deliver a cake with a slice cut out of it. :-) From what I could tell, they really enjoyed it though.

Chocolate Kahlua Cake from Monica H

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• 1 box chocolate cake mix
• 1 small box instant chocolate pudding
• 2 tsp. instant espresso powder
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup vegetable/canola oil
• 3/4 cup strong brewed coffee or water
• 1/2 cup Kahlua
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a Bundt pan and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, place cake mix, pudding mix and instant espresso powder and mix together with a whisk.

In a large measuring cup, mix the remaining wet ingredients together and blend til well mixed.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until well combined with an electric hand mixer or a large whisk. Mix until well combined and lump free.

Pour cake mix into prepared Bundt pan and bake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes before inverting onto a cooling rack. Once completely cooled, top with glaze (recipe below).

Kahlua Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. instant espresso powder
• 1 Tbsp. Kahlua
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients til smooth and pourable. If too thick and a few drops of water. If too thin, add more powdered sugar until the desired consistency is reached.

Pour or spoon glaze over the entire cake. Garnish with mini chocolate chips if desired. Allow glaze to set before slicing into cake.

My mom and little brother brought me a basket of Begonias when I was in the hospital the first time. They're such a pretty color and so delicate, don't you think?