Chocolate cake recipe with secret ingredient: sauerkraut! (Wild, Wacky and Wonderful)

Ingredients for wacky and wild cake, familiar except for one

I LOVE chocolate cake.

I am also very fond of sauerkraut (Reuben sandwiches are my favorite).

But, sauerkraut in chocolate cake???  I never put the two together - that is, until this weekend. And *spoiler alert* it was delicious.

Last week, Pam (birthday twin/BTS member) gifted me a vintage recipe book with local roots:  "Recipes from the Tower Kitchen" via the Detroit Free Press.  Published in 1973, it was still part of the "Welcome Wagon's" offering to new residents of southeast Michigan a few decades later. That's how it made its way to Pam. Seeing a page devoted to "When Your Sugar Comes to Tea", my fellow Aries thought I'd find this collection interesting. 

Sauerkraut chocolate cake recipe from the Tower Kitchen (circa 1973)

And, I did. While the tea recipes offered more holiday-type fare (e.g., eggnog cookies, angel kisses) which I will revisit come December, another page caught my attention:  "Wild, Wacky and Wonderful". The very first recipe under this heading is the aforementioned sauerkraut chocolate cake. However, before I went grocery shopping, before I creamed the butter, before I poured the batter into the pan, I already knew the recipe was both wild and wacky, but wonderful? That was yet to be determined.

Cheerfully blending cake batter before the "secret ingredient".

In preparation of this curious cake, I did a little on-line research to see if there were any other similar recipes or stories of origin. Surprisingly, I found quite a few of both, but hit a true treasure of sauerkraut cake backstory courtesy Atlas Obscura in an article from just last November ("Who Decided to Put Sauerkraut in Chocolate Cake?").  This published piece not only lays out tales of the cake's beginnings (partially debunking them as well), but it cites two recipe sources: The New York Times, 1981, "Sauerkraut Kuchen" and a 1973 edition of Recipes from the Tower Kitchen from Detroit.  And, now the latter is in my possession. The only thing more incredulous than that recent discovery was (*dramatic pause*) putting sauerkraut in cake batter.

It was now time put this recipe to the test in the BTS' test kitchen.

We gathered the ingredients - all of which would be familiar to most bakers of cakes and cookies, except for that one glaring can of fermented cabbage. 

A moment of hesitation before adding the sauerkraut to the sweet cake batter

We melted the butter, whisked the eggs, and slowly stirred in the cocoa and cake flour, but when it came time to finally add the sauerkraut, we did hesitate for just a minute. Is it really a good idea to dump that savory, chopped vegetable into a bowl of sugary deliciousness? Again, I see "wacky" and "wild", but "wonderful"?

It's done. No turning back now. . . 

The proof was in the pudding. . . or, more precisely, the sauerkraut chocolate cake.

And . . .  it was wonderful! 

Per the Tower Kitchen's suggestion, we paired the cake with chocolate fudge frosting, although, their cookbook included no such recipe. We found ours at the Cookie Rookie's site.

As to the taste of the cake? It was delicious - the sauerkraut not only made the cake moist but balanced the sweetness as well. My husband, Chris, a tremendous cook with a discriminating palate, immediately described it as having "depth".  

How spot on! According to the Atlas Obsurca article, prior to the invention of baking soda (1856),  cooks relied on acidity to lift their cakes, so "using a sour product of fermentation to add to the rising cake would not be as strange as it seems". In addition, "the fermentation process adds a subtle depth of flavor [to] the finished cake".

Final step before sampling:  adding the chocolate fudge frosting

So, there you have it, a tasty, wacky, wild, and wonderful cake with depth. But, that leaves us with one last ponder:  how much "depth"?

The Tower Kitchen recipe called for only a half cup of sauerkraut. The recipe listed in the Atlas Obscura article calls for one cup. And, Pam just sent me another recipe (with historical ties) that requires TWO cups. Will the struggle we faced adding a mere half cup of fermented cabbage to cake batter intensify with these other recipes?

Sauerkraut chocolate cake: wonderful, with depth. Can we handle more?

We'll keep you posted. In the meantime, we're enjoying some hearty black tea and a wonderful cake with a secret wacky ingredient.  Shhhh!

Grandmillennial interior decor is real! (Perhaps there's hope for my tchotchkes)

Colored glassware is trending with grandmillennial. Perhaps my depression glass is "in"?

Just last month, in our "What's In/What's Out for 2023", we rallied behind plate walls, a trend falling under the larger umbrella (or perhaps, I should say, "parasol") of "granny chic".  It raised our sensitivity to a growing decor choice among millennials which has given me hope for the safety of my vintage bric-a-brac:  grandmillennial style.  I'm discovering, it goes way beyond old dishes as wall art.

While watching a TikTok video this week of NYC realtor, Robert Khederian, extolling the virtues of the Duke mansion, a Gilded Age treasure now up for sale, I was curious to learn more;  not only about the pricy real estate, but the engaging young agent as well. Turns out, his name came up in an article from the New York Post (2019). "Millennials with old souls splash out on 'grandma chic' homes".  

Crystal decanters are embraced by some grandmillennials who like the "opulence of a bygone era".

Khederian, and his boyfriend, John Maher are featured with other millennials who have been "inspired by the quirky comfort of their grandparents' homes and the opulence of bygone eras". Through purchases at antique stores and thrift shops, Khederrian and Maher, have acquired such vintage pieces as cut -glass decanters and a silver chafing dish to adorn their historic brownstone in Harlem.

"Grandmillennial" was defined by House Beautiful in 2019 as a "stylish young person who has an appreciation for granny chic". It has been tapped into by a range of style mavens from Martha Stewart (Grand Millennial Style. . .) to HGTV's Erin Napier. 

My grandmother's china cabinet is trendy. The Muffy Vandebear on top, maybe not.

House Beautiful continues to embrace the grandmillennial way in a subsequent article, which we (and I'm hoping my children, as well) are paying heed to:  "10 Things from your grandparents house that are back in style".   Included in the ten are items that are especially near and dear to me:  china cabinets, quilts, colored glassware and, yes, once again (!), decorative plates. 

This comes as a bit of a relief to me as I have seen the barrage of articles in recent years that make the consistent claim that your children do not want your treasures (e.g., The Family Heirlooms That Our Children Don't Want, WSJ, 2021 or Time to Face Reality:  Your Kids Don't Want Your Stuff , Kiplingers, 2021).

A home to vintage plates, Wedgwood and tea cups, some in, some out

Although, I may be a generation behind millennial grandparents, there's definitely some overlap between my stuff and my parent's stuff.  I have inherited some antiques and odd relics as well as amassed several collections on my own, from kitschy to classic. With grandmillennial style perhaps not all is lost.

Questionable as to grandmillennial's embrace: etager and Dept. 56 homes

I'm thinking, maybe, my children, may still want claim to some of my colorful depression glass, cut-glass decanters (and knife rest!) or my wide and varied collection of decorative plates.  

And, maybe, just maybe, there's hope for more of my cherished vintage items: etagere (currently displaying part of Dept. 56 Houses - also in question), Wedgwood Jasperware, a multitude of both Holiday Barbies and Muffy Vandebears and, predictably, lots and lots of tea cups, 😉

Manhattan Gilded Age Mansion up for sale: We have (almost) everything to make it our own!

The Duke mansion for sale - we snapped this picture on a 2019 visit to The Met

I have interior design ideas, plates for walls, a variety of tchotchkes  and lots of crystal serving pieces for my New York dream home - only the price tag holds me back from purchasing this incredible real estate from the Gilded Age.  It's currently listed at $80 million.

I was alerted of this grand home sale last week from Jenna, NY native and my son, Matt's, partner. She sent me the link to the latest TikTok post from Manhattan millennial real estate agent, Robert Khederian. In this mini reel, Khederian extolls the attributes of this Gilded Age estate, known as the "Duke mansion", and one of the few homes of this era that still exists in New York City.  It was developed as a "spec house" in 1899 and purchased by Benjamin Duke in 1901. It stayed within his family until 2006 when it was sold to Tamir Sapir for $40 million. Sapir then sold it to Carlos Slim, Mexican telecom mogul and current owner, four years later for $44 million.

Renaissance Revival parlor at The Met, lots of red velvet and high-end tchotchkes 

With 20,000 square feet spanning seven floors, the Duke mansion borders 27 feet along 5th Avenue, expanding to 100 feet of frontage on 82nd Street. But, it's not just its size that's appealing. This Gilded Age mansion is only steps from Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art with amazing rooftop views of both.

Until this week, we didn't know the details of the interiors, but we were quite familiar with its location. In fact, on our visit to the Big Apple in 2019, we snapped a picture of this Gilded Age residence simply because we loved it and recognized it as a treasure of a bygone era.

Rockefeller dressing room, NYC circa 1881, at The Met

It was that same visit where we had our first extended tour of the Duke mansion's nearby neighbor, The Met.  We headed right for "The American Wing" to view many of its Gilded Age collection, including the dressing room of a Rockefeller, a library table that belonged to a Vanderbilt and a sideboard made for an Astor. The latter was designed by Alexander Roux, an etagere type that was meant to display dining ware (such as assortment of crystal on, say, on a top middle shelf).

At  The Met:  sideboard created for an Astor, an etagere type designed to display dining ware

A beautiful Renaissance Revival parlor, from 1868, is also on display in "The American Wing" with lots of red velvet and assorted, very high end, knickknacks.  If I had the funds to purchase the Duke mansion, it's clear, I'd have plenty of inspiration for interior decor from this special area of The Met (along with my own plates, crystal and plentiful, but not so high end, bric-a-brac). 

Although the Duke mansion is a bit out of our price range, we enjoyed learning its history as well as seeing photos of the inside as shown on its current listing.

A library table built for William H. Vanderbilt at The American Wing at The Met

In addition, we found another reason to be a fan of Robert Khederian, aside from his connection to current and vintage NYC real estate. Turns out, he and his partner, were featured in a 2019 article from the New York Post which highlighted millennials who are embracing "granny chic". They cite the term "grandmillenials" - millennials who have embraced traditional furnishings that include wallpaper and tchotchkes, a shift from the stark minimalist decor of many mid-century interiors.

In our next blog, will revisit "granny chic" which BTS referenced in its "What's In/What's Out for 2023". Plate walls, anyone? Certainly, they'd be welcomed in the Duke mansion for the right price. 😉

Paris (Part Deux): The City of Love with tearooms that we love!

Tea time in Paris at Angelina 

In anticipation of Valentine's Day, BTS is blogging about things we love:  chocolate, tea, potato chips and Paris. A rather eclectic grouping, with some overlap, but all worthy of our admiration. In our last blog, we highlighted Paris, the ultimate "City of Love". Today, we continue with Paris, Part Deux, focusing on our three favorite tearooms or Salon du Thes, in the City of Love.

Elysees Union, Proust and view of Eiffel Tower

Chris at hotel/home to Proust

But, before we start our tearoom adventures, a quick note about Elysees Union, our Paris Hotel. Located in arrondissement 16, a stone's throw from the Arc de Triomphe with room views of the Eiffel Tower, we found it was also once the home of writer, Marcel Proust. Little did we know then, that we'd be hitting other favored spots of the author of "Remembrance of Things Past".

And, so, with a twist of a title and borrowing from our own blog story of 2008, we begin our own "Remembrance of Tea Things and Re-pasts".

Angelina in Paris, tea repast

Angelina  is a charming tearoom on the Rue du Rivoli, less than a ten-minute walk from the Louvre. Created by Austrian confectioner Anton Rumpelmayer in 1903, and named after his daughter-in-law, Angelina quickly became a favorite spot of the French aristocrats and other notables, such as Proust and Coco Chanel. It's sumptuous environs with muraled walls and red carpet provided ambiance fitting its rich hot chocolate and divine pastries. It's also home to my most favorite Earl Grey. I brought back a tin - which quickly ran out - but, when our favorite NYC couple, Matt and Jenna, were there last fall, they restocked my tea supply with the same.

Angelina's Earl Grey 2008 (left) and Earl Grey 2022 (right)

Speaking of New York City, there is now an Angelina in Manhattan. In 2020, they built their first, and only, U.S. location in the Big Apple.  We look forward to visiting (and stockpiling) there this summer!

One of the Mariage Frere tearooms in Paris.  This is on the site of Henri Mariage's office.

Mariage Frere.  This tea company was founded in 1854 by the Mariage brothers, Henri and Edouard. Born into the business, the brothers had ties to family members who procured tea from Persia for King Louis IV.  Henri and Edouard established a tea wholesale business which stayed in the family until, as noted in GAYOT ("Guide to the Good Life"), new owners brought fresh life into the tea company, expanding the tea business from exclusively wholesale to retail. 

The first tearoom started in Paris in the same building of Henri Frere's office, located on Rue du Bourg-Tibourg.  This location is filled with history and impressive stock. Upon entering the shop, visitors are met with a mesmerizing wall display of glossy black tea tins filled with Marriage Frere loose tea blends. The restaurant is cozy and intimate, meaning not a lot of personal space, but it only adds to the European charm. And, if that isn't enough to impress, true tea enthusiasts will enjoy the tea museum on the second floor.

Bold claim:  Best cup of tea ever

Although we visited this tearoom in 2008, my bold claim which I said it then and I still hold it to be true: Mariage Frere is where I had the best cup of tea, ever.  Their staff is trained in excellent brewing and serving and, as many times as I've tried to replicate that cup of tea, I've never quite captured it.

Although there are no Mariage Frere tearooms in the U.S., I occasionally found tea to purchase at Williams Sonoma. Haven't seen any there lately, but, c'est vrai, you can purchase some blends on Amazon.com

Paris Ritz started by Cesar Ritz and purchased in 1979 by Mohammed Al-Fayed

Ritz Paris   Founded in 1898 by Swiss Hotelier, Cesar Ritz, in collaboration with French chef Auguste Escoffier, this luxury hotel and restaurant quickly appealed to the rich and famous with clientele including royals, Ernest Hemingway and (encore) Coco Chanel and (encore, mon ami) Proust.  

Exquisite decor and tea fare, but no pomp and circumstance of London

After  the death of Charles Ritz (Cesar Ritz' son) in 1976, the hotel experienced a decline and began losing money. In 1979, it was brought back to life by Mohamed Al-Fayed, father of Dodi Al-Fayed. For those who watch The Crown, you'll remember the scene where Mohamed negotiates this deal.

While this is truly a beautiful venue and the afternoon tea fare was amazing, it lacks a bit in the pomp-and-circumstances of the London Ritz. (In another BTS "bold statements", the London Ritz is at the top of our list for afternoon tea).

Merci, mes amies du thes. We have enjoyed sharing our "Remembrance of Parisian Tea Things and Re-pasts" and raise a cup of tea to you in the name of amour.

Paris, The City of Love: Grand art, restauration rapide elegant et salon de thes

Loving the City of Love. Having tea along with a tasty masterpiece, a Napolean,  at the Louvre.

 

In our countdown to Valentine's Day, we at BTS are focusing on love.

Our last blog featured chocolate truffles infused with tea and potato chips. While that's a high bar to top, we meet that challenge with a new story on Paris, the "City of Love" which also has teas that we love.

Chris outside our Paris hotel

Standing near "The Symbol of Love"

While we need no convincing, there are many sources that support Paris' claim to the "City of Love", including an article last fall on MSN.com, "Why is Paris called the City of Love?".

Among the reasons cited for Paris to own the love city title is its early involvement and influence of the Romanticism era and its abundance of museums dedicated to art, including the Louvre and Musee D'orsay.  Other qualities on the "pro -love" side are its beautiful buildings, the many charming bridges that straddle the Seine, the Eiffel Tower (aka "The Symbol of Love"), the gourmet dining and the glitzy nightlife.

Visiting Notre Dame in City of Love

And, per the MSN article, we also believe one of Paris' most endearing attributes is its language. It can elevate even the most mundane terms to something of grandeur. When any tearoom is referred to as a Salon du The, all we can say is, magnifique!

Celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary in France. Tres bien, mes amies!

My first trip to Paris was in 2008.  My husband, Chris and I traveled there to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We visited all the places you need to when in Paris:  the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, and the Louvre.  At the latter, we took in the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo and tea time with another delicious masterpiece of France, a Napolean.

We also took a stroll down the Champs Elysees and, being stereotypical Americans, had to stop at a MacDonald's along the way - one of the most elegant and beautiful fast food stops we've ever encountered. In addition to the Paris sites, we took a side trip to Giverny, home of master painter, Monet, and an excursion to the Palace of Versailles, the lavish former home to French royals, including Marie Antoinette.

One of the most beautiful MacDonald's, fast food along the Champs Elysees

But, when one loves tea, one must also take tea in the City of Love - and, most assuredly, we did. Along with all the little cafes and bakeries near our hotel, we had tea at:

Angelina 

Mariage Frere and 

Ritz Paris

In our next blog, we'll talk about the three above -from our favorite cup of Earl Grey to our most delicious cup of tea ever.

Grocer's Daughter Chocolate: Chocolatiers Extraordinaire in northern Michigan

Sampling hot chocolate drinks at the Grocer's Daughter Chocolate

If you love great chocolate, tea and potato chips together (as we do!), we know the place for you, the Grocer's Daughter Chocolate store in Empire, Michigan. 

May I hastily add, there's so much more that this amazing chocolate shop offers and, I assure you, we'll get to that. But first a little back story. . . 

We were first introduced to the Grocer's Daughter in September of 2013 at a food festival in Traverse City. I was there to interview Darren McGrady, the Royal Chef, who worked for Princess Diana at Kensington Palace. My husband and I stayed for the entire event which included a presentation from the Grocer's Daughter Chocolate team.

D.C. and Jody Haden at Traverse City event

Mimi passing out chocolate samples

At the time, ownership was changing hands from its originator, Mimi Wheeler to good friends, Jody and D.C. Hayden.  Mimi, who was born in Denmark, was never quite satisfied with the chocolate in the US, so after years of creating her own bon bons for friends and family, decided to start her own chocolate store in 2004, just south of Empire.  Almost ten years later, Jody and D.C. purchased it and added their passion, skills and talents to the business, moving the store to its current location. 

We were lucky to meet up with Mimi, Jody and D.C., who while presenting all that goes into making chocolate confections, passed out samples. We were hooked.

Grocer's Daughter Chocolate and neighboring Gelato store in Empire, Michigan

Now, for almost a decade, we've been fans of the Grocer's Daughter Chocolate products, purchasing them on-line, in some Traverse City stores and Light of Day Tea. From the latter, Grocer's Daughter Chocolate adds "Hummingbird Nectar" to one of their delicious tea truffles.

And, dreams do come true! This week, we finally made a visit to the Grocer's Daughter Chocolate store in Empire and found an amazing assortment of chocolate treasures. My  husband, Chris, and I sat down for a delicious flavored hot chocolate and mocha coffee, respectively, after filling our shopping bag to the top. 

Inside Grocer's Daughter Chocolate - lots of chocolate treasures to choose from

We purchased baking chocolate, several varieties of chocolate bars and a gift box (pour moi) of truffles, which included a range of blends including tea and, yes, potato chips. 

I have sampled all (in the name of research, of course) and all are incredibly good. The chocolate covered potato chip truffle, though. . . oh my gosh - they are the perfect blend of sweet and salty. An amazing treat for any occasion (or none at all).

Great place to take a hot chocolate break, too.

We met with store manager, Jennifer, who told us the store hosts events, including a chocolate tasting. (I do believe another road trip is in order soon.)

If you plan a visit, you can't miss the store (and, when in season, its neighboring gelato shop), with its cheerful lime green exterior. Once you've entered, you will literally feel like a kid (at any age) in a candy store. I did mention, dreams do come true!

For more information on events and hours, visit their website at grocersdaughter.com

Royal Treat Tearoom: Still "Just Delicious" and more!

Just Delicious Scones have remained just delicious while its business has expanded.

A lot has transpired in our world since our first visit to the Royal Treat Tearoom in 2017, but it's good to know, some of our favorite scones are still as delicious as they've always been and, what's more, there's more!

I last visited the Roseville tearoom five years ago this coming May with friend, Christine. The BTS blog story that followed,  Royal Treat TeaRoom is Just Delicious, included Royal Treat's backstory as well as our meet-up with owner, Jennifer. The afternoon tea was delightful and we vowed to be back.

Meeting owner, Jennifer

Last visit with friend, Christine in 2017 (too long!)

Since that last tea time, while we were all experiencing the challenges of a global pandemic, Royal Treat and Just Delicious Scones not only persevered, but expanded:  A new tearoom and bed and breakfast, "The Pink House Tearoom" in New Baltimore in 2020 and "Just Delicious Scones Retail Gift Shop" in St. Clair Shores in 2022. 

It's clear, we have a lot of catching up to do. And, we were determined to start this year.

Treating each other to a neighborly tea time at Royal Treat, January, 2023

Last week, along with neighbor, Clay, we made reservations for tea time at Royal Treat Tearoom. We were greeted warmly and seated at pretty table-for-two.  Pots of tea were soon served along with the tearoom's signature scones, beautifully arranged on a decorative tray.

Among the many choice on the menu, quiche is offered with choice of salad or fruit cup.

We ordered  quiches (four to choose from) and each comes with choice of fruit cup or salad.  I selected the salad and Clay ordered the fruit cup. All was scrumptious. 

Scones and tea are available for purchase at Royal Treat Tearoom

We were happy to be back to Royal Treat and look forward to exploring their two new venues  . . . this year!

**********

For more information on Royal Treat, Just Delicious Scones Retail Gift Shop, and The Pink House Tearoom, click on this link:  Royal Treat Tea Room – Just Delicious Scones