A Catch Up Outdoor Tablescape and a Foodie

I took pictures of our breakfast setting on the deck when our guests from Chicago were here but I could not find the pictures. I gave up participating for Tablescape Thurs. But today, I am having a lunch and pool get together with a few friends and since I finished setting the table up early, I have some time to upload pictures so I decided to try to catch up.

Tablescape Thurs. is hosted by Susan of http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Make sure you go to her blog and see all the other creative tablescapes in blogland today, starting with Susan's.

Since I baked a cake and I was asked for the recipe, I thought I would just share it here so anybody who wants to try it can make it. It's my most famous cake, I have not met anyone who did not like it, in fact, some people go to the extreme of saving a piece for themselves to take home before everybody gets a chance to take a piece.

Foodie Friday is hosted by http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/. Talk about a great homemaker, decorator and cook, that's Gollum, so be sure you check out her blog also and search for your favorite recipes.

Here is the Mocha Chiffon Cake that I baked. I will give you the recipe at the bottom of this blog.
I decided to set the big square table on the deck for our luncheon. I am not cooking the entree, my friend, Nit, who is a very good cook, volunteered to do it. That's the reason I have time to blog about this. I only made the dessert.

I used my tin chargers. I have a set of 12 and I've had them since I lived in Florida.

I also used melamine dishes. I like them cause they have inspiring inscriptions on them. Please click to enlarge so you can read.

The peppers are from my garden and they are hot! Mmmmm....good!

I got this set of 12 napkins for $7 at Home Goods in Clearwater, FL.

And now for the Mocha Chiffon Cake Recipe:

2 tbsps. instant coffee dissoved in 3/4 cups warm water. Let cool.

2 and 1/4 cups cake flour (make sure it is cake flour)

3/4 cup white sugar

1 tsp. salt

3 tsps. baking powder

1/2 cup cooking oil

7 eggs, separated

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. cream of tartar

another 3/4 cup white sugar

Prepare a spring foam pan lining it with a little water at the bottom.

Preheat oven at 350 degrees.

Sift the cake flour and measure 2 and 1/4 cups

Mix all dry ingredients together: flour, sugar, salt and baking powder.

Make a well in the center and add in the following order: oil, egg yolks, cooled coffee and vanilla.

Mix and blend well.

In another clean and dry large bowl, add the 7 egg whites. It is very important that the eggwhites are very clean, no egg yolks mixed in.

Beat the egg whites until fluffy.

Add the cream of tartar.

Add the 3/4 c of sugar a little at a time until soft peaks form.

Fold in the coffee batter into the egg whites and transfer immediately into the prepared pan. Bake for about 45 min. or until a fork inserted in the center comes out clean.

Place on a cooling rack upside down and when it is cool,

Ice with Mocha Butter Icing.

Mocha Butter Icing

2 tsps. instant coffee dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water. Let cool completely. You can put in frig.

1/2 lb butter (2 sticks)

1/2 cup white sugar

2 whole eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all the ingredients and beat continuously with an elec. beater until of spreading consistency. Spread on the cooled cake.

Warning: the icing will melt if the cake is still warm when you ice it.

Enjoy!