I am thankful, for South Florida at least, Irma did what hurricanes often do – It wobbled and leaned away at the last minute sparing us. Irma was too big for me to consider staying at home.
I am extremely grateful I only have minor damage. Just a block away lanai screens and aluminum railings were town from buildings by Irma’s high winds. There was flooding, too; and it wasn’t rain water. It was stinky and continues to be toxic.
With power outages, sewer lift stations have not been able to do their job and sewage has been bubbling up from man holes in Collier County. As of Monday there were 270 lift stations without power. My neighborhood was one of the many affected. We had a pumper truck coming twice a day and thankfully recently received a generator to temporarily help until utilities are restored.
All of this mess means we are under a Severe Conserve Water Order. The county asks that we not use clothes washers nor dishwashers and conserve water as much as possible when flushing and bathing. I’ve adjusted okay. I use disposable cups, plates and utensils. I have to get a little creative when it comes to food since the Boil Water Order is also still in place. So far I am eating like a college student – lots of cereal, pizza and peanut butter.
This brings me to the best part of this post. I was clearing out my inbox and came across this recipe for a One bowl, No measure chocolate cake recipe from Food52. It seems perfect for this time when so many people are stressed out and cleaning is difficult. Bake it for yourself or share it with a friend.
One Bowl, No Measure Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
- 1 carton 7 oz. plain, Greek yogurt full-fat
- 1 carton canola oil (7 oz)
- 1 carton sugar (7 oz)
- 2 eggs
- 2 carton self-rising flour (14 oz)
- 1 carton cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- 1 carton water or coffee
- pinch salt
- powdered sugar for dusting
- For: 12
- Cooking: 35 min
- Ready in: 35 min
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F
- Empty the Greek yogurt container into a large mixing bowl. Using the container as your measuring device, add 1 yogurt container full of sugar and 1 yogurt container full of canola oil to the bowl.
- Add two large eggs. Using an electric hand mixer, beat mixture until smooth.
- Add your dry ingredients still using the empty yogurt container. Add 2 container-fulls of self-rising flour and 1 full container of cocoa powder. Beat on a low speed until lump free, and slowly add in a full container of warm water (or coffee) and a pinch of salt. Mix until smooth.
- Once smooth, pour the batter into a prepared 10-inch spring-form pan. Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick, when inserted into the middle of the cake, comes out clean. Let cool.
- Release the cake from the spring form pan and dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
Relate: What to do when in a Boil Water Advisory and After it is lifted.
Thank you for your help with packing hygiene kits for Hurricane Harvey victims while you evacuated from Florida for Hurricane Irma.
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