Cake Balls for the Monster Ball

RAH RAH, RA AH AH, RO-MAH, RO-MAH MAH AH

We are all going gaga for LADY GAGA, so in honor of the queen herself, I have cake balls for the Monster Ball. Lady Gaga is a freak, and I love it. There is frankly no other appropriate word to describe the eccentricity that is Lady Gaga. She makes extreme seem conservative through her raunchy dances, wild clothing, ridiculous lyrics, and overall crazy demeanor. She defies all norms, and she knows no normal.

But lets stop for a minute and think - this woman is free. She has literally zero inhibitions or insecurities perceptible to the general public. She expresses herself how she sees fit, and she stands firmly in her beliefs, especially those regarding homosexuality and relationships. At her concert, she constantly repeated one line, "Free yourself little monsters, and be whatever you want to be."

Can you imagine a society free of insecurities? A place where everyone did what they were passionate about doing? A place where we had no hang ups and nothing to complain about? I am sure that we can reach that in life at some point, but it will be achieved in baby steps. So today, I dedicate this blog to everyone finding a little part of themselves to free. If you could be or do anything, what would you do? Where would you go? Who would you be with? I would be a food critic with my own restaurant. I love to eat (clearly), and I really cannot imagine a better job than being paid to travel the world and to eat.

I love you like a fat kid loves cake,

Hansol

Monster Cake Balls

1 Package Strawberry Cake Mix

1 Bag Semi-Sweet or Dark Chocolate Chips

1 Can Dark Chocolate Icing

1 Package Almond Bark

Follow the directions on the cake mix and prepare the cake batter. Mix in the chocolate chips, and bake according to the directions. Let it cool COMPLETELY, break it into pieces, and put it into a big mixing bowl. Add in the frosting, and mix it up until it forms a paste. Put the mixture into the fridge to chill for two hours. After it is chilled, melt the almond bark in a large microwave safe bowl. Using your hands, take the cake mixture and roll it into little balls. Drop the balls into the melted chocolate and make sure they are fully coated. Place the cake ball on a sheet of parchment paper while it dries (about 15 to 20 minutes). Store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They last about 2 weeks. Enjoy!

I Love You Like A Fat Kid Loves Cake

I love to eat. It is quite possibly my favorite thing to do. Food has a way of comforting you like no one else can. The aroma of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies when you step in the house after a long day instantly lifts your spirits. A pint of Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia is more soothing than a shoulder to cry on. A dense chocolate brownie instantlly puts a smile on the face of its eater, as I like to call myself, and there is nothing better than a homemade slice of apple pie a la mode after a wonderful meal at home.

While I love food, I think I could live on baked goods. So I dedicate this blog to my love of baking. I am on a quest to find regular recipes and a little bit of a twist to them to make them Hansol style. I must warn you, I am no expert, but I am always willing to take a risk and I will share my baking journey with you!

However, the best part of baking is the stories that result from a night spent eating cake and spending time with loved ones. Each and every time I bake, I always seem to leave the kitchen with yet another fond memory to cherish, whether it be a funny joke, insightful conversation, a much-needed catch up session, or a solo food-therapy baking session. So I ask you, fellow eaters, to share your favorite recipes and the stories that go along with it.

With every post, I will include my latest baking expedition and a story or poem or quote that I find fitting, along with the recipe with a few fun twists. So today I leave you with banana berry pound cake, my favorite type of cake, and the beginning chapter in my blogging book.

I love you like a fat kid loves cake,
Hansol

Whipping Cream Pound Cake
1 cup butter
3 cups white sugar
6 eggs
3 cups cake flour
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 over ripe bananas
1 bottle of mixed berry jam

In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter and sugar until it is really creamy. Add in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add the flour one cup at a time, alternating it with additions of whipping cream. Add in the vanilla and mashed bananas and beat until smooth. Pour half of the mixture into a prepared round bundt pan. Mix up the jam until smooth and pour it onto the layer of batter. Using a knife, draw a few lines through the batter to create streaks and mix the jam in a bit. Pour the rest of the batter into the pan, and bake it at 325 Degrees Farenheit for about 75 minutes or until a fork comes out clean. Let it cool completely and flip it out onto a plate. Lightly dust it with powdered sugar and enjoy! This cake tastes wonderful with fresh cream and jam. Let me know how your cake turns out!