Chocolate Cake

The chocolate icing was superb! However, for some reasons, the cake I baked yesterday did not rise. I can think of four possible causes:
(1) the baking powder has expired
(2) I forgot to sift the solids
(3) Instead of buying cocoa powder, I bought chocolate syrup
(4) mixing was not unidirectional.

I intend to become a virtuoso in this field! Soon, when I have ample time, I will bake chocolate cake again! By then, I will be able to publish a lengthy post containing tips and suggestions. Happy happy 21st birthday to me! :D :D

By the way, when I got back home after Friday night's Boom Boom, my dad did not get mad (for the first time ever). Is this a sign? Are they treating me like a grown-up now? I can vividly recall one night out last year. After a family affair one night and when I was about to gracefully glide away from the car to meet my friends, I told mom, dad, ate and Gus, "You guys, do not worry! I'm a big girl now!" My overprotective and austere younger brother who acts like my senior malevolently reacted, "Ha! Yeah right. Big girl! You're only----- (Bad word. He mentioned my height!)----." The "big girl" got drunk for the 1st time that night...and she kept crying. @__@

Oh well. That will not happen again! I'm a big girl now, really. Soon, I will be a full-fledged woman! Happy happy happy birthday to me!

Chocolate cake
Ingredients:

Sift:
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup chocolate (Hershey's chocolate preferably)
2 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons baking powder

Add:
1 bar butter (anchor)
2 1/2 cup white sugar
4 whole eggs
2 cups cold fresh milk














Chocolate cake icing:
1 can evaporated milk
1/2 cup chocolate
1/8 butter
5 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup white sugar