Darn Good Chocolate Bundt Cake

Tuesday afternoon I spent my lunch time at Marvin's Restaurant in nearby Cotati for the monthly meeting of North Bay Dairy Women.

North Bay Dairy Women began the year of 1965.  The purpose of the group is to .....

"educate the public and to promote The Dairy Industry through the dissemination of authentic information; to promote better producer-processor-consumer relations and greater use of all dairy foods through the support of advertising and educational programs and through social events."

I enjoyed a very fresh spinach salad, topped with crispy bacon bits, red onion, hard boiled egg and croutons all with poppyseed dressing.  I ate the entire thing and it held me over til dinner time.  So good.

During the meeting, the new Board installations took place.....Congratulations Kristy, who will sit as the incoming President.  

During the meeting, I was sitting across from a long time member, Lori, which reminded me of one of my all time favorite chocolate cake recipes.....a recipe Lori had submitted to our North Bay Dairy Women cookbook......Darn Good Chocolate Bundt Cake.

This photo is from is from a couple of years ago, which is probably the last time I baked this cake but now that it's on my mind, I'm SO craving it and need to bake it right away.  A family favorite, for sure.  I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Darn Good Chocolate Bundt Cake

Ingredients:

1 pkg. chocolate cake mix

1 pkg. 3 oz chocolate instant pudding mix

4 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup canola oil

12 oz of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bundt/tube pan

baking sheet

Directions:

Spray a light mist of cooking spray in the tube pan.  In a bowl mix cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil and water.  Mix with beater on low for one minute.  Scrape sides of bowl and beat another 2-3 minutes.  Fold in the chocolate chips and then pour into prepared pan.  Place tube pan on baking sheet and bake at 350 for 1 hour.  Cool a few minutes, run a knife around edge and invert to a wire wrack or plate.  Add glaze or powdered sugar to top it off.

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A Multiple Generational Gathering of Dairy Women

When Dominic and I were newly married, his Grandma Mary asked me if I would be interested in joining a group she belonged to called North Bay Dairy Women.  North Bay Dairy Women was established in 1965 and is a local organization with the purpose behind it being to educate consumers about dairy and dairy farms and to promote the dairy industry.  This group remains busy year round, some of the activities include participating in events such as Ag Day in surrounding towns, volunteering time at the county fairs, sponsoring scholarships to students pursuing agriculture education, and is also a co-sponsor along with the CA Milk Advisory Board to the District 3 Dairy Princess Contest. 

Yesterday, Paige and I met my mother-in-law, Annette, my sister-in-law, Lesha and her daughter, Leila, at Mr. Magoos Restaurant in Petaluma to attend the North Bay Dairy Women's annual Christmas luncheon.  A group of 40+ women,  representing multiple generations of dairy women and families were in attendance. 

A short meeting was conducted before lunch.  Both Paige and her cousin, Leila were quiet and well behaved at the "meeting".  Paige is really beginning to get into these "grown up meetings" she is able to attend with me......maybe she'll be a future Dairy Women member, who knows!  And now that Paige is a little older, I hope to volunteer some of my time and become more active with N.B. Dairy Women.

Lunch was served shortly after the meeting concluded.

We were served family style platters of raviolis, chicken, veggies......

and prime rib.

Paige had already eaten her lunch on the car ride over after her gymnastics class, but that didn't stop her from eating another snack with a special request for "meat" and "milk".

There is also a gift exchange at this Christmas luncheon.  Bring a wrapped gift, put your own name on it and receive another gift in exchange.  The gift I received was this adorable Christmas apron from Margaret G.

We also brought gifts so the girls would have something fun to open as well.  Paige loved her ballerina Barbie and Leila her perfume toting puppy.

A pleasant afternoon was spent enjoying traditions of generations and dairy family history that I am proud to be a part of.

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North Bay Dairy Women Hospice Fashion Show & Luncheon

Today Paige and I attended the annual North Bay Dairy Women Hospice Fashion Show.  This is a fundraiser that benefits Hospice of Petaluma and is put on by North Bay Dairy Women.  This was my first time attending.  Now that Paige is four, I figured she would be able to sit quietly through a 'grown up meeting' and fashion show.

It was held in St. John's Church Hall in Petaluma.  All of the tables were decorated and set by NBDW board members.  Dishes and china brought from home, creating a different theme for every table.

Here is the table I sat at.  It was beautifully decorated by Clairette, who is a Willow House Design Consultant.  LOVE their dishes and home items.

All of the tables were beautifully set and decorated.  Here are a few of the others...

A short but sweet NBDW meeting took place before lunch. 

And then lunch was served!  Catered by Lombardi's BBQ.

Grilled chicken, a creamy penne and a fresh green salad.  So good.  It's always all about the food for me, what can I say except I love to eat!

Oh and dessert.....little mini cheese cakes that are probably the BEST I've ever tasted....no kidding!  These were made by board member Sue.  Boy, I sure hope this recipe is in the new NBDW cookbook that's coming out in December. 

 I could have eaten three.

Paige opted out of the cheese cake.  Didn't even want to try it.  Instead she had one of these....

I think she had a feeling there would be chocolate inside.

Okay, enough about the food.  Right after lunch, the fashion show began.  All the clothing came from Sack's Hospice Thrift Store.  Here is Dairy Princess, Emilie modeling this spring outfit.

Here are some of the other fashions presented.....

 

 

 

A fun afternoon.  Great visiting with the ladies at my table, Ester, my friend Teri's grandma whom I haven't seen in over a year. 

And Paige, who had been on the go since 10 a.m. at her gymnastics class, all the way to 3 p.m. behaved like such a big girl.  She can definitely be my date again at the next function.

Happy Tuesday!
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