Simple Chocolate Cake:

2 cups (400 grams) granulated whitesugar

1 3/4 cups (245 grams) all-purposeflour
3/4 cup (75 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder(natural or Dutch-processed)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoonsbaking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 largeeggs
1 cup (240 ml) warm water or coffee
1 cup (240 ml) milk
1/2 cup (120 ml) corn, vegetable, safflower or canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons purevanillaextract

Chocolate Frosting:
6 ounces (180 grams) semi sweet or bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups (230 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Pancake Recipe:

1 cup (130 grams) all-purposeflour

1 1/2 teaspoonsbaking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons (28 grams) granulated whitesugar
1 largeegg, lightly beaten
1 cup (240 ml) milk
2 tablespoons (28 grams) unsaltedbutter, melted
Plus extra melted butter for greasing the pan.

Simple VanillaCake Recipe:

3 cups (390 grams) all purpose flour

2 1/2 teaspoons (10 grams)baking powder
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) salt
2 cups (400 grams) granulated whitesugar
Zest of one lemon, finely grated
4 largeeggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons (6 grams) purevanillaextract
2/3 cup (160 ml) full fat (whole) milk, at room temperature
2/3 cup (160 ml) light extra virgin olive oil (can also use vegetable, corn, canola, or safflower oil)

Soaking Syrup:
1/2 cup (120 ml) water
1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar
1/2 tablespoon Grand Marnier (optional)

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) package full fat cream cheese, at room temperature
1 - 8 ounce (227 grams) tub of Mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract
1 cup (115 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted
1 1/4 cups (300 ml)coldheavy whipping cream (cream with a 35-40% butterfat

Orange Date Muffins:

1 cup (130 grams) all-purposeflou

1 cup (130 grams) whole wheat flour
2/3 cup (140 grams) firmly packed light brownsugar
2 teaspoons (8 grams) bakingpowder
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) baking soda
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
grated zest from one large orange(orange outer skin of the orange)
1/3 cup (80 ml) freshly squeezed orange juice
3/4 cup (180 ml) buttermilk, at room temperature
1 largeegg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon purevanillaextract
5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsaltedbutter, melted and cooled
3/4 cup (110 grams) chopped pitted dates
1/2 cup (55 grams) walnuts, coarsely chopped

Chocolate Muffins:
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups (230 grams) all-purposeflour
2/3 cup (60 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/4 cups (265 grams) light brown sugar
1 teaspoonbaking powder
1 teaspoonbaking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (170 grams) milk or semisweet chocolate chips
Chocolate Fudge Frosting: (optional)
4 ounces (120 grams) unsweetened chocolate, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup (150 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/3 cups (160 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract