So often times, if I haven't yet read a book and I see a movie based on a book coming to theaters, I'll wait to read the book until after I've gone to see the movie. I know myself. I'm saving myself from inevitable disappointment. I can only think of one exception to the (my) rule (that the book is ALWAYS better than the movie), and that would be The Notebook. I thought the movie blew the book away. Maybe it's just Ryan Gosling. Maybe it was the undeniable chemistry between Gosling and McAdams. I don't know. It just "is".
But I digress. What I really wanted to say was thank goodness I watched the film adaptation of The Help before I read the book. Because I think the movie is fantastic! I thought it was brilliantly cast, though Skeeter seemed a little different in my head after I read the book, it still wasn't a disappointment. I loathed Hilly and wanted to punch her in the face in both the film AND the book, so that's the sign of a good film adaptation to me...that I can love and loathe the same characters (more about my favorite character in a minute...).
On to my favorite character in the film and the book. That would be Celia Foote. Her skin may be white, but she is treated just as badly by the other girls in Jackson as 'the help' is because they consider her white trash. Mostly because she's beautiful and kind and married the "leader" of the group's ex-boyfriend, Johnny. So, it's jealousy, of course. But I thought that Celia was a bright spot in the story and that Jessica Chastain brought her to life perfectly.
There is a lot of food in this story...good ol' Southern dishes that make your tummy growl just seeing them. From Abilene's deviled eggs and ambrosia to Minnie's chocolate pie (sans special ingredient, thank you very much) and fried chicken...to everthing that lies between. This movie makes you want to eat. I have a few favorite scenes, and funny, most of theme include Minnie. But one scene in particular that I love is when Minnie and Celia meet for the first time. Celia is looking for a maid and Minnie comes to apply for the job. Minnie walks in the front door and sees flour on Celia. This is how it plays out...
Minnie: "You cooking somethin'?"
Celia: "One of those upside down cakes from a magazine. It ain't workin' out too good. Come on, let's getcha a cold coca-cola."
...Celia and Minnie are drinking Coke from bottles and walking around the house and the yard. Minnie has no clue what to think of the bubbly Celia, but she follows along and listens to all she's jabbering about. And that is the start of their relationship. And some great scenes in a beautiful kitchen with gorgeous light streaming in.
I'm a Coca-Cola girl. Always have been. So that combined with this fabulous scene in the movie (which if you haven't seen it, I did absolutely NO justice to in that lame explanation) inspired me to head into the kitchen to make a cake I think of as Southern.
Peanut Cola Cake
Chocolate cake infused with coca-cola and topped with a thick layer of peanut butter frosting is a Southern classic.
by
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
Keywords: bake dessert peanut butter chocolate cake
Ingredients (serves 12-18)
- 1 cup Coca-Cola, at room temp. (or cola of your choice)
- 1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temp.
- 1 cup butter, at room temp.
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste (or pure vanilla extract)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- pinch salt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 4 ounces powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ~1 cup chopped honey-roasted peanuts
Instructions
make the cake:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9"x13" pan. Stir cola and buttermilk together in a large measuring cup.
Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla bean paste at low speed, until just combined.
Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Add to the butter mixture, alternating with the liquid (cola + buttermilk), starting and ending with the dry mixture. Beat on low until just combined. Pour into prepared pan.
Slide into preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan set on a wire rack for 10 minutes.
While the cake starts to cool, melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in milk and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to low and whisk in peanut butter until smooth. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until smooth. Be patient and whisk until all of the lumps disappear. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla.
Immediately pour the frosting over the cake that has cooled for ~10 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped honey-roasted peanuts.
Serve warm, at room temperature, or refrigerated. Enjoy!
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I just stumbled across this wonderful essay entitled Coke and Peanuts at Leite's Culinaria. Fantastic food memory post...and it supports the whole Coke & Peanuts in the South thing I have going on here.
