I realize that some of you are a little like me. You can just never have enough cooking and baking books. I recently came across this gem of a book, Southern Cakes, by Nancie McDermott.
I’m so happy to tell you, my sweet friends, that one of you will be winning one of these FABULOUS books by Nancie McDermott! Nancie was born and raised in North Carolina. Nancie McDermott is a food writer and cooking teacher specializing in the cuisines of Southeast Asia. Her expertise on the food and culture of Thailand comes from the three years she spent in the Thai kingdom as a Peace Corps volunteer. Her first cookbook, Real Thai: The Best of Thailand’s Regional Cooking, was published in 1992, and was followed by The 5 in 10 Pasta and Noodle Cookbook in 1994; Real Vegetarian Thai in 1996, The Curry Book: Memorable Flavors and Simply Irresistible Recipes in 1997, Quick and Easy Thai in 2004; and Quick and Easy Vietnamese in 2006.
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Giveaway instructions:
To enter in the giveaway, just say hi to Nancie and I. A simple “HI! Ciao! Hola! Salut!” Whatever language your prefer and you will still be entered in the giveaway!!
SIX more ways to win:
Follow Nancie on Twitter: @nanciemac
“Like” Nancie’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/NancieMcDermott
Follow Cake Duchess on Twitter: @cakeduchess
“Like” the Cake Duchess Facebook page: Cake Duchess
Become a follower of the Cake Duchess blog
Subscribe to Cake Duchess RSS fee
Look at all those chances you have to win! The Southern Cakes giveaway winner will be randomly selected and announced on Friday, May 6th, 2011.
(I apologize to my International readers. This giveaway is open to US readers only)
* Remember! To have your extra entries count, be sure to leave a comment for each entry.
Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas
Chocolate Frosting
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/3 cup cocoa
1/3 cup evaporated milk or half-and-half
4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
To make the cake:
Heat the oven to 350 F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, and stir with a fork to combine well.
In a large bowl, combine the butter and sugar, and beat well, about 2 minutes.
Add the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla. 
Beat well for 2-3 minutes more, scraping down the bowl occasionally, until you have a smooth batter.
Using a large spoon or spatula, stir in half the flour just until it disappears into the batter.
Stir in the buttermilk , and then the remaining flour, the same way.
Stir in the buttermilk , and then the remaining flour, the same way.
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Gently fold in the mashed bananas.
Gently fold in the mashed bananas.
 "DSCN7795")
Divide the batter between the two cake pans.
Bake at 350 F. for 25-30 minutes, until the cakes are golden brown, spring back when touched lightly in the center, and begin to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Cool for 10 minutes in the pans on wire racks or folded kitchen towels. Then turn out onto wire racks or plates to cool completely, top side up.
To make the frosting, in a medium saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa, and evaporated milk. Place over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, until the cocoa dissolved into a dark, shiny essence, Remove from the heat and stir in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Beat with a mixer at low speed until you have a smooth, thick frosting.
To complete the cake, place one layer, top side down, on a cake plate or serving plate, and spread about 1 cup of frosting evenly over the top. Cover with the second layer, placed top side up. Spread the frosting evenly, first over the sides and then covering the top of the cake.
*IF you don’t have buttermilk, stir 1 1/2 teaspoons of vinegar or lemon juice into 1/2 cup of milk, and let stand 10 minutes.
GOOD LUCK in this FUN giveaway! I wish each and everyone of you could win a copy of Nancie’s incredible book!
Cake Duchess is where you can follow the baking adventures of me! Hi! I'm Lora, a mom of two cuties in South Florida. I got into all this baking mess because of them. 
{ 110 comments… read them below or add one }
Ciao Nancie!
Ahh! I would love this book! I have been staring at it in the bookstore for a while now!
I subscribe via RSS.
I follow you on Twitter
I follow Nancie now too
I like you on FB.
Yum! That looks divine! I want some!
I like you on FB
I follow you on Twitter.
And I also like Nancie on FB
Hey Hey!
I also subscribe to your RSS feed
Hello from rosietulips[at]hotmail.com
I also subscribe to Cake Duchess RSS feed!
rosietulips[at]hotmail.com
Bonjour from Canada!
Bonjour,
Lora and Nancie, the cake is gorgeous!
I am a ner follower on FB!
I am a new follower on your blog!
Hi Nancie!
I follow via GFC
Hi to Nancie and you too!
Gorgeous cake!
love me some southern cake
HI! Ciao! Hola! Salut!
Follow Nancie on Twitter
Follow Cake Duchess on Twitter
“Like” Nancie’s Facebook page
Hi there! That cake looks delicious, by the way.
I follow the Cake Duchess blog.
like cake duchess on facebook
Uhmm… Hi! lol Too funny and this cake looks fantastic!
follower of the Cake Duchess blog
Hi Nancie! Love this giveaway
I ‘like’ the Cake Duchess on Facebook
I ‘like’ Nancie’s page on Facebook
Followed a tweeter (nella22) over to you to see this awesome cake made with two of my favorite cake flavors. I will be trying this out!
This cake looks outstanding! I love the combination of banana and chocolate. One can NEVER have too many cookbooks:-)
Pozdrav Lora! Pozdrav Nancie!
banana and chocolate in a cake = heaven!!!
I follow you on Twitter!
I follow you on Google Reader
Wow Miss Lora, Love just love this gievaway! Tweeted, following Nancy and all the other good stuff, already following you on twitter and since I opened a new FB account I am following you there too. Woohoo and Shalom שלום:)
Saying hi to my favorite person (well, now people!) A wonderful, flavorful (and I’m sure very moist) cake!
Hello! This will be the next cake I bake! YUMMY!!
What a great cake just enough of chocolate to satisfy my sweet tooth:)), and book sounds fantastic!
that frosting makes me want to give you a big YEEEEE HAAAAAA !
Gawd – don’t let me near a bowl of that stuff ;-P There might be nothing left to ice the cake with
Oh wow. Any combination of banana and chocolate has my vote. As always, you’re making me so very hungry. This is definitely on the list for things to make.
I adore Nancie. She is one of my favorite people on Earth. Not commenting for the giveaway–I already have Southern Cakes (and Southern Pies : ) and most of her other books! Your cake looks delicious, Lora
Merhaba Nancie! Love the chocolate frosting on the cake! would love to add another Southern Cookbook to my collection.
Hi Nancy I also follow you on twitter. (ibakethecakes) That cake looks delicious. Always heard great things about Southern Cakes cookbook.
Hey y’all! Beautiful cake!
What a gorgeous cake! I had the pleasure of meeting Nancie this past weekend and would love a copy of her book.
I follow Nancie on Twitter.
I follow you on Twitter.
I “like” you on Facebook (and in real life).
The cake looks luscious and delicious!
Lora..this is great for my after dinner dessert….need something great as this. Banana cake and chocolate frosting is a classic…love it
Have a pleasant and happy day,
Elin
Yum, what a gorgeous cake ! I am saving this recipe !
I love this cake and want a slice so much right now. I also love this book, and would love to win a copy of it.
The thing is, while I subscribe to your blog via my Google RSS Reader, but I don’t live in the US any longer, but in Ireland these days. Do I still get a chance to win this amazing sounding book? Please say yes!
Gorgeous cake, Lora. Now can I please have that book? Pretty please?
Konichiwa, Nancy! I just followed on Twitter.
Chef Pandita likes Nancy on FB! [yes, I got a new FB page last week
]
Of course I follow you on Twitter, Lora.
I like you on FB [and on Twitter and in real life]
I am subscribed to your RSS feed!
What a delicious looking cake! I’d love a copy of Nancie’s book.
I already follow you on twitter.
I already like you on facebook
I follow Nancie on twitter
I have liked Nancie’s facebook page
It’s one of those cakes that’s perfect for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drool. Fabulous job Lora.
I stalk you on twitter obsessively
Itty bitty just ran over to the laptop at the sight of this cake and asked if it is for his “Cars burfday parey?” Haha! He’s so excited about his 3rd birthday coming up in June. This book would be a lifesaver for making a cake. What a great giveaway! Thank you Nancie and Lora.
I LIKEd Nancie’s Facebook page! Happy to be the 48th LIKE! Haha!
I already LIKE you on Facebook.
I am already a FOLLOWER of your blog!
Hey y’all!
How amazing! I just found this cookbook on Amazon this weekend and was going to a bookstore this weekend to check it out.
Already follow you on twitter! (@VegBakeaholic)
Follow Nancie on twitter! (@VegBakeaholic)
Already follow the blog!
Like you on Facebook (Stephanie Smith)
Like Nancie on Facebook! (Stephanie Smith)
Bonjour!
I follow @nanciemac on twitter @rusthawk.
I am a fan of nancie’s on facebook. (Rust Hawk)
I am one of your current twitter followers @rusthawk.
I am one of your current facebook fans (Rust Hawk)
I am one of your current GFC followers.
I am subscribed to your RSS feed.
Cake Duchess! This looks just as good as the original. You are truly a natural in the royal world of Baked Goods.
Thank you for this, can’t wait to see who the winner is!
Cio Nancie and Lora, I like you already, but I could like you extra. Beautiful job with the cakes Lora.
-Gina-
I just “liked” your the Cake Duchess Facebook page! Thanks
I just “liked” Nancie’s Facebook page! thanks!
Hola!!
Hi to two talented ladies! The cake looks incredibly delicious! I love me some banana and chocolate – delectable and irresistible combo!
I follow you on Twitter
“Hello”
What a nice looking cake and a great cake book. My hubby loves the banana/chocolate combo and would be thrilled if he came home to that cake. I would like to make that coconut cake that is on the cover of that book!
I like you on FB.
Your in my Google reader too.
That is one yummy sounding cake! Bananas and chocolate were made for each other.
hello! your cake (and just about everything you make here) looks scrumptious!
you are also in my google reader.
and i’m now following you on twitter (this feels like a ridiculous amount of comments but i love cookbooks!)
Hi Nancie! Your book looks wonderful; this banana cake looks pretty darn good too!
HI! Lovely, lovely cake.
I’m a new twitter follower.
Mmmm I love cake.
Especially cake with chocolate frosting!!!
I follow you on twitter!
Banana and chocolate cake? Yes please!!
Very nice cake. http://usubufood.blogspot.com/2011/05/savanyu-maj.html
Hi, Nancie and Lora! This cake looks absolutely mouthwatering… Mmm. I could definitely go for a piece for dessert, and maybe even breakfast the next day, ha ha. Thanks for sharing!
This cake looks so good! Sorry I missed your giveaway, but I do follow you
If the cake is as good as the batter….yummmm!