Chocolate Yogurt Loaf With Powdered Sugar

Tonight I made a Rudi Cake — a tribute cake to someone special and so much missed.

For extra strength, I added espresso powder. And for his white hair, I topped it with powdered sugar.

Made with love and sadness and a zest for life and good flavor, I present the Chocolate Yogurt Loaf.

I started by whisking together the dry ingredients: whole wheat white flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.

Then I added the espresso powder, giving the loaf strength and character, which Rudi had in abundance.

Separately, I creamed the butter & sugar.

I beat in the egg and the vanilla, and then added in the flour mixture, a third at a time, alternating between that and the 1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt, doing a little dance with the ingredients. It made me remember a trip to Las Vegas, many years ago, for my brother’s wedding. We were heading into Caesars Palace, on one of those people-moving flat escalators (no steps, but it moves, like at airports), and Rudi kept doing this hilarious dance just to embarrass as many of us us possible. Back a few steps, forward a few steps, this grown-up man with his white white hair acting like a happy kid. Rudi was SUCH a combination of complete grown-up and utter child. One of the many things I’m really going to miss about him.