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Friday, February 23, 2007

Death By Chocolate

What a sweet, sweet way to go. Actually, I've always thought just the opposite about death and chocolate.. there is a strict rule between myself and a friend of mine - if I were ever to get hit by a bus or happened to be frolicking in the forest during deer season and was accidently mistaken for a 9 pt. buck and shot in the head - she is NOT to perform CPR on me.. she is to shove a chocolate bar in my mouth.. either that chocolate will miraculously bring me back to life (because it's good for you, dammit!).. or it will be the last thing I taste before I go.. and that's alright by me. :D

Have you guys ever wondered..
how long of a run on sentence I can make..
with lil ..'s in between thoughts?

Anyhoo.. This month's "challenge" and fun crosspost with my baking blogger buddies was a bit different. We've decided to add a few people (or baking bitches) each month to our lil "club", or brigade, or as I like to call it, Team Tasty. This month's inductees are 3 lovely and talented bakers: Tanna, Hester and Mary. And, of course, for those of you who follow our lil monthly excursions into the baking unknown, you already know the rest of the crew by now - My second in Dorkdom command, Brilynn. The loves of my life, the apples of my eye, the creams in my coffee, the ménage in my trois, Ivonne and Helen (the quiet one). The extremely talented baker, photographer and the gal I now call Gracie, Peabody. My twin sister (at least in my mind), Veronica. And last, but certainly not least.. as she's the cutest Mommie Baker, I know, Jenny.

It was also decided that we'd each submit a suggestion for the month's challenge then we'd all vote - whichever suggestion gets the most votes is what we'll be trying to accomplish by some set date that we also all decide on.. kinda cool, eh? This month's winner was Peabody's suggestion for a flourless chocolate cake. And a damn fine winner, if I do say so myself.

Choc Intensity Ingredients

As we wondered which recipe we'd all bake.. Ivonne suggested the recipe in Tish Boyle's The Cake Book. I still do not own this book, but if the rest of her cakes turn out as magically delicious as this cake did, then I seriously need to fork over the cash to purchase it.

Done baking! Hot cream and chocolate

Dear sweet baby Jebus was this cake heavenly. No, orgasmic.. the kind of orgasmic that makes your eyes roll back in your head and your toes curl like the locks on lil Cindy Brady's head. Here's what happens when you take your first bite:

It's chocolate and then more chocolate

  • Your throat will lock up because your mouth refuses to let go of the velvety, creamy, chocolatey goodness.

  • Your eyes will roll so far back in your head, that you'll be taken for one of the Undead.

  • The sweetest of shivers will slowly work it's way down your spine until it reaches your toes.. see above for what happens next.

  • When your mouth finally allows your throat to swallow - you'll hear angels singing and harps playing.. the light will get a little brighter and the colors will get a lil more vivid.

  • You'll lose all train of rational thought and will only be able to focus on the task of scooping up more deliciousness with your fork.

  • Ohh.. and your dogs will look at you in what seemed to be confusion and fear with a lil nervous excitement thrown in.

My magazine submission

This cake is to be made on special occasions.. if you want to W.O.W. your guests, this is a must serve. When you've had a bad week and nothing will make things better than velvety chocolate - you will make this cake. This is like no other flourless chocolate cake that I've ever experienced - and lemme tell ya - I've experienced quite a few FCC's before. When the cake is left out to come to room temperature it takes on a light texture.. like a dense chocolate silk pie - silky but not as heavy as your average flourless cake. When it's eaten straight out of the fridge it is fudge like - but not your ordinary fudge.. the creamiest, deepest, richest chocolately fudge you've ever had. (I know this because I had a room temp slice for LUNCH people - and then I had a straight outta the chiller slice during Grey's Anatomy - do NOT tell my doctor.)

Slice o'heaven

Okay well.. seriously? How much more can I rant and rave about this cake? Copy this recipe and make it at your next earliest convenience. If you aren't having guests over any time soon, then either invite some or consider the dust bunnies under your bed as the guests of honor. If there is no special occasion comin' up - then make one up. Just make the cake and enjoy the eye rollin-spine shiverin-toe curling experience.

Why yes.. she is

Holy Crap! I got so quivery over the pictures I included in this post that I fakkin' forgot to include the recipe! Special thanks to Mary - because I'm going to be way lazy and just copy from her post. heeee! :D

I couldn't stop taking pictures
Chocolate Intensity
from Tish Boyle's The Cake Book

Makes one 9-inch cake

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (preferably 62% cocoa), finely chopped
12 ounces (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brewed coffee
6 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350º F. Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch round cake pan. Line the bottom with a parchment round and butter the parchment. (If you're using a pan with a removable bottom like a springform, make sure to wrap the pan with 2 or 3 layers of foil.)

Place chopped chocolate in a large bowl.

In a saucepan over medium-high heat, stir butter, sugar and coffee until the butter is melted and mixture is boiling. Pour the hot mixture over your chopped chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute then gently stir until chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs vigorously until blended. Whisk in the vanilla and salt. Slowly add about 3/4 cup hot chocolate mixture to the eggs, whisking constantly. (Tempering the eggs with a little bit of the hot chocolate mixture will prevent "scrambled eggs" when combining the two mixtures.) Add the egg mixture to the hot chocolate mixture and whisk to combine well.

Strain the batter through a sieve (to catch any cooked egg bits) and then pour batter into prepared pan. Set cake pan in a large roasting pan and fill the pan with enough hot water to come halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Bake for 35-45 minutes, until the center is shiny and set but still a bit jiggly. Transfer cake pan to a cooling rack and cool for 20 minutes.

Run a thin knife around the edge of the pan to loosen the cake. Place a cardboard round on top of the pan and invert the cake onto it. Remove pan and carefully remove the parchment paper. Refrigerate the cake for at least 2 hours before glazing with chocolate glaze.

Bittersweet Ganache
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

Place chopped chocolate in a medium bowl.

In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil. Remove pan from heat and add the chopped chocolate. Let stand for 1 minute then gently stir until chocolate is melted and the glaze is smooth. Gently stir in the vanilla. Transfer glaze to a small bowl and cover the surface of the glaze with plastic wrap and let cool for 5 minutes at room temperature before using.

To glaze the cake:

Place the chilled cake, still on the cake round, on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Slowly pour the hot glaze onto the center of the cake. Smooth the glaze over the top and sides, letting the excess drip onto the baking sheet.

Scrape the extra glaze from the baking sheet and put it in a small ziploc bag. Seal the bag and cut a tiny hole in one of the bottom corners. Gently squeeze the bag over the top of the cake to drizzle the glaze in a decorative pattern. Refrigerate the cake at least one hour before serving.

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Comments on "Death By Chocolate"

 

Blogger MyKitchenInHalfCups said ... (2/23/2007 10:36 AM) : 

Your words paint such a vivid picture of the effects of the first bite of this cake.
Lovely photos!!

 

Blogger Brilynn said ... (2/23/2007 10:41 AM) : 

Ha! I also enjoy it straight out of the freezer...

 

Blogger hester said ... (2/23/2007 10:41 AM) : 

Oh. My. God. I cannot wait to make this cake! Looks SOOOOO good!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/23/2007 12:30 PM) : 

Well everyone else's pics wowed me, but I must say your words about this cake truly take the cake! LOL The pics are wonderful and I love your decorative ganache atop the ganache, talk about overkill, but who's complaining! :0)

 

Blogger Helene said ... (2/23/2007 12:33 PM) : 

Your description is right on. I am releived now that I have tasted it, my pudding fears are gone!
Looks so good!

 

Blogger Monkey Wrangler said ... (2/23/2007 1:24 PM) : 

Damn!

I've struggled lately to describe what foodporn is to some family members. Thanks for giving us all such nice examples.....Damn! (did I say that already......*slurp*)

You just kill me! (haha)

 

Blogger Linda said ... (2/23/2007 1:31 PM) : 

i think my stomach just dropped! this cake looks so decadent and rich! wow. nice work. the photo is very enticing.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/23/2007 1:34 PM) : 

oh my god, you guys are killing me here! Now I HAVE to make this cake very very soon, and I just made chocolate cake yesterday... being a food blogger is just so hard!

 

Blogger Meeta K. Wolff said ... (2/23/2007 2:09 PM) : 

Incredible! That is the sweetest death of all. Lis, your vivid description and the pictures are just too much for me to handle.

 

Blogger Alpineberry Mary said ... (2/23/2007 2:27 PM) : 

You speak the truth girl! As usual I'm LOL as I read your superrunonsentencethatIdontthinkistoolongeventhoughItakeabreathworkatacompanythatinadditiontootherthingspublishesaweeklyanalysisofmyindustry.

 

Blogger Alpineberry Mary said ... (2/23/2007 2:36 PM) : 

Ugh, my run on sentence got cut off. You'll just have to read it when you get the comment by email. :)

 

Blogger Lis said ... (2/23/2007 2:50 PM) : 

Tanna - lol I'm good at paintin' pictures when I wanna be. hee!

Bril - Ohhh I hadn't thought of that.. maybe tonight!

Hester - I can't wait to see your cake!

Laurie - I'm all about the overkill. lol

Helen - Mine doesn't look 1/8 as good as yours does!

Dylan - hahaha! Why thank you! Meeta and Laurie have been giving me photo pointers - bless their hearts :D

Linda - Okay so you are vegetarian, yes? Can you have this cake or is it a no-no with the butter in it?

Marce - I'd love to see your version of this cake =)

Meeta - Thank you sweetie - and thanks to you as well! =)

Mary - hehehe I'm glad you liked my silly post. :D

 

Blogger breadchick said ... (2/23/2007 4:00 PM) : 

Lis... I was having an attach of the chocolates at my desk. I had palmed the coins for the vending machine... I had even gotten up from my desk when the voice of REASON spoke to me "Eat the piece of fruit you brought for lunch. It is better for you". Then I read your post....

This kitkat bar tastes like chalk compared to your cake.

 

Blogger Caribbean Dreamer said ... (2/23/2007 5:01 PM) : 

Lis - your cake looks awesome but I will NEVER be able to look Cindy Brady in the eye again without laughing out loud just thinking about your post!

 

Blogger Peabody said ... (2/23/2007 5:02 PM) : 

Ha, ha....I llove that you are calling my Gracie!
Yours turned out lovely.

 

Blogger Patricia Scarpin said ... (2/23/2007 5:38 PM) : 

Dear Lis,

I love your blog but if I keep coming here I'll have to buy another keyboard - I'm drooling over this cake!!! lol

The color is so intense and beautiful, I'm not strong enough to have just 2 slices like you did. :)

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/23/2007 7:03 PM) : 

Unbelievable photos, Lisa! And I loved your description of how the cake tasted. You're absolutely right!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/23/2007 7:04 PM) : 

Hi Lisa - another beautiful Dorie cake! Lovely, rich... it's got it all!

 

Blogger Jenny said ... (2/23/2007 7:40 PM) : 

Another amazing cake and post!
Good thing we 10 couldn't meet up to try each other's cake or I think the headlines would read:

BAKING BABES OD ON CHOCOLATE

 

Blogger Kirsten said ... (2/23/2007 10:48 PM) : 

LIS!!! Oh my god!! I thought I was done wiping up the drool from seeing Peabody's version on her blog, then your written description and the photos.

I am feeling tempted to make it right now! I have all the ingredients! :)

Thanks for sharing...looks SOOOOOOO wonderful for any chocoholic or even a casual user.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/23/2007 10:58 PM) : 

Those are great pictures you took! I could tell that you are really in love with this cake...aren't we all?!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/24/2007 12:04 AM) : 

The world is suddenly awash in heavenly, gorgeous flourless chocolate cakes like yours! I had no idea you were all planning this group effort when I asked my wife to post her almost flourless chocolate cake. If you listen carefully, you can hear blood sugar levels going haywire everywhere.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/24/2007 12:12 AM) : 

WOW, that probably shouldn't even be legal :)

 

Blogger Gattina Cheung said ... (2/24/2007 6:08 AM) : 

Lis, you're soooooooo humorous! I chuckle all the way through :D
And an awesome cake you made!

 

Blogger Lis said ... (2/24/2007 6:53 AM) : 

Mary - hahaha! I'm sorry I might have influenced your walk to the vending machine!

Alison - hee! Yeah I don't know if I can look Cindy in the eye again either. Hey lady - you owe me an e-mail.. how are you feeling? =)

Gracie - Aww thank you =)

Patricia - Thank you, sweetie! I'm not very strong either.. I'll eat a slice a day until it's gone - there will be no chocolate-less nights in between. lol

Ivonne - Thanks honey! I kinda thought maybe we all felt pretty close to that description after we ate it. hahaa! (well all of us except Gracie's hubby. tee!)

Gilly - Thanks! Although I can't give the wonderful Dorie credit for this one.. Tish Boyle made us do it. hehe

Jenny - HAR! Yanno.. that wouldn't be such a bad headline to read...

Kirsten - MAKE IT NOW!! I'd love to see your spin on it =) Also, you cracked me up with the phrase "casual user" like the chocolate is a narcotic.. I am so using that phrase from now on as it pretty much is! heheee

Veronica - Yeah I think it'd be useless to try to fight the lurve. haha

Terry - Aww you didn't leave a link back to your blog - I'd love to check it out and see your wife's FCC!

Shawnda - I couldn't agree more. lol

Gattina sweetie - I'm glad I could make you chuckle.. mission accomplished! :D

 

Blogger Susan from Food Blogga said ... (2/24/2007 1:41 PM) : 

I'm in heaven. I'm in heaven. And my heart beats so that I can hardly speak. And it seems to be this chocolate cake I seek!

 

Blogger Orchidea said ... (2/24/2007 2:00 PM) : 

Oh my God!!! I do not have any comment... your cake just left me with my mouth open.
Ciao.

 

Blogger Morven said ... (2/24/2007 3:48 PM) : 

Did you know that it's really hard to drool and laugh at the same time! Great post and gorgeous photos.

 

Blogger Elle said ... (2/24/2007 4:25 PM) : 

a great way to die..by chocolate. You photos are amazing. The trellis of chocolate atop the cake are so appealing. I wold try freezing a piece and then heating it briefly in the microwave.

 

Blogger Rosa's Yummy Yums said ... (2/24/2007 6:26 PM) : 

Wow, breathtaking!!! I would love to die while eating one of those babies ;-P...

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/24/2007 9:34 PM) : 

Oh you are so funny! Who needs a husband when you can have cake like this :) lol!

With this final look at the cake, and your amazing description, I know I MUST try it soon!

 

Blogger Freya said ... (2/25/2007 2:58 PM) : 

Ohh, you have all made this cake look so good that I'm sure Tish's book sales have quadrupled this weekend alone! How can I join this baking circle??!

 

Blogger Callipygia said ... (2/25/2007 3:08 PM) : 

Lis- The amazing thing about these flourless chocolate cakes is that they are actually easier to make then the ones with flour. I was thinking also about freezing it and looks like everyone else did too! I'm curious how long that lasted with 2 people...

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/25/2007 6:48 PM) : 

Wow - this cake could be used for some serious (legal) bribing...and if I make it several times, for different circles of people.... oooh the possibilities!

I love your writing- thanks!

 

Blogger Lis said ... (2/25/2007 10:20 PM) : 

Susan - I love when you sing to me! hehee

Orchidea - Aww you are so sweet.. and now you know how I feel after I read your posts. =)

Morv - Thank you my love!

Elle - Thanks so much =) And yes.. one piece will be frozen and tried for sure. :D

Rosa - haha! I think this is so good it would bring you back to life. ;)

Kristen - Thanks sweetie! YES! Try it.. I'd love to see your post on it. =)

Freya - It's easy.. look for an e-mail from me in the next few days =)

Callipygia - I'll let ya know after I try freezing a slice. ;) Well it's Sunday - so that's 4 days after I made it and there is still 1/2 a cake left.. amazingly so. lol

Chris - You're right! I'm thinking of the possibilities and I'm liking it! lol Thanks for such a nice compliment. =)

 

Blogger Scooter said ... (2/26/2007 5:14 AM) : 

Erm, where's the catch? This cake has to be against the law. :)

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/26/2007 7:52 AM) : 

This cake should come with a warning! Just looking at the pictures had my heartbeat racing!

 

Blogger christine said ... (2/26/2007 8:56 AM) : 

What a lovely post for such a lovely cake! I can almost taste it, it looks amazing!!

 

Blogger Barbara said ... (3/11/2007 9:58 PM) : 

I think I'm slipping into a chocolate coma from reading this. Holy cow! I gotta make that cake.

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (1/13/2008 12:01 PM) : 

Oh my goodness. I should be thinking about my learning progress only (exams are coming up in fast pace) but since I've read the blog about this delicious looking chocoalte cake I can't help but visiting your blog every hour. And I am on a diet, too.... Gosh, I could die for a piece right now!

Wonderful job!

 

Anonymous Anonymous said ... (2/21/2009 3:23 PM) : 

Made it, Ate it, LOVED it. Blogged about it and how great your pictures are! Thanks for the great dessert!

 

Blogger How To Eat A Cupcake said ... (3/04/2009 5:11 PM) : 

Whoa! Your cake looks so different from all the other blogs I've seen. Hurray for Scharffen Berger!

 

Anonymous Furby said ... (6/02/2010 3:30 PM) : 

Unbelievable! I made this cake 1 time, and everyones loves it! Now I gotta make this cake to every occasion and play with the recipe a bit too :) I actually found out if you use 1/4 cup coffee (REALLLY Strong) the coffee taste is then at it's best. Since I live in Germany, there are alot of people who love their coffee taste!

P.S. It's creamier then too :)

 

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