Chocolate Nugget – Orange Flax Cake (THB)

I love chocolate - orange combo & that is why I’m really excited about this month’s  THB (The Home Bakers) bake . Not only that , this recipe also calls for flax seed cereal .  I’ve never tried flax seed  in bakes before so this is another interesting ingredient .  Thanks to Mich of Piece Of Cake who has selected this healthy flax cake for us to try out  . This event is hosted by Joyce of KitchenFlavours .  We are baking from LouSeibert Pappas cookbook , Coffee Cake .  I’ve only made half of the recipe & in 10 mini cakes .  The cakes turned out great with chocolate chip & nut topping  . We like this healthy breakfast cakes pack with flavours .  Goes wonderfully with a cup of cappuccino …. Yum !  For the recipe , please hop over to Mich & for more of this bake from the members of THB, HERE 

Chocolate - Almond Soufflé Cake (THB)

Just in time for our 34th bake at The Home Bakers (THB) . This event is oraganized by Joyce from Kitchen Flavours  . We are currently baking from Lou Seibert Pappas's cookbook - Coffee Cake  . Grace from Life Can Be Simple has sellected this recipe .  My cake turned out to be quite dence as you can see . I guess that it's because I've added 1/4 cup flour with 1/4 cup of almond meal instead of 1/2 cup of flour .  Nevertheless it's a nice nutty flavour cake , great with a cup of Mocha . Please hop over to Grace for the full recipe . For more of this bake from the members of THB HERE

White Chocolate Cheesecake with Raspberry Coulis (THB)

I can never say NO to cheesecake ! LOL I'm  glad that I've made it  for our 29th bake at The Home Bakers (THB) .The Home Bakers event is organized  by Joyce of  Kitchen Flavours .  Currently we're baking from Lou Seibert Pappas's  cookbook - Coffee Cakes . Mimi from Mimi Bakery House  has selected this decadent cheesecake .  She has baked this cheesecake so beautifully that I'm  tempted to try one myself .   My family is not keen of white chocolate & even so ,they simply LOVE this cheesecake  .   I've added my favorite Biscuits Roses de Reims as the base & I've made some raspberry coulis too .

 Love the combo .  This is a sweet, delicate & soft cheesecake topped with raspberry coulis ..... heavenly devine ! Heart melting moment for sure! LOL  Do hop over to Mimi for the recipe  .  For more of this delicious bakes from all the members of THB HERE

A wonderful Valentine's Day treat

Danish Chocolate Streusel – Swirled Coffee Cake

This month , Anuja of Simple Baking has selected this lovely Danish Chocolate Streusel for  The Home Bakers (THB) . We’re are actually baking  from Lou Sheibert Pappas’s cookbook – Coffee Cakes .  This is another yummy recipe & definitely a keeper . 

Danish Chocolate Streusel – Swirled Cake

For full recipe please hop over to  Anuja of Simple Baking . For more appetizing bakes from the members of THB click HERE

1)      Beat sugar, butter salt & cardamom till light & fluffy.

2)      Add in eggs & gradually add in flour with milk. Beat till soft dough . Knead dough till smooth & elastic for 10 minutes. Let it rise for at least 1 hour in a warm place.

3)      To make chocolate streusel : rub in butter , sugar, flour, cocoa & cinnamon till crumbs.

4)      . Cut the dough into half. Roll on half into 26 x36 cm rectangle. Spread evenly half of the chocolate streusel filling. Roll up the dough & slice or cut the roll at 2 cm intervals. Spread evenly half of the apple filling. Roll up the dough & slice or cut the roll at 2 cm intervals. Repeat with the remaining dough & filling & place them in a greased cake pan  & cover with tea towels or plastic wrap in a warm room for 1 hour

5)      ) Preheat oven to 170°C . Lightly brush the roll with milk . Place in the oven & bake for 30 to 35 minutes till golden brown.  Let to cool

Jane Austen moment in Persuasion

Chapter 12

"Elliot!"  Many had looked on each other, and many had repeated the name, before all this had been got through, even by the smart rapidity of a waiter.
"Bless me!" cried Mary; "it must be our cousin; it must be our Mr Elliot, it must, indeed!  Charles, Anne, must not it?  In mourning, you see, just as our Mr Elliot must be.  How very extraordinary!  In the very same inn with us!  Anne, must not it be our Mr Elliot? my father's next heir?  Pray sir," turning to the waiter, "did not you hear, did not his servant say whether he belonged to the Kellynch family?"
"No, ma'am, he did not mention no particular family; but he said his master was a very rich gentleman, and would be a baronight some day."
"There! you see!" cried Mary in an ecstasy, "just as I said!  Heir to Sir Walter Elliot!  I was sure that would come out, if it was so.  Depend upon it, that is a circumstance which his servants take care to publish, wherever he goes.  But, Anne, only conceive how extraordinary!  I wish I had looked at him more.  I wish we had been aware in time, who it was, that he might have been introduced to us. What a pity that we should not have been introduced to each other!  Do you think he had the Elliot countenance?  I hardly looked at him, I was looking at the horses; but I think he had something of the Elliot countenance, I wonder the arms did not strike me!  Oh! the great-coat was hanging over the panel, and hid the arms, so it did; otherwise, I am sure, I should have observed them, and the livery too; if the servant had not been in mourning, one should have known him by the livery."

Sunflowers from our veg patch

Chocolate & Coffee Layer Cake

Jane Austen moment in Persuasion

Chapter 5

Here Anne had often been staying.  She knew the ways of Uppercross as well as those of Kellynch.  The two families were so continually meeting, so much in the habit of running in and out of each other's house at all hours, that it was rather a surprise to her to find Mary alone; but being alone, her being unwell and out of spirits was almost a matter of course.  Though better endowed than the elder sister, Mary had not Anne's understanding nor temper.  While well, and happy, and properly attended to, she had great good humour and excellent spirits; but any indisposition sunk her completely.  She had no resources for solitude; and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot self-importance, was very prone to add to every other distress that of fancying herself neglected and ill-used.  In person, she was inferior to both sisters, and had, even in her bloom, only reached the dignity of being "a fine girl."  She was now lying on the faded sofa of the pretty little drawing-room, the once elegant furniture of which had been gradually growing shabby, under the influence of four summers and two children; and, on Anne's appearing, greeted her with—

Chocolate & Coffee Cake

Source: Food Network - Ina Garten ( Barefoot Contessa)

Ingredients:

For cake:

225g flour

180g sugar

3 eggs

95g cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp Kosher salt

1 tsp baking powder

250ml buttermilk

125g vegetable oil

1 cup of espresso (100ml)

2 or 3 x 20cm cake pan

For frosting:

170g dark chocolate (chopped)

226g unsalted butter

2 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

50 ml espresso (cool)

Directions:

1)      Preheat oven to 180°C & grease 2or 3 cake pans.

2)      Combined all dry ingredients for the cake in electric mixing bowl mix them well.

3)      In another bowl beat buttermilk, vanilla, oil & egg yolks.

4)      Gradually beat buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients till all well combined.

5)      Beat in gradually little at a time hot espresso into the batter till well incorporated.

6)      Pour batter into 2 grease pans equally. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cakes cool.

7)      For frosting: Melt chocolate on double boiler / bain-marie till smooth. Set a side to cool

8)      Beat butter on medium speed till creamy & fluffy. Add in vanilla & egg yolks for 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugar till well incorporated.

9)      Beat in melted chocolate & espresso slowly & gradually till all well combined.

    10) Spread coffee butter cream on cake layer evenly. Spread the rest of the frosting all over the  
    cake. Store in refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serve.

I’m linking this post to Blog Hop - Cook Like A Star May 2012 event hosted by Zoe of  Bake For Happy Kids.

 

Bon Appetit