Monday, 30 June 2014

Chocolate Cake Extravaganza


At the end of June I had a Chocolate Cake Extravaganza, 
sharing all the exciting chocolate cakes I could find on Facebook. 
Here is a list of all the cakes I shared.

Hanneica’s Chocolate Cakes

Oil Chocolate Cake 

The secret to a moist chocolate cake lies in replacing butter with oil, and this easy recipe does just that. This is a straightforward, one-bowl batter that’s sure to become part of your recipe book forever. It’s the best chocolate cake for any of life’s sweet celebrations.

http://hanneicaskitchen.blogspot.com/2014/06/oil-chocolate-cake.html

Marbled Mocha Cake 

In a few weeks time my son-in-law has a birthday and he has asked me for a special chocolate cake. To fulfil the commission I have been searching for chocolate cakes.... This was the only one I could find in my archives so I'll be sharing a whole lot of other cakes over the coming days. Enjoy!

http://hanneicaskitchen.blogspot.com/2011/04/marbled-mocha-cake.html

Guest Post Chocolate Cakes

Cute Heart Brownies

When I visited Sandi I was hoping for chocolate cake, but alas, she hadn't baked any. However she did have these cute brownies... and gluten free to boot. Visit her a Fearless Dining.
Got it on the first try....gluten free brownies with vanilla salt. You can even cut these with a cookie cutter!!

http://fearlessdining.com/2014/02/06/gluten-free-brownies-vanilla-salt/

Cookie Dough Brownie Cake

With a brownie cake, a cookie dough filling and chocolate ganache topping, this chocolate cake has got to be a winner!

Find the recipe here:- 
http://lemon-sugar.com/2014/06/cookie-dough-brownie-cake.html/

Homemade Chocolate Layer Cake

Having been included in Good Housekeeping many times, this has got to be a good chocolate cake.
There is a reason this cake has reappeared in Good Housekeeping countless times since 1927. This version the cake is moister, & the frosting's flavor is more intensely chocolatey.
MAKE IT:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/chocolate-layer-cake-recipe
 — with Tynnetta Coulverson-Little.

Double Chocolate Butterfinger Layered Cake

Jenny of Picky Palate shared this cake about 10 days ago..... it looks great. We can't get Butterfinger bars in South Africa, but I would use either a Crunchy, an Aero bar or a Flaky.

Pudding Centered Chocolate Cake

Pudding in the middle of the cake..... that sounds interesting!
This decadent chocolate cake has a ribbon of pudding running right through the center!

Get the recipe on Something Swanky-->http://www.somethingswanky.com/pudding-filled-chocolate-cake/

Or pin it here--> http://www.pinterest.com/pin/250231323020895308/

Chocolate Peanut Butter Ombre Cake 

Not just chocolate... Other flavours make this a great all round cake.

Chocolate Lover's Cake

This chocolate cake caught my eye, but there are a lot of other chocolate cakes and other cakes and more on Holidays Kitchen. Enjoy!!

German Chocolate Cake

From Carrie at Bakeaholic Mama is a winner! The cake consists of 4 8 inch layers of German Chocolate Cake alternating with thick layers of Coconut Pecan Frosting, THEN topped with a heap of Caramel Buttercream. YUM !!!
4 layer German Chocolate Cake willed with Coconut Pecan Filling and topped with Caramel Frosting:http://www.bakeaholicmama.com/2012/04/german-chocolate-cake-filled-w-coconut.html

Chocolate Nutella Layer Cake

I have just died and gone to heaven..... This looks so divine!
Happy Friday! In case you missed it, Best-Ever Chocolate Nutella Layer Cake  http://goo.gl/jOZNd0

Marble Cake 

One of my favourites as a child, not for the taste, but for the marbling effect of the different colours, but it's still YUM !
I wish I had a big slice of this! > From Eat the Love
Recipe > http://tinyurl.com/nc2yxeu
Pinterest Pin > http://tinyurl.com/k6q752g

Chocolate-Honey Ganache Layer Cake 

What can I say? More YUM !

Coffee Mocha Cake

Adelenne from Lovefoodies shared this scrummy looking chocolate cake about 2 weeks ago. It sure looks awfully sinful... not to be missed.
This is a wicked cake!!! Easy to follow recipe and here's a slice for you all to try! Let's bake friends!
Recipe >>>> http://www.lovefoodies.com/coffee-mocha-cake.html#.U6SG-vmSzhT

Chocolate Peanut Butter Buckeye Cake

It seems there are a lot of people who enjoy the combination of peanut butter and chocolate..... this one is for you!
This cake is probably my most requested recipe from family and friends! Have you given it a shot yet?

Recipe: http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/2011/09/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-buckeye-cake/

Frozen Chocolate-Covered Cappuccino Crunch Cake 

For my last chocolate cake I have a Frozen Chocolate Cappuccino Cake that is really making me drool.... By: NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE

Perfect Chocolate Cake

This delectable chocolate cake comes from Lauren at Lauren's Latest. It looks so good I could eat the picture! YUM
I have to agree-this is the Perfect Chocolate Cake from Lauren's Latest!
Get the recipe now 
http://bit.ly/1mNnjHK

Chocolate Dream Cake

There's chocolate upon chocolate upon chocolate in this cake. It should be enough to satisfy any chocolate lover's dreams. Enjoy!
Recipe->
http://www.bestyummyrecipes.com/chocolate-dream-cake/

The BEST Chocolate Cake

This amazing cake comes from Amanda at I am baker. Even though it has roses piped on the side, I'm sure a guy will appreciate this cake. I could always just pipe squiggles instead, I'm sure. Whatever, it will still be YUM!
Get the Recipe Now: 
http://bit.ly/1az0Jtt

Fudge Brownie Cake

This Fudge Brownie Cake should fit the bill for a chocolate lover like my son-in-law... he said I could make it a ring cake, but I would rather make a round layer cake.... then he has to buy me new cake pans!  But just in case he doesn't, I have a ring pan... 

Lazy Chocolate Cake

Just what the doctor ordered... chocolate and biscuits in a freezer cake! My sister and I used to make something similar for school cake sales when we were teenagers.... YUM! This delicious and easy to make chocolate confection comes from Hadia's Lebanese Cuisine. Thanks so much Hadia.
Lazy Cake..Easy, delicious and impressive. A chocolate-plain cookies cold cake, made using real chocolate. What I like about this cake is that you can freeze leftover pieces for other occasions or lunch snacks.

Black Magic Cake

This Black Magic Cake comes from Katerina of Diethood. Dark and delicious, made for decadence!
Now this is a chocolate Cake! Black Magic Cake from Diethood!
Get the recipe now 
http://bit.ly/1ti9Iwq

Snickers Chocolate Cake

This comes from Aubrey of Real Housemoms. If you are addicted to candy bars, this cake is for you!
My Dad is a big fan of Snickers, so I think this SNICKERS CHOCOLATE CAKE would be perfect for Father's Day! 
RECIPE-->
http://bit.ly/Sp1WC9

Deep Dark Chocolate Cake

From Grandmother's Kitchen I have Deep Dark Chocolate Cake. Looks gorgeous, sounds decadent, is worth a share and even a bake.

Dark Chocolate Cake With Marshmallow Frosting

I have to wonder if this is perhaps the cake I should make for my son-in-law's birthday. The cake part fits the bill, that I'm sure, and the marshmallows? Perhaps. I know if I buy marshies for baking I have to hide them away or he will devour the whole packet while watching movies on a Saturday night.
This comes from Yummy at best Yummy recipes.

Chocolate Cheese Cake

Sarah of The Chef Next Door is so worth a visit. She has this delectable chocolate cheese cake..... I had to include it among my chocolate cake shares, it looks so yummy! Find the cake here...http://thechefnextdoorblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/chocolate-biscoff-cheesecake.html

Fudge Brownie Chocolate Cake

One person I have to visit today is Kathy at Melding Magic. If she can think up this amazing, easy chocolate concoction, what else does she have in store?
Do you have a hard time deciding between chocolate cake and fudge brownies? With this recipe, you don’t have to. Chocolate cake and fudgy brownie batter are combined, then topped off with a creamy ganache. This outrageous bundt cake is a chocoholic nirvana. http://bit.ly/PbZ75I

Grilled Orange Chocolate Cakes

I'm off to the Prairies now to meet my new friend, Ashleigh, Prairie Gal Cookin. I've seen chocolate cakes in all forms and sizes, or I thought I had, but this one takes the cake. I guess out there on the planes she didn't have any cake tins... so she baked me a cake in an orange skin. How ingenious! As we would say here in South Africa, " Vrou maak 'n plan" .....

Brownie Cupcakes

Sandra from The Foodie Affair kept making promises of chocolate cake.... I found chocolate icing, without the cake.... but, hey.... I found these kewt little cupcakes that sure made up for not finding a big, sticky, gooie, butter-icing topped chocolate cake! They are so yummy, Sandra. hanks for baking them for me.

Grand Marnier German Chocolate Cake

My new friend Megan over at Yumology has this demon chocolate cake.... well it's really cupcakes with a difference..... they are super boozie. Check it out! 

German Chocolate Cake

from FoodBabbles. It looks amazingly yum...

Chocolate Coconut Zucchini Bundt Cake

Another chocolate cake from FoodBabbles, healthy sounding.. http://foodbabbles.com/2012/09/chocolate-coconut-zucchini-bundt-cake/

Chocolate and Vanilla Angel Food Cake

This cake from FoodBabbles deserves a share for my chocolate cake extravaganza.
Need an easy, last-minute Easter dessert? This chocolate and vanilla angel food cake is just the thing!
Get The Recipe: http://bit.ly/PdB32y

Strawberries and Cream Chocolate Ganache Cake

Chocolate and strawberries... most attractive. 
My favorite cake to date! Decadent chocolate filled with balsamic strawberry whipped cream and draped in chocolate ganache.
Snickers Cake
From Monika of BakeNoir deserves to be tasted. It looks delish!

Mocha Toffee Crunch Cake

Yum yum yum! Mocha, toffee, and crunch. Mmmmmmm!!!

Chocolate Coffee Cake

For the last of my shares snagged from FoodBabbles, it's not all chocolate, but it's still chocolate... Coffee cream cheese frosting sounds pretty good to me!
Layers of light, butter sponge and rich, chocolate coffee cake, sandwiched with coffee cream cheese frosting, rolled in dark chocolate. Holy moly!
Get The Recipe: http://bit.ly/1enQlqJ

Chocolate Sour Cream Cake

This chocolate cake from Mary of Barefeet in the Kitchen might look simple, but then simple is sometimes the best. It's a rich chocolate cake, that's extra moist from the scoop of sour cream, topped with a rich and creamy chocolate icing glaze.

Chocolate Espresso Layer Cake

This layered chocolate cake from Jennifer of Savoury Simple is iced with Chocolate Espresso Italian Meringue Buttercream. YUM!

Six layer Chocolate Mocha Cake

If you are looking for layers in a cake and lots of chocolate, this delectable concoction from Grandmother's Kitchen takes the cake! It is a Six layer Chocolate Mocha Cake, which is absolutely "Grande" and would make a big statement for a special occasion!
Recipe for Six Layer Chocolate Mocha Cake -> www.grannies.recipes/77

Birthday Bliss

This cake is on a blog post entitled "Birthday Bliss". For a chocolate lover, this cake must be bliss. It certainly inspires me to create something similar for my son-in-law's birthday at the beginning of August. I'll have to find out what his favourite choc-bar is.... and will probably be told, "anything, as long as it's chocolate."

Dark Chocolate Fudge Cake

Another decadent cake from Grandmother's Kitchen.... Find the recipe here:-

Flourless Chocolate Cake

For those of you who are looking for a flourless Chocolate Cake that's gluten free, here's the one from Joan Hayes of Chocolate, Chocolate and more. With only 4 ingredients in the cake and 2 for the ganache, it's amazing!

Olive Oil Fudge Brownies

I'm always wary of making brownies as my husband and daughter, who don't personally enjoy them (how? I don't get it) think they are rather expensive to make but this recipe only has half a cup of unsweetened cocoa powder and half a cup of chocolate chips for show! I've got to give them a try.
- the perfect crackly top, a fudgy middle and made with heart healthy Pompeian olive oil.
Get the RECIPE: http://bit.ly/1ohuFVb

Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

How about an ice cream cake. This recipe uses coffee ice cream, but I'm sure chocolate ice cream could also be used for the chocolate lover..... It sure looks YUM!

New Year Over-the-Top Chocolate Cake

This looks as decadent as decadent can be! The topping has whipping cream, cream cheese, mascarpone AND dulce de leche! Oooooo Myyyyyyyy !!!

Snow Caps Cake

Oh yeah! I sure want to bite into this Chocolate cake! I am absolutely drooling !!!

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownie Layer Cake

From Lindsay of Life, Love and Sugar... This layer cake looks delicious, especially if you are fond of peanut butter.

Snickers Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake

Another version of Ice Cream Cake.....
I think it's time to make my Snickers Peanut Butter Brownie Ice Cream Cake again - yummy!

Rich Chocolate Layer Cake

Rich Chocolate Layer Cake.... You bet! Made with Mayonnaise... just what Iv'e been looking for . I have heard it's a great recipe!

Hershey's Chocolate Layer Cake with Cream Cheese Filling & Chocolate Buttercream

Perfect Chocolate Icing

If you want a perfect chocolate cake, you need a perfect chocolate icing... YEAH!
 Perfect Chocolate Frosting!
Get the Recipe Now: 
http://bit.ly/1plYSSk



Thursday, 26 June 2014

Oil Chocolate Cake




Ingredients:
500ml flour
190ml cocoa powder
7.5ml baking powder
10ml baking soda
pinch of salt
250ml milk
5ml vanilla essence
500ml sugar
125ml oil
250ml boiling water or hot coffee
2 eggs

Method:
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line two 23cm round cake pans, or one 23x33cm rectangular baking pan, with wax paper. Grease the paper and the sides of the pan well.

In a large bowl, sift the dry ingredients together.

Add the eggs, milk, oil and vanilla essence and beat with an electric mixer for about two minutes. Add the boiling water or coffee and mix until combined.

Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake for 30-40 minutes.

To test if the cake is ready, insert a toothpick into the middle of the pan. If it comes out clean, the cake is ready. A single rectangular cake will take slightly longer to bake than two round layers.

Slide a knife around the edge of each cake to loosen it from the pan, turn the pan over onto a metal rack and peel off the paper.

Let the cake cool completely before covering with icing of your choice.

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Biscuit Bars


Ingredients:
125g butter, softened at room temperature
80ml peanut butter
250ml (1 cup) soft brown sugar, pressed down
125ml sunflower oil
2 eggs
15ml vanilla extract
625ml (2 1//2 cups)  oats
500ml (2 cups) flour

60ml chopped nuts (walnuts, macadamia, nibbed almonds)
60ml desicated coconut
5ml  bicarbonate of soda
5ml salt
200g dark chocolate chips


Method:
Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Grease and line a 9x13 inch baking tray with baking paper.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugar together until the sugar is all taken up. Add the oil and beat it together, before adding the eggs, one at a time and the vanilla extract. 

In a separate bowl mix together the oats, flour, chopped nuts, coconut, bicarbonate of soda and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the butter and egg mixture and mix until the dough comes together. The dough will be quite sticky and may seem heavy, but that is fine. Mix in about 2/3 of the chocolate chips until they are homogeneously spread through the dough. Reserve the rest of the chocolate chips for the top of the biscuits.

Turn the dough into the prepared baking tray, pushing the dough into the pan and spreading it to the sides. scatter the reserved chocolate chips over the top and push them slightly into the top of dough.

Bake for 25-30 minutes.

Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before cutting into squares.

These bars can be kept in an air tight container for up to one week.

Golden Vegetable Paella



Ingredients:
A pinch of saffron strands
750ml hot vegetable or chicken stock
90ml olive oil
2 large onions, sliced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
275g long grain rice
50g wild rice
175g pumpkin, chopped
1 large carrot, cut into matchstick strips
1 yellow sweet pepper, sliced
4 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
115g oyster mushrooms, quartered
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Strips of red, yellow and green sweet pepper to garnish

Method:
Place the saffron in a bowl with 60ml hot stock. Leave to stand for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a paella pan or large, heavy-based frying pan. Add the onions and garlic and fry over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes, until just beginning to soften.

Add the long grain and wild rice to the pan and toss for 2-3 minutes until coated in the oil. Add the stock to the pan, together with the pumpkin and the saffron strands and liquid. Stir the mixture as it comes to the boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Cover and cook very gently for 15 minutes without lifting the lid.

Add the carrot strips, yellow pepper, chopped tomatoes and seasoning. Replace the lid and cook very gently for a further 5 minutes, or until the rice is almost tender.

Add the mushrooms, check seasoning and cook, uncovered, for just enough time to soften the mushrooms without letting the paella stick to the pan. Garnish with the peppers and serve.


Serves 4

Roast Pepper Terrine


This terrine is perfect for a starter at dinner party, or for a snack with cocktails. It improves in flavour when made ahead, although the salsa needs to be made a couple of hours before serving. Serve this terrine with Focaccia, Panini, Bruschetta, or with crispy slices of French baguette.

Ingredients:
8 sweet peppers
675g mascarpone or ricotta cheese
3 eggs, separated
30ml roughly chopped parsley
30ml shredded basil
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 red, yellow or orange sweet peppers, chopped
30ml extra-virgin olive oil
10ml balsamic vinegar
A few basil sprigs
A pinch of sugar
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method:
Place 8 peppers under a hot grill for 8-10 minutes, turning frequently until charred and blistered on all sides. Put the peppers in a plastic bag and leave to cool. Rub off the charred skins and remove the seeds and membranes. Cut 7 of the peppers lengthways into thin, even-sized strips.

Put the mascarpone cheese into a bowl with the egg yolks, herbs and half the garlic. Add salt and pepper to taste and beat well. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites to a soft peak, then fold into the cheese mixture until evenly combined.

Preheat the oven to 180˚C. Line the base of a lightly oiled 900g loaf tin. Put 1/3 of the cheese mixture in the tin and spread level. Arrange half the pepper strips on top and repeat the layers until the cheese and peppers are used up, finishing with a cheese layer. Cover with foil and place in a roasting pan. Pour boiling water into the roasting pan so the water comes halfway up the sides of the loaf tin. Bake for 1 hour. Leave to cool in the water bath, then lift out and chill overnight.

To make the salsa, place the remaining roast pepper and fresh peppers in a food processor. Add the remaining garlic, oil, vinegar and basil, keeping a few basil leaves for garnishing. Process until finely chopped. Add salt and pepper to taste and mix well.

Turn out the terrine, peel off the paper lining and slice thickly. Garnish with the reserved basil leaves and serve cold with the salsa.


Serves 8

Chilli Brinjal Peppers


This is a delicious Turkish dish of smoked brinjal and peppers , with a refreshing lemony tang. Its Arabic name is Acvar, and it is traditionally serves warm with lemon wedges to squeeze over it as part of a meze. Here the dish is accompanied by toasted pitta with which to scoop it up, but you could increase the quantities and serve it as a main dish with yoghurt and bread.

Ingredients:
2 sweet red peppers
1 large fat brinjal (aubergine)
30-45ml olive oil
1 red onion, cut in half lengthways and finely sliced along the grain
1 fresh red chilli, seeded and finely sliced
2 garlic cloves chopped
5-10ml sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
Dash of white wine vinegar
A large handful of parsley, roughly chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Lemon wedges and toasted pitta bread to serve

Method:
Place the peppers and brinjal under a grill. Turn them from time to time until the skin is charred on all sides and the flesh feels soft. Place them in a plastic bag and leave for a few minutes to soften the skin. One at a time, hold the charred vegetables under cold running water and peel off the skins.

Place the vegetables on a chopping board and remove the stalks, halve the peppers lengthwise and remove the seeds. Chop the flesh of the peppers and the brinjal to a pulp.

Put the oil into a wide, heavy pan and toss in the onion, chilli, garlic and sugar. Cook over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes, until they begin to colour.

Toss in the pulped peppers and brinjal, stir in the lemon juice, vinegar and seasoning. Mix in the parsley and serve with lemon wedges and toasted pitta bread.


Smoked Brinjal and Yoghurt Purée



One of the most popular Turkish meze dishes, this garlic-flavoured purée varies from house to house and from region to region. It is sometimes made with a lot of garlic, with a kick of chilli, or with the fresh taste of dill, mint or parsley. The purée is heavenly when it is freshly made, served with chunks of warm crusty bread for scooping it up.

Ingredients:
2 large plump brinjals (aubergines)
30ml olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
Juice of 1 lemon
2-3 garlic cloves, crushed
250g thick natural yoghurt – plain
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
A few fresh dill fronds to garnish
Lemon wedges to serve

Method:
Put the brinjals directly on the gas flame on top of the stove, or under a grill, and turn them from time to time until the skin is charred on all sides and the flesh feels soft. Place the brinjals in a plastic bag and leave for a few minutes to soften the skin. Hold each brinjal by the stalk under cold running water and gently peel off the charred skin until you are left with just the smooth flesh. Squeeze the flesh between your hands to get rid of any excess water and place it on a chopping board.

Chop the brinjal flesh to a pulp, discarding the stalks. Put the flesh in a bowl and add 30ml oil, the lemon juice and garlic. Beat well to mix in the yoghurt and season with salt and pepper.

Transfer the mixture to a bowl, drizzle with olive oil and garnish with dill. Serve at room temperature, with lemon wedges for squeezing.