A new Favourite.
I have raved in a previous post about my favourite chocolate cake. However, I think that I know have to admit that I've got a second favourite. Does that negate having a favourite altogether?
I don't think so. I have two favourite pairs of jeans (well, I actually only have two pair), I have two favourite kids (no need to explain) - I only have one favourite husband though ;-(
Anyway, whatever it is - it's my new, second favourite AND it's also chocolate. Let's just talk about this cake for a bit. Now, I like me a brownie. I'm no expert but I know myself well enough to know that I prefer mine gooey to cakey. Being a purist, I like it best plain - no chocolate chips, no white chocolate, no nuts (I know!). However, I won't say no to any of the above if offered. Here's the next thing. You know that flourless chocolate cake that every chain resto has been offering lately (and it tastes like packaged chocolate pudding crap - too sweet, too syrupy - pet peeve)? Well, this cake really felt like the real thing. A much improved version of the chain-resto version (I do have a 'proper' recipe from Rob Freenie that I'm itching to try too).
Ok, Ok - I actually didn't find this recipe in the BBC Good Food magazine (try to contain your shock). I bought the Aussie 'Delicious' magazine whilst in a hurry this past week. I was a little disappointed that I made the mistake but what the hell, this recipe was in there. It is such a gem of a recipe that it's worth the price of the mistake as far as I'm concerned.
This cake wasn't tough to put together. I actually screwed it up a bit (no surprise). It calls for toasting the nuts - I didn't. It called for processing the nuts and chocolate in a food processor - I don't have one and the blender didn't do the job well at all. I didn't know if it would turn out after all that but it did. It was great. The egg whites make a huge difference and this cake is all gooey and light at the same time. This is worth a try - I don't think that You'll be disappointed. None of us were.
Torta Caprese (Delicious magazine AU)
serves 8 - 10
1 1/2 cups pecans (I used walnuts and almonds mixed) toasted
180 g good quality dark chocolate chopped small
4 eggs serparated
1 cup sugar
220 unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
cocoa, to dust
Preheat oven to 170 degrees C
Grease and flour a 24 cm springform pan.
Process the nuts and chocolate. Pulsing in short spurts - it's not supposed to be a paste, it should be almost a flour substitute. Set aside.
In a large bowl beat together the egg whites and sugar until it forms a thick foamy paste. Mix in the butter and vanilla and mix well. Add the nut mixture and combine well.
In another bowl, whip the egg whites until they are foamy and frothy. They shouldn't be too stiff. Whisk a quarter of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture, then fold in the rest until all incorporated.
Pour into the prepared pan. Jiggle slightly to get it to settle. Bake for about 50 min. I kept an eye on mine and made sure not to over bake it. That way the middle was still nice and gooey under the top crust - beautiful.
Cool for about 15 minutes before opening the springform. The cake will drop quite a bit after coming out of the oven.
Enjoy with a dusting of cocoa powder, whipped cream, vanilla ice cream... whatever... just enjoy it.
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About Me
- Wanda Thorne
- St Michael's Choir School is celebrating it's 75th anniversary year of service to St Michael's Cathedral. Part of the school celebration is a trip to Italy where our boys from Grades 5 - 12 will be performing and celebrating Mass. This blog will be chronicling our adventures. Wanda Thorne is the Vocal Coach at St Michael's Choir School. Gerard Lewis is the Grade 7/8 Homeroom teacher at the Choir School.
About Me
- Wanda Thorne
- St Michael's Choir School is celebrating it's 75th anniversary year of service to St Michael's Cathedral. Part of the school celebration is a trip to Italy where our boys from Grades 5 - 12 will be performing and celebrating Mass. This blog will be chronicling our adventures. Wanda Thorne is the Vocal Coach at St Michael's Choir School. Gerard Lewis is the Grade 7/8 Homeroom teacher at the Choir School.
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