Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Chocolate Cake

It is always preferable to give present that is age appropriate, but when it come to give a 70 years old, it's best to think out of the box. Giving clothes or book will be too boring. Why not give them a colorful balloons, or a movie ticket, or a pass to Disney World? That would be like giving injection of some fun into their life. Or, better still, why not whip up a chocolate cake and their favorite dish. Home made present always give a touch of love and never fail to impress. Now don your apron, and head for kitchen to make your grand mother or grand father a beautiful, unforgettable birthday party. You can also make a double storied chocolate cake with cherries on the top.
I Love You Chocolate Cake
I Love You Chocolate Cake
Love Chocolate Cake
Love Chocolate Cake
Chocolate Cake With Liquid Centers
Chocolate Cake With Liquid Centers

I Love You Chocolate Cake Recipe

If you want to make your own chocolate cake, here is the recipes with picture of your chocolate cake:

Ingredients
½ cup (110 g) butter, softened
1+¼ cup (275 g) sugar
2 eggs
1+¼ cup (140 g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (50 g) unsweetened cocoa powder, natural
½ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup (1.8 dl) buttermilk

Ingredients for filling
¼ cup Kirschwasser (Kirsch/cherry brandy), optional
2 cans (14 oz or 400 g) cherry pie filling or pitted cherries
3 cups (7.2 dl) heavy whipping cream, chilled
¼ cup confectioners' sugar
Milk chocolate curls or shavings, for garnish
Maraschino cherries or sweet cherries, for garnish, optional

Method:

   1. Preheat oven to 350 deg F (Gas mark 4 or 180 deg C).
   2. Line a 9 inch (23 cm) cake pan with greaseproof or other non-stick paper.
   3. With an electric mixer, beat the softened butter with sugar until white and fluffy.
   4. Add one egg at a time, mix well between each egg.
   5. Add sifted flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla extract and buttermilk, and mix until the batter is smooth.
   6. Transfer to a cake pan and bake at 350 degrees just until set in the middle, approximately 45-60 minutes. A wooden pick inserted in center should come out with just a few moist crumbs on it. Do not over-bake!
   7. When cake is cool, use a long serrated knife to cut the cake horizontally into 3 equal layers. It is easier to cut if kept in a refrigerator for a few hours before cutting.

Filling:

   1. Drain cherry pie filling in a colander to remove most of the thickened juices.
   2. Beat the whipping cream with confectioners' sugar until it thickens.
   3. Using a vegetable peeler, shave chocolate; refrigerate until the cake is assembled.

Assembling:

   1. Sprinkle each layer of the cake with Kirschwasser.
   2. Place one cake layer on a serving plate.
   3. Spread about one fifth of the whipped cream on the layer, and strew half of the cherries on top of the whipped cream.
   4. Add the second cake layer.
   5. Spread one fifth of the whipped cream on the second layer and the remaining cherries on top.
   6. Add the third cake layer.
   7. Spread one fifth of the whipped cream on top and one fifth on the sides. Gently press chocolate curls on the sides and/or on top of the cake.

Dark Chocolate Cake

Most chocoholic would prefer Dark Chocolate. Because there is no milk solid added the flavor is much more pronounced than that of Milk Chocolate. Because of lack of milk solids, the dark chocolate tends to get dry, the texture become chalky and there is a bitter aftertaste, but the aroma of chocolate will entice you as the milk added will be very less that there will be no trace of milk aroma in dark chocolate.
Dark Chocolate Cake
Dark Chocolate Cake

Cocoa beans, sugar and emulsifier are the basic ingredients in dark chocolate cake. The emulsifier that used the most is soy lecithin to preserve texture. To enrich flavor vanilla is added for its subtle aroma that will not overpower the sumptuous chocolate aroma. Dark chocolate is often distinguished by the percentage of cocoa solids in the bar. In the commercial chocolate bar usually the content of the cocoa is 30%, sometime up to 70% or even 80% for the extremely dark bars. There are certain terms to describe this dark chocolate such us bittersweet, semi-sweet and sweet dark chocolate cake, depending on the sugar level and cocoa solids in the bar.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Birthday Cake

A birthday party without a birthday cake? That would be like food without salt, just plain bland. Because no matter how delicious, how many courses of meal is to be served but birthday cake is the one people waiting for. So it should be nice and special. And no matter how many years it is your birthday has come, I am sure none will feel tired or bored to blow the candle, make a wish and cut the cake. As much as present that made by hand is special, but if you are not a baker yourself, it is better to go to baker shop and order one. Right now, with the food technology getting finer, you could be spoiled with choices. For those that are so busy and could not have time to do just that, what you could order online a birthday cake for your near and dear ones. Just search Google for online bakery delivery, there are a bunch of bakery shop that accept birthday cake online order.
Funny birthday cake chocolate iphone
Birthday cake chocolate iphone - just funny
Beautiful birthday cake for your special girl
Beautiful birthday cake for your special girl
Cute birthday cake for your special woman
Cute birthday cake for your special woman
Birthday cake for your special man
Birthday cake for your special man
Thomas the train birthday cake for kids
Birthday cake for kids

For an impromptu birthday party, medium birthday cake is the best shot. He/she could share with 3-5 friends and you've made her/his day. For extra fun, get a themed birthday cake that you think suit the person you bought the cake for.