Thursday, May 19, 2011

Craving fulfilled...

It's Thursday night..a night full of season finales and a massive craving for chocolate. Now usually this isn't a problem in our condo...we almost always have some sort of supply of chocolate hidden in the fridge for times like this. Not this time..nada, nothing, zip. This is where the 5 minute chocolate cake comes in. I don't know where the recipe came from but dear Gawd I thank the person who created it! It literally took 5 minutes, the recipe doesn't lie. Mix all ingredients in a mug, yes I said a mug, and put in microwave (I know right!) for 3 minutes...hoila, a cake is made!! Add some Cool Whip and craving is cured. I was a little hesitant as I am not a fan of actually using the microwave for cooking but I thought I would give it try...so here's the recipe.

5 Minute chocolate cake

4tbsp flour
4tbsp sugar
2tbsp cocoa
1 egg
3tbsp milk
3tbsp oil
a splash of vanilla
3tbsp chocolate chips (optional)
Mix all together in order and bake for 3mins on high.
Let cool and enjoy  (I added cool whip)

Sunday, May 15, 2011

A Mistake made Perfect

There are times when I think that I am too hard on myself...making mistakes in baking is one of those times. Until I can create something totally yummy out of those mistakes! I decided this year that I was going to make my Mom her 60th Birthday cake. I haven't been able to do this for a few years since our family dinners always seemed to fall on a Sunday when I was either on dayshift till 7pm or between nightshifts so the need for sleep far surpassed the need to bake. This year I lucked out..I am off all weekend and had the chance to create something wonderful and springy for my Mom.

I had given her 3 choices of flavours- Banana, Chocolate, or Lemom-Blueberry. She went with the Lemon-Blueberry  combo knowing everyone would enjoy it in the family. I chose to make a lemon blueberry layer cake with a Lemon Mascarpone frosting. The cake is beuatiful and light looking and baked so nice and even..the frosting was another story. I have NEVER had an issue with my frostings and am usually quite happy with how they turn out. This is not one of those times. I love the taste of mascarpone and it complements lemon quite nicely. What I didn't know was that it doesn't hold it's shape as well as cream cheese...at all. The frosting ended up looking like a souffle batter instead. So right now with the addition of a cup of flour it is in the oven at 300degrees in a water bath. I am hoping I can use it as a third layer in the cake instead of filling. Fingers crossed this may turn into a fabulous cake creation to keep in my bakery file!! If it works, I will post the recipe and some pics....stay tuned