Amazingly Awesome Chocolate Cake From Scratch!

Entry in progress...hang tight!

I rarely make cakes from scratch, as I like boxed cakes just fine and don't always have a lot of time to make from scratch...or so I thought. This cake has changed my mind. It really did not take all the much longer to put the ingredients together, and honestly--it is the best chocolate cake I have ever had! Not just the cake itself, but also the frosting! This will also be my go-to for chocolate frosting going forward. It's so perfectly balanced and not too heavy on the buttery-ness (I say this because MANY frosting recipes are too greasy/buttery for my taste). I hope you will give it a try!

And yes, you have to use self-rising flour for this. If you don't have self-rising flour, don't try this recipe.

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: https://youtu.be/Nz8X0You6EE

Original recipe credit: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/self-rising-chocolate-cake-recipe

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

for the cake batter--

6 T. salted butter, softened

6 T. canola oil

397g (2 c.) sugar

63g (3/4 c.) dutch-processed cocoa powder

1 tsp. vanilla extract

4 large eggs, room temperature

312g (2 3/4 c.) self-rising flour

1 1/2 c. water

for the frosting--

149g (1 3/4 c.) dutch-process cocoa powder

397g (3 1/2 c.) powdered sugar, divided

1 c. heavy cream

2 sticks (1 c.) unsalted butter, softened

1/8 tsp. salt

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour three 8" round cake pans (original says you can do two 9" instead; will post here if I ever try it that way).

2. For the cake batter-- In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, canola oil, sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract until they form a smooth paste.

3. Beat in eggs one at a time.

4. Add the flour and water in small additions, alternating between them, beginning and ending with flour. Mix at the end until smooth/combined.

5. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans, smoothing tops gently with the spatula. If desired, tap pans gently on counter a few times to pull out some any bubbles (I did not do this).

6. Bake cakes for 30-35 min, until fork/toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

7. Cool in pan for 5 min, then loosen edges with a spatula and turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.

8. Once the cakes have completely cooled, prepare the frosting: start with sifting the cocoa powder plus 170g (1 1/2 c.) of the powdered sugar into a bowl.

9. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer (I did this in a pan on the stove; you may opt for microwave instead).

10. Pour the heavy cream into the sifted cocoa/powdered sugar mixture, whisking as you pour it in. The mixture will look grainy at first, but will gradually get smoother. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

11. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together the butter, salt and remaining 227g (2 c.) of the powdered sugar.

12. With the mixer running on low speed, add the cocoa mixture a spoonful at a time (I used a soup spoon) until it is all incorporated. Once all has been added, beat at medium sped for 1 minute.

13. Frost the cake, serve, and enjoy!

Sherry Lemongrass Glazed Duck Breasts

Suuuper yum! If you love duck breast like we do, you have to try this recipe! If you haven't ever had duck breast, this is a great first recipe to try. I served it with simple roasted red potatoes (seasoned only with salt and pepper, tossed in olive oil), and a side salad--perfect! The only issue I have with this recipe is that it takes quite a bit of time to prepare the lemongrass (be sure to plan for this); once you have that, the rest is easy :)

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: coming soon

Original recipe credit: https://www.harvestyourown.ca/get-cooking/sherry-lemongrass-glazed-duck-breast/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

1/2 T. canola oil

1/6 c. finely chopped shallots

heaping 1/2 T. chopped fresh ginger

1/2 c. lemongrass (tender inner part), finely chopped

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. sherry vinegar

2 duck breasts

salt & pepper, to taste

Directions:

1. In a small saucepan, heat canola oil over medium-low heat. Add the shallots and cook, stirring occasionally, for around 3 min.

2. Add the ginger and lemongrass. Stir and cook for around 1 min,

3. Stir in the sugar and sherry vinegar. Increase heat to bring to a boil. Keep at boil, stirring occasionally, and boil until reaches syrupy consistency (not sure how long, as I tried just simmering as original recipe said, was not getting there, so I increased heat to boil, which finally worked. Will update when I make next time.)

4. Meanwhile, score the duck breast skin in a cross-hatch pattern (be careful to only cut skin, not meat!) Season with salt and pepper (to taste), then place skin side down in a skillet (I used and recommend cast iron). Use low to medium-low heat to render the fat and slowly cook the duck breasts. Let cook until skin is crisped and browned (at least 8 min; mine took closer to 12 min). Turn breasts over and cook on other side until desired doneness is reached (I went around 5 min, which made mine close to medium).

5. Drizzle breasts with sauce to serve. Enjoy!

Poutine Wraps

During my trip to Québec in October, I finally got around to trying the legendary dish: poutine. And I became a fan right away. It is so freaking good...at least the ones I had were. Poutine comes in many varieties, and like any dish, is not the same from chef to chef. At any rate, when I came across this recipe, I just had to try it. And oooh am I ever glad I did! The poutine part itself is awesome, so if you don't feel like having the extra calories of making a wrap of it, you can omit that.

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: https://youtu.be/rVVmdI2kFKQ

Original recipe credit: https://www.cuisineathome.com/recipes/lunch-dinner/poutine-wrap/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

~5 oz. frozen fast-food style (shoestring) French fries, cooked according to package directions

1 T. canola oil

8 oz. skirt steak, cut into thin strip/slices

salt and pepper, to taste

1 c. (~4 oz.) sliced button mushrooms

1 T. minced garlic

1 T. tomato paste

1 T. all-purpose flour

1/4 c. dry sherry

1/2 c. low-sodium beef broth

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

2 T. crème fraîche

1 T. chopped fresh parsley

1/2 c. (~2 oz.) cheddar cheese curds

2 burrito-sized flour tortillas (10")

Directions;

1. In a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat, heat the canola oil, then add the skirt steak. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until meat has lost most of its pink (or all, if preferred). Transfer to a plate and set aside.

2. Add the mushrooms to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for around 3 min.

3. Add the garlic and tomato paste. Cook, stirring constantly, for around 1 min.

4 Sprinkle flour over mixture, stir to combine and cook for around 1 min.

5. Deglaze pan with the dry sherry. then add the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to simmer, stir occasionally, for around 3 min.

6. Remove from heat. Return steak to pan, stir to coat. Stir in the crème fraîche, then the parsley, and finally the cheese curds.

7. Place half of French fries to line center of tortilla, then top with half of the poutine mixture from the pan. Roll wrap up to close, serve, and enjoy!

Marbled Chocolate Chip Cookies

In the mood for a new twist on chocolate chip cookies? Here you go! These are very good, though I wouldn't put them above regular chocolate ship cookies (I mean, kinda hard to beat those :)) And I would make these again for sure. The marbling part when making the dough balls is a bit messy, be warned.

Link to my YouTube "making of the recipe" video: coming soon

Original recipe credit: https://www.verybestbaking.com/toll-house/recipes/marbled-chocolate-chip-cookies/

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

270g (2 1/4 c.) all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 large eggs

1/3 c. baking cocoa powder

1 c. white morsels

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. In a small bowl. stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter, sugar, and vanilla extract, until light and fluffy.

4. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

5. On slow speed, mix in the reserved dry mixture.

6. Divide dough in half. In one half, mix in the cocoa powder, then stir in the white morsels. Stir the chocolate morsels into the other half.

7. For the dough balls, scoop about 1/2 T. of each dough, then roll gently together into one ball (it will look like half-and-half). Place dough balls 1.5" apart on baking sheets.

8. Bake for 9-11 minutes (my dough balls were a little large, so I went the full 1 min). Let cookies rest on sheet for a couple of minutes after removing from oven, before transferring to cooling rack. Enjoy! 

Thai-Inspired Chicken Stir Fry with Rice Noodles

Oh major yum! I started with a recipe from a cookbook that I have, but ended up modifying it so heavily, it's not really the same recipe lol. But what I came up with? So. Very. TASTY! Hubby & I both loved it! Thing is, I did not measure some of the ingredients...so I'm making my best guess on the ones with ~ next to them. Next time, will measure and correct amounts if/as needed.

Ingredients:

~1 1/2 T. canola oil

1 T. Thai red curry paste

~1.25 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut in bite-size pieces

~3/4 c. coconut milk

2 T. fresh lime juice

2 T. fish sauce

1/2 T. bottled minced garlic

1 finger pepper (preferably very ripe/turning orange), seeds removed, finely chopped

~5 oz. bean sprouts

1/2 c. cocktail peanuts (salted), chopped

~1 tsp. dried basil

8 oz. (dry weight) wide rice noodles, cooked according to package directions

Directions:

1. Heat oil in wok over medium-high heat. Add curry paste and stir, cook for around 1 min.

2. Add chicken to wok and stir to combine. Cook for 3-4 min, until chicken no longer has pink showing outside.

3. Add coconut milk, lime juice, fish sauce, garlic, and finger pepper. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to a simmer.

4. Once simmer is reached, add the bean sprouts. Stir in and cook for 1-2 min.

5. Stir in the peanuts and basil. Let cook for 1-2 min.

6. Remove from heat and stir in the cooked rice noodles. Serve and enjoy!

Herb-Roasted Red Potatoes

Excellent and easy potato recipe! Will be making these on the regular for sure.

Original recipe credit: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a22865719/herb-roasted-potatoes-recipe/

Ingredients:

2 lb. small red potatoes, cut into small chunks

1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 T. chopped fresh rosemary

1 T. chopped fresh curly parsley

1 T. chopped fresh thyme

kosher salt, to taste

freshly ground pepper, to taste

pinch of red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425°F.

2. In a large bowl, pour the oil over the potatoes, then add the remaining ingredients and toss to coat evenly. Pour out into a 9" x 13" baking dish.

3. Transfer to oven and bake for 45-55 min. Enjoy!

Chocolate Soufflé...then "Brownies"

Have made this twice now, really love it. I call it soufflé...brownies because the next day, after deflating, it basically turned into brownies! So don't toss it if you don't eat it all while it's in soufflé form, it's still delicious!

Link to original recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1018499-bittersweet-chocolate-souffle

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter (plus more for buttering soufflé dish)

8 oz. bittersweet chocolate (60-65% cacao), finely chopped

6 eggs, separated, room temperature

pinch of fine salt

4 T. sugar (plus more for coating dish)

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

Directions:

1. Position a wire rack in the lowest possible position in oven. Remove all other racks. Heat oven to 400°F.

2. Generously butter a 1.5 qt soufflé dish, then coat thoroughly with sugar. Tap out any excess.

3. In the top pan of a double-boiler, melt the butter and chocolate, stirring to combine. Once fully melted and combined, remove from heat and let cool slightly (it should still be warm, though). Stir in the egg yolks and sea salt.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, use the whisk attachment to beat together (medium speed) the egg whites and cream of tartar, until very soft peaks stage is reached.

5. Increase speed slightly and beat in 1 Tablespoon of sugar at a time. Continue beating until whites reach stiff peaks and look glossy.

6. Pour chocolate mixture into a large bowl. Gently whisk a fourth of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Then, fold in remaining whites in two additions.

7. Gently pour batter into prepared soufflé dish. Run your finger around the edge of the top of the batter to create about a 1/4" space between the dish and soufflé mixture.

8. Place the dish on a baking sheet and transfer to the oven. Upon placing in the oven, reduce temperature to 375°F.

9. Bake until soufflé is puffed and center is mostly set, 25-35 minutes (25 for a softer center; I always go 35 min, as I prefer it more "set"). Note: do NOT open oven door during the first 20 minutes of baking!!

10. Serve immediately--seriously, you must serve it right away, as it starts to deflate and lose its texture quickly. Highly suggest and recommend serving with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Should you have leftovers, as I mentioned at the beginning, the deflated soufflé is much like brownies :)