Poco-Cocoa

Things & Stuff

  • The Best Chocolate Cake Ever

    That’s what it was called on the website where I found it, foto e fornelli. I love this blog, even if I have to use Google Translate to read it.

    So first I translated this recipe from Italian, then I adapted measurements from grams to cups and teaspoons using my scale. Now that I have a scale, I’d probably just use grams to bake this, but I wanted to convert it in case any of you wanted to try it. Below is the actual recipe I used, which is a bit different from the original.

    The cake is super moist and dense in the middle – maybe somewhere between a cake brownie and a gooey brownie – and crisp on the top. The layers of salt are insanely good – I used Cyprus flake salt, but you can use your favorite large-flake salt here (the original recipe calls for fleur de sel). Justin thought it would be perfect with a scoop of ice cream; I thought it was perfect as is.

    (Have I mentioned that Roux loves sweets?)

    Happy baking!

    Chocolate Cake with Cyprus Flake Salt

    • 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
    • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
    • 5 eggs
    • 1 cup minus 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup flour
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 3/4 teaspoon Cyprus flake salt (or your favorite large-flake salt)

    Preheat oven to 325F. Spray a 9×9-inch baking pan with cooking spray, and line with parchment paper. Coat the paper layer with cooking spray as well.

    Melt the chocolate and butter together in a double boiler, in the microwave, or very carefully on the stove. Mix well – the mixture should be smooth. Let cool a bit.

    In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer for 3 to 4 minutes, until pale yellow. Add a small amount of the chocolate mixture and beat well. Slowly add the remaining chocolate mixture while beating.

    Sift the flour and baking powder slowly into the mixture and beat until completely smooth.

    Pour half of the batter into the prepared pan; sprinkle with half of the salt. Top with the remaining batter and sprinkle the remaining salt over the top.

    Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.

    Makes 9 – 12 servings (depending on how much you like chocolate).

    Adapted and translated from foto e fornelli.♥

    February 8, 2012
    Food + Drink, Recipes
    Canon Rebel T1i, edibles, recipes
  • Weekend Moments #3

    Hello again! Here’s another quick weekend video.

    Details:

    • On Friday, I snuggled with Roux. Then my friend E. and I went window shopping at West Elm, Nest, and Threshold. I didn’t buy anything. That night, we met our friends B. and C. at Sagra for drinks and dinner. After that, we took our friend J. for drinks at Fino (where we saw a very tired Josh), then at Highball (I’m too old for that place).
    • On Saturday, we did a whole lot of nothing. We watched the cats play, and I worked on my NYC scrapbook.
    • On Sunday, I had toast. I always eat it the same way – one with butter and one with butter and jam, and then I take a bite of each one back and forth until they’re gone.
    • Later, I had hot cocoa and read magazines. Then Justin went to a Super Bowl party, and I stayed home and cooked. I felt like having home food, like what I had growing up, so I cooked some ground beef and potatoes and tomatoes with beans and tortilla. It was perfect. I had a St. Germain cocktail with it.
    • Then I decided to bake a cake. I’ll share the recipe with you soon, but it is THE BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE EVER.
    • And then it was time for Downton Abbey. I can’t live with these cliffhangers! Someone get rid of Lavinia and Sir Richard already!

    Have a great week, everyone!♥

    February 6, 2012
    Everyday Life
    cats, iPhone, Justin, Roux, video
  • Letters #12

    Dear Husband,

    Today you did a dance with your sweater tied around your shoulders, then did a catwalk strut. Thanks for always making me laugh.


    Dear Downton Abbey,

    Because of you, I am in love with an heir, I despise an Acting Sergeant, and I am desperately hoping for the marriage of a valet and a lady’s maid. Also, because of you I randomly say, “Oh, Mista Bates!!” Thanks for that.


    Dear 83 Degrees in Austin Today,

    I’m SURE you were just a fluke. I’m not done with our little winter/spring just yet. In fact, I haven’t even worn all of my different tights or boots yet. How ’bout you stay away for just another month or so?


    Dear Little Kitchen,

    I’ve been thinking a lot about you lately. I know we’ve been away, dining at restaurants most nights of the week, but truth be told, I’m ready for us to spend some time together again. Especially with the help of a few cookbooks. Thanks for waiting for me.


    Dear February,

    I know you’re a short month, but if you could pass by just a bit slower than the other months, I’d really appreciate it. Not only is my book deadline coming up very, very soon, but I also meant to make time to send Valentines and bake heart-shaped sugar cookies and pink cupcakes and such. Slow and steady wins the race, okay, February?


    Dear Paul Qui,

    Go, go, go! We’re so proud of you!


    Happy Wednesday, everyone!♥

    February 1, 2012
    Letters + Moments
    film, Justin, Yashica FRII
  • Weekend Moments #2

    Hi everyone! I made another video of the weekend. It’s fun to capture moving pictures, and it’s nice that all I need is my iPhone. 🙂

    We had lots of time with friends, and we got to hang out with lots of puppies!

    Details:

    • On Friday I had lunch with my friend N. at Kome. I had the chirashi bowl, and she had the sashimi lunch. Yum.
    • We had dinner on the patio at Takoba – a michelada, a margarita, chips, salsa, ceviche, guacamole, and a quesadilla.
    • That night we went to our friends E. and N.’s house for drinks and Mexican train dominoes. We met Pancake, a cute little dog that they’re sitting.
    • On Saturday, I snuggled with the kitties and worked on the book. I had eggs and a petit four.
    • We had dinner at Tan My – spring rolls, vermicelli with tofu and lemongrass, and wonton noodle soup.
    • Afterward,, we went to our friends C. and L.’s house for drinks and chat. We snuggled with their dog Myron, and then Baby P. woke up at midnight to give us a smile.
    • On Sunday, I made hot cocoa (Justin had coffee) and read my new cookbook and a letter from a friend. I worked on the book all day.
    • That night, we went to supper club at J. and K.’s place. They had raclette, and a raclette machine, and we melted cheese over anything we could find (charcuterie, cornichons, broccoli, apples, pears, potatoes, bread, plus salad, cassoulet, boozy fruit with ginger tuiles, and chocolate bark). We got lovin’ from their dogs Lucky Day and Rusty Bottoms.

    Hope you all have a wonderful week!♥

    January 30, 2012
    Everyday Life, Videos
    cats, edibles, friends, iPhone, restaurants, supper club, video
  • Randoms

    I left two cupcakes on the counter last night. This is what we found this morning. Our cat loves sweets. At least he didn’t finish it!


    Last night we had dinner at Justine’s, and we got our usual – steak frites for Justin and pork chop with potato gratin for me. This time I tasted a lovely licorice-y flavor on Justin’s steak that really made me happy. Casey, the chef, said he put a bit of pastis in the butter sauce. Isn’t that brilliant?


    Two nights ago, we had a terrible thunderstorm. I’ve always been scared of lightning and thunder, and this time was no different. After one loud thunderclap and a little shriek, I suddenly found myself in Justin’s arms on the other side of the bed. Thank goodness for husbands.


    I’ve been testing recipes for the book, which requires a lot of weighing ingredients and converting to cups and teaspoons and such. After all of this, I’m convinced it would be easier if we all just used grams. So precise! So simple!


    Yesterday I completed my collection of Oishinbo books. I wish I had more time to read them! I love sitting in the coffee shop and reading, but lately coffee is just too much jitter for me. Does anyone else feel kind of embarrassed ordering tea or decaf in a coffee shop? Especially in the really hard core shops – I feel like I’m disappointing them. I have a lot of misplaced worry, I think. 🙂


    I hope you’re all having a great week!♥

    January 26, 2012
    Everyday Life
    Canon Rebel T1i, edibles
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