chocolate heaven........

[rackemup]

hi everyone,

a newbie here. as you can tell, i just registered with ChefTalk.

to make a long story short, my sister has done more for me lately than anyone could have ever imagined. planning on going to my sister's for at least Thanksgiving---most likely Christmas too. anyway, she LOVES chocolate. i would love to make something really special for her to show my appreciation. was thinking a chocolate cake, maybe layered?---but, anything that has chocolate would do, i'm sure. just wondered if anyone had something "special" that they would be willing to share---or, could point me in the right direction in finding something special. not afraid of tackling something a little "difficult"---would just like a bit of a "wow" factor to it.

not sure if it is an appropriate question, but, thought it wouldn't hurt to try.

thanks in advance for any info!

[stir it up]

Welcome!

A nice dark Flourless Chocolate Cake would be something I would suggest, served with fresh raspberries and whipped cream, and chocolate curls or shavings. It is decadent and rich, flourless does not mean light. It's gotten "wows". It's something you see at expensive restaurants, but it's fairly easy to make, though it does involve some techniques like folding beaten egg whites. It would be great for a chocolate lover! There's tons of recipes if you search. It's not like a layer cake, you would just make one layer in a springform pan, then say dust with icing sugar, and cut and serve in wedges with a dollop of cream, dark chocolate shavings, rasberries or whatnot. It is an easy cake to transport and will hold well at room temperature (I dislike taking cakes to people's houses that need refrigeration, because when entertaining people often have bulging fridges as it is. just put the whipping cream in the fridge).

Another "sick" chocolate one I do is a white and dark chocolate and raspberry ganache tart, with a chocolate crust. Ganache is that soft chocolate stuff in the middle of a truffle, made from chocolate and heavy cream and whatever else. The white and dark ganaches are sort of swirled in there with good quality fresh raspberries. I actually think that one's too "sick" for after Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

But thinking of that brought to mind that you could try making a box of truffles for her too as a little gift, they are easy to make, not expensive compared to buying them. Lots of recipes for those too on-line.

[stir it up]

ok, and for really serious chocolate, this link includes some recipes from members of the Academie Francaise du Chocolat et de la Confiserie

'+'

section 11.5 orange chocolate roulade is great! (that's how I found that link, I use Belin's recipe for this roulade, and I went looking to see if it was online anywhere, and there happened to be one place I could link you to it). The Tarte fridoline is a little like the second thing I'm talking about above.

There are also some funky chocolate savories in there too.

[kitchengoddess1]

Originally Posted by rackemup

hi everyone,

a newbie here. as you can tell, i just registered with ChefTalk.

to make a long story short, my sister has done more for me lately than anyone could have ever imagined. planning on going to my sister's for at least Thanksgiving---most likely Christmas too. anyway, she LOVES chocolate. i would love to make something really special for her to show my appreciation. was thinking a chocolate cake, maybe layered?---but, anything that has chocolate would do, i'm sure. just wondered if anyone had something "special" that they would be willing to share---or, could point me in the right direction in finding something special. not afraid of tackling something a little "difficult"---would just like a bit of a "wow" factor to it.



not sure if it is an appropriate question, but, thought it wouldn't hurt to try.

thanks in advance for any info!

Hi, I have jsut recently reviewed the best chocolate cookery book I have ever seen, just been released by Divine Chocolate. It has some fab recipes my two favorites are Roast Peaches in white choclate sauce and white chocolate chip brownies. You can buy the book from amazon, if you want to see the Roast peaches recipe its on my blog! dont think I can post the recipe on the forum copyright etc!!

good luck!

[Rene]

I like to make a cocoa based chocolate cake, then cut it into layers , sandwhich this around a decatant brownie with toasted pecans, you could use coffee in your cake or your brownie, a truffle piping around the chocolate icing....

your truffle should be a really good quality dark chocolate, ( from one chocoholic to another, bet your sis would love that)!!

[shel]

You can get a good recipe for chocolate truffles here: Chocolate Truffles Recipe: Alton Brown

And you can read the transcript of the show here: GEFP

Just click on the episode index (by title would probably be the easiest way) and look for the show titled Art of Darkness III There are other recipes in that episode that might be nice, and, of course, there's Art of Darkness I and Art of Darkness II

my ex-wife used to make these simple and delicious brownies - at least everyone we knew thought they were great. It was the Kahlua that set 'em apart from run of the mill brownies.

KAHLUA BROWNIES

1 1/2 Cups sifted all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup butter (Unsalted)
3 1-oz squares unsweetened chocolate
3 large eggs
1/4 cup Kahlua
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 Tbs. Kahlua for top of bars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resift flour w/baking powder and salt. Melt butter w/chocolate. Beat eggs
w/sugar until light. Stir in chocolate mixture and 1/4 cup Kahlua. Add flour
mixture and mix well. Stir in nuts. Turn into greased 9" square pan, bottom
lined w/greased parchment or foil. Bake in center of 350 degree oven for
30 minutes, until top springs back when touched lightly in center and edges
begin to pull away from pan. Be careful not to over bake these puppies.

Remove from oven and cool in pan. Brush top with 1 Tbs Kahlua. Let stand
until thoroughly cold. Cut into bars or squares.

NOTE: It's alright to brush a little more Kahlua on the tops of the brownies.
Remember: Nothing succeeds like excess!

kind regards,

shel

[Rene]

oh yummy is this a nice dense brownie, ? I love the dense thick type and not the cake type :-)

[shortstack]

That does sound good!

This fudge recipe has my mouth watering! I am such a chocolate fan too...especially dark chocolate. You can make batches with mint, different kind of nuts, etc, and end up with gifts for a lot of people. And this would be easy for her to share!

[shel]

Originally Posted by Rene

oh yummy is this a nice dense brownie, ? I love the dense thick type and not the cake type :-)

Hi,

I've not made nor eaten these since 1991, and in all honesty, I don't remember clearly. I believe they were more dense than cake type brownies, but not quite as thick as what I'd consider a fudgy brownie. They are good, however, and no one has ever complained about 'em.

shel