I've always wanted to make a flourless chocolate cake. It's on my list of baked goods that I want to try. That list also contains things like Portuguese sweet bread, an pan, and a 16-layer cake.So even though February is my most swamped month of this semester, I decided to go for the challenge. Plus I had almost all the ingredients in my house and have to start using up all my food before I graduate. I decided to use my Trader Joe's bittersweet chocolate "pound plus" bar, and a handful of Dove dark chocolate Promises.
Mike and I are trying to be healthier this year, so my lucky panelists and lab group got to partake in the Valentino cake.
I was planning on just making a flavored whipped topping, but when Mike decided that he wanted us to make ice cream in a bag for one of our "date nights" I said, hmmmm...why don't we do a joint long-distance Daring Bakers date night. I'll make the cake and he'll make the ice cream.But really, Mike wanted me to make ice cream in a bag, while he could use a gadget to make ice cream at his house. Mike's ice cream adventure with the "ice cream making ball". A couple of years ago one of my friends gave me this gadget that you can make ice cream in by tossing the ball and rolling it around. You fill the inner core with the ice cream mixture, and the outer layer with ice.
So here's the pictures from the date:Valentino cake (a.k.a. chocolate flourless cake, since I did not make it in the shape of a heart).
Mike's ice cream
My labmates all liked the chocolate cake and thought that they had the texture of a heavy brownie. I thought it was a bit too rich and chocolately. I LOVE dark chocolate, but I think that the cake would have been better if I had mixed milk chocolate with the bittersweet chocolate. Maybe 1/4 milk chocolate, and 3/4 bittersweet chocolate. I guess I should have paid more attention to the recipe when it said that the cake will taste "exactly like the chocolate you use."The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef.
We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.
If you want the recipe, here's a link to it.
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8 comments:
I love that you shared the challenge with your husband on your date night. I wish my guy would join me in the kitchen more often! You both did a wonderful job! Judos!
I had the same experience with darker chocolate in this recipe... I think somewhere in the process some of the sweetness is lost, so it comes out slightly more bitter than the chocolate used.
I LOVE that ice cream ball! What a fun way to make the best treat ever!
I am also ogling that ice cream ball. Geometry and pudding in one happy package. Coooooool!! And well done on your very cute chocoate cupcakes.
Great job on the ice cream in a bag! Sounds like fun. I know your lab mates really appreciated the cake.
I used the same chocolate! It's so great for baking. If I did it again I'd use 1/2 milk chocolate to make it sweeter, but it worked with all the sweet stuff I paired it with.
I didn't know you could use wrapped chocolates the same way as baking chocolate.... you have opened my eyes to a world of possibility here. Nice job on this challenge!
I used the dark chocolate TJs Pound Plus bar! 53% I think. The cake... well I didnt like it. But I made banana ice cream and bacon ice cream and those were tasty!
What type of research do you do?
thanks for all the comments.
the ice cream ball definitely works and is a fun way to make ice cream.
diana-i love trader joe's chocolate. it's actually a pretty good quality chocolate for a decent price.
tara-your ice creams sound amazing!
my research is in food science and my thesis revolves around sensory and chemical aspects of functional beverages.
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