Tuesday, March 4, 2008

If I Knew You Were Comin I'd Have Baked A Cake (the famous one)

The following photo journal is me making the Barefoot Contessa's Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Espresso Buttercream frosting. It has become my signature cake for friends' birthdays. It is involved and you need to follow the directions but trust me, it pays off. In spades.

Also- I don't plan to make a habit of this but...I'm not posting the recipe. It's not mine, it's Ina's from her first cookbook. A book so good, so consistently delicious that you just need to own it. It is my absolute favorite and has changed the way I cook and entertain since I got it from Lo for Christmas in 04:) It would take longer for me to type it out that it would for you to have it in hand from Amazon. Buy the book. Then email me and I'll send you my margin notes. I met Ina at Fox & Obel two years ago and she signed Barefoot in Paris for me. Genuinely starstruck for the first time in my life.

Now for cake...this time was a little different because I wanted to incorporate raspberry sauce for CVDJ's birthday. I think this may be a regular thing but in the future I will leave it in the saucepour so people can drench their individual slices. More notes from the dinner party with CVDJ, Abs & Colleen tomorrow...fun stuff and very put together if I do say so myself:)
Cut out circles of wax paper for the cake pans.

Butter the pan then place the cutout in. Butter the cutout and dust to coat with flour.

Dry ingredients. Using Ghiradelli cocoa powder. Yum.


Batter up! On the left is a mixture of buttermilk, sour cream and freshly brewed coffee
Middle:Other wet ingredients like eggs butter, brown/white sugars etc.
Right: Dry
Alternate adding right and left to middle in thirds.
Thick, heavenbatter. You're not surprised I have an orange spoon that is smiling. It's been awhile since I liked someone so much that I licked their face.

Cake is out of the oven and now it is time to make frosting. I wish I had a picture of the egg whites and sugar when they reached the appropriate point but just REALLY read the directions to get the right results. The main ingredient (see cutting board) is butter.

The finished product!

10 comments:

Nilsa S. said...

OMG, that cake looks decadent! Have you ever considered having mini cooking classes for your friends? I'd help cover the cost of food ... or even wine! :-)

Katrin said...

God, that looks gorgeous! I am a hobby-baker myself (on a time-out for sugar-free lent), so I am more than glad for the pictures...
Nice Blog!!! :)

Anonymous said...

that batter looks ridiculously good. omg.

Anonymous said...

J. I teach impromptu cooking classes for the ladies in my building. This cake is one that I get requests for like everyday. We should compare notes :)

And start doing classes for our friends when i move to chicago. we can be the high-heeled contessas hahaha. xoxo

Jamie Lovely said...

I am not a cake person at all, but that looks ridiculously good!

L Sass said...

That cake looks ridiculously good. I am a big, big fan of Barefoot in Paris. I should check out book #1, too!

Cheryl said...

Mouth watering...drool on keyboard.

TSTuesday said...

That looks amazing. My mouth is seriously watering right now. Thanks for testing my diet will power!

TKTC said...

Nilsa: I had NOT considered that but I've now been thinking about it all day. Maybe when I get a new oven I'll be able to do that. In the meantime, we should just do a dinner.

Katrin: Welcome! I love yours too and am more than a little jealous of your AustroAdventure. can't wait to see what's cooking over there, after Lent of course.

Joner: It was oragasmic. Thick. I'm trying to decide what greenness to bring on Saturday- thoughts?

Gina: Umm, I will totally attend your Italian classes. And I'll make you anything. Just get here already. I need to start going to some of Cam's events so I can meet a boy to triple date with you and Hadley on.

Jamie: Oh I do so looove to be the exception to a rule:)

Sass: They're all so good. She's tops in my book- perfect blend of fun, fancy and function.

Cheryl & Chard: You have to try it. It's ridiculous. I had batter, frosting or raz sauce all over my face for the better part of yesterday. I'll get chubby enough for both of you.

So@24 said...

Tres bien!