Daring Bakers: Flourless Chocolate Cake & Ice Cream!

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.

Thanks Wendy and Dharm!  I really enjoyed this challenge for so many reasons.  First, it was relatively simple to make, and second, it was naturally gluten free.  Unless you got wheat-laden chocolate, but thats an easy fix =D. 

So... Here is how I made the Chocolate Valentino Cake:

I got out a whole ton of chocolate bars, and broke them up.  Ok, and I snuck a few bites =D

Then I got out and cut up the butter.

Then I placed the skillfully broken up chocolate into a heat-proof bowl.

And added the butter, of course.

Slowly melt it all together...

Until it's melted.  And Combined.

Then do some things with the eggs, mix it all together, plop the cake in the oven and make that ice cream.  Actually I started it ages ago, but I needed to stir it.  No Ice Cream Maker means stirring every 1/2 hour, so do that =D.

Pre-stirring.

While stirring.  So much more uniform, or it will be soon enough =D.

Yeah, don't forget the cake.  I wouldn't want it to burn or anything.

Mmm, and of course it all comes together perfectly!

I really enjoyed this cake.  It was very good.  And very rich, which meant that I couldn't eat that much, but my brother gobbled it up before I'd even sat down =D.  I used the Ice Cream recipe from Wendy, because I found it simpler, and I obviously made it in my freezer...

Enjoy this cake, it's really really good!

xoxo

Lauren

Sick... or not?

I haven't been feeling great these past few days.  Dizzy.  Really really dizzy.  And oh so tired.  Just wiped.  It stinks.  So I went to the doctor, thinking it was my thyroid.  Not that abnormal, but annoying nonetheless.  Turns out I was wrong.  And so was my mom.

She thought that I had a cold or flu or something, but no.  I got the silliest, annoyingest diagnosis ever.  You see, I grew.  Yeah, growing apparently makes me feel yucky.  I want to be tall and all, but really?  I don't know if I'm willing to miss a week of school every time I grow just a tiny bit.  It's not fun.  And then, once I feel okay, my pants will be too short.  Yeah thats always fun =D.

This morning, my mom measured me, because she had been saying how she was sure that I had grown.  And I'm almost 2 cm taller than I was 5 weeks ago (but probably less time than that).  Yeah.  So that was fun.  Now, I'm just kind of tired.  No huge appetite, no constant sleeping, just me stretching out with a funny bodily reaction.  Dizzyness is weird that way.  It can sneak up on you very very easily, and not leave for a long time.  Or just keep coming back. 

It's always interesting how our bodies react to change, and this has probably been one of the weirdest reactions that I've ever had.  After all, I only grew.

Enjoy your changes,

xoxo

Lauren

Changables

I always like to change up the flavours of my foods.  When I am having a snack, I like to play around with things.  If I'm having something with nuts, I'll change up the nut from time to time.  If I'm having yogurt, I'll switch flavours now and then.  Basically, I like variety.  It's good.  It's always changing.

Some of my current favourite changables include:

 - Apples.  I've been eating so many lately.  Like at least 2 a day.  One for lunch, and one for an after school snack.  The one I have at lunch, I'll eat plain.  Being fruit, that totally rocks =D.  However, after school I like to add a bit of extra without having to eat anything else.  Lately I've been doing that with nut butters.  Currently in my fridge, I have Almond Butter, Cashew Butter and Peanut Butter.  I've also had Nutella.  Basically I get some variety from day to day, so it doesn't seem like a boring snack, but a yummy concoction.

 - Yogurt.  I like vanilla.  But I also like raspberry.  And it's fun to make my own flavours =D!  Lately I've been really into vanilla, but I've also done other things.  Like cinnamon.  Add a bit (depends on your preference as to how much) to your vanilla yogurt.  Now, you've got a whole new option!  And, you can always add fresh fruit to your yogurt.  Thats always good.  

 - Pizza.  No surprise here =D!  Try something slightly different.  Maybe add some tomato or red pepper or meat or anything!  With pizza, the possibilities are truly endless.  Also, you don't have to go drastic to change your pizza, maybe use a different sauce or a different shell, or even just add a spice!  Just have some fun with it.

Most importantly, never stop trying new things.  It can't hurt to try a taste you thought you didn't like.  I, for example, recently discovered that I actually do like shrimp.  Who would have thought?  I sure didn't.  How I figured out that I like it is because this time it was cooked a different way.  Sometimes the slightest alterations can make things amazing (or not).  Oh, and if you're not sure about something, I find it best to do it at home.  Why bother with peer pressure (or even cross-contamination)?  Just try it =D!

Enjoy some new foods,

xoxo

Lauren