Fuzzy Bakes!

3 May, 2009

Back by popular demand

Filed under: cheesecake, chocolate — by HL @ 7:13 pm
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My light japanese cheesecake is very popular with my relatives. Since my exams are over,  I decided to whip up another batch for them. This time, I did it with a slight twist, marbling the cake. To do so, reserve about 1/3 cup of the batter aside (before folding in the egg white) and sift in 3 teaspoon of unsweetened cocoa powder (don’t have to be dutch processed). Stir until combined before folding in the egg whites. Pour half the white batter into the prepared pan  then pour in the cocoa batter. Cover with the rest of the white batter. With a knife, swirl the batter gently. Bake per the recipe. I did a double layer one in the mini spring form by pouring the chocolate batter on top and not stirring. Voila! Aren’t they pretty? :D

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15 March, 2009

Perhaps, nothing

Filed under: cakes, nuts — by HL @ 5:52 pm
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Love is a funny thing. It comes and goes. Sometimes, without you noticing it. When you look back at an old relationship, have you ever wondered when did it all started? When did it started to end? When was the point you stopped caring? Or should I say started caring less? I bet many of you can’t pin point the ep10000304xact moment. The moment that you started to let go, bit by bit. One fine day, or perhaps, after a particularly nasty quarrel, you feel that perhaps you can do without this person. Or maybe nothing happened. Everything simply stopped. You suddenly find that you have nothing in common with this person. You have nothing to share with him or her. Even though it wasn’t too long ago that you felt your heart beat a little faster when you saw him or her. That you were constantly on cloud nine. That every thing seemed so right. So perfect. Somehow, along the way, the person that was walking side by side with you started to drift. Little by little, the distance became wider. And suddenly you find yourself walking down the road alone. By now you are probably wondering what I am trying to get at… Perhaps, nothing at all.

It has been a while since I updated my blog. Been so busy with work that I have no time bake. Been doing quite abit of thinking about my future. Feeling a little better now. Thank you for checking out my site every now and then. Heart you all!! I long wanted to try out this mocha walnut cake. It is quite easy to do, but do remember to butter or oil your bundt pan generously. Mine stuck to the pan. :( Still, it was yummy. The mocha and walnut mix was perfect in this cake. Enjoy!

MOCHA-WALNUT MARBLED BUNDT CAKE

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup walnuts, finely ground
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
9 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature, divided use
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup coffee (hot or cold)
1 teaspoon instant coffee, finely ground (or instant espresso powder)
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup whole milk, room temperature

Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 12 cup Bundt pan, dust the inside with flour and tap out the excess. Don’t place the pan on a baking sheet – you want the oven’s heat to circulate through the Bundt’s inner tube.

Wisk together the flour, ground walnuts, baking powder and salt.

Set a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of gently simmering water. Put 2 tablespoons of the butter, cut into 4 pieces, into the bowl, along with the chocolate, coffee and instant coffee. Heat the mixture, stirring often, until the butter and chocolate are melted and everything is smooth and creamy – keep the heat low so that the butter and chocolate don’t separate. Remove the bowl from the heat.

Working with a stand mixer, preferably with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the remaining 2 sticks butter and the sugar at medium speed for about 3 minutes – you’ll have a thick paste; this won’t be light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one by one, beating well after each addition. The mixture should look smooth and satiny. Beat in the vanilla extract. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients and the milk alternately, adding the dry mixture in 3 portions and the milk in 2 (begin and end with the dry ingredients).

Scrape a little less than half the batter into the bowl with the melted chocolate and, using a rubber spatula, stir to blend thoroughly.

If you want to go for the gingko pattern, scrape all of the white batter into the pan and top with the chocolate and marble it minimally. If you want a more marbled pattern, alternate spoonfuls of the light and dark batter in the pan. When all the batter is in the pan, swirl a table knife sparingly through the batter to marble them.

Bake for 65 to 70 minutes, or until a thin knife inserted deep into the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the Bundt pan to a rack and let cool for 10 minutes before unmolding, then cool the cake completely on the rack.

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