Monday Madness

Crazy…Crazy….Crazy…. that basically sums up my busy today. 

I left the house at 7:30am and didn’t walk in until 6pm.  But the good news is that I got everything accomplished that I wanted to…yipee

I finished up my class banner this afternoon and had to edit and print off my report cards to be handed in today.  The class banner is looking quite amazing… just one tiny little detail to complete tomorrow and then you will soon see pictures. 

And then I want to send a huge shout out to a fellow Canadian blogger Angela over at Oh She Glows.  I’ve been reading her blog for about a year now and she is so inspiring. Angela is one of the reasons I began blogging too.  And plus she’s got the most adorable kitty and amazing food recipes. 

A little while ago I was searching for a healthier version of Chocolate pudding.  Low and behold… there it was staring me in my eyes….and calling my name….. the Chilled Double Chocolate Torte.

hallelujah !!!!!!!!

What started with a basic search for Chocolate pudding…ended in the most amazing and unexpected find for a Chocolate Torte.  The reason I say unexpected is because of it’s main ingredient…..

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are you ready for it?

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It grows on this tree

Did I hear someone say avocado..gold star for you

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If you think about it for a minute…avocados are the perfect ingredient.  Not only are they creamy (make sure they are ripe), but they absorb the taste of other things.  And avocados are so healthy for you too.  Believe me when I tell you that the result of this cake is so delicious and chocolaty richness.  See for yourself…..

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Come check out Angela’s blog by clicking on this link for the recipe. 

My challenge to you is to try it out and let me know what you think.   Just remember to keep it chilled so it keeps its firmness and doesn’t go bad.

Have a wonderful night y’all.  I’m going to go and help myself a nice big piece of the torte.

Bea

xoxo

Gluten-free, Dairy-free and Vegan Chocolate Cake

Ok guys…this cake is absolutely divine.  You will fall madly in love and you will feel like you are floating into another dimension.  If you are a chocolate lover, addict and want to cheat… I dare you to make this.  And it’s so simple to make too. 

INGREDIENTS

• 10 oz  Dairy-free 72% dark chocolate, chopped or broken into small pieces.
• 7 oz  Earth Balance Butter, diced
• 5 large eggs (Flax substitute for Vegan version) – room temperature
• 1 cup  brown sugar (sucanat)
• 1/4 cup  cocoa powder, for dusting pan

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a 9-in spring form pan and dust with cocoa powder, tapping out any excess.  If your spring form pan isn't’ 100% water-tight, wrap the outside with aluminum foil, making sure it goes all the way up to the outer rim.

First I melted the chocolate and the butter over low heat in a medium saucepan.  Continue to stir until you get a smooth mixture. 

So this is what happens when I ask the boyfriend to help me in the kitchen.  Hehe…he had a little bit of fun taking pictures, wouldn’t you say?

While Trevor was melting the chocolate and butter for me, I prepared the egg and sugar mixture. Using an electric hand mixer, beat until nice and frothy.  Then when the chocolate was nice and smooth, I added it to the sugar/egg mixture.  Continue to beat until well mixed.

 

Make sure you also tap your pan a couple of times on the counter to remove possible air bubbles and to level out the batter.

Cover the top of the pan snugly with a sheet of foil and place into a larger baking dish, such as a roasting pan.  Then I added enough hot water to baking pan to come halfway up outside of the cake pan. 

I baked it for 75 minutes.  The cake is done when it feels just set, like chocolate pudding.  If you touch center gently with your finger, it should come away clean.  Lift cake pan from water bath and remove the foil.  Let the cake cool completely on a cooling rack before serving. 

Wine, Potatoes and Pork

Did everyone have a good weekend?  Mine was pretty good.  I finally made it to the wine store to bottle my batch of wine that’s been sitting since January.  I would have gone sooner but its been a busy few weeks.  Now I have 30 bottles of Chardonnay that are ready to be devoured. 

Trevor and I also watched a movie Saturday night. 

Arthur Bishop (Jason Statham) is a 'mechanic' - an elite assassin with a strict code and unique talent for cleanly eliminating targets. It's a job that requires professional perfection and total detachment, and Bishop is the best in the business. But when his mentor and close friend Harry (Donald Sutherland) is murdered, Bishop is anything but detached. His next assignment is self-imposed - he wants those responsible dead. His mission grows complicated when Harry's son Steve (Ben Foster) approaches him with the same vengeful goal and a determination to learn Bishop's trade. Bishop has always acted alone but he can't turn his back on Harry's son. A methodical hit man takes an impulsive student deep into his world and a deadly partnership is born. But while in pursuit of their ultimate mark, deceptions threaten to surface and those hired to fix problems become problems themselves.

I thought it was a good movie.  Lots of action and the story line keeps you interested. 

On on to good eats…..

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Every so often I have a craving for a good pot roast.  So on the menu for Sunday night was pork shoulder, yummy scalloped potatoes and veggies for dinner. 

The pork was very juicy, tender and flavourful.  It was a 2 Kg hunk of meat… I have a ton of leftovers, so I’m thinking I’ll get creative with pork for tomorrow’s meal.  I also found a way to make scalloped potatoes on stovetop since my oven was in use for the roast. 

And wait until you get a load of dessert.  It’s the world’s easiest, richest, chocolaty Chocolate cake ever. I guarantee you’ll be on Cloud 9 (or the Chocolate Cloud…either way… it’s pure bliss )

And will you believe me when I tell you the cake is …..

GLUTEN-FREE + DAIRY-FREE + VEGAN

And I only used 4 ingredients…really…that’s it

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So this is what happens when Trevor helps me out in the kitchen…. some pictures I find on my camera when I’m uploading them… thanks babe

Although I have no idea where the Shepherd picture came from.  Can you figure out what the 5th picture is? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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So that’s it for now…I will post the recipes for the roast, potatoes and chocolate cake in the next few days.  I’m actually just heading out the door in the next few minutes for a social. 

But I’m really excited to see our extended forecast too… they are forecasting 5 days of sunshine. 

Anything new in your neck of the woods?  See any good movies as of late?

 

Take care

Bea

xoxo