Chocolate Hazelnut Cake - Happy Birthday Mom!

Wow, it's been F-O-R-E-V-E-R since I've posted!

Well, what can I say, I've allowed the busyness of life, along with a good dose of laziness (to post) get the best of me. 

Although I don't have a recipe to share today, nonetheless, I just wanted to say a really quick "hello" and let you know I'll be back more often sharing some of the edible delights created in my kitchen. 

For my mom's birthday I baked a decadent chocolate hazelnut cake and cupcakes with nutella cream cheese filling and vanilla bean buttercream frosting...

Ladies and gentlemen, this cake is D-I-V-I-N-E!

My mom loved the cake, and as a lady she controlled herself to just one slice...

My husband on the other hand...un-ashamedly had three slices (you gotta love a man that loves chocolate cake).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

“Birthdays are occasions for looking forward to the making of plans, for dreaming dreams, and hoping they will come true".

Thanks and have a great day!

Strawberry White Hot Chocolate Frosted Tree of Love Cake

Anyone that knows me, knows how much I love the semisweet and bittersweet tastes of dark chocolate, and when it comes to white chocolate, well...

What can I say, I totally dislike white chocolate.  A mere derivative of chocolate, white chocolate, just doesn't cut it for me.  In fact, I dislike it so much that whenever I'm eating Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk (one of my faves), I spit out the white chocolate chunks (am I gross?).

Therefore, it came as a big surprise when I found myself quite intrigued, and very curious to try the Strawberry White Hot Chocolate made by Darla at Bakingdom (If you haven't already, you ought to check her site out, you'll be glad you did).

With the temperatures in the chilly 50's this past weekend...Yes, I know that's nothing compared to the truly cold temps some of you are experiencing in other parts of the country, right now. 

Trust me, as a former New Yorker, I know what it's like trekking through sleet or snow to the subway to get to work, while it's 20 degrees (or below) out...It can be downright nasty, and that my dear friends is one of the main reasons why I live in S. Florida.         

So, where was I? Oh yeah, it was chilly outside and with the necessary ingredients on hand, I was more than ready to sip on some hot chocolate, which by the way, was really, really delicious.  The fruity, sweet hot beverage totally hit the spot, and I was really looking forward to sharing some with my man Sam when he got home from work.  

When suddenly I had a light bulb moment (I love when that happens), and instead I baked a white cake, layered with dark chocolate ganache and covered it with a frosting I made using the leftover strawberry white hot chocolate.   

And for further kicks, in light of Sam's love of trees and Valentine's day just around the corner, I decided to have a little fun and made the "Tree of Love" decoration for my honey.

The cake and I could hardly wait to see his face when he got home. ;-)        

Ladies and Gentlemen...Sam loved it all (score)!!

This frosting is so delicious!

I've made strawberry cream cheese frosting before, but let me tell you, this one totally takes the cake (no pun intended).

The light and airy, velvety sweet strawberry goodness just sort of melts in your mouth.  

MMMM...its' so dreamy, you'll just want to pile on an extra serving on the side of your cake.

Trust me...That's what we did. ;-)

Thanks and have a great day!

"Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time." - Anonymous [source] 

Strawberry White Hot Chocolate Frosting

Inspired and adapted by Bakingdom's Strawberry White Hot Chocolate 

Yields approximately 4 cups  

Ingredients 

1 lb. strawberries, hulled

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 1/2 cups milk (I used coconut milk)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup white chocolate, chopped

8 oz. cream cheese, room temerature

1 cup butter, softened

2 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Pinch of salt

a few drops of food coloring (optional)

To Prepare (hot chocolate):

1. Slice the strawberries, then toss in a medium bowl with the sugar and lemon juice.  Cover and set aside for one hour.

2. Stir the strawberry mixture to evenly coat everything, then transfer to a blender or food processor.  Process until completely pureed, then press the strawberries through a fine mesh sieve to remove the seeds.

3. Transfer the mixture to a medium saucepan, add milk and cream and whisk until blended.  Cooking over over medium heat add the white chocolate, whisking constantly until it just barely begins to boil, about 10 minutes, remove from heat.

4. Reserve about one cup into a bowl, cover with saran wrap, touching the top to avoid a film from developing and put in fridge to cool.

5. Pour the remaining strawberry goodness into your favorite mug and top with marshmallows or whipped cream and enjoy.

To Prepare (frosting):

6. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter, salt and extracts for about 3 minutes on medium speed.

7. Stop mixer to scrape sides, add cooled strawberry mixture and sugar and beat on medium speed until completely smooth and blended for about 2-3 minutes (if using food coloring, add during the last minute).

Frost your cake and enjoy!

Nutella Chocolate Cookies...Delicious, Quick & Easy!

I made these Nutella Chocolate cookies last night as a treat for my niece and nephew to snack on during their trip to Louisiana for the Holidays.

Because I've been in the midst of the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, socializing, entertaining (yeah, just like you), and birthday cake baking (more on that later), I needed to make something that was delicious, quick and easy.  That's when I remembered the recipe I had saved from Tasty Kitchen for Nutella Cookies submitted by A Busy Nest.

With only four ingredients, you can have a batch of about two dozen of these scrumptious, slightly crispy and chewy cookies in about a 1/2 hour from start to finish.  Making them the perfect answer to a last minute holiday gift or dessert. 

If you've had Nutella before, then I know, that you know how highly addictive this stuff is.  I'm telling you, if you have not had the pleasure and I do mean pleasure, you must absolutely try it.  But I'm warning you, the combination of hazelnuts and chocolate is so divine, you won't be able to have just one ;-).  

Trust me, they are so delicious you will want to eat keep them for yourself...I slightly modified the recipe and it took a whole lot of will powerfor Sam and I to stop at the sixth (or was it eighth?), cookie.  

If the kids are anything like their aunt and uncle, the cookies won't get past their front door.

Thanks and have a great day...and a Blessed Holiday!

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.  ~Author Unknown

Nutella Chocolate Cookies

Inspired and Adapted by A Busy Nest

Yields approximately two dozen cookies

Ingredients

1 cup nutella

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup all-purpose flour (I used 1/2 all-purpose and 1/2 cake flour because I wanted a softer cookie)

1 egg

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder (optional - I added for an extra chocolate flavor)

1 Tablespoon half & half (optional - I added because the mixture seemed too dry)

Other optional ingredients to add would be chopped toasted hazelnuts and or chocolate chips.

To Prepare:

1. Preheat oven to 350F and line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silpat.

2. Blend all ingredients in mixing bowl for about 1 minute on medium speed.

3. Scoop approximately 1 inch balls on to cookie sheet about 2 inches apart and flatten slightly with your palm.

4. Bake for about 7-8 minutes or until set (or until you can no longer stand the sweet aroma from your oven).

5. Cool on wire rack for as long as you can stand it, pour yourself a glass of milk and enjoy!