For the chocolate lovers…

This is my favourite brownie recipe ever! It’s from Jamie Oliver’s cookbook Cook with Jamie, (ISBN-13:978-1-4013-2233-5) this is my second favourite Jamie Oliver cookbook. These brownies are super decadent and are awesome with vanilla ice cream or with some Grand Marnier mixed into the batter. Give them a try and let me know what you think! (I will add photos next time I make them, this post is for a friend, she better enjoy them!)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup and 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 7oz best-quality dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), broken up
• 3/4 cup cocoa powder, sifted
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1-3/4 cup superfine sugar
• 4 large eggs
• optional: zest of one orange, 2-1/2oz dried sour cherries, 1-1/3oz chopped nuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, line a 12 inch baking pan with wax paper.
2. In a double boiler melt chocolate and butter together until smooth.
3. Add cherries and/or nuts if using them
4. In a separate bowl mix cocoa powder, flour, baking powder and then sugar. Add to melted chocolate.
5. Beat eggs and mix until you have a silky consistency.
6. Pour into baking pan and bake for about 25 minutes. Until outside is slightly springy.
7. Allow to cool before removing from pan.
8. Serve and enjoy!

(goes well with orange zest and crème fraiche)

Chocolate+Cheese+Cake=Yummy!!!

This weekend was my brother’s birthday and he asked for the same cake I have made him for the last couple of years. It seems to be one of my family’s favourite cakes. I’ve made it for birthdays, mother’s day, father’s day and pretty much whenever there is an occasion to have cake! This amazing cake is my double chocolate cheese cake. I have no idea where I originally got the recipe but it’s a super yummy cake!

Double Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups crushed chocolate cookie crumbs
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 3 packages (8oz. each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 8 squares semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup whipped cream
• fruit (my favourite are the frozen raspberries you can buy at most grocery stores)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cover bottom of a spring form pan with wax paper.
2. Mix crushed cookies and melted butter, press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake for ten minutes.
3. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
4. Add melted chocolate; mix well.
5. Add eggs 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each egg until just blended. Poor over crust.
6. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until the center is almost set.
7. Run knife or spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake, cool before removing rim of pan.
8. Refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Top with whipped cream and fruit.
9. Serve and enjoy!

Some pictures of the birthday double chocolate cheesecake:

del.icio.us Tags: food,cheesecake,chocolate,double chocoalte cheesecake,birthday cake,ottawa,adventures of an ottawa foodie,foodie,recipie