Cake. Pistachio. Chocolate. That’s it really. I don’t think I need to write anything more on the subject. It’s obviously going to be awesome on the basis of those 3 words alone. 
But if you need more, imagine crumbly soft pistachio cake sandwiched between a layer of milk chocolate frosting and more frosting on top. Or is it creamy frosting sandwiched between 2 crumbly layers of pistachio cake with frosting on top? Whichever you decide, it’s bloody gorgeous. I gave Christoph a choice of a few cakes and he chose this one. What can I say? He is a man of taste. Obviously.
Tag: Chocolate
{Chocolate Cake} with Frangelico & Chocolate Frosting
Man oh man, talk about indulgence. First of all let me just say that I had not planned on making a chocolate cake, let alone one that has frosting on top that is nearly as thick as one of the layers. And layers! Definitely didn’t think about making anything with layers. I love it when non-plans come together!
When I saw this awesome recipe in one of my favourite blogs, I just couldn’t resist. I needed cake. I mean neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeded it. Ok, fair enough that it feels like I need cake pretty much all the time but the week at work felt like it was never going to end. You know what I mean? One of those weeks. Add to that a few sleepless nights…you get the picture.
So I thought, alright let’s make a nice and chocolatey cake with frosting on top. That would cheer me up. I mean chocolate, right? But then I was like, wait a minute! If I am going to make this I may as well go all out. Double everything up? 2 cakes? Stack them? Tons of icing? Now we’re talking. Wait, what? Add some Frangelico? Oh my goodness yes!
Chocolate and Pistachio Cake {with Courgette and Rice Flour}
Thinking about a treat this Sunday? I hope I’m not too late as I have just the thing for you! Also as the lovely Angie from The Novice Gardener invited me to join them at their Fiesta Friday #5, I thought this would be perfect to take along. If you haven’t checked it out, go do it now! it’s an awesome potluck of beautiful recipes, posts and lovely people.
Brigadeiros
I’ve been craving chocolate massively this week end. And today I finally gave in to this craving. In possibly the most unhealthy way you could imagine.
I made Brigadeiros.
And they were exactly what I wanted. I felt hugely naughty but incredibly happy! Ah the power of chocolate. Don’t get me wrong, if I had to choose between a piece of cheese or a piece of chocolate, cheese would win 90% of the time (we have some Old Armsterdam – possibly my favourite cheese – in the fridge that we got from the most wonderful little shop in Arundel, that I am having to restrain myself from shovelling the whole thing in my mouth in one go).
But for those 10% of times, chocolate is my best friend. Sometimes, you don’t need much. Just one square of good chocolate will make you feel all warm inside and that will be enough. But at times, you need more. That little something more. And then…bliss.
I could have made a chocolate cake. Or any other wonderful way to use chocolate. But I had cocoa powder. And I had some deliciously bad for you condensed milk. Yup, condensed milk.
Fuck it, let’s do it. Let’s make these little badasses and eat all 12 (or more dependant on size) of them in one go. We only live once right? And indulging every once in a while is not only ok but recommended. In my opinion.
Some of you may remember when I last made them in this post here. Back then I made them in a slightly different way than the original by rolling them in coconut instead of chocolate sprinkles. This time we are getting the traditional option. Chocolate all the way.
I also know that last time a few people tried to make them and the consistency wasn’t quite right. And I think that’s my fault. I don’t believe I explained it properly. So this time you are getting a little vid to show you! It’s not a very good one but it will show you how you want it to be and that’s what matters.
For the recipe I used the same amounts as before, only that I halved it as I only used one small can of condensed milk. And instead of rolling it in coconut flakes, I used chocolate sprinkles.
Ingredients:
– a small tin of condensed milk
– 1/2 tbsp of butter
– 1 tbsp of cocoa powder ( you could add a bit more if you wanted 🙂 )
– Chocolate sprinkles
In a pan mix the condensed milk, butter and cocoa powder in a low to medium heat. Keep mixing, how long will depend I find on the type of pan you use, making sure you don’t forget the sides or it will burn. I mixed mine non stop for a good 10 min. You will know when it’s ready when you part the mixture with your wooden spoon and you can see the bottom of the pan. The consistency should be thick and glossy….here’s the vid! (I had taken it off the heat to show you and it took two tries as Christoph forgot to press record the first time! So by the time we videoed it it was already cooling down a little). You can find the video here
Once it reached the right consistency, leave it to cool in the pan. Have your chocolate on a plate/container. Once it’s cool, butter your hands and spoon some mixture onto your hands, rolling it into a ball. How big or how small you make them is totally up to you. 
Drop it onto the chocolate making sure it’s coated all over. Put them in little paper cups or use some colourful silicone cases, which was a present from my mother. Thanks mum! It is a Brazilian sweet after all!
Let yourself indulge. Keep it refrigerated, it tastes even better once you have left in the fridge for a while!
Apple, White Chocolate and Almond Muffin
Do you have one of those days where you feel super tired but you can’t really work out why? Today has been like this. Even now i am writing this and my eyes keep wanting to close. I feel I could sleep for days. Between me like that and Christoph being ill, our house has been very quiet today. We have had a day in bed watching films (Crystal Fairy and the Magic Cactus and Francis Ha, both of which I highly recommend), drinking huge cups of coffee and eating numerous muffins.
Apple, white chocolate and almond muffins to be precise, the only thing that kept us looking alive today as coffee wasn’t cutting it. Luckily I’ve been making them for years I can make them with my eyes closed.
We desperately needed the sweetness of the white chocolate to perk us up throughout the day. And I have to admit that they are probably the sweetest muffins I have made to date. It doesn’t mean that they are too sweet by any means. I just personally prefer dark chocolate but white chocolate is Christoph’s favourite and seeing as he is poorly I thought it would cheer him up. For him it was perfect sweetness. Next time though I will put less white chocolate. Keep this in mind if you make these and you are like me and prefer cakes/muffins that are less sweet!
Apple, White Chocolate and Almond Muffins (makes 12)
– 1 apple
– 90g white chocolate
– 1tbsp of almond butter
– 1 cup of self raising flour
– 1 cup of wholemeal flour
– 1/2 cup of golden caster sugar
– 1tsp of baking powder
– 1 egg
– 1/3 cup of vegetable oil
– 3/4 cup of milk
Optional: flaked almonds
Pre-heat oven to gas 4/180c non fan.
Core your apple and chop into small cubes. Chop the chocolate in the same way. Put in a bowl. Add your almond butter and all the other ingredients in the order above except for the flaked almonds. Mix it all really well. Butter your muffin tray and divide the mixture. Add a little flaked almonds onto each muffin. Bake for 20min.
They are super easy to make and really delicious and you can use the basic ingredients and make whichever flavour you want. I have made them in dozens of different flavours and it works great every time.
I hope you enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening! Tomorrow is Monday and I wish I could sleep through it all the way to Tuesday.
xoxo
Littlebitsofnice 