Foodgasms

[tortoise]

oooooh, where did you find them? I need new pans!

Calphalon One are friggin' awesome pans, too. Hard anodized aluminimum, with a durable nonstick coating. They heat up in a blink of an eye, and very evenly.

Yeah, where'd you get them? For that price, I could get the set and just have a spare 10" pan.

 

[thør]

They suck rocks unless modifications are made.

Nice, complicated, elaborate modifications.

Welders think they know BBQ's.

 

[tortoise]

They suck rocks unless modifications are made.

Nice, complicated, elaborate modifications.

Yeah. And racing stripes. Only then will they be suitable for Smoked Julie with Mint.

 

[tortoise]

Welders think they know BBQ's.

He even made a turkey fryer out of nucular [sic] steel and junk. Srsly.

 

[Collette]

YAY! That's an unbelievable price, baby.

Yes. Kitchen gadget porn is TOTALLY embraced here.

Yeah, I was kicking myself for not getting them at WS on sale, but this deal was even better.

oooooh, where did you find them? I need new pans!

I found them at Macy's. They're packaged together in a red cardboard pack that says "Limited Time Offer". These are the pans...

http://www.calphalon.com/calphalon/consumer/products/productGroup.jhtml?catId=CLCat100205

 

[tortoise]

*boner*

Oh, and the pans are nice, too.

 

[Collette]

Calphalon One are friggin' awesome pans, too. Hard anodized aluminimum, with a durable nonstick coating. They heat up in a blink of an eye, and very evenly.

Yeah, where'd you get them? For that price, I could get the set and just have a spare 10" pan.

These are the "Contemporary Nonstick", instead of the "One Nonstick" (which reg. run about $50 more per pan).

 

[tortoise]

These are the "Contemporary Nonstick", instead of the "One Nonstick" (which reg. run about $50 more per pan).

Still a phenomenal deal, and a fine pan. I had the 10" Contemporary for several years before I got the One.

 

[BallinaB]

This is my favorite chocolate cake, I make this every year for my brother in law's birthday.

It takes some time but it really is that good, enjoy.


Mrs. D's "She Ain't Heavy" Chocolate Cake
from Celebrate with Chocolate by Marcel Desaulniers

"She Ain't Heavy" Chocolate Cake:
1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
3/4 lb (3 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 ounce pieces
2 cups cake flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1-3/4 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1-1/4 cups whole milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

"Hasn't Failed Me Yet" Cocoa Icing:
1-1/4 lbs confectioner's sugar
1-1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder
1-1/4 lbs (5 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 ounce pieces
1/2 cup whole milk
1 tsp pure vanilla extract


Make Mrs. D's "She Ain't Heavy" Chocolate Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350F.

Lightly coat the insides of three 9 x 1-1/2-inch cake pans with some of the melted butter. Line the bottoms of the pans with parchment paper (or wax paper), then lightly coat the paper with more melted butter. Set aside.

In a sifter combine the cake flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Sift onto a large piece of parchment paper (or wax paper) and set aside.

Place the sugar and the 3/4 pound butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Mix on low speed for 1 minute, then beat on medium until soft, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle. Continue beating on medium for an additional 2 minutes until very soft. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle. Add the eggs one at a time, beating on medium for 30 seconds after each addition, and scraping down the sides of the bowl once the eggs have been incorporated. Operate the mixer on low while gradually adding about half of the dry ingredients, followed by about half of the milk. Once these ingredients have been incorporated, about 1-1/2 minutes, gradually add the remaining dry ingredients, followed by the milk; mix until incorporated, about 1-1/2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and hte paddle. Don't be concerned if the batter looks a bit odd texturally at this point (because of the interaction between the milk and the butter); it will come together nicely with the next step.

Add the vanilla extract and mix on low for 5 seconds; beat on medium for 1 minute until thoroughly combined. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the ingredients until thoroughly combined. Now the batter looks very thick, a bit like soft-serve ice cream, but please don't taste, because the ingestion of raw yolks may not be salubrious. Immediately divide the cake batter among the prepared pans (about 2-1/4 cups in each pan), spreading evenly (an off-set spatula would work best).

Bake on the top and center racks in the oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake layer comes out clean, about 35 minutes. (Rotate the pans from top to center halfway through the baking time). Remove the cake layers from the oven and cool in the pans for 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature. Invert the cake layers onto cake circles (or cake plates) wrapped with plastic wrap or lined with parchment paper or wax paper. Carefully peel the paper away from the bottoms of the layers. Refrigerate the cake layers while preparing the icing.

Make Mrs. D's "Hasn't Failed Me Yet" Cocoa Icing:
In a sifter combine the confectioner's sugar and cocoa powder. Sift onto an extra large (about 12 x 20 inches) piece of parchment paper (or wax paper) and set aside.

Place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Mix on low speed for 1 minute; increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes until soft. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle. Beat on medium for 2 more minutes until very soft. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle. Operate the mixer on the lowest speed (stir) while gradually adding about half the amount of dry ingredients, followed by half the amount of milk. Once these ingredients have incorporated, about 2 minutes, add the remaining dry ingredients, followed by the remaining milk; mix until incorporated, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle. Beat on medium for 1 more minute until very soft and fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and mix on low for 5 seconds; increase the speed to medium and beat for 1 minute until very soft and fluffy. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the icing until thoroughly combined.

Assemble Mrs. D's "She Ain't Heavy" Chocolate Cake:
Remove the cake layers from the refrigerator. Turn one of the layers onto a clean cake circle (or cake plate), then peel off the paper. Use a cake spatula to spread 1-1/2 cups of icing evenly and smoothly over the top and to the edges of the cake layer. Turn a second cake layer onto the iced layer, then peel off the paper. Use a cake spatula to spread 1-1/2 cups of icing evenly and smoothly over the top and to the edges of the cake layer. Turn the remaining cake layer onto the second iced layer and gently press the layers into place. Spread the remaining icing over the top and sides of the entire cake. Refrigerate the cake for 1 hour before serving.

 

[Collette]

It's chocolate and has eight sticks of butter. It's automatically in the book and Paula Dean will adopt you.

 

[BallinaB]

It's chocolate and has eight sticks of butter. It's automatically in the book and Paula Deen will adopt you.

I could only get so lucky, I do love that woman and this cake. I might have to make it for Easter dessert.

 

[Collette]

I could only get so lucky, I do love that woman and this cake. I might have to make it for Easter dessert.

My son was just asking for chocolate cake last night, so I'll have to try it.

And I have to officially confess that Paula's last name is spelled "Deen"...cause Tort told me so. *grin*

 

[tortoise]

Yeah, but Deen just looks all kinds of wrong. I say we force her to change it to Dean.

 

[BallinaB]

My son was just asking for chocolate cake last night, so I'll have to try it.

And I have to officially confess that Paula's last name is spelled "Deen"...cause Tort told me so. *grin*

I edited it for you.

Let me know how it comes out. Sometimes I'll add raspberry jam in between the layers, also delish.

 

[BallinaB]

Yeah, but Deen just looks all kinds of wrong. I say we force her to change it to Dean.

Either way, I still want her to adopt me.

 

[tortoise]

Totally. If you don't love Paula, you're just... wrong. It's a maxim.

 

[tortoise]

Let me know how it comes out. Sometimes I'll add raspberry jam in between the layers, also delish.

Oh! I like that idea. Raspberry and chocolate make my mouth happy.

 

[Collette]

I edited it for you.

Let me know how it comes out. Sometimes I'll add raspberry jam in between the layers, also delish.

Ha! Thanks.

I love the combination of chocolate and raspberry (also chocolate w/orange) so I'll bet the jam is amazing with it.

You know, someone really needs to snap Bobby Deen up. He's a cutie and how cool to have Paula as a MIL.

 

[Saint Peter]

He even made a turkey fryer out of nucular [sic] steel and junk. Srsly.

*beams*

No modifications needed, thank you very much.

 

[thør]

He even made a turkey fryer out of nucular [sic] steel and junk. Srsly.

Like thats a hard thing.........

 

[Saint Peter]

Like thats a hard thing.........

Maybe you should see the craftsmanship in my turkey fryer before passing judgment.

 

[thør]

Maybe you should see the craftsmanship in my turkey fryer before passing judgment.

Send me an invite to the turkey fry.......

 

[Delicacy]

It's chocolate and has eight sticks of butter. It's automatically in the book and Paula Dean will adopt you.

To hell with Paula, I want Ballina!

 

[BallinaB]

To hell with Paula, I want Ballina!

You just want my cake.

 

[tortoise]

And eat it, too.