posted by Maree 07-24-98 7:16 AM
Rol's [Gretta Anna's mother] Chocolate Cake:
***Warning you need a food processor with a strong motor for this:
First, preheat oven- 325F/170C :
Then, place in a strong-motored food processor:
220g (7oz + 2 teaspoons) butter cut into small dice;
150g (5 oz) plain (all purpose) flour
200g sugar (7oz MINUS 2 teaspoons)
30g (1oz) cocoa powder
3 eggs
75ml (2 + 1/2 fl. oz water)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
Method:
Process 10 seconds. Scrape down inside of bowl with a spatula. Process a further 5 seconds. Do not overprocess.
(I use 'pulse'). It's Ok to have small pieces of undissolved butter in the mixture.
Pour into 20cm (8") buttered torte tin (I use a springform pan) and bake in a 325F/170C preheated oven for ~ 50
min or until skewer comes out clean from the centre of the cake. Allow cake to cool in pan. Then remove from pan. Ice.
Icing: (Or use your favourite recipe/ mix) Beat together 40g cocoa (1 oz PLUS 2 teaspoons) cocoa 60g (2oz) butter, 250g (8oz PLUS 2 teaspoons) icing sugar (confectioners' sugar a *little* boiling water. (Be really careful not to add too much too soon. I use freshly squeezed orange juice to replace most of the water).
Ice the top and sides of cake with the icing when cake has cooled. Store in an airtight tin/ container. Also freezes
well- suggest you cut into serving sizes prior to serving- makes life easier.
This can be made / dressed up to be as 'grown up' as you like, though we think it's just delicious as it is.
Dress it up:
If you wish (or if it starts to get stale- unlikely in this house), drizzle with a small amount of liquoeur (Cointreau,
Grand Marnier, Tia Maria etc.) and serve either with pouring cream or double or whipped cream on the side. For
a special occasion/ to impress, a serving of berries would also be a good accompaniment as might 'shaved' chocolate.
The possibilities are limitless.
Dress it 'down':
Ice with a 'regular' chocolate icing. It is very welcome in school/ work lunch boxes. It also sells well at fetes, fairs
and those bring and buy stalls that come around regularly.