Long Winter’s Night Chocolate Cake

Since Michelle Obama isn’t in your kitchen and the Winter of 2011 is expected to be a long one, here are two recipes for chocolate cake, the fast and the elegant: One Step Chocolate Cake: This amazing, elegant, easy to make chocolate cake from [url=http://www.bonniestern.com]http://www.bonniestern.com[/url] would make the perfect chocolate Birthday Cake for someone you know: 1 cup (250mL) sugar 1 egg 1/2 cup (125 mL) milk 1/2 cup (125 mL) unsweetened coca (scant) 1/2 cup (125 mL) soft butter 1 teaspoon (5 mL) vanilla 11/2 cups (375 mL) all-purpose flour 11/2 tsp (7 mL) baking powder 1 tsp (5mL) baking soda pinch salt 1/2 cup (125 mL) hot coffee

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Icing 4 oz. (125g) semi-sweet chocolate chopped 1/2 cup (125 mL) whipping cream fresh raspberries Method: Place sugar, egg, milk, cocoa, butter, vanilla, flour, baking power, baking soda, salt and coffee in a food processor. Process until smooth. Put in a buttered 8”/22cm springboard pan lined with a round of parchment paper. Bake in a pre-heated 325F/160C oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until firm when gently pressed in the centre. Cool on rack. Remove from pan. For icing: Combine chocolate and cream in a glass dish and microwave one minute. Stir to melt. Pour on to centre of cake, allowing icing to spread over the cake and down the sides. Top with raspberries. Serves 6 to 8.

5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

4 tablespoons flour 4 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons cocoa 1 egg 3 tablespoons milk 3 tablespoons oil 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) A small splash of Vanilla Extract 1 large coffee mug (MicroSafe) Method: Spray mug with nonstick spray like Pam Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate. (This can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). This cake would be first on the food cops’ hit list. Why? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake any time of the day or night.