Flourless Chocolate Cake

Mom and I love flourless chocolate cake, this was my first attempt. Next time I will use only dark chocolate. 

12 oz chocolate chips (I used half semi sweet and half bittersweet this time... Next time I will use just bittersweet as mom and I like it dark)

1 cup butter 

1/4 cup huckleberry vodka (use whatever liquor you like)  

7 eggs 

1 cup sugar 

2 Tbs vanilla 

Cocoa powder 

Powders sugar

Smoked sea salt 

Preheat oven to 350

In a double boiler ( or metal bowl over sauce pan full of hot water) 

Melt butter add huckleberry vodka and chocolate, mix till smooth 

Remove from heat 

While cooking in a mixing bowl whisk the heck out (or use an electric mixer) of the 7 eggs, sugar and vanilla. Should be frothy and double in volume. 

Slowly add a little egg mixture at a a time to the still warm chocolate mix and combine thoroughly. 

Prepare a springform pan. I used foil as I didn't have wax paper (wax paper would be better) wrap the bottom, or cut paper to fit. Wrap foil around outside of the pan going up sides. 

Spray the inside of the pan with cooking spray. 

Place spring form with the foil in a roasting pan and fill the spring form with the batter. Fill the roasting pan with enough water to go half way up the outside of the springform. 

Place in the oven and cook 30-35 minutes (toothpick should come out clean) don't over cook it should be fudgy

Remove from oven and remove springform from water-bath. 

Run a knife around the sides of the cake to loosen from springform. 

When cool enough to handle remove cake from springform 

Combine equal parts cocoa and powdered sugar in a fine sieve and dust cake till well covered 

Sprinkle smoked salt lightly  

Enjoy! It was really good! It will be even better with dark chocolate! 

 

Smoked Salmon Dill Carrot Stuffed Mushrooms

  

Made these for Mim and her friends. 

12 mushrooms cleaned and stems removed/ set aside

1 carrot peeled and finely diced

The stems of all the mushrooms finely diced 

2 oz smoked salmon 

1/4 cup mayonnaise 

1/2 Parmesan 

3 Tbs capers 

2 Tbs dill 

1 Tbs olive oil 

Heat oven to 350 

Heat olive oil in skillet and sauté carrots, dill and mushroom stem till soft. 

In mixing bowl combine the rest of ingredients, add cooked items and mix thoroughly 

Stuff each mushroom cap with the mixture and arrange in a pie pan

Add a little water to the bottom of the pan. 

Cover pan loosely with foil

Cook for approx 20 min

Uncover and continue cooking until tops are golden and mushrooms are cooked thoroughly. 

Carefully remove from water and arrange on platter. Will be very hot.

Wait 3 minutes

Serve. 

Amazing Wine!

Rioja!! If you see this get it! Drink it! Lovely rich wine with tones of plum, leather, raisin and tobacco. Nice medium tannin. Delicious, smooth and a bit sinful! Fantastic Spanish wine- Marques de Murrieta reserva 2008 Rioja 

Rogue Voodoo Doughnut - pretzel, raspberry and chocolate ale

Verdict 

VerdictSo we got a new beer in at work and I immediately bought it

I mean come on! I love Rogue! I love Voodoo doughnuts! I love pretzels, raspberry and chocolate! It has to be fabulous right?!?! 

Verdict: AMAZING!!! Oh my god! The raspberry is what you notice first, then the chocolate then the pretzel .. The flavor blooms in your mouth. It's exceptionally smooth. There is a nice malty quality. Fantastic dessert beer! 

Watson Girls Huckleberry Pie

My Aunt doesn't like to cook but she makes a mean pie and is great at canning chutneys, jams etc. 

This recipe comes from her and is one my mom uses as well. I tried my hand at it the first time today. 

The focus clearly is awesome huckleberries. 

Preheat oven to 350F 

I made a shortbread crust with:

2 sticks (1 cup) sweet cream salted butter

2 cups all purpose flour 

2/3 cup confectioners sugar 

I melted the butter a smidge in the microwave to soften and then mixed in the flour and sugar and mix up till well blended and resembles cookie dough 

Press into a pie pan I used a 9" but there is enough dough for 10" or 11" the crust will just be thinner. 

Bake empty pie crust 12-15 min or until golden. Set aside to cool when done and turn off the oven, you won't need it again. 

For the filling: 

Take 2-3 Tablespoons Cornstarch

mix with 1/2 cup water

In a pot on the stovetop boil

1/2-2 cups huckleberries (blueberries would work well also) 

1/3-1/2 cup sugar and the water cornstarch mix.  

Stir at a boil for about 2 minutes or until the mixture is thick.

Take off heat. 

Stir into mix 1 Tablespoon Butter and 

An additional 2 cups of fresh berries. 

Pour into cooked pie shell. 

Let set in refrigerator. 

Enjoy and get bliss end out on huckleberries 

Wine ! - Chateau Ducasse Bordeaux 2013

I have started reading The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil because I have started working at an awesome Wine, Beer and Specialty Food store: Brix Bottleshop here in town. 

While I am pretty confident about Washington wines and to some degree Oregon and Idaho wines my global knowledge is a little lacking. This book has mostly good reviews and is used in several sommolier training courses so I thought it would be a good guide. My friend Justina ( who is knowledgable to the utmost) hates it for some reason, but I am reading on with caution. 

The first area covered in the book is Bordeaux so tonight I sampled a lovely white variety: 

The Chateau Ducasse Bordeaux 2013 reasonably priced around $16. 

The nose is subtle, a bit mineral and floral with a bit of citrus. 

Initially in the mouth, the wine has light lemon zest and orange blossom with a bit of nice mineral, it softens by the end with a touch of honey. 

This is a very lovely drinkable wine indeed I'm finding it hard to limit myself to one glass. It fills the mouth with subtle complex flavor in a fantastic smooth way and is excellent with food. 

Tonight I made a ratatouille/polenta bake hibrid with eggplant, zucchini, yellow squash, polenta and onion with a bit of Italian herbs, ricotta and Parmesan and the wine partnered quite well. 

This is one I will most definitely come back to.... Some day after I explore a bunch of other wines on my journey through the Wine Bible. 

Mediterranean Sole

4 fillet of sole

1/2 sweet onion sliced

1/2 Clove elephant garlic 

2tbs sun dried tomato

1tbs capers

1 cup spinach

4 teaspoons feta cheese 

Olive oil

Prepared pesto

Lime juice 

Salt, pepper, dill 

Carmalize the onion in a sautéed pan, add garlic and sauté till soft, add in sun dried tomatoes, capers and spinach. Sauté till spinach is wilted. 

Remove from heat 

Lay fillets out and spoon an equal mixture of the filling along each fillet

Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of feta cheese along top of the filling. 

Roll up the fillets. 

Place in a greased pie pan, seam side down.

Top with a dollop of pesto and sprinkle with salt, pepper, dill and a little lime juice 

Bake in 350 oven for 15-20 minutes. 

Mom said this was a keeper and good for people who think they don't like fish... It's so good they will change their mind. 

Domaine Carneros Pinot Noir 2010

A smooth Pinot with a lovely balance.  Not too sweet and not too dry. Berry tones, cranberry and just a little oak. Very drinkable!!

Spring is a perfect time for a cleanse! Not just of your home but of your body! A little over a week ago I got introduced to DoTerra Pure Essential oils. I'm in love with them. 1. They smell really good. 2. I firmly believe in the healing benefits to be gained through pure essential oils. 3. These are the highest quality oils on the market. They are tested rigorously for purity.

In the one week of use I have noticed a remarkable improvement in my mood (despite having a really tough week), my energy and my mental clarity.  I've been using melaleuca (tea tree) on blemishes and they are clearing up in half the time.

My DoTerra friend and mentor is putting on a  Spring Cleanse!!! If you want to jump start your spring and summer in  a healthy way. Sign up! Tell her Dionysus Daughter ... (otherwise known as Erica Neils) sent you.

Thai inspired pork soup

Mom insisted I write this one down. 

1. 7.3 lb pork sirloin roast chopped into stew sized pieces

1. Portabella mushroom cut into stew sized pieces 

1. Large onion chopped large

1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro chopped

About two handfuls of baby carrots 

Two stalks of celery chopped fine 

1. Can coconut milk

1. Cup of water

1/4 cup tomatillo sauce 

About 3 tablespoons dried basil

Salt and pepper 

Pretty much this was a "what do I have in the fridge and pantry?" invention but it turned out really well. 

Put in a crockpot and simmer for at least 5 hours. 

It's not the prettiest soup but it's delicious 

Gourmet Tuna Melt

Why yes that is a tuna melt. A tuna melt of awesomeness .

12 grain bread 

topped with steamed kale

Topped with tuna salad (mayo, Dijon, relish, sun dried tomatoes, dill, salt and pepper) 

Topped with Swiss cheese. 

Stuck in the oven for about 10 minutes at 350F 

Delicious!!