For Chocolate Lovers - Daring Baker's Challenge

It is time again for another Daring Baker's Challenge Post!

The February Challenge comes to you from Wendy at wmpesblog (Arizona) and Dharm at Dad - Baker and Chef (Malaysia).

The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef. We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.


As you can see from my photo you can see I failed to turn off the flash before taking the picture, but there were not second chances due to the devouring of the cake. :o) This cake is a flourless cake, yes you heard me right, flourless. I veganized the original recipe in hopes that is would work and it did!!! The ice cream is another story, but hey everything still tasted good.

Chocolate Valentino Veganized

16oz of vegan chocolate chips. (I used half chocolate and half carob)
1/2 cup of Earth Balance
5 Tablespoons of flaxseed meal
1 1/4 cup of water
2 Tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons of Ener-G Egg Replacer
3/4 cup plus 1 Tablespoon of warm water

In a small bowl mix together the flaxseed meal and 1 1/4 cup of water so that it has time to get all gooey.

Melt the chocolate and EB in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Stir until the chocolate and EB are melted and well blended.

Blend the chocolate mixture and flaxseed mixture together. It will be almost rubbery as you do this, but keep mixing.

Beat your Egg Replacer and warm water together until you achieve stiff peaks. Once you do gentle fold 1/3 of this into your chocolate mixture and repeat until all is gently folded in.

Prepare your pan with oil and parchment paper if you choose. I baked mine in a large muffin tin and did not use parchment paper, but believe I will next time. They were a little frustrating to get out of the pan. I baked mine at 375 for about 40 minutes. The original recipe calls to bake the cake for 25 minutes and that it will be similar to a brownie look with an internal temperature of 140. I checked after 25 minute and the internal temperature was 140, but they were still goop so I continued baking until the toothpick came out clean. Cool on a cake rack for about 10 minutes before removing from the pan.

DH love these. He said he wished they were a bit sweeter, but it was because I used half unsweetened carob chips. A girl has to use what is on had with today's economy. All and all they were a great success.

Now for the ice cream part. I don't own an ice cream maker and as you can see I had little success making it without one. I have to tell you that I used the new Mimic Creme as my base along with sugar and vanilla and the flavor was right one. Therefore my little chocolate lovers are bathing in a beautiful, flavorful melted ice cream. :o)

Enjoy!!!

What's a Girl to Do!

First let me thank all of you for your kind words, prayers, and thoughts. Dad had his facial reconstruction done. He was not able to have everything fixed. The surgeon did not think Dad would survive a 6 to 10 hour surgery. They were able to repair his nose, jaw, part of his chin, and ankles, which took about 2 hours. He sounds good and has been moved to a rehab facility. They say he may have to be there for about 4 months. We told him whatever it takes to get better. You just fight and stay strong and positive!

Now if having dad in the hospital is not enough our precious Shiloh, she is s lab Akita mix) started acting very strange on Friday. She would try and walk and just fall over. Her head seemed to be cocked to the left and she would not straighten it out. I began to cry because I was so scared. Sh is my baby. Her birthday is next month and she will be 13. I know that is getting up in age for a large dog, but you would not know she is that old. She runs, wrestles, and plays like a kid. She goes hiking in the mountains and eats just fine. Well I called DH and told him and he told me to call the vet immediately. I did and they said we can bring her in Saturday afternoon. By Saturday morning she seemed worse and after calling the vet they said bring her right in. I thought by now that she must have an ear infection and her equilibrium is off. It was just too sad. We had to pick her up to get her in and out of the car because she was not stable enough to do it herself. I want you to know that my DH was so proud of me because I was trying so hard not be hysterical. I don't handle loosing my kids! After the vet examined her the news was not what we wanted to hear, it is neurological. He gave us two possible problems, either an infection in her brain or a brain tumor. Can you say sick? I knew I had to be strong because Shiloh looks to me for help and I didn't want her to see my a mess. We got 2 antibiotics and steroids in hopes that it would help. By Saturday night Shiloh was really bad. She could not even lay down on her bed without falling down. She would try to go outside to do her business and run into things and fall down just trying to get outside. At this point I was hysterical and didn't know what to do. DH and I had family prayer and I couldn't even pray only tears came out. I said I don't want her to suffer. He said I don't think she is suffering and in pain. I agree, but she looks at me with those sweet eyes asking, "Mom what is wrong?" She has faithfully taken her different meds twice a day and to our amazement today she has her head almost straight, walks with little problem, and ran outside today to play with Joshua our other fur kid. She goes back in a week to see how she is doing. I am praying that is was an infection and she is going to be ok. Sorry for rambling, but sometimes you just need to spill your guts.



I know this is not a post of yummy food, but I have had little imagination or creativity in the kitchen. I am hoping that life will get better very soon. I need to remember to be of good cheer and fear not, but as a human that is sometimes so tough. I do have a yummy dessert to share, but can't post that until Friday so stay tuned.

Super grandson making us smile!

Hugs to all of you!!!

Thank you and an update on dad.

Hi Everyone,

No food porn today, just a quick thank you for all your kind words, well wishes, and prayers for my sweet father-in-law. I hope you all know how much DH and I appreciate your love. I thought no better day than today, Valentines Day, to say thank you. Dad had his heart surgery and that went well. While healing he has fallen 3 times in the hospital. Once when DH was with him, once when he got up by himself to get his water during the night (why the nurses had his water out of reach is beyond all of us), and once while the nurses had him standing while changing his sheets (another why wasn't he sitting?). The reason he kept falling was because of super low blood pressure, like 80/40 NOT GOOD! The good news is that his blood pressure has improved and he will be able to start the facial reconstruction on Monday, the bad news is during the last 2 falls he broke both ankles and they have to do surgery on one of them and possible the other. My sweet husband is the light of his fathers life and just sitting with him up to 8 hours a day has done a tremendous amount of good for dad. I will keep you posted on how things go on Monday. Once again thank you all, for you concern, thoughts, and love.