Mid weekend update including choc-hazelnut cake

Firstly, thank you for all your lovely comments. I hope my work situation improves soon too or at least my attitude to it. Anyway, onto more interesting things. My weekend has been pretty manic - painting, my cousin's 16th birthday dinner, an unfruitful search for a lounge and a visit to a very special little boy. I'm having a quiet night tonight in preparation for another mammoth day tomorrow.

Here are my photos for my June photo challenge:

Day 12, photo 12 Chocolate & Hazelnut Ice Cream Cake

This is such an easy cake to make and an all round crowd pleaser. I've included the recipe if you're interested. It's from Recipes+ magazine (Jan/Feb 2008).

250g packet (6) mini chocolate rolls
6 egg yolks
1/2 cup caster sugar
220g Nutella (or other choc-hazelnut spread)
600ml thickened cream
1/3 cup roasted hazelnuts, chopped

1. Line a 22cm springform pan with plastic food wrap, extending it 5cm above the rim. Cut each roll into 6 slices. Stand a row of slices upright inside of pan at bottom edge. Use remainder to completely cover base, breaking cake as need to fill spaces.
2. Place yolks and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until thick and creamy. Add Nutella; beat until just combined. Beat in cream, then beat mixture for 5 minutes or until thickened slightly (mixture will still be runny).
3. Pour the mixture into pan. Sprinkle with hazelnuts. Cover with more plastic wrap, making sure it does not touch filling. Freeze overnight until firm.
*Serves 10-12* *Stand dessert 15 minutes at room temperature before serving* *Refrigerate egg whites airtight up to 4 days or freeze up to 6 months* *Enjoy!*

Day 12, photo 13 Sweet Sixteen

Day 13, photo 14 Potential Dining Room Light from Freedom

Not entirely sure about this yet but it is very pretty. Think I'll wait til my dining table is actually in the house though before I make a decision.

Hope you're enjoying this beautiful long weekend and let me know if you're getting up tomorrow morning for the World Cup game. It will be nice to know I have some company! Go Australia!!!

Love,
Cat x

Shall I bring dessert?...almond cake

Tonight I'm heading over to a friend's house for a birthday BBQ. A casual, BYO grog affair, it will be good to catch up with people I haven't seen in awhile. It's also a terrific excuse to whip out my cooking apron, crank up the oven and pull out my favourite cake book for inspiration.

Did I mention I love baking? I say you can never go too wrong with butter, sugar and flour!

We have about a kilo of almond meal at home (a result of miscalculation on an earlier biscuit recipe) so I though I'd make this simple almond cake. Unfortunately I can't tell you what the final result tastes like til after the party but I can tell you the raw mixture was delicious!

Here's the recipe if you're interested. It's adapted from the Cake Bible.

Almond Cake

150g butter
1 cup caster sugar
3 eggs
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 1/2 cups plain flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
70g almond meal
3/4 cup milk
icing sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius. Lightly grease and flour a 20 cm cake tin.

Cream butter and sugar, then beat in eggs and almond extract. Add sifted flour and baking powder and almond meal alternatively with milk. Mix well.

Pour into cake tin and bake for 50 minutes. Leave in tin for 10 minutes before removing. Dust with icing sugar.

Edit: the final product tasted delicious too! Moist and very almondy :-)