Thursday, March 10, 2011

Bon Appétit and Bonne Fête~


I do..I love my daughters To The Moon And Back~

One of them ..just turned 34.. our youngest~


Where did the time fly? She has 3 boys of her own now.. 5,3 and 1..

We got together for dinner.. fajitas and chili and nachos etc..
Everyone enjoyed everything..We were at our other daughter's home.. she also made a huge cute heart shaped cookie full of smarties for the boys..I said that's so cute what's the recipe? She said you buy a can of pre-made dough and lay it out heart shaped.. I thought it was so cute..She cracked me up..Her answer was quick and witty!

That was for the kidlets..
I was in charge of the adult dessert..
I made a cake that caught my eye in the February 2011 issue of BA..



It was good according to my family..I decorated it w/ fresh chocolate sprinkles and Jacquelines' little chocolate cups from Chocolate Purple Home..I didn't have raspberries so used quarters of fresh Strawberries..


And here is the recipe ..courtesy of BA~

Cocoa Layer Cake
10 servings
PREP TIME: 1 hour
TOTAL TIME: 3 hours (includes chilling time)
Recipe by Alice Medrich

Ingredients
cake
1/2 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (spooned into cup to measure, then leveled)
1 cup lukewarm water, divided
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups cake flour (spooned into cups to measure, then leveled)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature, beaten to blend
frosting
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
1 cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
special equipment
3 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 11/2-inch-high sides
Preparation
cake
Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. Line with parchment paper rounds; butter parchment. Whisk cocoa and 1/2 cup warm water in small bowl. Whisk buttermilk and 1/2 cup water in another small bowl. Sift flour, baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat both sugars and butter in large bowl until pale yellow and fluffy (mixture will appear granular), about 5 minutes. With mixer running, gradually add beaten eggs, then beat until smooth and fluffy, about 15 seconds. Add cocoa mixture; beat to blend. Add flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk mixture in 2 additions, beating to blend after each addition. Divide batter among pans (about 1 3/4 cups each).
Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, reversing pans halfway through baking, about 18 minutes. Cool completely in pans on racks.
frosting
Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar, cocoa, espresso powder, and 1/2 teaspoon (scant) salt. Gradually stir in cream. Stir until mixture is very hot and just begins to simmer at edges. Reduce heat to low; stir 1 minute to let flavors blend. Transfer to medium bowl; stir in vanilla (frosting will resemble chocolate sauce). Chill until just thickened, stirring occasionally, about 1 1/2 hours. Let stand at room temperature.
Run knife around cake sides. Carefully invert 1 cake onto plate (cake is very tender); peel off parchment. Spread with 1/2 cup frosting. Invert second cake onto palm of hand. Position cake 2 inches above frosted cake layer. Carefully slide cake onto first cake layer. Peel off parchment. Spread cake with 1/2 cup frosting. Repeat with third cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake. Do AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome; let stand at room temperature.
Cut into wedges and serve.
I'll put my thinking cap on soon for our other daughter's 36th birthday..
Vraiment..le temps semble passer si vite.. quand nous regardons nos enfants~

Thank you Jacqueline.. Delicious little cups~

Not baking very much lately..busy:)

So posts may be less..
Have a great rest of week~

28 comments:

  1. Beautiful Monique...love the photo of your daughter! I'm sure it was a special day.
    Sending so many blessings
    Shel x

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  2. Bonne Fête to your daughter. Times does fly; I have 4 sons that I also love to the moon. Lucky me, now I also have 2 darling grand daughters.
    Rita

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  3. I know how much you both love your children too:)
    It makes us understand each other:)

    Yes Rita you are right the spouses they chose become dear also:)

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  4. I adore the picture of your daughter! I have seen that look on my daughter's face! Family get togethers are so much fun. It sounds as though you had a great meal and of course, lovely desserts!

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  5. Je souhaite à votre fille une merveilleuse fête et je sais qu'avec une maman comme vous devez être, elle aura une journée comblée.
    Elle est adorable sur cette photo votre fille... et hum vous allez vous régaler...
    Gros bisous à vous deux.

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  6. Happy Birthday to your dear daughter!
    I love you to the moon and back is also one of our terms of love here...
    My son when he was little told me the moon was not far enough...he loved me to Pluto and back...he is the one who is going to be an engineer...time flies away...
    Your cake looks perfect!
    L~xo

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  7. I know what you mean about time flying! My first born turns 30 next month!

    I love your sprinkle laden cake with the mini cups on top, the more chocolate the merrier in my world ;)

    Happy Birthday to C!

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  8. Your lovely sprinkle cake looks just perfect -with the petite cupcakes on top. How wonderful that you live close to your daughter and can enjoy family celebrations together - so.. special. xx

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  9. WHAT A SWEET TREAT! Love the submerged berry.. well, i might as well say it in public I am a chocolate addict... and love chocolate with fruit. One of my favorites is dunking a berry in homemade chocolate sauce... did it about 5 minutes ago!!

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  10. Happy birthday to your daughter Monique. Time does fly doesn't it. Your sprinkle cake is beautiful. What a lovely treat. Family get=togethers are so special.
    Sam

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  11. happy birthday to your daughter :)

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  12. I'm learning what fun daughters can be...looking forward to the best friends they become later in life. Beautiful dessert and beautiful daughter. Thanks for sharing especially if you have been so busy - always love your posts.

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  13. I love the photo of your daughter- I agree where did the time go???
    Your cake looks perfect!

    Take care,
    Carolyn

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  14. Monique, this is a beautiful post. Daughters are precious but grow so fast alas.

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  15. Happy Birthday to that sweet daughter. What a darling photo!
    Thanks for the recipe. I'd love to have a piece of that right now. I need a dessert before dinner. LOL
    ~ Sarah

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  16. Hard to believe isn't it? I can't believe my little boys has 4 little ones, time flies.
    Best wishes to her and the little desserts are super!

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  17. I can't believe you shared my secret recipe ;)
    That was such a yummy cake you made :)

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  18. Oh, this is such s sweet, sweet post. So heartfelt! Love it to bits. :) The photo of your baby ... so pretty!

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  19. What an adorable foto of your daughter :) precious memories....

    Glad you had fun and the cakes are adorable. As always.

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  20. Thanks everyone..have a great weekend..

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  21. Your loved ones are so beautiful and you take such lovely photos of them.

    I feel so honored to be mentioned and the strawberry cups look fabulous. I am going to have to try them. I would love a slice of that chocolate cake for breakfast today!

    What a fun party, sounds like the food was wonderful. It is so fun to have everyone contribute and let them

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  22. Happy, Happy belated birthday to dear C! What a darling little girl, (and now a beautiful woman.)

    What a fun celebration, and a perfect dessert, too!
    Beautiful photos Mme. Magical Monique. xo

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  23. Le temps passe très vite, c'est sûr ! Mais c'est beau de voir ses enfants grandir !
    Bisous
    Hélène

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  24. What lucky daughters that their mother bakes such delicious treats for them. I'm the one doing all the baking in my family! :)

    My mum was only saying the other day how quickly time seems to have gone. We are a family of two girls, too. A *few* years older than yours. :)

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  25. Bonne Fête to your daughter!! What a darling little girl she was. Your love of your daughters and your precious family comes through with each word....to the moon and back.

    She gave away her secret recipe...oh my! Thanks for giving us yours. It looks interesting with the buttermilk and brown sugar and of course, those special treats on top. I bet not a slice was left over.

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  26. Thanks for visiting.. there was some cake leftover..we left it there:)

    Have a wonderful day~
    Julia thanks for sharing :)
    Jacqueline you have great ideas!

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  27. Lovely little girl. And no matter how old she gets, she will always be that precious little girl in the picture.

    I'm curious to know what she was pondering while looking at the flowers.

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