Welcome to my third chocolate flavoured post for the week! I started with my Top Ten Tuesday post which featured 10 books with chocolatey titles and then yesterday I shared a vintage post for my go to brownie recipe.
The origins of this post came from a passage that I read in a rural fiction novel called Snowy Mountain Cattleman, second book in the Bundilla series by Australian author Alissa Callen. It doesn't really matter what type of book I am reading, I am always on the lookout for quotes about food, books or Christmas to share in one form or another over the course of the year.
A slim blonde gave him a smile from where she stood behind the coffee machine frothing milk. "The usual?"
That would be great, Beck. And one of your brownies."
Her smile grew. He knew how early she would have been up this morning baking, and he always bought somethign to go with his coffee. His sweet tooth was a running joke around town.
By now he'd almost reached Grace. He'd have a quick chat and then sit at a nearby table. She hadn't yet smiled. even though when they'd spoken on the phone her voice had been less reserved than when they'd met. As he drew near she moved the stock of books on the tabletop to make room for him. He hoped his expression didn't convey his surprise or his hesitation.
As much as the thought of her leaving had set him on edge, the prospect of sitting across from her proved just as unsettling. Yesterday whenever near her he'd breathed in a subtle floral scent that reminded him of the honeysuckle that rambled over the Ashcroft stone garden wall. He might now be standing a body length away but he still could catch a delicate flower fragrance amongst the other coffee shop aromas.
In his peripheral vision he saw a pair of grey nomads seat themselves at the empty table he'd been planning to use. Even though this must have been why Grace had moved her books, his gaze met hers to double-check it was okay to join her.
After she'd gestured towards the seat opposite her, he sat, making sure his knee didn't bump hers in the tight space.
When she didn't break the silence, he initiated the small talk. "Bundy's out for the count."
"I'm sure he is."
I owe you an apology. I should have messaged last night to check how you were going and given you directions to my sister's."
Grace shook her head, the tip of her ponytail swinging over her shoulder. "No apology needed. I wasn't you to and I wouldn't have wanted to impose."
"I'll pick the ladder up as soon as I leave here."
"Thank you."
He smiled at Beck as she delivered his coffee and brownie.
Once he and Grace were alone he slid the plate into the centre of the table. He didn't classify the action as impulsive; he was used to sharing his food with Clancy and her best friend Breanna. For some reason they alays thought what he ordered looked better than what they'd chosen. "You're welcome to have some."
"Thanks." Instead of looking at the brownie she straightened her already tidy stack of books. "It's yours."
"I'm happy to share." He studied her, trying to work out what line he'd crossed to again make her feel wary. "My sister thinks that as part of her sibling entitlements what is mine is always hers."
As he'd hoped, the corners of Grace's mouth tilted. "I'm an only child. You eat your brownie."
He slid the plate back over to his side of the table. "Any food-hogging cousins?"
"No."
"So every Easter, Christmas and birthday you didn't have to hand over half of your chocolate?
"Not at all." The smile in her eyes made her irises appear more green than brown, but then the light ebbed. "My father liked anything with mint while my mother preferred dark chocolate."
Rowan noted the use of the past tense. His own grief surfaced and he worked hard to keep his expression from changing. "My father was a chocolate and nut fan while my mum only ate white chocolate.
When Grace didn't immediately reply, he knew she'd also noted his word choice. Her gaze searched his. Whatever she was looking for, she found, as the tense line of her shoulders lowered. "Was there anything you didn't have to share?"
"Salty liquorice."
She grimaced. "No wonder you had that all to yourself."
When it comes to chocolate I like most types, although dark chocolate is probably my least favourite. I love milk chocolate, white chocolate and mint chocolate but my husband doesn't like mint so that one is one I don't need to share with him when I buy it very occasionally. Another one I don't have to share is the milk chocolate with pineapple filling which I love, but he doesn't, although I do hide that one from my son.
I am making something chocolatey this weekend. I will be making Chocolate Sour Cream Cake. As I mentioned before I prefer milk chocolate, so I will use that in the ganache.
Thinking about making this recipe prompted me to buy a new bundt tin. The only problem is that the bundt tin I bought was a bit smaller than I expected, which explains why it was a good price (oops!). So now I am going to have to find a recipe for a 6 cup capacity cake tin rather than the bigger recipes I have now!
Chocolate Sour Cream Cake
For the cake
1 cup (250ml) sour cream
1/3 cup (80ml) water
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups (225g) plain flour
¾ cup (95g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ tsp baking powder
¾ tsp bicarb soda
Pinch of salt
230g unsalted butter, softened
1 1/3 cups (295g) firmly packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
For the Ganache
200g dark cooking chocolate, chopped
¾ cup (180ml) sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp instant coffee (optional)
1 tbsp glucose syrup - optional
For the cake
Preheat oven to 180°C (fan forced). Grease a 2.4L bundt tin with butter and dust the inside with cocoa, tapping out any excess. Don’t use baking spray on bundt tins or cake will stick.
Combine sour cream, water and vanilla in a jug, mix well. Combine flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
Using a stand mixer or electric beaters, cream butter and sugar for 5 minutes until pale and creamy. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing well in between.
Add half of flour mixture to butter mixture, mix well then add half of sour cream mixture, mixing in between. Repeat with remaining mixture and mix until well combined.
Transfer batter to prepared tin, and tap the tin firmly on benchtop a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake for 40-55 minutes until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Once cooked, allow to cool in tin for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
For the ganache
Place chopped chocolate into a small, heat proof bowl, set aside. Melt sour cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering. Remove from heat and pour over chocolate. Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes, then add vanilla, instant coffee (optional) and mix well until a smooth glossy ganache is achieved.
Allow to cool slightly before drizzling over bundt cake. This will ensure you achieve nice ganache drips that hold their shape.
If your ganache splits add in the glucose syrup to bring it back together
What's your favourite chocolate?
Weekly meals
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page
