This week, Lyb of And then I do the dishes chose Dorie's "Chocolate Armagnac Cake - The Cake That Got Me Fired" on pages 279-281 of Baking, From My Home To Yours.
Dorie tells the story of getting fired as her first job as a pastry chef, for "creative insubordination", after making this cake in place of the whiskey raisin cake the restaurant normally served. I was glad that Lyb chose this, because at first glance, there are a couple things about it that may not inspire confidence that it will be delicious, like the little part in the title about "the cake that got me fired". Or one of the main ingredients, which Dorie calls "the world's most misunderstood fruit", prunes.
I had my helper, Little E with me when I went shopping, and he was tired of running errands. I told him I needed to run into the store for a few things and he asked what we were getting.
Me- "Cat litter, pecans, prunes, milk."
E- "What do you need prunes for?"
Me- "Ummm, it's a surprise."
E- "But I don't want a pruny surprise."
Me- "Well, what if I told you we get to set them on fire?"
E- "O K!"
Making this cake was really fun (although in my version, it is 'Chocolate Grand Marnier Cake- The cake that makes a lot of dirty dishes'). Not only did we get to light prunes on fire, I got to use my new digital scale. (No, I couldn't have just guessed what 7/10 of the chocolate chips were to get 7 ounces.)
What I really need is a new camera. When I took this picture, there were flames coming out of the pan, but they are like vampires apparently, and don't show up in pictures.
When we were done, we made some Grand Marnier whipped cream. Everyone liked the cake a lot, even my picky teenagers, prunes and all.
21 comments:
I'm a big dork and LOVE my food scale. I actually typed out the weights of different ingredients (at different amounts, like 1/4, 1/2 cup, etc) and LAMINATED it and have it on my fridge, so that I can weigh items like flour, rather than having to measure them out.
I'm a huge fan of the TARE button!
I love your photos and you are so lucky to have such a great helper in Little e.
Prunes? Whoda thunk?
Looks delicious!
LOL about the pruny surprises! This cake did make a lot of dishes, but it sure was delicious! Great job.
this was a good pruny surprise! Your cake looks great, especially with the cream
I don't want a pruney surprise....
bwahahahahaha
I'm glad everyone liked the cake. The whipped cream sounds fantastic and your new scale looks cool.
I am so jealous of your scale. This recipe was (another) one when I was lamenting my lack of a food scale and eyeballing everything. Grand Marnier whipped cream sounds absolutely fantastic!
LOL sounds like a conversation that would have happened at our house. This was a scrumptious cake! Love your new scale.
Looks delish! Great job. Your new scale looks amazing - pretty high tech.
I love my digital scale and use it constantly. Your cake looks delicious--no wonder everyone liked it. =)
I bet it was absolutely delicious!
I love the food scale, too! I think I covet a new digital one. Mine is old...and not digital.
I love pruney surprises. Who wouldn't? Loved that E came around when you told himhe could set it on fire...Heh.
Sounds like Little E enjoyed the flambee-ing part of the recipe! ;) Glad to hear that you enjoyed this cake --- I definitely did!
Oooh, Grand Marnier whipped cream - that sounds yum! Nice shopping list :)
WOAH! Awesome digital scale! Where did you get that??? I am looking for one and would love that one!
I got the scale at Bergners. It was on sale for $30 and I had a $10 off coupon for community day! It does grams/ dry ounces and mL and fluid ounces.
haha, "pruny surprise" :) you're lucky to have such a great helper!
Haha funny post. You're lucky to have a little helper :)
CAke looks really moist and delicious.
Kitchen scale is on my wish list. Love yours.
I'm so glad you all liked it! Your cake looks fantastic, and I so want that kitchen scale! ;) Thanks for baking along with me!
Yummy! That looks delicious even though it does have prunes in it.
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