Category: Dessert

1-2-3 Decadent Molten Chocolate Chip Cakes


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For many of you, this will be your last crumby Shabbos and I was thinking to myself, what is the most indulgent, delicious, chometzdik food I can post? I could not think of anything better than chocolate chip cookies. The cowboy cookies that I posted back in January where one of my most popular posts, which is really telling. I think people just love cookies, especially chocolate chip ones. This recipe takes them to a whole ‘nother level. Imagine biting into a crunchy cookie, and the inside starts oozing warm chocolate ganache? Well that’s what this recipe tastes like. And when you hear how easy it is to make, you’ll be on your way to the supermarket for some frozen cookie dough!

Now since these mini cakes/pies are made using individual cookie dough cubes, you don’t have to feel guilty about having one. It’s as if you ate ONE chocolate chip cookie. How many of us can eat just one? But with these, the chocolate syrup makes them rich enough that one cookie is more than satisfying. And they taste just as good as those molten cakes you get at the restaurant, even better!

I made these for the first time this past Shabbos and I wasn’t sure if they would hold up on the blech for my Shabbos day guests. Not only did they hold up, they were amazingly delicious! One of my guests took a bite and was shocked to taste a warm dessert! So, if you’d like to surprise your guests at your day meal, go ahead and keep them on the blech, just not too close to the fire or they will burn and dry out.

1-2-3 Decadent Molten Chocolate Chip Cakes

1 box frozen cookie dough (I used Ostreichers) or make your own
1 package tart shells (mini pie crust)
chocolate syrup

How to:

I barely have to give you directions, this is as easy as …well…pie! (pun intended!)
Go ahead and unwrap your pie crusts. They come in mini pans. I found the easiest way to bake these is to put them in aluminum muffin tins. Pour a squirt of chocolate syrup into pie crusts. Set a frozen cookie dough cube on top of the syrup. Bake at 350 until cookie is golden brown (watch them carefully!).

Note: The pie crusts take longer to brown than to bake the cookie. I find that no one really eats the pie crust, just the inside, so I don’t mind if it’s not browned, just baked (it will be done if you bake with the cookie, just not brown). I would say not to worry too much about the pie crust turning brown, it’s more important that the cookie doesn’t dry out. If you really want, you can prebake the piecrusts for a little so that when they bake for longer with the cookie, they will turn brown.

Credit: I found this recipe on the facebook group “I Don’t Cook But I Give Out Recipes” posted by Ahuva Edelstein- Rabinowitz and Chanie Adler Tilis. Thanks!

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Bitayavon Magazine Review + Sample Recipe + Subscription Giveaway!

Busy in Brooklyn is giving away a ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to Bitayavon Magazine. For a chance to win, “like” our facebook fan page (click the “become a fan” button on the side of the blog or go to www.facebook.com/busyinbrooklyn to get to our fan page). A winner will be chosen on Sunday, April 17th.

If you love cookbooks as much as I do, you probably love cooking magazines too. Cooking magazines, to me, are like mini cookbooks, with a lot more advice and interesting food-for-thought (pun intended!). And so back in the day, when eBay used to offer magazine subscriptions for next to nothing, I subscribed to a LOT of them. Here’s the problem (besides for the fact that I had piles and piles of cooking magazines) – every page you turn to has another mouth-watering photo that you just have to make. Then you look at the recipe and either it has meat seared in butter, or it’s loaded with nonkosher unmentionables. And so, after admiring the food photography of loads of magazines, I let the subscriptions run their course and I didn’t renew a single one.

Imagine my excitement when I heard about the new kosher magazine, Bitayavon. I was first in line for their premiere issue back in February, and I couldn’t wait for their spring edition. The premiere issue was full of exciting recipes, articles and tips. The spring issue shines even more, with brighter pictures and even better recipes (yes, even, and especially, the Pesach ones). You’ll find a nice mix of simple fare for the on-the-go cook, and more advanced recipes for the gourmand.

The Pesach issue boasts over 70 recipes and tips. It starts off with protein-packed family dinners like Quinoa israeli salad and Bran Flake crusted turkey breasts. The “Going Gourmet” section is chock-full of original gourmet sandwich ideas such as Banh Mi, a Vietnamese recipe that uses leftover roast chicken as well as a Tiramisu sandwich using store-bought sponge cake. The recipes are paired with mouth-watering photos as well as additional winning recipes from the sandwich contest that was introduced in the previous issue.

The magazine continues with a twist on traditional recipes such as “gefilte fish crab cakes” and an “eggplant deli roll”. These deconstructed recipes are creative and simple enough for the novice cook. It’s Pesach section runs the gamut of fish, salads, meat/poultry, sides and desserts. Each recipe is clear with numbered instructions. You will find original preparations such as salt encrusted sea bass, as well as chicken noodles, all paired with an apropo wine.

Rounding out the issue are articles on kashrus, the kosher challenge abroad, seasonal recipes, an interview with a chef and a look at a cookbook, among others. The magazine is well thought out, with interesting topics and an all-encompassing menu (both in the articles and recipes) for the kosher consumer.

I guess I will be subscribing to a food magazine after all. This time, only one.

Bitayavon!

Chocolate Souffle
Servings: 8

12 ounces bittersweet chocolate
6 large egg yolks
12 egg whites
1 cup sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Using pastry brush, brush sides of ramekin with oil and a sprinkle of sugar, put in fridge to keep cold.
3. Melt chocolate in a double broiler.
4. Mix egg yolks with melted chocolate.
5. Beat egg whites until foamy and slowly add sugar, mix until firm peaks form.
6. Incorporate 1/3 of egg whites into chocolate mix, mix well.
7. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites into chocolate mix.
8. Fill ramekins half way with souffle mix, gently bang ramekins on counter so batter will settle evenly.
9. Fill ramekins till the top. Smooth batter with a knife and run finger around edge of ramekin (helps souffle rise).
10. Place souffle in the oven and lower temperature to 350 degrees.
11. Bake for 12 minutes.

Thanks to Bitayavon Magazine for sponsoring the subscription.
Photos & Recipe courtesy of Bitayavon magazine.

{UPDATE added April 17th, 2011: Mashi Laufer of Brooklyn, NY has won the Busy in Brooklyn subscription giveaway! Congratulations Mashi and Chag Kasher Vesameach!}

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Perfect Pareve French Toast

If you oftentimes have leftover challah, as I do, I’m sure you couldn’t think of a better way to use it then for delicious french toast smothered in maple syrup (ok, maybe for some bread pudding with some raisins and rum!). Now since I’ve got a child who’s severely allergic to dairy, I have to come up with ways to substitute for the real thing. In this recipe, almond milk does a great job. It’s rich, sweet, and flavorful. And between the eggs and the almonds, it helps add some protein to what feels like a loaded carbohydrate meal (talk about deguiltifying comfort food!). So go ahead, whip up a batch for breakfast, brunch, or even dinner (as I did!)

Of course, if you’re able, go all out and use the real thing with whole milk and fry in good old butter!

Perfect Pareve French Toast

4 eggs
1 cup vanilla almond milk (or 1 cup almond milk + 1/4 tsp vanilla)
1 tsp sugar
pinch of salt
1 egg challa
canola oil, for frying
maple syrup or sugar, for serving
assorted berries, for serving

Method:

Slice your challah into 1/2 – 1 inch pieces (depending on how you like it). Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar and salt. Dip challah into egg mixture on both sides, making sure to fully saturate the challah (you can soak it in the mixture for a minute or so). Cook the challah in an oiled skillet on medium heat until golden on both sides (about 2 minutes per side). Serve with syrup or sugar and berries or fruit of your choice.

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Purim Ice Cream Clowns!

In the spirit of Purim, I decided to make some ice cream clowns with my daughter’s class. This project was easy (no prep required!) and so much fun for the kids! Give a kid an ice cream cone, and tell them to decorate it with candy – does it get any getter than that? They were in ice cream heaven!

What you’ll need:

Ice cream cones
Vanilla ice cream
Cookies or pineapple rings (I used the white/dark chocolate sprinkle kind because it has a scalloped edge, like a clowns collar)
Marshmallows
Marshmallow fluff
Liebers chocolate candy chips (mini colorful chocolate chips)
Colorful sprinkles
Jelly beans
Other decorating candies/confections

How to:

Set the cookie down on a plate. Top with a scoop of ice cream. Set the ice cream cone on a slant on top of the scoop. Using the mini chocolate chips, make eyes, nose and mouth. Squeeze the tip of the ice cream cone through the marshmallow. Using marshmallow fluff as glue, decorate the cone. Turn over and enjoy every bite!

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Mocha Bundt Cake


In my last post, I revealed that I recently turned the big three-o. It should come as no surprise then, that back in 2008, I celebrated my 10 year high school reunion. Together with my friend Dina (our self-appointed class president :)) and Raizy, we organized the reunion for several months, collecting recipes from our classmates and printing a professional cookbook from Morris Press Cookbooks. The reunion was a huge success, with most our class in attendance. We had the evening catered, but for the dessert table, we had several girls chip in and make some things. One of the most talked about cakes of the evening was this Mocha Bundt Cake. Since it was not included in the class recipe book, we emailed it to everyone the following day. The cake has lots of coffee, so I would recommend going with decaf. It’s moist and delicious, great for a party, or for Shabbos morning with a steaming cup of, you guessed it…coffee :)

Mocha Bundt Cake

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1/4 cup of coffee diluted in 3/4 cup of hot water
1 cup oil
2 scoops vanilla sugar
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup cocoa

Method:
Beat the eggs and sugar until fluffy.  Add the coffee and oil. In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Add to the wet ingredients. Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan and Bake at 350 for (approximately) 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Glaze:
3 teaspoons coffee dissolved in 2 tablespoons boiling water
2 tablespoons oil
1 1/2 – 2 cups of confectioners sugar

Mix coffee, oil and 1 1/2 cups of confectioners sugar. Add more slowly, if desired, until you reach desired consistency.

Drizzle the Glaze over cooled cake.

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some pics of our 10 year high school reunion.

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