Monday, October 25, 2010

COMPANY'S COMING

It is hard to take pictures when you have company coming.  You have so much to remember.  I made special efforts to take pictures this time.  Pictures did not turn out very well but I wanted to share my menu anyway.  Most of the recipes are already on my blog

Deserts, stuffed oyster and stuffed grape leaves from friends.  Everything else from my kitchen.   Full Menu:
Oven Fried Chicken
Roast Beef
Rice Pilaf with fried noodles
"Crisco" Borek
Romano Beans in tomato sauce
Chick Peas with Cauliflower
Stewed Zucchini
Eggplant with Yogurt Sauce
Mixed Green Salad
Stuffed Oysters
Stuffed Grape Leaves

Deserts:
Tahini Cookies
Dream whip dome cake
Bite size Brownies
Tulumba

Saturday, October 2, 2010

ORANGE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE SAUCE

I thought of making a cake with chocolates and oranges after eating a orange chocolate bar the other day.  It also gave me the opportunity to use a chocolate sauce I saw in a German recipe book.  The recipe book stated if you melt chocolate chips in coconut milk, it made it shiny and more presentable.  After trying it, I see that it is true.  From now on, I am making my chocolate sauce with coconut milk.


1 package orange cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
3 eggs
1 1/3 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 orange (skin for the cake and juice to pour on the cake)

Decorations
2/3 cups chocolate chips
1/3 cup coconut milk (or regular milk)
Candies
  • Wash and grade the orange skin using the thick part of the grader
  • Juice the orange and set aside
  • Prepare the cake according to package instructions.  In my case, it called for 3 eggs, 1 1/3 cup water, 1/3 cup vegetable oil.  I added the graded orange skin. Add the cake flour
  • Pour into a non stick (or spray the pan with vegetable oil) cake pan
  • Cook at 350 35 to 40 minutes.  When you insert a toothpick into the middle, it must come out clean
  • Let it cool
  • While still in the pan, make deep holes using a wood skewer or fork.  Pour orange juice over the cake.  Be careful not to get to the edges as juice makes it stick to the pan and makes it hard to take the cake out of the pan.  I covered and left the cake in the fridge overnight to make sure orange juice soaked well into the cake
  • Prepare your chocolate sauce.  Put chocolate and the coconut milk into a microwave safe bowl.  Heat at high for 30 seconds and mix well. 
  • Pour chocolate sauce over the cake.  I covered all of the cake with it but it is also nice if it is just on the top of the cake
  • Decorate with colourful candies.