Daring Baker's Valentine's, no, Academy Award Challenge

Yes, Sookie the one-eyed Bichon is licking her chops! I knew the February Daring Bakers Challenge would be chocolate, I mean Valentine's Day and all. But, for some strange reason, I am not a chocoholic like I was in my 30's, 20's well pretty much always. Now don't get me wrong, a piece of bittersweet chocolate is the perfect dessert for me. Thanks to my friend Harriette I am all over NoKA chocolates (tamborina to be exact). But I can pass the double chocolate hot fudge sundae, the death by chocolate, the chocolate torte. But I forged ahead, and made the Daring Baker's Chocolate Valentino, but this was not my favorite challenge.
The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef.
We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge
I wasn't home Valentine's weekend, so I needed another event for something this rich, The Academy Awards! It was ideal. And because this is a 3 ingredient recipe, doesn't get any easier than this.

1 pound of chocolate (semisweet, bittersweet)
1/2 cup plus 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
5 eggs, separated
Not exactly a rendering of the food pyramid.
The quickie directions: Melt chocolate and butter over double boiler. Let cool a bit. Whip egg whites until stiff. Mix yolks well and add cooled chocolate, fold in whites. Pour into buttered pan. Bake at 375 until the center tests at 140 degrees. Cool on rack.
Of course I used Guittard Chocolate, I still have about 11 pounds left (I bought another 10 pound bar!). I like that there is no sugar, it tasted exactly like my Guittard. We cut into the cake when it was warm from the oven. You can see specks of egg whites, but a sprinkling of powdered sugar would have disguised it, but the taste was not affected. Not having the extra time, I bought ice cream, I know, shame, shame.

But the ice cream melted and a squirt of whipped cream, it was damn good. Sookie, the one-eyed-Bichon was sooooo enamored by the aroma, she would not leave the kitchen! And yes, that is my Oscar (okay, it's a Telly Award) in my picture. And a side note, this cake is rockin' good cold!

Oh please, please, please let next month's Daring Baker's Challenge involve yeast!





.