COCOBEAT

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog text about recipe with images” background_layout=”light” _builder_version=”3.0.83″] MERRY CHRISTMAS! CHOCOLATE-CARROT CAKE – Gateau au Chocolat AGK Recipe adapted modified from Tasteofhome.com For two 8-inch cake pan or one 8-inch springform pan (Note. you may reduce the amount of sugar) Ingredients Cake: 2 cups (200g) finely shredded carrots 3 tablespoons orange juice (optional) 1 1/2 cups (300g) sugar  1 ¼ cups (330 ml) canola oil 4 large eggs (200g) 2 cups (300g) all purpose flour, sifted ½ cup (50g) baking cacao powder 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup (125g) walnut, toasted lightly and chopped (325°F for 5-6 minutes) Frosting: 1 stick (4oz./115g) unsalted butter, softeneed 8 ounces (250g) cream cheese (mascarpone), softened 3 cups (300g) confe...

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog text about recipe with images” background_layout=”light” _builder_version=”3.0.83″] Blueberries are never so sweet. Yet their popularity is ever so high. Products that contain blueberries are also wide range, from breakfast pastry, yogurt, ice cream, sport bar, jam to beverages. Fresh blueberries are available in grocery markets all season today. But fresh  blueberries in summer are the best to enjoy their plump delicate fruit and subtle flavor. I love fresh blueberry tartlet with custard cream the most in summer. However when I found this recipe, I immediately wanted to make one, and I did it with very happy result. I don’t fond typical American cheese cake, plus cheese cake is a bit too heavy in summer, but with this cheese cake using light cream cheese, fresh...

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog text about recipe with images” background_layout=”light” _builder_version=”3.0.83″] Cherry is in season. In California, their season is short and ending soon (perhaps our climate is too hot and dry), yet our local cherries look very pretty, fruit are plump and juicy, and flavor and taste are pristin delicacy. Normally our local varieties available on market are Bing and Rainier. Bings are large black-red color, very rich and sweet. Rainiers are yellow with red blush color and have a good balance of sweetness and acidity…very delicately delicious. Both cherries are just pick and eat, rinse with cold water and refigerate til ready to eat. And sometime...

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog text about recipe with images” background_layout=”light” _builder_version=”3.0.83″] We all need to grow up at some point, same as dessert making. This is a simple cake to make but very delicious, a very tender texture and elegant flavor of chocolate cake, not like those dense and gooey chocolate cake you eat with Miracle Whip/canned whipped cream when you were in teenager. This is the cake for “grown up”, however you must use best-quality chocolate you can find. It does not have to be very dark chocolate (high cacao content), but I would like to suggest that using chocolate has at least 60% cacao content. I personally use about 70% cacao contained chocolate which perfectly for this cake as well as my palate. And you should enjoy with black tea such like English Breakfast, ...

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog text about recipe with images” background_layout=”light” _builder_version=”3.0.83″] “ Epiphany ” may not be a great deal in the U.S., not popular as a christian celebration like it is in Western European countries. As is in recent years, hispanic immigrants and their catholic faith population have grown up in the America, people are getting recognize it, perhaps from the King Cake ( Gateau des rois,   Rosca de Reyes ), and learning about the the reason and tradition again. I was one of them but for me it was through working in the restaurant, not in the church. Many King cakes are a circular shape of yeasted cake (more like bread, brioche) decorated with colorful candied fruits.   Galette des Rois is a very popular French version of King Cake, made from puf...

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog text about recipe with images” background_layout=”light” _builder_version=”3.0.83″] CHOCOLATE SEASON HAS ARRIVED. It’s finally getting cooler in last a few days in my city and surrounding area, but still has no sign of rain whatever over the month. Frankly I don’t remember when was the last time we had any drops of water from the sky. I had turned on the heater last night at first time in this fall. I made hearty vegetable soup and enjoyed almond cookies, and thought “ chocolate season has come” , have to make one. It’s the great season to enjoy rich chocolate confections. This recipe is my favorite, and perhaps the best recipe I know…it is not just more than rich fudgy brownies, it is the best brownies you ever have but you must use the best chocolate and butter you can f...

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Blog text about recipe with images” background_layout=”light” _builder_version=”3.0.83″] Summer has returned to the San Francisco Bay Area. No rain for more than a month and the temperature has soared to over 85 degree Fahrenheit in the past week where I live (Silicon Valley). The leaves of the plum tree and maple tree in my backyard are still green but dried out on the branches before turning to brown; perhaps you can witness that only in California. Pears are in season and I have been enjoying the taste and flavor many of them already, but more always I buy a bit too many, more than I can eat, but also framers at weekend farmers market are very generous for me. So this weekend I made white-wine poached pears and simple chocolate sauce . Wine poached pear is one of a kind dess...