This week's DELIGHT: Walnut Chocolate Cake

I still need to post about this year's Thanksgiving recipes (lots of delicious food, as usual!) but I'm already thinking about Christmas ;) And with the chilly and rainy weather around here, nothing better than a Walnut Chocolate Cake.

It's a delicious cake with a soft and moisty texture, however, as the nuts have a good amount of natural oil in them, it is not a very fluffy cake. I used semisweet chocolate chips, but if you like a sweeter cake, I suggest using milk chocolate (I liked it with semisweet).
You can also switch for macadamia or pecans, take out the chocolate chips (I don't recommend...) or even add a glaze or ganache. Merry Christmas!

This week's DELIGHT: Yogurt Cake

I know that the last recipe I posted here was a Lime Yogurt Cake, but this one is so simple and delicious, that I thought was worth sharing with you. As my grandma would say "it is a cake that tastes like cake" (ie: no predominant flavor) but still, is so good and moisty because of the yogurt. If you want, you can add lemon/orange zest or berries, but it is delicious the way it is, simple. And as I say almost every time I give these tea cake recipes: it is perfect for your afternoon snack with a cup of coffee or tea!
This and other recipes you can find here.

This week's DELIGHT: Lime Yogurt Cake

Last week I made a recipe given to me by my dear friend Bev: Lime Yogurt Cake.

I've been trying to make cakes with yogurt in the batter, but for some reason, they never worked out well. So Bev gave me her recipe (along with a delicious slice) and voilá!!
This cake is delicious! The lime (or lemon, if you prefer) taste really stands out. And, on top of that, it doesn't take butter. Mmm...

This week's DELIGHT: Baked Donuts with Chocolate Glaze

After a long time without posting any recipe, here's a pretty a easy and cute one: Baked Donuts with Chocolate Glaze.

To be quite honest, the dough does not have an amazing taste (next time, I'll add either cinnamon or cocoa powder), but the texture is great to make into this donut shape. And the glaze is simple and delicious. Pretty, right?

This Week's DELIGHT: Orange Tea Cake

Starting the week with one cake that is a classic in most Brazilian grandma's kitchens: Orange Tea Cake!

Simple and delicious, it's perfect with a cup of hot or iced tea. Fluffy and made with real orange, it's definitely a keeper!

Weekend...

As you will see in the pics below, the end of the week and the weekend were spent in the kitchen. But this is not a problem at all! They were delicious moments spent with really cool people, and I love it!

Starting on Thursday, with the first sheet (of several!) of the best peanut cookie ever!

A fluffy and tropical cake, made for two dear friends - Liz and Ligia, and of course, cute Lucca - who came in for a coffee on Friday! (and the cake on Sunday)

Tomato and mozzarella di bufala pizza made by hubby!

Our new Sunday obsession when we don't go out for breakfast: poached egg (with soft yolk!)

Vintage cars exhibition on Rodeo Dr.

And, last but not least, chocolate chips and raisins brioche. God, what a good life!

This week's DELIGHT: Passion fruit Cake

I made this cake with my mother, a few months ago, and it was delicious! As you may know, here in the U.S. passion fruit is not an easy - neither cheap - fruit to buy so I used concentrated juice in a bottle (you can find it in any Brazilian or Latino minimarkets) and it was great!
You can really taste the passion fruit in the batter and the passion fruit glaze complements it all.
As I was having a very creative day, besides the ordinary square format, I made a donut version. And instead of using passion fruit glaze, I made a chocolate one (melted milk chocolate with a couple of tbsp of heavy cream). I did not have enough chocolate for the amount of cream (I only realized it when I could not get out and buy more), so the glaze was very thin, but it turned out good because it penetrated the cake (and, between us, passion fruit pairs very well with chocolate!)

Check out this and many other recipes here.

This week's DELIGHT: Brazilian Carrot Cake

This is a Brazilian classic! Who doesn't love a fresh carrot cake with chocolate glaze? I do! In fact, I also love the American version of carrot cake with grated carrots, raisins, walnuts and cream cheese (I'll post a recipe in the future), but the Brazilian version is much simpler and soo good!
I don't know why, but the last Brazilian carrot cakes I had made were not turning out right. I don't know if it was the quantity - or quality - of the carrots, or if I was doing something wrong, but my sister sent me this recipe, I tested and voilá. Hubby loved it!

Delicious, with a beautiful color and huge!

This week's DELIGHT: Corn Cake

If you like corn cake, grab pen and paper, because it's an amazing recipe and you have to write it down!

This cake is super moist and it's perfect to have it with a cup of coffee. Indication of a good friend of my mother, this recipe is among the top 10 simple cakes I've ever tasted!

This week's DELIGHT: Devil's Food Cake

Today is Valentine's Day, and nothing better than to celebrate this day with a delicious chocolate cake. And this one has a very suggestive name: Devil's Food Cake.

This recipe was another suggestion from my friend Bev, and is one of the most delicious chocolate cakes I've ever tasted! Dense, moisty, you can really taste the chocolate but is not too sweet.
Can you imagine your hubby/boyfriend/friend coming home tonight and finding a fresh cake? What a surprise! And if you serve it with ice cream and chopped berries, you have a delicious Valentine's Day dessert!

Slightly adapted from this recipe. (I didn't make the frosting and I used one bundt pan). You can find more of my recipes here.

Happy Valentine's Day!!

This week's DELIGHT: Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

I always thought that upside-down cakes were to difficult to make, but I made this one a couple of weeks ago and it was very easy. Loved it!

You can make this cake with any other berry that I think will be very good too. And at summer time, this cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream should be even better!

Check out the recipe here.

Cake pans

Nowadays, it's very easy to find any type of cake pan: mini, big, 3D, themed, for kids, etc..
And for those, like me, who like baking, is a delight to go into the stores and check out what's new and which one is going to be your next purchase.

In addition to the basic ones (bundt, loaf, square, rectangular), I've been adventurous and bought different pans, such as the loaf pan with 3D details and, a few weeks ago, I bought this one for donuts!

Since it was the first time and I didn't know how it would turn out, I tried it with a basic cake mix and...  it worked!

So, within a few weeks I will make the recipe they suggest, including the glaze, and I will post here to you. I think it will look just great! And the best: no frying! Could it be any better?

This week's DELIGHT!

As promised yesterday, here's the recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cake (another delicious recipe from my friend Bev - you'll hear a lot about her, my baking partner!)
This cake is one of the best I ever tasted. Hubby, who is not a fan of pumpkin cakes, loved it and has asked me to make it again!

This week's DELIGHT: Cake Dulce de Leche

This cake was a suggestion of my friend Sylvia. She sent me the recipe, I made it and loved it!

For those interested in this loaf pan, I bought it recently and this was the first time I was using it. It's great. Even with all the 3D details, if well greased and floured the cake comes out perfectly! 

A sure bet for breakfast or an afternoon snack with a nice cup of coffee, tea or milk!

Deeply in love: Kitchen Aid Mixer!

I just bought my Kitchen Aid mixer (yohoo!!) and totally recommend it! Fame is not for nothing: stylish, quiet, great accessories, beautiful colors, in sum, all perfect!

This week´s DELIGHT!

Marble Cake (this and other recipes here)

This week's DELIGHT!

Vanilla cupcake filled with Nutella! (check this and other recipes here)

This week's DELIGHT!

Going back to my roots: Cornmeal Cake (Brazilian style).
To check this and other recipes, click here.

This week's DELIGHT!

Homemade Zucchini Spice Bread (find the recipe here)

This week's DELIGHT!

Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Humm... (recipe here)