Raspberry(or Strawberry)-Glazed Double Chocolate Cake

The cake turned out really well -- it was a hit! It was super rich so I'd serve in small portions and maybe serve it with some vanilla ice cream. The cake was super easy to make but definitely time consuming. If you do make it let me know how it turns out, especially if you were able to find frozen raspberries in syrup! Also, you can refrigerate it so make it a day or two in advance that way you're not feeling rushed. Well, here's the recipe (I found it on BettyCrocker.com):

Ingredients


Cake
   - 16 oz semisweet baking chocolate
   - 1 cup unsalted butter
   - 6 eggs
White Chocolate Ganache
   - 8 oz white chocolate baking bars cut into small pieces
   - 1/2 cup whipping cream
   - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Raspberry Glaze
   - 1 package (10 oz) frozen thawed raspberries (or strawberries)
   - 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Topping 
   - 1 cup whipping cream
   - 1 cup fresh raspberries (or strawberries)


Directions


1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. In medium saucepan, melt semisweet chocolate and 1 cup butter over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until smooth. Cool for 35 minutes or until completely cooled. 


2. Beat eggs in small bowl until light and lemon colored. Fold cooled chocolate into eggs until well blended. Pour into pan. 


3. Bake 15 minutes. Dessert will be soft in center. Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Refrigerate 1 hour 30 minutes or until firm. 


4. Meanwhile, place white chocolate baking bars in small bowl. In small saucepan, brng 1/2 cup whipping cream ad 1 tbsp butter just to a boil. Pour over white chocolate; stir until smooth. Cool completely, about 5 minutes. Refrigerate 1 hour or until chilled. 


5. Place strainer over small saucepan; pour raspberries (or strawberries!) into strainer. Press mixture with back of spoon through strainer to remove seeds; discard seeds. Stir in cornstarch. Cook over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, stirring constantly. Cool 30 minutes or until completely cooled. 


6. Spread white chocolate ganache on top of cooled dessert. Spread raspberry glaze over ganache. Refrigerate 30 minutes; serve or refrigerate until serving time. 


7. To serve, let dessert stand at room temperature for 1 hour. In medium bowl, beat 1 cup whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Serve cake with cream and fresh raspberries (or strawberries!). 

Baking - Round One

 Tonight we are having dinner with another Marine couple at their house. He works with Dan in the Law office and they invited us over. I met them at a gathering back in July and they seem like nice people, plus we won't be loners anymore. Anyway, I said I would bring dessert (because that is what married people do, they offer to bring food). I like to bake but baking to me is brownie/cake mix and the secret recipe that is, Nestle Toll House (read with Phoebe's French accent).  So, after some research on the world wide web I found a couple recipes that seemed doable and yummy and I chose Raspberry-Glazed Double Chocolate Cake. Only, the recipe calls for frozen raspberries in syrup but both stores I went to only had strawberries in syrup, so I substituted, it is now Strawberry-Glazed Double Chocolate Cake. I haven't tried it yet, I assume when you bring something to share it probably shouldn't look like left-overs, but it looks pretty and it smells so good! If it tastes good, I'll post the recipe :)

Excuse the glasses underneath, I don't have a cake stand yet.

Oh, this is a PTL

There are no words to describe how useless I've felt without a job. I have looked and looked, applied and applied and the results have been staggeringly insufficient. Until the other day. Last week I turned in applications at Victoria's Secret (hoping I'd be let in on it) and Forever 21. Victoria's Secret immediately let me know that my Christmas absence would not help me, but that I should try back in January. At Forever 21 I dropped the application off and they simply replied thanks. I figured I was out for the count when the next day I had a voicemail from Forever 21 asking me to come in for a group interview! This was the first bite I had and I was so excited -- look at me excited to work in retail! The interview was today and I was phenomenal; not so much from natural talent and ability but because in High School I was part of DECA (an "international association of marketing students") and I was brain-washed with interview tactics, what to wear, and "how to turn your weaknesses into strengths." The interviewer liked me and the only thing between me and this job is the fact that I'll be gone over Christmas, but she seemed optimistic that it wouldn't be a deal-breaker. So, here's to you Ms. Merlin, for teaching me how to impress my future employer -- you were right. This job is almost as great as being paid to dress cute and stand outside a flower shop (see previous blog entry's picture for context).

ANYWAY, all that to say Praise the Lord! This time next week, I could be back in the working force.

Jobs

I need one. 

Mostly because I want to get this (the outfit, not the woman, although a friend in my vicinity would be nice):

In other news we got our washer/dryer rentals delivered today and they are up and running! Alas, there is only so much enjoyment one can get out of laundry and I believe I have experienced all that I can. 

So, I have applied to TONS of places, mostly retail but a few other places as well and apparently the fact that I will not be here over Christmas is unacceptable. I have already purchased my flight home so that is non-negotiable. AND most stores have their entire application process online so my winning smile and endearing demeanor does not seem to have a huge impact in the job-finding fiasco. 

Don't fret I have not given up hope, Dan is quick to remind me that I've only been searching for a little over 2 days. But hey, I've gotten some laundry done and I've hung some nice wall art up so at least I'm being productive. I wonder if "organizing and decorating the apartment" can be put on my resume...

oh la la we have a kitchen

We have a kitchen, with an oven (don't be jealous). Neither of us want to see the inside of a restaurant or a box of frozen dinner for a long time. 

With said oven I can turn this:

 into this!

(Enchiladas, so yummy)

AND, this:

into this!

(brownies, for those who are unfamiliar with chocolatey goodness)

Oh yes, we have a kitchen and we are very excited about it. 

P.S. I was so excited about cooking that I asked my mom to e-mail me her lasagna recipe -- she started the e-mail off with "Ok you know how I cook...... without recipes but I'll try to correctly provide details for lasagna." Haha, what a pro!

and we're back

Dan graduated from the Naval Justice School on Friday morning -- it was the shortest and most pleasant military event I've been to to date! They were sworn in and Dan was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He looks so good in his uniform! 

We had packed everything in the truck the night before so after the ceremony we jetted to the car and got on the road. The trip is a 13+ hour drive without traffic, but seeing as we were going to pass through NY and DC we were expecting traffic somewhere on route. We wanted to make the whole trip in one big drive, we just couldn't stand the idea of sleeping in another hotel room. Dan accomplished it like a pro. It was a long drive and we didn't get home until about 12:30 am (that's about 15 hours in the car). We made it home and crashed pretty hard. But when we woke up in our apartment the next morning, it was alll worth it. 

going home :)

The old adage is "Home is Where the Heart Is," and I totally agree with this in theory. RI has been great and the fact that Dan and I were together made the time go by faster than had we been alone, and I never thought I would say this, but I can't wait to get back to North Carolina. (It is doubly odd that I even consider North Carolina as home since I've spent more time here in Newport than I have in Wilmington.)

In my mind home is:

*where our super comfortable bed is

*where the rest of my clothes are

*where our couch is

*where our kitchen is (stove, refrigerator, and all)

*where my future job is

*where my future school is

*where my cat will be in just a few short months!

The list goes on but you get the idea. I'm super excited to get back. I'm even looking forward to the 13+ hour drive to get there. I get where the writer

was going when they said "Home is Where the Heart Is," but they obviously weren't cramped in a tiny hotel room for two and a half months. James Taylor had it right when he said "In my mind I'm going to Carolina..."

Teeny, tiny room in Newport, RI

Our Kitchen in Wilmington (This is what we missed the most)