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This combination of chocolate and raspberries is one of the most divine pairings ever. The assembly of this one is a little tricky, but the results are SO worth it! (The recipe site, Cook's Illustrated, requires a subscription, but they do offer a free trial)
So join me as this:
becomes this:
Torte ingredients:
8 oz. finely chopped bittersweet chocolate
12 tbsp unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp espresso powder
1 3/4 cup sliced, toasted almonds
1/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
5 large eggs
3/4 cup sugar
melt chocolate and butter in a double boiler. Cool for roughly half an hour. Then add the espresso powder and vanilla.
coarsely chop up 3/4 cup almonds in food processor. These will serve to garnish the finished torte.
Take the remaining cup of almonds and chop until finely ground. Add in flour and salt and run the processor about 15 seconds longer. Transfer to a medium bowl and set aside.
Now throw the eggs - all five of them - into the food processor you just emptied. Process until they've doubled in volume, roughly 3 minutes.
Then, with food processor running, add the sugar through the feed tube.
Fold the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture using a whisk:
Gradually add the flour mixture. Divide the batter into two cake rounds and bake in a 325 oven for about 15 minutes.
Filling, frosting, garnish:
Now for the tricky part. When you remove the cooled cake from rounds, the round that will serve as the top of the cake needs to be inverted, so remove it upside down and set aside. The base of the cake needs to be right side up. When you remove it from the cake pan, set it right side up on a round the same size as the cake. Then set this round on a cooling rack set in a cookie sheet. Trust me on this. You'll be glad you did. Now, it's time for the filling:
Smash 1/2 cup raspberries with a fork in a small bowl. Add 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam. Spread over the base layer of the cake. Add top layer (the one that's upside down).
Now, make the chocolate ganache topping. Melt 5 oz. bittersweet chocolate and 1/2 cup heavy cream in a double boiler, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and stir until very smooth. Pour over cake and smooth with offset spatula
The frosting will dribble down the sides - smooth it out with the offset spatula. Then take the coarsely chopped almonds and press onto sides of the cake. Garnish with raspberries.
Chill for an hour, minimum. Serve. Small slices are recommended - this is a VERY rich dessert.
Without further ado, here are tonight's Top Comments nominees:
From JanF:
addisnana left this great comment in my diary Wednesday about Bernie Sanders' deficit commission and which asked "Who took tax increases 'off the table'"?. I agree that it would be a great idea:
"The Democrats in Congress should stage a funeral where they carry in a coffin labeled tax cuts for the rich. In the eulogy they could say they are laying this idea to rest because after 40 years of trying it, it has created no jobs and no new businesses. OFA could stage a similar funeral at each state capital. A nice sturdy cardboard coffin would be good enough."
From ScottyUrb:
Today's Cheers and Jeers covered Kosmonauts' impressive signature lines. blue jersey mom told us why she is keeping hers.
From Ed Tracey
Comments keep rolling-in from last week's snarky Mojo Friday diary from Tex Dem about Darrell Issa's upcoming investigations.
One in the last twenty-four hours is from the always-perceptive Floja Roja
..... "But Kate Middleton's favorite Brit fashion designer is named :::drumroll::: ISSA!"
Top Mojo excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first diary comments, Cheers and Jeers, and Mojo Friday:
1) The GOP's Victory Dance by JekyllnHyde — 184
2) What Republicans Think of Women by JekyllnHyde — 135
3) I stand with you by cfk — 127
4) wow lots of allegory there by billlaurelMD — 119
5) "Taxes Are the Price We Pay for Civilization" by JekyllnHyde — 102
6) Eating Crow by JekyllnHyde — 97
7) And they NEVER draw a "Go Directly To Jail" card. by Mother Mags — 82
8) Just wait till BirthCertificategate gets going by Dallasdoc — 82
9) I grew up in MI/IN by speak2me — 82
10) How about that GM IPO? by Interceptor7 — 79
11) future generations of 'everyone' n/t by aliasalias — 78
12) I hate to jump the jar, but this is too good... by APA Guy — 77
13) Thanks! by Muskegon Critic — 77
14) I rip on Pres. Obama for many things... by Brainwrap — 76
15) Compromise on Climate Change by JekyllnHyde — 76
16) I'm entirely willing to give Lieberman credit... by APA Guy — 76
17) He needs to run the DNC by George Pirpiris — 74
18) Let "Orwell Man" Explain The Law by JekyllnHyde — 73
19) Who's gonna give Grayson a national radio show? by tier1express — 73
20) The Republican Approach to Investigations by JekyllnHyde — 72
21) Methinks Alan Grayson... by APA Guy — 71
22) the reason I raise this by Frederick Clarkson — 70
23) Until such time as people take to the streets by Kristina40 — 68
24) If they did, no biggie... by Ken in MN — 68
25) Plutocracy by LaFeminista — 67
26) My son who would have been kicked off our health by pvmuse — 67
27) There's a whole raft of base-friendly by Jim P — 64
28) Especially when slinkerwink tweets by Musket Man — 64
29) He needs a TV show. by Methinks They Lie — 63
30) Hammer out a strategy for negotiations... by wmtriallawyer — 60
Top Mojo with No Exclusions:
1) Alms (tips) by Muskegon Critic — 437
2) Tips for FIGHTING BACK by MinistryOfTruth — 416
3) Tip Jar by dengre — 338
4) Tip Jar by TomP — 330
5) If Ralph Hall is the best America can do by Lefty Coaster — 327
6) Tip Jar by LaFeminista — 289
7) Tip Jar by Drdemocrat — 236
8) Tip Jar by Methinks They Lie — 234
9) Tip Jar by Eclectablog — 227
10) Tip Jar by Jim P — 217
11) Tip Jar by Frederick Clarkson — 192
12) The GOP's Victory Dance by JekyllnHyde — 184
13) Tip Jar by NYFM — 148
14) Tip Jar by ThisIsMyTime — 147
15) Things are looking up for Democrats on tax cuts by Lefty Coaster — 142
16) What Republicans Think of Women by JekyllnHyde — 135
17) I stand with you by cfk — 127
18) wow lots of allegory there by billlaurelMD — 119
19) Tip Jar by Christian Dem in NC — 118
20) Give a spud a chance! by Patric Juillet — 111
21) Tip Jar by Scarce — 110
22) "Taxes Are the Price We Pay for Civilization" by JekyllnHyde — 102
23) Eating Crow by JekyllnHyde — 97
24) Tip Jar by Cenk Uygur — 94
25) And they NEVER draw a "Go Directly To Jail" card. by Mother Mags — 82
26) I grew up in MI/IN by speak2me — 82
27) Just wait till BirthCertificategate gets going by Dallasdoc — 82
28) How about that GM IPO? by Interceptor7 — 79
29) future generations of 'everyone' n/t by aliasalias — 78
30) I hate to jump the jar, but this is too good... by APA Guy — 77
31) Thanks! by Muskegon Critic — 77