Sometimes when I'm after a chocolate dessert, I don't want something that is heavy or dripping with icing. While that kind can certainly be fantastic all done up, I also like ones that are light, portable, quick to make and full of deep chocolate flavor.
This
Chocolate Snack Cake had everything I was looking for. The cake is pretty quick to prepare, would be great to pack along in a lunch and has a satisfying chocolate flavor. Using dutch cocoa lends a deep rich chocolate taste without the bitterness that sometimes can be found with natural cocoa. This makes nine generous portions which are quite moist. All it needed was a dusting of confectioners' sugar and I was pretty happy.
Lasagna was for dinner tonight, execpt this was not your typical kind.
Polenta Lasagna has layers of sliced polenta, cheese, and a vegetable/meat free sausage marinara mixture. You could certainly use ground beef or chicken, but I liked being able to lower the fat some by using
gimmie lean sausage. Instead of using the pre-bought polenta in a tube (which is just fine), I had a bunch of cornmeal already on hand so I made some polenta last night and let it firm up in a baking pan in the refrigerator overnight. I used a round biscuit cutter to then cut out the disks. While it does not have the same texture as lasagna, the rounds did keep their shape well and absorbed a lot of the flavor. Next time I might try searing the polenta disks first to give them a bit of a crust before layering them. The dish was so flavorful - I loved this twist on lasagna and will make it again.
This Chocolate Snack Cake had everything I was looking for. The cake is pretty quick to prepare, would be great to pack along in a lunch and has a satisfying chocolate flavor. Using dutch cocoa lends a deep rich chocolate taste without the bitterness that sometimes can be found with natural cocoa. This makes nine generous portions which are quite moist. All it needed was a dusting of confectioners' sugar and I was pretty happy.
Lasagna was for dinner tonight, execpt this was not your typical kind. Polenta Lasagna has layers of sliced polenta, cheese, and a vegetable/meat free sausage marinara mixture. You could certainly use ground beef or chicken, but I liked being able to lower the fat some by using gimmie lean sausage. Instead of using the pre-bought polenta in a tube (which is just fine), I had a bunch of cornmeal already on hand so I made some polenta last night and let it firm up in a baking pan in the refrigerator overnight. I used a round biscuit cutter to then cut out the disks. While it does not have the same texture as lasagna, the rounds did keep their shape well and absorbed a lot of the flavor. Next time I might try searing the polenta disks first to give them a bit of a crust before layering them. The dish was so flavorful - I loved this twist on lasagna and will make it again.
You gotta admit, though, that there ARE times when you want something heavy and dripping with chocolate. At least I do! Your snack cake looks wonderful. I wonder if I can "lighten" it up? I'll let you know.
ReplyDeleteWow! That chocolate snack cake looks delicious. Yeah, I'll be trying that recipe very soon (must check the ingredients list!)
ReplyDeleteI bet it's just yummy for breakfast hehe.
I was going to make CL's Chocolate Fudge Snack Cake today, what a coincidence! These kind of cakes are so simple but so good, I love them! And yours look super good! (I looove chocolate!)
ReplyDeleteAna
Wow - both of these sound fantastic. I've been seeing all different takes on traditional lasagna and they all sound so intresting and inviting. I'm all for a chocolate snack anytime too!
ReplyDeleteHow creative!
ReplyDeleteCyndi - No Doubt! I will be watching to see if you try it!
ReplyDeleteTeresa - Thanks and I bet it would be too ;-)
Ana - too cool! I don't think I've made that one before!
Kitchen Queen - Thanks! I'll be waiting to hear if you ended up trying it at all!
Michelle - Thanks - and you can't go wrong with chocolate!
Kat - Thanks!