Seducing Helen

I’m not quite sure how to say this. I’m about to attempt something I’ve never done before.

I’m going to try seducing a woman.

I’ll pause for a moment while you recover from that previous statement.

Ready?

Okay. Having been told that good Cream Puffs never chase after anyone, I find myself in unchartered territory. But I really have no choice. I am overcome with desire for a woman. Not just any woman, mind you. It’s Helen of Tartelette.

Normally I wouldn’t do this sort of thing. But my dearest Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Sensual Gourmet is hosting SHF #28 and the theme is Sweet Seduction. I am seduced by Jasmine’s brilliance all the time so I approve of her theme mightily. And lo and behold, I find myself as the seducer with Helen being the seducee.

So here goes:

Helen, I’m going to seduce you. Are you seduced yet?

Let me tell you why I’m going to seduce you, Helen. It’s because you sent me that beautiful postcard as part of Meeta‘s Blogger Postcards Around the World. I waited patiently for my postcard to come and then there it was, in such a pretty pink envelope. And I opened it up and inside I found the most beautiful card. It had a sticker of a bag of flour on it! And a piping bag! I mean come on!!! Could anyone have possibly found a better card for me??? Helen, we were meant for each other.

Are you seduced yet?

No? Hmmm. Alright, Helen. I see I’m going to have to bring out the heavy artillery. I know, I know. You’re married and all that. With much respect to Mr. Tartelette, would he ever make you a marble cake, Helen??? Huh??? Would he???

And not just any marble cake. It’s one that has real dark chocolate melted and blended into the batter. And it has white chocolate chips blended in as well. When was the last time Mr. Tartelette took the time to do that for you. Hmmm????

Look at this picture, Helen. Look at the cake, Helen. Look at the creamy chocolaty goodness. You could have marble cakes every day if you were with me, Helen!

Every. Single. Day.

So Helen, are you seduced yet?

Ciao!

Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Chip Marble Cake

Adapted from Another Cup of Sugar by Anna Olson.

Note:  I purchased this cookbook a few weeks ago and have completely fallen in love with it! This is is another winner. The cake should be baked in a 12-cup Bundt pan and will serve 10 to 12. Or Helen. But stay away from here as she’s mine. Go find your own Helen!

• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1-3/4 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs, at room temperature
• 2 cups sour cream
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 4 oz. chocolate (70% cocoa solids or higher … it all depends on how high you’re willing to go!)
• 1 cup white chocolate chips

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Butter and flour your bundt pan.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and set aside.
4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar and high speed until fluffy (about 2 minutes).
5. Add your eggs to the batter, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
6. Add the sour cream and vanilla and mix for another minute.
7. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture a bit at a time.
8. Remove one-third of the batter and put it in a bowl. Add the melted chocolate and the white chocolate chips. Mix well.
9. Spoon the batter into the Bundt pan, alternating between the plain batter and the chocolate batter. Once done, take a spoon or a knife and run it through the batter, swirling as you go to create a marble effect.
10. Bake the cake for 1 hour. After an hour, check for doneness by inserting a cake tester or toothpick in the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is done. In my oven, the cake took about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
11. Let the cake cool before removing from the pan.
12. Enjoy!

Technorati tags:  cake, marble cake, bpw, sugar high friday, shf