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Chocolate amaretto torte…and 5 sordid facts

chocolate amaretto torte

I’m a lucky girl, I bake my birthday cake and when I turn it out onto the rack I discover a heart-shape on the bottom of the cake. Yep, that’s right…it’s my birthday weekend. I’ll actually turn 47 on Monday but in this family we celebrate for a whole weekend. It usually involves a movie, dinner, bookstore, scones…all the delights of our modern world, and all with my 3 favorite people on earth. As an added bonus my best buddy Teresa came for a visit and we yakked and giggled and shopped…it was great.

chocolate amaretto torte

Speaking of great, this torte is fabulous. It reminds me of the See’s dark chocolate, marzipan…my first/second favorite See’s in the world (it’s involved in a mortal deadlock with my other favorite, the scotch mallow). If you love dark chocolate and almonds this cake is for you. It’s moist and dense, and full of flavor. I actually followed the recipe exactly and it really does take only 15 minutes to put it together and worth every single second. Look it up in Dorie Greenspan’s book, Baking, From My Home To Yours and give it a try. But ignore the part about whipped cream for a topping…this cake just cries out for a scoop of your favorite vanilla ice cream.

Leena over at Leena Eats tagged me for the 5 sordid facts meme and since it’s my birthday I will comply…her wish is my command…mostly because she wants to name her first child bacon and I wish my name was bacon. Here goes…

  1. I love the smell of fresh money…literally. When we lived in SF in the 80’s the ATM’s would be filled every Friday with brand new fresh $20s and I’d make a withdrawal and then take a moment to inhale the sweet scent of fresh money…good times!
  2. Brett who??? I live in Wisconsin, but I’ve never watched the Green Bay Packers play football…it’s just not my deal.
  3. Kozy Shack Rice Pudding is fabulous and I love it. When I made my own rice pudding it just sucked.
  4. I love earthworms…not to eat, but to hold in my hand, and for the great work they do in my flower garden.
  5. I absolutely adore the concept of time travel. As a result I’m an avid fan-girl of Dr. Who and I can’t count the number of times that I wished for my very own Tardis.

Cheers my friends…have a good weekend.



March 7, 2008 | Filed Under baking, cakes and tortes, chocolate, food, memes, sweets 

comments

10 Responses to “Chocolate amaretto torte…and 5 sordid facts”

  1. JEP on March 8th, 2008

    Happy, happy birthday! Mmm…Kozy Shack Rice pudding. I like the smell of ANY money, never watch football, uhh…will only touch earthworms long enough to put on fishing hooks:) Have a super relaxing care-free weekend!

  2. Jules on March 8th, 2008

    Happy Birthday. You chocolate torte looks amazing and made even better by the heart.

  3. brilynn on March 8th, 2008

    You can’t beat a Dorie cake! Happy birthday!

  4. Mel on March 8th, 2008

    That cake looks absolutely divine… Enjoy it for your birthday… Glad to know that there is one other person in WI who could care less about football, it’s getting sickening…

  5. Erin on March 8th, 2008

    Happy birthday! Your cake looks amazing :)

    I love you blog, and you always make my day! You even won an award for it!

    http://cookingandeatinginthewindycity.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-first-blog-award.html

  6. amanda on March 9th, 2008

    happy birthday vanessa!

  7. LyB on March 10th, 2008

    Amaretto and chocolate anything would be good, that torte looks fabulous! If you like time travel you’d have loved Journey Man, too bad it was canceled :(

  8. vanessa on March 13th, 2008

    Thank you all for your good wishes and kind words.

  9. leena! on March 25th, 2008

    Happoy belated birthday, Vanessa!

    And if it really makes you happy, I can call you Bacon from now on. :)

  10. MariannaF on May 21st, 2008

    OMG wow, this looks and sounds AMAZING!! Mmmm mmmm!!! And I find Amaretto to be a great ingredient in desserts. Also I know I’m super late on this but I thought I would be polite- happy belated bday!

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