Chocolate Cake with Cherry Mascarpone Frosting

One of my favorite times in the kitchen is side by side with my 8-year old son. Like many "fiercely independent" kids he wanted to make the cake and eat it too! I measured everything out and he mixed and frosted it himself. The frosting is a cherry mascarpone frosting(from my cupcake post) so good with chocolate (the coffee is the secret ingredient that brings out the richness). I also have to give him props as he is the photographer on this post also! We had a happy little dude….and my wife liked it too!

Ingredients-
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
2 Cups Sugar
3/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
2 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 Cup Buttermilk (you can use any type of milk that you have, but buttermilk gives the cake the richness that a good chocolate cake has)
1/2 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 Large Eggs
1 Tbl Almond Extract
1 Cup Coffee Fresh Brewed

Directions-

1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour 1 9x13 inch pan or two 9 inch round pans.
2. Sift all dry ingredients into bowl of an electric mixer.
3. In separate bowl mix buttermilk, veg. oil, eggs and almond extract.
4. On low speed in mixer mix dry ingredients with whisk attachment for one minute add wet ingredients mix for 1 minute add coffee and mix until just combined.
5. Pour into pan and put into oven for 30-35 minutes or until done.
6. Remove from pan and frost with what ever you want(this frosting is the cherry mascarpone frosting from my cupcake post enjoy.

White Chocolate and Strawberry Bread Pudding

We went to a friend's house for a Super Bowl party(that is why it's a paper plate…but it is also known as the poor man's pudding dating back to the 11th century so I suppose that it is fitting)  a nice easy dessert would be bread pudding . You can put just about anything you like into it. My favorite is butterscotch chips. Luckily the bread pudding turned out a winner unlike the Broncos!

Ingredients-
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Cup Whole Milk
1 5oz Sweetened and Condensed Milk
1 Egg
1/2 Cup Egg Yolks
1/4 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp Salt
1lb Strawberries
1 11oz bag White Chocolate Chips(White chocolate is not chocolate in the strict sense as it does not contain cocoa solids)
1 Loaf French Bread(or any bread you like)


Directions-
1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, yolks, brown sugar and salt.
2. Add cream, milk and sweetened condensed milk and whisk.
3. Cut bread into 1/2 inch size pieces.
4. Cut strawberries into quarters.
5. In a 9X13inch pan add bread and white chocolate and strawberries.
6. Pour in batter, cover with foil and cook at 325 degrees
7. Cook for 45 min. bread pudding should not jiggle and be firm, center should not have any liquid
8. When done(it may take longer then 45 min. it is done when it is done so be patient) cut bread Pudding into 3X8 pieces.