SpaghettiFunghiPorcini

This is my first "edible" pasta ever. Edible in the sense that it satisfied the palet of my worst critics, no less than my three siblings and my three-year-old picky niece (who enjoyed cooking with me).

Spaghetti with pricey Italian mushroom called Porcini.

1c dried porcini mushroom
2c hot water
1large onion, thinly sliced
4cloves garlic, thinly sliced
3tbsp olive oil
1c dry white wine
1pc chicken/beef broth cubes
1tsp chicken powder
1/8c butter
1c whipping cream*

500g durum wheat spaghetti, cooked al dente to package instruction

1. Soak dried porcini mushroom in hot water for about 30 minutes. The water will turn dark. Set aside.
2. Heat a large pan, sautee garlic and onion in olive oil.
3. Remove mushroom from the water, add to the pan and let if cook for a minute.
4. Strain the remaining water to remove sandy residue of the mushroom and add it to the pan. Simmer for a minute or two.
5. Add white wine, simmer to reduce.
6. Add broth cubes.
7. Add butter.
8. Add chicken powder.
9. Add salt and pepper to taste. It should be a bit salty as this will neutralize when the pasta is added.
10. Add cooked pasta, mix together then remove from heat.
11. Fold in cream.

*for cooking, my personal preference is this brand Arla whipping cream.

BasicChocolateCake

Octoberfest is chocolatefest for me. But I seemed to be having a hangover this November - here's another chocolate treat. This will be the last (for this year) promise! ;D

Black magic cake, moist chocolate cake, whatever you call it, it's a basic chocolate cake that spells M-O-I-S-T. (mo-west as we jokingly pronounce it.)

This is my dad's favorite. I know he's not suppose to eat chocolates, but he just can't resist this.

1 3/4c all purpose flour
1 3/4c brown sugar
3/4c cocoa powder
2tsp baking soda
1tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
2pcs egg
1c strong black coffee
(mix 2tsp instant coffee + 1c hot water)
1c buttermilk or sour milk
(mix 1tbsp vinegar + 1/2c evaporated milk + 1/2c hot water)
1/2c vegetable oil
1tsp vanilla

Preheat oven for 30 minutes at 350F.

1. Sift and whisk together dry ingredients.
2. Make a well*, add the eggs and other wet ingredients in the center.
3. Beat at medium speed for two minutes.
4. Pour batter into a greased & floured pan (13x9x2 or two 9-inch pan)
5. Bake for 35-40 mins.

You may top it with your choice of chocolate frosting, but for me, the cake itself is good enough.

*make a well, is a technique to avoid crumbling when mixing dry & wet ingredients together. First, in a bowl, make a hole (like a well) in the middle of the dry ingredients, add the wet ingredients in the well, then gently mix them together in the center until smooth and well blended.