Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Happy Go Marniversary! (and a Bittersweet Fudge Torte to celebrate)


Today is the one year blogiversary of Happy Go Marni! I can't believe it. Mostly, I can't believe I've had enough things to say to keep up a blog for so long! The year flew by. And truth be told, I have plenty left to say so the party's just getting started.

When I originally set out to do a blog, it was because I wanted to build baking into my regular routine more. I love to bake so much that I considered it as a profession and applied to a pastry arts program in San Francisco. But when I chose a different career path, I didn't want life to get too busy that I stopped baking. A blog would be the perfect way to enforce baking regularly. It's been no problem whatsoever making time (though I admit, it's come out of my sleep on occasion - but every gal knows her priorities) and I've had no problem finding tasters for my wares.

Over the year, my blog developed a style, a tone, even a logistical format. I've learned all kinds of new baking techniques in the process and made many new foodie friends. I have so much fun sifting through my archives and seeing the "projects" I took on. Sometimes I really think I must have lost my mind to have attempted some of these recipes...ahem. But now I have 12 months of documented baking adventures. Happy is an understatement.

And what better way to celebrate the one year blogiversary of Happy Go Marni than with a sickeningly rich Marlene Sorosky dark chocolate flourless torte. It's so sickening I think I finally found my personal limit. Alice Medrich would be disappointed in me. So would my chocolatier friend Chuck Siegel of Charles Chocolates. I dare you to try this and see if you can withstand such a rich cake. Just be sure to have ice water beside you.


Bittersweet Fudge Torte
Recipe by Marlene Sorosky in The Dessert Lover's Cookbook

1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter
8 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
5 large eggs, at room temperature
1/2 cup plus 1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup light corn syrup

1 1/2 cups whipping cream softly whipped with 4 tablespoons powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter 9-inch springform. Cut a circle of wax paper or parchment to fit in bottom and butter paper. Wrap outside of pan in foil to keep batter from seeping out as it bakes.

Place butter and the unsweetened and semisweet chocolate in a medium-size heavy saucepan. Stir over low heat until melted. Set aside.

Beat eggs and 1/2 cup sugar in a large bowl with electric mixer on high speed, until very light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Meanwhile, combine corn syrup and 1/2 cup sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to a full boil over moderate heat, stirring constantly. Transfer to heatproof glass measuring cup. With mixer on medium speed, slowly pour sugar syrup in a thin, steady stream into eggs. Stir a small amount of the egg mixture into the chocolate mixture to lighten it. Then fold the chocolate back into the eggs. Pour into prepared springform pan.

Place a shallow baking pan in the 350 degree F oven. Place springform pan in baking pan and fill with about 1 inch hot water. Bake for 45 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. The center will not spring back. Do not overbake as cake will firm up as it cools. Remove cake from water and cool on rack for 30 minutes. Invert onto serving plate, remove paper and cool completely. If desired, the torte may be covered with plastic wrap or foil and kept at room temperature overnight, or it may be refrigerated up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Serve torte at room temperature. It is easiest to cut this light, fudgy-textured cake if you wipe the blade of a sharp knife clean and dip it in hot water before each slice. Spoon whipped cream over each slice.

Serves 8 to 10.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations and Happy Marniversary to you! I've enjoyed reading every word you've written these past twelve months. I've also delighted in the virtual tasting of your home-baked goodies!!!

TMC said...

Yay!! Congratulations! :)

Anonymous said...

Keep up the great work Marni. Out of all the baking blogs I read- wait... this is the only one I read. So that says something. :-) Seriously though, you rock.

Tzviah said...

That looks amazing! Congratulations, and many happy returns to your blog ;) I must say, I feel that I've been personally challenged now! Hence, if I can't convince you to give me some of that, I might have to make it myself after finals.

Eve Wexler said...

Congrats! I've enjoyed reading for the past year. :-) But isn't the cure for a too-rich chocolate cake a glass of milk, not water??

Marni said...

Joyce - yay! i hope you've enjoyed some of the nonvirtual tastings, too! i've baked the goods in your kitchen more than a few times so thanks for that!

TMC - thanks :). i appreciate that you continue to come back!

Jeremy - you've been a huge help in getting me started on the blog and also keeping me motivated!

Tzviah - not to worry. it won't take any convincing for me to share that torte. i can't handle another bite. you win.

Eve - thanks. i've loved all your comments on my post. especially the camel recipe! and also, milk will wash it down, but only ice water will numb the pain!

Mary said...

Congrats are in order! I stumbled across your blog while surfing the net and love, love, love to find you have posted a new recipe! I actually baked the Rachel Bars and my whole family loved them - we can hardly wait to taste your holiday recipes!

Anonymous said...

A huge congrats, Marni, on that stellar achievement. One year is something to be commended for.

So as someone who is also sort of reinventing herself, I am curious to ask: Do you ever wish you had taken the pastry school path instead?

Unknown said...

Marni, You are a superstar! I really enjoy reading what you write and looking at your yummie creations via your beautiful photos. I read all of your blog postings even though I rarely comment.

Marni said...

Mary - That makes me so happy that you tried the Rachel Bars. I will be certain to tell my friend that others are enjoying the bar named after her. It'll brighten her day, for sure!

Carolyn - Thanks so much! To answer your question, no, I don't wish I had taken the pastry school path. First of all, while I would love to attend a pastry program to learn all the technique, I do not think I'm cut out to be a pastry chef and spend all day in the kitchen. I don't make that many recipes multiple times because I have so many hundreds of cookbooks with things in them I haven't yet tried. So having to create the same desserts over and over again would be a problem for me. But secondly, I absolutely love what I've chosen to do with my career. And it wasn't an accident. I attended grad school, had the time of my life there, and now use all that knowledge in online media relations and marketing. It's challenging, creative, and I'm surrounded by caring, supportive coworkers. And I still get to bake at night! Win-win, for sure. :)

Doreen - How fun to hear from you on here and learn that you frequent my blog! Keep it up! I'll quiz you later. :-P

Jays said...

I'm a day late, but my congratulations are still heartfelt. Thank you for the slice of torte. It is really intense and really, really good!

Tiffany K. said...

Congratulations, Marni!! You've made my kitchen smell so yummy more than once, and Bert's Chocolate Cake will be a treasure I will enjoy forever!! Thank you for sharing, and I can't wait to see what you give us in 2009!!

~Tiffany K.~

Marni said...

Deborah - Thanks! You've been a great taste tester all this time! And I appreciate all the early advice as you are such a wise, experienced blogger. :)

Tiffany - I feel like we've known each other for years, and yet I've only met you through this blog. So glad I could make your kitchen smell good. And what a thrill to hear you love my late grandmother's chocolate cake. I'll tell my grandfather that and it will bring a huge smile to his day.

City Elf said...

happy anniversary! one of these days i hope to try some of your delicious baked goods. :)

Marni said...

City Elf - thanks! i know, it's about time you had a taste for yourself. :)

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