Chocolate Loaded Cake (gluten free)

November 5, 2015November 5, 2015 lizellyn Sweets Cake, Chocolate, gluten free

I aim to please when making birthday cakes for family and friends. This cake is dedicated to my daughter that believes chocolate cake lacks enough chocolate.

The bottom layer is a flourless chocolate cake. The middle layer is chocolate mouse. And the outside is chocolate ganache. This cake is absolutely not lacking chocolate!

Flourless Chocolate Cake

1/3 c water
1/3 sugar
1 stick butter (cut up into pieces)
12 oz semisweet chocolate
6 eggs
1/3 c coffee
2 Tbls dark rum
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven 325
Butter 8 in round cake pan and line with aluminum foil
In medium saucepan heat water and sugar over medium heat until simmer. Add butter and heat until melted
Remove from heat and add chocolate. Make sure chocolate is submerged. Let stand for one minute. Whisk until smooth
In mixer with whisk attachment, beat eggs, coffee, rum and cinnamon until well incorporated
Slowly add chocolate and whisk until well combined.
Pour into prepared pan
Create a water bath for cake pan. Put cake pan in a larger pan and add enough water to larger pan to reach halfway up side of cake pan.
Bake for 45 minutes or until slightly firm to the touch
Place in refrigerator until cold and ready to proceed with chocolate mouse
To remove from pan, run a knife along edge. Place pan on hot stove for 7 seconds. Invert cake and remove foil.

Chocolate Mouse

8 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate, chopped (Do not use chocolate chips)
1 1/2 cups of heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons of confectioners’ sugar

Chill a bowl and whisk in the freezer for a few hours.
Melt the chocolate in a double boiler until smooth.
In the chilled bowl, whip the cream and sugar until it holds its shape.
Fold half of the cream into the chocolate until incorporated.
Fold the chocolate and cream mixture into the remaining whipped cream, incorporating thoroughly.
Spread on top of flourless chocolate cake.
Freeze for about 15 minutes and shape the mouse on top of cake – repeat again if necessary
Freeze for about 1 hour so that the mouse will hold its shape before ganache is poured on top

Chocolate Ganache

16 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, chopped (use good quality chocolate – it is the essence of the flavor)
1 cup heavy cream

Place chocolate in a bowl.
Heat cream over low heat, stirring occasionally, until it starts to simmer.
Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until well-incorporated. It should be thick enough that it doesn’t just run down the sides. Allow to cool a little if not thick enough
Pour warm ganache over the cake
Put in refrigerator for 15 minutes. Reshape the ganache coating so all the sides and top are smooth.

Keep cake in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

HAPPY BAKING!

Jaci Burton – Taking a Shot

November 4, 2015November 4, 2015 lizellyn Books Athlete, Strong Sexy Supermale

Baseball season’s over and it’s time for a little hockey. I realize that this is the second Jaci Burton post that I’ve done in one week. There’s certain authors that are so good that you miss the stories and characters after you finish reading. Jaci Burton creates sexy as hell professional athletes. Her books are not only a must read, but fall into the category of great re-reads.

Jenna and Ty never quite seem to make it to an actual bedroom. They’re quite creative and are willing to hook up no matter where they are located.

Ty isn’t just some good looking athlete. He’s an incredibly perceptive man and boyfriend. He understands Jenna more than she realizes and is determined to help her achieve her dreams.

Jenna is a loyal girl with a few hidden talents and some very provocative tattoos and piercings.

Unlike most stories where the man makes the big mistakes, Jenna is the one that needs to eat crow and do her best groveling. Ty’s response is perfect.

Jaci Burton – Changing the Game

Jaci Burton – Quarterback Draw

Jaci Burton – All Wound Up

Which is your favorite Jaci Burton Play by Play Cover?

Results of Favorite Jaci Burton Play by Play Cover

to Jaci Burton!

Teaser Tuesday – The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz

November 3, 2015November 3, 2015 lizellyn Bookish Book Teaser

This Week’s Feature Book Teaser: The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz

Image From http://smutfanatic.blogspot.com/2014/09/lauras-review-of-mistress-original.html?zx=d6f7a7ca156c5eef

MORE BOOK TEASERS

Gluten Free Halloween Treats

October 31, 2015December 21, 2015 lizellyn Sweets Cookies, gluten free

Meringue Cookies in the shape of candy corn and ghosts

(recipe found at http://makebakecelebrate.com/candy-corn-week-candy-corn-meringues-printable-and-round-up/)

Ingredients

4 Egg Whites
1 1/3 Cup Sugar
1/4 TSP Salt
1/4 TSP Cream of Tarter
Orange Gel Coloring
Yellow Coloring
Parchment Paper
Pipping Bag
Large Round Tip

Instructions

Preheat oven to 150-170 degrees. In the bowl of an electric mixer separate egg yolks from egg whites. Let the eggs come to room temp.
Beat eggs until white and foamy. Mix in 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp cream of tarter until soft peaks form.Set timer for 7 minutes. Slowly add in sugar a bit at a time taking the entire 7 minutes to do so.
Divide into three bowl. To make the most meringues put a little more in the orange bowl, and the most in the yellow bowl because you will use the most of these colors.
Add orange to your middle bowl and yellow to the bowl with the most meringue.
Fill piping bags with meringue using a large round tip (I used Wilton #2A). If you only have one tip or one bag just start with yellow and wash in between of course.
On a parchment paper lined cookie sheet pipe yellow dots of meringue about an inch across. Holding the icing bag vertical. Just press gently until you get a nice shape release pressure then pull up. I have found that these bake best when they are no bigger then and inch wide and an inch tall.
Layer an orange dot on top slightly smaller, remember to keep the icing bag vertical it will help loads!
Layer a smaller white dot on top. Pull up as you release pressure to get a nice little tip.
Now bake at a very low heat (about 150-170) for about two hours to two and a half hours until they are nice and crisp. I just checked on mine every so often to make sure they haven’t started to brown. Every oven is different. I have found in the past that a low temp for a much longer time is far better then a higher temp with a risk of browning.
With any left over white batter: swirl and add a couple of mini chips for eyes

Chocolate Coated Marshmallows with sprinkles with gluten free Snyder’s Pretzel handle

This is pretty self explanatory and incredibly easy to make. They are festive looking and very fun to eat! The chocolate cools and hardens quickly so it can even be done as a last minute dessert.

HAPPY BAKING!

Lorraine Loveit – Grand Final – The Last Game (Playing the Game #6)

October 30, 2015October 31, 2015 lizellyn Books Athlete, Strong Sexy Supermale

AVAILABLE FOR PRE ORDER

As the series comes to an end, will Suzie end up with Brendon? The entire novel leaves the reader on pins and needles, waiting the for the other shoe to drop. Will Brendon return to his abusive former self? I couldn’t put the book down until I had the answer.

With all the admirers that Suzie has procured, with whom will she end up in the end?

I love how this book separates itself from other BDSM novels. Most other books have completely romanticized the concept of BDSM, which isn’t to say that the books are bad. This series breaks from those predictable story lines.

1. This series shows that things aren’t always perfect in a BDSM relationship. Doms, like Brenden, can be inexperienced. He really had no clue how to be a good Dom. In previous books, he never put the needs of his sub first.

2. BDSM isn’t for everyone. Jason states, in the beginning of this book, that Suzie isn’t a submissive even though he wishes she should would be his. Suzie tried to be a good submissive but it just wasn’t in her nature.

3. Even if you try the lifestyle, you can always stop and still have a kinky fun sex life. There’s a whole lot of room for creativity between BDSM and boring vanilla missionary. This is the crux of the heat and steam in Grand Final.

The racy scenes left me needing a cold shower. Unfortunately, unlike Suzie’s numerous showers, Brendon did not join me. Damn those book boyfriends!

This is a Must Read Series. See Related Posts:

Lorraine Loveit – Bounce Down

Lorraine Loveit – Getting Tackled

Lorraine Loveit – Hard Ball

Lorraine Loveit – Full Time

Lorraine Loveit – Time On

to Lorraine Loveit!

Jaci Burton – Changing the Game (Play by Play #2)

October 30, 2015October 30, 2015 lizellyn Books Athlete, Strong Sexy Supermale

In honor of the World Series, this is my suggested read for the week.

Check Out this cover! Guess what … the writing inside is even hotter.

Liz is a successful sports agent and Gavin is one of her clients. She’s been in love with him for years. He is a professional baseball player that has true love and devotion for the game.

Gavin and Liz burn up the sheets (shower and other surfaces) together. But mixing business with pleasure is complicated. Throw in some deep emotions and the situation gets more complex. Liz has close ties to Gavin’s family, which makes the entanglement even more convoluted.

This book is a grand slam hot romance!

Jaci Burton – Quarterback Draw

Jaci Burton – All Wound Up

Which is your favorite Jaci Burton Play by Play Cover?

Results of Favorite Jaci Burton Play by Play Cover

to Jaci Burton!

P J Haynie – Losing You

October 29, 2015October 29, 2015 lizellyn Books More Sweet than Sensual

I believe that there is always a book out there to read no matter your mood. If you get into a fight with someone you love, this is a great book to read. It’s literally a quick reminder (only 24 pages) about forgiveness. It’s done in a modern, believable, and most importantly a romantic way.

I’m not a huge fan of short stories and novellas, but this is one I know that I’ll read again in the future.

to P J Haynie!

Maya Banks – Sweet Temptation (Sweet #4)

October 28, 2015October 28, 2015 lizellyn Books Three or More Galore

Re-reading books is my new guilty pleasure. This book was too tempting not to read again.

Micah is a generally a walled off man that doesn’t care to share a lot of personal details about his past. Angelina, the little sister of his deceased best friend, returns from his past. She’s a sexy Latina with a determination to seduce the man of her dreams. Micah tries to fight his overwhelming lustful attraction for her, but he cannot resist. His domination of Angelina’s body is scorching hot! You’ll need a glass of cold water nearby to help cool you off.

Add a little suspense to the mix and the culmination is one hell of a book.

This series is absolutely flipping amazing. New to the sex club scene? Read these books! Sex, action, and romance, this series has it all. (A little menagerie, too) I cannot say that I have a favorite in the series, because they are all great. I suggest reading them in order, because the characters develop throughout the series.

to Maya Banks!

To Audiobook or Not

October 27, 2015October 27, 2015 lizellyn Bookish book blogging

I couldn’t image listening to an audiobook. I didn’t want someone else’s voice in my head. When I read, I like to imagine how the characters’ voices sound and I didn’t want someone else altering that experience. I figured that hearing someone else read would completely ruin the fantasy of the book. I love to get lost in the author’s words. I didn’t want any distractions.

But then I found myself entrenched in those pesky times of the day when I had to tear myself away from a good book and actually clean the house, do laundry, make dinner, etc.

A few days ago, I finally decided that I would try an audio book. I chose a book by a well known author that I adore. I downloaded the book and put in my ear buds. I set very low expectations and pressed play. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel the urge to cut-off the voice.

It didn’t take long until I was hooked. Even when I had time to return to my traditional book, I wanted to finish the audiobook. Yes, I found a new love for audiobooks.

After I finished my first audiobook, I quickly downloaded another. Eager to start another book, I began it immediately. Whoa! There it was. An annoying voice that grated on my nerves. The inflections and accent were all wrong. After five minutes, I couldn’t bare another minute. There was no way that I could endure listening to that voice for an entire novel. I’m not usually one to abandon a book but this was dreadful.

I considered whether or not I should give up on audiobooks completely. I decided I would give it another shot. The quality of the audio of the third book was not as good as the first but still very enjoying.

What do I think of audiobooks? Well, just like all books, some are good and some are not. They definitely fill a gap in my day when I have to do mundane chores. Even sorting laundry doesn’t seem so terrible when I’m listening to a book. Also, after spending an entire day working at the computer, my eyes are sometimes too tired to focus on a traditional book. An audiobook is a nice substitute. Of course, there are limitations. I read much more quickly than an audiobook. So when I’m listening to an audiobook and I’m desperate for the happily-ever-after, I have to dig deep for a little extra patience.

I guess I’m a traditional girl at heart and prefer a book that I can hold in my hands and turn the pages, be it a paperback or an ebook.

In the end, the format of the book doesn’t really matter. All that matters is the quality and enjoyment of the story.