Chocolate Sauerkraut Cake

cake
Originally uploaded by katez0r.

rich, moist, and perfect with a few sliced strawberries on top to cut the richness. I used butter from Rogue Creamery (which can be found at any Portland farmer's market) its high fat content made the glaze buttery to the point of being obscene. It was almost too much.

This is David Lebovitz recipe.

I'm not sure if anyone reads this, but over the coming week I'm off to Rochester, New York -- a place not known for food, but has the most incredible burgers you'll ever eat, and the best grocery store in the world. Whole Foods ain't got nothin' on Wegmans.

homemade pasta and sauce with pancetta

homemade pasta and sauce with pancetta
Originally uploaded by katez0r.

Charlie made pasta -- he said it was hard, and his hands hurt from the kneading. Thick pasta, and a nice, chunky sauce with pancetta and Italian sausage that didn't take any attention away from the main feature: the pasta. Charlie has an amazing way with herbs and spices, and we could not stop slurping this good stuff up. The pasta recipe was from Mario Batali, and the sauce is Charlie's.

Where can you find the perfect chocolate chip cookie?

the perfect chocolate chip cookie
Originally uploaded by katez0r.

In David Lebovitz's "The Great Book of Chocolate."

I've baked these twice now and have had numerous people tell me that this is exactly how chocolate chip cookies should taste. Soft, but a little crunchy, just the right amount of delicious chocolate, and walnuts. Although, in this one I subtituted coconut for the nuts. I love coconut.

I'm hungry just thinking about them.

YUM

YUM
Originally uploaded by katez0r.

mmm, buttermilk cupcakes with buttercream frosting & strawberries and mint for a party on the fourth. The cupcakes are a genoise, but with baking powder. I've never eaten genoise besides my own, so I have no idea if I'm doing it right. It tastes fantastic, though, so I can't be entirely wrong!

Recipe from "The Secrets of Baking."