Saturday, November 13, 2010

PFB Challenge #7: Emergency Cake Video

It was an emergency...where I just happened to be wearing false eyelashes.

VOTE HERE!

With each challenge we get stretched in a new way...and I am loving it! This challenge #7 for Project Food Blog: Video 411, tapped into my long-time desire to have my own cooking show. Since I was a little girl, I've practiced having a cooking show in the kitchen with my mom. Together we came up with skits and characters to show off our cooking chops, all done with tons of laughter and plenty of good memories.

My heart is to show you that cooking always has a story behind it. I love bringing that story to life in a fun, dare I say, campy manner, but not without plenty of how-to information and accessible, drool-worthy recipes.

Every bit of this video was done by me and me alone. Seeing how naptime (once again) is my only time to do blog stuff, it was me, the camera, my imagination and some editing software. If I waited for the Hubs to come home to film for me, it would be too late in the evening, resulting in bad lighting, too much giggling and not enough baking.

The original post for Emergency Cake was done out of a real-life chocolate craving emergency. Nothing would satisfy my craving except for a freshly-baked, dark chocolate-drenched, slightly warm, slice of the moistest, richest, easiest cake ever. Go from mixing to your mouth in just over an hour- well, that's faster than most chocolate cake-toting ambulances.

As I went around and around with ideas for this challenge, what I continued to come back to is one, BE MYSELF and two, make a recipe I dearly love. So that's what I did.
Enjoy the show.




Emergency Cake
(click HERE to see the original post)
adapted from Divvies Chocolate cupcake recipe
Oven: 350 degrees
Makes 6 servings

1 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups water

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8 cake pan with parchment and spray with pan release; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or just use a whisk, works just fine), mix together oil, vinegar, vanilla, and water until well combined. Add flour mixture to the mixer and mix until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary. Batter should look and feel more watery than normal cake batters.

Pour batter into prepared pan. Transfer to oven and bake for 35-37 minutes. Cake is done when the center bounces back when gently pressed.  

Let cool 10 minutes in pan then invert to serving plate or wire rack to cool completely...but if it's an emergency, you can eat it warm. Nothing wrong with that, especially if you are pouring warm ganache over the top.

(Honestly, who uses a fork in an emergency?)

To cut it into 6 snack-size pieces, simply cut the cake into thirds then in half. Pour ganache over each slice individually. Serve or cram.


Ganache

1 cup heavy cream, brought just to a boil
1 cup good quality chocolate of you choice (I prefer 60% cacao)


Pour chocolate into hot cream. Whisk until well combined and glossy. Use immediately or let it stand for 15 minutes for a thicker topping. Pour over cake, one slice at a time or over entire cake- your choice.

Thank you so much, Foodies for taking time to watch my video! Voting for this post will begin on Monday the 15th. I will send out a reminder post for you!

I appreciate your support through this entire contest. Your kind words and comments have kept me going and enjoying it all the more. You've gotten me to this challenge, let's continue on to Challenge #8! I've got something delish for you that is pumpkin-licious!

Love ya, Foodies!!

50 comments:

  1. First of all, you are hilarious! And that gets you extra brownie (or, in this case, cake) points in the PFB competition.

    Great recipe and it looks terrific!!!

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  2. Loved this! So creative- your creativity is off the charts. I can really do for some chocolate now. I bought some good chocolate specifically for my Turkey Day pies, but you're making me want to use it in this delectable cake darn you. Again, excellent video. You're my naptime heroine.

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  3. I have to say, I REALLY wish samples could've been provided with your video, because that cake looks DIVINE!!! And your video was great--Even my 2-year-old sat transfixed by it. Good luck--You'll be a shoe-in for challenge #8!!!

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  4. You are so hilarious! Your video was just amazing. Once again you've impressed me with your creativity! And oh my word does that chocolate cake look incredible, YUM!!!!! I'll definitely be voting for you again, great job!

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  5. hehehehehe Great video Lauren!!! I love how simple this cake is, but it still has that bit of wow factor. This is really your niche. You are so natural,and informative, and effortless, you really just light up the screen. You should be vlogging more often! You always have my vote, friend! Best of luck to you (though I doubt you will need any this round). Fingers crossed for us both to make it to round 8!!! =) Let them eat cake!!!

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  6. I love how you made this entire video by yourself! Great job, Lauren. The intro is the best! Of course, the cake is awesome too :) Chocolate heaven! Good luck!

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  7. Sister, sister, are you OK? =) Haha!! LOVE the accents - great cake for any emergency.

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  8. I use a very similar cake recipe for my emergency chocolate fix and I have to agree with you, sooooo gooood! You did a wonderful job. Good luck.

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  9. As Brian said...you are so HILARIOUS. I loved watching this. It brought a big smile to my face on a cold and dreary Texas morning. And I adore chocolate, so you know this emergency cake was the perfect recipe for me. Good luck, sweet girl...you deserve this! Thank you for sharing. I'm hoping that your week is full of joy.

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  10. LOVE the video, Lauren! That is such a simple recipe-- which is MY kinda recipe! I think you have done such an amazing job on every challenge and you add your own creative twist each time! You've got my vote!!! Good luck to you!

    Liz

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  11. lauren! This was HILARIOUS!! I cracked up at the opening. Unique and totally apppropriate. :) The cake looks delicious. You have my vote for sure! Well done!

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  12. Oh oh oh you did so gooood. I love it.

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  13. Loved your video - had me laughing and scouring my cabinets for chocolate. Will vote for you tomorrow. Good luck!

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  14. LOL! Love the video, and your cake looks wonderful! You have my vote :)!

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  15. What a crackup. Good thing you watch BBC shows so I could laugh my butte off. !!!
    Definitely will try that cake.

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  16. So good...laughing uncontrollably at the opening shots :) Wonderful cake and exceptional job...

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  17. Girl, you crack me up...as always! And I love that recipe too! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for your kind note! Thanks for praying for my friend Herb! I had some problems with the rwop log in for awhile too! Glad to be back in touch though!
    I want to make that cake now! love it...love you! Lorraine

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  18. Schweeetie DAHHHHling - ABsolutely FABulous.....you are a natural entertainer, and you can cook your socks off too! I have loved watching you grow and be stretched throughout this competition, sky's the limit baby! Keep shining sweet bella...

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  19. Kudos to creativity...thats a real funny video..Hilarious...

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  20. Hi Lauren,
    I don't know why they haven't already been knocking on your door for a remake of 'Emergency!'.....
    Great job, have filed away the recipe because I DO have time to ake a chocolate cake ths easy...thanks!!

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  21. Thank you to each one of you! I appreciate your comments so much! I'm working my way to each of your blogs. I'm having such a great time finding all these new blogs and new friends along the way. And to you long-time followers, thanks for hangin' out with me! hugs.

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  22. Girl--you are bonafide nuts...and I love it!! Totally appreciate the fact that you're willing to let it all hang out on your kitchen floor with chocolate smeared around your mouth. You come across as so natural and genuine on camera without an ounce of pretension, just as I expected. It's been so fun getting to see your personality shine through these entries. Can't wait to see what you come up with in the next round!

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  23. OMG Lauren, great video! Hysterically funny, and an easy to make emergency cake is such a good, useful idea (I'm glad to know I'm not the only one that has "chocolate emergencies"). I especially LOVE the last shot where you cut back to the dazed and confused chocolate-smeared Lauren, on the floor, eating a bite of cake! Brilliant!!!!! Cheers, Michelle

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  24. Heeeee... I love everything about this video, and especially the opening segment. Too funny for words.
    I can totally relate to the whole idea of an emergency chocolate cake, too. I'm pretty sure I have one of those chocolate emergencies at least once a month. :)
    Good luck. You've got my vote!

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  25. This is a delightfully funny script, Lauren! You're just as I'd expected, the real deal, with a wonderful TV voice and manner. Very soon, your dream of having your own cooking show will come true and when it does, Martha and Tina Fey better watch out! Good luck in this round!

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  26. That was hilarious! Delicious cake and awesome video! I think I feel a chocolate emergency coming on now. Good luck to you!

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  27. Lauren--You and your "sister" remind me of Haley Mills all grown up and starring in "The Chocolate Trap!" I am going to make this cake! Good luck!

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  28. Thanks for the cake recipe, did enjoy the video by the way.

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  29. Damn it looks good.. everything, the brownies, the topping.. just.. great!

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  30. Your hilarious. I was seriously thinking, 'hmmm, I didn't know she was British' hee hee. yummy cake, fun video, of course i voted 4 ya!

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  31. LOVE the accent. And you followed my #1 rule of eating: "If it's brown we'll eat. It must be beef or chocolate."

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  32. Really creative lead-in and ending to the cooking segment. You rocked the accent.

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  33. My, my, that was thoroughly enjoyable. I couldn't help but hope that you were going to use the fake accent the whole way through!!! Got my vote. Great looking cake, too.

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  34. Love it! And who doesn't speak in a British accent every once in a while? :) You go, girl!

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  35. That was just too funny!!! you really take the cake with this video!! Loved the accent and the cake, you have my vote as always!!
    Cheers
    Dennis

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  36. I LOLed! The BEST part was, "One question . . . why are we talking in these really bad British accents?"

    HILARIOUS. You have a vote from me!

    My entry combines stop-motion animation, makeshift music videos, some very off-key singing, my cheesy sense of humor, and enough tips and tricks to empower you to make over 27 different cheesecakes! Come see if you'd like :)

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  37. In addition to being a mom, wife, cook, and authoring a blog - you really should consider acting.
    Good luck!
    LL

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  38. You opening scene was fantastic, I loved it! And I'm all over that emergency chocolate cake, especially after you drizzled the ganache over it! :)

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  39. Hehe, your video is so funny and cute! You are so creative too. Best of luck & continued success on the PFB.

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  40. You're adorable :) Love the looks of your cake too! Good luck this round!

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  41. FUNNY,LOL!!!! Good luck you chocoholic with a funny accent:)

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  42. Freaking hillarious! Click.

    If you keep it turned up to 11 you will be the champ.

    Jason

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  43. You are a food blogging she-devil! The video is so much fun; you are a natural in front of the camera. And, well, everyone could use an emergency cake. :) Great work!

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  44. Fabulous! Love the smeary chocolate I can definitely relate.

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  45. Ok, so I voted for you before actually watching the video because I was at work and didn't have speakers to hear the video. I just came back to watch it thought it was absolutely hilarious. I really wish PFB allowed me to vote more than once for this because I would have voted like 1,000 times. It was soooo funny! I'm looking forward to trying the egg-free cake too.

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