Queens Eats #1
Regional Chinese Fare Hits Flushing Like a Ton of Bricks
The C&Z cake.
The recipe I used from the book is a little different than the one I found on her blog (see below) in that it called for 2 cups all purpose flour and did not give the option of using 1 1/2 cup all purpose and 1/2 cup of whole wheat flour and also mentioned confectioner's sugar or melted bittersweet chocolate as optional toppings whereas the blog recipe includes a hazelnut topping which I have not included here.
Chocolate & Zucchini Cake
- 1 1/2 C (180 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 C (60 g) whole wheat flour (of course, you can just use 2 C / 240 g all-purpose flour, I was just trying to be good)
- 1/2 C (40 g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 C (110 g) butter, softened
- 1 C (160 g) light brown sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp instant coffee granules (the Nescafé type, the stronger the better)
- 3 eggs, at room temperature
- 2 C zucchini, unpeeled, grated (about 280 g, two medium)
- 1 C (170 g) chocolate chips
(Serves 10.)
Preheat the oven to 180°C (360°F). Grease a 3 quart (3 L) springform cake pan, and flour it or sprinkle with cocoa powder : this is to help the cake unmold easily, especially if you're not using a magic non-stick pan.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In your food processor, combine the sugar and butter, and mix until fluffy. Add in the vanilla extract and espresso powder, then the eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly between each addition.
Spoon in the flour mixture, reserving the last half-cup of it. Mix thoroughly, the batter will be thick.
Add the grated zucchini and the chocolate chips to the reserved flour mixture, and toss to coat. Fold in the batter, and blend thoroughly, it's fun. Pour into the prepared cake pan, and flatten the surface with a spatula.
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Turn out on a rack to cool for half an hour, then unmold. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, glaze with melted chocolate, or decorate with a few slices of raw zucchini (you don't have to eat them, though).
The moment my cake was ready I headed over to Williamsburg and I arrived at the B-B-Q with the cake still steaming hot. It was devoured in a matter of minutes...I got a chance to try a piece myself...delicious!
Urban Organics: First Dinner.
ARTICHOKES
GREEN LEAF LETTUCE
ZUCCHINI
SPINACH
RUSSET POTATOES
DANDELION GREENS
VALENICA ORANGES
BANANAS
TANGELOS
GRAPEFRUIT
I have started a small collection of cookbooks and of course there's Epicurious and the internet to search. We'll see what I come up with!
Collaborations: Rei Kawakubo for H&M
INSPIRATION: Spring 04 Commes Des Garcons
I have a project for circle skirts that I will start work on shortly and it reminded me of Rei Kawakubo's collection for Commes Des Garcons for Spring 2004. Her idea for the collection was "designing from shapeless, abstract, intangible forms, not taking into account the body." How fun is that?!
More images from the collection here.
Gristedes burned down.
See pictures and news on brooklynheightsblog and mcbrooklyn.
Time's Up Bike Repair Workshop #1
-patch kit
-tire iron
-mini-pump
-wrench
-needle-nose pliers
-multi-functional tool
I am considering bringing my mutant bike to the open workshop on Thursdays but where to store the monstrosity?
The Time's Up Website.