Chocolate Truffle Tart

Um so...prepare for a million drool inducing photos.

Happy almost blogaversary The Cooking Actress, have some (sort of) cake.

You'll love it. It's chocolatey and rich and dense and fudgy and pretty much everything you love about life.

And added bonus?

The boyfriend likes it too

(because it's served cold, and thusly makes him like it. Because he doesn't like most desserts warm...

...including cookies.

I KNOW.

he's crazy)

Pretty much it's another one of those amazing flourless chocolate cake/tortes.

But for some reason this one seems super sophisticated and fancy.

Like...I could eat this while wearing evening attire under dim lighting with important people

...but I also could still eat it in bed, in my pj's, while watching TV.

It's a versatile cake.

I'm getting hungry looking at these photos again. 

I'm sad that we ate all of this. I miss it. *sigh*

But sorry, don't let me get you down! YOU can still have this cake and indulge in the velvety texture, sinful flavor, and bliss-inducing wonder that is this tart/cake/torte (or whatever it is).

Honestly...I'm not one of those people who makes pretty food. My food tastes delicious, but...it's rare when it is pretty. I'm unsure if it's a matter of my lack of patience or if it's a lack of talent, or perhaps I just am SO preoccupied with it tasting amazing, the appearance portion is just sorely neglected? Either way, it's a bit of a point of shame for me.

But this chocolate truffle tart is PRETTY. It is one of the pretties things I've ever made. I just gazed at it in wonder, so proud and so excited. Perhaps that's why there's so many photos. I am so pleased that I just wanna show off.

Plus..I mean...come on....chocolate.

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Do you need a show-stopper dessert for the upcoming (AHOMGSUPERSOON) holiday?

Do you want something that takes very little effort, and that you can even make ahead of time?

Do you want THE ABSOLUTE BEST LAVA CAKE I'VE POSSIBLY EVER HAD?!?

Yes?

Good, you're smart. I like that about you.

I've already waxed poetic about my very deep love for lava cakes...it's chocolate cake...with a melt-y chocolate lava center. 

So...yeah. 

At some point when it was just starting to get around that "Kayle likes to cook.", Michael's dad suggested I try out his wife, Jeanne's, recipe. She facebook messaged me the very simple recipe and I stored it away to try...at some point. To be honest, I wasn't that optimistic. I'm always nervous when trying a recipe that I don't have photos of or detailed instructions. But, I was in the mood to make some lava cake a couple weeks ago, and Michael suggested I try Jeanne's-I had all the ingredients so I figured, "Why not?" While I was baking these up I thought to myself, "Huh, there isn't that much chocolate in here, I wonder if these will be any good?"

Oh yeah past me, they are VERY good! AND you do not need to worry about whether or not they'll be underbaked enough or whatever so that the "lava" will come out: it will be perfect. The lava was the best part and it was no issue at all. These cakes are so so sooo perfect! And once you've portioned the batter into ramekins, you can cover and refrigerate until ready to bake. Since I like these best fresh, I just baked 2 at a time over the next few days (1 for Michael and 1 for me). I cannot say enough how perfect this recipe is. Amazing lava cakes. Just amazing. Jeanne is a smart lady.

Mini Raspberry Swirl Cheesecakes

I know I've been a terrible tease.

I shared all those photos of the deliciousness that I made for Michael's birthday, and I haven't shared any of the recipes yet. I'm truly sorry.

I promise-I will eventually get around to posting them all! 

In the meantime, if there are any that you're absolutely dying to have, like, right this second-let me know. I'll make sure to put them on here A-tothe-SAP.

So. Cheesecake. Not my cup of tea. Just being honest-I'm not a fan.

That said-I'm aware I'm a minority on this. And Michael, like, completely loves cheesecake. So, I decided to be nice, and make him these adorable mini raspberry cheesecakes for his birthday. And boy, these have lasted! Warning: this recipe makes A LOT. Be prepared for tons of leftovers. That, or make these for a big party or something. I'm serious. We just finished the last of them. His birthday was almost a month ago. Yeah. I also had a really hard time just baking the large volume (#1-I only have 1 muffin tin and #2-only so much room in my oven), I had to do multiple batches and that led to some difficulty. And, after the first batch all sunk down and cracked, I decided to do a water bath for the rest-which is annoying, but I completely recommend you do. All of the difficulties were worth it, though, when I saw how much Michael loves them! Michael likes the size a lot-they're great portions. He says the graham cracker crust is really good and the consistency is nice and fluffy and light-not too heavy like some cheesecakes can be. And there's raspberry-which he really loves. So, all in all, a winner :). I definitely recommend you try these sometime!

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

OK, so, things are about to get crazy. 

And not just because of these cupcakes (which I'm totally gonna talk about in like a minute).

Last night, my cousin Amy and her friend came to visit me! Amy is one of my oldest cousins, but she's the one I always felt like I could relate to-the one that was most like me (which she sometimes takes as an insult *harumph* :P). I also adore her husband Uriah (who I may have had a crush on when I was like 6 and they'll never let me hear the end of it)-and now that I have Michael he gets along with them both really well, too, and is actually a lot like Uriah, lol. Anyway, Amy and Uriah have moved around a lot, and of course now I live in NY, so I don't get to see them nearly enough. Plus, barely anyone (other than my mom) ever visits me! So I am so so so excited for Amy's visit and we're going to have lots of fun! I'm telling you all this so you know why I may be less active for the next few days...and then for like...a week afterward. You see, Amy leaves on Monday (to her next destination: Atlantic City), and then early Tuesday morning I leave to go to Ohio for a visit! Michael's brothers have a joint (one from college and one from high school) graduation party that coming weekend, so he'll also be coming up after work on Friday. So I'll also be a little less...present...whilst I'm in Ohio. Don't worry, though, you'll still have plenty of delicious posts to read while I'm away ;).

Speaking of delicious! CUPCAKES! These are the first (and, unfortunately, so far the only) cupcakes I have ever made (not counting making boxed funfetti with my mom)! As I've mentioned before, in spite of the trendiness of cupcakes, cookies hold my heart. This does not mean, though, that I don't appreciate a good cupcake now and again. Because I totally do. Especially if they have filling. I had my first "gourmet" filled cupcake at Crumbs and I have never turned back. They are superior in every way to non-filled cupcakes. I love them. Mmm. These cupcakes are amazing! Perfect dark chocolate cupcakes with a rich peanut butter mousse frosting. Umm...awesome. The original recipe didn't have them as being filled but, like I said, every cupcake is better with filling. It was a good call. I really love these cupcakes. Honestly, best cupcakes I've ever had. Ever. And apparently I'm a natural! I did one of the most MacGyver'y ways of frosting these cupcakes (Ziploc bag-no piping tip), and had no idea how to frost a cupcake. Somehow, I inadvertently stumbled upon an actual frosting technique (I learned later) that looks like a rose (which is so kismet since I LOVE roses-my favorite flower!). And filling the cupcakes is super easy too (although I actually read about how to do that)-instructions are below. Now that I'm talking about this, I sort of want to make some cupcakes again. I think it's about time ;).

Buckeye Cake + Happy 1st Birthday to The Cooking Actress!

WOW! The Cooking Actress is 1 year old today!

  (and, coincidentally, my best friend is 21. Happy Birthday Alex!)

I can't believe it has only been a year! I remember debating whether I should start, resigning myself to the fact I would probably be the only one to look at it, and that my photos and site would just look awful.

But! In only a year I've managed to convince some of you crazy people to read, my photos have improved, I'm cooking and baking things I did not dream I'd be making (especially as often as I do), I've made some great friends, and this fun little blog of mine has consumed a piece of my life-and I couldn't be happier!