redhotchick Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I haven't tried these (yet). If anyone makes them soon will you report back please? Surely a piece of any one of these must count towards one of your five a day Recipe 1 Chocolate Beetroot Cake Ingredients For the cake 100g drinking chocolate 230g self-raising flour 200g caster sugar 100g dark chocolate, minimum 60% cocoa solids 125g unsalted Butter 250g cooked Beetroot, (not pickled!) 3 large Eggs, beaten For the cream cheese filling 250g cream cheese 60g unsalted Butter, soft 200g icing sugar For the chocolate ganache 250g whipping cream 250g dark chocolate, chopped grated white chocolate, to decorate Method 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. 2. Grease and line a 25cm deep round cake tin 3. Sift the drinking chocolate with the self-raising flour into a mixing bowl, and then mix in the sugar. 4. Melt the chocolate and butter together in a bowl over hot (not boiling) water. 5. Purée the cooked beetroot in a food processor, then whisk in the beaten eggs. 6. Add the beetroot and the chocolate mixtures to the dry ingredients and mix together thoroughly. 7. Pour the mixture into a greased lined 25cm cake tin. Bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean. 8. Remove from the oven and leave the cake to stand in the tin for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool. 9. Split the cake in half. 10. To make the filling: beat the cream cheese icing ingredients together until creamy and spread liberally on the bottom half of the cake. Place the other half of the cake on top. 11. To make the chocolate ganache: heat the cream in a pan and bring just to boiling point, then remove the pan from the heat. 12. Place a damp towel on the worktop and place the pan of hot cream on this. 13. Add the chopped chocolate to the cream and beat vigorously until thoroughly mixed. Allow to cool slightly. 14. Spread the ganache on top of the cake and leave to set. 15. Sprinkle with the white chocolate to decorate. Recipe 2 Simple beetroot cake Preparation Time: 10 minutes Cooking Time: 1hour 15 min Serves: 6 Ingredients 250g (8oz) self-raising flour, sieved 2 teaspoons baking powder 150g (5oz) soft brown sugar 100g (3½oz) sultanas 200g (7oz) beetroot, peeled and grated (2-3 medium sized beetroots) 150ml (¼ pint) vegetable or sunflower oil 2 medium sized eggs, beaten Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 180C, 350F, Gas Mark 4 2. Grease and line an 8 inch loose based cake tin. 3. Mix together the flour, baking powder and soft brown sugar in a large bowl. 4. Add the sultanas, grated beetroot. 5. Beat the oil and eggs together, and then add to the bowl. 6. Combine with either a wooden spoon or electric mixer. 7. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 1-1¼ hours. Insert a metal skewer into the cake; if it comes out clean, then the cake is cooked. 8. Cool on a wire rack. Recipe 3 Chocolate Courgette Cake Preparation Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 45 mins Serves: 6 Ingredients 120g butter (softened) 125ml sunflower oil 100g caster sugar 200g soft brown sugar 3 eggs, beaten 130ml milk 350g plain flour 2 tsp baking powder 4 tbsp cocoa 450g courgettes, peeled and grated finely 1 tsp vanilla Instructions 1. Line a 20 x 35cm baking tray with baking paper and set the oven to 190ºC/350ºF. 2. Mix the butter, oil and both sugars together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the eggs, one at a time and then the milk until mixed thoroughly. 3. Sift the dry ingredients together and fold into the mixture. Stir in grated and peeled courgettes, vanilla and spoon into tin. Bake for 35 -45 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 i make chocolate and beetroot loaf useing this Recipe can highly recommend it have a friend that makes 5 or 6 a season for different clubs and groups she's in Beetroot Chocolate Loaf Ingredients TIP: The addition of raw grated beetroot gives this cake a lovely moist texture as well as a fresher flavour than cooked beetroot. Use a really good dark chocolate with a cocoa fat % of 70%. Ingredients 8oz SR flour, 1oz cocoa powder, 1 tsp baking powder, 4oz caster sugar, Pinch of salt, 3oz dark chocolate melted, 3oz butter melted, 4oz raw grated beetroot peeled weight, 2 eggs beaten Method Heat the oven to GM4/180’C/350’F. Grease and line a 2lb-loaf tin. Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, salt and baking powder. Stir in the sugar, beetroot, melted chocolate and butter and the eggs. Turn into the tin and bake for 50-60 minutes until firm on top and an inserted skewer comes out clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 I make chocolate courgette cake for the boys as the absolutely love it and say it's their favourite cake, despite knowing it's got veggies in it! Mine's adapted from the recipe in Nigella's Domestic Goddess book and has chocolate chunks in. I'm freezing grated courgette in bags big enough to use for one cake now so that they can continue having this later on in the year when the courgettes have finished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 I make chocolate courgette cake for the boys as the absolutely love it and say it's their favourite cake, despite knowing it's got veggies in it! Mine's adapted from the recipe in Nigella's Domestic Goddess book and has chocolate chunks in. I'm freezing grated courgette in bags big enough to use for one cake now so that they can continue having this later on in the year when the courgettes have finished. What a good idea (freezing grated courgette) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 We're getting loads of courgettes at the moment and I've got enough frozen grated bags to make 9 cakes ..........and the courgettes are still coming . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Do you freeze it without blanching? Just grate, bag and freeze? I need to try this the courgettes are taking over the fridge and we have given quite a few away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I've just frozen it without blanching. It's the first time I've tried freezing courgette though as my boys have only just decided that chocolate courgette cake is their No 1 favourite but hopefully it'll work OK. I read on a US website that they can just be grated and frozen so should be fine for cake baking as I don't have room to freeze whole cakes but can squeeze bags of ready grated courgette into gaps easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 I am going out to the library later to see if they have got Domestic Goddess, we have quite a few Nigella books but not that one, what variations have you done to the recipe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Instead of sultanas, I add chocolate chunks and I use 1oz less of flour and add 1oz cocoa. I sandwich the cake together with some chocolate spread, give it chocolate glace icing, grate chocolate on top and it's lovely. To save you going to the library, I found the recipe online in a blog... Courgette Cake large handful sultanas 2 medium - large courgettes, grated using course side of box grater 2 large eggs 125ml vegetable oil 150g caster sugar 225g self-raising flour 1/2 teaspoon bicarb 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 sandwich tins, greased & lined filling - good quality lemon curd with some lime juice to taste icing: 200g tub organic cream cheese 100g icing sugar, sieved juice of 1 lime Preheat oven to 180 C Grate courgettes. Combine eggs, oil and sugar in bowl. Sieve in flour, bicarb and baking powder and beat until well combined. Stir in courgette and sultanas. Pour into tins and bake for 30 minutes until slightly browned and firm to touch. Once cool, sandwich with lemon curd in middle. cream cheese icing on top - firm in fridge if preferred. serves 8 people - or 2 people 4 times over ) From Nigella's How to be a Domestic Goddess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 21, 2009 Share Posted July 21, 2009 Thanks for that, I took YD to the library and they didn't have the book, they have had it in there before I'm sure. Hopefully I will have time to have a go tomorrow, I might even make one for my Grandad for his 90th on Thursday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Stupid question - what does chocolate courgette cake taste like? I want to make it but my sister is picky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 The courgette doesn't add any flavour to the cake at all so it really doesn't taste of courgette. It makes the cake lovely and moist and light though so you get a really nice chocolatey cake. My boys are terribly fussy. My eldest has asperger syndrome and only has a very limited range of foods which he can cope with but he loves this cake and couldn't wait for me to make one this year. If he'll eat it, I think anyone will !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitbag Posted July 22, 2009 Share Posted July 22, 2009 Thanks Kate! I will have a go tomorrow! I'm looking forward to trying it, although I'm a bit nervous in case it goes wrong! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 The only way it will go wrong is if you grate the courgette on too fine a grater as it just goes mushy. If you grate it on the size grater you'd use for cheese on a pizza, it'll be fine . Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 My son said this morning "I saw a recipe in the kitchen yesterday and I've been panicking ever since " - I've told him I shall make it specially for him!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 23, 2009 Share Posted July 23, 2009 My two are really disappointed to have a boring old chocolate orange cake on the cake plate now. They want another chocolate courgette cake! Lesley, you know how faddy my two are - this cake has to be good, doesn't it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted July 23, 2009 Author Share Posted July 23, 2009 My son said this morning "I saw a recipe in the kitchen yesterday and I've been panicking ever since " - I've told him I shall make it specially for him!! "They were everywhere. I couldn't get away from them. They were like triffids in the garden. I run in to the house. I open the fridge. It was overflowing. I shut it quickly. Seeking comfort I put the kettle on for a cup of tea. I opened the Lock and Lock by the kettle. "Mmmm, cake" I sat down. Aah, lovely tea. As I bit in I realised. Aaaahh!! Courgettes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 Kate - I did tell him that your 2 boys loved it - he wasn't convinced. I'll make one next week, he's working here on Tuesday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 finally got around to making this, it is in the oven as I type. It is wierd stirring all that courgette into a cake mix. Looks and smells good so we shall see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 .........well...........what do you think............ ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Sorry busy few days, Grandad's birthday, then getting new chickens, then Grandad's birthday dinner today. The cake is lovely, really gooey and chocolatey, good use for the the evil green monsters I might have a go at the other version this week if I get time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Phew! I have no fingernails left . I'm glad you liked it . I've made another one today and have 5 more bags of grated courgette in the freezer . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Kate, I made this cake today with some courgettes from my organic veg box that I didn't have plans for. It is DELICIOUS!! Yum Yum Yum and the fact that its part of your 5 a day.....it is isn't it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 26, 2009 Share Posted July 26, 2009 Excellent . It is definitely part of your 5-a-day (in our house anyway ) I'm really glad you liked it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I'm making this tonight - my son will be here tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...