white house garden

Mexican Chocolate Cake

Mexican Chocolate Cake

Source: Bon Appetit, February 1995

Cake
2 cups granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsps cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 large eggs, beaten to blend
1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract

Frosting
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
6 Tbsp buttermilk
1 1/2 tsps instant espresso powder
1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 (1 lb) box confectioners’ sugar
2 cups chopped toasted pecans

Cake: Preheat oven to 350 deg F
Butter & flour 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan

Combine sugar, flour, cinnamon, baking soda & salt in large bowl

Whisk buttermilk, butter & cocoa powder in heavy large saucepan over medium-low heat until butter melts
Pour over flour mixture & whisk to combine
Add eggs & vanilla extract; whisk to blend
Pour into pan
Bake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 min
Transfer to rack & cool completely
Run knife around pan sides to loosen cake
Turn cake out onto platter
Spread frosting over top & sides of cake
Press enough pecans onto sides of cake to cover
Sprinkle cake with remaining pecans
(Can be made 1 day ahead
Cover; let st& at room temp
)

Frosting: Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat
Add cocoa, buttermilk, espresso powder, vanilla extract & cinnamon; whisk until smooth
Remove from heat
Place confectioners’ sugar in bowl
Pour hot cocoa mixture over
Using electric mixer, beat until smooth
Use immediately

Serves 12

Blue Cornbread

Blue Cornbread

1 1/2 cups blue cornmeal
2 tsps baking powder
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
3/4 cup milk
1 large egg, beaten
3 Tbsp bacon fat
1 small can green chiles, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 deg F

Combine cornmeal, baking powder & sugar
Mix remaining ingredients separately
Add liquid mix to dry ingredients & mix thoroughly
Pour into a greased baking pan & bake for 30 min or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean

Indian Paper Bread (Piki)

Indian Paper Bread (Piki)

5 Tbsp Masa Harina