Tuesdays with Dorie: Chocolate Amaretti Torte

      This week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe, from the cookbook Baking:  From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan is 15 Minute Magic:  Chocolate Amaretti Torte, can be found on pages 276-277, and was chosen by Holly of Phe/MOM/enon.  If you would like to try the recipe before buying the book, click on Holly's site above and she will have it posted today. 

      More chocolate...more whipped cream...more very happy guys here at the house!  Enough cannot be said about this recipe.  The guys really loved it.  I had a good time making it, chocolate and all. 

      I wasn't sure I was going to be able to find these amaretti cookies that Dorie recommended, but I managed after only two stops, so that wasn't so bad.  They were rather pricey, but I checked them out before they became chocolatey, and I can see where an addiction could begin.  Just opening the tin was amazing...the almondy aroma from the cookies inside was lovely.  I know the recipe says "15 minutes," but it took me 15 minutes just to unwrap all the little cookies...they have a really fun outside twisted wrapper and then inside that they are wrapped in another wrapper...do that 18 times and it takes pretty much a good chunk of the 15 minutes. 

      After unwrapping them all, into the food processor with the almonds for a bit of whirl to crunch everything up nice and fine.  Set aside.  Into same processor, the eggs, butter, and sugar got a turn to whirl about, back in went the amaretti and almond crumbs, and the melted chocolate, for a final whirl, into the pan and into the oven. 

      How much easier can it get?  30 minutes later, the torte was baked, 15 minutes waiting around to unmold it from the pan (please note I waited the proper amount of time this go around and I did not have my creation fall apart and need to be smooshed back together again like a few weeks ago).  One was supposed to insert a slender knife into the middle to test for doneness, and the rather large hole is the result of a dog barking right behind me as he was headed out the back door to chase down a misguided squirrel he had spied through the window...scared me a bit and I jumped, the knife sort of gauging the cake...oh, well...    

      When the torte was cooled, it was bathed in warm chocolate glaze and then got to rest in the refrigerator for a half hour to firm up a bit.  Wasn't this easy? 

      The last step was to make almond flavored whipped cream.  The entire recipe was uncomplicated and quick...definitely a keeper as far as prep goes.  

  

      Mark and Matt really liked the taste, Mark commenting that it tasted like a Hershey bar with almonds.  I will have to take his word for it, but hopefully it was a step up, because I used the really good chocolate for this and, well, if all he wanted was Hershey with almonds, I could have used Hershey's chocolate and saved some money on the chocolate purchase.  He was very happy with the result, so I would go the same route next time.

      Next week's recipe was chosen by Lauren of Upper East Side Chronicle is Four Star Chocolate Bread Pudding, and can be found on pages 410-411.  NOTE:  Okay, I am going to be STRAIGHT UP with you all...the chocolate bread pudding isn't happening here next week for two reasons.  (Nothing wrong with Lauren's choice and all, understand.)  First, no one here likes bread pudding.  At all.  Chocolate or not.  Sort of like the rice pudding deal and I made that against my better judgment, all of it being tossed out, so I am thinking NOT on the bread pudding.  Second, it's my birthday next Tuesday, and I am thinking that I should not have to mess around with any chocolate on my birthday.  So, I am breaking all the rules next week and making whatever has already been made before I joined the group that looks birthday-worthy to me.   So, that's what I am thinking to do next week.  Just thought I would let you know in advance, so you can choose to tune in or not, since I am breaking the rules and all, either way, the chocolate bread pudding isn't happening here, sorry to say. 

Click here  and then click on individual bakers' blogs at the site if you would like to see more of this week's recipe and the various ways people interpreted their quest.  It is too late to join the online TWD baking blog, but you can always join us in spirit as the recipes for upcoming weeks are posted on the site and you can bake along in your own kitchen.  See you there!