C Knotes

Saturday, 6 May 2006

Steamed Stovetop Chocolate Bread for One (or Two)
Topic: Recipes

This recipe is completely my own invention and I think it may be a healthy food. I use slightly unorthodox measuring though I've tried to transcribe here. I often experiment in the kitchen to see what I can make for a single serving treat that uses as little as I can get away with. As little sugar, fat, utensils, and cooking heat. If I make a big loaf of something I'll eat it too quickly. So my rule is to make as healthy a goodie that I can that will still satisfy the treat tooth. I long ago stopped using the oven because that was too much heat for a single serving. Nor does my toaster oven work. I usually 'bake' on the stovetop with my cast iron skillet. That almost always burns cakes and cookies no matter how low the flame. My recent solution is steaming. This is a cake of dry texture and quite decent taste. One could always spread jam on it - raspberry or apricot would be nice - if one wanted more sweet. I'm very proud of it. I liked it even better the next day. Not an egg in it and yes it holds together!

Ingredients 2 T butter 2 T* sugar 2 T* cocoa 3/4 t. baking powder pinch salt 3/4 c. whole wheat flour 3 T. soy milk powder (powdered soy milk?) 1/4+c. cold water	T=measuring tablespoon T*= heaping cutlery soupspoon	Cocoa heaps higher than sugar does. I mean Heaping.
Cream butter and sugar using a potato ricer/masher or wisk. Add cocoa. Cream further. Add remaining dry ingredients.	Mix lightly with fork to mix dry stuff without incorporating it (yet) into the fatty mixture.	Alternate sprinkling water into the mixture with incorporating (all of it)quickly using the fork. When it starts to mass, form into a patty, about 6" diameter. Prick through with fork making six diagonals. This keeps cake from warping and/or provides ready made pieces. Place on parchment baking paper cut a bit bigger (so you can use it to lift out the cake later).


Place patty and paper in a medium saucepan (2 quart?) with a rack (for boiling eggs!) and water to just below the cake. I made the mistake of trying to place the cake once the water boiled. The cake slipped and got a bit splashed. I fished it out and positioned it ok. Bring water to a boil, reduce to low/medium flame, cover leaving a steam vent.	Cook 50-60 minutes, checking periodically to replenish water (careful not to splash cake). Water should cook at a fast simmer. I haven't tried to cook it less than this so I don't know yet if it would be done earlier. Carefully remove the cake from the pan, lifting by the excess paper. I suppose it should cool, but I don't remember now.	The cake/bread doesn't have that nice baked look and will look a bit lumpy!. To decorate for this picture I hastily made a wax paper snowflake stencil, placed on top of the loaf and sprinkled some confectioners sugar over it. Had I sifted the sugar it would have been more decorative. I had also already eaten a slice before I realized I could make a prettier picture by powdering the cake.