Martha Stewart's Salted Caramel Six-Layer Chocolate Cake

I made this cake for my Mum and Sister for their joint birthday celebration. I thought, how hard could it be to make a fancy cake that is exactly what I want? Well, it wasn't hard, time-consuming...sure, but worth it? HELLS YES!

This cake is the most delicious chocolate cake I have ever tasted in my life. No joke. Martha you are amazing. Not only was I so impressed by its moist delicious goodness, everyone that has tried it agrees.
Now, first up let me say, this is an American recipe, so understandably some of the ingredients are hard to find (but not impossible!), and obviously I had to convert everything into metric, which isn't hard thanks to Google. I had to substitute a few things, but they were so close I can't imagine that even if I had the true ingredients listed that this cake could get any better!

I'm not going to post the recipe on my blog, but here is the link: http://www.marthastewart.com/857647/salted-caramel-six-layer-chocolate-cake

I decided to make a 4 layer cake instead of 6, so I used 2/3rds of the ingredients listed in the recipe for the cake, but made the listed caramel and frosting as I couldn't be bothered working out the proportions for those.

If you live in Melbourne you can find Corn Syrup at CakeDeco in the CBD. It's about $11 for a bottle.
For help with substitutions or Australian Equivalents:

Safflower oil - Vegetable oil (substitution)
Semisweet chocolate - I've used both Cadbury Dark Block 45% Cooking Chocolate or Nestle Plaistowe Premium Dark Cooking Chocolate, both work great.

Dutch cocoa powder - you can find this at Woolworths in the baking aisle. I found the Nestle brand.

Granulated sugar - Normal White sugar
All-purpose flour - Plain flour
Baking soda - bicarb soda
Coarse salt - I made my own with a salt grinder set to the coarse setting.
Heavy Cream - Pure Cream
Confectioner's sugar - Icing sugar

Maldon sea salt flakes - These can be found a Woolworths with other types of Salt. The second time I made this cake I used this more liberally for the top of the cake, it tastes so good with the crunchiness and saltiness with the sweetness of the chocolate.

With the Salted-Caramel, make sure to follow the instructions carefully. The first batch I made I burnt so I had to throw out. If you aren't sure, take it off the heat sooner rather than later! It should not taste bitter! Use a thermometer if you have one. The extra salted caramel can be kept in little glass jars in the fridge or given as a gift. So yummy! Great for Icecream, cupcakes etc.

Happy Baking!

Hellenic Republic

Now this is one place I recommend everybody needs to try at least once in their lives. Another one of George Calombaris's wonderful establishments. Can this guy do anything wrong? I have to say, I'm not one for Masterchef or those type of shows, but this guy is talented in his own right.

The restaurant is well presented and seems to be busy even midweek. We sat in the very cool outdoor/indoor area. Was private, not too noisy and great during the summer evening that we went.

I came here for dinner and we ordered one of the banquet options. It's pretty good value for money, and there is a lot of food! From cured beef, to scallops, cypriot salad, lamb shoulder... it just kept coming.

If I had to pick favorites, I would say the Scallops and the Saganaki. Mouth watering!

 

The Saganaki

Fish and Scallops

Cypriot Salad

 

Burger Monster @ Docklands

This place is quite cool. The burgers are simple, cheap and tasty. I took my nieces and they seemed to enjoy it too. Just a good old burger place. Nothing fancy.

Zambrero Lonsdale Street

This is another one of they many Mexican inspired places popping up. 2013 really does seem to be the year for Mexican food. There isn't really much to say about this place. It's really just another burrito place. The food is fine, it's not the best I've had but it wasn't bad either. Good for a quick lunch.

Belle's Diner - Fitzroy

I'm going to keep it short. This place is cool. It's retro in design and the food it delicious. Great salad, great burger. Just generally a cool place.

Wholemeal Pancakes with Raspberry Compote

I'm trying more and more to use wholemeal flour.

These pancakes are simple and tasty.

1 cup of whole meal self-raising flour
2 eggs
low fat milk (about 1/4-1/2 cup) - enough to get to the right consistency (not too runny but not too thick)
raw sugar (to taste - I use a couple of tablespoons)
1-2 teaspoons vanilla extract (again to your own taste)

Simple whisk all together and cook indiviual pancakes in a pan on low-medium heat as you would usually make pancakes.

For the raspberry compote I used frozen raspberries and some sugar, heated and mixed together to serve on top of the pancakes.

My Guacamole with toasted pita triangles

I've always wanted to make Guacamole, I hate the store bought stuff.  My recipe is simple, delicious and a real crowd pleaser.

Depending on the quantity and the number of people depends on how much ingredients you will need. I make enough for a small bowl for nibbles when I have friends over or to put in wraps.

Ingredients:

 2 ripe avocados
Juice of 1large lime
salt and pepper to taste
chilli flakes (just a pinch)
1-2 tablespoons of finely diced red onion (depending on how much onion you like)
If you like your guacamole a little creamy you can add a few teaspoons of sour cream. I personally prefer mine fresh and a bit chunky so I don't add sour cream most of the time.

It's really as simple as mashing the avocado with a fork in a bowl, squeezing on the lime juice, adding in the onion and seasoning. Mix together and eat.

I like to serve mine with toasted pita chips. I use wholemeal pita bread. I got the idea from a friends birthday party.
Take a flat pita bread, coat lightly with olive oil. Season with whatever you like. I use just salt sometimes if I have a really tasty dip. You can also use chili flakes, cumin seeds, pepper, mixed herbs, really whatever you like. Slice the bread into triangles and bake in the oven for about 5 mins on 200 degrees celcius or until just starting to brown. You want them crispy but not too brown and crunchy otherwise they taste burnt.

Enjoy!