Fiesta Friday #36, A Block Party Fiasco And An Apology
Triple Chocolate cake
First of all the apology, I always cook or bake or prepare something specifically for Fiesta Friday, it is something I look forward to every week. This week however I have my hands full, really full. Work is crazy busy but more than that, my block association (I am president) is having our annual block party tomorrow. Everything has been planned, permits from the city, bouncy rides, music, food etc… People from the neighborhood look forward to this every year. Well, the weather forecast is saying there will be pouring rain tomorrow the day of the event. I am trying to re work all the plans, cancel the music etc… To make a long story short I am really busy. So I apologize for re cycling a recipe of mine for this virtual feast. Next week I will cook or bake something. I promise
As always the party is hosted by the lovely Angie@The Novice Gardener. The co hosts this week are two of my favorite bloggers Selma@Selma’s Table and Elaine@Foodbod. Thanks Angie and here is my offering. A triple chocolate cake. It really say’s party, dark chocolate cake, white chocolate mousse for filling and milk chocolate ganache. Hope you all enjoy. Wish me luck with the block party.
Triple Chocolate Cake
White Chocolate Mousse
2 tsp powdered gelatin
6 ounces white chocolate chopped
1 1/4 cup heavy cream
Dissolve gelatin in 2 tbs of cold water. Set aside for 5 minutes. Place chocolate in food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
Prepare an ice bath. Place 1/2 cup heavy cream in small saucepan, bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add the gelatin and stir to dissolve. Pour into food processor with chocolate while the motor is running, process until smooth.
Place in ice bath until mixture is thick and falls from a spoon in ribbons.
Whip remaining heavy cream and gently fold into cooled chocolate mixture. Place in airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.
Milk Chocolate Ganache
8 oz good quality milk chocolate (I used Valhrona)
1 cup heavy cream
Chop chocolate into very small pieces and place in medium size mixing bowl, bring cream to a boil and pour over chocolate. Let sit for 3 minutes, stir until smooth and shiny. Cover and refrigerate until it’s spreadable (approximately 1 1/2-2 hours)
The cake
Makes: 2 9 inch round cakes or 24 regular size cupcakes
Recipe from Hersheys
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cups cocoa (I use hershey’s) the recipe doesn’t specify whether or not to use dutch or natural cocoa since its a hersheys recipe I use what they say to use.
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup vegetable oil (If you want to substitute melted butter for the oil its fine)
1 cup whole milk at room temperature
2 large eggs at room temperature and lightly beaten
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
2 teaspoons instant espresso coffee (Optional but recommended)
soft butter and flour to prep baking pans or you can use cooking spray
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare two 9″ round baking pans, butter the bottom add a parchment round then butter bottom and sides and flour the pan or you can use cocoa powder instead of flour. If you are making cupcakes place liners in two 12 cup muffin tins. In large mixing bowl add your dry ingredients, flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, baking soda and baking powder and whisk to combine. Now add the wet ingredients milk, oil,eggs and vanilla do not add the boiling water yet. With hand held mixer beat for 2 minutes. Now add the boiling water with optional espresso powder, beat just until combined. Pour into your prepared pans (the batter is quite thin) and bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Fiesta Friday
apuginthekitchen 
Oh Suzanne – have mercy!!! This cake…it needs no apology – those layers of cake and white chocolate mousse and ganache…oh heavens!!!
So sorry about all your last minute re-organizing – wishing you luck and a fun time at the block party!
xx
I am just now sitting down, yikes today has been so hectic. Thanks Shashi, fingers crossed for tomorrow.
It is so hard to plan an outside event dependent on the weather. I hope everything works out OK for you.
Maria
Thanks Maria, me too. There will be rain but hoping it ends early.
This looks absolutely delicious!! no excuses necessary! 🙂
Good luck with the block party!! & Happy FF 🙂
Thanks so much. Hoping to report back with good news.
Good luck with the party! And the cake.. well.. the cake is insane!
The cake is great, the white chocolate mousse filling is the perfect break from the dark chocolate Thank you so much.
Awww … I’m mouthwatering right now!*.*
And I love to see these recycled recipes again and again and again and again :). Super delicious and yummmm :). Have a good block party tomorrow :).
Thanks so much Sonal, I love digging up recipes I haven’t seen in a while.
Good luck with the party Suzanne- with you at the helm, I’m sure everything will work out fine. Happy FF 😉
Awww… thanks Jess, I hope it goes smoothly.
Re-doing, re-planning — that is the most difficult frustrating work of all. I can tell you feel committed to it too, Suzanne. Best of luck with the block party. I hope you get lots of appreciation for it; that can make all the difference.
As for the post, i could have this cake again and again! Hugs 🙂
I cancelled the band, have the bouncy ride and other stuff on hold, food on hold, still really won’t know til tomorrow what it will be like. Thanks Teagan.
Oh dear! That always seems to happen, rain. I hope it all goes well. Are you taking it inside or just putting up tarps? I am sure you will pull something amazing out of your hat. The cake looks magnificent and there is no need to apologize for anything (remember the words of Julia). Angie will, of course, understand. Best!
Thanks Stacey, We don’t have tents or canopy’s. I cancelled the band the rest is on hold waiting to see what it will be like tomorrow, :o(
Yes, it does really say party! I have told you I wish you were my neighbor! I love Fiesta Friday! Salud!
I would love to be your neighbor too! Here’s hoping tomorrow is clear weather. Thanks Michelle.
I’m sure that even if it rains, people will appreciate the work you put into it! The cake looks amazing! Happy Friday!
Thank you so much, Hoping for a miracle tomorrow.
Pretty wonderful looking cake! Best of luck at the block party. Be glad you don’t live in San Diego where it will hit mid-nineties all weekend long.
Oh no the 90’s, wouldn’t like that at all. Thanks LIz, will report back about the block party,
No apologies necessary Suzanne! I, for one, am super glad you brought this amazing cake!!! Wow!
Thank you so much Lori!
This cake sounds really really good, do not apologize! Hope everything works out and calms down a little for you!
Me too, thanks fingers crossed that it stops raining early on tomorrow.
Beauuuuuutiful cake!! Thanks for sharing. Crossing fingers for your block party.
Thank you so much. Me too fingers and toes crossed.
That does sounds very busy, thank you for taking then time to bring this fabulous cake to Fiesta Friday 🙂
Thanks so much Elaine. Never too busy for FF!
The triple chocolate cake looks delicious. Heavens above you have a lot on your plate to – I hope that it’s not hyper stressful. Shame about the rain, hopefully the party will be great success in spite of the forecast downpour. 😉
Thank you, I do these block parties every year and this is the first year rain is in the forecast, I had a good run, LOL.
yum.
Thank you.
Oh Suzanne – best of luck with the weather and with re-organising everything tomorrow – sending you lots of positive vibes in the meantime. And this showstopper of a cake is just perfect for Fiesta Friday! Thank you for bringing this to the party.
Looks sinfully delicious!!
Thank you so much.
Your block party is wonderful, Suzanne: if these were thrown everywhere the world would be a better place !
I agree, block parties are great, we all get together and talk and just have fun, its a wonderful day.
This is one beautiful looking cake Suzanne! And I agree, this cake needs no apology, and you need not apologise. Sucks that the weather is not cooperating, but I’m sure that the block party will still be a huge success. Have fun!
Thank you so much. Hoping we are able to salvage at least part of what we normally do and the rain stays away,
Lovely cake – I missed this the first time around. 🙂
Thank you so much.
Even though I am not a chocolate lover, this cake could probably convert me! Haha. Looks so yummy. I also really hope you work everything out for the block party. Best of luck!!
Thank you, would love to make a convert out of a non chocolate lover, LOL, thank you so much,
No apology required… your cake looks delicious! Hope your party goes well and you get a chance to relax and enjoy the event.
Thank you, it’s a lot of work running it but feels good to relax at the end of the day,
Do hope the rain keeps off! Failing that, that you find suitable awnings. I’m sure it’ll go well. And look forward to hearing about it. Doesn’t seem like a year ago!
Me too Johnny, we don’t have a awning or canopy or anything. Wish we did. I know right, hard to believe it’s been a year. Thanks so much.
Planning a huge event is not easy and you can’t control the weather, no apologies needed!! Chocolate cake is my favorite, then you had to make a Triple Chocolate cake, wow, looks delicious!
Thanks Michael, not easy at all and am wishing I could control the weather but oh well, not happening. Waiting to watch the weather report on the 10:00 news, hoping storm fizzled.
That cake looks amazing. Feel free to post that photo and recipe any time! 🙂 I hope the rain skips you, and that the party is all kinds of fun.
It’s raining, we are holding off to see if it clears a little later. Thanks Patty.
LOVE the look of that beautiful cake Suzanne… I have to make it really soon (perhaps even this weekend!), to know how good it tastes!
Hope the weather clears and that your Block Party can go ahead… such a shame if you have to cancel or postpone! Thinking of you.
It’s a really good cake, I am not a fan of chocolate on chocolate I like to break it up with something and the white chocolate mousse is perfect for that. Thanks so much.
Love the cake and hoping the rain backs off….
Thanks it’s raining but still hoping it clears a bit later.
recycled or no, this is fantastico! Enjoy your parties 🙂 What a weekend.
Thanks Liz, Fingers crossed for better weather.
This cake is absolute torture for me – I have a photo of it and I can’t eat it. Every time I see it I think it must be my favourite cake ever! I hope your party goes well – I’m quite sure it will if you’re cooking for it…
I’m so sorry. I was going to make chocolate cupcakes but didn’t because everything is so up in the air right now. We still don’t know if the party will happen. Thank you.
wow!!!!! very very very DELICIOUS!!!!!!
Thank you so much.
Oh Suzanne_ cake looks superluscious and it’s triple chocolate oh man I just love it
Thanks Chitra, Triple dose of good!!
And ya no apology required..hope your party goes well… relax and enjoy dear Suzanne. ..
Thank you so much, trying.
Oh wow! This is definitely a recipe to be recycled! Yum! I want a slice! 🙂
Thanks so much, wish I could give you a slice.
The cake looks great! With the stress if the party I’m amazed and impressed that you managed to write this post and while I won’t be around crossing fingers that the rain ends early and stays AWAY … Good luck!!!
It’s raining right now, wet and dreary. We’ll see what happens. Thanks Azita.
Yummy Yummy Suzanne!!! 🙂
Thanks Amy!
wow i saw this on FF and tried to avoid it and now its in my reader, arggghhhhh temptation lol
Hard to avoid the chocolate cake, I think I will bake a cupcakes today, resurrecting this recipe has made me hungry for cake. Thanks so much.
oh your tempting me more, did you do it?
Nope doing today!
blocks my ears..la la cant hear that your cooking lovely chocolate thingys today…. 😀
Not yet have something else in the oven. I will be baking all day!!
I agree with everyone else. This cake is perfect for FF. Organizing an event takes so much time. I hope it all goes well!
Thanks so much. It got cancelled. :o(
Shucks!
Exactly.
Oh my dear Suzanne! I feel for you! Not really a good day for a block party. It is crazy pouring out there! But since you are marvelously resourceful, I wonder what you had come up with to save the day! The cake … too good to be true! 😉
Oh Francesca, I had no ideas to save the day, it’s an outdoor event and unfortunately the weather did not cooperate. Our block association lost money we had to pre pay for the insurance and rides, Ugh… I am bummed.
I didn’t know about your block party – how’s it going with the rain, is it still happening?
I just read your comments above, bummer. 😦
Yea, real bummer. I think the rain stopped now but it’s still gloomy and wet and too late. Thanks Pamela.
This is one of my favourite cakes in your repertoire Suzanne! I hope you have a great day and an awesome party! I sometimes wish I were your neighbour….
Thanks Viviana, it’s one of my favorites also. Wouldn’t it be fun to be neighbors!!
Wow–this cake looks so amazing! Hope your block party goes well!
Thanks so much Nancy!
This cakes looks amazing, I could probably eat all of it! I’m sorry to hear about your block party, the weather can be cruel sometimes 😦 x
It’s clear and sunny now, too much too little too late. Oh well, we have next year. Thanks so much Michelle.
Thanks Suzanne for the luscious cake recipe in spite of everything that’s happening! Hope it all turns out A-OK!!
Thanks Rhonda, rained all morning and afternoon now it’s bright and sunny but it was too late we had to cancel.
too bad– after all that planning and getting ready… Well, Happy Sunday…
No apologies necessary my friend! This cake recipe is so tasty the fact that you had time to make it for us is more than enough 😀
Thank you for another delicious recipe!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks so much Uru!
Suzanne, your layers chocolate cake looks delicious and mouth watering. Good luck for the party 🙂
Linda, thank you so much!
Oh my goodness don’t ever apologize for posting something so fantastic as this!!! Seriously, it is oozing melted chocolate, is moist and double layered chocolatey goodness! Amazing.
Thanks so much Brandi! I felt bad recycling a recipe. Glad everyone likes it.
Oooh your cake look yumsy! I think with all the preparation you seem to have been up to you don’t need to feel bad at all no matter what the recipe, but with this one? No way. You can stand proud!
I hope the party went well and the rain held off?
Thank you so much, you made me smile!!
No need to apologise when you join the party with such a gorgeous cake Suzanne!! Wow, my mouth is watering!!
Thank you so much!
Hey Suzanne! You are amongst friends!! You never need to apologize for being busy! We have all been there and we get it! Your cake is drop-dead gorgeous and I can’t wait to have a piece. Happy FF to you! 😀
Thank you Julianna, I feel the love!!
Suzanne dear! Actually you have to accept my apologies, because I am going to slice a BIG portion of your gorgeous cake for myself 😀 Irresistible….
You are welcome to a big slice, thank you so much.
love your blog redesign, very cute doggie pictures 🙂 and the cake sounds like a cake that you want to grab off the buffet when nobody is watching and then after grabbing a spoon drag to the nearest bedroom, locking the door behind you and diving right in? Does that make me a glutton, I fear it does but I suspect the cake is worth it
Ha, thank you so much. I do love that cake. It’s really moist and delicious. I would gladly join you with a spoon and polish off a good bit of that cake. A hot cup of coffee or glass of cold milk would do nicely,
Hi Suzanne, it’s alright dear we all get busy with family and person life… 🙂
Cake looks gorgeous and luscious… Thanks for sharing… 🙂
Thank you so much.
I wish I could go to your block party, Suzanne!
Thanks Patty!
Suzanne, that is a GORGEOUS cake!! Wow!
Thanks so much it’s really delicious!!
I just shared this on face book. It looks so yummy. Thanks for the recipe.
Thank you ISO much that was so nice.
This looks sssooo yummy! My mouth is watering!
Thank you so much Eloise, it’s one of my favorite cakes!!