Have you ever wondered what teachers do and talk in the teacher's room? I have. Teacher's or staff room has always seemed to be a mysterious place where only 'chosen' people could enter. The door was always closed and no student was allowed to enter. These are my memories of my school more than 12 years ago back in Kėdainiai, Lithuania. Since that time I have worked as a teacher in other places myself and had a chance to open those doors and go inside. So what do teachers do in there? Actually nothing special. They just sit, drink coffee or tea and listen to music or share funny videos on their cell phones and chat. Yes, teachers chat a lot. And trust me none of the topic is immensely serious. Break time is a break from being a smart teacher, it's just a time for relaxation, getting the right books, making photocopies, printing the tests and taking a sip of tea, coffee or water. One thing that all teachers have in common is that they love celebrating either it is someone's birthday or Christmas, there's always a reason to throw at least a tiny celebration. In other words, any teacher's room is the liveliest place at school! No doubt!
I guess my colleagues didn't see it coming, but I'm posting some photos of a tiny cake party that we had just before a meeting. We just had to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Merve and I had one more opportunity to make a cake. Small presents make friendship flourish.
This chocolate cake was actually inspired by Ferrero Rocher chocolate candies. I believe you know that beautifully looking chocolate heaven in golden wraps. The recipes I found in two blogs and both writers made them for their husbands to celebrate their anniversary. So once again I understood that love color is not red but chocolate brown. The cake turned out to be very rich and the cream is just very chocolate, that is why I just had to add some extra milk to make it smoother.
Hazelnut and Chocolate cake
adapted from Ausra,Tarp Vejo Gusiu)
( serves 8)
What we need:
for the cake:
5 eggs
6 tbsp powdered sugar
200 g ground hazelnuts
2 tbsp cacao
2 tbsp flour ( about 60 g)
2 tsp baking powder
50 ml sweet coffee
some butter for the cake pan
cream:
200 g butter
200 g dark chocolate
60ml milk
5 tbsp nutella
4 hazelnut wafers
a handful of toasted hazelnuts
What we have to do:
Preheat the oven up to 180C and butter your cake pan.
In a bowl mix eggs and sugar until fluffy. In another bowl mix flour, cacao, ground hazelnuts, and baking powder, then add the egg and sugar mixture. Stir to combine. Pour the batter in the cake pan and bake for 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
Prepare the cream by melting dark chocolate in a bowl placed above a pot with a steaming water. Let it cool a bit. In a bowl mix soft butter until fluffy, then add melted chocolate, milk and nutella. Mix it well together.
Cut the cake in half. Drizzle each cake with some sweet coffee. Spread half of the cream over one layer, then add crushed wafers. Put another layer of the cake on the top and spread the rest of the cream over the top and on the sides. Sprinkle with some chopped toasted hazelnuts. Refrigerate before serving for at least an hour.
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A birthday girl - Merve |
Šį tortą nusižiūrėjau pas Aušrą, kuri dar iš kažkur nusižiūrėjo. Įdomiausia tai, kad jos abi kepė šį tortą savo vyrams jubiliejų proga. Tai dar vienas įrodymas, kad meilės spalva visai ne raudona, o šokoladiškai ruda! Taigi lengvas receptas, sodraus ir labai šokoladinio skonio. Tiesa aš pridėjau dar truputį pieno į kremą, kad būtų minkštesnis. Bet vistiek labai jau šokoladinis. Skanaus!
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The young and restless Buse, Merve, Nahal and Zeynep |
Šokoladinis tortas su lazdyno riešutais
( adaptuota pagal Aušrą iš Tarp Vėjo Gūsių)
( 8 asmenims)
Reikia:
biskvitui:
5 kiaušinių
6 valg.š. cukraus pudros
200 g smulkiai maltų lazdynų riešutų
2 valg.š. kakavos
2 valg.š. miltų ( apie 60g)
2 arb. š. kepimo miltelių
50ml saldžios kavos
sviesto kepimo formai ištepti
kremui:
200 g minkšto sviesto
200 g tamsaus šokolado
60 ml pieno
5 valg.š.'nutella' kremo
4 riešutinių vaflių
Gaminam:
Įkaitinkite orkaitę iki 180C ir tortinę formą ištepkite sviestu.
Biskvitui kiaušinius gerai išplakite su cukrumi, iki purumo. Miltus sumaišykite su kakava ir kepimo milteliais, pamažu, vis maišydami, įmaišykite į kiaušinių masę. Suberkite riešutus ir švelniai išmaišykite.
Tešlą sukrėskite į apvalią, kepimo popieriumi išklotą kepimo formą ir dėkite į 180C orkaitę. Kepkite apie 40 min. Iškepusį atvėsinkite.
Kremui šokoladą ištirpinkite vandens garų vonelėje ir palikite atvėsti.
Minkštą sviestą išplakite iki purumo, supilkite tirpintą šokoladą, pieną, nutella kremą ir gerai išmaišykite.
Biskvitą perpjaukite horizontaliai pusiau. Abu sluoksnius apšlakstykite kava. Vieną sluoksnį pertepkite kremu (maždaug puse kiekio), apibarstykite smulkintais vafliais ir užklokite antruoju biskvitu, švelniai paspauskite ir užtepkite likusio kremo (ant šonų taip pat). Puoškite kapotais skrudintais lazdyno riešutais. Įdėkite į šaldytuvą, kad kremas sutvirtėtų bent jau 1 valandą.
Prieš pjaustant, tortą šiek tiek palaikykite kambario temperatūroje, kad suminkštėtų. Skanaus!