Molten Chocolate Cake With A Surprise Inside...Another Giveaway That Is!

Today is your lucky day! The surprise isn't IN the Molten Chocolate Cake, it's literally in this blog post. Once again, I was contacted by CSN Stores to do another giveaway. If you still haven't given CSN Stores a look-see, get to it!! They seriously have everything. Need some Modern Bedding to spruce up your bedroom? Well, they have it! Need some new furniture? They have that! Need a simple pot? They even have that. Seriously, with their 200+ stores, the possibilities are endless! I'll talk more about this later.

Well, two weeks after the egg fiasco (which I still think is going on) and it's time to make the Molten Chocolate Cake I planned for. This recipe comes from Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Mark Bittman and this is also the first time that I will try a Molten Chocolate Cake. There has been so much hype about a Molten Chocolate Cake that I had to make it. This recipe is extremely simple to follow that it was made in no time. When I tried the cake, it's essentially a chocolate cake, meets a melted chocolate bar, meets a souffle. The cake was fluffy like a souffle with the center somewhat liquidy (I left it in the oven a minute too long). Overall, it tasted "ehhhh". I'm not exactly sure what the "best" Molten Chocolate Cake is supposed to taste like but I'm not exactly a fan. haha. It definitely tasted like dark chocolate but I think I have to get used to the "molten" center. I think I'm a little sketchy about it since the eggs are basically still raw. I'm not a fan of a Molten Chocolate Cake just yet but, maybe in the future, I will be. As of right now, I would gladly eat a chocolate cake with fudge sauce on top or even a chocolate cupcake that is baked with a chocolate truffle on the inside rather than this Molten Chocolate Cake. Would that be great or what?! Well, that's for next time. ha.

Now, back to the giveaway. Like I said before, I was approached by CSN to do a giveaway. This time, CSN Stores is giving you the chance to win a $35 Gift Certificate for any of their online stores! Here's how to enter:

You must be a follower of "AJ's Cooking Secrets" through the Google Friend Connect located on the left side bar of my blog to enter this giveaway. If you are not a follower, your entry and/or entries will not be counted.

You have FOUR chances to enter!!

1. Leave a comment stating what you would like to buy from CSN Stores with the $35 Gift Certificate, along with your email.

2. Follow my other blog, AJ's Food Adventure, and leave a comment below stating that you have become a follower. If you are already a follower of my other blog, leave a comment stating that you are.

3. Become a fan/liker of my Facebook Fan Page : AJ's Cooking Secrets and leave a comment below stating that you have become a fan/liker. If you are already a fan/liker of my FB Fan Page, leave a comment stating that you are.

4. Follow me on Twitter @aaronjohn04 and leave a comment below stating that you have become a follower. If you are already a follower of my twitter page, leave a comment stating that you are.

**If entering all four times, leave four different comments.

Important Guidelines:

-Must be a follower of this blog, "AJ's Cooking Secrets", through Google Friend Connect located on the left side bar for your entry/entries to count. Anyone who "enters" without being a follower of this blog will not be entered into the drawing.

-The Giveaway will last until Sunday, September 19, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. The winner will be drawn using Random.org. The winner will then be announced in a blog post, on my facebook page and emailed that they are the winner. From there, the winner will be contacted by CSN Stores where you will receive a Gift Certificate Code.

Now, here's my tips and recipe to the Molten Chocolate Cake.

**Tips

-You're going to love this tip. You can actually make this cake ahead of time! Follow the recipe as stated and when you divide the batter into the molds, store it in the refrigerator until you're ready! All you have to do is take it out of the refrigerator about 30 min before baking, to allow the cake batter to come to room temperature, then bake it off!

-I personally think that the cake looks better presented in a ramekin rather than un-molding it. I un-molded one of the cakes and it had a sort of "wrinkly" outside. If you like that, go for it. haha

Molten Chocolate Cake (Makes 4 individual cakes)

Ingredients

8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for molds

2 teaspoons all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting molds

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, preferably Valrhona

2 large whole eggs

2 large egg yolks

1/4 cup sugar

Directions

Butter and lightly flour four 4-ounce molds, ramekins, or custard cups. Tap out excess flour; butter and flour them again, and set aside.

In the top of a double boiler or heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, combine butter and chocolate; heat until chocolate has almost completely melted.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together eggs, yolks, and sugar until light and thick.

Add melted chocolate mixture, and beat to combine. Quickly beat in flour until just combined. Divide batter evenly among the molds.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place filled molds on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until the sides have set but the centers remain soft, 6 to 7 minutes.

Invert each mold onto a plate, and let rest 10 seconds. Unmold by lifting up one corner of the mold; the cake will fall out onto the plate. Serve immediately.

-Aaron John

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