Heart-Shaped Valentine's Day Chocolate Cake

Prep Time: 1 hour
Baking Time: 20 minutes

Devil’s Food:
3 cups granulated sugar
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/8 cups cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 large eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cup hot coffee

Filling:

1 cup heavy cream

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Spinach Salad with Chocolate Vinaigrette!

A refreshing crisp salad that is good for all seasons...with a chocolate twist!

Ingredients

For vinaigrette

1 tbps cocoa powder
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar dressing (recommended : Newmans Own)

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Sazon Chicken Pasta

These measurements are estimates. I really love garlic, so i probably added twice what i suggested. It's your meal, season it the way YOU like it versus what the recipe calls for. Enjoy!  

 Ingredients 

 Bow tie pasta or your preference

1lbs of chicken breast/thigh (boneless)

1 Green and/or Red pepper

1 Onions

½ pack Mushrooms

1 can of Artichoke

1 Green cubanelle

¼ can Banana Peppers

4 Fresh garlic cloves

2 tbsp Olive Oil

1 Lemon

Sazon

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23rd Meeting

We hope everyone had a lovely Valentine’s day. We sure did. Jalpa hosted it with her husband and adorable baby girl, MJ.  We celebrated this exchange with our husbands. But to be honest with you it was almost like they weren’t there. They congregated in their little corner (in front of the TV) and we in our little corner (kitchen/dining room). That being said, the husbands had a blast. Parul’s husband even suggested we should do this on a monthly basis with them. Haha. Funny guy. They were impressed with the food, presentation, and selection. It was quiet funny hearing reaction from our husbands later. This is the first time they were all invited to an official exchange and their experience was a positive one.

We started the day with two appetizers: a spinach salad and eggplant caponata made by Vaishali and Parul. We then moved on to pasta with chicken dish (still remains to be named) made by yours truly. And lastly we ended our meals with a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache by Nishal and a red velvet cake made by Jalpa. 

The two little babies, MJ and Ayu, finally met. They had last “met” when they were in their mommies’ bellies.  And speaking of little one, we’ll have one more to add to the bunch – Vaishali’s baby ‎número two. It’s exciting to see our little exchange family grow. When we started this we had one little baby and by the end of this coming summer we will have 5!

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Churros con Chocolaté

INGREDIENTS:

Churro Dough:

1 cup water
6 tbsp unsalted room temp. butter
2 tsp instant espresso powder
Pinch salt
1 cup flour
2 eggs at room temp.
Pastry bag
Large start piping tip
Canola oil
Scissors

Cinnamon- Sugar Coating:
2 tbsp ground cinnamon
½ cup sugar

Chocolate Dipping Sauce:
4 oz. bittersweet chocolate finely chopped
½ cup heave cream
1 tbsp room temp. butter

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Mushroom Salsa

A delicious addition to your "chips & salsa" appetizer. If you are a mushroom lover then you will enjoy this thoroughly and to all you non-mushroom fans (including myself) you will be pleasantly surprised!

Ingredients

Portabello mushrooms
Jalapenos
Onions
Tomato
Coriander
Lemon
Salt and pepper







Method
1) Dice up the mushrooms very finely into tiny cubes
2) Dice up onion, tomato, jalapeno and coriander finely
3) Mix well with the mushrooms and add a splash of oil to combine all ingredients.
4) Squeeze a quarter of a lemon and mix
5) Add salt and pepper (I eyeball it)
6) Taste for salt/lemon/spice levels.
7) Serve at room temp or slightly chilled.

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Fish Tacos

A great alternative to the regular tacos we make for Mexican night. Clean, fresh flavors that will please anyone's palate!

Ingredients

Tilapia
Red Cabbage
Tartar Sauce
Coriander
Onion
Jalapeno (optional)
Tortillas

Batter

1 cup All purpose flour
1 Egg
Soda Water
Pinch Salt
Pinch corn starch

Method

1) Cut Tilapia fish into small pieces and sprinkle with salt and pepper
2) Make the batter with the above ingredients
3) Place all pieces of fish into the batter and fry until golden brown
4) For the taco filling, chop red cabbage, onion, jalapeno and coriander
5) Enjoy the fish tacos with your favorite tortilla and tartar sauce

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