"When I was mere twenty three, I met a man of challenge
He wasn't even ready to date, leave alone marriage!
Mmm, I like myself a game, I thought one fine day
And thus started a chase, to make him look my way..
And boy did he look, looked to never ever turn
That gaze, oh that gaze, that still makes my head churn..
Ups & downs, rights & wrongs, we walked on through
Finding balance every year, growing as the coupled two
And now he turns thirty something, on this summery day of June
Making him older than me, and for that, I'm over the moon!
Jokes apart, he might be growing, in the number that is age
But his childish antics remain, if only to control my rage.
And as I bake up deliciousness, for a birthday treat true,
I secretly pray that soon he'll start cooking, and feed me insane too!"
Happy Birthday Marlin!
You're the best contest I ever won.
Ok, now that you're all are done with your aww's and sigh's, lets get on with it.
Honestly, this cake doesn't need a recipe.
It's a slab of my regular fudgy brownies, topped with dollops of dark luscious chocolate ganache - except that I was a tad naughty and added cognac to the mix. Hey, can't blame me for making a celebration out of a birthday! It is, however, made of my husband's favorite things [chocolate, chocolate & more chocolate] and I couldn't think of a better way to treat him today.
Be careful, for this [tall] dark & rich chunk of deliciousness can become an addiction. And this one ... you can't marry! ;)
Ingredients
1 round brownie cake (use this recipe, and bake it in a round spring-foam pan instead of a regular brownie pan)
1/4 cup whipping cream
2 oz semi-sweet dark chocolate, broken into pieces
2 tablespoons good quality cognac
Steps
1. Bake your brownie base and cool completely to room temperature. (You do not want to spread the ganache on even a moderately warm cake)
2. Bring the cream to a simmer. Pour it over the broken chocolate pieces and mix. Once the chocolate has melted, add the cognac and whisk till the mixture gets a subtle shine and is smooth. Chill in an ice bath or in the refrigerator to thicken - this will make the ganache achieve a spreadable consistency (approx 15 minutes). When you're ready to use it, give it a quick little whip again.
3. Spread, sprinkle (if you wish) & celebrate!
Simple, isn't it? The cake can be made a day ahead & will last for at least a week in the refrigerator. Although, reality is, once cut it won't even last an hour!
Oh, and if you have any ganache leftover, ditch your Nutella and spread that instead on your morning toast. More-than-a-little indulgence for breakfast is exactly what we wake up for!
