Happy Birthday George Washington

It's going to be a terrific Twosday! 

Today is 2/22/22. 

Celebrate the special palindrome date, meaning it reads the same forward and backward with a Black Forest Trifle.

The cherry tree myth is the most well-known and longest enduring legend about George Washington. In the original story, when Washington was six years old he received a hatchet as a gift and damaged his father’s cherry tree. When his father discovered what he had done, he became angry and confronted him. Young George bravely said, “I cannot tell a lie…I did cut it with my hatchet.” Washington’s father embraced him and rejoiced that his son’s honesty was worth more than a thousand trees.

Black Forest Trifle

Black Forest gâteau and Black Forest Cake are the English names for the German dessert Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte literally means "Black Forest Cherry Torte", where it originated.
Typically, Black Forest Cake consists of several layers of chocolate cake, with whipped cream and cherries between each layer. Then the cake is decorated with additional whipped cream, cherries, and chocolate shavings. In some European traditions, sour cherries are used both between the layers and for decorating the top. Traditionally, kirsch is added to the cherries. True Black Forest Cakes are decorated with black cherries.
Cook's Notes: And I can not tell a lie either as chocolate and cherries are simply a "marriage made in heaven" and super delicious together. And I do believe Washington would have enjoyed a Black Forest Trifle.
The recipe serves 8 but does depend on the type of glassware used. Be sure to choose something that will show off the layers.

Cooking Tip: After adding cherries back into cooked sauce may have to drain some of the juice to keep the mixture on the thicker side.   

Ingredients:

• 1 chocolate cake mix (18.25 oz box) or brownie mix
• 2- cans Dark Bing Cherries, pitted in heavy juice
• Fresh orange juice, as needed
• 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar for whipped cream
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons Chambord or Kirsch
• 4 oz. Chocolate mousse mix (commercially prepared) found in baking aisle
• 1 cup milk
• 2 cups heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, pure
• 1 oz. shaved chocolate

Directions:

• Bake cake according to package instructions or brownie mix. Cool. Cut into 1 1/2" squares.
• Prepare chocolate mousse according to package directions.
• Drain cherries and reserve juice. Add enough orange juice to cherry juice to equal 1- 1/2 cups.
• Heat juice and add in 3/4 cup of sugar. Bring to a light boil. 
• Blend cornstarch with water. Add to boiling juice. Blend with a whisk and reduce heat to medium-low, cook until thickened.
• Add cherries back in and cook for 3 minutes more. Add in Chambord or Kirsch, chill mixture until thickened.
• Whip mousse mix with cold milk and refrigerate to thicken slightly. Mix well with a whisk.
• Whip heavy cream on medium speed. Add in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and vanilla extract. Whip cream until it forms soft peaks.
• Assemble torte in deep glass large trifle bowl, parfait or sherbet glasses.
• Line the bottom of the bowl with 1 layer of chocolate cake cubes.
• Spread a layer of the cherries and sauce over the cake cubes, making sure they're visible against the side of the bowl or glassware. Then add a layer of whipped cream and chocolate mousse. Repeat the layers of cake, cherries, whipped cream, and mousse. Reserve 5 to 9 cherries for garnish.
• End with a layer of whipped cream over the top and garnish with the remaining cherries, Grate chocolate over the top.

Another serving option 

Some other cherry chocolate desserts that were previously posted on Ever Ready

Chocolate Cherry Cookies 

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2020/02/chocolate-cherry-cookies.html

Mini Black Forest Cheesecakes 

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/01/celebrating-national-bittersweet.html

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes

https://sockfairies.blogspot.com/2018/02/mini-cherry-oreo-cheesecakes.html