A Chocolate Splurge for President's Day and Mardi Gras

 A chocolate splurge for Presindent's Day and Mardi Gras 

Torta Caprese 

Cook's Notes: Torta Caprese is a quintessential dessert served in Capri, Italy. It’s light, airy, fudgy, moist, tender, and oh, so chocolatey. It's definitely an elegant and decadent showstopper you can make at home without a trip to Italy. For best results use good quality bittersweet chocolate e.g. Ghirardelli and Dutch-processed cocoa e.g. Droste Cocoa. The Torta Caprese can stand on its own with a dusting of powdered sugar or add a dollop of Amaretto Cream with jarred Cherry Fruit Filling.

Make the dessert a day ahead as a timesaver. It keeps well for three days. The recipe is adapted from Cooks Illustrated November/December 2018
Ingredients:

• 12 tablespoons of butter, cut into 12 pieces
• 4 oz. bar bittersweet chocolate, chopped
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 large eggs, separated
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup sugar, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon crème of tartar
• 2 cups almond flour
• 2 tablespoons Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Jarred cherry sauce or cherry pie filling
• Pint of whipping cream

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
• In a small bowl mix together almond flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
• Microwave chocolate and butter at 50% power, stirring often until melted. Stir in vanilla and set aside.
• In a medium bowl beat egg whites, and add in the creme of tartar and 1/2 cup sugar. Beat until egg whites are stiff. Set aside.
• In a large bowl mix egg yolks with 1/2 cup sugar. Beat on medium-high until thick and pale yellow. Add in chocolate/butter mixture and mix until incorporated about 15 seconds.
• Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture mix on low just until incorporated.
• Fold whipped egg whites in thirds to the chocolate mixture using a spatula.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes with just a few moist crumbs.
• Place torta on a wire rack to cool. Remove springform sides and wrap torta in plastic wrap until serving.
• Amaretto Cream (mix 2 teaspoons Amaretto with cream that has been whipped)
  
  
  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.