Yes, it's OK to have seconds!
Recipe #46: Boston pie

I love cakes with butter or whipping cream. However, due to the increased awareness of nutrition and calories, I tend to think twice before going for that second serving.

With our modified version, though, I don't have to worry about nutritional guilt!

There are different ways to make Boston pie. I tried two different methods, and I noticed that the pie is a lot finer, softer and silkier if I used the method for making the chiffon cake.

Ingredients

1. 4 eggs, whites and yolk separated
2. 3/4 c. sugar, divided into 1/4 c. and 1/2 c., plus an additional Tbsp.
3. 1/2 c. oil + 1 Tbsp.
4. 1 Tbsp. rum
5. 1 c. milk
6. 1/2 c. + 2 Tbsp. cake flour
7. 1 tsp. baking powder
8. 1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
9. pinch of salt
10. 3/4 c. heavy cream
11. powdered sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Put egg whites and yolks in separate, clean bowls. They should not come into contact with any other liquids.
3. Mix egg yolks and add 1/4 c. sugar. Mix well, add oil rum and milk, and mix further.
4. Prepare another bowl, and mix flour and baking powder and sift.
5. Put the two mixtures together. Using a mixer, beat the egg whites at high speed. Add half of the 1/2 c. sugar (or 1/4 c.), to the egg whites. Beat for about ten seconds, and add the cream of tartar and remaining 1/4 c. sugar. Continue beating until small peaks form.
6. Mix about 1/3 of the meringue into the flour mixture (in a folding motion) at a time using a spatula, until no white streaks remain.
7. Pour batter into a tube pan. Cut through it to release air. Put in preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes.
8. Remove the cake, turn it upside-down and let it cool completely. Take out the pie from the mold.
9. When base is cool, remove from mold and cut into half from the side horizontally.
10. Beat heavy cream and 1 Tbsp. sugar and beat at high speed until foamy.
11. Add mixture to cake base, thick at the center and thinner at the edges.
12. Put other half of cake base on top and add powdered sugar.

Tips

1. Most people like two layers of cream. If you want two layers, you can increase the amount of heavy and and sugar.
2. If you want a pie with two layers, a 7" pan is the best choice.

Zucchini and chocolate? You bet!
recipe #37: zucchini chocolate bread

It's sometimes said that zucchini must be planted two at a time so that they could pollinate each other, or else there would be very few fruits. When we first planted zucchinis, we only planted one at a time. Contrary to our expections, there were still a lot of zucchinis.

However, no matter how many there were, the birds would eat them, down to the blossoms and the tiny fruit. Those that survived would fall prey to slugs and snails. Out of the remainings, the squirrels would steal them. We would be lucky if we could harvest even two zucchinis.

On the third year, my mother planted six plants, and there should have been plenty left over. However, it still wasn't enough for them! She bought some netting to protect them, and this time, there were so many zucchinis that we started giving them away to neighbors, friends, relatives and even the postman! She even thought about giving them to strangers!

My mother has made many zucchini dishes, breads and desserts (yes, even desserts).

Ingredients

1. 2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, molten
2. 3 eggs
3. 2 c. sugar
4. 1 c. oil
5. 2 c. grated zucchini
6. 2 c. all-purpose flour
7. 1 tsp. baking soda
8. 1 tsp. baking powder
9. 1/2 tsp. salt
10. 2 tsp. vanilla extract
11. 1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, ground (optional)
12. 1/2 c. semisweet chocolate chips or 3/4 c. walnuts

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C). Lightly grease a large loaf pan.
2. Mix flour, cinnamon (nutmeg), salt, baking soda and baking powder well.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs, and combine oil, sugar, vanilla extract, grated zucchini and molten chocolate; mix well.
4. Fold in flour mixture, and then walnuts (or chocolate chips)
5. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans.
6. Bake in preheated oven for about 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean.

Tips

1. Chocolate chips can be melted in bowl over water-filled frying pan on low-medium heat, in which case you must stir until smooth. Alternatively, you can microwave the chocolate at 50% for about two minutes.
2. You can shape the bread into that of desserts, such as cupcakes.
3. You can substitute the sugar with brown sugar. If you use regular chocolate chips, you can reduce the sugar to 1 to 1 1/2 cups. Basically, we use very little ourselves.

Recipe #25: brownies (the crispy version)

In my previous recipe, I mentioned how to make soft brownies. They are delicious because of their soft and sticky texture. If you want to try a different, more crispy texture, then try this version.



Ingredients

1. 3 c. chocolate chips, divided
2. 1/2 c. butter
3. 4 large eggs
4. 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
5. 1 c. sugar
6. 1 tsp. vanilla extract
7. 1 tsp. baking soda
8. 1/4 c. hot water

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Mix flour and baking soda.
3. Melt 2 cups chocolate chips and butter in bowl over water-filled frying pan on low-medium heat; stir until smooth.
3. Remove mixture from heat and put into mixer.
4. Stir in sugar and mix well.
5. Stir in vanilla extract and slowly add hot water; blend well.
6. Slowly add eggs, one at a time.
7. Turn mixer to low speed and add flour mixture; stir in remaining cup chocolate chips.
8. Put into prepared baking pan bake for 30-35 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in brownies comes out clean.

Tips

1. Brownies are usually made in square shape using a baking pan. For this variant, you can put into shaped molds, such as those for mini-muffins. You can also use other shapes, like the heart, as seen in the photo.

Nobody can turn down the temptation of chocolate. Nobody.
Recipe #24: brownies (the soft version)

Out of all chocolate desserts, brownies are the favorites of many people. I have a friend who will not normally eat any desserts but will definitely enjoy our brownies. Thus, my motherwill make a batch of brownies for her when we visit her house.

For people who are not so well acquainted, such as at a party, class or other social event, brownies are a great icebreaker - people immediately take them and start chatting as if they're buddies.

Brownies can be soft and moisturized, or they can be crispy. No matter what type, they're both delicious, and because of this my mother has been many people's favorite lady because of her awesome brownies.



Ingredients

1. 2 c. chocolate chips
2. 2/3 cup butter
3. 1 c. sugar
4. 1 tsp. vanilla extract
5. 4 eggs
6. 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
7. 1 tsp. baking powder
8. 1/4 tsp. salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. Mix baking powder, flour and salt.
3.cHeat mixture of butter and 1 c. chocolate chips in saucepan over medium heat until molten
4. Add sugar to mixture; after mixing, remove heat
5. Add eggs, one at a time, and stir evenly
6. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture and pour into baking pan. Bake in oven for 20-25 minutes.

Tips

1. Since we try to eat healthy, we have reduced the sugar. If you want a sweeter version, add another 1/2 c. of sugar.
2. If you don't have a square baking pan, you can use a circular or loaf-shaped one.
3. If you like frosting, you can make some using the recipe below:

Ingredients

1. 3 Tbsp. butter, softened
2. 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
3. 1. Tbsp. corn syrup
4. 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
5. 1/2 c. powdered sugar
6. 1-2 Tbsp. milk

Directions

1. Mix butter, cocoa powder, corn syrup and vanilla.
2. Add powdered sugar and milk; beat until mixture has a spreading consistency.
3. Spread on top of brownies after baking