New Beginnings

There is a common (and not necessarily un-true) belief that New Yorkers don't cook. Certainly, since moving here a last year, my cooking has been limited, with cookbooks languishing on the shelf...ok, I live on rotisserie chicken from across the street. But this Christmas, I received not one- but FIVE - cookbooks from my siblings - all of which I had asked for. Oops. The reality has become that I get inspired by a new (or  newly heard of) cookbook, buy it then put it on the shelf. Forever.

So with the new crop of cookbooks, I've resolved to cook something fit to serve to others at least once a week.And I'm blogging about it too - for all my foodie friends who have continued to inspire me in so many ways.

Café Latte's Famous Turtle Cake

When I was in college, Café Latte was a storied magical place we without cars only heard about. Later, when I was halfway across the country, in my search for the best chocolate cake recipe, someone pointed me in the direction of the famous Café Latte Turtle Cake!

I cannot even describe the thrill. It was shocking how easy it was to make. So much so, that the "active" time is really only 15 minutes or so.
People love, love, LOVE this cake. To the point where I am so sick of it. But people love it. People who don't normally eat dessert love this cake. Even men who do not eat dessert love this cake. Some call it THE cake.
The best story about this cake, is when my friends Christa and Jose welcomed their new baby. I first met Christa and Jose when they helped push my car out of a ditch in the middle of the night during a terrible sleetstorm. They drove away with nothing but thanks. Months later, our paths crossed again via our friend Amy, and the rest, they say is history.
When Christa gave birth, I brought them this cake. Her father loved it so much that he told Café Latte about it. Long and short of it is, this cake rocks.

PS If you aren't the greatest cake baker you can use good old cake in a box. Honestly, nobody will be the wiser.

Café Latte’s Famous Turtle Cake
Adapted from Café Latte
1 egg
2/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk and 1 tbsp vinegar)
2 cups flour
1 3/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp baking soda
1 cup hot coffee

Frosting
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sugar
6 tbsp butter
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips or chocolate chunks
3/4 cup caramel (store bought)
1 1/2 cups pecans, toasted


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three 9" cake pans with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients - flour, sugar, cocoa, salt, baking soda. In a separate bowl, lightly beat together the egg, oil and buttermilk. Slowly beat the dry ingredients. Very carefully add the hot coffee, beating slowly. Distribute batter evenly among the pans. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the cakes on wire racks.
For the frosting, bring the sugar, milk and butter to boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips and stir with a whisk until smooth.

Assemble
Put a generous tablespoon of frosting in the middle of the cake plate. Place the thickest (because they probably won't all exactly be the same size) cake upside down on the plate so that the flat bottom faces up. Spread a third of the frosting on top, drizzle a third of the caramel, add a fourth of the pecans. Repeat with the next two layers of cake, putting the extra pecans on top, and making the top much prettier. If the frosting and caramel start to drip down the sides, that's ok.

For a crowd: If you are even thinking of transporting this cake, make sure you chill it for at least an hour or so. Make sure that the frosting is nice and solid looking or the top layers of the cake might end up on your car seat. I know this from experience. Enjoy!