Extreme Chocolate Cake and Caribbean Photos
It’s been a while since I’ve updated and to that I can only say: oops! The hiatus was unintentional and due mostly to the fact that returning from vacation is as exhausting as preparing for time away in the first place. Isn’t that funny? You go on vacation because you’re tuckered out, only to return to a to-do list so long it takes days (in my case, two weeks) to get it all under control. There was also the added stress of finding a message from our landlord when we got back, stating that she’s selling our apartment. Add house/apartment hunting to our to-do list? Check.
We had a great time on vacation though. We swam with dolphins in Bermuda. (I love the blissed out grin on my husband’s face in this photo.)
We sailed around St. Maarten on a yacht.
Our captain was named Captain Jack, as I suppose all Caribbean captains are?
Captain Jack likes to climb underneath his boat while his crew members time how fast he can do it.
This is us snorkeling on a little island off St. Maarten. When we arrived at the island there were about 20 nude people covered in mud who promptly mooned us. I took a picture of it (because who could resist?), but I don’t think it would be a good idea to post it here, lol. Email me if you really want to see that many bare bottoms.
Of all the islands, I think St. Thomas was the most beautiful. I felt like I was standing in a postcard when I took the picture below.
St. Thomas is home to Magens Bay beach, which National Geographic has called one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. I can see why.
We sat under a palm tree at Magens Bay and read books, über dorks that we are. (No, that isn’t us in the photo.)
St. Thomas also treated us to a gorgeous rainbow just as we were sailing away. I was happy that the colors of the rainbow showed up in this photo:
I think the bird adds a little something to the image – thank you birdie!
Food on the cruise ship? It was good, but not amazing. One of the drawbacks of being a foodblogger is high standards! I’m very, very happy to be back in my own kitchen. 
At this point you’re probably wondering where the chocolate cake you see at the top of this post comes in. Simply put: it’s the only blog worthy thing I’ve made since we returned. Well, that’s not true. I also made Homemade Tomato Soup & Open Faced Vegetable Melts, and Black Bean Quesadillas with Zucchini and Butternut Squash, and Bruschetta with Strawberry Melonade. But as you can see, I’ve posted all those recipes before. Busy times like the last two weeks are perfect for recipes you’ve made often.
This cake was originally called “Chocolate Layer Cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting” but it was so full of rich chocolate flavor that, in my opinion, it is more accurately described as Extreme Chocolate Cake. As in, make this only if you are a chocolate-fiend of the first order! My husband and I definitely fall into this category.
I made the cake for the premiere of True Blood this past Sunday. At 10:00PM my husband and I each cut ourselves a slice, poured glasses of milk, then turned off all the lights and enjoyed the cake while watching Sookie and Bill the Vampire work on their relationship. That Bill! Siring a 17-year-old vampire without telling Sookie, tsk tsk.
The recipe for this Extreme Chocolate Cake (aka Chocolate Layer Cake with Milk Chocolate Frosting) can be found at Epicurious.com by clicking here. I followed the recipe almost to the letter, making these minor adjustments:
- For the cake, I used 2 oz bittersweet chocolate instead of unsweetened chocolate
- For the frosting, I used 4 oz bittersweet chocolate and 4 oz milk chocolate instead of 8 oz milk chocolate. I also used 2 oz semisweet chocolate instead of 2 oz unsweetened chocolate.
This cake serves about 10 people and to get the most flavor I recommend using a high quality chocolate such as Scharffen Berger, which is what I used.
Store the cake in the refrigerator by allowing it to cool completely, then placing it in the fridge – unwrapped – for about 30 minutes so that the frosting hardens a bit. Then loosely wrap the cake with saran wrap and store for up to 3 days. Allowing the frosting to harden before wrapping the cake prevents the plastic wrap from messing up all those beautiful, chocolate frosting waves you slaved over. The technique works very well, as you can see in the photo above, taken 1 day after the cake was made. Let slices come to room temperature before eating.
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I love all of your photos. I am so glad you had a wonderful vacation! And of course the chocolate cake looks amazing!
Maria´s last blog post -> Lemon Buttermilk Shortcakes with Berries
Thanks for posting the pics, Ari. Loved seeing you have such a great time on your vacation. And yummmmm – choc-o-lot!
Janice´s last blog post -> Serenbe Yard
welcome back! lovely photos of your trip, and wow- what a cake!
lara´s last blog post -> pumpkin power muffins
PHENOMENAL trip photos and cake!
Looks like you had a great time! Great pictures too. That cake looks to die for! Oh, and it always takes me a while to get adjusted back after being on vacation. I seem to get caught up in wishing I was still on vacation!:)
Stephanie´s last blog post -> Disney’s Dining Experience
Looks like an incredible trip…and an even better cake!
Jan´s last blog post -> Cherry Galette
those photos of your vacation are absolutely incredible!! i’ll be making a chocolate cake next week for a friend’s bday, but i think the pairing will be pb frosting
ttfn300´s last blog post -> A Few Firsts
That must have been an awesome cruise! Nice pictures!
What a scrumptious looking cake!
Cheers,
Rosa
ARI! Finally the photos of your vacation are here! You guys look so nice in the photos. Esp love the portrait.
The Purple Foodie´s last blog post -> Six Cheese Mac and Cheese
What great photos… now I want to go on vacation! That slice of cake looks sinfully delicious too!
Joelen´s last blog post -> Strawberry Cream Cheese Whoopies
J’adore ce cake, j’adore le chocolat toute l’année, aussi et sourtout en été!
ciao
vaniglia´s last blog post -> smoothie albicocca e banana
Looks like you two had a great time on vacation!
The cake looks terrific!
Jendeis´s last blog post -> Who Knows
STUNNING EVERYTHING!
The cake looks amazing!! But your trip pictures are even better! I’m going on a cruise to the Bahamas for my sister’s bachelorette in a few weeks and I cannot wait!! I’m hoping the cruise food isn’t too awful
Sues´s last blog post -> Boston’s Strawberry Dessert Festival and Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
You guys look really cute together and the photos are gorgeous!
Irene´s last blog post -> Stuffed Eggplant
I guess I know now what my family will be having for dessert this weekend! Beautiful pictures!
Ari-what beautiful pictures of the islands and esp. of the two of you. Thanks for sharing your vacay with us. The cake looks scrumptious! I love your enthusiasm and energy for baking!
Mary Jane
Mary Jane´s last blog post -> Quiet here…
What great vacation photos! I can relate to the being tired after vacation. My family just got back from one less than a week ago. You should try adding 2 kids to the vacation and imagine how tired you end up, LOL!
I’ve been craving chocolate lately, so thanks for the recipe. I’m in the chocolate fiend mode!
Janel´s last blog post -> Vacation
Lovely beaches and totally decadent cake! What’s not to like?
MC´s last blog post -> Double Apple Bread
Your chocolate cake looks absolutely amazing. Just by gazing at the photo I can see how rich,moist and delicious it must be. Love the vacation photos. Thank you for sharing.
I could go for a piece of that cake right now…as I munch on a few M and M’s
Absolutely beautiful pictures…reminds me of my cruise to the same islands just three years ago…
Kaye´s last blog post -> No Computers at Work Make for a STRESSFUL Night!
the cake looks yummy but the vacation looks even better!
Awesome photos of your holiday! Beautiful place! And oh my…what a cake to come home to (and watch True Blood to…hehe)!
joey´s last blog post -> I’m in Yummy this June!
Missed you! Thought you had sailed off into the sunset — and it wasn’t far wrong. Thank you for the rainbow photo — how did you get that bird to pose? It’s phenomenal…
And thanks to your guests who blogged so well.
Zoë and Susan did a wonderful job! I’m so lucky that they posted.
Bless you, Ari, for the lovely photos of your trip and for pictures of this cake, which made my stomach rumble (literally) in demand of immediate satisfaction by way of death by chocolate cake. I almost wish that the almost-husband would have requested this for his birthday instead of Hershey’s chocolate cake… maybe next year. (Or maybe for MY birthday in a couple of months.)
And also, True Blood is awesome. I’m addicted via flash video, since I don’t have HBO. I can’t wait until I can afford to buy the first season DVD and watch them on a real TV. I just have to remember that the show does not equate with the books when I watch the eps.
Kate´s last blog post -> Red Pepper Fougasse (ABi5!)
What a welcome back!
I’m sure that it was difficult to be back from your holidays. And I fully agree that best kitchen is your own kitchen!
Holy cow, that sucker looks decadent! What great photos from your trip as well – I can’t wait to go on vacation now! And I’m addicted to True Blood as well. Between that and twilight I’m beginning to question my vampire obsession! At least your hubby supports, mine thinks I’m nuts!
Culinary Wannabe´s last blog post -> Mint Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies
Looks like you had a great time! And the cake sounds heavenly.
Sagan´s last blog post -> A New Addition to the Family
This cake looks amazing. Sounds like you had a great vacation.
The Food Hunter´s last blog post -> Friends That Like to Cook
well, your photos are gorgeous as was your time away I’m sure. I think this is the perfect forum for a picture of 20 muddy butts. please, show us! the cake looks tasty tasty too!
I love your pics! The underwater pic is my favorite!! And I think everyone now wants to see the dirty butts! Lol
Perfect combination – Delicious looking CHOCOLATE cake, and vacation pictures!!
Avanika (Yumsilicious Bakes)´s last blog post -> Decorating Course… Part 2
I’ll have to suggest that a couple of my friends go to St. Maarten. The guy half of the couple has mooned a fair number of people in his day and I think he would be wonderfully amused!
Seanna Lea´s last blog post -> pretty in pink!
Nice photos and the cake looks fantastic. I’ll try to prepare it for my birthday.
Ciao
Bianca´s last blog post -> La mia “solita” insalata di pollo
Love the cake and love True Blood, must hanker down and watch the premiere episode sometime this week!
Mari´s last blog post -> My First Piece of Stitchery!
Pretty nice post. I just came by your blog and wanted to say
that I’ve really liked browsing your blog posts. Any way
I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon!
I always say that I need a vacation from my vacation!! Looks like you had lots of fun, and this cake looks great!
Deborah´s last blog post -> Corn Cake Pancakes
What an awesome vacay! We took our honeymoon in St. Thomas and LOVED it. You’re right – it’s absolutely gorgeous.
And that cake ain’t half bad, either.
Abby´s last blog post -> Scalloped Tomatoes
Glad you had fun.
Esmeralda´s last blog post -> The Night Gardner Giveaway
Delicious, nothing nicer than sun, sand and chocolate cake! How did you over come the issue of chocolate cake melting in the Caribbean?
That Chocolate Cake is Divine! And, I love your pictures!
Um…Captain Jack? Is his last name Sparrow?
The cake looks great…so dense, rich, and chocolatey!
Claire´s last blog post -> Summer Muffins
Both the cake and the vacation look amazing!
looks like you had an incredible trip!!! i would so love to go to the caribbean one day. and wow, that chocolate cake….. must make for the fasted upcoming birthday!!
mi´s last blog post -> picturesque provence
Looks like a great vacation…nice pics.
Awesome pics, esp that shot on St Thomas!But that chocolate cake is something I can’t wait to try. I’d love to guide our readers to your site if you won’t mind.Just add this foodista widget to this post and it’s all set to go, Thanks!
Alisa@Foodista´s last blog post -> Corn Bread Three Ways
What an adorable pic of you both with the dolphin! It seems like an enchanting trip.
Susan from Food Blogga´s last blog post -> Four Amazing Potato Salad Recipes for Your Fourth of July Cookout
Wow…love that cake….and that postcard pic….sure I would never want to leave that ‘heaven’
Navita´s last blog post -> Berries from the East and the West…in a Gelato !!
If anyone’s still checking the comments–I made this cake for my husband’s birthday a couple of days ago and it is Absolutely Incredible Chocolate Deliciousness!!
Didn’t do the frosting though, just whipped cream with cocoa for between the layers and drizzled with a dark chocolate glaze.
Thanks for posting this.
Of course I’m still checking comments, I’ve just been very busy with two new jobs and preparing to move to a new home. Geesh.
Glad you liked the cake.