Chocolate "Jelly" Roll

There is no jelly in this Chocolate Jelly Roll! Don't be silly. This is a recipe I have had for many years from a great book given to me by my Mom called Chocolate Everything by Jean Pare (gee, why would I love that book), and I have never tried it, though I've drooled over the photograph many times. I'm sure there will be a few more recipes I'll be trying from that book.

What I love about this recipe is that it looks really hard to make but it actually isn't. The cake is very dense, and the icing in the middle is extremely rich and buttery. Delicious and special.

Chocolate Jelly Roll
Adapted from Chocolate Everything by Jean Pare

4 large Eggs

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa, sifted

4 tsp. warm water

Combine eggs, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl. Beat well until thick enough to leave a trail when beaters are lifted. Should be thick and mousse-like.

Sift flour and cocoa onto plate. Add to batter. Fold in. Add water. Fold together. Spread onto greased and waxed paper-lined 10x15 jelly roll pan. Bake in 400 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. A wooden toothpick inserted in center should come out clean to show doneness.

Turn out onto a dish towel dusted with confectioner's sugar. Remove waxed paper. Trim crisp edges. Roll up from short end with towel.

Filling: Unroll when cool. Spread with icing to edges. Roll up and cover with whipped cream or dust with confectioner's sugar. Garnish with grated chocolate and/or fruit of choice like strawberries or raspberries.

Chocolate Butter Icing

3/4 cup butter, softened (not margarine)

1/4 cup boiling water

1/2 tsp. vanilla

2 cups confectioner's sugar

1/4 cup cocoa, sifted

Beat all 5 ingredients in medium bowl until mixture lightens in both color and texture. Makes 2 generous cups.

Enjoy!

Welcome! (And why the strange title?)

One should blog about what they know. They should blog about what they enjoy. Most of all they should blog about what they love...and oh my god I love chocolate! Well, that should explain the weird title of my blog, right? Chocolate is the one food that can cure all - it makes you feel good, it makes you feel happy and almost everyone loves it. Did you know that the average American eats 10-12 pounds per year? I, on the other hand, make up for those who aren't eating their share!

Some other interesting chocolate facts: Chocolate is not high in caffeine. A 1oz bar of milk chocolate contains only 5-6mg of caffeine. This is significantly less than in coffee, tea, and soft drinks. Chocolate does not cause acne and several medical studies show that eating chocolate in moderation can actually prolong your life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholesterol. (Of course, I probably eat a little more than what they consider "in moderation".........) but I can't help it because OMG! I LOVE CHOCOLATE!

I want to share some of the best recipes that I try. For years I baked the same things again and again. Sometimes that can be okay; you know, tried and true, but I really want to expand my knowledge and try some new things. I'm not talking about being this spectacular baker, just hopefully finding some very delicious chocolate recipes. If you love chocolate, I hope you will find some yummy stuff here! Let's begin the chocolate adventure.