Recipe Time

I made this chocolate cake the other day and I must say the compliments just kept pouring in.
So here is the Recipe, its a huge cake so I suggest halving the recipe (you'll see I've put the half measurements in brackets) might be a good idea unless you feeding an army. Enjoy

225g best quality dark chocolate (112g)
100g ground almonds (50g)
250g flour (125g=250ml)
1 1/2 tsp bicarb
340g unsalted butter (170g)
400g light brown sugar (200g)
4 eggs (2 eggs)
1tsp vanilla essance
300ml boiling water (150ml)

To make the icing

225ml double cream (125ml)
225g dark chocolate (112g)

1. Preheat oven to 180C. Grease and line two springform cake tins ( I used normal cake tins)
with greaseproof paper. Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water and set aside to cool slightly. Sift together almonds, flour and bicarb in a bowl.
2. Using a whisk cream the butter and sugar well,gradually add eggs and vanilla until well combined, then slowly pour in the chocolate. Slowly whisk in the flourmix alternating with boiling water and mix until smooth. Pour into tins and bake for 50mins Cool on wire rack.
3. Melt the chocolate set aside to cool, whip the cream and add to cooled chocolate, forms a mousse. Use it for the filling to sandwich the cakes together and to ice the cake.

Tips: This cake is so moist that testing whether its ready with a skewer won't work if its feels firm its ready
This cake is best if made the day before you need it, no need too refridgerate

Hike over Dragon's Back

One of Hong Kong's best kept secrets is its hiking trails, on Saturday a bunch of us got together to do a hike on the island. After taking bus no.9 bound for Shek O, we jumped off the bus just after a small car park and looked for the sign that said Hong Kong Trail and that's where the path begins, the stone steps lead uphill over Dragon's Back, where the view of Shek O is beautiful. The hiking trail eventually leads you to Big Wave Bay where by that stage we were all hungry and thoroughly enjoyed Mexican wraps. Afterwards you can walk to Shek O beach or return to the MTR station. Since we decided to walk in the heat of the day, we were all a little buggered so chose to catch the bus.

WOW

They say that after a female Pray Mantis has had her way with the male, she lovingly eats him, imagine been eaten by this chick!!! Never seen such a huge Pray Mantis in my life, HK bugs are definately on steroids ha ha (-:

COLDPLAY in Hong Kong

On Thursday 13th July 2006, Mike, Rachael,Paul and I all went to the newest part of Hong Kong's reclaimed land " Asia World Expo", where Coldplay happened to be performing inside their Arena.
I cannot say much for The Arena itself, our seats were 90 degrees to the stage, rather strange and the lead singer Chris Martin said, and I quote " Never has he played at a venue that actually had a time difference between the back and the front!" Yes thats how big this Arena is.
The Concert however was brilliant, the Arena definately rocked, P.S For those who have the X&Y album check out song number 4 called "Fix iT"
A great night was had by all.

Prehistoric Bugs Yuk!!

Have you ever seen anything so ugly!!!