Nigella's Chocolate Olive Oil Cake

Waiting for the cooker to be delivered had me all excited, 14 days is a bit of a stretch to be with out an oven when one likes to bake and cook. It was delivered and upon close inspection there was a flaw... a dent here and a not so well connected part there. It really is sod's law, isn't it? We called the company from whom we purchase the oven from explained the issues and a new, newer one will arrive next week. In the meantime we are to go ahead and use the new cooker until then. When I reviewed Nigella Lawson's cookbook, Nigellissima, last week I said that I want to make the Chocolate Olive Oil cake to christen the new oven. Despite the issues regarding the new cooker I did just that.  

Instead of using almond flour as stated in the recipe, I used unbleached all purpose flour as suggested in the recipe. The texture was light and Nigella was right by using all purpose flour the cake takes on more of an everyday cake with the slight hint of olive oil. By using almond meal/flour it would be more dense and be more suitable for someone who can't have any wheat or dairy. You can find the recipe on Nigella's website by clicking *here* and search for Chocolate Olive Oil Cake. 

As you can see it's not a high and fluffy cake. It's more compact with a nice rich chocolate flavour. The dusting of icing sugar gives it that finished touch. 

Until the new newer cooker arrives I will be using this one. I know they say three times the charm however in this case I feel twice the charm will do! -JW     

Nigellissima

I bought this cookbook about a week before the cooker decided to call it quits. While we are waiting for a new one we are bound to cook by stove top... or slow cooker. As I am out of my element with cooking only by stove top, Nigella Lawson is in her element at being Italian or should I say channeling her inner Italian. There is something for everyone in this cookbook... food, passion and inspiration. 

The introduction reads more like an autobiography reminiscing of her days spent in Florence. Written in true Nigella form. She is talking to you... sharing and emphasizing. You can sense her inspiration and passion for food and Italy. I have been to Florence too and as I read, I drifted off retracing my steps only to realise that food, travel and life impacts us all differently. After turning page after page of this cookbook it inspired me to make Spaghetti Bolognese. I had no recipe just my thoughts and whatever struck my fancy went into the pan. The large bowl of Spaghetti Bolognese was met with wide eyes and hungry stomachs. Servings were dished out happily and then seconds and thirds to the few who had the most room in their stomach. 

Nigellissima is only 273 pages, notes, index and acknowledgements included. Compared to some of her other cookbooks this is a slim one. She has condensed her new Italian inspired recipes into five chapters. Pasta, Meat, Fish & Fowl, Vegetables & Sides, Sweet Things and An Italian-Inspired Christmas. She briefly discusses the eight pantry items she needs, and that you will need, to make her recipes. There are helpful hints placed here and there. One of them being: Never over sauce your pasta. Full page colour photography leads less to the imagination and more to your soon to be bottomless stomach. The Mascarpone Mashed Potatoes, Saffron Orzotto, Italian Tray Bake, Chocolate Salami, Chocolate Olive Oil Cake and the One -Step No-Churn Coffee Ice Cream have left me wanting my new cooker now! I really want to make the Chocolate Olive Oil Cake to christen the new oven. If you want to bring out your inner Italian then I would recommend this book... a tavola! -JW