Today I made another dessert to share with others – this time for a friend to share with her co-workers. This cake was easy to prepare and is unique in flavor and texture. I liked it… a lot! The hazelnut flavor is present but not obtrusive. The simple chocolate glaze enhances the hazelnut flavor (think Nutella!) without overwhelming it. This cake is nutty but not sweet in flavor and different enough in texture; moist yet fluffy and slightly grainy that gives a pleasant toothsome aspect to it. As I said earlier, I like it a lot. I will make this one again… and again… and again I am certain. You should try it too – I am sure you will enjoy it as much…
Tonight I made one of my standard side dishes – roasted brussel sprouts. It is a recipe so easily upgraded with the addition of a few additional ingredients. One of my favorite ways to make this dish is with bacon or pancetta. The smoky, sweet flavors really combine well with the caramelized sugars in the roasted brussel sprouts. But alas, that is not the recipe I made tonight. I opted to toast some roughly chopped hazelnuts and slivered garlic and tossed it together with some balsamic glaze to bring vibrant flavors to the dish. This side dish is easy and pairs with many main dishes – steak, chicken, fish, etc – which is why I keep variants of this dish in regular rotation. So without further ado, let…