#COOKING WITH CLORIS--QUICK & EASY CAPPUCCINO

Cappuccino is yummy but expensive. You either have to buy a cappuccino machine or go to a pricey coffee shop for the real thing. So-called cappuccino at fast-food places and concoctions that supermarkets sell to make at home cappuccino without a machine are loaded with chemicals. If you’re a coffee aficionado, you don’t want anything in your cappuccino other than coffee or espresso and milk, right?

I recently came across a method for making cappuccino without a cappuccino machine, and it really works. All you need is a Mason or other microwavable jar and a microwave.

Fill the jar halfway with nonfat, 1%, or 2% milk (Whole milk won’t foam as well.) Place the lid on the jar and shake vigorously for a minute. Remove the lid, and microwave the milk for 30 seconds. The froth will magically rise to the top of the jar. Pour the milk into a hot cup of coffee or espresso, and spoon the remaining foam on top. Voila! Cappuccino without the cappuccino machine!

COOKING WITH CLORIS--MAGICAL MYSTERY MOCHA CAKE

Yesterday I promised you a to-die-for dessert from Cloris.  Have your taste buds every had an orgasm? They will with this baby. In honor of the upcoming Coffee Day celebrations July 24th, here’s Cloris’s Magical Mystery Mocha Cake. -- AP

MAGICAL MYSTERY MOCHA CAKE

Ingredients
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. salt
1 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate
2T butter
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
4T cocoa
1T  instant coffee (optional, depending on how strong a mocha taste you want)
1 cup cold espresso or coffee (make it double strength for a stronger mocha taste)
1 cup either chocolate chips, dried cherries, dried raspberries, walnuts or combination of any of these

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together first 4 ingredients.  Melt chocolate and butter.  Add milk and vanilla.  Stir to blend.  Add to flour mixture, stirring well until batter is smooth.  Mix in chocolate chips/dried fruit/nuts.  Pour into greased 8” x 11” pan.  Combine remaining sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, and instant coffee.  Pour evenly over batter.   Pour cold espresso over sugar/cocoa mixture.  Bake for 40 minutes.


For an even more decadent dessert, serve with a scoop of java chip ice cream. Just plan to diet for the rest of the month.


Have a favorite dessert that sends your taste buds into ecstasy? Let's hear from you.  -- AP