Before I get to this week’s SMS recipe, I want to apologize to my fellow SMS bakers. I still haven’t made the rounds on last week’s recipe yet as I’m way behind in my commenting. I hope to get around to all of your blogs today to check out this week’s recipe as well as last week’s! We had a busy day yesterday (more on that tomorrow) so today I don’t feel at all guilty sitting on the couch watching tennis and trying to play catch up 🙂
This week’s SMS recipe was chosen by Sarah of Blue Ridge Baker: fallen chocolate souffle cake! I’ve never made a souffle so I was excited to finally give it a shot. Here’s the thing – I’m out of my kitchen for the next 2 weeks because I’m housesitting for Shane’s parents while they’re away. Now, lest there be any confusion, I’m not complaining at all. There are a lot of upsides to this adventure. For example, check out the views:
It’s just that I’ve never been away from my kitchen for this long since I really got into baking. It wasn’t feasible to pack my entire kitchen and bring it with me but I certainly tried 🙂 Today’s souffles were my first baking attempt in my temporary kitchen and I’ve already discovered a major upside – WAY more counter space. I’m more convinced than ever that I need an island in my kitchen at home!
Ok, on to the recipe (finally!). The only modification I made was to quarter the recipe and bake it in two 7-oz ramekins. If I were at home, I would have skipped or substituted for the Grand Marnier since we don’t have any but (bonus #2!) Shane’s parents had a bottle. The souffles rose perfectly in the oven and I’ll admit I kept turning on the light to check on them:
As expected, the center fell as they cooled. They came out of the ramekins without too much trouble, but I can definitely see how it’d be easier to use a springform pan to bake this cake. I garnished my cake with fresh strawberries and left Shane’s plain for him. The verdict? We liked it, but we didn’t love it. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with the recipe so much as we’re just not souffle people. It was light and fluffy and quite tasty but I think we prefer a dense, rich chocolate cake to a souffle.
Thanks to Sarah for hosting this week! You can find the recipe on her blog. Be sure to head over to the SMS site to see all of this week’s souffles!
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I used ramekins too but I just had my friends eat from them. It was just easier – less dishes to wash, and it didn’t fall apart. =] Yours look amazing!
<3
Wow, nice views. And the souffles look great, too. It’s always weird to be in someone else’s kitchen, even if it is a really nice one. =) One of the reasons we picked the floor plan we did for our house was the kitchen–lots of counter space. Islands are the best.
Ohh my goodness, yours came out so cute! I didn’t dust with powdered sugar (totally forgot!) and didn’t top wiht strawberries. Yours looks beautiful!
Your little souffles look fantastic, it looks like you got a nice crunchy top! That looks like a lovely place to be housesitting for a couple weeks, but I understand how difficult it is to cook in a different kitchen where you don’t know where everything is; I think I’d want to bring along as many of my kitchen essentials as I could too.
Great job in your temporary kitchen. I like the idea of mini souffles.
Those look absolutely delicious. I am on a chocolate craving, and would totally make these if my ramekins weren’t packed!
Wow, lucky you with that view! I’d love to sit on the deck and have some souffle. I guess I’d better get cracking on my TWD one! Yours look lovely.
Thanks for baking with me this week! I felt the same way about the cake: tasty, just not my thing… Though if I had achieved a beautiful crust on top like you did, I might have had different feelings on the subject! Enjoy the extra counter space while you have it, I’m always running out of room myself…
I was thinking of ramkins too but then i thought it would be difficult to take out. Yours look perfect!
Tracey, your minis baked up perfectly! Beautiful presentation with the strawberries, I bet that was a delicious touch. Enjoy your house-sitting vacation, what a gorgeous view. I have to add, that the plate you served on looks just like our dinnerware pattern, too funny 🙂
they do look lovely!! you and shane would have liked my souffle, it was dense and rich (?) don’t ask me how that happened… i’m still not sure 🙂
Wow! Gourgrous view…
Your cakes look delicious, though I have to agree that the recipe wasn’t a favorite.
I think these look fantastic, and since I’m catching up on your blog from the top down, I’m glad you discovered you are souffle lovers after all!
Hi Tracey!
Your mini souffle cakes are too cute- I love that you baked individual ones in ramekins, great idea! Unfortunately, I think the consensus across the board was that this recipe disappointed a bit. It was my first souffle baking experience too, and I was kind of bummed that the results didn’t wow. But I’m not giving up, and I hope you don’t either. I don’t think this particular recipe was a good representation of souffles in general, so I wouldn’t say you’re not a fan of them all together. If you do try another recipe and have better results, you’ll have to let me know so I can give it another shot too!
I also have to thank you for inspiring me with your recent post for the better than brownie cookies. I made them as a part of my package for Operation Baking GALS to send to the recovering soldiers, and if my taste testers’ reaction was any indication, I think they’re REALLY going to enjoy them. They got rave reviews in my house, and fulfilled the chocolate craving left lingering after trying the fallen souffle cake. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe.
Oh, and I found something else we have in common when I read your post about Next Food Network Star (I’m a BIG fan too, and watched all season!) I kept changing who I was routing for as the season progressed, but I thought Michael was hilarious and seemed to be a talented chef. So far Ten Dollar Dinners has been an enjoyable show to watch and I think Melissa has been doing a great job. Hey, do you happen to watch Top Chef too? I love that show as well 🙂 Just wondering!
Hope you’re doing well and having a great week! Looking forward to hearing from you again soon!
<3,
Joy
I love your oven pic!! Your souffles look great!
Gorgeous water pictures. Your souffle cakes look awesome!