Asado Negro

The name "Ven a Comer" came to me while going through my food memories growing up. It was what my mom yelled when dinner was ready, she would say "Carla, ven a comer!" (Carla, come eat!) and I would come running, always picking up my dad and brother along the way.

My mom, Anamelia, is an amazing cook. She's extremely creative and ambitious, and she's never afraid. I learned a lot just by watching her, she'd come up with great meals on the fly, throw great parties with great food, or feed my friends late at night after my own parties. She also always wanted to learn as much as she could, I remember taking "bagel making" classes when we first came here. Somehow I've been able to carry on her talent and love for food, one of my favorites times in the day is dinner time, when my hubby sits down to eat and tells me how delicious whatever I made was... just like my dad always did (and still does) to my mom.

Here is a video of me making one of my favorite Venezuelan dishes: "Asado Negro". My mom taught me how to make it over the phone :) It's a traditional beef dish cooked with panela (cane sugar) that helps create the dark caramel color of it's thick, sweet sauce. The smell of it cooking on the stove instantly takes me back home... it's a wonderful feeling.

If you're still curious about more Venezuelan & latin food, watch my other videos: arepas, fried plantains, tostones & tres leches cake.

_NOTE: not sure why the video is cut off on the right, sorry about that!

Dear Birthday Cake,

Dear Birthday Cake,

I love you SO much. I love making you for my birthday so you can be as decadent as I want you to be. This year you where good... really good. We had you every night for a week and I didn't feel one bit guilty about it. You where a delicious chocolate cake, with 2 layers of peanut butter-cream cheese frosting, topped with a deep, beautiful chocolate glaze. I miss you so much already. Good thing the hubby's birthday is tomorrow, which only means one thing: more birthday cake to make!

CHOCOLATE CAKE (adapted from alpineberry)

INGREDIENTS::

_ 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (1 cup white, 3/4 whole wheat)

_ 2 cups granulated sugar
_ 3/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
_ 2 teaspoons baking soda
_ 1 teaspoon baking powder
_ 1 teaspoon kosher salt
_ 1/2 cup yogurt & 1/2 cup milk (recipe calls for 1 cup buttermilk)

_ 1/2 cup vegetable oil
_ 2 extra large eggs, at room temperature
_ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
_ 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee (or hot water)

DIRECTIONS::

_ Preheat oven to 350F. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans (I used only 1). Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.

_Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into bowl. Mix to combine the ingredients. In another bowl, gently whisk together the yogurt, milk, oil, eggs and vanilla extract. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix to combine.
_Add the coffee and stir just to combine (carefully because it might splash). Scrape the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure everything is well combined.
_Pour batter into prepared pans and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a knife comes out clean. Cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack and cool completely.

_NOTE: This batter is really runny—but don't worry—it's supposed to be that way.

PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING (adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

INGREDIENTS::

_1 1/2 packages of cream cheese, at room temperature

_1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter, at room temperature

_4-5 cups confectioner's sugar, sifted

_1 cup smooth peanut butter

DIRECTIONS::

_In a large bowl with an electric mixer, bean the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the sugar, 1 cup at a time. Make sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl often. Beat until light and fluffy, about 3 min. Add the peanut butter and bean until well blended (Makes about 5 cups).

CHOCOLATE CLAZE (adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

INGREDIENTS::

_8 oz semisweet chocolate chips

_3 tbsp smooth peanut butter

_2 tbsp light corn syrup

_1/2 cup half-and-alf

DIRECTIONS::

_In top of a bowl set over simmering water, combine chocolate, peanut butter and corn syrup. Whisk until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat and whisk the half-and-half until smooth (Makes about 1.5 cups).

ASSEMBLING:

_I recommend making the cake the day before so it's cooled and ready to go.

_Layer the cake with a large serrated knife (I did 2 layers) and spread about 2/3 of the frosting on each layer.

_Crumb coat: I learned this at a cake decorating class I took. This means adding a thin layer of frosting all over your cake so the crumbs don't show at the end. I did this and placed the cake in the fridge for 30 min.

_Frost cake: Add the rest of the frosting to the top of the cake, then with you knife start spreading the frosting to the sides. Once you're done, put the cake in the fridge for another 15 min.

_Chocolate Glaze: Add ALL the glaze on the top of the cake, then slowly spread it to the edges of the cake, letting it fall nicely on the sides.

This cake simply amazing. It takes some time to make but it's worth it. The actual cake is super moist and has a great deep chocolate flavor but it's not overly sweet. The peanut butter frosting is delicious, definitely going to make it again. The glaze totally takes the cake to another level and it makes the cake look even more beautiful.