Soccer Dad

Chocolate babka

The division of (cooking) labor for Shabbos, is that my wife makes the main course and a couple of sides. I do the Challahs - yes, it's sacrilegious but I use a bread machine for the kneading and I can't braid properly - the soup, the cholent and the potato kugel (though a slightly different recipe).

Our eldest, almost 16, has taken it upon herself to make the desserts. She has no fear of multiple bowls. And I love the stuff she bakes. She regularly makes the birthday cakes for the family.

For Shabbos though, I enjoy a chocolate dessert. (Actually I enjoy chocolate every day of the week.) I used to drive my wife crazy because sometimes she'd want something different for dessert. Funny but except for the 5 year old I don't think any of my other children have descended into chocoholism to the degree I have.

Still our eldest tries to keep her father happy. Lately she's been endeavoring to discover new recipes and try them out on us. I'm all too happy to be the guinea pig. (Or just regular pig.)

Lately she's been undertaking even more ambitious desserts. A few weeks ago it was a delicious trifle. But two weeks ago she made my (new) favorite. A chocolate babka. It's great.

The picture above is of the first one she made. That's only about 7/8 of what she made. Though she followed the recipe the dough expanded too much and some of it separated and ended up on the oven floor. I think the secret to this babka is the chocolate crumb mixture that she sprinkles between the dough.

Great stuff.

Now I have to go exercise.

Technorati tags: Chocolate, Babka, Shabbos, Dessert.