Len's Recipe of the Month - May 2017

You will die.   Well, realistically, we all will some time.   In the meantime, this phenomenal dessert provides you heaven on earth.   Seriously.  It has become my go-to dessert for any dinner party I host.   And, one more time, it comes to my kitchen thanks to the genius of Valerie Bertinelli.  You can make it in butterscotch or lemon varieties.   My favorite, though, is chocolate and that's the recipe I will share this month.

Technically, Valerie calls this a Sicilian love cake.   Not sure what that means except the word "love" is included and that's how I feel about this dessert.  

First things first, get yourself a chocolate cake mix box.   I used Duncan Hines.   Prepare the cake like the instructions tell you.   Preheat the oven, grease a 9 x 13 inch pan, etc..  Make the batter and pour it into your pan.  Set aside.

Now we need to make the added filling that gives this cake its moist creaminess.   In a large bowl, combine the following...

28 ounces of ricotta cheese.

4 ounces of mascarpone.

3 large eggs.

3/4 cup sugar.

1/8 teaspoon kosher salt.  

Mix this all together with whatever electronic device you have until it is smooth.  Gently pour the filling onto the top of the cake batter until it is completely covered in white goodness.   Put this all in the oven as directed on the cake mix box or until a toothpick comes out clean.  You will see that something miraculous happens in the baking process.   The cake batter and the cheese filling will actually trade places.    Fascinating.   Delicious.

Let the cake cool until you make the wonderful frosting.   I generally hate cake frosting because it's too sweet.   Not this one.   You will love every ounce of it.   Here's how it is made.

More mascarpone is needed.....10 ounces.

1 cup of whole milk.  

One 3.9 ounce box of instant chocolate pudding mix.  

1 tablespoon sugar.

Add all of the above to a bowl and mix it together again with the same electronic device.  (Hopefully, you cleaned the blades in the interim).   When it's smooth, apply it to the top of the finished cake with a spatula.

Oh, you're welcome.

Dinner last night:  Leftover barbecue chicken.