Rich Chocolate Brownie Cake

from Williams-Sonoma
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 cup all purpose flour
4 oz. good quality semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, at least 60% cacao
Confectioners sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch round cake pan with tin foil, allowing the edges to overlap the pan. Using a pastry brush, lightly butter the foil.

In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Add sugar and beat until well blended. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat again until well blended. Add the salt and 1/4 cup of flour and beat well. Add the remaining flour in two batches, beating well after each addition.

Melt the chocolate in the top of a double broiler set over (but not touching) gently simmering water. Remove from heat and let cool slightly, 2-3 minutes. Add it to the cake batter and beat until well blended and creamy. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.

Bake until the cake is puffed and a toothpick inserted into its center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Using the edges of the foil, lift the cooled cake out of the pan. Invert the cake onto a cake plate adn peel off the foil. Turn the cake right side up. Place a stencil of your choice on top, and then sift the confectioners' sugar over the stencil to create a pattern. Carefully lift off the stencil.

Strawberry Blossoms

12 large fresh strawberries, rinsed
1 (3 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
1 Tbsp. sour cream

Remove stems from strawberries to form a flat base. Place each strawberries on cutting surface, pointed end up. With sharp knife, carefully slice each strawberry in half vertically to within 1/4 in. of base. Cut each half into 3 wedges to form 6 petals (do not slice through base). Pull petals apart slightly.

In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, powered sugar and sour cream; beat until light and fluffy. With pastry bag and star tip, fill strawberries with cream cheese mixture. Makes 12 strawberries.