CCFC Syndrome, Girl's Movie Night, and Chocolate Souffle Cake

I've diagnosed myself with CCFC Syndrome.   It's a somewhat common problem that flares up from time to time.  I hope you never get this ailment.  Do you give up trying to figure out the acronym for CCFC Syndrome?  First let me show you some of its symptoms.  The first photo shows my most recent result of CCFC.



This may look like harmless party mix but it's not.  It, too, has suffered because of my problem. 



Here is another example of some cookies that have fallen as helpless prey.





CCFC is wreaking havoc.  Okay, I will keep you in suspense no longer.  I have contracted "Can't Cook for Company" Syndrome.  Never heard of it???  Well, just come over to my house and you will see it in action.  Lately, EVERY time I try to cook for people other than my family, NOTHING works out right.  For example, I have made party mix for years, and I decided to make some for our girl's movie night last night and it was almost inedible.  I got in a hurry and didn't measure things and just started dumping.  Most of the time that works, but tonight it didn't.  It was waaaaay too salty and too buttery/greasy and basically burned your throat when you ate it.  Again, how many times have I made party mix in my life??? A zillion.  How many times has it not worked out??? Once. And look at the cookies.  They are another casualty.  Most of them turned out thin and burned and not so good.  Didn't serve them.  I can give many other fine example of the results of this problem. 

What is it about cooking for company that sends the most experienced cook into a spiral of spicy despair?  Do you ever have this problem?  It's like when you have guests in your car  and you end up hitting every pot hole in the road and swerving crazily around darting squirrels.  Stuff like that never happens when you are alone.  It only happens when you have your boss in the car or your best friend and her new baby with you.  When she gets out and screams "Land" and kisses the ground, you know you have CDFC - Can't Drive for Company, too. 


So here are the very relaxed participants in our Chick Flick night. (To make matters worse, we watched Julie and Julia last night! They both could cook for company!)  I guess probably my problem is that I am in a hurry to join the gang and I just start rushing.  Or maybe, I want everything to be perfect and keep messing with things just a little too long.  Or maybe it is a real disease!!!!!






The scary diversion of my daughter and her friend in their best Halloween X imitation gave everyone a chance to use the moment to stash the party mix  behind the cushions and under the couch. 






To add further insult to injury, here is a cake I threw together for dinner.  No one was here except my family.  No one will ever see or eat this cake except my family and yet it was perfect.  Here is the recipe in case you don't have company and want to try it.






Chocolate Souffle Cake


1 2/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 stick butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
4 eggs, separated
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 cup sugar
Sweetened whipped cream

Chocolate Sauce
1/3 cup-semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon butter

Heat oven to 325 degrees.  Grease the bottom and side of a 9-inch springform pan with shortening.  In a saucepan, melt 1 cup of the chocolate chips and the butter. Cool five minutes.  Add the flour and stir until smooth.  Stir in egg  yolks until well blended.  In a large bowl beat egg whites and cream of tartar with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.  Beat in the sugar a few tablespoons at a time until glossy.  With a scraper, gently fold about 1/3 of the egg white mixture at a time into the chocolate mixture.  Spread the batter in the pan and top with the remaining 2/3 cup chocolate chips.  Bake at 325 degrees for about 35 to 40 minutes.  A toothpick inserted in the middle will come out clean and the top of the cake will appear dry and cracked.   Cool 10 minutes and then remove the sides of the pan.  Cool completely on  a wire rack.  Serve with whipped cream and chocolate sauce.  To make the sauce, melt chocolate chips, sugar, and milk together over medium heat.  Remove from heat and stir in butter.

Step 1:  Melt the chocolate chips and butter.




Step 2:
  Add the flour and egg yolks. I have a drawer full of gadgets and this one ranks right up there with my favorites.  It is an egg separator.  See the holes on the bottom of the white cup?  The egg whites just slide right through leaving the yolk.  So much easier than juggling the yolk from egg shell half to egg shell half.



Step 3: 
Beat the egg whites until soft peaks form.  These are probably  past the soft peak stage but I was having fun making batman heads in the foam.






Step 4:
  Add the sugar.  The egg whites will begin to look glossy.   Now it looks like an ear.




Step 5: 
Fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture.





Step 6: 
Top with chocolate chips.




Step 7: 
Serve with whipped cream and chocolate sauce. 







So,  if you want something decent to eat at my house, you are going to have to just show up at the door one evening when I'm not expecting you because otherwise I make no guarantees for my food when I am in the grips of CCFC. 

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Comments

  • 1/18/2010 Jodi wrote:
    I think you just get worked up at the thought of company. I used to get the same way -- particularly if my mother was coming over. For some reason, I thought she would be my harshest critic. She wasn't, I was. Remember, your guests are there to see you. Your movie night looked like lots of fun.
    Reply to this
  • 6/2/2010 Watch Full Movies Online wrote:
    I'm going to subscribe to this blog because it's very interesting
    Reply to this
  • 7/20/2010 Singles Auckland wrote:
    Thats sweets items are delicious i want to eat all of them.
    Reply to this
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