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Seducing Helen

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I’m not quite sure how to say this. I’m about to attempt something I’ve never done before.

I’m going to try seducing a woman.

I’ll pause for a moment while you recover from that previous statement.

Ready?

Okay. Having been told that good Cream Puffs never chase after anyone, I find myself in unchartered territory. But I really have no choice. I am overcome with desire for a woman. Not just any woman, mind you. It’s Helen of Tartelette.

Normally I wouldn’t do this sort of thing. But my dearest Jasmine of Confessions of a Cardamom Addict and Sensual Gourmet is hosting SHF #28 and the theme is Sweet Seduction. I am seduced by Jasmine’s brilliance all the time so I approve of her theme mightily. And lo and behold, I find myself as the seducer with Helen being the seducee.

So here goes:

Helen, I’m going to seduce you. Are you seduced yet?

Let me tell you why I’m going to seduce you, Helen. It’s because you sent me that beautiful postcard as part of Meeta’s Blogger Postcards Around the World. I waited patiently for my postcard to come and then there it was, in such a pretty pink envelope. And I opened it up and inside I found the most beautiful card. It had a sticker of a bag of flour on it! And a piping bag! I mean come on!!! Could anyone have possibly found a better card for me??? Helen, we were meant for each other.

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Are you seduced yet?

No? Hmmm. Alright, Helen. I see I’m going to have to bring out the heavy artillery. I know, I know. You’re married and all that. With much respect to Mr. Tartelette, would he ever make you a marble cake, Helen??? Huh??? Would he???

Dscn4847_1 And not just any marble cake. It’s one that has real dark chocolate melted and blended into the batter. And it has white chocolate chips blended in as well. When was the last time Mr. Tartelette took the time to do that for you. Hmmm????

Look at this picture, Helen. Look at the cake, Helen. Look at the creamy chocolaty goodness. You could have marble cakes every day if you were with me, Helen!

Every. Single. Day.

So Helen, are you seduced yet?

Ciao!

Dark Chocolate and White Chocolate Chip Marble Cake

Adapted from Another Cup of Sugar by Anna Olson.

Note:  I purchased this cookbook a few weeks ago and have completely fallen in love with it! This is is another winner. The cake should be baked in a 12-cup Bundt pan and will serve 10 to 12. Or Helen. But stay away from here as she’s mine. Go find your own Helen!

  • 1 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 1-3/4 cups sugar
  • 4 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 cups sour cream
  • 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp. baking powder
  • 2 tsp. baking soda
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 4 oz. chocolate (70% cocoa solids or higher … it all depends on how high you’re willing to go!)
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Butter and flour your bundt pan.
  2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
  3. In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and set aside.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar and high speed until fluffy (about 2 minutes).
  5. Add your eggs to the batter, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
  6. Add the sour cream and vanilla and mix for another minute.
  7. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture a bit at a time.
  8. Remove one-third of the batter and put it in a bowl. Add the melted chocolate and the white chocolate chips. Mix well.
  9. Spoon the batter into the Bundt pan, alternating between the plain batter and the chocolate batter. Once done, take a spoon or a knife and run it through the batter, swirling as you go to create a marble effect.
  10. Bake the cake for 1 hour. After an hour, check for doneness by inserting a cake tester or toothpick in the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is done. In my oven, the cake took about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
  11. Let the cake cool before removing from the pan.
  12. Enjoy!

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41 Comments

scout

02/18/07 at 10:50 pm

Holy……I must make this.

Marce

02/18/07 at 10:57 pm

hahahahahaha ok, ok, don´t worry, no one is going to break Helen and you apart… I even think that Mr. Tartelette must be feeling pretty intimidated by now ;)
By the way, that is one heck of a cake, I love Anna Olson´s Sugar tv show, so I´m sure this recipe is a winner.

Tartelette

02/18/07 at 11:16 pm

Ohhhhh…. You brought me tears and laughter, so yes you can say I am seduced….your prose, baking and all that chocolate!…but you have shaken Mr. Tartelette’s ground…! He’ll recover!
I feel lucky to be your friend and crush.

mari

02/18/07 at 11:29 pm

That’s one GRAND seduction…

kat

02/19/07 at 12:48 am

very nice seduction there!

Lydia

02/19/07 at 6:20 am

Ooooh, Helen is a lucky blogger! The cake looks wonderful — if she doesn’t want it, I’ll be happy to have it!

Jenny

02/19/07 at 8:15 am

Hehe I don’t know if I am more jealous of the cake or the postcard!
If only all seductions were that delicious looking.

Francesca

02/19/07 at 8:17 am

Carissima Ivonne, queste tue ultime creazioni sono tutte una più inviatnte dell’altra, sempre rigorosamente golose. Mi devo scusare, sono in ritardo con l’invio del pacco causa molto lavoro, ma tra poco sarà pronto, con delle buone sorprese che spero ti piaceranno :-) Baci!

Sally

02/19/07 at 9:16 am

Helen is a very lucky woman indeed. What a beautiful card!

veron

02/19/07 at 9:26 am

ha..ha.. that is a funny post ,Ivonne. I’m sure Mr. Tartelette needs to find some artillery of his own to fight off this seductive cake.

Cheryl

02/19/07 at 9:32 am

If that doesn’t seduce her, you sure got me with it. Looks delicious.

Lisa

02/19/07 at 11:02 am

HEY!!! I thought BOTH OF YOU had the hots for ME!! What the??? I feel like the “other woman” *sob*

Nice cake, though.. cheaters. :P

Chris

02/19/07 at 11:13 am

Wow - that’s all I can say! You had me at the get-go…

Tanna

02/19/07 at 11:27 am

Again you hit the funny bone! Too funny.
Great post to say thank you for the post card!
Wonder what Mr Tartlette will come back with!

elsa

02/19/07 at 12:52 pm

Loved this post!
And, uh, if Helen isn’t interested…call me.

peabody

02/19/07 at 12:52 pm

Food is a way to a mans heart…if you want to seduce her you need to buy her shoes or a handbag :) Just Kidding…the cake should do the trick. Though I was seduced by my husband buying me a hockey jersey this weekend.

sher

02/19/07 at 4:32 pm

LOL!! That was a lot of fun to read!! I think it’s a great idea for a film. Seduction by cake! Can’t you just see it?

What a beautiful cake! Heck, I feel seduced myself! :):)

gilly

02/19/07 at 4:37 pm

Hi Ivonne - I laughed at your post - you are the cutest cream puff alive, no doubt!

Brilynn

02/19/07 at 4:44 pm

I’m so jealous of Helene… I’m plotting her demise. I’ve said too much…

Sara

02/19/07 at 8:36 pm

Whhoooo, that is quite the way to seduce someone! Ivonne, you call me if you ever come to Calgary…

joey

02/19/07 at 9:39 pm

I wish somebody would seduce me with a cake that looks that good! :) Sigh…until that day comes at least you’ve shared the recipe! :) Hilarious post!

Paz

02/19/07 at 11:07 pm

I don’t know about Helen, but I’m seduced!

Paz (who’s gotta make her own!)

krista

02/20/07 at 12:22 pm

That cake looks yummy!

farmgirl

02/20/07 at 12:42 pm

Thanks for the smile–and a delicious looking cake! Must try this one. : )

Jann

02/20/07 at 1:17 pm

It worked for me-enjoyed the post and wishing i was the lucky one to have that cake!

Maria

02/20/07 at 1:33 pm

This bundt cake looks very tasty. Did you do a glaze of any sort? I have not read that cookbook yet, but I am going to look into. Thanks for sharing!

Julie O'Hara

02/20/07 at 1:34 pm

You’re too cute! That was a great post. Mr. Tartlette better up his game if he’s going to compete with that!

Sophie

02/20/07 at 3:01 pm

Helen, waouw, you are a faboulous woman. And Yvonne, you are so talented. Thank you for this smiling post.

Kristen

02/20/07 at 3:24 pm

I think it worked…at least for me :)

Scott at Real Epicurean

02/20/07 at 5:52 pm

“I’m going to seduce you. Are you seduced yet?”.

Hehe, I must try and remember to allow my own seduction techniques a little more time then you did.

Great recipe though!

Nazca

02/20/07 at 7:00 pm

Wanna make it a threesome? *slap* that a no then?

austen gilliland

02/20/07 at 7:11 pm

Tee hee hee, I love it! Thanks for the giggles!

foodiemama

02/21/07 at 12:37 am

mmmmm….looks like heaven!

cj

02/21/07 at 10:51 am

I know you are a busy cream puff, baking and seducing, but please write up your notes on Vienna! My time is to go is drawing nearer.

Mary

02/21/07 at 5:11 pm

That Helene, she’s such a tart. I mean tartelette. :)

rob

02/21/07 at 7:40 pm

Yvonne, I have to give you credit for your seduction technique. The way to any person’s heart is through their stomach, especially when chocolate’s involved. How are you finding the Anna Olson cookbook? I see her on TV all the time, and I’ve tried a couple of her recipes, but I’ve never checked out her books.

Dolores

02/22/07 at 7:36 pm

tee hee… you’ve succeeded in seducing -me-.

Well, not -that- way, but you wouldn’t have to offer me a slice of that cake twice.

Beautiful AND entertaining. Thanks for keeping me company, making me laugh, AND inducing my appetite on a rainy Thursday afternoon.

gattina

02/23/07 at 6:48 am

oh boy, it’s hilarious! Ivonne, I know there are probably over hundreds of women already lining outside your house, look, I;m there too!

Alice Q. Foodie

02/23/07 at 11:14 pm

Very cute Ivonne - and I think I could actually make that cake! :-)

Duane

02/26/07 at 4:52 pm

Funny post! I love it.

Sakura2838

11/28/08 at 10:42 pm

Really sorry to bother you again, but could I refrigerate this until I need to bake it? ^^

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