I’ve missed Magazine Mondays the past few weeks for various reasons, but I wanted to make sure that I got this one in because I have a lot of MM posts to share with you. It seems everyone is really getting into the MM spirit.

I find that during holiday season, everyone is always looking for that perfect “special” dessert or sweet recipe to impress people. I love trying recipes at this time of year that I wouldn’t make normally.

In that spirit, allow me to introduce you to the Rich Chocolate and Chestnut Torte (Torta Morbida di Castagne e Cioccolato) from the December 2008 issue of La Cucina Italiana.

Please don’t be put off by the awful picture above. I was trying to shoot a decent pic in very low light with my very old point-and-shoot. Not the best results.

Please take my word for it. This is one of the very best cakes I’ve ever made.

It’s an almost flourless chocolate cake that is both dense and almost-creamy in consistency. It’s a very simple cake (very few ingredients), but it’s elevated to another level with the addition of chestnuts that have been steeped in a sugar-vanilla syrup. It’s like instantly, the cake is transformed into something even more beautiful than just a delicious chocolate cake.

If you really want to dazzle, try using chestnut flour in the cake instead of all-purpose flour. The results may have you eating the cake all by yourself.

Yes. It’s possible.

There’s still plenty of time before the holiday season to make this cake so I really hope you give it a try!

As usual, I’m joined by lots of wonderful people who have looked at their magazine pile and decided to tame it:

Deb of Taste of Sweet made succulent Spiced Rubbed Pork Chops with Sweet Potato Wedges and Green Beans from Cooking Light.

Margaret of Tea and Scones has gotten into the holiday spirit with a Cranberry Eggnog Braid from a 1990 issue of Taste of Home magazine.

Tina of Life in the Slow Lane at Squirrel Head Manor made Chicken Parmesan from a 2006 issue of Reader’s Digest.

Janie of Panini Girl made a luscious Pork Shoulder Roast with Figs, Garlic and Pinot Noir from the December 2009 issue of Sunset.

My very sweet Liliana of My Cookbook Addiction made Doughnut Muffins and Chocolate Layer Cake from Fine Cooking.

Poppyseed of Poppyseeds and Tiger Lilies made clotted cream; fresh ricotta cheese; Ricotta, Pancetta and Pumpkin Bake all from Issue 35 of Donna Hay magazine.

Wandering Coyote of ReTorte made seriously yummy Two-Tone Chocolate ShortBread from a magazine insert in an issue of … you guessed it … Canadian Living!

Remember, the most important rule of Magazine Mondays is that there is no rule. If you ever post a magazine recipe (doesn’t matter what day of the week), send me the link.

Have a great rest of the week, everyone!

Ciao!