I recently finished reading “A Homemade Life: Stories and Recipes from My Kitchen Table” by Molly Wizenberg, with my book club. It’s a memoir of a woman’s life as she progresses through the passing of her father, a move to Paris and the eventual finding of the man she will marry. It’s a quaint story to which many can relate, but what I liked most of all is that at the end of every chapter she lists a recipe pertaining to the story.

For example, for her wedding she made 25 (I think it was 25) decadent chocolate cakes. She claims they are so easy to make and freeze well. How can making 25 cakes be easy? I had to try it. Well, not making 25, but I made one successfully.

First, I melted chocolate and butter over a double boiler.

Stir until creamy.

Lookin’ good.

Mix in sugar.

Bake. It comes out a little crusty on top. Then you have to flip it onto a plate, then flip it again to get it right side up.

Here it is in all its beauty. This ancient plate doesn’t to this cake justice. It needs to be sitting on a fine piece of china or a pretty little cake stand, dusted with powdered sugar.

Here’s the side view. It’s a rich, dense cake with tons of chocolate flavor.

Everyone at book club made a recipe from the book and we had quite the feast that night (see links to recipes below). I wish my camera were working properly that night so I could show you the food. You’ll have to click the links below to see them on Wizenber’s Web site, Orangette.

Related:

• A Homemade Life on Amazon.com
• Orangette the blog 
• Recipes that the ladies from book club made — all are super delicious:
  
  • Gâteau au chocolat fondant de Nathalie (aka Chocolate Wedding Cake)
  • Banana Bread With Chocolate and Cinnamon
  • Chocolate Covered Macaroons
  • Caramel Corn
  • Slow Roasted Tomatoes
  • Sugar Cookies with icing (ours were made in the shape of hearts )
  • Pickled grapes and pickled carrots (I can’t find the recipes online for these, but they were good)

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