Chocolate Log

 This is the log I made for Christmas Day this year. Enjoy!

Cake
5 eggs
20g unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
115g icing sugar

Filling
200g chocolate (a mix of milk and dark)
1 jar of nutella / chocolate hazelnut spread (don't worry, you won't use the whole thing!)
500ml double cream

Coating
350g chocolate - any colour cooking chocolate


Preheat oven to 180 degrees. Grease a 38 by 26cm shallow tin and then line it with greaseproof paper.
Separate the eggs - you'll use both parts. Beat the egg yolks until they're thick and creamy (keep going for a bit longer than you think) then beat in the cocoa powder and about half of the sugar.
Put the yolk mix to one side.
Beat the egg whites until quite bubbly, then add the cream of tartar and beat until soft peaks form.
Add the rest of the sugar 2 tbs at a time and beat well after each 2 tbs. The mix should end up thick and glossy.
Gently fold the yolk mixture into the whites, then spread the batter in the tin. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes; don't worry about the edges - you're going to cut them off anyway!
Put a clean tea towel on whatever work surface you're using, cover it with greaseproof paper and dust with cocoa powder / icing sugar. As soon as the cake is finished, turn it out onto the towel and peel off the paper. Cut off the edges, then roll the cake from a short end with the paper and towel inside. Allow the cake to cool.

Melt the chocolate - this is easiest in the microwave, 40s on high then stir and repeat. While the chocolate is hot, stir in a spoonful of nutella or chocolate spread. Keep doing this until the mixture starts to thicken. Add a small splash of cream and stir it in.
Unroll the sponge and spread with the chocolate mixture.
Whip the remaining cream and spread on top of the chocolate layer.
Reroll the cake and allow it to set.

Melt the covering chocolate and pour over the log; allow it to set.
Finished!

Recipe adapted from: Irresistible Chocolate, Elizabeth Wolf-Cohen

As promised, here are a few photos from this year's lovely Christmas dinner :D

(Just a note: The only part of this that I cooked was the pudding!)

Hello!

Welcome to my first post on my new food blog.

I'm a 6th form student who enjoys eating and I'm hoping that this blog is going to help me to prepare for university life! No takeaway pizzas for me. (Well, not many...)

I've challenged myself to cook at least one family meal a week for the next two years using ingredients that I'm going to be able to afford at uni. However, I thought that I'd start this with the best meal of the year (though not a particularly cheap one): Christmas dinner! Pictures to follow :)