---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05

     Title: Chocolate Torte with Apricot Filling
Categories: Cheesecakes, Chocolate
     Yield: 1 servings

          Cake:
     6 lg Eggs
   3/4 c  Sugar/ minus 1 tbs
     1 ts Vanilla extract
   1/2 c  Plus 1 tb sifted all-purpose
          -flour
   1/4 c  Sifted unsweetened cocoa
     1 ts Ground allspice
     1 ts Ground cinnamon
   1/4 ts Ground nutmeg
          Frosting and filling:
 1 1/2 c  Part-skim ricotta cheese
   1/4 c  Plus 2 tbs unsweetened cocoa
     2 tb Instant espresso powder
     3 tb Sugar
     2 ts Vanilla extract
   1/8 ts Salt
   3/4 c  Apricot all-fruit spread
          Garnish:
          Strawberries

 Recipe by: [email protected] (DEBORAH EPSTEIN)

 Heat oven to 350 F.  For cake: Spray two 8 inch round cake
 pans with nonstick cooking spray.  In a large bowl, using
 an electric mixer set at high speed, beat the eggs, sugar,
 and vanilla until thick and tripled in volume, abuot 7
 minutes.

 In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder,
 allspice, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Using a large spatula,
 quickly and gently fold the dry ingredients into the egg
 mixture until smooth.  Divide the mixture between the two
 prepared pans.  Bake until a toothpick inserted in the
 center comes out clean,a bout 15 minutes.  Cool completely
 in the pans set on racks.

 For frosting:

 In a food processor or blender, process the ricotta cheese,
 cocoa powder, espresso powder, sugar, vanilla and salt
 until smooth.  Cover and chill the frosting until ready to
 use.

 When the cake is cool, turn it out of the pans.  With a
 long serrated knife split each layer in half horizontally
 and spread the bottom of each layer wtih half of the
 apricot all-fruit spread.  Carefully replace the top halfs.
 Spread half of the frosting evenly over the top of one of
 the filled layers.  Stack the second layer on top of the
 first.  Swirl the remaining frosting evenly over the top of
 the cake.  Garnish with whole strawberries, if desired.

 My note: to cut the cake layers another way, try using
 thread.

 From Creative Chef II.JM.

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