Sun, above freezing and Chocolate Streusel poundcake

Good morning Augusta

This morning we have mostly cloudy skies with some flurries possible. High 36°F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.

Tonight we'll have partly cloudy skies and a low of 20°F. Winds will be NNE at 5 to 10 mph.

The readings from my weather instruments are:

Humidity is 54%, the Dew Point is 15.4°F and the outdoor temp is 30.2°F.

The wind direction is   East between 11.9 MPH and 16.9 MPH, generating a wind chill of 22.3°F.

The Relative pressure is 30.24, the Absolute pressure is 30.04 and rising with a weather graphic indicating sun.

The UV rating is 0 out of 16, Sunrise is 6:33 a.m. Sunset is 6:57 p.m., Moonrise is 12:24 a.m., Moonset is 2:46 p.m. and the moon phase is in it's first quarter being 60% illuminated.

The RAW METAR readings from Augusta's airport are:

METAR KAUG 251053Z AUTO 01015G20KT 10SM BKN120 M02/M07 A3038 RMK AO2 SLP293 T10221067

Visibility is 10.0 miles / 16.1 Kilometers with mostly Cloudy skies to 12,000 ft / 3,657 m.

We haven't received any rain or snow here over the past 24 hours.

Space weather for today is:

Today's Solar flux is 68, the solar wind speed is 568\  Kilometers per second and the chance of a solar storm is 1%.

I've been asked to re-post this recipe, and I think it's a great idea.  You can't have enough chocolate, right?

Chocolate Streusel Poundcake

  MELISSA CLARK

YIELD8 to 10 servings

TIME2 hours, plus cooling

Andrew Scrivani for The New York Times

In this stunning dessert, a moist and soft chocolate poundcake is topped on two sides — bottom and top — with crunchy, slightly salty streusel flecked with chocolate chips. The combination of cocoa powder and melted dark chocolate gives this cake a particularly rich flavor. You can make it up to 3 days ahead. Store it at room temperature, well wrapped in foil. Then serve it topped with ice cream or whipped cream and fresh berries, or toasted and buttered, or plain as it is. It also freezes well for up to 3 months.

Ingredients:

·         ½ cup/60 grams all-purpose flour

·         3 tablespoons/45 grams granulated sugar

·         1 ½ tablespoons/11 grams cocoa powder

·         ½ teaspoon/4 grams kosher salt

·         4 ½ tablespoons/64 grams cold unsalted butter, cubed

• ⅓ ½ cup/60 grams all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons/45 grams granulated sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons/11 grams cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon/4 grams kosher salt
• 4 ½ tablespoons/64 grams cold unsalted butter, cubed
• ⅓ ½ cup/60 grams all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons/45 grams granulated sugar
• 1 ½ tablespoons/11 grams cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon/4 grams kosher salt
• 4 ½ tablespoons/64 grams cold unsalted butter, cubed
• ⅓ Cup chocolate chips

For the Poundcake

3 ounces/85 grams extra-bittersweet chocolate (70 percent), chopped

1 ⅓ cups/185 grams all-purpose flour

¾ cup/89 grams Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder

½ teaspoon/2 grams baking powder

¼ teaspoon/2 grams baking soda

½ cup/113 grams unsalted butter, melted

1 cup/200 grams granulated sugar

½ cup/100 grams dark brown sugar

½ teaspoon/4 grams kosher salt

1 large egg, at room temperature

2 teaspoons/10 milliliters vanilla extract

½ cup/120 milliliters plain Greek yogurt

½ cup/120 milliliters whole milk

PREPARATION

1.         Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan, then line with parchment paper, leaving enough to hang over the edges of the pan. Grease the parchment on the bottom of the loaf pan.

2.         In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate for the cake, stirring until smooth. Set aside to cool while you prepare the streusel.

3.         Prepare the streusel: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Using fingers or a fork, cut in the butter until it is evenly distributed and forms large, moist crumbs. Stir in the chocolate chips.

4.         Scatter half the streusel evenly into the bottom of the loaf pan. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes, or until baked through.

5.         Prepare the cake: In a large bowl, sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and baking soda.

6.         In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat melted butter, both sugars and salt together until combined. Beat in egg, vanilla extract, yogurt, milk and melted chocolate. Fold in dry ingredients until just combined.

7.         Scrape batter into prepared pan and top with remaining streusel. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of cake emerges clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and cool completely before turning out and slicing.