Give thanks ... for chocolate

It's Thanksgiving weekend here in the Great White North.

If you are needing a special dessert or holiday treat, look no further. My Chocolate-Orange Cake is time-tested and a breeze to bake.

No-flour Chocolate-Orange Cake

Ingredients:

• chocolate chips, dark, 4 oz
• canola oil, 1/2 cup
• sugar, 3/4 cup
• eggs, 3 large (less 1 yolk)
• cocoa powder, unsweetened, 1/2 cup
• orange essence, 1/2 tbsp

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease baking pan (round, 8-inch). Line with greased wax paper or parchment.
3. Add chocolate and canola oil to microwaveable glass dish. Nuke approx 2 min, at medium power.
4. Stir in sugar, then eggs, then cocoa powder.
5. Pour batter into pan. Bake 25 minutes (middle rack).
6. Cool 5 min. Invert onto serving plate.

Topping it off (optional):

• Dust with extra cocoa powder. Serve with fresh orange segments and/or creamy yoghurt (plain) or frozen yoghurt (vanilla).

Store in airtight container.

Variation:

Skip the orange essence. Instead of eggs, add 2 bananas, plus 1/3 cup sour cream. Bake 1 hour. Consistency will be more moist and pudding-like. But still delish.