One Year Reflections

When I first began this project a year ago, I was filled with excitement at the thought of baking 203 recipes in a year. I'm so glad I did not push my idealistic Self into sacrificing all else to accomplish this unrealistic goal.  I have learned that it's OK to be flexible, modify and renegotiate life's projects. To accept my limitations and still enjoy the process.  I have learned that I am a Great baker. I have also realized how much time, money and energy it takes for me to bake. It is a lot of work and it usually leaves me exhausted. I have come to the conclusion that if there was just one great European bakery (NOT Starbuck's stale baked goods) with Great tarts and macaroons nearby (or at least on the Island), I would not bake. Maybe the occasional birthday cake or cupcakes, holiday treats or a special request for a loved one (eg. BF's chocolate chip cookies).  I'm tired and it's too Hot.  I have a 3 and 8 year old I want to play with, swim in the pool with, slip and slide, water balloon fight, perform on their stage, and ride bikes to the park. I don't want to be in the hot kitchen for hours and then have to clean up and be too stressed out to enjoy my them. The days they are with their dad I want to relax, read and spend time with my BF, not "slave" over the oven.  Paradise is not made for baking. I could use the time I use to bake to clean the house, plant flowers in my empty garden, draw, learn to play the Piano, Meditate, take a nap (not while meditating) ,  watch "In Treatment" (My new favorite show), or Dr. OZ on Oprah for life saving advice.  A year ago I was wondering whether I wanted to go to The Cordon Bleu, Now I KNOW I just want to go to Paris and sit in a cafe and eat a chocolate croissant.  Now I know I do not want to open my own bakery. Now I know I do not want to sell my baked goods but bake for those I Love. Now more than ever I know my calling is Neuropsychology and Existentialism. I know I'd rather read than bake.  I also know I'd rather spend baking money at Whole Foods for a healthy nutritious diet. Organic costs more but it's worth it. I'm worth it. My kids are worth it. In this Economy it seems frivolous to spend $40 to make a cake.  Especially after reading Henry David Thoreau's "Walden"; SIMPLIFY.  I am so thankful for all of the support and feedback  my family, BF and friends have given me throughout this year. I am so flattered that my friend CG was inspired to begin her own baking blog " eatamarthacupcake".  She has been our baked goods supplier this summer. Yummy! 

All that been said, I am going to to continue the project. I believe in finishing what you start.  It will now be one of My Many LIFE Projects.  If in My Present Moment I Feel like baking, I will.  If Not, I won't.  As with everything in my life I want baking to be a living Meditation. 

Namaste

Apricot-Cherry Upside Down Cake

100 recipes!!! I did it.  I'm half way there and it's taken me only twice as long as I thought it would. Anyways, what a great cake for this momentous occasion. A sweet Polenta/Almond cake that would be delicious on it's own. The cherries and apricot add a juicy tartness.  But this delicious dessert came at a high price.  It All started at Safeway where I watch the scanner like a hawk. They are notorious for sale signs that "somehow" do not ring up at the register. You do NOT want to stand behind me in line.  The 1lb of cherries were ringing up as 2 lbs and it took them 20 minutes to realize the scale was broken.  The cherries were $8, the nectarines (No apricots. What is the difference?) were $4 and the almond paste was $12. Thirty minutes later and $22 less, I was walking back home. I had to remind myself "Why?" I'm doing this and how much cheaper it is than $10,000 at the Cordon Bleu. I was ready to bake. I began by prepping the ingredients : Pitting the cherries (gruesome affair), slicing the 4 apricots and crumbling the almond paste. I used a 9" springform pan because my 8" pan is only 2" deep (It worked fine).  After arranging the fruits on the bottom I poured the batter and baked it for 58 min (rotating at 30).  I let it cool on a rack for 15 minutes and "inverted the cake unto a serving plate to cool" as stated in the Handbook. I used a glass cake stand and went to see my Netflix. All of as sudden a hear a loud crash.  The scene was heartbreaking! My cake stand had broken in half (Did you know glass breaks from heat? Do I need to use heat resistant glass/serving plate? It should state that in the recipe. Next time I'm not taking any chances and  placing it on a rack. Another lesson learned from this project.) and taken half of my cake with it. I wanted to cry. All that money, time and energy.  I quickly saved the other half before the rest of the stand cracked into pieces.  If you are reading this and wonder why you did not get to taste this cake, this is the reason. I was barely able to save a decent piece for the picture. My mom got to try a sliver and loved it.  We both thought next time I would only make it with cherries (IF they're on sale!). It's a great breakfast treat.

 

102 to go!

PS. Martha, you owe me a cake stand.

Vanilla Cookie Crust Cheesecake

There was a lot of pressure after the wonderful reviews of my last cheesecake. I made sure to do everything exactly the same way (Cheesecake OCD). The only variation was the vanilla crust. I doubled the ingredients to 2 sticks of butter, 1/2 Cup of sugar, 2 egg yolks, 2tsp Vanilla, 1 1/2 Cups of flour and 2 pinches of salt.  I purposely "forgot" to freeze the dough and baked it for 30 min (Not on a baking sheet). I had to wait for my BF to come home from work and help me put it in the oven. The next day,  My BFF came over to discuss her passion for PETA and Vegetarianism AND try the cheesecake. She Loved it even more if that's possible. 

After you've had double crust you can never go back!. 

103 to Go!

Pineapple-Mango Upside Down Cake

Simple &  OK.   I know that living in Hawaii you would think I would go to the fields, pick a fresh pineapple, slice it, and core it.  Instead, I drove to Safeway and bought Dole canned pineapple sliced and crushed and a ripe mango. I did not make the nipple like mango circles. I filled the pan with the mixed pineapple and mango.  The 2tbsp of butter and brown sugar does not ever become light and fluffy but more like a paste you need to spread with fingers.  The cake batter is very thick.  It baked for 45 minutes rotating at 25. The cake was done except the middle was undercooked. If baked longer the rest of the cake would have been too dry.  My 3 year old enjoyed it for breakfast. Everyone else agreed it was not one of their favorites. 

Maybe I should have used fresh Pineapple.

104 to Go!

New York Style Cheesecake

Let me begin by stating that I am a Huge fan of New York but I have never been a big fan of cheesecakes. I LOVE cheese and I love Cakes but not together. I know there is no such thing as a cheesecake gene because both of my parents Love Cheesecake. They are notorious for bringing home huge Costco cheesecakes at any time, any day.  All that said, I Loved this cheesecake (Maybe it's a recessive gene). It is like no other cheesecake I have ever tasted before. Very smooth and even though it takes 7 packages of cream cheese to make, it does not taste cheesy. I loved the chocolate crust (note: I have heard my mother continuously complain  on the thinness of cheesecake crusts and why they have to be so stingy. I took this opportunity to make her wish come true and use the whole cookie recipe for the crust instead of half. It was Christmas in June for my mom). I forgot to freeze the crust and baked it for 23 minutes on a baking sheet.  I bought a Walmart disposable roasting pan ($3) and filled it with boiling water with the cheesecake inside. Note: This is a two man job. I could not have done it without the help of BF. It is very heavy! It baked at 350 for 45 minutes and 325 for 40 minutes. I then turned off the oven and left the door ajar for 1 hour (This is not fun to do on a Hot summer day).  After it cooled on the rack (out of the roasting pan) I refrigerated it over night.

My BF who also loves cheesecake said it was the "best damn cheesecake he has ever had!". CG and her husband loved it.  My BFF and the person she has been dating for the past four months also said it is one of their favorites.  My parents said it was better than Costcos' which is a big compliment coming from them. Even the kids loved it.  If I knew how much I and everyone else would love it I would have bought a real roasting pan!

105 to Go!

Dobos Torte

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY BF! I LOVE YOU!

This Hungarian Cake originally had 5 layers (Leave it to Martha to make it with 9). I thought the cakes were not thick enough to cut in 3 so I cut them each in half and ended up with 6 beautiful layers.  The original cake also calls for a coating of caramel on top to keep the cake from drying out (Martha's version had tooth cutting caramel dots). As you know, Caramel is my Nemesis and I did not want to get in a bad mood on my BF's birthday.  The Cake uses basic ingredients which remind me why I love to bake. The recipe was straightforward and baked for 28 minutes. I let them cool in the pan on wire rack for 10 minutes before inverting and letting them cool completely. I have had plenty of practice making Martha's Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream (Sometimes I dream of the day I can just make buttercream with butter, sugar, and vanilla extract like most of the world without having to whip egg whites over simmering waters vigilant of a candy thermometer registering 160 degrees. Then when the cake is done I remember how worth all of it is for the fluffy, light frosting) so it was literally all smooth sailing. I was so excited to make my own whipped cream for the first time (Before today I thought it was done like  Willy Wonka whipping cows!) I used Guirardelli 60% cacao bittersweet morsels for the frosting. (Secret ingredient: Lots of Love). 

My favorite cake so far (Coconut coming a close second).

Simple but Elegant.

Only the Best for the Best BF on his Birthday!

106 to Go!

Chocolate Angel Food Cake with Mocha Glaze

"DEMON FOOD CAKE"

Why does Martha mess with tradition? Who does she think she is, the Illuminati? 

This completes  My Angels and Demons weekend. 

107 to Go!