Pecan-Apricot Torte

Too  Rustic for me.

This old fashioned Eastern European dessert  is airy, nutty and a bit dry (Even though it only baked for 29 min instead of the 35 stated in the recipe).  Very complicated with many steps: toasting, grinding, beat to "ribbon-like trail", sprinkling, rehydrating, slicing, dusting! Who am I,  Tinkerbelle?

I used Mediterranean (Turkey) dried apricots and Smuckers 18oz Apricot Preserves. HELP: The egg whites never form glossy stiff peaks but instead become fluffy clouds.  How long should I whip them? 

Serve with Whipped Cream or Vanilla Ice cream.

110 to Go!

Linzertorte

The oldest known Torte/Cake in the world (1653) from Austria and  is usually served  during Christmas time (I LOVE WIKIPEDIA!).

I only used blanched almonds (7.5 oz) because I LOVE almonds (It also cut out the step of roasting the hazelnuts and undressing their coating).  It's an easy  dough to work with (I used a 9" springform pan instead of the tart ring and it worked just a well).  The hardest part was measuring the strips to fit the pan (I felt like  a seamstress with the measuring tape).  I used Smuckers seedless strawberry Jam because WHO has time to make their own jam  (Only the women Oprah interviewed in the Mormon compound).

It baked for 40 minutes (Rotating at 20).

Amazing!

 I loved the golden, grainy crust juxtaposed with the sweetness of the jelly.

An Oldie but a  GOODIE. Thank you Austria!

111 to Go!

White Layer Cake with Strawberry Meringue Buttercream

Happy 30th Birthday M.I! 

This is a cake you only make for someone you truly Love. I started it at 7Am and was done at 2PM (I did also go for a walk around Waikiki to get some coffee). It takes 12 egg whites! (Whole Foods sells them by weight. How much do 12 egg whites weigh? It would save a lot of time and egg yolks).  I also decided since M.I. is such a good friend and fan of my baking, to add sliced strawberries in between the layers of cake and on top (It pays to be my friend). They baked for 45 minutes (Rotate at 22). I brushed Simple Syrup (pg. 389) after trimming the tops of the cakes for added moistness. 

She loved it.  Unfortunately her boyfriend planned the surprise birthday party at the park and forgot plates and spoons. 

MESSYLICIOUS!

112 to Go!

Carrot Ginger Layer Cake with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

"Best Carrot Cake I have EVER had" (BF)

"I LOVED, LOVED it. I want to marry it and have little baby carrot cakes so I can eat those too. Yumm!" (M.I.)

I made this cake for my parents 34th wedding anniversary party. Carrot cake is my mom's favorite and since she deserves most of the credit for the past 34 years, she gets to pick the cake (sorry dad).  

I used fresh grated ginger for both the cake and frosting (only 1 teaspoon for the frosting in case it was too strong for the kids) and it made a world of difference. The orange peel (organic) also added a burst of flavor to the frosting. 

The cakes baked for 39 minutes (rotating at 20). It was hard to cut, stack and frost 4 layers of cake but totally worth it. Make sure to eat it cold out of the fridge. 

PS. I love my mom and dad and am forever grateful for their love and support but I am NOT making Mini Marzipan Carrots!

113 to Go!

One Bowl Chocolate Layer Cake with Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream

"Oh My God!, ur cake was so d....... goooooood I want to bathe in it" (M.I text) 

I think that says it all.

I used Guirardelli Cocoa powder and semi sweet chocolate chips for the buttercream.

It baked for 40 minutes (Rotating at 20). 

114 to Go!

White Cupcake with Strawberry Buttercream

"These are the last cupcakes for at least a year" I said to my BFF. She got up from her bed at 9:30 PM and came to pick them up. She later text "Amazing". They are. The cake is velvety and the frosting is a sweet strawberry swirl. These were ALMOST made about a week ago for my friend CG's Confessions of a Shopaholic book club party (I read the book years ago so I made my wonderful BF watch the 10AM matinee movie with me which he admitted to enjoying). I had painstakingly finished separating the egg whites (8) when the phone rang. BF cut his fingers on glass and I had to rush him to the ER. Yesterday as I began to separate the eggs, I asked him to please be safe (organic eggs are expensive!). He and the cupcakes are well. They baked for 17 min (rotate at 9). The recipe made 36 cupcakes- 3 dozen instead of the 2 stated in the Handbook. (It's a Biblical miracle! Jesus multiplies fish, I cupcakes). All the neighborhood kids were fed.

115 to Go!

One Bowl Chocolate Sheet Cake with Coconut Swiss Meringue Buttercream

Since I have to make the same cake in different variations,  I thought I would try a different topping.  One of my favorite cupcakes is chocolate cake with coconut vanilla buttercream.  It turned out great as as a sheet cake.  Next time (In a few years) I'll try it with the cupcakes. 

Advice: Make sure to wait at least 30 minutes after taking it out of the refrigerator to eat, otherwise the frosting is too hard and tastes like a stick of butter. 

As good as the this cake turned out, I still threw away 1/4th of it. I gave some to everyone on my usual route; Kids, BF, BFF, BFF's BF, CG, Mom and dad.  It is quite tragic for me to dump any amount so I've decided to not make any more  large cakes or cupcakes unless I have an event to take it to (Hint , Hint). 

It baked for 40 min (Rotating at 25 min)

116 to Go!