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!

Angel Food Cake

White, Airy, Light, Sweet.

"The Food of Angels"  (They must have been on a high Protein , low carb, no fat diet!).  If you love to sift  this is the cake for you (5x).  This foamy cake has been criticized for its  appearance and taste to cotton. I like it.  I used a dozen Organic egg whites and it baked for 30 minutes.  I do not drink whine often enough to have a spare bottle on hand which it requires to invert while cooling to prevent cake from falling on itself (My Tube pan does not have legs). My daughter and I began a Mcguiver like hunt for a similar object ranging from a sunscreen bottle to a pointy statue. At last we found a bottle of "Seven" (A nutritious Acai drink full of antioxidants) which fit our need. The next hour was filled with suspense and silence out of fear that any motion or loud noise could send the cake tumbling down. After an hour I began the laborious  job of dislodging the cake from the ungreased tube pan. It finally came out in almost one piece.  

I had it plain with a cup of hot Chai.  My little Cherubs liked theirs  drizzled  with condensed milk.

 

108 to Go!

PS. The gorgeous flowers were a mother's day gift from BF. 

Ricotta Cheesecake

A Grainy Flan/Quesillo. 

I made this one first because the NY style cheesecake requires a roasting pan which being a Vegetarian for the past 20 years I do not own. I will need to buy one and call it my "Cheesecake Pan". This recipe is also a lot easier to make.  I Love Ricotta cheese and the orange zest really adds a burst of flavor. It baked for 49 minutes.  It's not the prettiest cake but makes up for it in taste (It's better eaten cold).

109 to Go!

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!