Archive for the ‘Daring Bakers’ Category

How ’bout them apples?

Posted by Candace on Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

So it is time for the Daring Bakers to reveal the tasty treat for the month.  I almost didn’t do it this month as we photographed 7 weddings, and one of them was my big brother’s.  Here are some pics of my bro’s wedding that my fabulous photographer husband took for anyone out there interested!  I now owe hubby a weekly batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies for the next few months.  He’s quite the bargainer!

Luckily, I had a few free hours and a well stocked pantry to make the challenge.  I just happened to have all of the ingredients required to make this apple strudel.  Oh other than fresh breadcrumbs… I used panko and don’t think that was the right choice.  Still turned out tasty, however.  I also used almonds, as I always have them on hand. The May Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Linda of make life sweeter! and Courtney of Coco Cooks. They chose Apple Strudel from the recipe book Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Cafés of Vienna, Budapest and Prague by Rick Rodgers.

As usual with all of my Daring Bakers challenges, I don’t include the recipe. They are just too darn long and I am too OCD to just copy and paste it into my blog.  It wouldn’t look like the rest of my recipes, and that is sadly upsetting to someone anal retentive like yours truly.  You can find the  full recipe at one of the host’s blogs above.  You can also see all of my past Daring Baker Posts here.  I served it with Creme Anglaise (Vanilla Sauce.)
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May 27th, 2009 by Candace / Filed under Bakery, Daring Bakers, Sweet Tooth / 21 Critiques

Bulls Eye!

Posted by Candace on Monday, April 27th, 2009

The daring baker challenge this month was cheesecake.  We were given total creative freedom in this challenge, which I love!  The April 2009 challenge is hosted by Jenny from Jenny Bakes. She has chosen Abbey’s Infamous Cheesecake as the challenge. 

I ended up using a slightly different recipe, as I prefer to add sour cream instead of heavy cream to my cheesecake.  Also, I wanted to make the bulls eye design that results from two different colored batters.  Unfortunately, I forgot to take a pic before I cut into it… duh!  But it still looks really cool with the layers.  Lastly, I always bake my cheesecake at a low temperature (325 degrees) in a waterbath. I detest overcooked cheesecake!


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April 27th, 2009 by Candace / Filed under Bakery, Daring Bakers, Sweet Tooth / 43 Critiques

A Different Daring Baker

Posted by Candace on Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

This month’s challenge was much different than most of the other challenges. Not only is it savory, it’s an entree. It is “real” Italian lasagne… not the ricotta laden version that most of us are used to.  The March 2009 challenge is hosted by Mary of Beans and Caviar, Melinda of Melbourne Larder and Enza of Io Da Grande. They have chosen Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper as the challenge.  The recipe is VERY long… you can find it on one of their blogs.  Check out the other Daring Baker’s Lasagne here, and all of my past Daring Baker posts here.
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March 31st, 2009 by Candace / Filed under Daring Bakers, Dinner, Italian / 11 Critiques

Oh, Sweet Jesus

Posted by Candace on Sunday, March 1st, 2009

This is what  said when I took my first bite of this decadent flourless chocolate cake that was our Daring Baker challenge this month.  I plated up one serving before dinner (when the light is still good) for photo purposes only.  We planned on eating it after we ate dinner, but I was compelled to take just one bite.  We ended up eating the whole beauty plate instead.  Talk about ruining your dinner!

The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE’s blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef.  We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.  Check out the other Daring Bakers here and all of my past challenges here.

I’ve made other flourless chocolate cakes, but this one turned out so light and yet so flavorful at the same time.  I used a combination of dark and milk chocolate for my husband… He’s not a big fan of the bittersweet chocolate that I love so much.  The combination was very tasty… not too sweet for me, and not too bitter for him.  Marriage is all about compromise.  This is one of the easiest desserts to make and yet so sophisticated, and I plan to make it again.  Can you believe that only 3 ingredients go into it???  Crazy, eh?  I served it with homemade vanilla ice cream, raspberry sauce and chocolate piped filigrees.
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March 1st, 2009 by Candace / Filed under Bakery, Daring Bakers, Sweet Tooth / 25 Critiques

Tuile Cookies

Posted by Candace on Thursday, January 29th, 2009

When I saw the Daring Bakers challenge this month, I was stoked!  As much as I enjoy the occasional time consuming multiple step dessert like last month, I knew this month would not be possible for such a feat.  These tuile cookies were just up my alley.  This month’s challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.

I made several different shapes; long triangles that I shaped over a (washed) can, spirals that I shaped around a thin wooden spoon handle, spoons that I shaped on (obviously) spoons, and butterflies that I bent in half and set in a baking dish.  I served them with home made raspberry and mango sorbets.

For this plate, I piped a few thin lines of melted chocolate in a crisscross pattern.  After the chocolate set, I filled the center diamond with mango sauce that I slaved over.  By slaving over, I put a spoonful of sorbet into a ramekin, set it on the counter… and let it melt.  Voila… easiest mango sauce, ever.

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January 29th, 2009 by Candace / Filed under Daring Bakers, Sweet Tooth / 64 Critiques
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