Hannah of Rise and Shine was our October 2013 Daring Bakers’ hostess and she challenged us to bake our own double crusted savory pot pies. Using any from-scratch crust and filling we choose, we were allowed to get completely creative with our recipe, showing off the savory flavors and fillings from our own home or …
I have to commit one thing, I am obsessed about bread-baking. I got motivated from the blog food52. When I saw so many people could make it. I thought of trying it. My first attempt was to try a recipe from red star yeast’s website and it was a regular loaf that I tried. It came out so well that I went crazy that I have try lot more recipes and keep trying trying more different types of bread. So, then I gave dinner rolls a try and they also came out really nice. Although, these attempts were successful , there were several moments when my yeast would not be foam up and so it would spoil the bread. Yeast is the crucial component in bread baking. (more…)
I know I know I have been really busy. But, I just started working. Oh my gosh, I really don’t get enough time to post recipes. Last to last week I participated in a Dessert Sugar Slam at a local high school athletes sports association. It was a fundraiser. There was a chili -cook off competition as well. But I only participated in Dessert Sugar Slam. I had decided way before the competition that I would participate and make cupcakes. But, as the competition was coming closer I started freaking out. Actually, we had to prepare for at least 200 attendees. I was skeptical in how am I going to complete this task of baking and frosting , not only that we had to transport them to the venue of the competition.
At one point I had decided not to participate and then all of a sudden I thought no I should , whether I win it or lose it. It’s an opportunity to test my skills and ability to bake for 200 people. That’s a huge number. Finally, I thought of making sheet cakes and red velvet would be the flavor of choice. As I had made up my mind, I started whipping up the batter one by one and dedicated whole afternoon in baking all the cakes. I had decided to make the frosting on the day of the competition which was a huge risk in itself. But then I had no choice after having made the decision to participate. It was make it happen moment in Heidi Klum’s words. (I am fan of project runaway). So sad Helen is out.
As I started frosting my cakes, I was out of cream cheese and butter for the frosting and had 3 more cakes to frost. My judgement in terms of quantities of frosting proved to be wrong. I love disasters. I had to rush Mr. Handsome to get me some more of the ingredients from the store. And, finally I frosted my cakes like frosting fairy in just 10 minutes frosted all the 3 remaining sheet cakes. Meanwhile Mr. handsome transported them in the car.
The venue was just 10 minutes away from where we lived. So, we were there in time, actually we were late. As people had not started walking in, I count it as on time. Hehee..And, then people started coming and tasting our cake gave us lot of compliments. I was on top of the world. All of sudden I forgot about how tired I was. People would tell us that those who have tasted our cake ,suggested them to come out and try our cake. Cool..right, yes. I was all hopes for winning it.
Some people would come and talk to us and then ask us our table number so that they could vote for us as there were three prizes. First place, second place and people’s choice. So let me share the recipe of this tasty red velvet cake. I have adapted the cake from Martha Stewart blog. And, have made it several times. You should also try it. It is the best.
I guess first I made it when I had invited friends for mozzarella making potluck. Then also lot of them really loved the cake. I made them as cupcakes. Here’s a picture –
Cupcake bouquet and extra cupcakes
Then, I have baked it for so many birthdays and also for my husband’s holiday party I made this same red velvet cake. Here’s the picture.
For the cake I followed exact recipe, but for the frosting I had reduced sugar from 4 cups to 2.5 or max 3 cups. I don’t like too sweet frosting or for that matter any thing overly sweet. But if you like sweetness go ahead with original cream cheese recipe provided in this link.
Finally, leaving you all with the sheet cake picture and me getting the trophy and my obsession with Rose piping. I did not win the first prize which came out as a surprise to us and many of the other attendees who told us we deserved to win, because the first prize winner had used ready made chocolate syrup instead of any frosting. But, I am totally happy for all that love that people showed us. And, I could only wish best for the winning team. But, I won the second trophy.
Red Velvet cake at Dessert Sugar Slam!Me receiving the trophy!
Ingredients: For the Dough 3 cups All Purpose Flour 2 Teaspoon salt 2 Tablespoon sugar 2 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 package of yeast 1 cup warm water, 110 degrees Method: Take warm water and add the yeast and leave it for 2-3 minutes till it becomes foamy/ frothy. If you are not confident …
I absolutely love scones for breakfast or with afternoon tea. Previously, I have tried making scones, but somehow they didn’t come out the way they really should have been. I have not failed so miserably with any other baking stuff. Seriously, something so easy and delicious was not coming out the way it should have …
Okay, so this is my first post being part of Daring Bakers Challenge. For all you people who do not know what daring bakers is should know its a fun community of bloggers who participate in a monthly challenge shared by another blogger. We all make whatever the challenge is and show it at the …
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Last year my husband and I , went to Alaska to celebrate his birthday. I was dying to take this trip. We had booked our tickets one month before the trip and I had started searching places to stay and booked them as well. As we were into all these preparations for the trip, I …
It’s Ganesh Chaturthi, Lord Ganesha’s happy birthday. India, celebrates festivals in the form of birthdays of Gods and Goddesses. Ganesha, is the son of the Shiva and Parvati. He is a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. Lord Ganesha, is invoked at the beginning or starting of any new endeavor or auspicious occasion in life.
Hi, Readers Last to last week Suzanne and Cristina, whom I met through food52.com (knew them virtually) and also at the first potluck that Suzanne invited us at the release party of food52 cookbook II in winter. This was my second gathering with them. I missed the spring one, so I started thinking about what …