Baking Obsession

Frog in a Pond Cake

Vera — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:54:16 +0000

It’s been awhile since I posted any decorated cakes that I make. So, I decided to share some cake photos with you. This is one of my recent creations. The baby’s favorite toy is a frog and it determined the theme. All decorative elements are made either from gum paste or fondant. Everything is edible except [...]

Sun-dried Tomato and Red Onion Bread with Tamari-roasted Sunflower Seeds and Book Review

Vera — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 06:41:06 +0000

Recently, a publisher sent me a copy of Andrew Whitley “Bread Matters” book and asked for a review if I find the book interesting enough. Now, let me jump right to the conclusion (I know, it would be more logical to do this in the end, but I’m too excited and therefore impatient). The book [...]

Buckwheat Oat Prune Scones

Vera — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 05:40:16 +0000

First, I didn’t have an intention to post these; they were made as a quick and informal eat-at-home snack. The scones were not attractive enough to be given away, but tasted pretty good. My son pointed that nothing should be judged by its look. So, at my son’s insistence, here’s the recipe below. Makes 8 to [...]

Nut Free French Macarons

Vera — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:50:02 +0000

The October Daring Bakers’ challenge is the most temperamental cookies of all – French macarons. I stopped making these about three years ago, as my little son developed a severe nut allergy. Grinding the nuts, then multiple sifting seemed extremely hazardous and life threatening. I loved the cookies, but mother’s love was stronger, so I [...]

Pumpkin Maple Brûlée Tarts

Vera — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 04:50:40 +0000

I don’t like pumpkin pie, to put it mildly. I find the basic untweaked pumpkin filling quite horrid, not much better than canned pumpkin itself. I hope I’m not offending anyone. Maybe I am being weird. The pumpkin concentration in this recipe is just right to my taste, as well as the silky smooth texture of [...]

Ham and Cheddar Pretzel Bites with Honey Jalapeño Mustard

Vera — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:13:29 +0000

As soon as I read the tantalizing description of these bites in the “Gourmet” I rushed into the kitchen to make them. And I am glad I did! The recipe is adapted from Edward Lee Makes 4 dozen bites Ingredients: 1 1/2 tbsp active dry yeast 2 tbsp plus 1 teaspoon packed light brown sugar, divided 1/4 cup warm [...]

Apple Cheddar Coffee Cake

Vera — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:32:27 +0000

I can’t think of a better pairing for apples. With my apple pie I prefer a slice of cheddar to any ice cream. And when making an apple pie myself, I incorporate the cheese in the crust. Well, this is not the aforementioned pie, but no less delicious treat. The extra-sharp cheddar is in the filling, [...]

Stuffed Baguette

Vera — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 03:47:56 +0000

A hollowed baguette obviously makes a perfect shell for any filling you are in the mood for. And once stuffed and properly chilled, it becomes a neat appetizer. This particular one is filled with all my favorite things: goat cheese/cream cheese, sun dried tomatoes, olives, spicy salami, crunchy bell pepper, and fresh herbs. Makes one 12-inch long [...]

Lemon Honey Panna Cotta with Lemon Fennel Puff Pastry Straws

Vera — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:19:24 +0000

Even the last scraps of home made puff pastry taste great and puff perfectly. Never ever dispose these precious leftovers, always put them to some use. The flavor of the real butter and the texture of the finished product is far superior compared to store-bought puff pastry. I’m crazy about lemon-licorice combo. But the key is [...]

Vols-au-Vent

Vera — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:48:48 +0000

September Daring Bakers’ challenge is up. This time it’s classic puff pastry and vols-au-vent – flaky tartlets that can be filled with at least a thousand possible sweet or savory fillings. Only, I act as usual. First, being overwhelmed with different ideas, I decide to wait until my mind is made up. Then, I wait [...]

Cornmeal Walnut Focaccia with Concord Grapes and Gorgonzola

Vera — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 04:13:59 +0000

I have a weakness (one of many…) – Concord grapes. With their season so short, I tend to overeat them while they last until my tongue is numb and the throat is itchy. And when these symptoms of the overindulgence aggravate, I stop eating them raw and start to bake. Makes one large 10×15 focaccia For the [...]

Herb and Parmesan Bread Twists

Vera — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:03:55 +0000

Haven’t we all tried tasteless extra-chewy bread sticks in restaurants and at parties? I’ve had my share. Without false modesty, I can assure you these twists are better. And the difference is called forth by a generous amount (and I mean GENEROUS) of fresh herbs, garlic, parmesan, and good quality extra-virgin olive oil. Makes 24 18-inch [...]

Coconut Raspberry Tarts

Vera — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:20:35 +0000

These are probably the last berries of the season (how sad…) They are topping the coconut pastry cream filling and a thin layer of raspberry-white chocolate ganache below. And yes, there’s more coconut in the tart shells, too. Makes 6 4-inch tarts For the tart crusts: 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup ground unsweetened coconut ½ [...]

Triple Banana Double Caramel Mini Cupcakes

Vera — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 05:25:07 +0000

This is my basic and the most often used banana-bread formula. I do vary flavors, play with different flours, but I usually keep the proportions of the main ingredients the same. The bread is moist but not wet or sticky, just as good as any banana bread should be. I bake this batter as a [...]

Porcini Apricot and Fig Soda Bread

Vera — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 05:23:13 +0000

It took me a lot of willpower to stop eating this bread. It was so good freshly baked, still a bit warm, eaten with fresh goat cheese, especially with the peppery one. The apricots I used were unattractive unsulfured organic fruits, which differ significantly in both price and flavor from the regular supermarket variety. But, [...]

Sesame Mascarpone Cookie and Lemon Ginger Ice Cream Sandwiches

Vera — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 05:28:50 +0000

I had a little bit of mascarpone cheese left over – not enough to fill a tart or a cake. So, I put it in the fridge and forgot about it. The poor cheese spent there a few days too long and, when discovered, it was suitable for baking purposes only. So, I made some [...]

Brandied Raspberries

Vera — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:31:34 +0000

Before it’s too late, and while they are still available, I’d like to share a nice way of preserving the raspberries rather than freezing them or making jams. The method is not cheap, but well worth the money spent. The raspberries will keep well for several months, easily up to the Christmas time, and will [...]

Chocolate-Covered Marshmallow Cookies

Vera — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 06:48:22 +0000

Finally, here’s a long ago promised post, part two of the DB challenge. The recipe (another Gale Gand’s) makes an enormous amount of cookies. It seemed a bit boring to make them all plain vanilla (by the way, there’s not even remotely enough vanilla extract stated to make decent-flavored marshmallows, may I say). I made [...]

Lightning McQueen Cake

Vera — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:00:41 +0000

This is only as far as my automechanical skills go. The cake is fondant-covered; the Lightning McQueen is made of gum paste. Everything is edible, of course. Inside are three layers of lemon cake moistened with lemon syrup, white chocolate and cream cheese filling, and Swiss lemon buttercream. The cake is 9×13-inch, over 3-inch tall; the [...]

Tiger Cake

Vera — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:08:41 +0000

Sorry, this is not the post I promised. I still don’t have time for a lengthy post. I’ve been doing a lot of cake decorating lately. It’s a time consuming but also a quite satisfying activity. This particular one was made for a boy (a young man, I should probably say) turning his twenty. I [...]

Milan Cookies

Vera — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:41:28 +0000

This month Daring Bakers’ Challenge was Gale Gand’s cookies, and there were two different varieties to choose from – Milan cookies (ganache-sandwiched thin crispy cookies) and chocolate-covered marshmallow cookies. I intended to make both, and I still do. The marshmallows are in production, four different kinds. I just simply couldn’t finish them on time due [...]

Mango and Blueberry Fool with Coconut Meringue

Vera — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 04:54:25 +0000

As easy as it gets – lightened by whipped cream fresh mango puree with blueberries and crushed coconut meringue folded in. Without taking into the account the meringue cookies (which are good on their own, not just as an addition to the fool), the dessert takes about five minutes to assemble. It tastes light and [...]

Gingered Strawberry Shortcakes

Vera — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 08:57:34 +0000

This is an American classic in a way I like it most – the tops of the biscuits are sprinkled with crystallized ginger and the strawberries themselves are marinated in ginger-lemon syrup. Instead of the more traditional whipped cream, I prefer a mascarpone-sour cream mixture for the filling. Well, maybe it’s quite a deviation from [...]

Potato, Fontina and Black Olive Tapenade Pizza

Vera — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 05:50:14 +0000

My family loves pizza regardless of topping; as long as there’s a good crust and melted cheese on it. I am a bit pickier, but even I find this not-quite-traditional pizza to be delicious. The crust recipe I used here is Peter Reinhart’s. This one is among my favorite recipes, probably the second favorite. The first [...]

Stilton Cheesecake Tarts with Rhubarb Pink Peppercorn Compote and Walnut Crumble

Vera — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 06:53:08 +0000

Before you wrinkle your nose and leave my site, let me quickly tell you that this combination is very, very good. I probably wouldn’t serve it to toddlers; I doubt they will appreciate it. But a more mature audience will be certainly pleased. My big thanks to my dear friend Olga who provides me with fresh [...]