Karen’s Pantry

Lemon tart

2013-03-05T00:25:00.000-08:00

Pastries, one of my favorite deserts. So today I decided to make for a friend's birthday because she simply loves lemon tart and the taste of the lemon extract that gives it a whole other level. The perfect secret for success in pastries is to keep the dough chilling for at least 20 to 30 min before working with it, for any pastry it is an important note to take into consideration. So that when it is ready to be served you do not need to destroy it while cutting it:P once it is chilled then pouring some flour in order to knead the dough. Once it is done place it in the oven putting aluminium paper with some beans for 10min to blind bake, then take it off and bake for a further 10 or 15min depending on your oven then put it up and let it brown. Then when its done and cooled prepare any of your pastry cream or lemon custard or anything ure using. I used lemon cream and cooked it untill thicked while adding melted butter and yellow coloring and mix until desired and ready to spread on the pastry. Make sure you cover all the sides of the dough then for a quick finish add sifted powder sugar as much as you want but don't over put bcz you really want to see the yellow lemon and for a big finish at a professional twist by ading two half sliced lemon and it's ready to be served, enjoy it:)

Chocolate tart

2013-03-04T05:57:00.000-08:00

An irresistible dessert which can please anyone, chocolate is a universal thing because you can never resist it. So I really wanted to make this chocolate tart because the pastry is so different and it gives an incredible taste to the chocolate on top of it, a delight.

valentine yummies

2013-02-19T07:40:00.002-08:00

As you all know, valentine is a very special occasions to express love and affection and what could be a better way to express it than with some valentine sweets, very special and taughtful:D

Fruit tarts

2013-02-14T12:31:00.001-08:00

You guys all know and love the traditional dough with the "french cream" that absolutely blows my mind so today i noticed that nobody was eating bananas and strawberries so I said to myself why don't I make them useful in a way it's a delight to eat them:D

milk chocolate lazy cake

2013-02-08T16:51:00.004-08:00

A sweet treat very easy and very quick and that can last a long time in the refrigerater, now you can pick any kind of chocolate depending on what you like, this time I chose milk chocolate to change a little bit..

red velvet cupcakes

2013-02-08T16:44:00.000-08:00

So today was one of my closest' friend' birthday and I once tried my hummingbird recipe: the famous red velvet cake and it was simply delicious so I did it this time on cupcakes; and you can be sure that they couldn't resist in enjoying one they had to have two or three and it was mind blowing..

Cookie doughs

2013-02-03T10:12:00.000-08:00

This is a desert I'm sure you all love, it's traditional and absolutely amazing now you can sprinkle them with whatever you like, I simply love chocolate chip and m&m cookies the colors and the chocolate is just increbible!!:D

Cinnamon and Nutella rolls

2013-02-03T09:59:00.002-08:00

A pastry you could never resist, many rolls of deliciousness awaits in this recipe so easy and so tasty..

French bread

2013-02-03T09:47:00.001-08:00

The one and only bread you should taste, pain vienois a french bread full of softness and deliciousness it just melts in yout mouth, it's simply the greatest bread you'll ever taste in the entire world:)

Holidays festivities

2013-02-03T09:40:00.000-08:00

hello there, it's been a while I haven't been updating my blog, I've been so busy anyways I'm gonna share today some of my old goodies. So you know during christmas all you need is food food and guess what..FOOD nothing is better than a red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting and some sweet decorations, another thing my family loves: Carrot cupcakes it has an incredible and spontaneous taste you just can't resist:D

Dinner menu

2012-11-09T13:54:00.001-08:00

Welcome back greedies, I know that you're looking for some new recipes to blow up ure mind, so I made a little dinner for my classmates in order to practice cooking and to have a chill dinner at home because of the rainy weather..

Chocolate covered strawberries

2012-10-20T10:59:00.002-07:00

IT SIMPLY MELTS IN YOUR MOUTH,THE GREAT BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE MELTING IS INCREDIBLE:)

lemon meringue pie

2012-10-07T12:55:00.002-07:00

Lemon meringue pie, one of my favorite dessert and the best part is the meringue part, absolutely divine
Now start baking the pie, now its a personal choice you can either make it thick or thin but I'd rather use the thick one..

HERE IS A PERFECT LEMON MERINGUE PIE, BON APETIT:D

rainbow cupcakes

2012-09-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

hey guys, so i decided to bake those cupcakes for a very special occasion: my birthday:D i planed a beach trip on the boat with ma friends and thought of something simple and not to heavy with the sunny sunny weather.
So here is my perfect rainbow cupcakes it's a very easy and quick recipe, hope you enjoy it:))

dividing the colors to make the filling

Don't you just love the mixed up colors inside the cupcakes sooo delicious miamm:D

chocolate hazelnut cake

2012-08-12T14:02:00.004-07:00

So this recipe is new I haven't tried something like that but hopefully it worked greatly so i'm gonna share my recipe with you guys
For the cake:
225 g butter
225 g plain milk chocolate
115 g cocoa powder
350 g sugar
6 eggs

150 g chopped hazelnuts

For the chocolate glaze:
50 g butter
150 g milk chocolate
30 ml milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

spread the chocolate melted on the top of the double boiler decorate with some hazelnuts

if desired add some shredded milk chocolate to give an even greater chocolate taste and look:D

Red velvet cake

2012-08-12T13:34:00.003-07:00

Wow here is one of my favorite cake recipe the incredible red velvet cake and today you're gonna guess the secret ingredient for its great color and taste so follow my steps!!:D

For the cake:
60 g butter
150 g caster sugar
1 egg
10 g cocoa powder ( a little secret )
20 ml red food colouring
1/e tsp vanilla extract
120 ml milk
150 g flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 1/2 tsp white vinegar ( a little tip)

While letting the cake to cool on the wire rack prepare the cream cheese frosting and you all know my traditional recipe which you can find in previous recipes. Adding to the recipe some whipping cream.

spread the frosting on the cake then add bites of the rest of the cake to point out the great colour

i know how much people get excited to see the inside of the cake so here's a sneak peek:))

Strawberry cheesecake

2012-08-03T09:46:00.003-07:00

So today was my friend's birthday and i thought to myself it's a sunny sunny day and no one can bare but a cold dessert so I wanted to try something new what do you think about a fresh strawberry cheesecake, Wonderful..
Now the steps are easy you start by making the crust:
200 g digestive biscuits
100 g butter
melt the butter then add it to the crushed biscuits beat it until they come together

As soon as the crust is baking don't waste time and start preparing the filling here is the recipe for the cheesecake:

Cheesecake Filling

400g cream cheese (2 packs philadelphia cheese)

100 g sugar

pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

50 ml milk

1 tbsp cornflour 

1 tbsp Water

3 eggs 

1 egg yolk 

Now let the filling get cold for 4hours ( preferable overnight) once it's done start making the strawberry jam!!

For the strawberry jam:

60 g fresh strawberries

4 tbsp sugar

half an orange juice

1 tbsp cornflour

decorate with some strawberries and lemons to give it a yummier look:D

Candy Cake

2012-07-21T14:30:00.001-07:00

I'm back and guess what got a new recipe that anyone would die for especially kids and people who adore candies and sweets; well here is a great recipe that will blow your mind with its lovely colour

For the cake:
1 1/2 cup flour
2 eggs
50 g butter
2 tsp baking powder
2 pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup of milk
blue and green food coloring
Double the portion for a two layer cake

I just love candies don't you?!

And Oreos too YUMMM

Just garnish them with your favorite candies

Don't you just love the mixed up colors with all the candies on top so delichhhh

Banana cupcakes

2012-07-06T12:54:00.002-07:00

Don't you just love mini cupcakes? YEAHH i thought so who doesn't love some banana cupcakes with some cream cheese frosting... absolutely divine so the recipe is really easy and quick but incredibly delicious.
For the banana cupcakes:
300 g plain flour
150 g sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
50 g butter
120 ml whole milk
200 g peeled banana

For the cream cheese frosting:
Check it out in my oreo brownies recipes

Garnish them with chopped bananas and spread some powder sugar simply yummy:D

Oreo brownies

2012-07-02T15:10:00.001-07:00

hey guys soo today i was going to share my goodbyes to my best friend whose traveling, so I noticed she just happens to love oreo and so you can use it in almost any way so I thought i still haven't try an epic recipe: oreo brownies with cream cheese frosting what a delightful dessert:D
For the oreo stuffed brownies:
300 g unsalted butter
2 1/4 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flours
15 0reos (you can use as much as you want)

For the cream cheese oreo frosting:
300 g icing sugar
50 g butter at room temperature
125 g cream cheese ( better to use philadelphia cheese:D)
4 or 5 crushed oreos ( there's nothing better)

Garnish the brownies with some oreos and icing sugar to give it a better colour and taste, ENJOY:)))

Chocolate birthday cake

2012-06-14T12:58:00.002-07:00

So it was my tent's birthday and she was sick;the only way to cheer her up is to make her a cake and a special one here's my secret clue now when you see it of course you'll say that it's a simple chocolate cake like anyone else but the truth is the inside is something special like when you say do not judge from the oustide cuz you might get surprised from the inside, now check it out and tell me what u really think of it;)

here's the inside of the cake:D

chocolate frosting

Ready to take it to my aunt's yumm

Event deserts

2012-06-12T02:08:00.000-07:00

I just found some of these pictures in my old album it was my sister's 18th birthday and I had to do something special for her so I thought i don't know her friends' taste in deserts then i thought everybody would die for some coloured cupcakes and chocolate ones and a chocolate fudge cake toped with all the goodies you all love now check them out and tell me what you think of my lovely decoration!:))

lemon and poppy seed cake

2012-06-01T14:20:00.000-07:00

Inspired by one of my favorite cookbook (the hummingbird bakery cookbook) I decided to try a new recipe that I personally love: lemon and poppy seed cake so i'm gonna share my recipe with you guys
for the cake:
85 g unsalted butter
245 g caster sugar
grated zest of 1 1/2 lemons
15 g poppy seed ( plus extra to decorate)
165 skimmed milk ( much better than whole:P)
235 g plain flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 egg whites

For the lemon syrup:
freshly squeezed juice and zest of 1 lemon
50 g caster sugar

When the hot cake comes out of the oven, pour the syrup all over the top

For the lemon glaze:
freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon
250 g icing sugar

you can use any decoration i just opted for marzipan flour

You can now dig in and feel the incredible taste it gives

My master piece;))

2012-04-05T06:56:00.002-07:00

Rainbow Cake

2012-04-04T10:37:00.000-07:00

hey there, today was my mom's birthday and as I know she simply adores colours as much as I do that's why i brought her a bouquet of different colours of roses and you shouldn have seen the look on her face once she saw them,SPEECHLESS back to the point,I made for the first time a rainbow cake with cream cheese frosting and here are the ingredients that I used:))

For the rainbow cake:

330 grams (3 cups) all-purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
525 grams (2 1/3 cups) sugar
5 large egg whites, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk, room temperature
A few drops of blue,yellow,orange and green food coloring (you can use as much as you like:P)

For the cream cheese frosting:

PS: To frost all the cake you need a big quantity of frosting to fill the entire cake

1- 400 g ( 1 big or 2 small ones) unsalted butter, room temperature

2- 400 g ( two of them) philadelphia cream cheese

3- There's no limits for powder sugar if you are a desert person use as much as you think is okay and if you're not diminish the quantity it's you're choice

At the end add some coloured sprinkles to give a colourful touch on the outside

Don't you love the incredible contrast, simple and white on the outside and when you dig in you get that alternation of rainbow colours this is my favourite part!!

WHERE COLOURS AND FLAVOURS ARE ONE- Karen's pantry