I didn't expect to be back and not have a post in for any of the weeks in this month, but I think some of my baked goodies can be blamed for it. I tried and managed to create a swiss roll for P's birthday early this month, but it looked like a five year old made it, which would have excused its Frankenstein appearance. Try as I might, I didnt feel like displaying it although I managed to whip cream by hand (with a non-electric whisk) and learn the easy art of making chocolate glaze although coating the cake with it was not simple at all and I was near tears at the end of the day. However, P was all overcome with emotion at the fact that I had baked and iced a cake from scratch like a 50s housewife and surprised him with it after a dinner of chicken biryani.
Better things followed, of course, and a trip to Marshalls and a few cake pans later, I made my first toffee apple cake (recipe from Angry Asian's site) with a rum caramel glaze - which has now become my husband's favourite cake - and my first banana walnut loaf (customized from a foodnetwork.com recipe) - Lan, your banana bread recipe is next...didnt attempt it at first as I didn't have a lot of ingredients.
Feast your eyes on these....
I roughly crushed walnuts to add to my banana bread, which turned out well but I could have reduced the time it spent in the oven. The bottom half seemed to have cooked darker than the top half of the loaf.
But not too bad for the first time, yes? Looking forward to making more loaf cakes in it.
These were my successes for this month. Next month, I want to learn to make breads - focaccia mainly - and layer cakes. I've got a possible dinner party this weekend and I'm wondering what to make for dessert. Any suggestions? Or should I go with the toffee apple cake? Topped with Vanilla Ice-cream and Butterscotch sauce? Or something more exotic?
Better things followed, of course, and a trip to Marshalls and a few cake pans later, I made my first toffee apple cake (recipe from Angry Asian's site) with a rum caramel glaze - which has now become my husband's favourite cake - and my first banana walnut loaf (customized from a foodnetwork.com recipe) - Lan, your banana bread recipe is next...didnt attempt it at first as I didn't have a lot of ingredients.
Feast your eyes on these....
 |
| Exhibit A: Toffee Apple Cake |
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| Small-diced apples melted beautifully into the cake - next time am going to dice them thicker just to see the difference |
I roughly crushed walnuts to add to my banana bread, which turned out well but I could have reduced the time it spent in the oven. The bottom half seemed to have cooked darker than the top half of the loaf.
 |
| Exhibit B: Banana-Walnut Bread |
But not too bad for the first time, yes? Looking forward to making more loaf cakes in it.
These were my successes for this month. Next month, I want to learn to make breads - focaccia mainly - and layer cakes. I've got a possible dinner party this weekend and I'm wondering what to make for dessert. Any suggestions? Or should I go with the toffee apple cake? Topped with Vanilla Ice-cream and Butterscotch sauce? Or something more exotic?
Well, you managed to squeeze this post in before the end of the month. It looks so good.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad I'm not the only one who kitchen shops at Marshalls.
Also, I just don't know how you food bloggers do it. Most of the time when I take pictures of food they don't really turn out and that's only if I actually get to the picture part... I usually don't have the patience to wait and start eating before I get any pics... lol!
P.S. I got my cat mug at the grocery store. He was so cute that I had to bring him home. :)
Oh I really had to train myself to snap the food before eating it all up, still forget to do it when I'm at a restaurant. Still trying to get better at it though.
DeleteMarshalls has such wonderful goodies in the home department, its very hard not to pick up something!
The cat mug was a great find. I seriously thought you'd done it though.
You have so much will power! Maybe I can learn to take food pics too. Self restraint... lol! :)
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ReplyDeleteOh man, that toffee apple cake sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura, and welcome! Will be baking one this evening :) love the smell of baking apple and cinnamon.
Deletelook at you, your baking adventure is wonderful! i am so glad that the toffee apple cake turned out so well. and it's always the effort that is most appreciated, i'm so glad your husband liked your swiss roll cake that you made for him.
ReplyDeletewhat did you end up bringing for the dinner party?
good luck with the bread baking!
Hi Lan, thanks I'm having a lot of fun. I have to say that your recipes and encouragement have been instrumental in keeping me at it. I hosted the dinner party for a few close friends and made Indian dishes - palak paneer (cottage cheese and spinach curry), chicken biryani and my husband made the Indian barbequed chicken - tandoori chicken drumsticks.
Deletetoffee apple cake? that sounds divine...
ReplyDeleteHi and welcome to my blog! Its a lovely cake, especially with the toffee glaze all over it.
DeleteVinita, I am enjoying some very good diwali cakes in Mysore this week :-)
ReplyDeleteHey, that's great to hear. Looking forward to your posts!
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