Weekend Baking

I had a couple of baking projects to take care of and last weekend was quiet enough to get them done.  I was asked to make my marbled caramel slice.  I usually make it at Christmas but a friend of ours had me make a batch at Christmas but gave most of it away so she wanted another one.  The topping is milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate with some white chocolate swirled in.  That's the marbled part.  This time I melted chips instead of blocks of chocolate.  I think it worked better cause I could control the amount of melted chocolate a little better.  

The second project was a thank you project.  I had a lot of helping getting a proposal out at work and I felt I should say thank you to all those that made sure it got done.  Since I got such rave reviews for my chocolate cake and peanut butter frosting I decided to make it again.  This time it was cupcakes instead of cake but the same peanut butter buttercream.  

Once again it was a success.  

I didn't take pictures this time.  I'm not sure why but my next project 

I will make sure to take pictures.

Princess Cake

I have been baking over this last month even though I haven't posted anything.  Just know that there was lots of chocolate and sugar involved.

The new year began and I had my first request for a cake.  Actually the request came before the new year but it was for an activity in 2011.  The Young Women's group at church had a kick off activity to start the new year off right.  The theme was "Princess and Happily Ever After" and they asked me to bake a cake.

I don't know why but my first thought was Chocolate and Peanut Butter.  So, I made chocolate cake with peanut butter buttercream.  I really like this new buttercream recipe and have added it to my ever growing recipe collection. 

I wasn't sure at first what to do to decorate the cake but as I thought about princesses Walt Disney movies kept popping in my head.  I thought about Cinderella and found some pictures of pillow cakes and decided that was the way to go.

After the cakes were baked they went into the freezer so we could carve them.  I say we, but really it's Bob.  He doesn't trust me with a knife and I don't trust myself enough to cut a cake.  Anyway, we carved the sides to give it a curved edge instead of straight.  It was covered in pink fondant and decorated to look like it was quilted.  Trim was added along the bottom and the words "Happily Ever After" were piped on the top.  We added a crown which was the only thing not edible on the cake. 

I was really happy with the way it turned out.  What do you think?

Christmas Baking - Round One

Friday kicked of the beginning of the Christmas Baking at the Dohrman's.  It will continue until Christmas Eve. 

The first project was for Bob's basketball team.  He coaches a sixth grade boys team, not that we have a sixth grade child, he just loves to coach.

There are nine kids on the team and each one received a plate of goodies. 

I started by making chocolate baskets.  I have a mold so these are pretty easy to do.  I filled each one with chocolate covered pretzels.

Next I made salted caramels.  Which are really good by the way. New this year to the list, but definitely a keeper.

Cookies were next, chocolate chunk and sugar cookies. 

Finally, I made my Danish Puff recipe. 

 

I finished up about 2:30 Saturday morning.  Crazy I know, but I just had to give the guys something for Christmas.  Here's the finished product.



Christmas Baking Ideas

I've come up with quite a list for my Christmas baking.  Since it's so ambitious I'm not sure I will be able to make everything.  Some of the items are too labor intensive so that should help.  Plus there is always time to work on other items while things are baking. 

Here's the list. 

1. Marbled Caramel Slice - shortbread with caramel and chocolate

2. Danish Puff - an almond flavored puff pastry

3. Salted Caramels

4. Cream Cheese Pound Cake

5. Sugar Cookies

6. Truffles

7. Oatmeal Chocolate Cranberry Cookies

8. Fudge - Traditional and Peanut Butter

9. Chocolate Covered Pretzels

10. Banana Bread

Did I miss anything? 

Unknown Struggles

"The dream you have inside is not there by accident. There's a reason it's calling to you."  ~Kim Luret

I'm not sure why but this quote hit me hard this morning when I read it.  I guess maybe it's because I've been struggling the last few weeks with my dream.  

I haven't been told that I'm crazy for wanting to start a bakery in a town of 3,000 people, but comments have been made that it would be very hard to make it work.  "There's not a big market"  "Would people really support a bakery in Goldendale?"  Things like that.
  
I thought I had blown the comments off but I guess they've still been in the back of my mind all this time. 

My goal isn't to be a millionaire.  My goal really isn't about the money.  Of course we have to have money otherwise we'd live naked on the street, and no one wants to see that.

"Each of us has what I call a 'Unique Package'; that singular combination of our unique inner and outer selves. And through that package comes our gifts. Discovering what our gifts are and then expressing and sharing them is what we're all here for. There are no 'better' sets of gifts and talents. They are all needed. We are all needed." ~Kim Luret

  

I've learned that we need to share the gifts and talents that we have been given.  Whatever they may be.  I often wonder about this desire I have to bake.  I don't know if it's a talent.  I do know that I'll never learn the lessons I need to learn if I don't keep moving forward. 

"It is no accident that you are YOU and that you're alive at this time.  There is a divine purpose and calling for your life."

Where did November go?

Wow, it's December first.  Where did the time go?  I've been making donuts and baking, but just didn't get around to posting.  I know, lame excuse. 

We've been getting up on Saturday and making donuts since it's easier than trying to get up early enough to make the donuts and be to work on time.  Some day when the shop is open, that won't be an issue. I hope anyway.

I made pies and cheesecake for Thanksgiving.  My cheesecake cracked.  I guess I need a food processor so it doesn't get as much air in the filling.  I also had the bright idea to make a big batch of crust for my pies.  That didn't work so well.  I made it work, but I fought with it the whole time.  Next time it's back to one pie at a time.  I know it takes longer, but I can control the consistency better.  At least I'm not starting out mass producing pies.  I'll perfect the large batches of crust before that happens.

Here are a few pictures of the donuts we've been making.  I will be doing a lot of baking in December.  Christmas is the best time to bake.  I've got some new recipes to try plus some old faithfuls.  I'll do better this month on keeping you posted.

Cake Donuts

I made cake donuts this weekend. 

First time with my new recipe. 

I'm not really a fan of cake donuts, I'm not really sure why.  Maybe because cake donuts are heavier.  Bob keeps reminding me that it's not about what I like.

Cake donuts were described to me as "donuts you can break a piece off of, you have to take bites out of raised donuts".  Interesting comparison.  I know that a lot of people like to dunk cake donuts in coffee.

But they are much easier to make.  No proofing time.  I think from start to finish we were done in about an hour.

We shared with others and they were very well received.  The vote was "superior" by the judges. 

I have some varieties of this recipe to try, but all in all it's a keeper.