Two for Tuesday...TWD

Last week, if you visited my blog, you would know I chose not to do TWD due to an overload of sweets already in my house. Well, since there was no excess of sweets this week I decided to backtrack with the cake and also make this week's selection.

I am glad I did backtrack because this cake was easy and very tasty. There was extra toasted ground almonds in my cupboard and I mixed them with the flour to stir in. Let's just say this was an almondy treat. Good job Dorie!

This week's TWD was chosen by Melissa of Love At First Bite and her pick was Sweet Cream Biscuits. It's really hard for me to turn down baking a biscuit and this was no exception. These biscuits were nothing like ones made with sticks of butter, in that they were completely chewy and soft. Usually butter biscuits have a crisper outside with a soft, flaky inside(if made right...lol). These also had a little sweetness, due to the addition of sugar, hence the name. If you have cream in the house that you want to use up, these are definitely a go to recipe. YUMMY!

Thanks to Nancy and Melissa for choosing such wonderful and EASY recipes. So easy I was able to do both at pretty much the same time.

You can visit their pages for the recipes or just purchase Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.

TWD: Swedish Visiting Cake

This cake is on my list of cakes to bake, buuuuut I will have to put it on hold right now. I have so many sweets in my house you would think it was a bakery of some sort. There were extra yolks in my fridge that I used to make banana nut gelato with, this is in addition to the drumsticks for my kids that were already in the freezer. I had to make cake for a tasting which left me with enough to make a 6 and 9inch 2-tiered cake. We are still eating that cake even though I gave out plenty to neighbors. Needless to say, right now was not the time to add more sweets.

This week's TWD was chosen by Nancy of The Dogs Eat the Crumbs, so for the recipe go to her page and see how she fared. While you're at it, check the TWD blogroll to see how other TWDers did with this week's pick.

TWD: Mocha Walnut Marbled Bundt Cake

This week's TWD was chosen by Erin of When in Doubt...Leave it at 350. This recipe had me at chocolate. It has ground walnuts, chocolate, coffee, butter....it's perfect. It was easy to put together and the flavor was wonderful.

Even though the recipe calls for ground walnuts, I'm sure you could use whatever nuts you want. I think the oilyness of the walnuts adds to the butter and makes a great cake, even if it sits for a few days.

I made this cake last week and it only lasted a few days. I would love to try it as a layer cake to see how it comes out. What does that mean? It means it is another keeper from Dorie's book.

Check out the TWD Blogroll to see what other TWDers have done and go to Erin's page to find the recipe and see what she's done. You could also just get Baking: From My Home to Yours and bake many more recipes from Dorie.

TWD: Dulce de Leche

This weeks TWD was chosen by Jodie of Beansy Loves Cake. She chose Dorie's Dulce De Leche Duos on page 161 of her Baking: From My Home to Yours cookbook.

Last year, I learned how to make my own dulce de leche by boiling cans of sweetened condensed milk (which I always have in the cabinet). I had done two cans and had one of those cans left over. I had been trying to figure out what I wanted to do with it, so when this recipe was chosen this month I knew that this was one of my weeks I would be baking. This recipe, like a lot of Dorie's recipes, was easy to put together. I scooped my cookies with a small scoop(apprx. 2 tsp. I think) and I got 72-74 cookies.

I put melted bittersweet chocolate on half of the cookies and made a buttercream with the rest of the dulce de leche to put on the chocolate after it hardened(I just stuck them in the fridge to speed up the process). I sandwiched the cookies with the plain cookie and we were good to go. These cookies were soft and chewy with a little crunch from the chocolate. Surprisingly enough the cookies were not extremely sweet like I though they would be since it had sugar plus dulce de leche. Then again, maybe us sweet tooth people don't realize sweetness because we eat so much sugar that we wouldn't know it until the cavity or diabetes comes.

I wish I had measured my buttercream ingredients to give you a more accurate recipe, but I didn't. I know that it included 1 stick of room temperature butter, the rest of the can of dulce de leche, a little shortening(to help it be able to stay at room temp w/o melting), enough powdered sugar to the consistency you want your buttercream to be, a little milk and some vanilla extract. If you know your cookies won't be sitting for long you can omit the shortening and add a little more butter. With the shortening, this buttercream stays like the oreo cream.

Run, don't walk to your kitchen and make these cookies, because they are just that good. Check out Jodie's site for the recipe, or just buy Dorie's cookbook so you will be able to bake some of her other great recipes.

TWD : Thumbprints

This week's was chosen by Mike of Ugly Dude Food and he picked Thumbprints for Us Big Guys on page 164. Thanks Mike for this selection because I have always wanted to make thumbprints during the holidays and hadn't.

These cookies are easy to put together unless you're like me and have to shell and toast your hazelnuts before grinding them down. I didn't cracked enough hazelnuts so I added almonds into the mix. When the cookies were baking and it was time to turn them around, I noticed that I had to re-indent the center because it puffed up. Other than that minor situation, there's nothing to these cookies. The flavor...phenomenal! I chose strawberry and peach jam and orange marmalade to fill the "prints" for a little variety.

These cookies will definitely be a make again, especially for a nice little get together.

TWD: Honey Wheat Cookies

This week's TWD was chosen by Michelle of Flourchild and she chose Dorie's Honey Wheat Cookies. These cookies use wheat germ and of course honey.

As a child my parents always kept a jar of wheat germ in the fridge, so when I saw the pick I knew these cookies had to be made. They came together so quick and easy that it seemed like they were store bought....time wise not taste. These cookies have an acquired taste, but I did like them with a little strawberry cream cheese frosting.

You can find the recipe on Michelle's blog or purchase Dorie's book for this and other recipes.

TWD:Rick Katz's Brownies for Julia

This weeks TWD was chosen by Tanya of http://chocolatechic.wordpress.com/ and it was a great choice. The problem with this choice is that I wish that it was a different week. I had planned to make these brownies, but decided against it due to the fact that I was making King Cakes for my girlfriend for Mardi Gras/Superbowl weekend. I was dead set on NOT making these brownies and just doing the last two weeks of the month.

This all changed at 8:34 pm on Monday February 8, 2010. I blame this all on Alton Brown and his DAMN Good Eats show. This night I was waiting for 9pm to see Unexpected Life and decided to see what was on Food Network. Ahhh, it's Good Eats! The beginning segment was showing Cocoa Carl and Alton was going to show us unsuspecting people how to make different things using cocoa powder. The list of items he made were hot cocoa, chocolate syrup (This will definitely be a must try), and none other than brownies.

These brownies looked so good and I fought the fight for 4 minutes after his show went off. The fight ended with me losing the battle and running (and when I say running I mean it litterally) downstairs to make these brownies and get them in the oven before Unexpected Life came on. It's countdown, 26 minutes and counting and I can do this, right? Right!

I have never worked so fast to get something in the oven and baked, that it felt like I was on a Food Network Challenge. What made it so bad, yet so good, is that I was rushing through the recipe that I didn't use a mixer to beat the rest of the eggs to volumize them. Even with missing out on that step these brownies turned out fabulous. Oddly enough I have always been one who only like cake brownies and they usually had to have nuts in them. Well, Dorie Greenspan, Rick Katz, Tanya, you all have changed that for me. These brownies are OFF THE CHAIN!

Check out Tanya's blog for the recipe and make these brownies tonight....TONIGHT I SAID! You will not regret it if you are a chocoholic. You see the "pizza cutter" in the photo below? That's an idea from Alton Brown. See, he is good for something other than forcing you to run downstairs and make something you weren't going to make.

TWD

Steph of Obsessed with Baking decided on Cocoa-Nana Bread, p. 46.

You can find the recipe on Steph's blog and the blogroll here http://tuesdayswithdorie.wordpress.com/ to see what other TWDers are doing.

TWD

Lillian of Confectiona’s Realm selected Chocolate Oatmeal Almost-Candy Bars, pp 114 and 115.

Check out the blogroll http://tuesdayswithdorie.wordpress.com/ to see what others have done and you can find the recipe at Lillian's site.

TWD: Not this month

Teanna of Spork or Foon? chose Mrs. Vogel’s Scherben, pp. 157-159.

This month I won't be baking with you all after a sweet filled November and December. I still have plenty of candy in my house and cakes to do for friends. I apologize for deserting everyone, but it is a must this month. I will be back on track in February.

To find the recipe check out Teanna's blog or purchase Dorie's Baking: From My Home to Yours.
Check http://tuesdayswithdorie.wordpress.com/ for the blogroll and to see what everyone else has cooked up.

TWD: Low and Luscious Chocolate Cheesecake

This weeks TWD was picked by The Tea Lady of Tea and Scones- Low and Luscious Chocolate Cheesecake, page 243.

Now, I'm not a big cheesecake eating person, but I love to bake them. Luckily, I have neighbors who love to eat them. When I eat it's pretty much a taste test. I can only eat a sliver and then I'm done. This recipe, though, reminds me of chocolate pudding so I could eat more than normal.

Dorie has you do this in the food processor and I tried that. It took more pulses than stated in the recipe so next time I would make it using the mixer. Other than that I believe it is a keeper.

Check out The Tea Lady's page for the recipe.

TWD: Cafe Volcano Cookies

This weeks TWD was chosen by Macduff of The Lonely Sidecar- Cafe Volcano Cookies, page 153. These cookies were ridiculously easy to make. The have this nice crunchy texture and the nuts add a little something extra for your mouth. If you are in for a quick cookie recipe and you like nuts and coffee check out Macduff's page or purchase Dorie's cookbook and make some tonight.

TWD:Sables

This weeks TWD was chosen by Barbara of Bungalow Barbara- Sablés, pages 131-133. I must say that I have always eyed these puppies in the cookbooks, but have never attempted them. Why you ask? I haven't the slightest, especially since I have made sugar cookies so many times. Yes, yes, I know they are not the same. But, hey they're close enough, right? No agreeance, okay, I'll leave it alone.

Well, anyways go check out Barbara's page or as I say, just pick up Dorie's book and try them for yourself.

TWD: Sweet Potato Biscuits

This weeks TWD was chosen by Erin of http://www.prudencepennywise.blogspot.com/. Sweet potato biscuits, what a way to wake up in the morning. No stories this time around just a few words and a few pictures. ENJOY!!

TWD: Chocolate Souffle

This weeks Tuesdays With Dorie was chosen by Susan of http://doughmesstic.blogspot.com/ and once again it was on my to bake list.

As you can see I left them in a little too long, not thinking about adjusting the time for smaller dishes. All in all it was a great experience and I'm already thinking about the next souffle I want to bake. This dish is one of the ones you dread because you hear all the horrible things that can go wrong. Well there is nothing so bad about making or baking souffles.

Just make sure you adjust your time!!

For this recipe go to Susan's page or save yourself some time and buy the book and try other Dorie Greenspan recipes.

TWD: Classic Banana Bundt Cake

I know that I am a week and a day late with this post, but I don't get on the computer as much and I didn't need this cake until this week. The selection was by Mary of http://foodlibrarian.blogspot.com and it was a wonderful choice at that. You can find the recipe for this cake at Mary's blog site or you can just pick up a copy of Dorie's book and have other recipes to choose from. You definitely won't be sorry!

My family had a get together and it included a birthday and since not everyone is a huge chocolate fan and my parents don't like lots of icing this was the perfect match. This cake went so quick that I think when we go to Kings Dominion tomorrow that I will make another one.

This is the birthday cake for my 17, yes I said 17, years old daughter. As if this isn't crazy enough, I made her a Nemo blanket and she walks around with it everyday even when it's hot.

TWD: Brioche Plum Tart (revised)

This weeks http://www.tuesdayswithdorie.com was chosen by Denise of http://www.chezus.com. This was a wonderful pick and I do thank her for it. I decided to do a little playing around and used peaches instead, I also added cinnamon to the sugar.

I went to the grocery store to look for plum jam and when I saw the price of one jar I thought to myself, "Hey, I made peach jam and it's still some left and I have frozen peaches already in the freezer." It really gets my goat that when I go to the grocery store the "fresh" fruit looks so old. Since some of our produce doesn't come in season until next month and later in the fall, it would have defeated my purpose to drive a while to get to the farmer's market(insert sad face here).

All in all the Brioche Peach Tart turned out great and didn't last long at all. I'm not sure if I needed to cook longer than the time in the recipe or if the juices made the dough look undone, but it didn't seem to matter to me nor my girlfriend.

Before going into the oven

You can see in this picture how it looks sort of undone

After 10 minutes most was gone, and it was only being eaten by 2 people