The Bars that Weren't

Ahhh...cooking mishaps....I guess they have to happen....right?

We had family coming over today and I asked Frank to pick out a cake he'd like...I wanted to try something new. Well, he picked out Paula Deen's Dreamy Chocolate Mousse Cake. What a cake! 6 layers of cake, chocolate mousse in between, then iced with an incredible chocolate icing. This cake is chocolate heaven! My cake didn't turn out as pretty as Paula's (of course)....but it was yummy!!! I encourage all you chocolate lovers out there to try this one, the mousse would be a delicious dessert by itself. I will definitely make this again....and hopefully it will be prettier the next time.

Oh yes, the mishap....let's call it the Bars that Weren't. It occurred to me that since several of my family members are diabetic, I should make a diabetic friendly dessert. Sounds like a nice idea right? So, at the last minute I start searching the web for diabetic desserts. Applesauce Spice Bars....that sounds lovely and I had all the incredients. I quickly whip them up and put them in the oven. Then, in comes our baby (21 year old senior at UGA for those that don't know me). She and her boyfriend are here for the day.

Baby: Mmmm, they smell really good, like Christmas

Me: I know, but its really strange that they didn't call for flour...yikes!!!!!

Yes, you guessed it! At the same time that I'm saying flour....I see 2 cups of flour in the ingredients list! How could I have missed it! The bars were....well, they weren't bars and they weren't very yummy! Oh well, I do have grapes. :)

(I will be trying these again...and next time I'll remember the flour.)

After all went home, it was time to do the cinnamon rolls for work tomorrow. I make my cinnamon rolls out of sourdough. My sourdough starter, Bob the Blob, has been in my possession since February. He makes some great bread! Anyway, I made my dough this morning and it rose all day. So, tonight I just have to make the rolls and let them rise all night. I'll cook them in the morning and take them into work still hot.

To make the rolls, I mix the same dough up as I would if I were making bread. I divide into thirds. Roll each third out into a rectangle and spread with butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, raisins and walnuts. Roll up into a log and slice. I made some cream cheese icing to top these with after they cook. Here they are, ready to rise:

And just for kicks, here's a picture of Frank, Blake (aforementioned boyfriend), and Jessi (aforementioned baby).

Too bad we didn't see our son this weekend....Tyson, are you reading this? :)

Coconut Cupcakes with Seven Minute Frosting

Today I asked Frank what ideas he had for a cupcake. True to form, he suggested coconut cupcakes...he LOVES coconut cake! So, tonight I gave it a whirl. I even made him a small layered coconut cake.

I used my mom's 1-2-3-4 cake recipe, but I added a box of vanilla pudding to the batter. Instead of the sugar water mixture that we usually pour on the layers, I used condensed milk with a little coconut flavoring. Mmmm, any excuse to use condensed milk :).

1-2-3-4 Cake

1 cup shortening (I used butter flavored for this cake)

2 cups sugar

3 cups self-rising flour, sifted

4 eggs

1 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 small box vanilla pudding (not part of original 1-2-3-4 recipe)

Additional Needs - will be needed later

Coconut

Can condensed milk

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs 1 at a time. Stir in flour alternately with milk (start and end with flour). Add vanilla. Add pudding mix. Put batter in pans and cook at 350 for ~20 minutes.

I got 3 - 4" cake layers and 24 cupcakes from this.

Once the cupcakes were cool, I poked holes in the tops with a fork and sprinkled coconut over the holes. I added 1/4 tsp coconut flavoring to a can of condensed milk, then microwaved it for 30 seconds. This was spooned over the coconut, seeping in the holes.

Seven Minute Frosting

2 egg whites

1 1/2 cups sugar

5 tbsp water

2tsp karo syrup (light corn syrup)

Put all ingredients in the top of a double boiler. Beat with a mixer while heating. Make sure you don't get any water from the bottom part in your frosting. It's done when it will hold peaks. For the first time, I pulled egg whites from the freezer to make this frosting. They were left over from a German Chocolate cake and I had frozen them. I was a little nervous about it, but they did just fine.

I iced the cupcakes and then dipped them in the coconut.

Frank tried one tonight and gave it a thumbs up. We'll see how my co-workers like them tomorrow. One thing, they are messy!

Hello and Pink Carrots

Hi there! Welcome to my blog. I'm new to blog writing...but not blog reading! Who knew it would be so hard? I work in a tech world, but I love to bake....cookies, cakes, cupcakes, bread, etc. There's just the two of us at home...I'm usually dieting...and well...even Frank has his sugar limits! So the sweets usually end up at my office.

A co-worker of mine participates in the Breast Cancer 3-Day in Atlanta. The picture is one of the cupcakes I took to work to sell as a fundraiser for her. Carrot cake with cream cheese icing! Don't you love the pink carrot on top? I substitute applesauce for 1/2 of the oil in the recipe...making it healthier?....definitely making it moister.