Sunday, February 27

Pannacotta and Florentines by Daring Bakers

The February 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mallory from A Sofa in the Kitchen. She chose to challenge everyone to make Panna Cotta from a Giada De Laurentiis recipe and Nestle Florentine Cookies.

Recipes are available here

So whilst I did follow the recipe for the Pannacotta with the slight exception of using lite milk instead of full cream, I know, I know with that much cream does it make a difference.  Well we don't have full cream milk in the house, so ce la vie!  It was delcious, I made a raspberry Gelee aka jelly for the top but I could have used a bit less gelatine as it set quite firmly, but it was delcious.

I wanted a crisp and crunchy biscuit with some fruit and nuts.  Florentine recipes here are made with cornflakes and condensed milk - the recipe given was somewhat like an ANZAC biscuit but because it was Nestle - and I think you know our thoughts on that, I searched for something a wee bit different.  I found this recipe 

The biscuits were delicious, but not as crisp as I would have liked, I think I would prefer something crunchy and cracking and studded with more fruit and delcious nuts!  I've just made some new biscuits recently and with the added addition of more chocolate, they would have been perfect.


Can't wait to see what next month brings, hopefully no more rain lol!!

Tuesday, February 15

And the winner .....

And I'm so sorry but I did muck up the counting sigh!  Will blame a dizzy head and trying to read on a computer.  So the winner is still number 73 but Tammy is the lucky lady.


Research Randomizer Results
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Job Status:

Set #1:

73
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Apologies for any confusion - I knew I should have left the drawing and posting to Shane.

Thank you to everyone that entered and there will be more giveaways during the Cloth Nappy Hunt.

Saturday, February 12

New York Style Crumb Cake

I tried to resist I really, really did but I succumbed and purchased this book - Baked Explorations

After trying the Burnt Sugar Bundt Cake which was delicious, I toddled off to look at the book and it hopped into my cart. Now I haven't tried any other recipes but the Crumb Cake yet - though the list to try is long, but the Crumb Cake is DELICIOUS  plus it's a big cake which is necessary in this house and it's super easy. 

And as always I tweaked it a tad - it has ALOT of sugar and butter and whilst that isn't such a bad thing right, I tried to behave and cut them both down a wee bit.

So the recipe I tweaked is as follows.  Baked at 180 deg Celicius for about 40 minutes in a lamington pan.

So I mixed together

3/4 cup brown sugar firmly packed, 1/2 cup caster sugar, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon or to taste, I didn't measure oops! 180g melted butter - they used more, but I weaned it back a wee bit.  2 1/2 cups plain flour.  I mixed the dry and then mixed in the butter, to make the crumb topping, it is divine!!


Then in a mixer I popped.  2 1/2 cups plain flour, 3/4 teas baking powder, 1 teas bicarb soda, 180g softened butter, 1 cup caster sugar, 2 eggs, 1 1/4 cups light milk, teaspoon of vanilla extract and mixed slowly till combined, then whizzed it up until fluffier and slightly lighter in colour.


Then pour the cake base into a lined pan and sprinkle on the crumb topping - it's delicious just out of the oven warm with ice-cream or great in lunchboxes, though a bit messy with the crumbly top!

 




Giveaway!

As a thank you for reaching 500 likers on my Facebook page - I'm giving away a nappy - it's a funky Dr S - Bright and vibrant, pieced front with applique and applique on the back - turquoise microfleece inner and a size 2.


As with all my giveaway items I ask that you pay it forward when you no longer have a use for the item. You can see a discussion on Facebook As we've recently discovered some people are onselling giveaway/freebies items. As I'm a generous soul I found this a bit saddening hence the marking now of freebies and giveaways, of which I do many in a year.


Now how can you win this gorgeous nappy - just leave a comment here on the blog with a comment about something you'd like to see Cherub's Kiss make in regards to nappies or other wares. Winner will be chosen by random using a random generator. It is your responsibility to check to see if you've won - (if you have an anon ID, please remember to post your name or other identifying feature)  it will be announced here and on my Facebook page.   Please email angel at cherubskiss dot com if you are the winner.  Entries will close Tuesday night at 8pm. You will be required to pay the cost of postage which for standard post is $4.55.


We've also been nominated on Babble and we are currently sitting at 22 - woo hoo! So we'd love for you to vote for us if you think our nappies ROCK!!!


PS:  Comment moderation is enabled on this blog, so it does take sometime for your blog post to come up as I need to approve them before they post.  I'll delete double up posts :)  I've also enabled anon ids, but please make sure you use your name or other identifying mark, so I know who you are if you win.