TWD: Brownie Buttons

For this week's TWD, Jayma of Two Scientists Experimenting in the Kitchen chose Brownie Buttons. This was a bit of a last-minute one for me (obviously) as I have lots and lots of work lately. But, they were incredibly easy, so I actually believe the line about these being good for an after-school snack that Dorie put in there!



The recipe's on Jayma's page, so go check out her loverly blog. When I first started these, I have to admit I made an error and started melting the chocolate, butter, and sugar on medium heat. Oops. I put everything else away and was going to chalk this up as a bad day for TWD, but decided if I was going down, I would do it with flare. So, I mixed everything together and scooped it into my mini-muffin tin. I filled 13 of them almost to the top and baked for...a while. I had my timer set for 10 minutes, but must have baked them for about 16 (or more). I'm really bad at timing things. I usually go with my instinct on when my baked goods are ready. I know, it's going to come back to bite me in the butt some day.



Since I felt bad about not making the glaze for the top, I put a little white chip on some of them, to make them feel better. Because these brownie buttons had read about their origins in the book, and felt left out. I should never have showed them that picture.


Verdict:

TWD: Perfect Party Cake

Today's (yesterday's) TWD is brought to you by Carol of mix, mix...stir, stir. I actually made this Tuesday night but finished it Wednesday morning, as I was bringing it to a work function (Food Day for July 4th).

I was a bit skeptical at first about the buttermilk, but the batter tasted ok and smelled pretty good while baking (I left out the lemon extract but added more lemon zest) so we'll see when we cut into it.

The frosting...*sigh* The frosting was not what I had expected - it was very very watery and did not start to look like the regular buttercream I am used to until about 8 minutes into beating it, when the hubs walked into the kitchen and said "Is your mixer on fire? Will it last much longer?" and simultaneously, the frosting curdled. Yay! I was never so happy to see something look so odd, mostly because Dorie said it might and it meant I was doing something correctly, haha.

It turned out to be very smooth and silky, pretty good. I frosted it Wednesday morning by putting a layer of frosting on the bottom half of the cake (I didn't split the layers) and then covering it with blueberries. Yum, fresh fruit.




Then I put the other layer on top, and covered everything with the frosting (I find it easier to pipe it on and then spread it out with a spatula/knife).



I added the top layer for fun, berries in stripes. And it will be ready to be eaten at noon today. Or before, if we get hungry early.





Verdict: awaiting first trial taste!

TWD: Chipster-Topped Brownies

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie was the Chipster-Topped Brownies, a double-decker brownie with a layer of cookie on top. I actually got pictures this time!

Brought to you by Beth of Supplicious, go take a look at hers because mine don't really do the recipe justice! She also has the recipe.

I halved the recipe and put it in a square pan - first mistake. Should have used my loaf pan, they would have been thicker. Second mistake - the timing. I took them out of the oven too soon I fear, because they were a bit gooey still when we ate them (at the Hubs' family picnic over the weekend). Maybe if I hadn't put a pan underneath as well? Next time, hehe. I omitted the nuts (I'm a fan of the female brownies) and added mini peanut butter cups instead of the chocolate in the Chipster layer.

Getting ready to bake, just look at that cookie layer, YUM!


Out of the oven. Mine got a little dark, mostly because I kept poking it with toothpicks and they were still gooey.


Verdict:


even though mine were gooey, if I had done them right they would be fantastic.

TWD: Mango Bread

This week's recipe was chosen by Kelly of Baking with the Boys, you can find the original recipe here.

I was especially excited about this one because I'm not a fan of mango normally, but I have found a few instances where I enjoy it, and breads and muffins are my favorite things. I'm making it tonight after work, so it will be a true Tuesday with Dorie. I'm not sure yet how I'll tweak it, but I saw muffins over at Sing for your Supper, and that will take less time, so I may do that. I'm not sure if I'm going to take class tonight (8-9pm) or not. I may skip it, to the detriment of my waistline, but to the benefit of my blog. Because, believe it or not, *insert gasp here* I haven't blogged in a long time and have some items which are past due!

And once again, you will have to wait for pictures as I started baking very late and my pictures take about 20 minutes to upload to blogger and I'm going to bed!

Verdict:
(awaiting first try, my muffins were too hot and I'm giving them some resting time so tomorrow is it!)

TWD: Tiramisu Cake

This week's TWD brought to you by Megan of My Baking Adventures. This one looks good, folks!

I was all set to make this last night, but we got distracted by house stuff... so again, Tuesday is the night for me. Hopefully I won't get held up at work and I'll be baking by 830pm!

I saw on the TWD site a lot of people were having trouble finding the instant espresso powder and mascarpone. Well, thanks to my local Italian grocery (only open til 6pm so I had to book it over there after work!), I was able to find them with the greatest of ease. When I was scoping out the coffee aisle for the espresso, one of the owners said "do you need ladyfingers next?" I actually had to laugh and say, "nope, it's a variation on tiramisu." I heart Russo's.

However, I now have 16 oz of mascarpone, so I'm going to have to find something else using it.

The cake is made in three steps: cake, espresso syrup, and the creamy filling (where the mascarpone comes in). Unfortunately, I don't have a icing spatula, and I don't have Kahlua, and my pastry brush is - er - a little stiff from something that I can't quite remember. So, it might look a little less than appetizing, but luckily I can cover the whole thing with cocoa powder and call it a day.

Wish me luck!

and PS - I'm still working on pictures from prior yet-to-be posts. If that makes any sense at all.

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aaaaand I'm illegal again - I actually posted this yesterday but fell asleep last night before I got to post again!
Well I was right about the cream, it didn't look too fancy or anything, but it sure tasted good! Pics to follow as the camera was not where I expected yesterday. So it's really going to get that refrigeration that it needs. Apparently it tastes even better after being reefer-d but I don't know how that's possible - cake, espresso syrup, mascarpone cream? mmmmmmmmmm

Verdict:

TWD: Chocolate Cream Tart

And now, for my next trick (aka Tuesdays With Dorie):

Chocolate Cream Tart

Oh, it's a glorious thing, this chocolate. Picked by Kim of Scrumptious Photography, the original details can be found on her blog.

The things I have loved about my first sessions of TWD: each part of these can be made in advance and chilled. I heart chillin. It makes me happy, because work normally interrupts my cooking, and we can't have that, now can we?

I don't have a tart pan, so my plans for tonight are to put some parchment on a pie pan and do it that way - you think that will work, internet? I hope so. I hear good things about this pie.

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Oh my goodness, I just realised I never updated this! Well I don't have pics, because I took it to work with me, and it got eaten there in about 5 seconds flat. So count this as my 2nd TWD success! Although, again, I just wanted to eat the filling. I'm not a huge crust fan, so the filling is what appeals to me.

I did find, with my newfound baking obsession, that I am getting better with each recipe. Oh, and if I make something more than once, I can usually streamline the process and it works out a lot better the second time around!

Ok, onto the score:

My First TWD: Banana Cream Pie

Here it is, expectant reader(s), my first TWD (Tuesdays With Dorie) post. Dorie Greenspan is the author of Baking: From My Home to Yours, a gigantic volume which has inspired various bakers to join a blog called Tuesdays With Dorie. Every Tuesday, these bakers take one recipe, chosen by a member, and all post about their experience making that recipe.

As of St. Patrick's Day, I am now a member.

However I have not gotten to bake yet due to extenuating circumstances (illness/new job/another new job/no time to breathe) but this week, I'm all in!

So, tonight will be Banana Cream Pie night. For the recipe, please visit the Great and Powerful Recipe Chooser, Amy of Sing for your Supper.

::time elapses::

Ok, so the post started on a Tuesday, which is legal, but ended on Wednesday morning. So sue me, I have three jobs and a dog that pees on everything. This turned out beautifully for my first TWD even though I used a store crust - and it was to be debuted tonight at dinner, but it looks like it will be just me myself and I because my friend's son is sick! But K may be coming over so I may still get my fajitas with Banana Cream Pie dinner, hehe.

I really wanted to eat the banana pudding-y stuff by itself. Yum. Pictures to come (technical difficulties sorry sports fans), and taste test to come, after the BCP's debut at dinner tonight!

Ok I'm totally late with this, but here you are:


Oh gosh... it makes me want it again just looking at the pictures.

Verdict: