June 6th, 2010
Let us meet the contestants…
First, we have Aaron, master of bread baking and pizza throwing. He has a soft spot for bagels and breadsticks. Then, we have Ginny, queen of chopping and carving. She fights back with determination and creativity.
Before we get to the first match, let us review to the rules for those of you new to the game. One contestant
picks a ingredient and the other a meal (breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert). The contestants must make the meal and, you, the crowd, decide the winner of the round, plus if you want to join in (see the details at the end).
For this first round, Ginny said Strawberries and Aaron countered with lunch. Ginny’s first serve, a strawberry-avocado-balsamic sandwich, came up short- hitting the net. Ouch!
Next, Aaron had a perfect serve with Salmon Burger with Balsamic Strawberries and Onions. The balsamic strawberries were a ridiculously good addition to the sandwich— super sweet and tangy on top of the salmon.
Ginny volleyed it back with Strawberry-Tomato Gazpacho with Manchego Cheese Grilled Cheese. The strawberries lent a nice sweetness to the traditional tomato cold soup and went perfect with the grilled cheese.
So now, who you do you think won? Please leave your answer below…
Don’t miss the second round in two weeks! These master (kitchen) tennis players will be back to bring you: TOFU for DESSERT!
Please stay tuned!
Also, if you would like to participate in the next round, email ginnygetsfloury [at] gmail [dot] com by June 19, 2010, the name of your blog, its URL, the recipe and a photograph. If you don’t have a blog, feel free to participate- just email me the recipe with a picture. I’ll hope you join us for another round of Tasty (Kitchen) Tennis!
Filed under Avocado, Balsamic, Onions, Strawberries, Tasty (Kitchen) Tennis, Thyme | Comments (6)
March 28th, 2010
… I love art! On our first date, Juan asked me what I considered Art and why I loved it so much. I remember it threw me at the time because a). it is so rare to have someone ask you a serious question on a first date (bonus points for Juan); and b). I had never thought really thought about it- it just makes me happy - it is a feeling.
My father is a painter and has always encouraged my interest in art. He would take me to art exhibits and ask me questions about what we saw. He would buy me canvases and let me play with acrylics, watercolors or pastels. I have always liked that it is something we share. Even now, when I find a new artist I like, I tell my Dad.
After college, I realized how important art was in my life as I was always in DC at a new exhibit. I would miss it and crave it. Then I stumbled across a discipline called Art Law- suddenly, I knew my calling. Telling someone that ultimately I want to be an art attorney tends to lead to one question- What is that?
Well, it is many many different things from representing artists, dealers, art insurers, and museums to prosecuting art theft and archeological destruction. I am still figuring out how I would like to work art into my legal practice but… I love learning about it and it keeps me motivated at school… This summer, I will be working in DC in a very awesome art related legal internship. I’m very excited!
I made this cake for Feasting on Art’s Birthday Blog Celebration. I really enjoy reading her blog because it is wonderful intersection of art and food- two things I love. I decided on Gattina’s Lemon Cake with sliced strawberries. She also has a beautiful blog worth checking out. The cake turned out good but I did not like the consistency. It may have been my mistake though because I added the flour mixture to the lemon juice… as the daughter of scientists… baking soda + lemon juice = a flat cake… but it was devoured quite quickly…
Filed under Cake, Flour, Lemon, Strawberries | Comments (3)
April 21st, 2008
I have become the unofficial birthday cake baker at work. When everyone started finding out that I was going to law school, I believe they were more concerned about missing my cakes than me. I enjoy baking the cakes. I love being able to try new recipes and coming up with something to wow the birthday recipient.
This past weekend we threw my co-worker a party and I volunteered to bring the cake. He really likes chocolate cake so that was my only guideline. Now, I will admit that when I know there is going to be a keg at the party, I will go buy a cake mix, make some homemade icing, come up with a fun decoration and call it a night. Why should I slave over a cake when everyones’ taste buds will be dull from beer? On Saturday, I woke up itching to bake but too lazy to go to the store. So I took inventory of what we had and did some research on chocolate cake recipes. I stumbled across this recipe Nana Edie’s Devil’s Food Cake that looked amazing. I had everything needed except for the semi-sweet chocolate. I just had unsweetened. Well, I broke out my trusty friend the Joy of Cooking and figured out a conversion. Unsweetened chocolate + sugar = semi-sweet chocolate! It turned out great!!! In talking with a friend, he recommend filling it with strawberries so I filled it with strawberry jam and iced it with my mom’s chocolate frosting. It was quite delicious!
Devil’s Food Cake with Strawberry Filling
(adapted from Nana Edie’s Devil’s Food Cake)
1/2 cup milk (not nonfat)
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
3 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 cup water
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups + 7 teaspoons sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup strawberry jam
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Butter 2 (8- by 2-inch) round cake pans and dust with flour, knocking out excess.
3. Stir together milk and vinegar and set aside to “sour” (mixture will curdle).
4. Melt chocolate and butter with water in a saucepan over low heat, whisking until smooth. Cool slightly.
5. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt.
6. Beat sugar into chocolate mixture with an electric mixer.
7. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in vanilla.
8. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed just until combined.
9. Add soured milk and beat on high speed 2 minutes.
10. Divide batter evenly between cake pans.
11. Bake in middle of oven until tops of layers spring back when touched lightly and edges have just started to pull away from sides of pans, about 35 minutes.
12. Cool layers in pans on racks 5 minutes.
13. Run a thin knife around edges of pans, then invert layers onto racks to cool completely.
Chocolate Frosting
6 tablespoons butter, softened to room temperature
6 tablespoons cocoa
1 box confectioner sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1. Cream the butter and cocoa together.
2. Mix in vanilla.
3. Slowly add confectioner sugar and milk until it creates a frosting. Add the milk slowly because sometimes you do not need the whole amount.
Assemble cake:
1. Warm the jam in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make it spreadable.
2. Pour over the first layer and spread.
3. Place second layer on top of the first layer.
4. Spread the chocolate frosting on the top and down the sides.
5. Decorate as you please.
P.S. Do not forget to enter my Dollar Dish Duel!!!! More details here.
Filed under Chocolate, Strawberries | Comments (13)
