Fruit cake

I had made a beautiful fruit cake for my neighbor's Birthday.  Paula was so so surprised, because 5 neighbors came together to celebrate her Surprise Birthday!  Oh boy was she surprised!  She was so touched she almost cried, and if I think about it she may have shed a few tears that she wiped away real fast.  Paula said "no one had ever done this for me", it made her so happy and emotional. 

The neighbors also had a great time and were so happy that all of them said " this was really great".  It could not have been a more beautiful day of getting 5 neighbors together for a great celebration.  I think I will have to make this a tradition of gathering the neighbors together once every couple months. It is so nice to chat and catch up with everyone and this creates more of a family neighborhood.

Thanks to Kirsten who told me it was her 60th Birthday and initiated the whole event to take place.  We are so blessed to have such caring, loving, and wonderful neighbors.  Everyone brought something to contribute to the celebration which made it even more special.  There was plenty of cake for everyone and they all enjoyed having a large peice of cake, since it was quite tall in height.

This cake was our famous white cake with strawberries and kiwis inside, and decorated with fruit on top.  I think this was the last cake I made before my oven gave out on me.  So yes I have been out of an oven for several months now, and it is absolutely torturous for me.  We have finally ordered another oven and hope it will arrive soon, so I can get back to baking at my home.  I hope to blog again soon with another wonderful and delicious dessert.  Eat healthy and stay happy until next time, bon-appetit!

Blackforest Cake

Our good friend Steve just had a party, and his favorite cake is a Black forest cake. Most people love chocolate cake and some feel an addiction to it. Maybe it's because chocolate has a little caffeine in it that gives you a kick. This is also my husband's favorite cake, it has fresh whip cream and dark black cherries inside the layers. It can also taste amazing with layers of chocolate ganache and dark black cherries. This is what Prabakar my husband requested for me to make for his Birthday cake. It becomes twice as rich with the chocolate ganache, and so amazing if you are a big chocolate fan. He fell in love with one bite and said it is the best cake I had made for him.  This cake also has No oil or butter in it and low sugar, yet very moist and delicious.  You really don't need oil or butter in cakes, if you know the secret method of making your cake.  It is all in the process of making the cake, so you don't need the extra fat and calories any more.  I am still working on recipe books for you so you can make gourmet cakes and pastries right from your home. 

Apricot Almond Tart

I have been craving apricot tart desserts and apple tarts lately, and one of my favorite apricot desserts is my traditional French apricot tart. It is always our tradition to have some kind of apricot pastry, apricot tart or the apple tart for special gatherings or events. I call it a tart instead of a pie because a tart can not compare to a pie. I would rather call them pie tarts than just a pie.

The ingredients used in this French apricot tart compared to the ingredients of a pie are a lot different. A French tart is of a higher quality than a regular pie and the taste afirms that. It's shell or crust compared to a pie crust is so different. When ever I eat pies I am always disappointed with the taste of the crust or shell. Pie crusts usually taste so bland and buttery, but the crust on this apricot tart is delicious and so satisfying for the pallate. My recipes for making tart shells uses a combination of butter and natural vegetable oil products such as Earth Balance, which is organic and cholesterol free. Earth Balance spread is naturally free of trans fats and hydrogenated oils and may help to improve your cholesterol ratio. Ordinary tart shells use only butter which can be very greasy and heavy and have a high cholesterol content.

The filling of the tart is a mixture of marzipan (another word for almond paste) and custard with the apricot halves placed on top. I also like to brush on an apricot glaze that gives the apricots a sweeter taste and makes the appearance look great. For creating the apricot glaze, I use organic reduced sugar apricot preserves. Then my final touch is to place some slivers or slices of almonds for the final gourmet taste.

Marzipan really does wonders to your baking, it gives it a taste of uniqueness. It also gives the tart a true gourmet taste that keeps you from ever wanting to eat or make another ordinary pie.

Next time don't just bake an ordinary pie for your guests. Instead make the apricot almond tart with French custard that will make your guest's taste buds dance. A dessert tart entices one to come to an event or gathering. I am in the process of writing some tart recipes, and especially apple tart recipe's which every one loves to eat. In all my recipes, I use healthy and high quality ingredients, which makes my desserts rich in taste but light in calories.

Red Rose Wedding cake

This Red Rose which can be a symbol of love, passion, wedding, anniversary, or valentines cake can make some one very happy. It is comprised of 4 layers, one of the layers has strawberries and cream, then another layer of kiwi's and cream, and finally a layer of both strawberry and kiwi's and cream. It tastes heavenly for those of you who love white cake with fruit and fresh whipped cream. I personally love the rose decoration, red roses are just so romantic and can always sweep a lady of her feet. It also makes a great surprise and makes a lady feel special, so next time for Valentines Day get her a cake or make it, to be even more special.

It really is not as hard as it might look to make, you just need a little time with lots of love put into it. Some people may think oh the calories and fat, but actually this cake has no oil or butter used in it, yet it is so moist. Surprising and remarkable! That is why I think people will easily have 2 slices, mostly the ones who say I don't like cake. I love it when there are people who say I don't eat cake and don't like it, and then have a bite to prove it just is not good. Then after the first bite end up eating two pieces! I think not adding the oil and butter really makes it less fattening and so light. It is all in the technique of how you make the cake, you really don't need butter or oil! How fantastic is that? Plus another bonus, it is very low in sugar and tastes out of this world. Again you don't need a lot of sugar to make a great cake. If you are interested in the recipe just let me know. I am still in the process of putting together the French recipe book to sell.

Until next time, try to stay away from the cakes that use lots of sugar, oil, and butter, they will help you put on weight. Try a healthier cake that is light and delicious, so you don't feel guilty about eating two pieces :)

Palmier

Palmier is such a tasty dessert with some tea or coffee. It is rather easy and quick to make and people always marvel at it as if it is a difficult dessert to make. This is one dessert you can control your sugar intake. You can make it as sweet as you want or not very sweet at all. It is flaking and crispy and fun to eat with a shape that is so different and that makes it look difficult to create.

Palmier's can be very addictive too, because they taste so good and are light and so satisfying if you have a sweet tooth. Just make sure the puff pastry dough is good quality like the Napoleon dough. They use the same kind of dough and if it is high quality then it will taste great. So be sure to buy a popular brand name when making these desserts. All you use is the puff pastry dough and some sugar and this creates an amazing dessert with tea or coffee.

Don't forget you control the amount of sugar you use, so if you have some restrictions on your sugar intake no worries you are in control of how much to add. Recipe's soon to come! Have a great week.

Napoleon Pastry

Hello Fellow Bakers, looking for a low sugar, yet delicious tasting pastry? Here is something that I made recently? In this post I am going to talk about a Strawberry Napoleon Pastry.

A French pastry that is one of my favorites, is the Strawberry Napoleon pastry. The pastry ingredients are strawberries, custard, puff pastry, and whipped cream. It makes one messy, but delicious dessert. If you want something light that contains low sugar but is extremely tasty, then Strawberry Napoleons are what you will certainly enjoy.

Strawberry Napoleons have three layers to it with puff pastry dough in between. There is the bottom layer which is filled with custard, a middle layer filled with whipped cream and strawberries and finally the top layer which is decorated with Powdered sugar (optional), whipped cream and strawberries. In another post I will talk about my style of making french custard. French custard is very different from your traditional custard that you see in most pastry and dessert aisle in restaurants. I use natural and high quality ingredients, so its healthy for you and is made in a unique way. Its like nothing you have tasted!!!

The strawberry napoleon is made from scratch, and that is why it taste so incredible! Yes you can even make the puff pastry dough from scratch if you want. However, if you want to make your baking a little bit faster and easier, puff pastry dough can be bought from the grocery store. Make sure you buy a popular brand name and not an unknown name. High quality ingredients is what makes your baking spectacular, so don't go cheap on materials and ingredients!

By the way, I am in the process of putting a French Recipe Book together that will have many pastry recipes. Feel free to write to me and ask questions. Until the next baking visit, remember high quality creates an amazing treat for the palate.

French Rollet Baking Class

Our first French Baking class took place finally last Sunday. I had one person after another ask me, "when will you start teaching your classes?" I also started getting emails from people asking about classes, so finally I just decided I had to just do it.

There was a lot to prepare for in a very short amount of time and I must admit I was a little panicked the night before. Thanks to my husband, he calmed me down and helped me prepare. I taught some of my closest friends first who had been wanting to take the class, and decided they would be great students to experiment on. Also I knew they are easy going and fun to be with and would give me good feedback. The baking class was on how to make a Rollet cake from scratch. The cake comprised of chocolate shavings and fruit decorations on top and fresh whipped cream inside the white cake.

There were 6 students, Amy, Mike, Nancy, Maria, Sally, and Jinous. The class was held at Jinous' home who was very generous to open up her kitchen and host the class. Her large kitchen with an island was the perfect setting for the baking class. The students made their own Rollet cakes with complete hands on experience. I provided all the equipment and ingredients needed, so they did not have to worry about bringing anything. I demonstrated and guided them in what they were to do, and then allowed them to do it on their own which they preferred and was the best way to learn. Their final work of art was impressive for their first time. I am definitely proud of each one of them and know they will go home and practice and perfect their baking talents even more.

You are all talented and awesome baking students and have inspired me in your conviction and dedication! Your efforts definitely paid off and it shows in your beautifully decorated Rollet cakes. I thank each one of you and wish you success in your baking endeavours!

Now that the first class is behind me, I am going to be having these classes regularly. If any of you are interested, please contact me. We can either have these classes in my kitchen or at your homes. I offer giving classes for up to 6 students at a time.

Finally, I also want to share that I have dedicated my baking business and endeavours to raise money for the less fortunate. My husband and I wish to dedicate our time and efforts to raise money to help those in need. We are so fortunate and have many wonderful things in life to be grateful for, that we cannot forget the less fortunate peoples of this world. We know we can't solve world hunger, but if we think that way, then nothing will get done. Instead we have to do our small part individually to make a change because its the multitude of small parts that make the difference. All proceeds from my baking business will go towards charitable purposes.