German Chocolate Cake, an American classic, popularized in the heart of Texas, may not win any beauty contests (at least not my cake 😉 ) but this moist, tender chocolate cake, filled and capped with thick, sweet Coconut Pecan Icing is a treat for all to behold. Here is my take on this beloved cake with a couple of my own twists which make it easier and tastier than ever before! Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2014
Orange Cake with Passion Fruit Buttercream
It is difficult to tell that we are beyond summer solstice here. The sky is gray and there is a good chance of rain. It is par for the course in June in Oregon but my heart still pines for rays of sunshine and warmth on my skin. If I cannot have the climate I hope for I will have to settle for a cake full of tropical sunshine and flavor. This Orange Cake with Passion Fruit Buttercream is not the kind of cake that you bite into and wonder what flavor one could possibly be trying to convey. It is fully and intensely orange and bright and perfumed. I need something sunny and in its full splendor! Continue reading
Sizing Up
Changing pan sizes can be a bit confusing. What do I multiply by? How many servings will there be? What temperature should I bake at? To help eliminate some of the confusion I decided to create a chart to take a little of the guess work out of changing from one cake pan size to another. Continue reading
Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Cream Cheese Buttercream
People make banana baked goods for one of two reasons: one, they love banana treats and will wait patiently for their bananas to ripen in order to use them; or two, their bananas did not get eaten while they were in the edible range and they hate to throw away totally usable bananas. While I am frequently subject to a bunch of declining banana I truly am a member of the former group. I am a big fan of banana bread, banana muffins and these sweet little banana cupcakes! Continue reading
Lemon Cornmeal Cake with Strawberries and Cream Filling
It seems that summer is finally in full swing. The air is warm and the sun is shining (sunshine is relegated to a couple of summer months here in Oregon ;)). It is time to start thinking about picnics and barbeques and I have the perfect cake for you to take along on these outdoor eating adventures. Continue reading
Lego Chima Party
One of the great joys of watching my children grow is seeing how their own beautiful personalities and interests develop. Ever since my kids were old enough to have an opinion I have let them choose their birthday theme. This year Asher’s love of Legos has really grown and he particularly likes the Chima theme. So he decided on a Lego Chima party for his seventh birthday. At first I was at a bit of a loss as to which direction to go with this. Chima characters are not the same as many other Lego characters and their story line has a much more organic feel than the boxy rigidness of most Lego genres. After painstakingly (and painfully) watching many Chima television show episodes I set off to create the Land of Chima in our home. Continue reading
Moist Chocolate Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Swiss Meringue Buttercream
It seems rather critical that every baker have a great vanilla and chocolate cupcake in his or her recipe lineup. After baking a number of chocolate cupcake recipes that seemed promising but did not deliver I came across a recipe in a cookbook that had all the makings of what I was looking for. After a serious recipe makeover, I had a chocolate cupcake that would satisfy both the young palate and the decadent chocolate lover. Continue reading