Monday, December 27, 2010

December



The 2010 December Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Penny of Sweet Sadie’s Baking. She chose to challenge

Daring Bakers’ to make Stollen. She adapted a friend’s family recipe and combined it with information from friends,

techniques from Peter Reinhart’s book.........and Martha Stewart’s demonstration.


I kept the recipe fairly simple. I've never made bread and I wasn't sure if I would make this work well. Nor did I think I would have time. December is a busy month for me. I turned another year older. But I was determined to do this.


My stollen was made with rum soaked raisins, maraschino cherries, almonds, marzipan and lemon and orange zest. The only day that I had enough time to bake this was on Christmas day, as I have this tendency to wake up really early in the morning. So as the sun rose, my baking went forth. I planned to bring it with us to Christmas dinner at my sister's apartment. Unfortunately, the turkey time was a little later than anticipated so we didn't partake of the stollen that night, but my sister cut away a section for her and our parents to have, and I took the rest home. I had it the next morning as my breakfast with lemon-ginger tea. It was a delicious breakfast, unfortunately, very sweet. :(


I enjoyed this challenge because it was something I have never had done before.


Let's see what happens next month.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Challenge FINISHED!


So it took some doing but Crostata has been completed. With Apples, brown sugar, Cinnamon and Caramel candies thrown into the mix! I just wanted the world to see it. Besides from being a bit leaky I think it looks so yummy and it smelled yummy too. Can't wait to try it.