TWD: Rum-Drenched Vanilla Cake

June 29, 2010 by Monica in Baking, Baking Club, Cake, Cookbooks, Desserts, TWD

This week’s Tuesday with Dorie baking choice was picked by Wendy of Pink Stripes. Or maybe the recipe picked her, since she simply flipped through Dorie Greenspan’s Baking…From My Home to Yours book and page 226 fell open to reveal this beauty.

And oh what a pick it has been! There is no words in how good this cake is. Well, maybe there is because I'm going to tell you about it.

This cake is just the kind of cake I like - Simple, modest, quick and easy. But the best part? No waiting around for butter to soften!

Oh, wait; I have not mentioned how much I hate waiting for the butter to soften before?

Well I do.

Because I been spoiled. See, my previous rental house had a microwave with a setting called “soften”. This, Internet, is THE BEST setting in any kitchen appliance – TRUST ME. Press the button and voila – butter – soften! Cream cheese – soften! Ice Cream – Soften!

TWD: Dressy Chocolate Loaf Cake

June 22, 2010 by Monica in Baking, Baking Club, Cake, Desserts, TWD

I have not been baking as much from Dorie’s Baking from My Home to Yours book as I want. I guess I been put out with the choices this past month. Or maybe I’m just being totally lazy about it.

But I see the ties turning, because for the next 3 weeks the choices are all so good (wait until you hear what is coming up for next week – yummy!) and this weeks choice was something that I been waiting to try out.

And we can thank Amy from Amy Ruth Bakes for picking this one.

TWD: Raisin Swirl Bread

June 16, 2010 by Monica in Baking, Baking Club, Bread, TWD

I'm afraid of bread making or specifically anything that uses yeast.

There I came clean. Yep, using yeast scares me, maybe because I just don't feel comfortable with the whole poofing process and the kneading and if I have to take out the rolling pin and measure to get everything perfectly square or rectangular or round... I just break out in hives.

So of course when I saw the choice for Tuesday with Dorie, that Susan of Food.baby had chosen I said a little prayer and then had a bit doubts which turned into a full blown conversation with my bad-ass self telling me to get a grip and reminded me that "I did no join a baking club to sit and do the baking that I'm comfortable doing!"

So of course I had to do this. Be one with the yeast and conquer my fears.