Friday, May 25, 2007

New Again!

Recently my work in the laboratory (I mean my real workplace, not this kitchen laboratory) has been keeping me busy like a bee. Starting early and finishing late has become quite the norm. I’m an ‘early person’, and I function best in the morning, and my brain power slowly dips throughout the day, until about 5pm in the evening, when my system starts to ‘auto-shut down’. But now I have to try to stay alert, or rather awake, way past 5pm into 6-7plus. It’s difficult, but I’m trying my best.

To release this tension/stress, I’ve been in a purchasing mood lately. Within 3 weeks, I’ve added 3 new cookbooks into my collection. In the past, I used to consider for a really long time before I decide on a purchase. Sometimes I ended up not buying at all. But I don’t know what got over me these days. I just went into Kinokuniya, headed straight for the items and paid up at the cashier. A method to de-stress? Maybe. A stress on the wallet? Definitely!

Anyway, one of the new books is Dorie Greenspan’s Baking from My Home to Yours. I’m quite sure this book needs no introduction. It has been on the food blogosphere since last year I think(sorry, I’m usually quite slow to catch on the latest ‘trend’), and I first came to know about this book from Brilynn’s. Since then, I seem to see Dorie’s recipes everywhere I blog-hopped.

Armed with this new cookbook, I decided to try out a simple recipe first. Hence this Marbled Bundt Cake was baked.

I made quite a few amendments to the original recipe for the Mocha-Walnut Marbled Bundt Cake. The resulting cake was very moist, soft and buttery, with a tight crumb. Serve with a nice cup of java, a perfect afternoon tea.


Marbled Bundt Cake

125g all-purpose flour
25g ground hazelnut(or walnuts)
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
110g butter
135g sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
120ml buttermilk*

15g butter
85g bittersweet chocolate(I used 70% chocolate)
25ml coffee
10ml Irish Cream**
½ tsp instant coffee granules

1) Generously grease a 7-inch bundt pan. Preheat oven to 180C.
2) Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda. Add in ground hazelnuts and salt. Whisk to combine.
3) Melt butter and chocolate over a double-boiler until completely melted. Cool slightly. Whisk in coffee Irish Cream and coffee granules. Stir to combine.
4) Cream the butter for about 1 min to soften. Gradually sugar and beat until light and creamy. Dribble in eggs slowly, about 1 tbsp at a time, beating constantly for about 2 mins. Beat in vanilla.5) On LOW speed, beat in 1/3 of the flour mixture until just combined. Beat in ½ of the buttermilk. Then beat in 1/2 of the remaining flour mixture, followed by the remaining buttermilk. Finally beat in the remaining flour mixture.
6) Transfer slightly less than half the batter into the bowl with the chocolate mixture. Fold to combine completely.
7) Drop alternately spoonfuls of the two batters into the prepared tin. Swirl a thin knife/spatula through the batter once.
8) Bake for about 35- 40 mins till skewer inserted comes out clean.
9) Cool in pan for 5 mins. Unmold and cool completely.

* I make my own buttermilk by using ½ tbsp lemon juice and topping up with fresh milk to 120ml. Stir mixture, and set aside for 15 mins before using.
** I added in Irish Cream just for fun. The taste was not pronounced at all after baking. It can be omitted and replaced with 10ml coffee.

12 comments:

Patricia Scarpin said...

Angie, what a great way to start with the book - the cake looks fantastic! And I love the addition of Irish Cream, a very nice twist!

Anh said...

What a beautiful cake! Lovely... I saw Dorie's book, too but never had enough "motivation" to buy it. :D Glad you purchase it and tried things out.

And take care. I understand the ‘auto-shut down’ of the body. Mine is at 6pm. Can't do much after that but rest and sleep.

Baking Fiend said...

angie, cake's beautifully done... I got this book too, but somehow haven't settled on a recipe to try. Time to really dig in and try somefine.

I'm also a morning person and gets increasing easily irritable as the day progresses! but sometimes baking is only done at nite on weekdays... hah

Gattina Cheung said...

glad you find joy in the retail and baking therapy =) Gorgeous cake!
Dorie is a very good writer... although the collection of recipes in this book isn't quite my taste, I still like her, will keep an eye on her any new coming :)

^cherie said...

Grin. I'm the opposite. A night owl i am :P

Beautiful cake. I love the chocolate swirl in the cake. Splendid!

Btw, how do u like the book? I just borrowed one of her books today but no photos at all :(

Is baking from my home to yours the same or with beautiful photos?

Thanks Angie!

Unknown said...

Lovely bakes, Angie! =)

Unknown said...

Patricia, thanks for your kind encouragement :)

Anh, thanks pal! Hope you're getting enough rest too.

Ida, same here, nowadays I'm baking either weekdays' evening(which is getting rarer), or mostly on weekends.

Gattina, great to 'see' you again, you've been quiet these few days. Your sinus still bothering you?

Sherie, so you're the night owl mum? :p

The book is full of gorgeous photos. Although not every recipe is accompanied by a pic, but the majority does have. I'm looking forward to trying out more recipes.

Jacelyn, thanks a lot :))

Brilynn said...

I assure you, Dorie's book will not disapoint! I made 3 of her recipes just this past week!

Gattina Cheung said...

my pal, I'm going to move !!! Now busy in packing. Next month (so soon!) will fly back to HK, maybe also Australia... depending on my $$$... to see my families. Then will go to another country in Europe. I know it may sound sudden to you... me too, everything just happened :D I think I will put a quick notice in my blog before my internet cut off.

Anne said...

The cake is simply lovely! I love the chocolate swirls :)

Unknown said...

Brilynn, and you met Dorie in person too!

Gattina pal, hope you'll have a safe move and settle down soon.

Anne, thanks. This is nothing compared to your Gateux Saint Honore.

Nora B. said...

Angie, your cake looks so pretty! I used to eat a lot of marble cake as a kid but never baked it myself.