Goodbye, Cold Friend

The refrig had a sudden attack and died. No warning. No sounds. Just woke up one morning to water on the floor.

This happened last Thursday. Of all the food items I lost, I'm sad about the two cartons of mascarpone cream that I was going to use to make frosting. Oh well, a big trip to Trader Joe's can fix that problem.

Just another reminder to eat your ice cream first.

A new fridge should arrive Wednesday so I'm out for this week's TWD (sorry, Pink Stripes) but hope to fill my fridge with the essentials: butter, cream, buttermilk, milk, butter, cream cheese, butter, and ice cream. Oh yeah, maybe some veggies too. ;)

Strawberry Shortcake Cake

Sorry I haven't been posting much lately. Lots of stuff going on...in addition to the World Cup's games at 4:30 am, my usual baking time. I apologize for missing several Tuesdays with Dorie weeks, and hope to get back into the swing of things soon. And special thanks to a few readers who sent me emails asking if I was okay! That was so thoughtful!

Remember Team Dave and the Los Angeles Marathon? I brought this lovely dessert to the post-marathon party. It's a great summer cake for a casual dinner party or way to highlight beautiful strawberries!

I adapted the recipe from Sky-High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes by Alisa Huntsman. Man, you have to get this book. It is Delicious with a capital D.

This cake is light (made with cake flour) and just delicious. Get her book for the filling which includes rose water. I didn't do that for this version, just macerated some strawberries in sugar.

Here is the Sky-High cake in three layers...see post here.

I've make this in a 6" triple layer before and it is quite lovely, but does NOT travel well at all. So this time I decided to make two 8" layers and assemble it at the party. Nothing like pulling out a whisk at the party...makes you look like a baker! :)

Strawberry Shortcake Cake
Adapted from Sky High: Irresistible Triple Layer Cakes by Alisa Huntsman, page 89

Cake:
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups cake flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup buttermilk

1 1/2 - 2 cups heavy cream

Fresh Strawberry Filling (See the book for this recipe that includes rosewater...I just macerated some strawberries with sugar)

Whole strawberries, for garnish

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I made mine with two 8" cake pans. The original recipes calls for three 6" pans.
2. Cream butter, 3/4 cup sugar and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition.
3. Sift together cake flour, baking powder, and salt.
4. Add dry ingredients to the batter, alternating with the buttermilk in 3 additions. Divide among the prepared pans.
5. I don't remember how long I baked my 8" pans. The 6" pans bake for 20-25 minutes. I pulled them out when a toothpick came out clean. I let them cool for 10 minutes and then cooled them on a cake rack.

Assembly:
1. In a large chilled bowl, whip the cream with the remaining 2 tbsp of sugar until stiff.
2. Assemble the cake with cake, strawberries, whipped cream and repeat. Finish with your best strawberries on top. Enjoy!
Again, the book has a recipe for fresh strawberry filing that includes rose water.

Eat My Blog - This Saturday June 19th!!!

Los Angeles, Whatcha doing this Saturday? Well, hop in your car or get on the bus and get yourself over to West Hollywood for EAT MY BLOG!

Eat My Blog is a blogger bake sale benefiting the fantastic Los Angeles Regional Foodbank.

Eat My Blog Bake Sale
Saturday, June 19th
10 am - 4 pm
at Tender Greens
8759 Santa Monica Blvd. WeHo

More info on the Eat My Blog website!

I'm bringing Matcha Mochi Mini Bundts with Red Bean Filling and Muddy Buddies. Here are some files photos of the yummies:

Muddy Buddies (gluten free)
(from last year's sale...I'm making these again!)

Matcha Mochi Mini Bundts

Hope to see you there!!! Bring lots of money and an empty stomach! ;)
- mary the food librarian

How to Grow Golden Beets

Yeah, this blog is called The Food Librarian.
Doesn't mention my gardening skills.
So, here they are.

How to Grow Golden Beets

1. Go to the interwebs. Go to Seed Savers. Pick up a packet of Burpee's Golden Beets.

2. When they arrive, call your dad and ask him about his garden...talk up the fact that golden beets are sweeter than his usual planting of red beets. Um, I guess it would be helpful to mention that your dad should have a backyard garden. That is helpful in this process.

3. Give the seeds to your dad on HIS BIRTHDAY. Didn't you know that the most appropriate gift to give your dad on his 78th birthday is Golden Beet seeds?

4. Have you dad start seedlings in a pot. Check them daily. Keep the birds away. Transplant when ready.

5. Have your dad grow the beets until they are big enough for YOU to drive over and pick them. Yes, YOU have to do some work here! :)

This photo is from April 2010 as the beets were coming up!

Love me my gardener dad! Next time, I'll review how to grow cucumbers, China peas, heirloom tomatoes and other veggies. Yeah, shockingly, it'll be a pretty similar process. :)

Fresh from the garden... I like to clean them up and roast them with other veggies, or steam them and slice them for a salad. Golden beets are great because they don't stain your hands like red beets and are sweeter. If you don't have a retired gardening papa, pick some up at the Farmer's Market! :)

My dad's golden and red beets! Yummmmmmmy!

Tender Shortcakes with Raspberries - Tuesdays with Dorie

Tender Shortcakes

For this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection, Cathy of The Tortefeasor chose Tender Shortcakes on page 423 of Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.

Cathy is one of my favorite bloggers. She is hilarious and such a good chef and baker! Be sure to add her blog to your reader!

Since I made Strawberry Shortcakes recently, I made 1/8 of the recipe, used raspberries and made them really small. The shortcake is very simple to make and I could pretty much eat these biscuits all day! :)

Be sure to check out the other Tuesdays with Dorie bakers!

Recipe:
Cathy's blog, The Tortefeasor
Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours, page 423

Pasta with Swiss Chard and Shrimp

Sometimes, when I channel surf, I run into the Duggars. The family on TLC with a zillion children. Once, I saw them go shopping. Damn. That was crazy.

Me? I'm the person at the meat counter saying:

I would like to buy one sausage link, please.

For this recipe, I bought 5 shrimp (shell-on) at the counter. They were on sale so it was $.50 worth of protein! Yes, 50-cents. Well, since they were previously frozen, I couldn't refreeze them so I just got enough for dinner. Me and my 5 shrimp.

I boiled some whole wheat pasta. Chopped half a head of red Swiss chard from the farmer's market. Sauteed in some garlic and olive oil. Then I tossed in the five shrimp and cooked for a few seconds before adding in the pasta. The Swiss chard dyed the pasta...that is why you see a pink tint. I finished it off with some salt, pepper and parm cheese. Dinner for one!

White Chocolate Brownies (with Blueberries) - Tuesdays with Dorie

For this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection, Marthe of Culinary Delights selected White Chocolate Brownies on pages 110 and 111 of Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.

Although Marthe picked this, all the TWD bakers know that Clara is cheering this pick as she was involved in heavy lobbying for this one. So I think this week is hosted by both Marthe and Clara! :)

I had to work this weekend so I didn't get a chance to visit the Farmer's Market, and the raspberries at the supermarket looked weak. I substituted blueberries instead.

I skipped the meringue topping because it doesn't keep well, and I'm bringing these into work. I'm sure lots of bakers tried the meringue so you'll have to check their blogs for the meringue covering.

All by blueberries settled on the bottom of these mini-muffins so I will just serve them upside down! Be sure to check out the other Tuesdays with Dorie bakers! Whew! Sorry it's a day late, baking has been a challenge because my house is getting new windows installed...in the kitchen!

Recipe:
Marthe of Culinary Delights's blog, or...
Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours, page 110