THE DARING BAKERS’ MARCH, 2011 CHALLENGE: YEASTED MERINGUE COFFEE CAKE

So... this is my first challenge with the daring baker's and even though it took me all day, I think it turned out our pretty darn good!

The March 2011 Daring Baker’s Challenge was hosted by Ria of Ria’s Collection and Jamie of Life’s a Feast. Ria and Jamie challenged The Daring Bakers to bake a yeasted Meringue Coffee Cake.

The Ingredients (for the yeast coffee cake dough)

Start by mixing up the dough.There is YEAST yikes!

 

 

 

 

Dry ingredients first!!! 

Combine milk, butter, and water and heat over warm until the butter is melted

Once the butter is melted pour the heated milk mixture into the flour mixture. THEN.... stir, stir, stir, until it forms a dough that holds together.

Put dough on to a floured surface and knead... knead... knead

Place dough into a lighly greased bowl. Cover and let the dough rise for an hour.

Near the end of the hour, make your meringue and set aside!

Halve the dough because this recipe makes two coffee cakes. Roll out half the dough

Now... spread the meringue evenly across the dough leaving about an inch on all sides... believe me... if you don't do that, it gets a little messy when you start rolling! On top of the meringue put your topping on. For one of my coffee cakes I used a cinnamon/sugar mixture and a chopped up Hershey's bar... the other one, I used cherries and sugar. Then roll it up like a Swiss Cake Roll and then turn into a wreath. Cut into the wreath with a kitchen scissors. Let the cakes rise AGAIN (dang yeast!) Then bake!

Here's the final product!

It was challenging. it was yummy. I can't wait until next month! :)







 RECIPE!

FILLED MERINGUE COFFEE CAKE
Makes 2 round coffee cakes, each approximately 10 inches in diameter
The recipe can easily be halved to make one round coffee cake
Ingredients
For the yeast coffee cake dough: 4 cups (600 g / 1.5 lbs.) flour ¼ cup (55 g / 2 oz.) sugar ¾ teaspoon (5 g / ¼ oz.) salt 1 package (2 ¼ teaspoons / 7 g / less than an ounce) active dried yeast ¾ cup (180 ml / 6 fl. oz.) whole milk ¼ cup (60 ml / 2 fl. oz. water (doesn’t matter what temperature) ½ cup (135 g / 4.75 oz.) unsalted butter at room temperature 2 large eggs at room temperature
10 strands saffron for Ria’s version (Saffron might be hard to find and it’s expensive, so you can substitute with ½ - 1 teaspoon of ground cardamom or ground nutmeg. Or simply leave it plain like Jamie’s version)
For the meringue: 3 large egg whites at room temperature ¼ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon vanilla ½ cup (110 g / 4 oz.) sugar
For the filling:
Jamie’s version: 1 cup (110 g / 4 oz.) chopped pecans or walnuts 2 Tablespoons (30 g / 1 oz.) granulated sugar ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 cup (170 g / 6 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips or coarsely chopped chocolate

Thunder... lightening... and snow! OH MY!

Right now there is lightening, thunder and snow. I wonder, on a daily basis, why I live in the state of Wisconsin. I am hoping that after Winter Storm Francesca (how exotic, right?!) blows on through that we will finally enter the fabulous season called SPRING! But... in the mean time I think I might be snowed in or iced in... I'm not sure which. So tomorrow (since I have off) I plan on doing some baking and crafting. I am in the middle of a project that I would like to finish and I've got some bananas that are overly ripe on the kitchen counter. Here's a tidbit you might find interesting... Andy sometimes hides bananas until they are black so that I need to make banana bread for him! Devilish huh?? I'll post pics (of both?) when I am finished!

Curly Girl

I love Curly Girl Design. It is probably my most favorite art of all time. If you've been to my house you will see many displays that prove my love. She is just releasing some of her new spring things and I LOVE this one. I love many of her pieces.... they speak to me and I feel like they say the exact thing that I am thinking. Take a look at Leigh's beautiful art and become obsessed too!

Dillinger

Meet Dillinger. He is my baby. He is a cuddler. He gives hugs. He kisses alot. He is a bed hog and a begger extrordinare. He is mean brother. He is naughty. He chews up important papers and steals food off the table. He ruins every new piece of furniture we buy.  He's been a part of our family a year and we still can't let him be home alone. However, its been a year where I sometimes would rather be home cuddling, getting kisses and watching his antics than doing anything else.

Happiness is... A new playlist

I love making new playlists... it is one of my very favorite things to do.  But today I created a playlist that is all of my old favorites. This is the kinda playlist that sounds really good with me singing along at the top of my lungs. It the kind of playlist that every song evokes a memory. Its the kind of playlist that reminds you of who you are and where you've been. It makes me think of some very special people who have played important roles in my life. This playlist is wonderful and fantastic and I can't stop listening to it....here are a few of the picks!!!

1. Far Away- Nickelback
2. She's Everything- Brad Paisley
3. Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol
4. Gravity- Sara Bareilles
5. I'm Movin' On- Rascal Flatts
6. In Terms of Love- SheDaisy
7. The Older I Get- Skillet
8. Stay- Lisa Loeb
9. Marry Me- Train
10. You're That Way- Jon Troast
11. People Change- Rockapella
12. Stay With You- GooGoo Dolls
13. There it Go- Juelz Santana
14. Smack That- Eminem
15. Tim McGraw- Taylor Swift
16. Remember When- Alan Jackson
17. So Far Away- Crossfade
18. Prayin' for Daylight- Rascal Flatts
19. Bad Day- Daniel Powter
20. Goodbye My Lover- James Blunt
21. Best Days- Matt White
22. Take Me or Leave Me- Rent Soundtrack
23. Defying Gravity- Wicked Soundtrack
24. Low- Flo Rida
25. Watch Me Shine- Joanna Pacitti

Is this thing on?

Umm... is this thing on????

Holy Moley! Has it really been a month since my last post? I am baaad! See? Another resolution hits the dust! :)

Well, here's an update for you. Work has been kinda crazy. The dogs are always crazy. My house has been even crazier! Plus American Idol is sucking my life away! :)

Speaking of American Idol... These are my two faves.

Lauren Alaina who is hands-down the best girl they've got and Scotty McCreery with his ultra-low countryfied voice! mmmhmmm! I do have a couple other boys that I have crushes on as well! Hopefully they all make it into the top 10!