Pear Pinwheel & Hazelnut Cake

I’ve almost forgotten The Home Baker  (THB)  challenge this month & luckily I can still catch up!  Phew…. Just in time  & I must say that I  was a bit panic there!  LOL  As always I think I’m the last to submit my entry  &  most of  members are already baking the next recipe from Lou Seibert Pappas cookbook , Coffee Cake.  This is our 4^th bake from this cookbook & this recipe was chosen by Zoe of Bake For Happy Kids.  I

 

Jane Austen moment in Persuasion

Chapter 8

Whether former feelings were to be renewed must be brought to the proof; former times must undoubtedly be brought to the recollection of each; they could not but be reverted to; the year of their engagement could not but be named by him, in the little narratives or descriptions which conversation called forth.  His profession qualified him, his disposition lead him, to talk; and "That was in the year six;" "That happened before I went to sea in the year six," occurred in the course of the first evening they spent together:  and though his voice did not falter, and though she had no reason to suppose his eye wandering towards her while he spoke, Anne felt the utter impossibility, from her knowledge of his mind, that he could be unvisited by remembrance any more than herself. There must be the same immediate association of thought, though she was very far from conceiving it to be of equal pain.

Pear Pinwheel & Hazelnut Cake

For the recipe please refer to  Zoe of   Bake For Happy Kids  & for more  lovely bakes from all the members of  The Home Bakers  (THB)   click HERE. 

1) Beat butter & sugar.

2)  Gradually add in eggs & almond extract.

3) Fold in hazelnut & flour mixture till well combined.

4) Pour batter into a springform pan & arrange the slice pears before sprinkle sugar, cinnamon & nutmeg . P/S I've missed one step which was coating the pears with this sugar mixture before placing them on the batter! 

Roses from my garden

 Michèle Morgan Rose

 Pierre De Ronsard Rose

Chocolate & Coffee Layer Cake

Jane Austen moment in Persuasion

Chapter 5

Here Anne had often been staying.  She knew the ways of Uppercross as well as those of Kellynch.  The two families were so continually meeting, so much in the habit of running in and out of each other's house at all hours, that it was rather a surprise to her to find Mary alone; but being alone, her being unwell and out of spirits was almost a matter of course.  Though better endowed than the elder sister, Mary had not Anne's understanding nor temper.  While well, and happy, and properly attended to, she had great good humour and excellent spirits; but any indisposition sunk her completely.  She had no resources for solitude; and inheriting a considerable share of the Elliot self-importance, was very prone to add to every other distress that of fancying herself neglected and ill-used.  In person, she was inferior to both sisters, and had, even in her bloom, only reached the dignity of being "a fine girl."  She was now lying on the faded sofa of the pretty little drawing-room, the once elegant furniture of which had been gradually growing shabby, under the influence of four summers and two children; and, on Anne's appearing, greeted her with—

Chocolate & Coffee Cake

Source: Food Network - Ina Garten ( Barefoot Contessa)

Ingredients:

For cake:

225g flour

180g sugar

3 eggs

95g cocoa powder

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp Kosher salt

1 tsp baking powder

250ml buttermilk

125g vegetable oil

1 cup of espresso (100ml)

2 or 3 x 20cm cake pan

For frosting:

170g dark chocolate (chopped)

226g unsalted butter

2 egg yolks

1 tsp vanilla extract

50 ml espresso (cool)

Directions:

1)      Preheat oven to 180°C & grease 2or 3 cake pans.

2)      Combined all dry ingredients for the cake in electric mixing bowl mix them well.

3)      In another bowl beat buttermilk, vanilla, oil & egg yolks.

4)      Gradually beat buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients till all well combined.

5)      Beat in gradually little at a time hot espresso into the batter till well incorporated.

6)      Pour batter into 2 grease pans equally. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Let the cakes cool.

7)      For frosting: Melt chocolate on double boiler / bain-marie till smooth. Set a side to cool

8)      Beat butter on medium speed till creamy & fluffy. Add in vanilla & egg yolks for 1 minute. Gradually beat in sugar till well incorporated.

9)      Beat in melted chocolate & espresso slowly & gradually till all well combined.

    10) Spread coffee butter cream on cake layer evenly. Spread the rest of the frosting all over the  
    cake. Store in refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serve.

I’m linking this post to Blog Hop - Cook Like A Star May 2012 event hosted by Zoe of  Bake For Happy Kids.

 

Bon Appetit

Apricot- Pistachio- Lemon Cake

I’m really excited that finally I’ve received a copy of Lou Seibert Pappas's Coffee Cakes  to join The Home Bakers(THB) event hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavors. f you are interested in joining in the fun please do hop over to THB

 

  

 For the 2ndTHB bake was this Apricot-Pistachio- Lemon Coffee Cake chosen by Chris of Yummy Bakes.  For recipe of this cake please hop over to Chris of Yummy Bakes.

Jane Austen moment in Persuasion (1818)

Chapter 5

Anne herself was become hardened to such affronts; but she felt the imprudence of the arrangement quite as keenly as Lady Russell. With a great deal of quiet observation, and a knowledge, which she often wished less, of her father's character, she was sensible that results the most serious to his family from the intimacy were more than possible.  She did not imagine that her father had at present an idea of the kind.  Mrs Clay had freckles, and a projecting tooth, and a clumsy wrist, which he was continually making severe remarks upon, in her absence; but she was young, and certainly altogether well-looking, and possessed, in an acute mind and assiduous pleasing manners, infinitely more dangerous attractions than any merely personal might have been.  Anne was so impressed by the degree of their danger, that she could not excuse herself from trying to make it perceptible to her sister.  She had little hope of success; but Elizabeth, who in the event of such a reverse would be so much more to be pitied than herself, should never, she thought, have reason to reproach her for giving no warning. 

 

Linking this post to The Home Bakers event hosted by Joyce of Kitchen Flavor. To view the rest of the fabulous entries , please click here.

Spring flowers from my garden : Narcissus & Tulips