Daring Bakers November 2011: Filipino Desserts

The November 2011 Daring Bakers Challenge had 2 wonderful recipes - the amazing Sans Rival Cake and the Biingka. Sadly, I could do neither in their original form as the number of eggs required were just too many. For the same reason, a modified version also became difficult:( to create. I really did not want to attempt messing around with such beautiful recipes. But I really wanted tomparticipate in this challenge. So, in the end, I chose to a completely different dessert, Filipino nevertheless, and equally delicious as the ones chosen above! Photographs and details on my return from vacation!!

Post Script: Catherine of Munchie Musings was our November 2011 Daring Bakers host and she challenged us to make a traditional Filipino dessert - the delicious Sans Rival Cake! And for those of us who wanted to try additional Filipino dessert, Catherine also gave us a bonus recipe for Bibingka which comes from her friend Jun of Jun-Blog.

All content, text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007 - 2011. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

Daring Cooks November 2011: An Apple Tea Cake (Eggless)

The Daring Cooks November 2011 challenge was to create a delicious food recipe using tea! Yes, tea! As anyone who reads my blog will know, tea is my favorite beverage. I enjoy it black, milky with sugar, with spices, green, white, herbal, hot and cold!!

Cooking with tea can only be described as an adventure in cooking. Just take a peek at some of the recipes this month's challenge offered. I chose to make a cake with tea. I had these beautiful Honey Crisp apples that I had bought at the orchard, and a beautiful new black tea that I am in love with. It's a Tazo blend of black tea, orange peel, cocoa extract and Yerba Mate called Tazo Focus.

Ingredients:
2 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup apple sauce
2 apples, peeled, cored, sliced
1/4 cup brown sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup tea made with 1 bag Tazo Focus
4 tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk (as needed)

Method:

1. Place the sliced apples in a bowl. Sprinkle with the sugar and lemon juice. 
2. Set the fruit aside for at least a couple of hours.
3. Prepare the tea by placing one tea bag in a cup. Add boiling water to make up one cup. 
4. Cover and set aside for 3-5 minutes. Let it cool completely.
5. Sift together the flour, baking soda, sugar, and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
6. Blend in the apple sauce, butter, buttermilk, vanilla extract, and tea into the flour.
7. The batter should be fairly loose and lump free. 
8. If it has not achieved this consistency, add milk one teaspoon at a time to loosen it up.
9. Arrange the sliced apples in a loaf tin or baking dish of your choice.
10. Pour the batter over the apples.
11. Bake at 350F for 35-45 minutes, or until the cake passes the toothpick test.
12. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely in the tin.
13. Remove the cake gently from the tin.

This cake tastes wonderful with, what else bu a up of hot tea. Try it with, ice cream or warm custard for a dessert. I serve it warmed with maple syrup!!

Post Script: Sarah from Simply Cooked was our November Daring Cooks’ hostess and she challenged us to create something truly unique in both taste and technique! We learned how to cook using tea with recipes from Tea Cookbook by Tonia George and The New Tea Book by Sara Perry.

Click here for the Complete November 2011 Daring Cooks Challenge.

All content, text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007 - 2011. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.

Daring Bakers October 2011: A Savoury Take on the Povitica

This Daring Bakers Challenge was interesting albeit after the festive season in October, I could barely stand to see more sugar!! So I decided to tweak this challenge a little to suit our tastes as well as make it savoury!! The filling for this savoury version of the Povitica is a delicious Spicy Walnut Paste, made with walnuts, parsley, green chilies,pomegranate molasses and garlic!! I have also not used egg in the bread or the filling.I could have replaced the egg with some oil for the filling and that's the reason why the whirls are missing on the inside of the bread! These changes aside, I have followed the bread recipe as is.

 
I have to say the bread came out wonderful and I will make the sweet version soon. Till then, Enjoy!!

Click here for the Complete Daring Bakers October 2011 Challenge.

Post Script: The Daring Baker’s October 2011 challenge was Povitica, hosted by Jenni of The Gingered Whisk. Povitica is a traditional Eastern European Dessert Bread that is as lovely to look at as it is to eat!

All content, text and photographs in this blog, unless otherwise noted, are Copyright of © Annarasa 2007 - 2011. All Rights Reserved. Kindly do not reproduce without permission.