Monday, June 22, 2009

Coconut Cake, Bacon Stir-Fry, and Basking With Sar Sar

Before, I start detailing more food prep, I want to acknowledge the awful Metro crash that occurred at approximately 5PM EST today. I've lived in this area my entire life and nothing like this has happened apparently since before I was born in 1982. I cannot imagine how horrific being in an accident like that would be and I feel for all those affected. It also again makes me appreciate all the EMS and emergency staff that assist victims in these emergencies.

My relaxing weekend continued today with a visit to Sar Sar's in Potomac where we chatted around her pool and I bought a couple uber-discounted books at a local used book shop. I loved EVERY part of my afternoon ( : When I got home, I set to work on the coconut layer cake. I creamed sugar, shortening, and butter and then mixed in five egg yolks (I'm feeling a BIG egg white omlette in my near future). Next, I alternated adding a flour and baking soda mixture and buttermilk into the batter. Notice, I used baking soda rather than powder because the acid in buttermilk provides a leavening alkali for the cake (Thank you, What Einstein Told His Cook). I folded in the pecans and coconut flakes, poured the batter into two greased and floured 8-9" pans and stuck them in a 325 degree oven for about 45 to 50 minutes. Man, I love making cake!




With my cakes rising in the oven, I worked to alleviate my own hunger. So, I put together a variation of an old stir fry favorite. I sauteed onions and garlic, added in all the eligible veggies in my crisper (tonight- zucchini, tomatoes, and spinach), fried up bacon for my protein, seasoned with salt, pepper, oregano, red pepper flakes, and leftover fresh basil, and covered the whole mess with a mound of tomato sauce. After a quick simmer, I topped my stir fry with a blend of five shredded cheeses, nuked my plate for a fast melt, sprinkled (okay, showered) it with shredded parmesean, and voila! Dinner!!




I'm still a little weary of my frosting skills and cake assembly, but I also wanted to whip it up tonight and not tomorrow. So, I made up the cream cheese frosting to top the coconut cake after dinner too. Cream cheese frosting may be my savior. Tomorrow will be the test and Andrea's birthday!! Happy TND and happy birthday, Andrea!! Very excited and ready to tackle chicken tomorrow ( :





Tomorrow: Roast Chicken Legs with Savory and Thyme

No comments:

Post a Comment