Remember my Two Things I am Not post earlier about joining The Daring Bakers!? Well, I can finally post my first challenge: Filbert Gateau with Praline Buttercream (From Great Cakes by Carol Walter).
I was feeling excited, nervous, and anxious about my first challenge. However, I was really looking forward to seeing if I could succeed at this complicated recipe (I'm not going to retype the recipe here, but I'm sure the other Daring Bakers will post it). Luckily, at the beginning of July, Anna and I went to visit our parents in Seattle. Why is this a good thing? I had help (Anna), my mom's bigger-than-my-kitchen, and a pantry filled with needed ingredients. All I had to bring with me were a few tools and chocolate.
Making the cake was fun and relatively simple. This was the first time I made a cake from scratch, and the concept of using nuts (almonds) in the cake dough was a new one to me. The cake smelled great, did not "fall" after baking, and was easy enough to slice into 3 layers.
The trouble started when I made the buttercream. I did not want to believe Anna, but I guess I did overheat the egg whites: the buttercream never came together, and looked rather awful (at least it tasted good!). Instead of trying to make it again, I decided to continue with what I had. (After a 5 hour flight from DC to Seattle, I did not have much patience)
Luckily, the ganache was simple to make! This was also something I've never done before. Oh, and it tasted great! The addition of rum did not hurt :)
But what matters the most, is that with Anna's help I was able to complete my first Daring Bakers Challenge. And the cake tasted great! I made a mistake of leaving a knife next to it in the fridge, which made taking thin slices of the cake way too easy :) My parents and Anna liked the cake too; can't remember what Misha thought.
P.S. I'm posting this "in the future"...hopefully that works :)
29 comments:
ooo that looks amazing!!! sounds very complicated. i would love to be able to bake cakes like that!
Congrats on your 1st challenge and your cake looks yummy!
Looks wonderful! Way to go I'm impressed and welcome to the DBs!
Great job! The decorations are great, they look like little sunflowers!
Congratulations on your first DB challenge. You did a great job!
This was not an easy challenge particularly with the buttercream. But your cake looks wonderful!
Well done on your first challenge, now it doesn't feel as nerve racking as it felt before the challenge isn't it? :) Welcome to the Daring Bakers!
Your cake looks delish!
It was a long day making that cake.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. It nice to hear from a fellow first timer too. :-)
wellcome¡¡¡¡¡
Your first challenge is delicious, You are a woderful challenge baker
Congratulations Olga on your first challenge, and welcome to the DBr's! :)
Great job on your first challenge..this one was a whopper. What an initiation huh?? :)
good job on your first challenge. I love the "sprinkling" of buttercream flowers. bravo.
You did a wonderful job!! We survived sister!!
That was such a pain!!!! LOL. Did taste quite good though.
Congratulations on your first challenge, you did a wonderful job! Especially since it was the first time you made a cake from scratch!
Great first challenge!
you did such an amazing job for your first challenge! Congrats!
Your cake looks really good!
Your first scratch cake? No way! it looks too perfect for a first.
Nice job!
congratulations on your first challenge!
your cake look very yummy:)))
Welcome to the Daring Bakers! You did a great job on your first challenge and it sounds like you learned a lot of new techniques that you will be able to use from now on!
I did the DB challenge for the very first time too! It was a big task but I think we both did pretty good! :-)
You cake looks wonderful!
Looking forward to August DB assignmnet :-)
Welcome to the DB! Congrats on your first challenge, you did a great job!
I love the look of your slice of cake. The praline buttercream was the best part and you got a nice thick layer.
Nice job! I too have made the mistake of leaving a knife too close to the cake. Funny how those little slivers add up by the end of the day! Welcome to the group :)
Well done on your first challenge...wonderful!!
Wow I love the way you decorate the cake!! Looks like a field of sunflowers to me!! Great job on your first challenge!!
Congrats on your first challenge - it's my first challenge this month as well. Your cake looks great.
My, my what a beautiful looking cake. It looks so chocolatey and nutty, I might just have to steal a slice :P Great job on your first DB challenge, can't wait to see what you whip up for next month!
Your cake looks amazing! I love the decoration!
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