It was a challenge for me, as it was quite time consuming (especially with a toddler clamoring to be a part of it all).I think it took me three days. I made strawberry puree, strawberry juice, strawberry gelatin, cakes, cut out cardboard to insert in the pan, and dirtied almost every bowl in my mom's house. That is a lot of bowls.
The cake was not quite my style as far as desserts go, but trying new things is what being a daring baker is all about, so I am so glad I joined and participated in this challenge.
This could be a beautiful dessert for a special occasion. My cake was not so beautiful- notice the lumps and unnevenness - but it could be a beautiful cake under different circumstances. It had a nice, creamy, fresh strawberry taste to it.
For the recipe, and a picture of what this cake SHOULD look like, visit our lovely host's blog: http://www.culinaryconcoctionsbypeabody.com/2007/07/30/mirror-mirroron-the-wall/ .
Before all you lovers of stawberries jump up and go buy the ingredients for this cake, revert to 7th grade for a moment and take this brief quiz to find out if its right for you:
1. what does jell-o mean to you ? (a) a box of powder
or (b) mashed up strawberries cooked with water, sugar and gelatin, then strained and chilled
2. would you rather make a dessert that is (a) tasty and rustic looking OR (b) beautiful and bakery-like
3. Do you have 5 hours to spare (give or take a couple)?
If you answerd B, B, YES, then you should totally make this cake!
if you answered A, A, and NO, then see other desserts featured on The Glutton. Or make strawberry shortcake, which has all the good elements of strawberry mirror cake, but without the time investment and needed experience as a pastry chef.
UPDATE: later on the day of posting, I have checked out several other fellow Daring Baker's Mirror Cakes (and you can do it too, http://daringbakersblogroll.blogspot.com/). I have been put to serious shame! What beautiful cakes they have created! How smooth are their mirrors, how velvety their bavarians, and how embarrassing to showcase my little frumpy!
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12 comments:
I love your quiz, I agree that making this cake is not for the faint of heart in the kitchen. I was trepidatious about it for quite a bit before making it, but in the end it turned out ok, you're right about how much work it is though, and congrats on getting through it!
Holly! You have nothing to be embarrassed about - your cake is beautiful! And MY GOD I can't even imagine what an event it was to finish it with a lil baby trying to get in on the act. hehee
Well done!
xoxo
Your cake is just as lovely as all of the cakes I've been wide eyed about while perusing all of the Daring Baker Mirror Cake posts. :-)
Hehehe good write up, and good job on the challenge!
You did a great job.
Wow, on the 5 hours though! I think if it took me that long I would have been hating it. :)
Great post Holly, it was hard enough for me to do mine with a 7 year old at home I can't imagine it with a toddler! I think it looks really pretty.
Lonely ones like me forget what a challenge it is to bake with a family around...so more power to you for completeing the challenge. It looks great, what' ya' talking about?!
It is definitely a dessert for special occasions. I brought it to work and now I'm dreading that people are asking me to make them another one.
Well done.
NOT frumpy. Glad you were able to do it!
you are all just so kind and supportive. I forgot to post that I actually made 2 cakes since we had so many guests coming over for dinner...this is probably why the cake was such a headache for me. A learning experience, nonetheless!
Your cake is great and your write up reminds me of the 'joys' of baking with little ones around. Glad you completed the challenge and are a Daring Baker!
Holly, you have absolutely *nothing* to be ashamed of; your cake is awesome! ...And I love your 'is this cake for you' quiz. :)
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