Daring Bakers March - Dutch Crunch Bread

Another month.. another Daring Baker's challenge!
This month, it was bread related again.  I recently got handed down an unused bread machine, which I'm loving.  And, in approximately 3 more hours, it will have made me a loaf of raisin bread! 
Yummo! 


But, back to the challenge.  So this month, we had to make Dutch Crunch Bread.  I've vaguely heard of it before, but never tasted it.  


Essentially its a normal loaf of bread or a roll, with a rice flour coating on top.  This is spread on the surface prior to baking, and then gives a crackly, crunch, tiger / giraffe looking like texture at the top.  


Taste wise.. its bread, so nothing different there.  But, I'm not sure if I hadn't set it properly prior to putting them in the oven, but my crackles looked a little funky. 


I used the recipe that they suggested from Baking Bites, as I'm still hesitant to stray away from suggested recipes. I'm too chicken for that.  


Anyway.. here are the results:

Well .. what do you think? 
Or maybe I just burnt them. Anyway, another month is coming around the corner. 


xoxo
Mich

Pear and Almond Tart

YUMMO.. 
One of my favourite pastries from my local patisserie is the Pear and Almond Tart. 


When I was researching for this recipe, I didn't realise that it was such a Frenchy dessert.  I guess its a good thing that I attempted to cook this before heading off in June. 


The results are:

For tarts, I usually use a shortcrust pastry.  But this recipe used pate sablon.  Taste beautiful, but I knew it would be really crumbly. 

The recipe used a processor to make the pastry and also the frangipan cream.  My hands and fingers had to be the processor instead, so not sure whether that makes a difference to the texture of it.  

But, it turned out well, nice, soft and buttery.  Recipe didn't say to rest it, and to line the pan straight away.  Also, not sure whether this made a difference either . 

And , due to my poor planning , I accidentally put the 2 largest pieces of the pears together, so then the whole symmetry of the arrangement went out of wack.  Hence, there are some sections where there's no pear.  Lesson learnt for next time 

At least it tasted great! =) 

xoxo 

Mich

Cupcakes

A's little sister organised a party at their place for her birthday.  So, I offered to make cupcakes for it.


1 batch of red velvet, with cream cheese frosting.  This time, unlike the cake, the cream cheese was nice and creamy.  But the cupcake itself turned out quite oily


The other batch was Devil's chocolate with vanilla cream cheese frost.  This frosting was less cheesy and more vanilla.  Perfect combination. 


Both set turned out really well.  Will definitely use the recipes again. 

The party, however, ended up being a rave in their living room. So, I don't think any of them got to eat them. 


All good. 


xoxo
Mich