Monday, October 29, 2007

The little kitchen that could: Daring Bakers, take one!

If you had told me a year ago that I would be writing a blog I would have looked at you like you had 17 heads and then asked you for a definition of a blog...

And again, if you had added that I might be using my oven to make sweet things as part of a baking club I would have really thought you had fallen off your rocker.

Well my friend, the times they are a changin'.

This month I had my first foray as a daring baker. What is a daring baker, you ask? Is this merely a ploy to get out of grading papers and writing up research? (How dare you!)


Pumpkin Bostini Goodness

The daring bakers is a lovely group of folks started by one of my favorite blog friends Lis of La Mia Cucina and her adorable parter in crime Ivonne of Cream Puffs in Venice. These lovely ladies became friends through the pages (that's web pages to you) and guided each other through their first daring bake off, pretzels, waaaay back when. And the rest, as they say, is history.

So now, once a month the group gets together to make one (seemingly complex) recipe at the same time. I never knew I could look forward to a virtual bake-off and yet...here I am!

The recipe this month is a take on Boston Cream Pie and calls for homemade custard(don't ask me how many eggs, just eat it!), a slice of orange chiffon cake, and a drizzle of chocolate glaze.

Well, we aren't supposed to *change* the recipe, but I cannot entirely follow the rules so.... mine became a pumpkin chiffon cake with salted pumpkin seeds. A puree of pumpkin was made from fresh farmers' markets pumpkins and the seeds were toasted and salty, super delicious with the creamy sweet custard.

In this final picture you can see I even used a pumpkin cookie cutter for the chiffon cake. Or maybe you can't? Either way, this recipe was over the top and such fun to make. Stay tuned for next months endeavor!

For the recipe, click here!

...And I almost forgot! Please check out the rest of the gorgeous takes on this classic dessert at the daring bakers blogroll :)
Happy salivating!

32 comments:

Karen Baking Soda said...

Booo! You just follow Ze Rulezz! Nah just kidding, you did great and I like the addition of something crunchy!

Anne said...

Beautiful Bostini and I love your presentation. Glad your a DB!

Annemarie said...

Pumpkin with salted pumpkin seeds...well well. At least the pumpkin is still orange in color, which goes along with the spirit of an orange chiffon cake. :) Well done on finishing the first challenge.

Deborah said...

The pumpkin sounds fantastic! It is beautiful.

Unknown said...

looks great, interesting twist with pumpkin and pumpkin seeds, haha looks good. welcome to daring bakers, bravo on challenge one completed

Brilynn said...

The pumpkin sounds fantastic, very festive!

Belinda said...

Well...what could really be more appropriate at this time of the year than pumpkin, right?! :-) Your Bostinis look lovely!

Anonymous said...

Your presentation is so striking with the seeds and the chocolate glaze "confetti." And I'm intrigued by the addition of the salted seeds – it sounds wonderful!

Gigi said...

Pumpkin chiffon cake? What a great flavor for fall and I love the pumpkin seed sprinkled on top. Well Done!

slush said...

Rule breaker! LOL

Great job and I love anything pumpkin. The pumpkin seeds make a great garnish. Beauitful!

Amanda Jean said...

congratulations on becoming a daring baker. your creation looks wonderfully delicious.

Colleen said...

THat sounds absolutly out of this world yummy!

Anonymous said...

It's funny how this blogging thing works! So glad you joined the Daring Bakers - you did a great job!

Chris said...

Congrats on your first challenge. Well Done!

April said...

Pumpkin?! What a great change from the orange! Congrats on completing your first challenge!!!

Lis said...

I've been dreaming of that pumpkin bostini with the salty seeds ever since you teased us with it on the DB blog! Outstanding, my love!

Emeril would be so jealous. :P

Hugs!
xoxo

Lindsay Blau Portnoy said...

Oh my goodness!

I leave for a day at work and come home to find all this love in my inbox :)

Thank you so much for all of your kind words. I will try to write to each of you if you used your email address...if not, please take this as a giant thank you.

I am so honored that you stopped by to take a bite of this yummy new dessert!

Jen Yu said...

Pumpkin! What a great take on the Bostini and congrats on your first successful DB challenge :)

-jen at use real butter

Anonymous said...

wow, another beautifully, delicious looking treat...wasn't a trick, was it?
i love pumpkin, in any form. this looks amazing, and, with the salted pumpkin seeds, it is a double treat!
xox
nancy b

Unknown said...

Beautiful presentation! I love the pumpkin seeds.

Julie said...

They're so beautiful! I love your plate in the second photo, too. Congratulations on your first challenge! I always crack up when I read a post where someone didn't follow the recipe just because they didn't feel like it! I think pumpkin substitution sounds wonderful.

marias23 said...

I adore your adjustments to make it a true autumnal treat! I think pumpkin and chocolate work very well together, no?

breadchick said...

Great job on your first challenge! The pumpkin sounds like a great addition.

Christine said...

Quite lovely! Love the abstract look of the drizzled chocolate and your presentation is stellar!

Julius said...

I just love how jazzy this looks. It's beautiful.

~ Julius, The Occasional Baker

Elle said...

Great idea to use pumpkin for shape and flavor and the seeds for decoration. I'll bet the combo was awesome. Nice presentation, too. Glad that you are a Daring Baker!

Helene said...

Looks fantastic! Congrats n your first challenge!

Dolores said...

Ohhh... pumpkin *flavor* Bostinis! With pumpkin seeds! Brilliant!

I'm glad you've decided to play hookie from the homework and join us. I love the way you write.

Inne said...

Welcome to the DBs and well done on your first challenge. The pumpkin addition sounds really interesting.

Jenny said...

Well done!

Gabi said...

Love the seasonal use of the pumpkin and I think the salted pumkin seeds would be a welcome foil to all the sweet!
Nice job and beautiful Bostini!

Peabody said...

Rebel.