Sunday, February 21, 2010

Its back…..!!

 

I just wanted to thank you all so much for all your awesome comments on my last post! Rockin advice! So my cereal is back.

I think my main problem was I was eating a big bowl of cereal right before bed. While I don't think this is a huge thing it made me feel kind of restless at night. The tofu pudding went down way easier today so I think Im going to keep my cereal eats for afternoons or mornings. I think its just more what my body handles a bit better. So thank you all so much!

cereal

During my trip to While Foods I did find this and I thought it sounded kind of great.

fiberbox

It was really tasty! Not overly flavorful but awesome with the cinnamon and goes really well with almond milk. What I really like was the ingredient list.

Wheat bran, whole grain corn flour, whole grain wheat flour, corn bran and cinnamon. Thats it!

But enough about my cereal! Today was some serious cookin! After my usual gym run and Whole Foods shop a thon I came home and had to whip up some of Averie’s PB cups. It was one of those things that I have been meaning to make forever since they look absolutely amazing. I was on my computer at home looking them up and my husband walked by and says....”Why have you not made those yet?!”

So PB cup time it was!

choc

I made some white chocolate and dark chocolate ones. All stuffed with loads of peanut butter.

openChoc

I topped a few with sea salt. I love the salty sweet combo. And some with cinnamon.

panChoc

Thank you Averie for some awesome cup recipes!!

While my hubs was away getting a massage I decided to bake him a cake too. (Hes spoiled, JK!) ;)

Its a pecan pie cake hybrid. Pecan pie on the top and a fluffy vanilla bourbon cake on the bottom.

Sounds awesome, right? Only I made one horrid mistake on this pup. Heres my lined spring form pan..

 

springform

Instead of using one piece of aluminum foil I used a few. Total fail. When you pour the pecan pie filling in first, top with cake batter and throw in the oven it leaks out everywhere. Im sitting on my couch and all of a sudden billows of black smoke are pouring out of my oven since some of the sugar mixture leaked out of the pan and onto the bottom of the oven. Awesome.

 

No matter! I pulled out the cake (opened all the windows so the smoke alarms wouldnt go off..) cleaned the oven like a crazy person, lined the oven with foil, shoved it back and in and prayed it wouldnt fall.

Luckily sucess!! So next time when making this cake…leak proof the pan first. =)

Overall the cake is super fluffy, light. The pecan pie topping seeps a bit down into the cake, the hubs loved it! So total success.

bourbonCake

Pecan Bourbon Vanilla Cake

Ingredients

For the Pecan Layer:
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 1/4 cups pecans, toasted and diced
For the Cake:
  • 1 1/2 cups cake flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
  • 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons bourbon
  • 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan, then line the bottom and sides with parchment paper and butter the paper. Wrap the outside of the pan with foil. (Leak proof it!)

Make the pecan layer:

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the brown sugar, corn syrup, kosher salt and vanilla. Spread in the prepared pan and scatter the pecans on top; set aside.

pecanSpringForm

Make the cake: Whisk the flour, baking soda, nutmeg and fine salt in a large bowl. Whisk the buttermilk, bourbon and vanilla in another bowl.

batter

Beat the butter and granulated sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, 10 minutes. With the mixer on low, beat in the eggs, one at a time. Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with the buttermilk mixture, starting and ending with flour. Fold in the pecans.

batterPecans

Pour the batter into the pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool on a rack, 30 minutes. Remove the springform ring, invert the cake onto a plate and remove the paper.

Tips on unwrappin the cake:

unwrap01

Let cool for about 30 minutes. Then pull up on foil.

unWrap02

Remove springform pan and push down on foil to get it out the way.

unwrap03

With your hand or a plate (my case my hands) gently flip your cake over so pecan topping is on top.

unwrap04Done

Remove all foil and Done!

sidePic

 

Whew and now Im tired. One gross oven later I had one tasty cake. Actually after my sugar faux pas this was a pretty easy cake to whip up. Although I’ll make a confession. I dont really like pecan pie! Ack I know! I just never did. My hubs on the other hand, LOVES it.

Its his favorite so of course I always look for ways to make it once in awhile. So he was my taste tester on the cake and it passed with flying colors!

Do you find yourself making things you don't necessarily like just for others?

Tommorrow starts another week! Woohoo! Circuit training, spinning, weights and elliptical action. Im ready for it all! Any big plans for the week?

Happy Monday!!

35 comments:

  1. I make meat a lot for my bf. I don't mind eating it, but it's not my favorite either. I never make it for just myself.

    I can see why your hubby likes your pecan pie! Although I agree, I'm not a huge fan either. I don't really like pie in general.

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  2. omg are you a professional baker? your stuff looks SO good, seriously they turned out beautifully! i do sometimes make food for people even though i don't like it myself. case in point: guess who got stuck cooking thanksgiving turkey 2 years in a row? that's right, the ONLY vegetarian in the family : me! haha

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  3. Wow! You made PB cups too? Me too!! (and I know at least 3 other people did in the past few days!!!) Crazy, but many people are thinking alike right now! :D

    How did oyu make the design on the cups? It's very pretty. :)

    And on top of that, your cake looks fabulous! Thank goodness your place didn't burn down!

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  4. "Do you find yourself making things you don't necessarily like just for others?"-
    YES ALL THE TIME!
    Most of the time I enjoy it, but as a GF, soyfree, high raw vegan, my path and most people's are not the same. So I cook separately. Plus, I love to cook & create and ad lib w/ recipes so 95% of the time it's fun. But there's a point where i get sick of it and just want someone else to wash the 17 dishes i have going :)

    Thank you for making and linking the PB Cups!!!!! I am sooooooooo glad you made them and that you're rocking the good stuff over in your house :)

    You did a great job on them and I'm flattered girl, thank you for posting about it :)
    xoxox

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  5. That sounds like something I would do with the baking! Luckily it still turned out okay. It certainly looks delicious. And I don't even like pecan pie either! ;)

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  6. I definitely make some things for my boyfriend that I don't totally love - but I'm slowly bringing him over to my side of eating which is great! And that pie looks delicious - even if you had a little foil trouble! Have a fabulous day miss!!

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  7. Chrysta! Yayyy. :) OMGoodness I love this post. First off, Averie's anything is bound to be good. Your cups look so professional and pretty!

    And my other favorite thing about you? You cook normal baked goods too! Like this cake! Which looks absolutely divine! I'm sure your hubby was haaapppy.

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  8. I love simply fiber too! Not super delicious, but plain and it has a nice crunch! Great ingredients, too :) Averie's PB cups are amazing, no? And that cake! Looks delicious. Have a great weekend!

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  9. i've never been a huge pecan pie fan, either, but i'd be all over those pb cups :)

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  10. Your pie looks so professional! The PB cups look amazing too! That cereal looks good. Love the ingredient list. I stopped buying cereal since I eat 3 bowls before bed but may have to check this one out!

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  11. Your peanut butter cups look totally like artisan chocolates! You are very talented in the kitchen. Between your cake and the chocolates, well I think you might be wasting time in editing. :)

    I make things for others all the time and don't get to eat them. The sacrifices a wife and mother have to make!!

    Have a fabulous Monday Chrysta!

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  12. what a lucky hubby!!! the pecan cake looks amazing!

    i also hear wonderful things about the pb cups. I dont know what i am waiting for! they looks decadent!

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  13. That cake looks beautiful. I love pecans. I love peanut butter cups and dark chocolate even more :)

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  14. I'm so glad you figured out a way to keep carbs in your diet! It's all about timing I guess. I still need to try your tofu pudding...sounds so good!

    That pecan pie looks amazing! I love pecan pie. Your husband is one lucky guy.

    I make things for other people (i.e. my parents) that I don't really like all the time. We ahve very different tastes in food. They like bland stuff and I like big bold flavors. But sometimes you just have to sacrifice a little.

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  15. WOW!!! All of your cooking/baking looks awesome! I have so been wanting to try Averie's PB cups. And the pie for your husband? Perfection despite the near disaster! I make lots of stuff for my husband and family that I don't necessarily love, but know they will. Enjoy the training this week :)

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  16. aww you are such a great wife!! how sweet!
    i make my bf cookies all the time and i dont even like the kind he likes!
    those PB cups AND cake look AMAZING!
    have a great week girl!
    love you!

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  17. Yummers! I love Averie's PB cups!!! And that cake looks phenomenal!!!
    Happy Monday sweetie!
    XO,
    Erin

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  18. Oh my gosh i love the swirls in your peanut butter cups, and your pecan cake. I dont have any burbon though (im still young dont judge, but is burbon a type of liquor?) geese times like these make me feel really little :)

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  19. You are such a great wife!! The pecan cake looks amazing, but too complicated for me!!!! U go girl!!

    I have tried that cereal before and loved it too!!

    Yay for Whole Foods shopping, always a highlight of my week!!!

    Averies PB cups that you made look amazing!! She is amazing, you go to her blog daily and just drool!! Always has amazing new recipes!

    Love ya! xoxo

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  20. Wow that cake looks good (despite the earlier oven issue!!). I am going to have to try those PB cups - they look great!

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  21. That cakes looks amazing-I am sure it really was too! I am so sorry that the pan leaked in your oven. That kind of stuff stresses me out sometimes. I can't even beleive you made those penut butter cups-they look incredible!
    Yes, I make some dinners for my husband, that I don't care for: carne asada, beef stroganoff and form the hamburger patties. All out of love right :)

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  22. sounds like your week is fitness packed! love it! do you like spinning? you know I LOVE and teach it so I am psyched that you like it if you do!

    that cake looks amazing, do you have any leftovers :)

    PB cups will be fine, Ill take some of those!!

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  23. That cake sounds amazing!! OMG! Reminds me of something from New Orleans!

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  24. Glad you figured out what you want to do for you with the carb/protein balance. That pie and pb cups look ridiculous! Oh and FYI your chobani case is expected to arrive 2/25!

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  25. oh my gosh, I'm going to have to make those pb cups!!! they look gorgeous and that cake?! wow looks like sheer heaven. I always like to cook for others even if I don't like it, but there isn't much I don't like lol

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  26. Wow, your hubby had a massage AND a cake from you when he got home?! What a treat! I do like to make things that I don't necessarily enjoy, just for others (like Nick)... I just really love to bake so if I have an excuse to do so, I will! The cake looks awesome, and we never would have known you made a mistake with the foil!

    Good luck with the circuit training. It sounds like a great workout. Have a nice day!

    Oh, I'm SO excited for the yogurt maker, by the way, I've been making mental plans for how to use it :)

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  27. WOW, Chrysta.. these pb cups look absolutely amazing!!! You are incredibly creative.. you need a cookbook!! :)

    Glad cereal is back in your life... I certainly couldnt do without it!

    Ps.. kinda jealous of your hubby.. a massage sounds fabulous right about now!

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  28. oh my goodness!! that PB cup looks amazingly good! I though I can only get it in the grocery store - it seems I can make a batch myself too!! thanks for the recipe link, it's definitely on my list !!

    taking about fiber rich food...I like it but somehow I overdo it last few days. just a gentle reminder that you can't eat too much , bloating feels really bad :-D
    take care !

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  29. Thanks love!! I never tried doing yoga before bed, but its like crazy here at my place at night with the dog, son, and fiance!! Maybe tea and a book!! Some people also said taking magnesium might help!!

    I hope you get some sleep, it really stinks not getting any!!

    Love you! Hope you are good and yay for the weekend!! xoxo

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  30. I am not normally a huge cake fan ... but I would totally eat that cake!!!!

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  31. you are so cute. =D
    i am a really crabby sick person too. like, people STAY AWAY! i have not just been infected with a virus, but also THE CRABBY virus. =D

    cereal? CEREAL!??!

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  32. I always feel really restless if I eat before bed, my mind is focusing on digesting and not on sleep so it just throws everything out of whack!

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  33. Major snaps to you my friend. That cake is a feat of strength! And to be brought back from the brink of death, wow! :) Hope hubbs gave you some extra lovin for that. ;)

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  34. OMG. Do you have leftovers???? We need to make some treats soon. They look soooooooo good!!!!

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  35. Just got the yogurt maker in the mail!!! Thanks again, I'm excited to start using it sometime soon...when I get the chance that is. So busy lately, but it will get good use :)

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