Baking Challenge - September '10

Oh boy, this one was a disaster!

Blackberry Cloud-Cake with Pistachios - another overly ambitious, silly dessert from the Martha Stewart Kitchens.

Let me first point out two things:
1.  I always struggle with whipping egg whites into stiff peaks.
2.  I have yet to make a successful jelly roll.

I went all Pioneer Woman here and did a "Cast of Characters" shot.  I bought frozen berries because the fresh ones were very expensive.  I also skipped the pistachios for the same reason.  That container of egg whites equals 8 eggs, so that was a shell and yolk saver :)  And I used white wine instead of white wine vinegar.

I decided to skip preparing the berries for the garnish.


I whisked and whisked those eggs and could not get those stiff peaks, so I gave up and finished my batter anyway.  And poured it into the pan:

Wow, that filled up the pan completely!!

With six minutes left to bake, the cake looked like it was about to explode in my oven.

 

Exhibit A - you can see the cracks

Exhibit B - you can see the cake going over the edge.

After all this drama, I kept on going and made the mousse - uneventful.

Then I flipped out the cake.

a bit weird looking; sticky, too

I spooned on the mousse and rolled it up:

What a work of art!

And then had a slice

what is that strange gelatinous looking layer?

It didn't taste too great and it was so ugly - I just dumped it.  Disaster averted.


I started this challenge almost two years ago in order to try out new recipes, techniques and tools; and I've learned some things along the way.

• I really like making cookies, brownies and cupcakes.
• I don't like working with fruit.
• I don't like whipping egg whites.
• I don't like making "fancy" desserts.
• I made up this whole challenge and I can change the rules whenever I want!

So starting next month, I am going to do things a little different :)