Yes, yes, I got ‘er done. But my only picture is on my cell phone. My cell phone is in the room Im staying in at my Gram’s house for the holidays. And my kids are currently asleep in that room. So… I will get a picture up, but it will be tomorrow.
My step-Mom, Chris, helped me with this months challenge. Letting me trash her kitchen in the process. LOVE YOU CHRIS! I had the best time!!! The recipe was fairly easy. I chose to do the meringue mushrooms. Which piped out in various shapes. The stems never really “stood” up. But I made the best of it. And we left them in the oven too long, so some of the tops cracked on top. Bygones. They looked cute.
The cake came together easily. And the only issue was when in the oven, it seemed like it was cooking unevenly. One side wasnt rising. And the rest was REALLY rising. But when we took it out, it deflated and it evened out. Good times.
Okay, the last part. The buttercream. Ugh. I was paranoid about that from the start. I have never had an egg based buttercream work out. And I had all but given up on them. But here I was having to make one again. I cooked the eggs/sugar. When I thought it was done, I started to beat it and added the butter very slowly, waiting for it to totally incorporate before adding more. When it didnt break, and all the butter had been added, I felt victorious. However, the consistency was way too runny. Bad times. Okay, off to the “help” files on DB for the post by Tartelette. Runny buttercram solution= Put in the fridge, let cool down totally and rebeat. Okay, I can do that. I kept checking the buttercream in the fridge and now it looked curdled. DAMN! But, when I thought it was cool enough, I took it out and rebeat it. It came out PERFECT! WAHOO! And it tasted oh so good. Better than good. It would be hella good on a chocolate cake. Mmmm.
I quickly slapped the log together and ta-da! Done! I was under the gun, not only because I did this challenge TODAY, but I kept getting txt msgs that I needed to get back to mt Gram’s because my kids were going bonkers.
Im glad I did this challenge. The buttercream is divine and I will make it again. The cake, Eh, Not so much. The mushrooms were cute, but thats about all they were. Good skill to have both for the cake and shrooms.
Thanks DB! Thanks Ivonne and Lisa for picking such a wicked good Christmas themed challenge. And thanks to all the food bloggers to who push me to do better and learn more. Love you guys!
Pictures and links to come. I was down to the wire on this one. xo
Glad the buttercream turned out okay for you! i was really paranoid about that part too. I had no idea you were supposed to add the butter in in small pieces though. I just dumped it all in at once!
Looking forward to seeing your bûche de Noël.
Happy your buttercream went well.
Happy Holidays.
Julius from Occasional Baker
Great job! I think curdling is just a part of making the buttercream. Merry Christmas!
hehehe you crack me up! Can’t wait to see it! Glad you got it done, too.. everyone should know how to make a mushroom outta eggs & sugar, eh? It’s so often we’re called upon to create them. teeee! Nah, I’m glad I learned too, it gave me a tiny ego boost regarding piping AND perfect meringue the first time. Party on, Wayne!
Hope you had a fabulous Xmas and a truly Happy New Year, sweetie!
xoxo
I love that you said “wicked good.” When i was in college people made fun of me for saying that, but now that I’m in Massachusetts everyone’s wicked cool with it.
My mushroom stems fell over as well. Only a few of them stayed standing! I can’t wait to see your pictures!
Can’t wait to see pictures! Good job getting it done with only minor problems!
Hope you get those pictures up soon, can’t wait to see your log! Hope you had a very merry Christmas!
I totally agree about the cake being so-so and the icing, it was so good. And my cake cooked in half the time. I think I need to check my oven. Glad you got it finished and can’t wait to see the pics. Have a great new year!
I totally agree about the cake and the icing, it was so good. And my cake cooked in half the time. I think I need to check my oven. Glad you got it finished and can’t wait to see the pics. Have a great new year!
Looking forward to the picture!
And glad to hear you escaped the torture of the buttercream.
Good on ya and I can’t wait to see the pictures. Congrats on completing your yule log and happy new year!
Who needs pictures, with the way you tell a story? Wicked good, indeed. Congratulations, and Happy New Year!