Greenstein's Bakery - Baking Bible - Banana Chocolate Chiffon

ב''ה

This fabulous cake will definitely be made again here. A sponge cake with a real banana flavor. Fabulous! 

Dry ingredients

It seems sponge cakes can handle a certain amount of liquid. Perhaps chiffon sponges more than others? I've been looking to perfect a honey sponge cake recipe but have not succeeded yet.

 Batter. I did not use the food processor since it still smelled like tehina. So I simply mixed the liquid ingredients in the mixer.

 Its been a while since I got to whip a lovely foam.

Ready to go in.

 Since this cake was parve I got to use the big oven for it.

 The chocolate and banana is such a wonderful combo.

My wife found it blissful. 

Greenstein's Bakery - Baking Bible - Honey Cake for A Sweet New Year

ב''ה

We have actually made Marcy Goldman's honey for the last 3-4 years. Rose, I challenge you to use your expertise to make a unqiue 'Rose' honey cake. I know you've got it in you.

So good strong coffee

Mis en place 

Omi-girl explains how oranges grow. The truth is, I could not bring myself to use something as astringent as orange juice on the eve of Yom Kippur in a recipe. I used apple cider instead which seemed sweeter.

For "Avinu Malkenu" - Our father our king. The true judge.

Imagine all of the sweetness, good and blessing you want in for the upcoming year. OK, now put it in the bowl.

The custom is to ask for a piece of honey cake at the end of the pre-fast meal as a sign that this should be the only time you have to beg this year.

 I should have waited a little longer before removing but I was a bit impatient. 

May you all be sealed for a good sweet year.

Greenstein's Bakery - Baking Bible - Apple Pie

ב''ה

All right. I got fooled. This is really supposed be a 'caramel' apple pie but I did not figure out that the apple maceration liquid (that had lots of sugar in it) was supposed to actually turn into a caramel. The recipe says it will be 'caramel-y' but I thought that was a euphemism. Now I realize it was meant literally. 

At any rate the end result is that this tasted like just a regular apple pie without any thing special about it. Now, if you could actually taste caramel with it, I could see that it might be special. It is too bad I could not figure out that this intention from the recipe.

 The 'caramel' that wasn't. Conceptually caramel apple fits perfectly with the apples and honey theme of Rosh Hashana

 Wasn't sure what we were going for here either but at least the recipe said that I should expect it to be 'very thick'. Really it did not thicken until it cooled down a bit.

Toaster shot.

Not very flattering but the only picture I really have of the completed pie. It really looked O.K.

 It was delicious but it was hard to tell when the apples were really soft enough with out eating it.

Multi-colored honey carrot for Rosh Hashana

Rosh Hashana Challah

Greenstein's Bakery - Baking Bible - Flaky Cream Cheese Scones

ב''ה

These scone were O.K. A bit rich and not enough blueberries.

They were still pretty darn tasty though. You just can't really eat more than one.

Mis en place

My wife made some kaak. She finally found 'mahlab' (ground cherry pits.)

My 'jazz hands'.

At the last minute I remembered to soak the blueberries in hot water.

I made a double recipe and added a tad extra honey, so the non-blueberry bites would be more tolerable.

 Wedges

Omi-girl was with me for moral support.

Toaster tray shot.

Greenstein's Bakery - Baking Bible - Peach Galette

ב''ה

Luscious and summer-y peach Galette! I like the idea of a pie without that you don't have to worry about the shape.

The pie dough came together easily. I did not have heavy cream so I just added a little extra cream cheese.

Blanching is fun!

The peaches are blushing from being caught undressed.

The almond is a nice touch.

Preping it square-ish for the toaster.

Reducing the juice.

So satifying to make this.

It it with some ice-cream for the full affect.

Make sure its really sealed around the edges or you will get some leakage.

It was delicious. What more is there to say.

I was considering making the kurambieths last week but could not bring myself to use so much butter for one recipe. It is so expensive...