Julie - 14 February 2010 08:04 PM

...One thought I had for a Bake-off is a Challenge theme.  Could be a project representing any level of skill, just something that challenges you.
I’m sure I could manage citrus, as well, if that’s what people like, I need an excuse to make the RHC frozen lemon cake.
Or, another thought, it would be a good time of year (cool weather) to do a laminated dough of some sort- puff pastry, croissant, danish, etc.).

Hope you don’t mind my copying this over from your response to Silke in the February bake-off, Julie, to a thread of its own. Didn’t want your excellent suggestions to get lost.

I like the Challenge theme. Room for lots of scope and learning! What do others think?

Carol, I like both themes. Maybe we can do the Challenge Theme for March and then laminated dough for April?

You all are do good…I am challenged just hanging out with you…. but it is a great idea still.

Love the idea with the challenge. Not that I’m not challenged enough by all of you!

Renee - that’s the whole point, you get better because you’ll have to show off

Getting this wedding cake right is a challenge for me, so I’d love a reason to work on it. 

I’m traveling most of March, but will try and get one cake in there when I am home, my hiking friends keep asking when they are going to sample the practice wedding cake, so I can practice on them.

Jenn: what is ‘lamenated dough’?

I have a large retirement cake I have to make in March ( a two layer 18 x 12 inch cake decorated with roses and calla lilies)  Believe me,  I am feeling challenged!!
I have never made a cake this large before for actual paying customers,  aka - my employer. I am already fretting over it.  Does this qualify for the March bake-off theme?

Linda, laminated dough is croissant dough, danish dough, puff pastry dough. Basically it’s dough that has butter inside. You wrap the butter with the flour then roll it out and folded it several times.

Liza - I would think that qualifies!

Thanks Jenn. I haven’t made puff pastry or croissants in years, but April would be a good time to bake them again. My husband saw me looking at Julia Child’s cook books the other day and asked when I was going to bake some of those pastries I used to bake when the kids were little. He’ll be happy to know they will be on the way!

I love making laminated dough and have made chocolate croissant several times. Have only made danish once and recently tried puff pastry - which I love and found easier than croissant dough. So I’m all for laminated dough!

Which book are the laminated dough recipes in? Are there any in the Cake Bible? None in the Heavenly Cakes, right? I may have to pass or stray from Rose’s recipes Though that’s ok, I’ll cheer all of you on while I go skiing

It wuold be the Pie & Pastry Bible. Laminated dough is more pastries than cakes.

Jenn - 15 February 2010 01:03 PM

Maybe we can do the Challenge Theme for March and then laminated dough for April?

Jenn’s proposal has my vote, but I’m pretty flexible.  After all, we’re choosing between Rose’s recipes, here, so it’s win-win. 

Liza, what’s laminated dough?  Just think of it as gift-wrapped butter!

Silke, all those limes and lemons- your challenge could be what to do with them all!

hi all!!

I am a new member to the blog, but have been following it for a bit now. I would love to enter, I’m always trying new cakes anyways, fattening up my co-workers (though they love it, of course). I am starting to get small orders so I definitely want the practice!
Can anyone let me know how to enter?
thanks so much!

Hi nycbeginner! Welcome to the forum. There’s no requirement to enter. All you have to do is make whatever’s on the theme, then posted it on the forum under the “Show and Tell.” If you are the first one to post, create a new topic called “March Bake-Off.” If you go to Show and Tell now you can see previous Bake-Off. It’s that easy .

I need to start planning- I’m very excited!
thanks everyone, this forum is such a stress-reliever, I love it!