30 Before 30 - Angel Food Cake

I did it! I made an Angel Food Cake and it wasn't a disaster. It was the complete opposite of a disaster, it was amazing. I used this recipe from The Farmers Daughter, and it was simple and easy.  (below is the recipe, but click on the website to see photo instructions!)

Angel Food Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of Egg Whites (approx. 10-12 eggs) - *it's important that your eggs are at room temperature before you start!

1 1/4 cups of Icing Sugar

1 cup of Flour

1 1/2 tsp Cream of Tartar

1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

1/2 tsp Almond Extract

1/4 tsp Salt

1 cup Sugar

1 TBSP nonpareils (sprinkles) - to make your cake colourful! optional (but not really optional) 

Directions:

1) First, separate the egg whites from the yolks, being careful that no yolk contaminates each egg white. Make sure that you have 1 1/2 cups of egg whites, and place in a mixing bowl.

2) Next, in a separate bowl, sift your icing sugar and flour together three times, and set aside.

3) Add cream of tartar, vanilla and almond extracts, and salt to the egg whites. Beat on high speed, and gradually add in sugar. Mix until all of the sugar is dissolved, and stiff peaks have formed.

4) Very gently, fold in flour mixture, 1/4 cup at a time. Then fold in nonpareils!

5) Gently spoon into an ungreased 10-inch tube pan.

6) Bake for 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees.

7) Immediately invert pan onto a cooling rack, and let the cake cool completely before removing from the pan.

I followed all the instruction, and didn't get any egg yolk in the whites when I was separating TEN eggs! My mixer was a huge help and the eggs tripled, even quadrupled in size within a minute. When I carefully folded in the dry ingredients I didn't mix much air out! I even added rainbow sprinkles!

It went into a pre-heated oven (I'm notorious for not pre-heating) and it didn't sink, and went golden brown! I took it out, and let it cool completely in the tin upside down (like everyone who I asked told me!)

For the icing I used this recipe from Pixels & Paperie . It was super easy (even though I needed my mum to help because I was terrified about using the electric mixer over a simmering pot of water! 

Marshmallow Frosting

4 large egg whites
1 Cup ordinary sugar (white or brown)
1 pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla essence
Place all ingredients except the vanilla essence into a bowl which you can place over a pot of simmering water.
Whisk the egg white mixture constantly over simmering water until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is hot to the touch. {It takes around 5 minutes}.
Pour the mixture into a bigger bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 3 minutes. {Add the vanilla while beating}. After 3 minutes, the mixture will be lovely and fluffy.

The meringue frosting was like melted marshmallow! So glossy, soft, sticky, and yummy!

I served the cake for dessert at my halloween games night, and everyone loved it. My sister Alex even exclaimed that she wanted a cake like this for her birthday. The left-overs where taken to work to be judged by a group of people who really appreciate their cakes! Even V who doesn't like sweet things adored the frosting and was eating it from the cake!

All and all I'm so fucking proud of this cake. I was so scared about how hard it seemed, but it really was very easy! I do recommend if you make it yourself to make sure the eggs are at room temperature, and that you triple sieve the dry ingredients, and also use an angel food cake tin, or bundt cake tin!

Please try and make this cake yourself - I would love to hear what you think - it has no dairy in it, so it's perfect for daily intolerance friends and family.

I would love to try a cupcake or chocolate version of this cake in the future!

Thanks for reading

Molly xoxo

30 Before 30 - Mini Update

Angel Food Cake is one step closer - I bought an angel food cake tin! Yes, apparently you it works a million times better with a tin like this! Plus who doesn't like hole-y cake! The trick is as soon as you take the cake out of the oven you have to turn it upright and let it cool completely upside down! I think C-day (Cake Day - LOL) will be next weekend! I don't think I have anything planned for that weekend. Fingers crossed!

Molly xoxo

Current Obsession - Cooking Shows

The only thing I've watched in the last week has been cooking shows.

I'm obsessed.

I love cooking shows.

I'm going to tell you about some of my favourite!

It's a perfect post to go with my Dream Kitchen post from yesterday!

This post contains spoilers. YES! Cooking shows sometimes have SPOILERS!

The Great British Bake-Off

The Australian version has been advertised on TV since before Easter and it's still not been on.

Mum was wondering when it was on and found out that there's an UK version (as well as a US, Norwegian, French, Italian etc.)

So she "acquired" it.

I watched the whole first season in one sitting

mind you, there was only 6 episodes.

And was so happy with who one.

Edd Kimber was my favourite from the beginning.

I ordered his first cookbook "The Boy Who Bakes" a week ago

and I'm Impatiently waiting for it to show up.

check out his blog and youtube.

Season 2 was good. I didn't find myself enjoying it as much.

I've watched it in the background while I was studying.

So I don't remember much.

But that's good, because I can re-watch it!

Then there's The Great Comic Relief Bake-Off.

4 Special episodes featuring UK Celebrities.

I didn't recognise!

But I did recognise a few, like....

mothertrucking

Warwick Davies

and not only that! He won!

He's a really good baker.

There's a third season

but I haven't been able to find it.

Lorraine Pascale

Lorraine is a former supermodel (isn't it obvious) who is now a chef.

I love her show.

She makes easy, quick, yummy food.

I haven't got any of her books yet.

I pretty much just have the TV on when I want to make something of hers.

She makes a Chocolate Oreo Brownie to die for!

Or die of.... I don't remember!

Nigella Lawson

She was my first inspiration to cook and bake for fun (other than my mother)

She's so beautiful and confident

and isn't afraid of butter :)

I love watching her show.

I have one of her books, but find the recipes very long.

Honourable (TV) Mentions

Heston's Feasts

less of a cooking show and more of a mindf&$%

watching Heston make food is amazing!

I would never be able to do anything like that

He truly is a magician!

YOUTUBE.

Youtube really is amazing!

You can pretty much find anything.

Including cooking shows.

My favourite, without question is

Sorted Food

Mike, Ben, Barry & Jamie

4 English Guys (actually everyone I've mentioned today is English!)

Who want to teach people who can't cook to cook!

And if they can do it. Anyone can.

Subscribe to there channel here.

Not only is there yummy food and hot guys,

they're also a laugh!

They have one cookbook out (which I have)

and are about to release a new ebook in parts starting July

more information HERE

Honourable (Youtube) Mentions.

Nerdy Nummies

Adorable geek girl makes geeky inspired treats!

Ochikeron

Japanese home cooked goodness

yummy food and pretty Bento

Hope you enjoyed this post.

I am going to try and compile a list of links

to my favourite cooks, chefs & bakers.

As well as my favourite cooking blogs.

Dream Kitchen.

This post is inspired by and dedicated to
my mum, who taught me how to cook
and
my auntie Jo, who loves interior design (read her blog)
they both inspire and influence my sense of style.


I'm obsessed with baking at the moment.

Thanks to The Great British Bake Off!

I've been thinking about having my own kitchen.

I'm jealous, because my little sister is so close to having her own house.

and her own kitchen..... not that her partner will let her in it!

So here is some inspiration for my DREAM KITCHEN.

First things first!

I need to have 2 things.

Even if I have a crappy kitchen, if I have these 2 items

my dream kitchen is complete.

they are....

A Kitchen Aid Mixer!

I just haven't decided what colour!

I'm thinking the turquoise one!

But I don't have $700 to spend on a mixer!

the second essential dream kitchen item is...

a Smeg fridge!

again!

I don't know what colour!

:)

I know there are cheaper alternatives :)

White rectangular tiles.
I believe they're called "Subway Tiles"
But I may be wrong :D

as well as exposed brick!!!

I ove the mix of modern white and stainless steel with organic brick and wood.

I also want heaps of room for all my cookbooks!

I love the green cabinets in this kitchen. But I would prefer white
and add heaps of colourful accessories!
Plus a HUGE wide Oven!!!!

and plants. Lots of plants.
Herbs growing to cans and recycled containers.

Lots of yummy herbs and succulents!

THE PANTRY!

I would love a huge walk in pantry! With shelves from floor to ceiling
stacked with glass containers holding all the ingredients!

This picture is my favourite. I looks like they have utilised hallway space.

It's an artwork in it's self.

Guest can look at the colours and pick up the jars.

I don't believe in hiding away things.

Especially if they can be displayed beautifully!

Why send time going through cabinets and cupboards looking for
pots and pans and utensils, when you can use them
as a feature.
After all... it's a kitchen, and that's what kitchens are for!

One day.
I will have my dream kitchen.
I don't exactly know what it will look like.
I probably won't get everything I want!

As long as I have a space to bake and cook.

FOLLOW MY Kitchen BOARD on PINTEREST!

Stay tuned for
Dream Bathroom.
Dream Bedroom.
Dream Garden.
Dream Study.
Dream Living Room.

xoxo

10 Day Challenge - Five Foods

Five Foods

one.

Cupcakes
love this infograph.

two.

Macarons

I've made Macarons 3 times.
Only been successful once :(

three.

Cheese Pizza
I LOVE CHEESE PIZZA!!!

Now I want Pizza!!!

four.

Sprinkle Cookies

recipe on Confessions of a Cookbook Queen

five.
Avocado!
A couple of years ago if you offered me Avocado I would
of told you to bugger off!
Nowadays!
I love it!

IGGPPC, Cakes & Book Rewards

I've joined the International Geek Girl Pen Pals Club.

You sign up to become a member of the forum and get sorted into a house

HOUSE GLADOS for the win!

Then when the time is right.... 

April 15 you sign up and you get given a pen pal!

A real life, snail mail pen pal! 

I'm so excited. 

This will be Round 3. 

Round 1 & 2 filled up really fast and I missed out 

so this time to guarantee a spot I donated $5 to IGGPPC :D

This weekend I'm going camping.

I mentioned it before.

But I didn't mention that it's with Kids Central

And I'll actually be helping supervise 20, 8-12 year olds.

They're doing an overnight bike ride.

I'm not riding, but I am transporting dinner to them on Saturday

Then staying overnight.

Right at the moment I'm baking dessert.

2 HUGE cakes.

One Apple and Custard Cake

and one Pineapple and Coconut Cake.

I hope they like them.

:)

I should really figure out my geek girl obsessions

Doctor Who

Harry Potter

Lord of the Rings/ The Hobbit

Star Wars

Minecraft

Adventure Time

Douglas Adams

of course there's more :D

Seriously I'm really confused.

So the aforementioned Coconut Cake Recipe is:

1 cup Self Raising Flour

1 cup of Sugar

1 Cup of Coconut

3/4 Cup of Milk

Mix together and bake in 180c for 30 minutes!

I've always been told that a cake will not work unless there is egg in it

So how does the coconut cake work without eggs!!

HOW?!?!

I don't know how...

but it works!

Bought this book today.

Haven't looked at it yet.

Using it as a reward for finishing all my work today!

Almost done!

Just need to wrap up the cakes and put them in the freezer :D

Anyway.

I'm off for now.

Stay Awesome :D