Red Velvet Cake Mini

Till recently I was completely indifferent about red velvet cake, while it is truly North American dessert and here in Europe red velvet can be found in bakeries and cafes very rarely. And to be completely honest, I was afraid of eating cake with red layers, because it seemed very unnatural and I just couldn't imagine what taste it could possibly have.  However, not long ago I was lucky to come upon red velvet cake for the first time and I was just blown down with it! I had no idea that this cake can be so good. It is not simply a chocolate cake, it has a distinguishing flavor and texture, unlike any other. I knew the next cake I bake definitely will be a red velvet.

You know that I don't need a reason to bake a cake, but since the Valentine's Day is just around the corner...red velvet cake seemed to be a perfect thing to bake. Also I didn't want to make a giant cake and waste huge amount of ingredients. Plus, I was not sure whether it turns out eatable good. So, I had an idea of making mini cake for two. How great is that?! Especially when you need only two 400 ml (14 oz) cans to bake the layers! I adore this idea. And I am sure I will make more mini cakes. 

So, the cake not just turned out eatable good, it was fantastic! Moist, crumbly layers and a delicate cream cheese frosting both with a hint of orange (inspired by naked red velvet cake by Michelle, which looks magnificent, by the way!). One of the best cakes I have made so far. The recipe makes two mini cakes 8 cm (3 inch) in diameter each. But you can divide ingredients in two to make just one mini cake.

Mlyntsi (Ukrainian thin pancakes) with Citrus Curd

No doubt that you have eaten a lot of fancy desserts in your life, but when I will ask you to name your favourite, I am almost sure it will be something from your childhood.  I have checked this theory not once,  and it works.

So, you must have guessed by now that my childhood wouldn't have been fully happy without mlyntsi. Kidding of course, but to be honest, mlyntsi were (and still are) the most respected dessert in our family. Mlyntsi are well known traditional food in Ukraine, which are similar to French-style crepes.  Our cuisine is pretty simple, it involves anything our ancestors had near at hand. Milk, eggs, butter and flour are exactly the foodstuffs that could be found in any home.

The last 2014 Post - Chocolate Vanilla Mousse

This year seems to have flown by! I still can not realise that I have to sleep only this one night until New Year's Eve! 

As a rule, ahead of the upcoming year we sum up everything about the previous one. I think I have accomplished even more resolutions than I had planed. Well, if I was told one year ago, that I would become a food blogger...hah..I really never would  have believed it! However, it was the best decision I have ever made! I have told you not even once what a big step it was. Usually my hobbies do not last long, but blogging  became a part of my life, like breathing or eating (naturally!)). This year was all about cooking and I couldn't be happier!  And I am also so much grateful to all of you for reading ! 

Chocolate & Espresso B-Day Cake

Am I the only one so excited about every new cake I make?  I always say that exactly this particular cake is the best I have ever made! There is something magical about making a cake. First of all, cakes are beautiful. Secondly, you never know exactly whether it all will go right. Sometimes it just doesn't work (especially on the stage of making a frosting - I own that frostings are my weak point). But the most thrilling part is assembling. Actually, I never know how my cake will look like. I can picture every detail in my head and live with it for a week. But when the time comes and I begin layering the cake, usually I end up with something completely different. Isn't it magic? Magic of creation.

 

Lemon Cupcakes with Blueberry Buttercream

Pumpkin Cake with Mascarpone Frosting & Chocolate Ganache

Where are my 36 hours a day?! It is unfair! Because I am literally short of time. As were promised in my last post, this Sunday was devoted for pumpkin baking. But I just hadn't have any chance to make up a few sentences and to edit the photos. And right now instead of learning by heart the Universal declaration of human rights in both German and Ukrainian languages (can you only imagine that? crazy, right?!), I am writing about this cake. Pumpkin cake with Mascarpone frosting and Chocolate Ganache. And you know why am I so irresponsible? Because I can't wait any second longer to share the recipe for this cake with you, guys!!! When I told you that this cake was the best I ever made, I was so wrong! Without doubt Pumpkin cake steals the show.!

Tiramisu with Coffee Syrup & Raspberry Compote

Rustic Peach Galette

Lime Bars with Candied Pistachios

Hi, Friends!!! Did you miss me? Hope you did!  I had some sort of writer's block. But now I am back and ready to make you hungry!)) 

Flourless Swedish Chocolate Cake KLADDKAKA + gifs

So...today I won't be too much wordy. Because I fail words to express my feelings about this cake. The most rich flavored chocolate cake I ever had in my life. Sticky when warm, becomes dense when chilled. Accomplished with fresh berries and slightly powdered with confectioner's sugar. I'm irreversibly for good and all in love.

Be ready for your life to change. Really. I warned you.

Brown Rice Pudding with Roasted Plums

You already know that I am a breakfast geek? I strongly believe that in the morning you can eat whatever you want without any pricks of conscience (on conditions that you are doing sports, go to the gum or at least lead an active life). The more I have stinted myself in food,  the more hunger I had for junk food . 

It is in our nature - people always hanker after forbidden fruit. Everyone knows that itching feeling to break the rule. And when you do - you feel relief.... along with remorse. For myself I do not like to feel guilt. And it is not about the opinion of others, it is more about my conscience, that makes me spend too much time thinking of my "sins".

Orange Rosemary Pancakes w/ Lavender Honey Whipped Cream

Pancakes...Pancakes...Pancakes.  I love PANCAKES! And who doesn't? I really thought about any imperfections of these particular recipe, but...no...they are perfect to me. Fluffy, with nice smooth texture, not sweet too much, and lavender whipped cream immensely balance all the flavors. Neither more nor less.

Berry Summer Cake

Until I began cooking almost every day, I had no idea of failures on the kitchen. I often heard from others about overbeaten frosting, underbaked cake, overdone pancakes...and so many different things, but it had never happened to me until I decided to make this cake. I had a lot of berries, which I needed to use (I tried to eat them all...but it appeared to be pointless))). I found the recipe. It  seemed very easy to make, minimum ingredients - flour, butter, sugar, eggs . With absolute certainty that in an hour I will have a summer cake on my table, I went to the kitchen, turned on the music (as I usually do) and ....Oh, how wrong I was!

Doughnut Peach Cheesecake Popsicles

YAY! My first popsicles! Look pretty, don't they? 

And taste even better! 

To all cheesecake lovers devoted).

Roasted Honey Apricots

Summer is a fruit and berry season. The variety of these gifts of nature makes every day of summer even more bright and colorful. In June - lots of red and blue colored berries - strawberries, red and black currants, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries. In July stone fruits - apricots, plums, peaches - are in season.

Cherry & Almond Frangipane Tartelettes

Believe  it or not, but only today I have realized, that half of the summer is already left behind. On the one hand it makes me sad, especially because we have only two months of summer holidays at the university (NOT enough!!).

Plus I'm a little bit disappointed, because all my plans for summer vacation went wrong.