Dangerous Cake Walk

I am exhausted.

I made the cake. Dobosz torte. It was complicated and difficult and dangerous, but that sucker's done! Complicated was knowing how long to beat the egg whites. If you think its enough, guess what? It's not! Difficult was cutting out the circles. The box I have to hold it is exactly 9 inches and the cake pan is 9 inches. I cut a little bit off the circumference of each layer, making them even. I measured each layer exactly the same, laying the batter out the same way each time. People kept calling while I was in the middle of making this cake. Each layer can only cook for 7 minutes. I would be on the phone and scream, "Oh no! I forgot the cake again!" None of them burnt. The cake, not the people.

There was something that burnt though. Cheesecake. I NEVER want to see cheesecake again ever in my life. We don't really get along. Although I love love love the taste, cheesecake does NOT listen to me. In the end, I scrapped the recipe, started over and used my mother's recipe, which is not baked. I prefer the baked kind. But cheesecake and I broke up. No more. Kaput. Cheesecake, don't go away mad, just go away.

The icing for the dobosz torte is to die for. It's a cream with yolks and bittersweet chocolate and icing sugar. It's so smooth. I put a tiny bit of hazelnut in it and it is the layers and the outer icing. Then I put toasted almonds on the outside of the cake. This is quite a feat to make a perfect dobosz torte. If I had say what I could have done better, the only thing is the glass top. Sugar is so hard to work with! I burnt my knuckle when I dripped one drop on my knuckle. I immediately put my mouth on it and burnt my tongue. But my hand instantly went red and the whole hand throbbed. The skin came right away where I burnt myself. Dangerous stuff. Just like me. I am the girl who eats an apple without washing it and leaves tips off of highlighters.

Fulfilling Popcorn

Ingredients:
3 tblsp vegetable/canola oil
1/4 c. popcorn
1-2 tblsp sugar
Large pot with tight-fitting lid

Put oil in pot, tilting pot so that oil coats the entire bottom. Turn heat on burner to medium. When oil heats a little, add the sugar, sprinkling evenly over the oil. Add the popcorn, sprinkling the kernals evenly as well. Put the lid on and let it heat up. When you hear the popcorn popping, give the pot a shake so that the unpopped kernals fall to the bottom of the pot. Keep shaking until the popping decreases. Remove from heat when the popping sounds are quite spaced apart (30 seconds between contractions). Keep the lid on for about a minute. When pouring popcorn into a bowl be careful as the sugar can burn a hole the size of a crator in your hand (I know this from experience). Sprinkle salt all over the popcorn. No butter needed. Delicious! (Some people call this kettle corn).

Online Training with 30 Rock

I have been holed up in my apartment for 24 hours working on my training. My assistant manager decided to tell me that in order for me to receive my commissions check, I need to have all my training done. There is 12 hours worth!!! I worked straight through though, taking breaks to watch episodes of 30 Rock for every 1.5 modules completed. There are 16 modules, so I am basically thinking in 30 Rock mode with the thought of cell phones going through my head.

No wonder the new guys at work were standing at the computer all day. I thought they were slacking or were shy with customers. Turns out, they were training at work. Smart guys. I asked my assistant manager if he was hiding this information from me and he said no, he just found out and told all of us at the same time. There was a flurry of activity with the new guys and they seemed really intent on their computer screens. So I asked and they said that they assumed there was online training, but were just told that it is a requirement to get paid. I was pleased to find out that we were told at the same time. They used to work at Future Shop or The Source or places similar that require training to be done. Those places don't require it to be done in order to be paid though.

I am almost done all my training. Just have one last module to complete which will register me for the training trip to Vancouver. Finishing ahead of schedule (deadline is May 31st) so hopefully I will get a good seat. And won't have to train while I am at work. I would rather train at home in my bed where I can watch 30 Rock. Ok, so not the most healthy way of working, but whatev. I kinda like it. And now I have today off. I am going to make a tomato and cheese grilled sandwich and removed the skin of the tomato it doesn't get all shrivelled up. And a nice hot cup of tea. I am becoming a grandmother more and more every day. Just need to get married, raise a child and wait for their kids.

Butter Chicken Butter Chicken Butter Chicken Butter Chicken Butter Chicken

I learned about Butter Chicken when living with one of my best friends. Today I was missing her and while on my break, watched the cooking Chef at Home with Micheal Smith. My co-workers call him the "gentle giant" and oo-ed and aw-ed over him. Whatever. Guess what he was making???? Yes! It was butter chicken! And he made it in this really cool way. First, he showed how to make his version of tandoori chicken. Then for the butter sauce, he showed how to get clarified butter and the base. Although I had just had lunch, my mouth was watering. This is not the typical way I make butter chicken but this one seems so much more simple and I am definitely going to make this soon because certain people aren't here to make it for me!

Butter Sauce for Indian Chicken
Ingredients:

1 small can whole tomatoes
1 cup 35% heavy whipping cream
2 heaping spoonfuls garum masala
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
2 x chili peppers
3 tbsp grated frozen ginger
1 small bunch fresh cilantro
Salt
1 stick (1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons) of butter

Directions:
Puree the tomatoes, cream, garum masala, lemon zest and juice, chili peppers, ginger, cilantro and salt in a food processor. Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan. When it begins to foam, swirl it around until it browns lightly. Stir in the tomato mixture and heat it through. Serve over Tandoori chicken with plain yogurt, naan bread, and a cute guy.

Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Even though my heart kinda stops up at the thought of eating this, I kinda want to try it. There is this BBQ joint I go to called Pig (yes, that's right, Pig) every couple of weeks. The sandwiches are $5 (tax incl) and is simply a kaiser bun with your choice of meat and some BBQ sauce on it. Best sandwich ever. And they are big fans of Elvis. They have recipes of his posted on the wall. I am a creature of habit and sit at the same spot and read the same recipe every time I go. Enjoy.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 sandwiches

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter, softened
8 slices white bread
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 large, ripe banana, sliced
1/4 cup honey
12 slices bacon, Sauteed until crispy (optional)

Preparation:
Toast the bread very lightly. Spread the butter on 1 side of each slice of bread. On the other side of half of the slices spread peanut butter. Place banana slices on top of peanut butter. Drizzle honey over bananas. Place 3 bacon slices on top of the banana, then place the remaining buttered bread slices on top, butter-side-out.
Place sandwiches on a preheated grill pan or griddle. Flip them over when they become golden brown and crispy. When the sandwiches are browned on both sides, remove to plates. Slice in half and serve immediately.