Audio:  Share one of your favorite songs from 2006.

What books did you love as a child? 
Submitted by hearts. 

Show us a happy memory.
Submitted by Liz.

Collage

Show us something sweet. 
Submitted by Gina Argentina.

Show us what's cookin'.
Submitted by Chance.

Well, gee. Who's that stranger that suggested today's Vox Hunt? X) Here are some goodies from my classes at school. All of these were made by yours truly here and the photo descriptions include the full recipes for each treat. Feel free to ask questions! :D

 Braided White Bread  -  Meditterranean Olive Bread  -  Individual Fruit Tart

 Pear Almond Tart  -  Fruit Strip  -  Paris-Brest

 Chocolate Cream Pie  -  Lime Chiffon Pie  -  Chocolate Truffles

Black Forest Cake  -  Chocolate Mousse Trio

Show us a sign of the times.

Submitted by Lex Vox.

Weapon of Mass Deception

1 comment

Weapon of Mass Deception II

Give us artsy fartsy. 
Submitted by Meg.

Well gee, since it's Meg's submission...

First

Show us something you can't live without.
Submitted by awkwardidity.

Emi

This is part of a school project. Three cheers for cake! :D

Devil's Food Cake

yields: twelve 8" cakes (makes four assembled cakes)

2 3/8 pounds cake flour

6 3/8 ounces cocoa

3/4 ounce salt

1 1/4 ounce baking powder

3/4 ounce baking soda

1 3/8 pounds emulsified shortening

3 1/4 pounds sugar

1 pint 9 ounces milk

3 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 ounces milk

1 pound 9 ounces eggs

1. Scale ingredients and have them at room temperature.

2. Sift the flour, baking powder, soda, cocoa, and salt into the mixing bowl and add the shortening. With the paddle attachment, mix at low speed for 2 minutes. Stop the machine, scrape down the bowl and beater, and mix again for 2 mintues.

3. Sift the remaining dry ingredients into the bowl and add part of the water or milk. Blend at low speed for 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the beater several times to ensure even mixing.

4. Combine the remaining liquids and lightly beaten eggs. With the mixer running, add this mixture to the batter in three parts. After each part, turn off the machine and scrape down the bowl. Continue mixing for a total of 5 minutes in this stage.

5. Ladle 16 ounces of batter into each 8" pan and bake at 375F until a toothpick comes out with a moist crumb, about 25 minutes.

Italian Buttercream

8 pounds sugar

4 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 quart water

2 pounds egg whites

8 pounds butter, room temperature

4 pounds emulsified shortening

3 ounces vanilla extract

1. Place the egg whites in a mixing bowl so you will be ready to start whipping them when the sugar syrup is ready.
2. Boil the corn syrup, sugar and water. When the syrup reaches 230˚, begin whipping the egg whites at high
speed. Continue boiling the syrup until it reaches 240˚– the soft boil stage.
3. Remove the syrup from the heat and lower the mixer speed to medium. Pour the syrup into the egg whites in a
thin, steady stream between the whip and the side of the bowl (if the syrup hits the whip, it will splatter and cause
lumps). Return the mixer to high speed and continue to whip the meringue until it has cooled completely and has
formed stiff peaks.

4. Add the shortening and butter to the meringue, 1 ounce at a time, whipping to blend.

5. Add the vanilla.

Variations:

Peppermint - Substiture peppermint extract for the vanilla extract.

To assemble:

1. Remove 3 cakes from their pans. Top the bottom two layers generously with the peppermint buttercream, measuring about 1" high. Apply a 1/2" coat to the top of the top layer, avoiding the sides of the cake. Gently place the top layer on, being careful not to push the filling out to the sides. Do not ice the sides.

2. Mix 4 ounces of buttercream with green food coloring and carefully pipe three holly leaves in a "Y" shape in the center of the cake. Leave room for three peppermint candies to be arranged in the middle like holly berries.

Holly Holiday Cake

1 comment

Holly Holiday Cake - Top

What's the last thing you usually do or think about before you fall asleep?

Every night before we fall asleep, usually right as our brain's shut down, Emi and I wish each other "sweet dreams" and say, "I love you."

(It's corny, I know, but it's one of my favorite parts of the day. <3)