Cooking
I'm afraid you might begin to think I should have called this series State by State Sweets, but let me regale you with one more sweetie from Maryland - the Smith Island Cake. On Smith Island, these cakes are simply called layer cakes. They can come in just about any flavor, but they're stacked 8, 10, or even 12 layers high - perfect for those who want a little cake with their frosting ;)
Since I have no photo, before we go any further, you must click on over here to get a sense of the proportions. While you're there, take a look at that frosting recipe - doesn't that add up to four pounds of frosting?? Actually, other photos of Smith Island cakes I've seen look more like the tortes they're sometimes compared to, with relatively thin layers of frosting between the cake layers.
Tom Horton's, An Island Out of Time, describes life on the island and introduces the reader to some of its inhabitants, including Mary Ada Marshall. With Smith Island Cake currently in the running for Maryland's state dessert, Mary Ada and her 8-layer cake traveled to Baltimore for a spot on yesterday's morning news. I was thrilled to find this video of the segment - Mary Ada is charming. When asked how long it takes to make one she says, "Some women it might take an hour. I can make one in about 25 minutes." She's not exaggerating either - Tom Horton says he timed her and she could bake and ice an 8-layer cake, wash the pans and put them away in 20 minutes. I wish!
No word yet as to whether the legislature will bestow the title of State Dessert on the Smith Island Cake, but I promise I'll keep you posted!
- Cathy’s Secrets To Modestly Successful Cake Baking
I have a bad history with layer cakes. I can’t count how many times they’ve fallen or broken up on me. Then, of course, there were the ones that were just plain bad. I’m also not so good at achieving a polished look to my cakes – they look...
- Test Run
It's not perfect. But, I'm baking a cake for somone this coming weekend. They want to PAY ME to bake a cake for them. I'm using fondant. I've never been crazy about the stuff, and right now, I'm 'eh'. It's useful, sure...but...
- Another Re-used Post
Here's another post from my soon-to-be defunct cooking club: Ok. Here it is. Only one day late! Chocolate Layer Cake with Peppermint Ganache Frosting Alex examines the cake with a critical eye. Alex tastes the cake. Yummy cake! The only difference...
- Let Us Eat Cake
Terrine de Gateau For the third "Is My Blog Burning", Renee suggested the theme of cake. I envisioned something I was calling a "buche de printemps", a variant of the classic French dessert, the buche de Noel. I...
- Carrot Birthday Cake
My sister turned 33 - well, actually, she did in August, she just haven't had the time to gather up the entire family and share her birthday until now! Seeing that I LOVE to bake (you'd never have guessed, would you?) I offered to do her a...
Cooking
State by State - Maryland: Smith Island Cake
I'm afraid you might begin to think I should have called this series State by State Sweets, but let me regale you with one more sweetie from Maryland - the Smith Island Cake. On Smith Island, these cakes are simply called layer cakes. They can come in just about any flavor, but they're stacked 8, 10, or even 12 layers high - perfect for those who want a little cake with their frosting ;)
Since I have no photo, before we go any further, you must click on over here to get a sense of the proportions. While you're there, take a look at that frosting recipe - doesn't that add up to four pounds of frosting?? Actually, other photos of Smith Island cakes I've seen look more like the tortes they're sometimes compared to, with relatively thin layers of frosting between the cake layers.
Tom Horton's, An Island Out of Time, describes life on the island and introduces the reader to some of its inhabitants, including Mary Ada Marshall. With Smith Island Cake currently in the running for Maryland's state dessert, Mary Ada and her 8-layer cake traveled to Baltimore for a spot on yesterday's morning news. I was thrilled to find this video of the segment - Mary Ada is charming. When asked how long it takes to make one she says, "Some women it might take an hour. I can make one in about 25 minutes." She's not exaggerating either - Tom Horton says he timed her and she could bake and ice an 8-layer cake, wash the pans and put them away in 20 minutes. I wish!
No word yet as to whether the legislature will bestow the title of State Dessert on the Smith Island Cake, but I promise I'll keep you posted!
- Cathy’s Secrets To Modestly Successful Cake Baking
I have a bad history with layer cakes. I can’t count how many times they’ve fallen or broken up on me. Then, of course, there were the ones that were just plain bad. I’m also not so good at achieving a polished look to my cakes – they look...
- Test Run
It's not perfect. But, I'm baking a cake for somone this coming weekend. They want to PAY ME to bake a cake for them. I'm using fondant. I've never been crazy about the stuff, and right now, I'm 'eh'. It's useful, sure...but...
- Another Re-used Post
Here's another post from my soon-to-be defunct cooking club: Ok. Here it is. Only one day late! Chocolate Layer Cake with Peppermint Ganache Frosting Alex examines the cake with a critical eye. Alex tastes the cake. Yummy cake! The only difference...
- Let Us Eat Cake
Terrine de Gateau For the third "Is My Blog Burning", Renee suggested the theme of cake. I envisioned something I was calling a "buche de printemps", a variant of the classic French dessert, the buche de Noel. I...
- Carrot Birthday Cake
My sister turned 33 - well, actually, she did in August, she just haven't had the time to gather up the entire family and share her birthday until now! Seeing that I LOVE to bake (you'd never have guessed, would you?) I offered to do her a...