Daring Bakers' Dobos Torta, Barefoot Blogger White Pizza with Arugula, and the Barista Competition

It's late on posting day and we've got a lot to cover people, so bear with me. 

First: 

The August 2009 Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Angela of A Spoonful

of Sugar and Lorraine of Not Quite Nigella. They chose the spectacular Dobos

Torte based on a recipe from Rick Rodgers' cookbook Kaffeehaus:  Exquisite

Desserts from the Classic Caffés of Vienna, Budapest, and Prague.

It's a fairly long recipe so I won't repost it. Let me know if you desperately need it. This was an interesting dessert. The caramel layer is really lemony which struck me as a little odd on its own. The sponge cake turned out nicely (even if I did cheat and baked it in a well greased round cake pan). Like most baking, this would have worked better in a climate controlled kitchen where everything could have sit up properly without being put in the fridge. It is a visually pleasing cake. I think with a few tweaks this is definitely making it into the rotation.

I must also think my amazing "soup" chef Shannon. My month has been crazy so my only free night to bake this was on the day it needed to be posted. So the most delicious element of the cake, the frosting, was actually all her. 

Second:

White Pizza with Arugula 

the recipe

So this was not my favorite Ina recipe. It takes a long time and I'm adamantly opposed to any pizza that requires the use of a fork. The mix of cheese was delicious. And the vinaigrette for the arugula was tasty too. Bottom line, I didn't really enjoy the dough anymore than I do the frozen stuff we get at the grocery store. 

Barista Competition

Last night was the district barista championship. It was actually kind of exciting. If for no other reason than I got to nerd out with Mo and Robert from Home Office. I actually did pretty decent for my first time. If only I learned how to keep time (I got some major time penalties). I'm looking forward to going back next year and crushing the competition :D

Look of relief once it was over (And just a cute picture of me)