Thursday, January 8, 2009

1-Year Blog Anniversary and Angel Food Cake

Angel Food CakeIt's hard to believe one year ago today I posted my first entry on this blog. So much has happened since then. I've met many amazing foodies and improved my baking and cooking skills. As well I've found a new love: photography. I want to thank all of you who read and comment and support my passion for food. It's been a blast!

To mark this occasion, I made an angel food cake. I've always wanted to make one from scratch since I've only ever made the boxed version before. My aunt used to make angel food cake for her daughters' birthdays, and I always looked forward to my piece topped with Seven-Minute Frosting. I was surprised at how easy it actually was to make this cake from scratch.

I used the recipe from Cook's Illustrated's The New Best Recipe cookbook. As well, I used the Multi-Tier Cake Pan that I received as a gift from my parents. I lined the bottom of the pan with a round piece of parchment paper and didn't spray it. [Next time, I would try spraying it since it didn't come out of the pan as easily as I'd hoped.]

Recipe

I halved the recipe and made three mini multi-tier cakes.

Ingredients for Angel Food Cake
1 cup sifted cake flour (3 ounces)
1½ cups sifted granulated sugar (10½ ounces)
12 large egg whites (1 ¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons), at room temperature
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
¼ teaspoon table salt
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ teaspoons lemon juice
½ teaspoon almond extract
Zest from 1 lemon

Other angel food cakes:
You can find the recipe and method for angel food cake at the following blogs:

Baking Bites' Perfect Angel Food Cake
Apple Pie, Pastis, & Pâté's Angel Food Cake Recipe
Ward Street Bistro's Angel Food Cake 101
Tastespotting's collection of angel food cakes

Glaze
14 ounces white chocolate
½ cup heavy cream

Melt the white chocolate with the heavy cream. Whisk the mixture gently until smooth. Let cool for 10 minutes and then spread over the chilled cake. Using a metal cake spatula, smooth out into an even layer.

Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting
1 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup coconut (½ cup coconut, toasted, for decorating)

Whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and vanilla. Beat until cream holds peaks. Fold in ½ cup coconut.

Angel Food Cake
Thanks for visiting and making this a wonderful year for me!

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  • 65 comments:

    Kasey said...

    Congrats on the blogoversary! To many more :)

    Elle said...

    Happy one year Blogiversary! You have one of the prettiest blogs I've seen, so your photography hobby is paying off.

    Gorgeous cake, and congratulations one year!

    kimberly salem said...

    Congrats, and the cake looks yummy! Low fat too ;)

    Sandy Smith said...

    I can't believe you've only been at this a year! Your work is lovely, and I look forward to seeing much more of it!

    Cheers,
    ~Sandy

    Lys said...

    Elle's absolutely correct - the photography on this blog is fabulous. Happy Blogoversary!

    NKP said...

    I love angel food cake, but am too much of a wimp to make one. Yours looks so wonderful - and sky high!
    What a great way to celebrate.

    sefa firdaus said...

    Happy Blogoversary!

    May I have the cake?

    Anonymous said...

    Happy Blogoversary! The angel food cake looks heavenly. :P

    Karen said...

    Happy Year One! The Coconut Whipped Cream Frosting sounds so good!

    Joie de vivre said...

    Congratulations on your blogaversary! I love the first photo, it reminds me of a baby's 1st birthday cake. Your baby blog has turned one and is now a grown blog. Aww...they grow so fast don't they? :)

    Shelby said...

    Happy Blogiversary!

    Anonymous said...

    Congratulations!
    Hoping that someday I can bake as clean and organized as you.

    Megan said...

    I love the little cake. It's beautiful! Happy Anniversary! Looking forward to many more!

    Anonymous said...

    Congrats on one year of delicious blog posts! :)

    Anonymous said...

    Congratulations Shari! What a beautiful cake to celebrate.

    CB said...

    Happy Happy Blogiversary and many more...
    /Clara

    js said...

    Happy anniversary! The cake is lovely.

    Anonymous said...

    Congratulations!! And for all the ideas and inspiration -- a big Thank You!!

    Steph said...

    Happy Blogoversary!! Angel food cake is probably the hardest cake to make and yours looks amazing.

    Audrey said...

    Congratulations, Shari! Your blog is one of my favorites.

    Anonymous said...

    happy one year, shari!

    Anonymous said...

    Congratulations Lady. What a wonderful way to celebrate!

    Lynda said...

    Wow...you have such a beautiful blog and it is so inspiring. Congratulations on your 1 year anniversary. I wish I could eat your angel food cake.

    Unknown said...

    Cheers to you!!! and have a great year too... :)

    Di said...

    Happy blogiversary! I'll have to try the CI angel food cake recipe. I usually make the chocolate one from The Cake Bible. It's so neat to watch egg whites turn into the cake batter. =)

    vibi said...

    Happy blog anniversary, Shari!
    Long live the Whisk!

    Beautiful and... courageous angel cake! Another thing I wouldn't dare make! LOL But apparently you are stronger than everything... nothing resists you! LOL Bravo!

    Anonymous said...

    shari, the cake looks delicious...congratulations on your one year anniversary! looking forward to many more posts in 2009!

    Clumbsy Cookie said...

    What a delicious and sweet way to celebrate your blog anniversary! Hope many more fun years will follow this one!

    natalia said...

    Happy blogiversary !! You enrich my wanderings on line thank you !!!

    Manggy said...

    Happy blogaversary Shari! :) That cake looks glorious! I wouldn't spray it still, though, just get the thinnest most flexible knife you have and cut around the edge.
    Here's to many more posts and good food! :)

    Y said...

    Hooray! Happy Blogiversary! :)

    LyB said...

    Congrats on one whole year of blogging! Your passion for food and photography shows in every one of your posts. Here's to many more bloggaversaries! :)

    grace said...

    congrats on hitting one year--you've created a stellar blog here and should be proud!
    great cake, by the way. i've never made angel food cake from scratch, but if i ever do, you'd better believe some coconut frosting will be adorning it. :)

    Margaux said...

    Happy Blogiversary!
    I'm curious to know what you did with all of the left over egg yolks!

    Anonymous said...

    Happy Anniversary!

    Huh, I have never thought of baking my own angel food cake. I always thought it just sorta spontaneously combusted into the universe, along with Puff Pastry and Filo dough.

    I think making a miracle like that happen is great way to celebrate your anniversary;-)

    -Sarah

    Patricia Scarpin said...

    Happy blog birthday/anniversary, dear Shari!
    Your blog looks whimsical and your food is delicious.

    Mari said...

    Happy Blogiversary! That cake looks like heaven and a fitting way to celebrate such a successful year!

    thecelticcookinshanghai said...

    I look forward to your next year of blogging. Congrats I love your blogs.

    Anonymous said...

    Happy Anniversary. It is amazing how fast a year goes by. I am so glad I discovered your blog, it is one of my favorites. A must see for me.

    Anonymous said...

    Shari -
    Happy blogiversary! I can't believe you've only been blogging for one year. I would have imagined that you were an old pro! Congrats!
    Kristen

    Anonymous said...

    Happy One year!!

    Thip said...

    Congratuations! Shari.

    pam said...

    Happy Blog Anniversary!!!

    Stephanie said...

    Happy blog anniversary!

    Nancy/n.o.e said...

    Happy 1 year wishes! And your cake is so lovely. I have my grandmother's angel food cake pan; I'll have to make it again.
    Nancy

    Jan said...

    Happy Blog Anniversary!!
    You have a fantastic blog here you must be really proud.

    CookiePie said...

    Happy anniversary! And what a way to celebrate -- that is one truly beautiful cake!!

    Jenny said...

    Belated Blogiversary!
    I agree, and angel food cake is so easy to make, and so good.

    Anonymous said...

    The cake looks lovely and fit for a anniversary for your wonderful blog!

    sunita said...

    Congrats on your first blogversary...you've got a wonderful space here :-)

    Anonymous said...

    Just found your blog. Happy Anniversary!

    Neha said...

    Congrats on urs blog's First Annivesary....
    Wish a lot more years to come..

    Anonymous said...

    Happy Happy Blogiversary!!!

    Anonymous said...

    Happy Anniversary Shari!

    Anonymous said...

    Happy Belated Blogoversary!

    I love looking at your photos, keep em coming!

    Here's to many more years of happy cooking!

    ;) amy

    Jaime said...

    happy blogiversary! your angel food cake looks fab!

    PheMom said...

    That little cake is gorgeous! Happy Blogiversary!

    Anonymous said...

    Congratulations! Love your blog and enjoy your anniversary!

    Linda said...

    Happy blogoversary! Your blog has been a real treat to read, and looking forward to more deliciousness in 2009!

    Family First said...

    Ooh Happy Birthday Whisk!

    Lori said...

    Congrats Shari. You have a great blog with lots of amazing food and photography! I love to check out your latest creations.

    Ingrid_3Bs said...

    Happy Blogiversary!

    I'm not fond of angel food cake but now that frosting sounds right up my alley!
    ~ingrid

    MaryBeth said...

    Congrats on your 1 year blog a versary... Tomorrow is my 100th posting and we will be doing a cook book giveaway. Stop by and check it out. By the way your cake looks outstanding!

    Bridgett said...

    Happy anniversary! I just found your blog and love its design and your photography! I will be adding you to my reader as soon as I'm done here :)

    Tina @ MOMS CRAZY COOKING said...

    I see this is an older recipe, but we are looking for Angel Food Cake recipes for National Angel Food Day. If you would please stop by and link-up this recipe and/or if you have any other Angel Food Cake recipes!

    http://momscrazycooking.blogspot.com/2011/10/this-weeks-cravings-50-angel-food-cake.html