2010 in review

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In 2010...


I made more baked goods than I thought humanly possible in order to avoid doing homework. In March, went to D.C. with Sarah...


I somehow managed to complete my first year of graduate school... In June, I moved to Budapest and spent the summer exploring Hungary, Serbia, and Romania with new friends and some great old ones.

In September, I picked apples with my Michigan friends before heading back to Denver for more torture, I mean grad school...


I survived the fall quarter by hanging out with great Denver friends, like Scarlett and Clara...

I attempted to find inner peace...

And when that failed, I dressed up as a giant beer can and drowned my sorrows in PBR...


2010! What a year. All in all, it has been a pretty good year. Thanks for sharing 2010 with me and I'll see you next year!

shadow of the wind

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Okay, so instead of starting Skippy Dies like I said I was going to, I picked up a copy of 

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Záfon and I am so glad I did. This book is amazing. Simply excellent.


The Shadow of the Wind is the story of Daniel Sempere, a young man living in Barcelona during the Franco regime. At the age of 10, he visits the Cemetery of Forgotten Books with his father and comes across a novel, The Shadow of the Wind by Julian Carax. After an falling in love with Carax's words, Daniel sets out to find more of his novels, but in his pursuit he discovers that someone has been traveling across Europe, burning all of Carax's works. Daniel's search for Julian Carax and his lost novels is a thrilling tale that will keep you guessing right up to the end.


I'm also grateful for this book because it helped me survive the 2.5 hour delay on my train ride from Chicago to Michigan.

I know I only put up books I like, but maybe that's because I have superb taste in literature and never pick up a book that isn't of the highest caliber of storytelling. We'll go with that theory.

Up Next: Skippy Dies by Paul Murray (for real this time)

how to say merry christmas with a dobos torta

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I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! I know I did. My parents and I watched The Shop Around the Corner (starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan and set in Budapest!!) Christmas morning instead of opening gifts because my sister and her husband traveled back to Michigan on the 25th. It was their first time back in Michigan for Christmas for Christmas in four years), and so our family was reunited once again for the holiday. Santa was very good to me- thanks, big guy! I got the 5 year diary, and some books (two about Bob Dylan!!), a new apron and lots of other fun things. What was your favorite gift you received/gave?




We went over to my aunt's house for Christmas dinner and I brought the dessert. Or should I say desserts, since I brought four types of cookies and a Dobos Torta. Oh, and my dad made brownies. I think I got a bit carried away...

Anyway, I've been going through constant Budapest withdrawals (still) and I've been wanting to make some sort of Hungarian dessert for quite some time now. I figured Christmas was the best excuse I would have to make an elaborate cake. I think it still might have been too elaborate for the occasion. Oh well, it gave me some satisfaction. Plus, it was tasty. Here it is:



Dobos Torta (adapted from here)
8-10 servings (these are very large servings- you can get at least 12 maybe 16!)

6 egg yolks
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon orange zest
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons cake flour
6 egg whites
Chocolate Buttercream, recipe follows
Caramel Glaze, recipe follows

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Beat the egg yolks and sugar until pale and creamy. Mix in the orange zest. Sift together both flours to aerate well and add to the yolk mixture. Beat the egg whites in a separate bowl until they are firm and well peaked. Fold the whipped egg whites into the yolk mixture lightly and quickly. This quantity yields 6 layers (Okay, I'm sorry but this is impossible. I only got 4 layers out of this. Maybe if you're super skilled at making things thin and even and lovely you'll get 6 layers. I had to double the entire recipe in order to make six layers).
Spread a thin coating of mixture in the bottom of a greased and floured 9 1/2-inch spring-form pan and smooth carefully (Make sure you really do a good job smoothing it out. Because of the egg whites the layers don't flatten out so if you want even layers, be careful!). Bake immediately for about 5 to 8 minutes (If you don't get six layers out of a batch you're going to have to bake each layer for 8-10 minutes). Bake 2 layers at a time if you have the pans. When the cakes are lightly browned, turn into a rack and promptly continue with the other layers.
As soon as the filling is finished, set aside the best looking cake layer for the top, and sandwich the rest together with the chocolate buttercream, spreading it over the top and sides. Brush any loose crumbs off the reserved top layer and lay it on a large sheet of waxed paper.
Chocolate Buttercream

8 tablespoons vegetable shortening
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup heavy cream

With an electric mixer, beat the shortening and butter together until blended. Turn the mixer down to the lowest setting and gradually add the confectioners' sugar and the sifted cocoa powder. Turn the mixer back up and beat at high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Gradually beat in the vanilla and corn syrup until incorporated. Add the cream and refrigerate.

Caramel Glaze

1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Add the water, sugar, and butter to a saucepan and cook over a high flame. Bring to a boil and cook until a golden amber.

Quickly pour the caramel straight over the reserved top layer and smooth it out using a clean and dry long offset spatular. Using a lightly buttered long knife, immediately score the top of the caramel layer into 10 sections (or however many slices you would like to have- I recommend more than 10...), cutting through the caramel glaze, but not through the cake. Leave to cool. Lay the caramel layer on top of the filled cake layers. Do not refrigerate. Store at room temperature.

seasons greetings

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buon natale / vesele vianoce / mele kalikimaka /gleðileg jól / feliz navidad / hyvää joulua / nollaig shona / veselé vánoce / Noeliniz kutlu olsun / baxtalo Krečuno / С Рождеством Хрисовым / joyeux noël / glædelig jul / merry christmas / boldog karácsonyt / gëzuar kkrishtlindjet /bon nadal /gelukkig kerstfeest / god jul / nadolig llawen/ hyvää joulua / geseënde kersfees / sretan božić / весела коледа / ulihelisdi danisdayohihvi / nadelek lowen / gojan Kristnaskon / häid jõule / frohe weihnachten / kala christougenna / priecīgus ziemassvētkus / linksmų kalėdų / schéi chrëschtdeeg / среќен Божиќ / milied hieni / wesołych swiąt / Crăciun fericit / vesel božič / heri la krismasi / maligayang pasko /


Wishing you a merry Christmas in whatever language you speak and wherever you happen to be in the world!

christmas wishlist

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With Christmas just a week away I thought it was about time to share my Christmas wishlist for this year.

If I could do get a surprise on December 25, it would be great if it were any of the following:


1. A coffee subscription from Metropolis Coffee - my favorite micro-roaster in Chicago. ($12.25 monthly, bi-weekly, or weekly). Coffee is essential to surviving my ridiculously busy school/work schedule.



2. A membership to my local yoga studio. This will help my yoga fails become yoga successes (I hope- otherwise it's just an opportunity for public embarrassment).

3. A good book. Any good book.

4. A 5 Year Diary Where will I be five years from now?



5. A baby bulldog. A girl can dream, right?

cookie giveaway

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Hello, friends!


Welcome to my first giveaway. And of course, in the spirit of the season the giveaway is a box of Christmas cookies made by yours truly.

Since I am still in the process of baking them I don't have any pictures yet. But it will look something along the lines of last years box of goodness (with different varieties):


To enter to win you must:
  1. Be a follower of this blog
  2. Leave a comment about your favorite cookie
  3. Love cookies!
A winner will be picked at random Saturday morning!

Love,
Lauren

recent travels

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Sorry for being a flake when it comes to blogging. Over the past week and a half I've been in New York and Chicago! Four days in each.

I went to NYC for work. My main project at work this past quarter was organizing a conference on Religion and Peacebuilding and so it finally all came together early last week. It was my first time in New York City- can you believe that? I'm not very well traveled in my own country. I'm working to remedy that slowly. Well, I'd love to say that I fell in love with New York City, love at first sight and all of that. Unfortunately, I did not. I don't dislike it, it's just no Budapest or Chicago. I didn't feel that instant connection. I think if I spent more time there I would like it more.


I was staying in Midtown and didn't spend much time outside of that area except for a brief jaunt to Soho for some shopping and to the East Village to sample the cupcakes at Babycakes (which was very tasty!).

There was a lot of walking around and shopping to be done and the four days went by very quickly. Next time I'd like to explore Greenwich Village and Brooklyn!

After a one day stopover in Michigan it was on to Chicago. Oh how I love Chicago. It was my first time back since graduation- over 1.5 years! That's way too long. It was great to see some of my college friends, especially Beata- I've been going through withdrawals since I spent the whole summer with her in Hungary. Too bad it was ridiculously cold. I don't remember Chicago ever being that cold when I lived there. Perhaps Denver has ruined me and I no longer have any cold tolerance. Nevertheless, I had a great time. Zero pictures were taken because if I had taken my hands out my pockets they would have turned into icicles immediately and then I would never have been able to take a picture again! I drank a lot of coffee and spent quite a bit of time at the Cultural Center and the Harold Washington Library- both are fabulous and free, next time you're in Chicago be sure to check them out.

Highlight of the trip: Going to the Sovereign (my favorite bar in Chicago) with Beata and playing 9 Bob Dlyan songs in a row on the jukebox (all the old alcoholics were probably annoyed with us towards song 7) and playing Apples to Apples Jewish Edition. Yes, folks. Jewish edition- and it was marvelous! Then we went to dinner at Blue Elephant (delicious Thai restaurant in Rogers Park) with Kinga and Paul and then back to the Sovereign for more PBR and Jewish Apples to Apples. It was altogether a spectacular evening.

Well, that updates you on my life so far. Time to bake cookies and eat too much food!

local natives

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I can't stop listening to Gorilla Manorby Local Natives. Seriously, it's so good. I've listened to it in its entirety about 20 times since I got it a few weeks ago.

It's like earlier this summer when I couldn't get enough of Mumford & Sons, and I still can't. Love that cd too. Lots of music loving going on in my life right now.

Favorite songs off this album? Um, all of them. To be quite frank with you they're all good. Listen to it and try to dispute that fact. Yes, it is a fact in my book. But, if you're only going to listen to a few...check out "Wide Eyes," "Airplanes," "Sun Hands," and "Cubism Dream." Although you really should just listen to the whole album.

Any other musical suggestions?

michigan beer

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It would be a bit silly if I encouraged you to buy local this week and then didn't do the same myself. So today, while I was in the beer aisle of my grocery store (obviously the aisle I take the most time in) I picked up a six-pack of Majestic Wheat Ale made by the North Peak Brewing Company in Traverse City, Michigan.

I'd never seen it before. And yes, I was drawn to it by the 'cute' bottles and I like the labels. So what? I'm no beer aficionado so I go by what I already knows tastes good or by the packaging. It's not science, it's just how I operate.


It's pretty decent. I'm a fan. You should try it if you can and tell me what you think! I'd never heard of North Peak Brewing Company (not that I'm all up to date on Michigan microbreweries, but...). Give it a taste!

Have you tried any new local products this week?

buy local week

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November 26 thru December 5 is Buy Local Week.

Buying local is a good thing! Help support local, independently owned businesses in your area this week (and more often than that, too!). For more information about buy local events going on in your area go here. I love local shops (usually...I have been to a few horrendous ones), but my overall experience is that they are great places to buy unique gifts, and since it is that time of year...go out and spend some money!

I am going to the Detroit Urban Craft Fair this Friday buying homemade Michigan stuff. It's at the Fillmore Detroit (2115 Woodward Ave) Saturday, December 4 from 10 am to 7 pm and Sunday, December 5 from 11 am to 6 pm. If you're in the area, you should stop in!

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