DB: Dobos Torte

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.

File this one in the "looks terrible, tastes great" category. Chocolate sponge cake, chocolate frosting that didn't set too well, and a caramel layer that initially wanted to break some teeth. The layering effect inside was pretty cool looking, though!

TWD: Applesauce Spice Bars

Dorie was right, I'd be inclined to skip right past this cookie. No particular reason, I guess, as I really love apples. When Karen of Something Sweet chose these bars, I figured that she must be like many of my other friends, posting pictures of their kids first days of school, and tucking these treats into lunchboxes. I know the new school year is right around the corner, but I'll savor the last few weeks of summer while enjoying this taste of fall.

TWD: Brownie Buttons

I'm having a hard time prioritizing the baking this summer. These sure are cute, but it takes longer to wash the pan than to eat the whole batch. I added cinnamon instead of orange zest, and then drizzled them with a cinnamon glaze.

Dinner = Failure

Last winter, I served maple glazed tofu, with a side of wilted spinach with citrus butter. The kids loved it. I felt like mother of the year. So tonight, I whipped out the tofu again, with far different results. Looks so good, but they ate only the stir fried beans, leaving behind the pineapple glazed tofu with spicy cucumber salad.

I'm just waiting for someone to tell me, "I told you so!"