ATAR Notes: Forum

General Discussion => Creative Corner => Topic started by: Geoo on March 01, 2021, 05:11:28 pm

Title: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on March 01, 2021, 05:11:28 pm
The Monthly Cooking Challenge

Welcome to The Monthly Cooking Challenge! Starting on the first of each month will be a cooking or baking challenge for anyone to participate in. There will be two types of challenges, one that is ingredient based and the other is dish based. On the first of each month, an ingredient or dish will be posted, and your task is to either make a meal that has the ingredient, or make the dish.

The item you make can be either your own making or from following a recipe. Feel free to post a recipe with your picture. To participate, all you have to do is make a meal following the challenge for the month, and post it here. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, it can be from as simple as a daily snack you might have or an elaborate meal. What you make can be anything you want, as long as it fits the month's criteria. It can be sweet or savory, the challenge is what you make of it. Good Luck! 


March Challenge

To start off the challenge, this month is going to be all about:

Almonds!

This is such an amazing ingredient that comes in many forums and can be used in many ways. It can be used as the nut itself, milk, flour, meal, crunched up, as a yogurt, you name it. This is such a versatile ingredient that can be used from deserts to savory meals, I can't wait to see what everyone creates! Good luck everyone!

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Poet on March 03, 2021, 12:31:22 pm
Man, I haven't cooked/baked anything for fun in wayyyyy too long. Thank you for the inspiration! I've never used almonds before but have so many ideas now, thank you!!
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Bri MT on March 03, 2021, 02:04:06 pm
Yes! Almonds are great and an excuse to buy some is all good with me.
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Owlbird83 on March 05, 2021, 08:30:56 am
Thank you I haven't baked in ages so this was a really good motivation!  ;D

It's an almond & ricotta cake! I've never made a cake with ricotta before, it's really nice it makes it moist and creamy, but doesn't taste as rich as cheesecake. The almonds make it really fun to eat because of the small crunchy parts embedded!

I looked up almond recipes on Pinterest and this was like the 2nd thing that came up (it's rare for me to make a decision so fast), the photo of the recipe looked very tasty. Here's the https://thisdelicioushouse.com/almond-ricotta-cake-italian-dessert/ . I improvised and added some milk at the end because the mixture felt too thick to me, so idk if that was necessary or if I should have just trusted the recipe haha. The cake was a bit more dense than I expected but that might have been because I kept getting sidetracked and going and doing other stuff while cooking so maybe all the air left the beaten wet ingredients while I was eating dinner, I don't think the denseness is bad though because the creamy ricotta-ness makes it a bit like a slice. I also halved the sugar because I'm not too keen on uber sweet desserts.

(https://i.imgur.com/WaeHEf5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/es6CwzN.jpg)
I like how flaked almonds look as decorations!

Looking forward to seeing what other people make!! 🤩
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Bri MT on March 05, 2021, 11:49:30 am
I improvised and added some milk at the end because the mixture felt too thick to me, so idk if that was necessary or if I should have just trusted the recipe haha. The cake was a bit more dense than I expected but that might have been because I kept getting sidetracked and going and doing other stuff while cooking so maybe all the air left the beaten wet ingredients while I was eating dinner, I don't think the denseness is bad though because the creamy ricotta-ness makes it a bit like a slice.

Generally once you add liquid (if using baking powder) or acidity (if using baking soda) you want to get it in the oven fairly fast for it to rise properly.

I always modify recipes as I feel rather than strictly following the recipe and that works well for me :)

Made a pear slice today for housemates + I'll bring some into the honours office but I forgot to buy almonds so it was off prompt :(
Maybe I can pick up some silvered ones and place those on top.
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Poet on March 14, 2021, 04:13:13 pm
Hi! I made a thing!

Vegan almond slice, anyone? I made it today and it's pretty good! My first attempt at a proper vegan dessert. It's made with almond meal and wholemeal flour, coconut oil, caster sugar, maple syrup and chopped almonds I fished out of the unsalted mixed nuts bag. Here's some photos of it :))

tap the photos to unstretch
(https://i.imgur.com/2m5yqT4.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/BSszupi.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on March 31, 2021, 09:55:26 pm
Being the late person I am, I ended up making macrons for this months challenge! They were pink macrons with chocolate ganache in the centre. I want to make raspberry next!

(https://i.imgur.com/X0zJzq1.jpg)

Thank you to everyone that has participated this month! It's been amazing to watch all the creations come to life and see just how versatile almonds are!

What will next months ingredient be.....  ;)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on April 01, 2021, 12:46:58 pm
April Challenge

Since this month has Easter going on, what a better time to use up all that chocolate! This month's ingredient is:

Chocolate!

You can use any type of chocolate, from milk, white, dark or even ruby if you're feeling fancy. It can be incorporated in any way, from easter eggs, to choc chips, baking bars, any type you can think of. Bonus points if you can use up easter eggs!

Thank you to all the amazing almond entries from last month, I can't wait to see what everyone makes in April, good luck!

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Owlbird83 on April 28, 2021, 08:30:46 am
Chocolate mousse is probably the only dessert I can make without a recipe because I've made it so many times.
Indredients:
-6 eggs (separated)
-250ml cream, whipped,
-200g chocolate
(original recipe had 25g of butter but i sometimes leave it out to try make it *slightly* healthier)
Method:
-melt chocolate. stir in egg yolks. (and butter)
-whip cream and fold in.
-whip egg whites and fold in.

Unfortunately for some reason this time the cream did not whip properly, so the mousse was less fluffy and light. There are a few factors such as using long life cream (i normally use fresh), cream being at room temp, or not rinsing beaters in between eggs and cream that may have caused this. Edit: eek I sound like i'm writing a lab report lolol muscle memory(?)

Also, if you make chocolate mousse it gets its taste from the chocolate you use so use try to use real chocolate not cooking chocolate!

Spoiler
(https://i.imgur.com/ONHVATA.jpg)

beating egg whites is so satisfying
(https://i.imgur.com/9HBx0co.jpg)
ingredients
(https://i.imgur.com/VY9NT8u.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on April 28, 2021, 04:39:50 pm
That looks absolutely delicious! I haven't had chocolate moose in ages, but you have me craving it right now. Even if the cream didn't quite whip up it still looks amazing! Thanks for sharing  :D   
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on May 01, 2021, 10:48:47 pm
I'm quite late today, but I thought I'd finally upload my creation for the month and announce May's mystery ingredient.

I used 45% dark chocolate to create a gluten free chocolate cake! It turned out great, and it was what I used for my birthday celebration the other day.
Recipe:
https://bakeschool.com/simple-gluten-free-chocolate-cake/

(https://i.imgur.com/d2upIMR.jpg]https://i.imgur.com/d2upIMR.jpg)

Slice Pic
(https://i.imgur.com/ldh1SiY.jpg]https://i.imgur.com/ldh1SiY.jpg)

Chocolate Goodness
(https://i.imgur.com/nMpzfq8.jpg]https://i.imgur.com/nMpzfq8.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on May 01, 2021, 10:55:44 pm
May Challenge

Ahh May, the last month of Autumn, it's time for coziness, warmness and the feeling of getting ready for winter. As the temperature decreases, what's better than wanting to rug up and feel a sense of worth form the food you make. This month's ingredient is:

Cinnamon!

You can use the spice in anyway you want. Whether that is making a chai latte, a cake, putting it in anything to enhance the flavor the world is your oyster with Cinnamon! It can be the main item or can be a background spice, it's up to you! Sweet or Savory it has many uses, so I wish you all luck an anticipate what you can create.

Thank you to all the amazing almond entries from last month, I can't wait to see what everyone makes in May, good luck!

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on May 19, 2021, 12:01:16 am
Yes I should be in bed but I decided to make a late night cinnamon and banana cake! I normally would add walnuts but I couldn't be bothered!  It's my own modified recipe!

1) 2 Cups of plain flour (I use gluten free)
2) 2 tsp Baking Powder
3) 3/4 cup of caster sugar
4) 2 eggs
5) 1/2 cup of milk
6) 3 ripe mashed banana's
7) 2 tsp of vanilla essence
8 ) A ton of cinnamon (I do about 15 shakes)

I just dump everything into the bowl, and place in a lined cake tin about 10 inches and bake for 35 minutes!

(https://i.imgur.com/hl2LNpV.jpg)

There is only half of this cake left as it's already been eaten quite a bit  ;)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Poet on May 24, 2021, 03:08:05 pm
Oh yum, that cake looks delicious!!

Cinnamon is kind of my ~thing~ when it comes to baking so I decided to try apple and cinnamon muffins!! They're so yum and comforting, I'll definitely make them again. Here's a photo:
Spoiler
(https://i.imgur.com/pjvDvKb.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Owlbird83 on May 31, 2021, 08:46:40 am
I made granola for the first time!

I loosely followed this recipe. It's actually so simple, i think i'll be making it again.

(https://i.imgur.com/3DYBXmf.jpg)

Spoiler
(https://i.imgur.com/X4O1GB5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ILFkfRB.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on June 02, 2021, 01:56:25 pm
June Challenge

Welcome to winter everyone! I thought i'd change it up a bit and choose a savory ingredient for this months challenge. To try get those warm wintery vibes in the kitchen, this months ingredient is:

Lentils!

Lentils are packed full of plant based protein and super filling with it's fiber content, so it makes for the perfect ingredient to many warm dishs. There are soups, patties, bolognaise, meatballs and many more. So get out you're winter recipes everyone, I can't wait to see what you all make! 

That cinnamon muffin looks amazing! I'll have to try and make it, and that granola looks fantastic. I've been stuck in a chocolate granola phase so I might need to step out of my box and make some cinnamon based ones! Sorry that I'm a day late, been quite  busy at the moment! Good luck everyone, I can't wait to see your creations!

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on July 02, 2021, 07:52:39 pm
July Challenge

Sorry for being a bit late! I didn't get the opportunity to cook last month but i'm hoping to fit a bit in for July (plus my dishwasher is broken..... and I hate hand washing :P) This month, instead of an ingredient, I thought a general category would be a nice change. So without further or do, this months challenges is:

Cupcakes

You can make any flavour you like. I'd even count muffins! So, feel free to mix and match cupcakes with any icing either, or go no icing at all it's up to you! Looking forward to seeing what every one creates! Happy Baking!

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Owlbird83 on July 18, 2021, 07:17:42 pm
I forgot about the lentil challenge in June, so decided to respond to both prompts with "Cocoa Lentil Cupcakes"

(https://i.imgur.com/dyTJl99.jpg)

I halved the sugar but i think it needs to be a little sweeter. The lentils taste surprisingly good in it, because of the cocoa you can't really taste much lentil-ness in the cooked cake, but the batter tasted chocolatey-lentil-y in a good way.
the oven must have been too hot because most peaked like volcanos
(https://i.imgur.com/hBlaUxb.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Poet on July 31, 2021, 07:57:57 pm
Hello!!!

I'm submitting this like I do most assignments - right on the cusp of the deadline!

I had plans to make these all month, but lockdown got in the way of my collaboration plans. Finally, today I was able to see Erutepa and we made these frog bog cupcakes! They're actually red velvet cakes but with icing I dyed green on top because red velvet tastes nice.
(https://i.imgur.com/p7RF84R.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on July 31, 2021, 09:30:41 pm
Like poet, I may or may not have procrastinated making cupcakes. I made alot of cake as I ran out of patty pans, but I found some in the back of the cupboard! So, here are my chocolate cupcakes with vanilla buttercream on top! Haven't made butter cream in a while so it was nice to do so again. Also, my dishwasher now works again, so clean up wasn't as painful!!!
(https://i.imgur.com/EzTmj6E.jpg)

And yes this is a photo of cupcakes outside on my deck..... it was a prettier backdrop, don't judge :P
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on August 01, 2021, 09:42:58 pm
August Challenge

All of your cupcakes looked amazing guys! Hoped they tasted as delish as they looked!!!! With this being the final month of winter, I thought what a better way to send of the month by using an ingredient that is grown in this season. Without further or do, this month's challenge is:

Oranges

Use them however you like, in what ever you like. From classic cakes, to chocolate, there is so much potential with this amazing fruit that is normally harvested in winter! Can't wait to see your creations!!! Good Luck!

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Poet on August 06, 2021, 11:21:45 am
August Challenge

All of your cupcakes looked amazing guys! Hoped they tasted as delish as they looked!!!! With this being the final month of winter, I thought what a better way to send of the month by using an ingredient that is grown in this season. Without further or do, this month's challenge is:

Oranges

Use them however you like, in what ever you like. From classic cakes, to chocolate, there is so much potential with this amazing fruit that is normally harvested in winter! Can't wait to see your creations!!! Good Luck!

I LOVE ORANGES!!!!! (I literally made this the day that I saw this announcement but didn't upload till now hahaha)

'Tis the season for citrus, and that means making my favourite cake loaves!
Orange and/or lemon and poppyseed. The best cold weather snack, hands down.
open 4 cake
(https://i.imgur.com/YzuchBo.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/71dPony.jpg)(https://i.imgur.com/tPAvjEX.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on August 11, 2021, 06:10:48 pm
I love oranges too! I always feel like the belong more in summer for some reason but happy to have them anytime of the year. I decided to make chocolates!

I made one with a orange centre and a plain centre. The orange one was made with two rinds of a orange, 6 tablespoons of cream, and 200g of white chocolate. (I did a milk chocolate one as well, and I prefer it as it tastes like a jaffa!)

Anyway, I tempered my coverture chocolate, and coated the molds, waited for that to cool them filled it in with the fillings, cover it up and popped them out. Wasn't super happy with how they turned out, but they taste good and that's the main thing. I didn't use the seeding methods to temp the chocolate, and I wish I did, as I ended up with a much thicker chocolate that was harder to spread into the crevices of the molds. There was also a bit of blooming (white part) on the orange chocolate which means I went above 31 C, so woops.....

Final result:
Spoiler
(https://i.imgur.com/cPUe9M1.jpg)

In process
(https://i.imgur.com/VoO7hAu.jpeg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: wingdings2791 on August 18, 2021, 10:01:48 pm
Now I know the orange component isn't immediately obvious, but here's a Brazilian style, orange beef stew flavoured with several orange peels! It has black beans, tomatoes, onions, carrots, capsicum, and honestly way too many spices to list XD

(https://i.imgur.com/fHzvw34.jpeg)

Hopefully this is still technically on theme... :0
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on August 19, 2021, 11:20:05 am
-snip-

It's absolutely still on theme! The dish just had to incorporate oranges somehow, and it's really cool to see a savory dish using orange. It looks delicious, great job!

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on September 01, 2021, 12:45:58 pm
September Challenge

Welcome to Spring everyone! With the weather warming up, all I can seem to think about lately is picnics. Now even though lockdown has put a small stop to that, there is nothing that can prevent anyone from making goods for a pretend picnic! So, this months challenge is:

Biscuits

A biscuit is something you would dip into tea, have for a cuppa or something you sneak out of a packet. They might be like scotch fingers, anzacs, marie, shortbread, chocolate chip, oatmeal/rasins, snickerdoodle or any other plain biscuit. There are also many made of almonds in Italian and French cuisine. This does not include cookies, which to me are iced/decorated plain cookies with either royal icing or fondant.
So this challenge is a little stricter on the guidelines in that is it must be a plain biscuit, not a decorated cookie (we may do that next month though!). Scones and American biscuits do not count.

Have fun everyone, I can't see what you guys make!   

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on September 28, 2021, 05:03:41 pm
I had plans to make something a bit fancier, but i've been feeling a bit under the weather. So here are some pretty easy but equally yummy choc chip cookies.

(https://i.imgur.com/BMRHR0T.jpg)

I tried a new recipe, but I've come to the conclusion I prefer my old one, but they were still pretty good. I have already eaten 3.....
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: wingdings2791 on September 28, 2021, 05:12:10 pm
These look like clouds... heavenly and unreachable at the same time (as I lack the will to turn on the oven, or even walk to the pantry xd), they must be delicious! I can already smell the freshly baked scent just seeing a picture. :)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on November 01, 2021, 11:11:43 pm
November Challenge

Apologies for missing last month! We are so close to the end of the year and in the last moth of spring before summer hits. So for this month I thought i'd once again choose a type of dessert, and without further or do, this months challenge is....

Slices!

Lemon slices, vanilla slices, weetbix slices, chocolate slices, you name it. If it has the word slice in it and is made from a square pan and cut into pieces, that is a slice. It can have layers, or no layers at all with a frosting on top. The worlds your oyster with slices!

Have fun everyone, I can't wait see what you guys make!   

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on December 01, 2021, 11:29:33 pm
December Challenge

Ho Ho Ho everyone! It's that time of year again where a Christmas trees goes up and the streets are decorated in lights. This month will be really predictable. So without further or do, this months challenge is.....

Literally Anything Christmas (or any of your holiday traditional food)

There is no real criteria for this month, if you made something for a Christmas celebration, whether savory or sweet, a known Christmas treat or just a meal you made for you're family. Anything with a festive theme can be used for this months challenge. There are gingerbread houses, fruit cakes, cookies of any kind, a pavlova, or maybe pudding! Anything goes!

However I will judge anyone that makes fruit cake....... I don't know how people consume it.....

Have fun everyone, I can't wait see what you guys make!   

Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: caffinatedloz on December 02, 2021, 08:27:04 am
However I will judge anyone that makes fruit cake....... I don't know how people consume it.....
Blasphemy! Fruit cake is the superior Christmas dessert and you can't tell me otherwise. Especially homemade fruit cake!
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on December 02, 2021, 09:52:05 pm
Blasphemy! Fruit cake is the superior Christmas dessert and you can't tell me otherwise. Especially homemade fruit cake!

I must admit I've never tried the homemade version of fruit cake, and unfortunately all the ones i've tried just haven't gone down well with my taste buds :(
Hehehe, i think i'm on team pavlova as the Christmas dessert of choice!

Are you going to make a fruit cake this year?
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: caffinatedloz on December 03, 2021, 08:10:46 am
I must admit I've never tried the homemade version of fruit cake, and unfortunately all the ones i've tried just haven't gone down well with my taste buds :(
Hehehe, i think i'm on team pavlova as the Christmas dessert of choice!

Are you going to make a fruit cake this year?

The grandmother of one of the kids I work for makes the best fruit cake and I've already managed to snag a couple of slices this year. But when I'm doing my own Christmas baking it's normally a gingerbread house. ;D
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: Geoo on December 26, 2021, 01:08:46 pm
Here is my Christmas Pav!!

(https://i.imgur.com/KfBlzBV.jpg)
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: wingdings2791 on December 26, 2021, 07:15:33 pm
Geo, that pavlova swirl looks mathematically perfect. Also here is my:

Yule log

(https://i.imgur.com/aoKoVbA.jpeg)

Chewy molasses spice cookies

(https://i.imgur.com/RgCNNji.jpeg)

The full feast

(https://i.imgur.com/eKg2YIL.jpeg)'

Long story short, my family likes to cook ;D
Title: Re: The Monthly Cooking Challenge
Post by: caffinatedloz on December 27, 2021, 12:31:04 pm
Here is my Christmas Pav!!
Oh my goodness, look at that swirl! It's very impressive. I didn't end up making a pav this year but I often do and I commend you for making the top that beautiful (especially when it will get covered with lots of toppings and no one will even see it). How do you stop yours from cracking?

//
Also very impressive! So many dessert options! (Also what is the Christmas tree shaped thing? Is it cheese?)