04 February 2012

birthday desserts





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My birthday was Wednesday, I turned 24. So I had the day off and decided to make two desserts. Blood Orange Bars and a Lavender Cake with Goat Cheese Icing. I shot most of the photos on film, with only a few back ups of the Cake on digital. I love shooting film, it's the type of camera I was taught on. I love the waiting, not knowing exactly how the photos will turn out. But this can also be a bad thing; especially when using an old camera. That I may have dropped a couple times.



One memorable drop while on vacation in Texas that sent me to tears. I dropped it, looked at it quickly, thinking it was fine. But then later that day at lunch, someone noticed that the knob that you rewind the film with was gone. Having to create a little makeshift turner with what we could find at the hardware store, the camera has gone down hill from there.



Never being able to properly rewind it since then, film kept getting jammed. Some rolls I couldn't even get out of the camera, some would only rewind partially.



So after shooting all the photos of the bars and cake, I went to rewind the film. It seemed like it went, but I opened the back of the camera and their was still just a bit of film left out. So when I went to get it developed, I thought those first few photos would be blacked out and the rest would be fine. Somehow the entire roll went blank. So that is my end of the journey with my once trusty AE-1. I maybe one day I'll get another old one, but for now I'll just stick with my digital. I don't want another blank roll, after many.



So their are some photos of the blood orange juice but none of the bars themselves. They are forever lost in the mysterious photo heaven. The end result of the bars are very tasty. A play on lemon bars, but without that zest kick. The blood oranges lend a sweeter taste, with a nice thick shortbread crust. This was my first time having blood oranges, I thought probably since their intense color they would have a punchy flavor. It is much more subtle.



Now on to the cake, all those photos below of it are digital. It was amazing. Of course my weakness for goat cheese probably gives a bias on my opinion but it really was that good. I thought of paring the lavender cake with the goat cheese icing based off a Harley Farms cheese I had. It was the lavender honey chevre they make, I found it at Rainbow Grocery in SF. The only place I have ever seen selling their cheeses, besides the farm itself. After trying that cheese and loving it, I knew thats what I wanted for my birthday. The lavender is not overpowering, which can make it taste soapy. The tang of the goat cheese offsets the floral cake. It was great, a perfect, very different birthday cake.

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My cat! & by this photo she looks like she's gotten quite big. Not as big as my other cat, he literally is a pain to even pick up.








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lavender cake recipe from Lavender Farms
icing recipe from Cypress Grove
blood orange bars recipe from Eating Out Loud 

28 comments:

pips said...

<3 <3 <3 your photos... :)

Anonymous said...

Happy Belated Birthday :). And sorry to hear about the camera :(

Angela @ the fairy bread chronicles said...

oh my goodness that cake is just gorgeous! hope you had a lovely birthday :)

Georgia said...

yum, that looks astounding!

georgia
http://swonderfulgd.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

When I was a child and lived in Germany, we took a long trip to Italy, where I first encountered these oranges. The ones that you pictures were then known as ruby oranges as their flesh was entirely red. Blood oranges were orange with shots of red, like veins, throughout the flesh. Ruby oranges tasted a bit sweeter I thought.

Mary @ Bake Break said...

My birthday was yesterday, and I turned 24 as well! Happy birthday - and beautiful pictures as usual!

Shelu said...

Happy Birthday! I love your blog! I want to do a food blog but I just keeping making excuses...yours is so wonderful!

Cindy said...

I love the idea of a goat cheese frosting (or goat cheese anything!). Happy belated birthday!

Sorry to hear about you camera, serious bummer...I bought an old film camera (70's maybe?) on craigslist, after giving away my pentax film camera to my brother-in-law, I have yet to use it.

Tesei said...

Only 24 and already doing so much creative and profesional work! Congratulations and I wish you many more years of baking and experimenting!

Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday! These recipes look delicious! I'm trying the blood orange bars first!

Michela said...

Happy Birthday! Always enjoy your posts, recipes & photos - everything I've tried has turned out fabulous! I never would have guessed your youthfulness. Many, many more years of health, happiness, baking, blogging & making pictures!

Jess @ Cheese Please said...

Such beautiful pictures! I have to try that cake.... goat cheese icing... brilliant!

Christina Topf-Boman said...

love that you are already using the "new" props!!! The Snow on the mountain pattern looks stunning on film! Happy Birthday-will drop off your gift later this week....

Aimee said...

Happy birthday! I am a long-time reader and very excited we share the same birthday :)

Amalia said...

Happy birthday! Congratulations on turning 24! I love your blog; every time I see that you have a new post up I get excited because they're always so awesome! I hope you had a great birthday and that you have fabulous new year! Oh, and your cake looks beautiful; I love the blend goat cheese and lavender. The blood orange bars sound delicious as well!

AllThingsYummy said...

Beautiful photos. Everything looks delicious.

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday! I've just come across your lovely blog and your cake looks delicious, great photos too, looking forward to reading more! xo K

Anonymous said...

Sadly, I have never worked well with old cameras. The cake looks very evenly colored, smooth and goats cheese frost?! I've never had that! Happy 24th birthday and I wish I could have seen the blood orange bars!

Jenny said...

Sorry to hear about your film, that's just terrible. I used to love shooting film and then spending hours playing round in the darkroom, but without the facilities any more I just use digital now. Your digital photos are still beautiful though!

Anonymous said...

Both desserts look and sound delicious -- perfect to celebrate a birthday -- but what I'm left craving most is the lavender honey goat cheese! I've never heard of Harley Farms, although that's not surprising given the cheese selection in coastal North Carolina. I had a blueberry chevre from a local purveyor last year, and have been planning a goat-cheesecake with blueberries ever since. Isn't it great how one thing can inspire something totally different?! Happy belated birthday!

Cheers,

*Heather*

Erica said...

I'm sorry to hear about your camera! And happy belated birthday. The blood orange bars sound so interesting! I've never thought of making lemon bars with a different citrus before for some reason. I've got to try your recipe!

HY said...

What an adorable little personal size cake! Happy belated birthday! I hope 24 brings you many good things :)

Irene Alves said...

Cheguei hoje pela primeira vez a este blogue e
ainda não deu para ver tudo, por isso voltarei
com mais tempo.Mas quis já dizer-lhe que gostei
e perguntar se tem alguns doces para diabéticos.
Beijinhos
Irene

Lulu | Voyage Gourmand said...

AAh this is just beautiful!!

talonshautsetcacao said...

the icing looks so yummy I love the fromage de chèvre

Kulsum@JourneyKitchen said...

I love your pink plate - it is so pretty and the cake ofcourse

Dobber said...

Every picture is gorgeous! You sound so sweet and kind with your cute stories about yourself! Glad I found your blog! Look forward to more recipes and stories!
Deb

Natasha said...

Can I substitute oil for butter for the lavender cake?