This American Classic is often overlooked these days. It's a wonderful way to end a company meal, but simple enough to make just for an indulgent Saturday treat.
Using the basic construction steps, you can make it very simply with everything from mixes, or with more complexity doing everything from scratch. The best is a combination that uses both aspects. Classic yellow cake, French pastry creme filling, and Chocolate glaze (MrMartha uses a simple Ganache).
Traditional Boston Creme does not use fruit, but this version uses some lovely spring strawberries to make it extra special. If using fresh fruit in the cake, don't do your final assembly of the dessert until as close to serving time as possible. You can, however, make all the components ahead of time. This cake does not store well. When preparing your cake, bake in two different size pans...one sized for the dessert you will be making immediately, and the other to wrap and freeze for future use.
How to do it:
Prepare a white or yellow cake mix according to package directions. Add a teaspoon of additional vanilla extract to freshen the flavor. Bake in desired pan sizes. 
Prepare French pastry creme (recipe) and cover surface to cool and keep skin from forming (or make a packaged vanilla pudding mix -- 'cook and serve' is preferable to instant).
Make a simple Chocolate Ganache:
Heat 1/3 cup cream just to boiling with 1 tablespoon of butter.
Stir in 4-6 oz semi sweet chocolate - chopped or in chips.
Allow the chocolate to melt from the heat of the cream, and then stir or whisk till smooth.
Allow to cool briefly while you assemble the cake.
If you are going to use Strawberries or other fruit, prepare it -- in thin slices for the filling, and larger pieces for top garnish. 
Split the cake layer in half evenly with a large serrated knife. Spread with the cooled pastry cream and top with the fruit slices. Replace Top layer carefully, and then pour on the Ganache glaze. Allow the glaze to set and harden for a few minutes, then garnish cake top with additional fruit.
Keep at room temperature till serving time.
This is perfect for dessert, with afternoon coffee, a wonderful surprise for a neighbor, or a great treat for a friend you owe a favor!
Showing posts with label MisterMartha. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MisterMartha. Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Dessert of the Week....Boston Creme Pie
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Indulgent Easter Eggs
Ready for a little creativity and craftiness? Easter is a great occasion to embellish -- by adding some frivolous little fancies. Eggs have been traditional for centuries in springtime celebrations, and there are so many wonderful ways to incorporate them into your holiday decor.
Take a little break from the world, get out your 'craft box' and see what treasured scraps of ribbon and lace, pearls and trim, and little bits and pieces can be crafted into exquisite blown egg fantasies.
Read More has Lots of different ideas and HOW TO -- from quick to complex......
If you cant find time to have some crafty fun before this coming Easter, save the idea for next year, and get them made in advance on a dreary February afternoon!
The HOW TO:
To blow Eggshells: 
Warm to room temperature, poke a small ring of punctures, using the tip of a corsage pin or sharp needle, at top and bottom of shell. Carefully open 1/8" hole at each end of the egg. Use a small skewer to puncture the yolk inside, and blow carefully to expel the contents (Then make scrambled eggs or a Quiche!) Submerge the blown eggs in soapy water, shake to clean the interior, and then blow the liquid back out and allow to dry for a couple of days.
If you have any breakage, crush the shells into fine uniform pieces, set aside and save.
For the "Shadow box" decorated eggs:
To open a window to the interior of the egg, mark a basic guideline onto the shell with pencil, prick around the perimeter with the pin, and carefully cut out with manicure scissors. Patience and care are your greatest allies in this process. 
Then using hot or craft glue (or a combination depending on what material you are affixing) attach laces, trims, sequins, beads, and tiny flowers to the exterior. Add miniature items in the interior of the egg shell (themed sets are easily found at the craft store).
If you would like a textured exterior on the shell, coat the shell with thinned white glue, roll in the crushed eggshells, and allow to dry overnight before you start trimming.
Even easier....purchase plastic, plaster, or bisque eggs at the craft store and just trim the exteriors.
Or, do some simple Decoupage on the egg exterior:
Use small images, drawings, or clip art on lightweight paper, cut out and test fit. Make some small clips into the image as required to allow it to fit smoothly to the eggs contour. Paint thinned glue onto the shell, affix the artwork, and coat with more glue, allow to dry, Add a coat of spray varnish if desired. Trim with ribbons, small silk flowers, or whatever looks cute.
Or, get out the paints: 
Use watercolor or acrylic paints and tiny brushes to paint simple floral or other spring designs on the exterior of the egg. Spray with matte varnish or shiny lacquer to protect the painting. Tie the perimeter of the egg with narrow satin ribbon and a bow, to cover the holes in the egg.
Even easier....use assorted felt tip colored markers to put the design on the eggs, spray varnish not required, but still gives them a more finished look.
It doesn't take a lot of artistic ability, just trust your intuition, and do things as simply or as elaborately as you desire, and your time allows. Then display your creations (napkin rings work wonderfully as stands), tuck into a special Easter basket, or take along to surprise a hostess!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Take TEN Minutes and....
Always know where your keys are.
Most of us have a 'default' location for our keys, but often not a specific home for them. A suprising amout of effort is wasted over time when one doesnt know exactly where the keys are. It's also much handier if all your various and sundry keys are stored together, rather than scattered in different locations around the house.
It seems like a silly thing, but can make a real difference....so take ten minutes and a couple simple steps, and make it easier on yourself!
Three large cup hooks and a good location will solve the problem. Place the hooks where convenient, but slightly out of the way. As shown in the photo, the end of a bank of kitchen cabinets above the refrigerator works perfectly.
Could also be next to a doorway, inside a kitchen cabinet, or even on the refrigerator itself if you get strong magnets with self hooks. If you dont want to attach the hooks directly into your surface, use a small picture frame with a piece of painted wood as the insert, attach the hooks to that, and hang frame on the wall.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
