I don't know if I should even call my apple strudel a strudel because it was more like 'tough and chewy crust wrapped apples'. This was definitely the hardest DB challenge I've participated in, but it was so much fun! It took me an really long time to gently stretch the dough and try to maintain its rectangular shape. It was a little frustrating to see one end of the dough stretch out so much and the other side not having enough dough to stretch, but it felt so good to be concentrated and focused. I was so proud of myself for getting the dough to stretch to 60x60 cm. If I could have somehow transferred some of the extra dough on one side over to the other, maybe I would have been able to stretch to 90. Hopefully next time I can get those nice layers!
The May Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Linda of make life sweeter! and Courtney of Coco Cooks. They chose Apple Strudel from the recipe book Kaffeehaus: Exquisite Desserts from the Classic Cafés of Vienna, Budapest and Prague by Rick Rodgers.
Making strudel sets you a pretty high standard, Steph - so imo just making something that looks so good is a pretty wonderful accomplishment! I jut know you're going to get all those layers someday!
ReplyDeleteHay at leats it still looks pretty. I ran out of time to make the challange this month;(
ReplyDeleteSometimes that pastry tough is just a tough little guy to work with. Sometimes he pouts, but at least you showed him who's the boss :)
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to a nice crustless cheesecake recipe from you. No pressure thought :)
Oh, well, even though taste wise it wasn't what you wanted it looks good and you gave it a good try. Next time it will be even easier.
ReplyDelete~ingrid
60x60 is quite the stretch! Too bad the pastry part didn't turn out as you'd hoped. It looks delicious though!
ReplyDelete60 x 60???? That's almost as tall as me! lol :)
ReplyDeleteI reckon your strudel looks perfect. Mine wasnt as light as I would have liked either
ReplyDeleteThere's always another day, it looks very nice.
ReplyDelete...but you did it. Good for you. It was just one more thing I couldn't do this month....sigh...
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely difficult to stretch this dough out - but a fun challenge, right?
ReplyDeleteYou Daring Bakers ROCK!! Great job, Steph.
ReplyDeleteNice work! One day we'll join this challenge :)
ReplyDeleteI wish I could eat your site. Beautifully...and deliciously...done!
ReplyDeleteWell it looks great, even if it wasn't the tastiest thing ever! Reading your post reaffirms my decision to just stick with the Daring Cooks for now... I don't know if I'd have the patience to be so meticulous with pastries! Nice photo too :)
ReplyDeleteSorry it didn't work as well as you'd hoped, but it is still really impressive!! I'm not brave enough to try strudel yet.
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing, imagining how funny it would be to come across a recipe in a cookbook called 'tough and chewy crust wrapped apples'.
ReplyDeleteWell, your strudel sure looks pretty... you get points for that. Hopefully the next challenge will go better.
That may be one of the finest strudels I've seen on my Google reader yet!
ReplyDeleteThis looks delicious, Steph! I don't think I would be able to do it. Definitely challenging! Yours looks gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteMaking strudel isn't easy, but yours looks heavenly.
ReplyDeletei so totally forgot about DB. But everyone's looks so good I will have to try.
Good for you for stretching out that dough!! I think that your strudel looks incredible. It certainly doesn't look tough and chewy. All I see is deliciousness!
ReplyDeleteYour strudel looks fantastic. I can imagine that the dough is really hard to stretch. You are the second person to post that their dough was tough. I wonder what made it tough.
ReplyDeleteSteph, I always appreciate your comments, you are so sweet and funny. I cracked up the other day when I read 'tough and chewy crust wrapped apples'. My comments seem to get lost in single sock hell lately on a lot of sights, hopefully this won't.
ReplyDeleteI have had so many let downs in the kitchen lately too. It is frustrating because of the time and money and I don't think I ever actually learn anything except 'Whoa, that sucked'.
Your photo of the apple strudel looks great though and the sugar inside the crust, well, I love sugar, enough said.
I wish I was still in DB but with work I seem to have times when it just isn't possible.
look at how round and perfect it is! great job stepping up to the challenge!
ReplyDeleteYour strudel looks perfect! I'm so trying this again.
ReplyDelete