The Social Menu: Weekly Trending Foods in Social Media

All of the sudden there was a splurge of trending items online that I had no idea what to do with them. So I am keeping my discoveries short and sweet with the following: layered cakes. Not only just layered cakes but crepe cakes.

And there is not just one type of layered cake that people are raving about… its tons of layered cakes:

Crepe Cake with Swiss Meringue Buttercream & Chocolate Truffles

Bailey’s Crepe Cake

Crème Brulee Crepe Cake

Red Velvet Crepe Cake

If you need just some basic information (and some great photography) there is this site too:

Crepe Cake 

As attractive as this sounds and my many attempts on baking layered cakes in the past, I unfortunately do not have the time to make as many as 42 crepes to build a cake. It definitely sounds like a project to work on for a rainy day.

The Social Menu: Weekly Trending Foods in Social Media

The holidays are moving in full swing, but I have to admit, I have not seen too much lately other than this delectable trend of caramel all over my browser.

I am a fan of ginger but not much of gingerbread. This recipe of Gingerbread Layer Cake with Salted Whiskey Caramel  may have me changing my taste buds.

I think the image alone made my mouth water. I mean, who would not want a chocolate chip cookie tart, filled with caramel and topped with whipped cream? Take a look at the recipe if you are still not satisfied.

Vanilla Takes the Cake!

I do not want to keep the suspense much longer, so I am proud to announce that my vanilla Better than Sex Cake won the popular vote in my taste test party last weekend. The chocolate version was irresistible, do not get me wrong, but more people found the vanilla version much more satisfying and addicting. The vanilla version turned out to have a distinctively sweeter flavor and a texture to be twice as moist as the chocolate version. The simple combination of pineapple, vanilla cake, pudding, whipped cream, and coconut can make you become addicted faster than you finish your first piece. Yes, your first piece.

The following recipe is the winner and our loser, the chocolate version if you want to see for yourself. Do not get us wrong, for we loved the chocolate. I even replaced the caramel with peanut butter sauce due to an accident I had while trying to make my own caramel. Let me say it was a happy accident.

Now, did we think the vanilla version was actually better than sex? No, but the cake was definitely good enough for comparison.

Better Than Sex Cake (Vanilla)

1 Box Yellow Cake Mix without pudding1 can (20 ounces)
Crushed Pineapple
1 Cup Sugar
1 Package (6 ounces) Vanilla Pudding Mix (not instant)
1 Carton (9 ounces) Frozen Whipped Topping, Thawed or Whipped Cream
3/4 Cup Coconut

- Prepare cake by package directions.
- Transfer batter into a 9-by-3-inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees until cake tests done, about 30 minutes.
- While cake is in oven, combine the undrained pineapple and sugar. Heat and stir until sugar dissolves.
- Remove cake from oven and, using a toothpick, punch holes all over surface of cake. Ladle pineapple mixture over cake.
- Make pudding by package directions. When it is thick, spoon it over cake.
- Chill cake well.
- To serve, top slices with whipped topping or cream and a generous sprinkle of coconut. Keep cake refrigerated.

From the blog, This Old State http://jackbetts.blogspot.com/2006/11/ruth-easterlings-better-than-sex-cake.html .

Better Than Sex Cake (Chocolate)

German Chocolate Cake or Devil’s Food Cake Mix
1 Can Condensed Milk
1 Cup Peanut Butter
Whipped Topping or Cream
3 Heath bars

- Prepare Chocolate Cake from instructions on box.
- While the cake is still hot, with the handle of a wooden spoon poke several holes in the top.
- Into these and over the top pour the condensed milk and peanut butter.
- Let the cake cool completely.
- Spread the container of whipped topping or cream on top and finish off with 3 crushed Heath bars.

From Team Sugar http://teamsugar.com/

Who is better than sex? Chocolate or vanilla?

Better than sex. A phrase that generally more women than men like to refer to when eating food so delicious it turns us on. I, for one can think of many experiences where myself or my girlfriends used the term when feasting on food so savory it turns the hormones on full-blast.

I will admit that I genuinely do not mean the term when I use it, because let’s face it: anything is hard to compete with good sex. To be politically correct, I will catch myself and replace the phrase with a more PG-rated term such as “orgasmic” or “heavenly”.

One of my girlfriends and I decided to have lunch at a New American restaurant in the West Village on a late summer afternoon. When we slowly started to indulge in our desserts, my friend makes the infamous reference to her chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream which made me ask myself, ‘Isn’t there such as thing as Better Than Sex Cake?’ I remember glancing at it one or twice on the Internet when searching for recipes, but I realized that one cake must reign the title of “better than sex” somewhere out there. This question sparked my curiosity and I decided to perform a little research on it, hoping to find the cake that can truly compete with and win against sex.

Before researching on anything, I automatically assumed that chocolate had to be one of the main ingredients to this confectionery masterpiece. To my surprise, two general kinds of Better Than Sex Cake exist out in the world: one chocolate and one vanilla. I was slightly surprised, because I had a hard time accepting the fact that a vanilla cake could be a better aphrodisiac than chocolate. However, I began to believe otherwise as I read through recipes for the vanilla version.

I decided the only way to end this showdown between the two versions and settle this personal issue was to produce a taste test to see which Better Than Sex Cake could compete with sex and possibly win. I invited over some of my close buddies and many bottles of wine to help us figure out who could be better than sex: chocolate or vanilla?

V & V Bakery

The most special part about every Friday these days is to make the time and save the $1.50 to buy a Linzer cookie at V & V, a classic Italian-American bakery off of Roosevelt Avenue and 61st street in Woodside. They never fail to make my entire week a little sweeter. Sometimes I find the bakery impossible to resist whenever I walk past it in the early morning or late afternoon. I become hypnotized by all the aromas they create. From home-baked breads to dreamy desserts, V & V satisfies my yearning for wholesome, nostalgic treats.

A handful of counter girls, bakers, and the owner herself operate V & V seven days a week. Some employees always smile at me when I walk in, because most of the time they know what I want: a raspberry filled Linzer cookie. I surprise them once and while with a tiramisu, chocolate croissant, chocolate chip cookie, or a whole loaf of bread. V & V’s kaiser, sourdough, or whole wheat rolls make perfect hamburger buns on game day. My mouth melts every time I bite into their crisp, miniature cookies. Their collection of cakes and pies in the refrigerator constantly distracts me whenever I have to wait in line, and I have not even dared to go near the cannoli yet. They provide fresh coffee cheaper than your newspaper to wash down every bite. Overall, you will not be disappointed from the variety of indulgences V & V has to offer unless you get a stomach ache from eating too much.

I am still used to the stressful hustle and bustle of Fairway Market on the Upper West Side in Manhattan where you have to push through a zoo before you are lucky enough to find a chocolate chip scone in the morning before work. Not here. Even when the bakery is busy, the service never fails to keep orders coming and going without a fuss.

What can V & V work on to be better than they are now? Not much, considering they have been around serving the locals since 1928. The location near the 61st street subway station is ideal despite the annoying rumble of the 7 trains above the bakery. V & V stands right next door to a local florist so anyone who needs surprise someone, wish them luck, apologize or even say the simple I love you will not have a hard time making a decision as to what to do. More publicity for the bakery proves to be not much of an issue due to its central location. For instance, V & V was one of my first discoveries upon moving into the neighborhood. The only criticism I can think of for this local gem is to have a set of chairs and tables outside of the bakery.

Even though I notice more restaurants and cafes open every day in my neighborhood, enticing me to cheat on my favorite indulgences, I sincerely believe V & V to only be a relationship that will grow and deepen as I continue to become more familiar with my new borough.

V & V Bakery, Inc.

6119 Roosevelt Avenue (near 61st st)

Woodside, NY 11377

718.476.1669