Glühwein - a Cake Hour Christmas Tradition with Cake as a Gift

Every year we have our little Christmas tradition at cake hour serving hot wine - Glühwein - and the things that go with it according to German custom.  That usually includes cookies and Stollen an actually edible type of fruitcake/bread. We had that his year, of course, but a former colleague who moved on to another institution remembered it fondly and had a cake delivered for the occasion. It was a nice raspberry cheesecake from the Vienna Bakery in Barrington, RI.  It had seasonal message. As usual, everything was great!

Christmas fixin's!

 

Stollen and Glühwein!

And a cheesecake too!

Enjoying the treats with a festive not so ugly Christmas sweater!

 

Enjoying a little Vitamin C garnish!

Bo has gotta go!

He's gotta got no for any bad reason - he had to return to his position in China so his career in the US has come to a conclusion - at least for now.  To honor his achievement and participation we gave him a little sendoff with goodies and our usual Brown makeover.  This time with some Covid precautions!!

Today's spread!

Cake with a message!

Well decorated and yes that is whipped cream!

For today's makeover!

We did it again!

Who is that masked Director?

Who is that masked coordinator!

Who is that asked mentor?

Who is that masked colleague?

Who is that other masked colleague?

Someone's gotta show the face!

Best of luck to you pal and see you in the Middle Kingdom someday!

The family couldn't get here so it's time to go back!

Covid has messed up the best laid plans for many.  One of our researchers scheduled for a two year fellowship awaited the arrival of family member from China.  With travel restrictions and and ongoing pandemic they could not get here so she decided to go back early.  That depended on getting a plane ticket for quite a price but she got one and so we bade farewell to her with a small celebration and makeover. Her contribution to the fete was one of the best - the Banana Cream Tart from Pastiche.

They make good stuff!

We've seen it before and we'll see it again!

Now that's a mound of schlag!

Pastry, bananas, banana mousse and whipped cream - to die for!

And I brought it!

A minor makeover since I had to get it at the train station.

The farewell ten second shot!

Cake with droolingA chocolate

That's a descriptive title but the chocolate topping does seem to be dripping down the side of this good looking cake.  This cake is from Whole Foods and is a chocolate cake with white butter cream frosting and the chocolate top. It's a cake that looks great and tastes fine. It doesn't compare with many other things but it is useful for a last minute pick me up! And that it did!

Nice shiny top!

Ready for the closeup!

Drooling chocolate!

Nothing like a selection

They cater the lunch and sometimes when they do they bring a dessert tray.  That's what they did today!  So we got a good selection of typical bakery treats to enjoy for a few days. All good!

Quite a pile on this tray!

M & M Cookies

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Chocolate Brownies

Blond Brownies

Traditional chocolate chip with a stray M&M

Time to dig in!

Quick strawberry shortcake cake

Another whipped cream favorite and it's the strawberry shortcake cake from Whole foods.  This is usually fresh and good with lots of whipped cream.  Sometimes they are heavier on the cream than the strawberry's but is that a bad thing? The presentation with the strawberries is quite attractive.  Once you take off the plastic shaper the whole thing can fall apart but then you eat it!

Nice clean and smooth - and it's whipped cream!

Nicely displayed berry slices!

Pie a la Mode

There is nothing as American as apple pie, right. Maybe!  Today we had a nice one from Wegman's which really does have good bakery products. Other stuff appears there hit or miss but there is always a good selection of pies that are quite tasty.  Today it's apple pie with a little bit of ice cream. Their pie is well cooked meaning that the apples are nice and soft.  This caramelizes them somewhat and embeds the cinnamon flavor.  The pies with crunchy apples are undercooked and not as flavorful, kin our cake hour opinion! If you are in a Wegman's and want a good pie go for this one!

The view from above!

We heart you too!

Good around the edges!

Well cooked and tasty apple filling!

Just to make it a la mode!

Even More Whipped Cream

We like whipped cream - everyone knows that.  Today we got another dose from Antonio's Bakery in Warwick, RI! It was very pretty cake with thick and sculpted whipped cream and finished with some orchid blossoms - nice! The cake was very good - a yellow cake with some lemon curd filling in addition to the whipped cream. This was one of our firsts from Antonio's and what a great way to start the relationship!

There's a new kid in town!

Lookin' good!

Now this takes talent!

Nicely finished on top!

Colorful fresh orchid flowers!

It's what's on the inside that counts!

One of the faves - Banana Cream Tart

We had a special treat today and one of the favorites. This is the Banana Cream Tart from Pastiche bakery. Thee is nothing quite like it visually and taste-wise.  A cake base with sliced bananas, banana mousse and then a mountain of whipped cream drizzled with caramel. We've said it before and we'll say it again - it is awesome!

Lookin' good!

Creatively swirled caramel!

Never too much whipped cream!

Layers to love!