I really enjoyed making this week’s Tuesdays With Dorie: Baking with Julia recipe.
Life is usually chaotic.
Running from place to place.
Rushing through as many things as possible.
Thinking about what needs to be done next.
My 15 year old daughter came home from a week at the snow…
So a week’s worth of washing is what needs to be done next!
(And fixing a washing machine that broke the night she arrived home!)
Grand finals week…
So extra training sessions, gifts for coaches and managers, end of season get togethers were next!
My friend’s 50th birthday…
What to wear? Buy something new or grab something from the closet? What present to give? Working out what time I will realistically be able to get to party as the kids need to be fed and showered and ready for bed to make life easy for their grandparents who will be at home with them before I even think abut getting myself ready is next!
It’s all little things.
There’s just a never ending stream of ‘little things’!
And planning for ‘what’s next’ takes up a lot of ‘what’s actually happening now’ time!
I decided I didn’t want to rush through another recipe (or life!)
So every time I had a few moments to myself, instead of planning for what’s next, I decided to get familiar with this week’s recipe.
I read the entire recipe, from beginning to end. I read all the incredibly useful comments under the P&Q section. I took on board all the advice and experiences that other group members generously took the time to share. I found this invaluable.
I got my baking tins out and since I didn’t have a 10-inch pan I decided to use my 8-inch tube pan and used the excess mixture to make another 6-inch Apple Upside-Down Chiffon Cake (I even googled the volume of different pans to help me make this decision!)
I also googled upside down chiffon cakes to decide on a topping. The original recipe uses nectarines which are not in season here in Sydney, so I decided on Granny Smith apples.
This cake turned out amazing.
We had a BBQ for Father’s Day and this cake was the perfect ending to an amazing spring day.
(I gave the 6 inch version to my mum to take home in the pan so I have no photo!)
This cake wasn’t a chore.
It wasn’t another recipe to rush through.
It was a delightful break from the constant chatter of my monkey brain.
It reminded me why I started this blog and joined these wonderful groups.
Marlise of The Double Trouble Kitchen and Susan of The Little French Bakery are this week’s hosts and have the full recipe on their websites if you are interested in having a look…
Kitchen Therapy 
September 4, 2012 at 2:08 am
Lovely job, Sanya.
I am in the middle of making this now… And kind of not following the directions, so keeping my fingers crossed. I am grateful for your comment about the extra pan – because it just made me realize that I need to get a second pan ready 🙂
September 4, 2012 at 11:31 pm
yours turned out beautifully! glad you enjoyed it.
September 4, 2012 at 11:52 pm
wow.. your cake did turn out amazing!!! i went with apples too!! love the height on yours!!
September 4, 2012 at 11:57 pm
Lovely cake for the delightful break you deserve! It is such a beauty with the whole in the middle!
September 5, 2012 at 12:01 am
This recipe was a delight! I read it thru several times and enjoyed the process. What’s not to love about fresh fruit, crunchy strusel and billowy egg whites. It was perfectly delicious!
September 5, 2012 at 12:02 am
I love it! It looks so good! I tried apples and was very pleased with the turnout!
September 5, 2012 at 12:06 am
Wow, looks delicious and I am also jealous of that snow!
http://www.imathomebaking.com
September 5, 2012 at 12:13 am
Yum! I need a tube pan for sure – I love how your cake looks with the ring in the middle! Even though I made this cake to have for dessert when a friend was over for dinner, I was alone in the house with some music on while baking and it was totally a “me time” activity for me too. Gotta do that every once in awhile 🙂
September 5, 2012 at 1:49 am
Your cake looks perfect. Kudos for subbing in apples as well!
September 5, 2012 at 3:36 am
Your cake is beautiful and it amazes me and makes me smile that we all start with the same recipe and our experiences can be so different, and yet so much alike. Thanks for sharing in the busyness of your life! Blessings, Catherine http://praycookblog.com/2012/09/twd-bwj-nectarine-upside-down-chiffon-cake/
September 5, 2012 at 3:56 am
Lovely post. Baking has always been a little oasis for me, away from the busy-ness of the rest of life, no matter how great life might be.
I love the height you got on your cake – it’s worth using two pans just to get that effect! I’m also looking forward to trying this cake with apples when they’re in season here – should be soon!
September 5, 2012 at 3:57 am
Perfect looking cake…love that you used a tube pan!! Gorgeous!
September 5, 2012 at 5:31 am
The apple version looks gorgeous and tasty!!
September 5, 2012 at 9:19 am
Your version of the recipe is gorgeous. What a great idea to use a tube pan. BTW, love the new header image.
September 5, 2012 at 9:38 am
Your cake looks great. I used apples too.
September 5, 2012 at 9:55 am
Love it! I am totally making this in a tube pan next time. I am glad you got to take your time and enjoy this one!
September 5, 2012 at 11:41 am
Wow, that looks great. I skipped this one because I didn’t plan my time well over the weekend. It’s so hot and humid where I am today that I loved seeing the photo of your daughter with snow.
September 5, 2012 at 2:09 pm
I think it was a great idea to use a tube pan for this…you definitely got more height out of your cake! Looks absolutely mouth-watering 🙂
September 5, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Looks like Fall in a cake, even if it’s winter into spring in Sydney. Lovely!
September 5, 2012 at 10:38 pm
that is one lovely looking cake. Well done!
September 5, 2012 at 11:45 pm
I like your apple variation and the concentric circle looks completely professional!
September 6, 2012 at 2:52 am
Beautiful cake. And great use of a tube pan. We liked it as well.
September 6, 2012 at 11:14 am
I seem to always be rushing, too…I need to follow your lead and enjoy the process 🙂 I LOVE that you make this with apples!!!
September 7, 2012 at 8:11 am
Im sure your apple upside down cake was amazing! 🙂 Enjoy all that time with your family and friends!
September 9, 2012 at 1:10 am
Looks beautiful! Glad you were able to have some zen time in the kitchen. It makes all the difference!
September 14, 2012 at 6:55 am
Your apple upside down cake looks delicious! Well done!
June 1, 2013 at 1:13 pm
Wow, wonderful blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!. Thanks For Your article about Apple Upside Down Chiffon Cake | Kitchen Therapy .
June 21, 2013 at 3:38 am
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is magnificent, let alone the content!. Thanks For Your article about Apple Upside Down Chiffon Cake | Kitchen Therapy .
July 17, 2013 at 4:44 am
Wow, fantastic blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is excellent, let alone the content!. Thanks For Your article about Apple Upside Down Chiffon Cake | Kitchen Therapy .