Art is created in experimentation.

I relish trying new things.  I love the feeling of making something new, or unique; even if it's not new to me.  Just recently, I recalled on a video I watched months ago.  It was beautiful, serene, and it made me reflect on all of the reasons why I love to bake.



beet cake from tiger in a jar on Vimeo.


For me, cooking is a different animal.  Cooking is fierce and fiery, and it requires that you stay on your toes.  It demands every minute of your attention until your creation is complete.  Baking, I've observed, is more serene.  I feel at ease when I'm sifting flour, or whipping butter.  I derive a certain amount of peace from the methodical movements, and the precise calculations that are demanded of you when you're baking.


But in this precision, I love the opportunity to experiment.

Going off of the beautiful video from Tiger In a Jar, I decided to try my hand at a chocolate cupcake whose main ingredient was pureed, cooked, beets.

Beets.

In chocolate cake.

Blasphemous, I'm sure to some of you, but the beets only made me want to have a go at the recipe all the more.  I assembled all of my ingredients, laid them out like a live television show, and I got to baking.

*I will say this much, I used to think that the quality of what I used could be compromised for cheaper ingredients, because, let's face it, my entire life exists on a budget.  But I have learned there are just a few things, if you want success in baking, that you should never skimp on. 

Vanilla, friends.  Vanilla.  Remove "imitation vanilla flavor" from your vocab.  Trash it - you don't want it.*

As I was blending all of the ingredients together, I was almost giddy when I saw the brilliant deep red color of the batter.  If you've ever had any contact with beets, you know they stain.  Everything.  So I was excited at the possibility of having a delicious new take on red velvet.

Friends, it was pretty close.  But my beautiful crimson batter ended up turning a rich, chocolate brown in the oven.  But never fear, thanks to Tiger In a Jar and some sifted icing sugar, I had delicious treats to test out on my friends and family.

The consesus??

Delicious, and chocolatey!  I was even able to be part of my friend Emily's first beet experience :)  I would say, it was an over-all success.

**If you have the opportunity, please visit Tiger In a Jar - they are immensely talented people**

--Rita