Daring Bakers: Armenian Nazook & Nutmeg Cake

Hey guys! It's time again for the Daring Bakers challenge of the month! It's a little late at night, I realize, but I still managed to post by the deadline without forgetting :) Go me!

Before we get into the yummy recipes from this month, I have some news... my first 5k is tomorrow at Sharon Woods. I'm nervous, especially because 1) my legs are really sore from doing some leg workouts by the Tone It Up ladies  and 2) today was the first time I've run in a few weeks... and I had to take a brief breather after running a half mile, then walked/ran the last half mile. So I did about a mile today, and my side started really hurting after that. Needless to say, I'm nervous for tomorrow.

We stopped at DeSha's restuarant tomorrow to pick up our running bib, tshirts, and registration info. My parents will be walking and I will be running/walking. I feel so official with my little running bib! :) Anyways, wish me luck because I'm super dooper nervous I'm gonna feel crappy or something terrible!

I also am STOKED for a few reasons. First, school is out in a week!!! Yay!!! This was my last week of school, and next week I just have to slug my way through finals. Then summer is here and I can start my social media internship with Daelia's Biscuits for Cheese. They are essentially gourmet biscuits/crackers used for appetizers that are sold in gourmet grocery stores (ie: Whole Foods, Findlay Market, Jungle Jims, and Dorothy Lane Market).  I even get to go to a gourmet food show (The Fancy Food Show) in Washing DC with my boss in June! Ahhhh so PUMPED. I'm really looking forward to that.

Then, I just found out there is a very high chance that I have received a fall editorial internship with Cincinnati Magazine! That was totally unexpected. THEN, yesterday, Xavier hosted it's new "XavierFest" which featured a ton of free food, vendors, free tshirts, and free music with local bands. It was pretty cool; I love the tshirts and I got SO MUCH free food. It was awesome - I highly recommend StreetPops if you are from Cincinnati. Their key lime pie popsicle was delicious Then, today I went shopping at Target and got two new dresses and some swim short s(which I've been needing for a couple years now and procrastinated on buying...) AND I got to go bowling with the Newswire staff... us journalism geeks sure know how to bowl and party.

Myself and Jake, the outgoing Editor-in-Chief, with our baseball bats

Clearly I am a fabulous bowler (not).

Now on to more exciting things... food! This month's DB challenge.

The Daring Bakers' April 2012 challenge, hosted by Jason at Daily Candor, were two Armenian standards: nazook and nutmeg cake. Nazook is a layered yeasted dough pastry with a sweet filling, and nutmeg cake is a fragrant, nutty coffee-style cake.

First up: Armenian Nutmeg Cake

Oh my word was this cake DELICIOUS. It tastes like a really moist and yummy coffee cake, using nutmeg instead of the traditional cinnamon. As you can see, I loaded the top of mine up with crushed almonds, although the tradition nutmeg cake uses a sprinkle of walnuts. I just happened to have almonds on hand. This was a favorite by everyone who tried it (including myself).  Click here to see video instructions on how to make this cake! I highly recommend trying it. There is also this crust of yummy goodness at the bottom that is actually the dry ingredients of the cake batter - very different and scrumptious. 

Next: Nazook

These were also really good! This was flaky dough, rolled up and stuffed with a crumb filling. You can't really go wrong here. These were really easy to make too! Again, click here for video instructions! These would be the perfect treat for a Sunday brunch (as would the nutmeg cake...)

Overall, I really enjoyed this month's DB challenge.

I'm off to bed so I'm ready to run tomorrow!

Much love,