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The Daring Bakers Go to the Olympics!
Date: Jan. 28th 2010
Category: Cookies and Bars, Daring Bakers
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The January 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Lauren of Celiac Teen. Lauren chose Gluten-Free Graham Wafers and Nanaimo Bars as the challenge for the month. The sources she based her recipe on are 101 Cookbooks and www.nanaimo.ca.
Okay. So I’m exaggerating just a bit. The Daring Bakers aren’t actually physically going to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver but we’re definitely going in spirit with the January 2010 Daring Baker’s challenge.
Lauren, who is one of the sweetest girls, decided to put her Canadian pride on display by choosing a very “Canadian” treat for the DB challenge. As a proud Canadian myself, I cannot wait until February 12th when the world’s focus will shift to Vancouver.
While I don’t know what will happen over the two weeks of competition, I have no doubt that the world will see what good, caring and friendly people Canadians are. And I also have no doubt that we will have our fill of drama, joy, thrills, tears, beautiful moments and reminders of why sport, amateur sport in particular, is such a worthy pursuit.
With all the compelling stories that the Olympics promise, I was so happy that this first challenge for 2010 was relatively straightforward.
The best part of the challenge was learning to make graham crackers. Nanaimo Bars use graham cracker crumbs in the recipe for the base of the bars. Lauren very creatively challenged us to make our own graham crackers, and not just regular graham crackers, but gluten-free graham crackers at that. She also generously provided some links to recipes for regular graham crackers for those who didn’t want to try the gluten-free version.
I was surprised at how easy it was to make graham crackers. Considering how much I love to eat them out of hand and how regularly I use graham crackers in baking, I can’t thank Lauren enough for thinking of this part of the challenge.
As for the Nanaimo Bars, if you’ve never seen one or tried one, you should definitely attempt them. They’re an easy bar cookie to make (if you use store-bought graham crumbs there’s actually no baking involved) and I have yet to meet anyone that doesn’t like them.
I made basic Nanaimo Bars (no variation) as I’d never tried them before so I wanted to make the original. When I served the bars, I cut them into very small squares because they are quite sweet.
I want to thank Lauren for her efforts in hosting the challenge and for making all Daring Kitchen members honourary Canadians just in time for Vancouver 2010!
Ciao!
For the challenge recipe, click here.
Click here to visit The Daring Bakers’ blogroll.
If you’re interested in following the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, visit the official site here.
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01/28/10 at 8:58 pm
OMG - the Owe-lympics have even invaded the food blogosphere! Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
01/28/10 at 9:16 pm
This was a great challenge. Lauren is an amazing young woman. What a great pick for a hostess! I’m especially impressed with your gorgeous grahams!
01/28/10 at 9:21 pm
vancouverite here!!! in my very own city woot woot!!! go canada! on a side note, how much have u spent on olympics paraphanalia??? lol
01/28/10 at 9:22 pm
I loved making the graham crackers too. I may never buy them again! Great job on the challenge this month!
01/28/10 at 9:22 pm
Ivonne, you are so sweet! I’m so glad you enjoyed my challenge and thank you for choosing me to host! The mitts are such a fantastic addition to your photo - wonderful!
01/28/10 at 10:07 pm
You did an awesome job!! I love how much information you provided about the Olympics and those mittens are too cute!! I hope we did your region of Canada proud!!!
01/28/10 at 11:25 pm
Awww!! I love the cute mittens!!!
01/29/10 at 1:57 am
Nice Graham Crackers and Nanaimo Bars!
Cheers,
Rosa
01/29/10 at 2:05 am
Ivonne, those mittens are so adorable! And I agree, the best part of the challenge was definitely the graham crackers.
01/29/10 at 4:08 am
Oh how sweet…the mittens are absolutely sweet….
and ur nano’s are fantastic……
A wonderful blog u have…
LOVE IS IN THE AIR W ROMANCE TOO AND I WISH U LOADS OF IT @ 365
01/29/10 at 5:44 am
Can I have your mittens and an entire tray of your masterpiece from home (oh my Canada)
YUM!! my favorite growing up!
01/29/10 at 6:40 am
Mouth-watering goodness. Anxiously waiting for the Olympics and the “Olympic” twist on food. Vancouver has been on my “must see” list for ten years! So for now, I shall live vicariously and go to the Olympics through your bars.
01/29/10 at 7:06 am
I also enjoyed the challenge a lot this month!
Love the gloves - wanted to order some ‘olympic marchandise’ on their official website but shipping is sooo expensive
Cheers from rainy (again) Ireland! Anula.
01/29/10 at 10:03 am
Beautiful challenge! I love your mittens. My daughter saved up her money and ordered a couple of the mascots. They are are very cute and she adores them.
Natalie @ Gluten a Go Go
01/30/10 at 9:56 am
I love the top photo with the mittens! And your crackers look very nice. It’s difficult to stop eating them. Olympics fever is spreading…
01/31/10 at 1:18 am
Love the photo with the mittens….so cute!
Yum! 
01/31/10 at 1:24 am
Oh I love the Nanaimos so, mittens and all. Lovely Grahams too. I loved the challenge, and my family loved the bars!!
01/31/10 at 10:55 am
A lovely version of the classic Nanaimo bar! I must try these soon too!
02/1/10 at 12:30 pm
I was proud to see Canada being spotlighted.
Your Nanaimo bars look delicious!
02/4/10 at 1:40 am
Your Nanaimo bars look wonderful!
Hope as a host of the Olympics you win lots of medals!
04/18/10 at 6:02 pm
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04/18/10 at 6:02 pm
[…] pondering what to do with a mostly full canister of Bird’s Custard Powder (left over from this Daring Bakers’ challenge), I happened to be flipping through Nigella’s book and came across a recipe for Custard Cream […]