tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25956395962050307782024-02-06T22:33:04.936-08:00Cupcake or deathMy sweet adventures, both in the kitchen and out in the world.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-52113456724154069272014-06-22T18:19:00.001-07:002014-06-22T18:19:55.580-07:00Dream Lemon Raspberry sandwich cookiesThe other night I woke up from a very vivid dream. I usually can only remember bits and pieces of dreams, but this was super clear and detailed. I dreamed that I ate the best lemon raspberry cookie in the world. It was a sandwich cookie, two lemon cookies with raspberry jam in between. The cookie itself was rustic and imperfect, but it was the most delicious thing ever. In my dream, I shared it with my parents, who didn't think it was anything special. But I knew they were wrong.<br />
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So I awoke with a mission: to make the cookie of my dreams! All I really needed was lemons and raspberries, since I had all the staples to make cookies. I scoured the internet for a recipe that resembled my dream cookie, but couldn't really find anything. It wasn't a cut out cookie, it was more of a drop cookie. I finally found a recipe I could adapt, from David Leibovitz's book <i>Ready for Dessert. </i>His is an orange poppy seed cookie with raspberry jam filling.<br />
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So I swapped the orange zest for lemon and omitted the poppy seeds. This cookie dough is super buttery. The original recipe says to roll it out, but it was too soft for that, so I just scooped it into balls and rolled them evenly. Then I pressed them flat onto cookie sheets, making mostly uniform disks.<br />
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While baking, it was hard to tell when the cookies were done, because they were so soft. I removed one and tested it to tell for sure.<br />
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After cooling, I sandwiched raspberry jam that I bought between two cookies. Not too much jam, so it wouldn't squish out. The first bite had a lot riding on it! They were delicious. Super lemony and soft, with a hint of raspberry. I could have used more jam to up the flavor.<br />
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I'm not sure they were the cookies of my dreams, but they were super tasty and delicious. I made 10 sandwiches, and my husband had eaten 5 by the end of the day. I call that a success. I think I'll continue trying to make the perfect lemon raspberry cookie, but this was a great start. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-51977547384188906202014-05-21T14:14:00.000-07:002014-05-21T14:14:59.424-07:00The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am constantly on a quest to make the best chocolate chip cookies. It's my husband's favorite treat and there's so many different ways to make it. Crispy, Chewy, Cakey, with nuts.... the possibilities are endless!<br />
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So when I found a recipe online for brown butter chocolate chip cookies I decided to give it a go. Half the butter is browned, meaning melted in a pot and let boil until it turns a rich caramel color. After a little cooling, it's ready to use in the recipe.<br />
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These turned out great! Chews and crisp along the edges and nutty from the brown butter. It really lends a great depth of flavor to the cookies. They're not too sweet, the perfect texture, a big hit!<br />
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But, since I never leave good enough alone, I decided to jazz them up a bit. So I dipped them in melted chocolate, then sprinkled them with fleur de sel and......Bacon! Chopped up cooked bacon. Yup.<br />
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I only had enough chocolate to dip about half the cookies, but they were so rich and decadent that you really can't eat too many. Wow. These were sooooooo good! Successful experiment for sure.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-28888131150014104932014-04-30T12:14:00.000-07:002014-04-30T12:14:02.374-07:00Blueberry Pie Day So Monday was National Blueberry Pie Day. Who knew there were so many food holidays? It inspired me to make blueberry pie cupcakes, although I wasn't able to actually make them until the next day.<br />
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I recently bought a new cookbook, <a href="https://www.trophycupcakes.com/book" target="_blank">Trophy Cupcakes & Parties</a>, from Trophy Cupcakes in Seattle. Although I've never been to their bakery, I've been a fan for a while. Since they have a recipe in the book for <a href="https://www.trophycupcakes.com/cupcake-flavors/blueberry-pie" target="_blank">blueberry pie cupcakes</a>, I could try a new recipe while celebrating a food holiday. Two in one! <br />
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This is a multiple step recipe with many components. Pie crust, blueberry pie filling, vanilla cupcakes and vanilla frosting. Fortunately, I had leftover pie dough in the fridge, so I just rolled it out and baked it. I also had blueberries in the freezer, so I used those for the filling.<br />
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Their vanilla cupcake recipe is different, there's a lot more sugar in it than I'm used to. The texture of the cupcakes was a little unusual. It took longer for them to bake, they were pretty raw in the middle for a while. There's also a disk of baked pie crust at the bottom of each cupcake, before you pour in the batter. <br />
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The frosting recipe was even more unusual. 6 sticks of butter!!!! I didn't have that much butter so I halved the recipe and it was the perfect amount to frost 24 cupcakes.<br />
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Cupcakes baked, cored, filled and frosted! I of course turned to my taste-tester, Jason, to bite into the first one. The crust and filling were perfect. I'm still not pleased with the texture of the cupcake, and the frosting is super rich. It was so warm in my house that I had to chill them or the frosting would melt.<br />
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Overall, a fun challenge, but I think I'll stick to my tried and true vanilla cupcake recipe in the future. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-67705580661385887882014-04-26T15:27:00.001-07:002014-04-26T15:27:48.549-07:00Happy Pretzel Day!Today is National Pretzel Day. Ever since I traveled to Munich for Oktoberfest, I've been obsessed with Bavarian soft pretzels. In Germany, they are huge and crusty and delicious! Perfect to soak up all the beer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Carrie with a pretzel the size of our heads!</td></tr>
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I've had a hard time finding anything that even comes close to Bavarian pretzels in the US, so I've had to make my own. I was never pleased with my results, until I found this book: <a href="http://www.chroniclebooks.com/pretzel-making-at-home.html" target="_blank">Pretzel Making at Home. </a><br />
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I even got to meet the author and watch her shape pretzels at a book signing. I immediately ran home and tried to make my own. It turns out, to make super authentic pretzels with a brown crust, you need food grade lye. There's simply no other way to get the same results any other way. For those of us who cant find or don't want to use lye, the book offers a decent substitute: baked baking soda.<br />
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To make soft pretzels, after making the dough and shaping it, you boil the twists in the lye solution for a minute before baking them. That develops the crust.<br />
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You can top them with whatever you want, salt, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, herbs, cheese, cinnamon, whatever! I prefer savory pretzels. With spicy mustard. Or hot cheese sauce. Yummmmmm.<br />
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So anytime I have an uncontrollable desire for a Bavarian pretzel, I can either fly to Munich or make them myself at home. Either way, pretzels are a delicious anytime treat. Happy Pretzel Day!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John and Carrie devouring a pretzel after many beers</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-58793957545476588612014-04-14T19:44:00.001-07:002014-04-14T19:44:13.189-07:00Pie Social and chocolatesSunday was the 2nd annual <a href="http://piesocial.brownpapertickets.com/" target="_blank">Pie Social</a>, a competition to benefit the San Francisco Community School. There's a band, pie tasting, and lots of auction items. The judges are all local experts from the food industry.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Verdi Club ballroom</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwcsPhoZ6hACdP9GHmFNKlt1eMQt7kSHcM0rAlj-vo6kdCM_NCQ1Ymx8OOzzPVquOCjrLuTzn8-xwinv4VJzkXWKobr64PLYpkZUzSYGcPBiaoOHDUhjXSjRrIE4F7U9Ol01QiVe3d7s/s1600/P1050289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwcsPhoZ6hACdP9GHmFNKlt1eMQt7kSHcM0rAlj-vo6kdCM_NCQ1Ymx8OOzzPVquOCjrLuTzn8-xwinv4VJzkXWKobr64PLYpkZUzSYGcPBiaoOHDUhjXSjRrIE4F7U9Ol01QiVe3d7s/s1600/P1050289.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I entered last year and it was a lot of fun! Although I didn't win, I did make it into the top ten. So I figured I'd give it a try again this year. I baked my go-to favorite pie, Bourbon chocolate chip pecan, with an added twist: bacon! I used both cooked chopped bacon in the filling, as well as bacon fat instead of butter. It gives such a smoky, salty flavor that complements the sweet filling well. I also added a bit of maple syrup. Yum!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiak-BbrF09XSSP2IryydOdIBF3vyQq5X74kcGIPlcKfuXMPRpGSPJLfx-YBEzLpJmpWO83SONtxs_MtGCDPnubmUzEswFIRFh50cbIK5Ge_5EeIzUY8LVq-_iqSHANB30GrfK6Gd1JdeQ/s1600/IMG_2922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiak-BbrF09XSSP2IryydOdIBF3vyQq5X74kcGIPlcKfuXMPRpGSPJLfx-YBEzLpJmpWO83SONtxs_MtGCDPnubmUzEswFIRFh50cbIK5Ge_5EeIzUY8LVq-_iqSHANB30GrfK6Gd1JdeQ/s1600/IMG_2922.jpg" height="320" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my pie: Bourbon Bacon Pecan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUefF37yvbOmkjfsjVfoat5mOwtYvPXsWj6M80cl3kAnO70iAksBSuboa4a3Sp5DsmG5cpOsn1YpAgJmVOwsCTu3HyqasokF-dnleTvKrnUl498ApGx0xqyIt1hrIqJ3qr8kGxNiy4YGA/s1600/P1050284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUefF37yvbOmkjfsjVfoat5mOwtYvPXsWj6M80cl3kAnO70iAksBSuboa4a3Sp5DsmG5cpOsn1YpAgJmVOwsCTu3HyqasokF-dnleTvKrnUl498ApGx0xqyIt1hrIqJ3qr8kGxNiy4YGA/s1600/P1050284.jpg" height="320" width="255" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pie tasting- over 30 varieties!</td></tr>
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We arrived at the Verdi Club to enter in my pie, actually 2 pies, one for the judges and one for tasting. The event had a band, refreshments, auction items to bid on, and lots of pie! There was actually another entry just like mine. And I thought I was being so original!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNV_hFQ5qxHxIFd_dyVKZnrY7IeODfotDxIiaKGUKaDYkEMEoSUXh1PE9GlOeDLzpk2Za4y4A6VTIqBfiv6GnEHNO4srCpSx3fVe-GzCoBORy52IRm7unt5974zbJcZIvvIbTP0VkrRE/s1600/P1050294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNV_hFQ5qxHxIFd_dyVKZnrY7IeODfotDxIiaKGUKaDYkEMEoSUXh1PE9GlOeDLzpk2Za4y4A6VTIqBfiv6GnEHNO4srCpSx3fVe-GzCoBORy52IRm7unt5974zbJcZIvvIbTP0VkrRE/s1600/P1050294.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The judges hard at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyLldSVe5srqBbO-_oSy7AU7rInkbIg7QQWA5bv9S_hWwNNW-zwz0kl68sdGI9DHr1qby_Ve7fg8gv5hCgP9pVpc0obvwxBWKTKM__rNZFqJbQJKHTc27LtXCj_m0l8TysSDGAwMjq38/s1600/P1050295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyLldSVe5srqBbO-_oSy7AU7rInkbIg7QQWA5bv9S_hWwNNW-zwz0kl68sdGI9DHr1qby_Ve7fg8gv5hCgP9pVpc0obvwxBWKTKM__rNZFqJbQJKHTc27LtXCj_m0l8TysSDGAwMjq38/s1600/P1050295.jpg" height="249" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slicing up all those pies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I'll be honest, since this is a fundraiser for a school, there were tons of kids running around like crazy. I wasn't such a fan of that, so we spent most of the time outside. I just wanted to know who won! So after a lot of waiting, I went to check on the results, and they had already announced the winners, and I wasn't one of them. Too bad! I think I'll stick to cupcake competitions in the future.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDrZps2T_PIBS3scRuHcbVwmoaZzmioBTMCK_0YAa7AKo6U66eNuDAkTIJi_69YBnnFZ5EEe4Rf_HkiFJcpo2orcVO1eMxKq7kfqknkA6Ic-2CjAhAjkGcJ1ZR0-zmmOUc3rhFfLtqAM/s1600/P1050299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDrZps2T_PIBS3scRuHcbVwmoaZzmioBTMCK_0YAa7AKo6U66eNuDAkTIJi_69YBnnFZ5EEe4Rf_HkiFJcpo2orcVO1eMxKq7kfqknkA6Ic-2CjAhAjkGcJ1ZR0-zmmOUc3rhFfLtqAM/s1600/P1050299.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
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After it was over, we explored the neighborhood a bit. We found a cute chocolate shop and factory, <a href="https://www.charleschocolates.com/" target="_blank">Charles Chocolates</a>. They offer tours and tastings during the week, but we just bought some chocolates to take home. And a meyer lemon pate de fruit that I ate right there in the shop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhpnOdO8KAbBl_Jbv5Ol6Mgpu_aj2eVGbRnbZ-UIm3CzOVzVdBxT0q6TIUrTXgT8-RgKB_WCifv5sa4PN7y3FjOarbcW8UQhaY7xokRxEGgpBwOECB1cVp-HGV9VerqmAfF7CJnuLANw/s1600/P1050307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhpnOdO8KAbBl_Jbv5Ol6Mgpu_aj2eVGbRnbZ-UIm3CzOVzVdBxT0q6TIUrTXgT8-RgKB_WCifv5sa4PN7y3FjOarbcW8UQhaY7xokRxEGgpBwOECB1cVp-HGV9VerqmAfF7CJnuLANw/s1600/P1050307.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></div>
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They were all so cute and delicious! We got a honey bunny, a fleur de sel caramel, an espresso ganache, and a passion fruit heart, my favorite. We also bought a bag of hazelnut truffles to share with our friends. Super yummy! I love discovering new treats, and I'll definitely go back for the tour soon. So even though I didn't win the pie contest, I still went home with a prize. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-71558874769160751742014-03-28T20:11:00.001-07:002014-03-28T20:11:45.280-07:00King cupcakesThe other day, my friend asked me to make cupcakes for her company, <a href="https://king.com/" target="_blank">King</a>. I've made King cupcakes before, but those were of the Mardi Gras variety. These are different. These are for the company's IPO! We all know King for its games, most famously, Candy Crush Saga. It's super fun and addicting. I've been thinking about making Candy Crush cupcakes, so this is a good introduction for me.<br />
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I made one dozen vanilla gluten free cupcakes, topped with yellow frosting, orange sprinkles, and the King logo. I thought they turned out quite well! And everyone at the company loved them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWUazVoIruF2xoUfIOD5Kmeuug_FgxfWwRGNoS0s7lIC_G-44ojEqjYbiwvhce9ZhnfJxXYKvMZ27nfJ0ITPlhv1qsnz9r0E81dzsbM4Gjtw8Sb7jqU700bj7vKV0Y_aWQ4tQVrm8ix4/s3200/P1050079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWUazVoIruF2xoUfIOD5Kmeuug_FgxfWwRGNoS0s7lIC_G-44ojEqjYbiwvhce9ZhnfJxXYKvMZ27nfJ0ITPlhv1qsnz9r0E81dzsbM4Gjtw8Sb7jqU700bj7vKV0Y_aWQ4tQVrm8ix4/s3200/P1050079.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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To make the logos, I used yellow candy melts to pipe the design. I first printed out a scaled version of the logo, then placed it under a sheet of wax paper so I could trace it. Worked like a charm, once I got the candy melts to the proper consistency. While it was still wet, I sprinkled orange sanding sugar on top, since the company's colors are orange and yellow. Then I let them dry, and placed them on top of each cupcake. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-s4gqf23m1U35_SL1s_fZOb9gWwQsDyo6wZ_D23EpYvN9CaXD_QMhinmOZMKxNHc7Eo5lrGqDbn0N3VwkNwU9h_u5ROUP3iUP6YKgGFGsMOd8TnJygNAebWzrZep_XLiRlKfSYQd1Y0/s3200/P1050085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-s4gqf23m1U35_SL1s_fZOb9gWwQsDyo6wZ_D23EpYvN9CaXD_QMhinmOZMKxNHc7Eo5lrGqDbn0N3VwkNwU9h_u5ROUP3iUP6YKgGFGsMOd8TnJygNAebWzrZep_XLiRlKfSYQd1Y0/s3200/P1050085.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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To make the cupcakes gluten free, I used <a href="http://www.cup4cup.com/" target="_blank">Cup 4 Cup</a> gluten free flour. I found it at Whole Foods! It was super easy, and really is a cup for cup substitute. The consistency of the batter is a little different, but the end result is still light and fluffy.<br />
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This was a fun challenge and I got to practice my piping skills. Maybe now I'll be inspired to tackle a more complex cupcake. Or maybe I'll just go back to playing Candy Crush.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-51024755474995663022014-03-19T23:55:00.000-07:002014-03-19T23:55:36.299-07:00Happy Macaron Day!So, today is apparently national macaron day. You know I'm a sucker for any food holiday, so I of course made macarons! Now, I've tried many times to make these little suckers, with varying results. They're so beautiful in pastry shop displays, so perfect and jewel-like, that I strive to make them at home. But so far, no luck. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrgGtp8xBLl_hP0Wsc2oEjGfJKr82yUiv_6xmDevlfxibuaTNjXeM8z1Mhz-qsi9QZm1aVgUb7rZc9XQI6tAqK0ePr_NtJ_Pc0m1yx5o7rUIycR0MkuU1V1SesgC-i9feY9ijhsnpHkQ/s3200/P1050025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrgGtp8xBLl_hP0Wsc2oEjGfJKr82yUiv_6xmDevlfxibuaTNjXeM8z1Mhz-qsi9QZm1aVgUb7rZc9XQI6tAqK0ePr_NtJ_Pc0m1yx5o7rUIycR0MkuU1V1SesgC-i9feY9ijhsnpHkQ/s3200/P1050025.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biscoff and lingonberry jam macarons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Not satisfied with the results, I kept looking for a better recipe. Most have you "cure" the piped macarons before baking them. It's usually a lot of work. So when I came across a new recipe from none other than my favorite <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/1055386/french-macaron-recipes" target="_blank">Martha Stewart</a>, I was intrigued. The cover of the March issue of Living magazine was stunning, so I was determined to try. And what do you know, perfect! I literally squealed when I opened the oven door. The recipe was easy and effective. Leave it to Martha! I kept it simple and made vanilla shells and filled them with either Biscoff or lingonberry jam. So perfect I will always use this recipe from now on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTXgEyWtMtLEB3V-8MdTfc3cOUfyt9Fu-uVZ_yR4rqjywdzvgFy2osHglwX9-AMQnisIL1OssFIVg-ou5pDHQJJtgy1HAJ-nzBjmQol5MuQfAp7EWmlUmlSMxjwKoZtaWhu-YI_ejXGo/s3200/P1040991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTXgEyWtMtLEB3V-8MdTfc3cOUfyt9Fu-uVZ_yR4rqjywdzvgFy2osHglwX9-AMQnisIL1OssFIVg-ou5pDHQJJtgy1HAJ-nzBjmQol5MuQfAp7EWmlUmlSMxjwKoZtaWhu-YI_ejXGo/s3200/P1040991.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biscoff and lingonberry jam macarons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I've also made the <a href="http://bouchonbakery.com/macarons/" target="_blank">Bouchon Bakery</a> recipe three
or four times, with varying results each time. Usually at least half of the batch comes out cracked. Still
delicious, but not so pretty. It's frustrating to
follow the exact same instructions and get different results.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv0qIay99yBCoS3GXUwWAcm7jcsSup6H4IkfJfazdIiDggMIZq_VT_vkkv5ntDeNxFxSRs6_j7Oxwg-zWrddYXGXdQT8eNBO1Taom8w43ZsdU58CHxj8EMeqJvi9pKP4FsplYJ-L0wlY/s3200/P1000391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv0qIay99yBCoS3GXUwWAcm7jcsSup6H4IkfJfazdIiDggMIZq_VT_vkkv5ntDeNxFxSRs6_j7Oxwg-zWrddYXGXdQT8eNBO1Taom8w43ZsdU58CHxj8EMeqJvi9pKP4FsplYJ-L0wlY/s3200/P1000391.jpg" height="320" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hazelnut macarons- apparently I like stacking them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lRdebdxdloZR6CwM77oS4xm9ZuIQA_EwrxxiTKpjJVQExzYrOMkpANO0SI-Fnfd_KAu1bD5EDwGXuqtwINl_Z1iDVoRNkO-JI48WJ8QrvpzNhTDKk0_6O2h7sL9E6DO2uQ9Yx_Q5Jvw/s3200/P1000373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lRdebdxdloZR6CwM77oS4xm9ZuIQA_EwrxxiTKpjJVQExzYrOMkpANO0SI-Fnfd_KAu1bD5EDwGXuqtwINl_Z1iDVoRNkO-JI48WJ8QrvpzNhTDKk0_6O2h7sL9E6DO2uQ9Yx_Q5Jvw/s3200/P1000373.JPG" height="272" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">vanilla macarons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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However, the macarons at Bouchon Bakery are exquisite! Bigger than most, and in so many fun flavor combinations, they're always churning out new and exciting options. They even enrobe them in chocolate!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_Pkbe__Wxplvr1uy3LK0AyA65m0YQQlZH-T4PDP_kJpojfNTVyI2KQRW7jSLH4B3fzb2evJ4Z9vDM4zTVcUKdwkewG0E5VpndRINa2iE1R5J842a4DQlrNvHFElb92VHku_3_gWfZfI/s3200/IMG_1117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_Pkbe__Wxplvr1uy3LK0AyA65m0YQQlZH-T4PDP_kJpojfNTVyI2KQRW7jSLH4B3fzb2evJ4Z9vDM4zTVcUKdwkewG0E5VpndRINa2iE1R5J842a4DQlrNvHFElb92VHku_3_gWfZfI/s3200/IMG_1117.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprTpnBV3VcInv2m1ZhhPtXMp-JXktuWtw_PL3FAfk0W5dzcl4dURKOSpLb-T8S4DpZlZ4Qe-60gDi2iXjD__jBkAIGZmhlnia8cFyk6hDM416f87jf8JQKflCKT9xwhofV8gx1fqJlqE/s3200/IMG_1171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprTpnBV3VcInv2m1ZhhPtXMp-JXktuWtw_PL3FAfk0W5dzcl4dURKOSpLb-T8S4DpZlZ4Qe-60gDi2iXjD__jBkAIGZmhlnia8cFyk6hDM416f87jf8JQKflCKT9xwhofV8gx1fqJlqE/s3200/IMG_1171.JPG" height="320" width="255" /></a></div>
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I like to try macarons at different local pastry shops, and <a href="http://shop.toutsweetsf.com/macarons" target="_blank">Tout Sweet</a> is one of the best. Since they're pretty pricey, I usually just get one or two with a cappuccino or cup of tea. It's the perfect mid-afternoon treat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWbR9wwzd0NPnryk5ET-2JgWNki_rqS8saUAcm8JsHCZqe3gIrW7MaTpIYFCq0ti0FqAn-IPezcd4uVC3P5sxcyVc60q0ZDvPqGLWtY3TkG18GpJJ1ttUp835gVXkjxZLVraf2Sj7iDg/s3200/IMG_2567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWbR9wwzd0NPnryk5ET-2JgWNki_rqS8saUAcm8JsHCZqe3gIrW7MaTpIYFCq0ti0FqAn-IPezcd4uVC3P5sxcyVc60q0ZDvPqGLWtY3TkG18GpJJ1ttUp835gVXkjxZLVraf2Sj7iDg/s3200/IMG_2567.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">salted caramel and Earl Grey macarons</td></tr>
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No matter if you make them at home or buy them in a shop, macarons are a wonderful indulgence. And they're often gluten (and guilt)- free! <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-8834621617405394272014-03-17T14:32:00.001-07:002014-03-17T14:32:59.758-07:00Luck of the Irish!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every year, on this day, I make my most famous cupcakes: Chocolate Stout. If I had a signature cupcake, this would be it. I make them for St. Patrick's Day, for birthdays, for weddings, for whatever! It's a rich chocolate cupcake made with stout beer, in this case, Guinness Extra Stout. They're topped with a Bailey's Irish Cream frosting. The combo of flavors is phenomenal!<br />
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I make the same recipe every year, I've had it for longer than I can remember. But I'm interested to try different versions. Nigella Lawson has a chocolate Guinness recipe, and Robicelli's has a car bomb recipe that I've wanted to try ever since I got their cookbook a few months ago.<br />
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Every time I make them, I try to present them a little differently. Green cupcake wrappers, green frosting, or even green shamrock sprinkles! This year I went with green wrappers and gold sprinkles, just like the gold at the end of the rainbow guarded by a leprechaun. Maybe these cupcakes should be at the end of the rainbow instead!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-72251608640293028762014-03-14T00:07:00.001-07:002014-03-14T00:07:10.649-07:00Happy Pi(e) Day! Today, March 14th, is Pi Day. Get it? 3.14? Although I'm not great at math, I am great at baking! To celebrate, I thought I'd post a round-up of my favorite pies, both homemade and not.<br />
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My go-to pie, made every year, is my famous chocolate chip bourbon pecan pie. It's inspired by Derby pie, named after the Kentucky Derby, hence the bourbon. My version has a buttery crust, and a layer of chocolate chips under the sweet pecan and bourbon filling. Every time I make it for my dad, he requests more bourbon! It's his favorite, as well as my husband's and most of his friends. Seems like guys really like the boozy pie.<br />
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Then of course, there's always the Thanksgiving classic, pumpkin pie. I always try to add a little twist to the classic recipe, with maple syrup, extra cinnamon, or more bourbon. Hmmm, seems like bourbon always makes an appearance!<br />
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A close relation to pies are tarts. Usually just one crust, and more refined, tarts were the subject of a whole chapter in the Bouchon Bakery cookbook. Whether a simple chocolate ganache mini tart, a light and airy lemon meringue tart, a summery plum almond tart, or a rich caramel nut tart, there are so many ways to make tarts. Once the crust is made, the filling can be anything you have on hand or whatever fruit is in season. <br />
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When making a pie is too much work, you can always go out and get a slice. The most decadent and extravagant pies I've ever had are from <a href="http://www.rockaberry.ca/pages-added/pies.php" target="_blank">Rockaberry</a>, in Montreal. They are huge pies, tall and super rich. I always go for the most chocoaltey option, but their cheesecake variety pies and fruit pies are always amazing. This is why it's best to go with friends, so everyone gets a different slice and you can sample many kinds. <br />
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But then again, who said pies have to be sweet? There's always pizza pies! The best pizza in the country is by far <a href="http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/" target="_blank">Pizzeria Bianco</a> in Phoenix, Arizona. When I lived there, we'd go often, usually waiting up to three hours in the scalding desert heat just to eat these amazing pies. After moving away I've been trying to find something to compare, to no avail. So I went back to Phoenix this summer, and got to enjoy it again. I wanted to buy 10 pies and take them home with me, but it's not quite the same as eating there.<br />
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So, does that get you in the mood for pies? Whether homemade or store-bought, sweet or savory, pies are always delicious. And they can be helpful in learning math! </div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-49399415579573769932014-03-05T00:15:00.000-08:002014-03-05T00:15:29.810-08:00Mardi Gras King Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mardi Gras. Fat Tuesday. Carnival! The time of year to let loose and enjoy yourself. And, time for delicious sweet treats! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpZpnNHnDyvxbWc1V6VLWqL4t2VpxpB5qILqNCbY-j8UoaWwzYS-viGYEg5lmSjLI0J6zpwpR-qJebNqmoAxoJF91YpIUmrNwmgOF3CAvloWF-rLHVawQEL-B2__NUNykRMhLPGfwXY4/s1600/P1040778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrpZpnNHnDyvxbWc1V6VLWqL4t2VpxpB5qILqNCbY-j8UoaWwzYS-viGYEg5lmSjLI0J6zpwpR-qJebNqmoAxoJF91YpIUmrNwmgOF3CAvloWF-rLHVawQEL-B2__NUNykRMhLPGfwXY4/s1600/P1040778.jpg" height="274" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every year I make king cake. It's a bread-like cinnamon yeasted cake topped with a sweet lemony glaze and gold, green, and purple sprinkles. There are lots of different versions of this cake, some with a pecan filling, some with a cream cheese topping, but I like this version the best. It's adapted from a recipe by John Besh, a famous New Orleans chef.<br />
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Traditionally, there's a little trinket or plastic baby inserted into the finished cake. It's said that whoever gets the piece of cake with the baby gets to buy the next cake for the next Carnival party. Many countries have their own versions of king cake, and this one is from Louisiana and the Gulf Coast area. It's a braided round cake, and the sprinkles are always the traditional Mardi Gras colors: purple for justice, gold for power, and green for faith.<br />
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Since I've made this a few times before, it was just a matter of finding the recipe and executing it. The dough was simple, kind of sticky but very elastic and rose up very well. I had a hard time rolling out the three ropes to braid them due to lack of counter space. But I managed ok. After a second rise, and a quick bake, the beautiful braid was done!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwU-EJDI-mhN2r2QPbIcaPIMLtzOYcM2XzlpmnoMJ-CA6LorqR1_6gZjKYtVtslNpeqyJkmx-i7oU39PwtKZ3yPvwk9g7LUTfAZzBoHLBpqnBm7CnMsUcOCFsmSNzns_rMIM2uuxfcm0/s1600/P1040770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwU-EJDI-mhN2r2QPbIcaPIMLtzOYcM2XzlpmnoMJ-CA6LorqR1_6gZjKYtVtslNpeqyJkmx-i7oU39PwtKZ3yPvwk9g7LUTfAZzBoHLBpqnBm7CnMsUcOCFsmSNzns_rMIM2uuxfcm0/s1600/P1040770.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
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While the cake cooled, I whipped up the glaze, which is just lemon juice and powdered sugar. Getting the consistency right is the key. In fact, the first time I made the glaze it wasn't enough, so I made more to add on top after I had used the sprinkles. In fact, I've made this cake for so many years that I'm running out of gold, green, and purple sprinkles. Time for a trip to the cake decorating store!<br />
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Although I didn't have a plastic baby or fava bean to put in the cake, everyone enjoyed it anyways. It's a yearly tradition that I look forward to every year. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-70374250626306360482014-03-03T19:14:00.000-08:002014-03-03T19:14:32.628-08:00Cupcakes for the OscarsLast night were the Oscars, and we were invited to a viewing party at a friend's house. I of course offered to bring something sweet. So I made caramel popcorn from the <a href="http://bouchonbakerybookproject.blogspot.com/2013/11/caramel-apples-and-caramel-corn.html" target="_blank">Bouchon Bakery</a> cookbook, and these super cute cupcakes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw2xZ9ctPOnr_RBMTgXxlFjw9DntARcLFpcq7MGDZJkvm01ZFKs6-hR-2yQjHFAZb12hMXEeshtT5aCq_GFpuTYKKidGClG0DaVrCsHjdcLRYtbtclqY8VTbZxSFNV3vxtGuLuoLLZ5U/s1600/P1040759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyw2xZ9ctPOnr_RBMTgXxlFjw9DntARcLFpcq7MGDZJkvm01ZFKs6-hR-2yQjHFAZb12hMXEeshtT5aCq_GFpuTYKKidGClG0DaVrCsHjdcLRYtbtclqY8VTbZxSFNV3vxtGuLuoLLZ5U/s1600/P1040759.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I got the idea from <a href="http://blog.amyatlas.com/2012/02/24/oscar-ready-walk-of-fame-brownies-peek-from-my-book/" target="_blank">Amy Atlas</a>, whose party ideas are amazing. And since I love black licorice, it was easy! Red velvet cupcakes, topped with cream cheese frosting and gold sprinkles, with a licorice wheel on top to resemble a film reel. They were a big hit at the party!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-15515152164373047872014-02-22T15:33:00.000-08:002014-02-22T15:33:07.090-08:00MauiA few weeks ago, I got the chance to go to Maui with my husband as part of his work trip. Neither of us had been before, and it was truly magical! We spent the whole time relaxing at the beach or by the pool at the resort, and eating and drinking very well. We both came home with a bit of a sunburn and many happy memories. So I decided I'd try to re-create our experience at home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxkWgvN7IR18rJvdFqRW4RoU0ty09hUeALxxS_UdRqdObE3SOSbHmz0Y6oklO45hoQDNN6KEWZ5ifWb-pBOidsOZAEFPxlFfmMPUhFM3KUIJXGsIVkTjswPQohnT9l0_ZYrQo6b0-6bw/s1600/P1030883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVxkWgvN7IR18rJvdFqRW4RoU0ty09hUeALxxS_UdRqdObE3SOSbHmz0Y6oklO45hoQDNN6KEWZ5ifWb-pBOidsOZAEFPxlFfmMPUhFM3KUIJXGsIVkTjswPQohnT9l0_ZYrQo6b0-6bw/s1600/P1030883.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1xuMTpcqeodkFGuYSa6szW9xmCnRweFLuxi4Ll0lRpoCB-R0Wlaa40V8YAdp6aoTj28RmVl5s7yGPAxyB79eaaRHJbI_b_rFbToaHyxf0mNbQS0un8afLt8ovxI4iR8xO8EIxWxwJXg/s1600/P1030832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1xuMTpcqeodkFGuYSa6szW9xmCnRweFLuxi4Ll0lRpoCB-R0Wlaa40V8YAdp6aoTj28RmVl5s7yGPAxyB79eaaRHJbI_b_rFbToaHyxf0mNbQS0un8afLt8ovxI4iR8xO8EIxWxwJXg/s1600/P1030832.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHl7Q6R6gxRsyBtH1S31vkJFkueNn5wbN9ij8gCQBBgV2yLn_4cgifqJcwhhd4uNyggDFYa6DSWYv6MQWAMQkYTC3V8P5jwoqz4ftd0EB0-GJi-2clce4UGYd30DXyMgdbDISR9qZvZ8/s1600/P1030900.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHl7Q6R6gxRsyBtH1S31vkJFkueNn5wbN9ij8gCQBBgV2yLn_4cgifqJcwhhd4uNyggDFYa6DSWYv6MQWAMQkYTC3V8P5jwoqz4ftd0EB0-GJi-2clce4UGYd30DXyMgdbDISR9qZvZ8/s1600/P1030900.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharXxXvbSEQytwhDNCSPLHqAZcf_n2CWGDCe6ZyvFP3jNx-0_bfpEPSxlKyVowxF2-3CoPVSGunnzunEarW4gmjMyFWZkKsXOiwtZ1bT-T0LUA23uMIhZVbnZPfgKsD6gIK7MzG4XZ4MY/s1600/P1040040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEharXxXvbSEQytwhDNCSPLHqAZcf_n2CWGDCe6ZyvFP3jNx-0_bfpEPSxlKyVowxF2-3CoPVSGunnzunEarW4gmjMyFWZkKsXOiwtZ1bT-T0LUA23uMIhZVbnZPfgKsD6gIK7MzG4XZ4MY/s1600/P1040040.JPG" height="150" width="200" /> </a></div>
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Every morning at the hotel, we'd have passion orange guava juice for breakfast. I became obsessed! So tropical and refreshing! Well, after a little bit of searching, I found the same juice at a local supermarket. So now I can have a taste of Maui every morning at home. Yum! (I might have to try a passion orange guava cupcake soon)</div>
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We also ate a lot of taro and purple sweet potato, specifically macadamia and ginger crusted sweet potato wedges at dinner one night. I normally love any potato dish, and the fact that these were purple just sent me over the edge. While I couldn't find the purple variety in stores, I did find taro chips! It's actually a blend of taro, sweet potato, and other root vegetables. Quite tasty!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgMk_2Wn-StgnKoOEgGAUuO5_9ROeF2PstxeMkCiQooTDky4kgyf1RDAmH9K0aMSvXSqDlzva4uC9Dqlyt1StpLz9Ro8JDIEHh3F-Vzd2Gm3469dzQ3d8wPs-_Fd-nE_mAOKsOkRnWgE/s1600/P1040596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgMk_2Wn-StgnKoOEgGAUuO5_9ROeF2PstxeMkCiQooTDky4kgyf1RDAmH9K0aMSvXSqDlzva4uC9Dqlyt1StpLz9Ro8JDIEHh3F-Vzd2Gm3469dzQ3d8wPs-_Fd-nE_mAOKsOkRnWgE/s1600/P1040596.jpg" height="294" width="320" /></a></div>
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One souvenir I did take home was the kukui nut leis given to us upon check in at the hotel. The kukui tree is the state tree of Hawaii, and in Maui it is a symbol of peace. Although I was a bit disappointed not to get a floral lei, in the end these were better since they don't wilt and die.<br />
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I also found a lovely Maui candle, scented like Mai Tais. I drank my fair share of them on vacation, so now anytime I want to remember Maui I can light the candle and put the lei on, close my eyes and dream of the ocean. <br />
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Hopefully we'll be back to Hawaii soon, since it's only a 5 hour flight from California. Just a quick jump over the Pacific and you're in paradise! But until then, I'll have to make do with my memories. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-24352424789772084692014-02-14T15:27:00.001-08:002014-02-14T15:27:24.485-08:00Happy Valentine's Day! Lemon Mousse CupcakesToday is the day for lovers. Or for anyone who loves sweets! After gorging myself on <a href="http://cupcakeordeath.blogspot.com/2014/02/valentines-day-chocolates.html" target="_blank">chocolates</a> earlier in the week, I was ready for something a bit lighter.<br />
With not a lot of time, I rummaged around in my fridge for inspiration. Here's what I came up with: whipped cream, meyer lemon curd, a few lemons, and a little bit of French buttercream. After a quick internet search, I found that combining whipped cream and lemon curd results in lemon mousse. So I naturally made lemon mousse cupcakes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5khB63SgF4j9odAhnYeRyguoeCLHzKXC3kDwufsZn2mxZ8RBvPcLfYThjQg3j-ZWeah4VoRV9nKVgrexpLOm5As0spfcAYHjjZeuCnTubATfjrxkhE3sfJVd99uYfyMHAtt3Fe8yoYw/s1600/P1040586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5khB63SgF4j9odAhnYeRyguoeCLHzKXC3kDwufsZn2mxZ8RBvPcLfYThjQg3j-ZWeah4VoRV9nKVgrexpLOm5As0spfcAYHjjZeuCnTubATfjrxkhE3sfJVd99uYfyMHAtt3Fe8yoYw/s1600/P1040586.jpg" height="320" width="250" /></a></div>
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I used my vanilla cupcake recipe, and added about 1 tablespoon on lemon zest, which lent a slight lemon flavor to the moist and fluffy cake. After cooling, I cored each cupcake.<br />
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I mixed together the whipped cream and lemon curd. I had about 1 cup of curd and probably 1 and a half cups of whipped cream. I filled each cupcake with the lemon mousse, then with the leftover, I added the French buttercream. It gave it more stability. Then I piped the rest on top.<br />
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I felt the cupcakes needed something else, to jazz them up for Valentine's Day. I had baked them in cute red striped wrappers. I decided to melt some red candy and pipe out hearts onto wax paper. After a quick chill in the fridge, the hearts popped right off the wax paper. I made big ruffly hearts and little ones too. I gently placed them on top of each cupcake, and they looked perfect! Such a sweet treat for the holiday, or any day. So cute!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-22093682723589590812014-02-12T13:47:00.001-08:002014-02-12T13:47:50.845-08:00Valentine's Day chocolatesValentine's Day. A holiday dedicated to chocolate and roses. I usually don't make a big fuss over this holiday, I just bake something chocolatey for my husband and he gets me flowers. After being together for 18 years, it's more about the little everyday things than a big splashy gift once a year. But I will take any excuse I can get to eat chocolate in any form: brownies, cookies, cakes, and especially truffles.<br />
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I was honored to be asked to review this box of Valentine's chocolates by <a href="http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/" target="_blank">Whole Foods</a>. I shop there probably 3-4 times a week, since there's a market only a few blocks from my house. It's a nice little walk there and back, and I feel like I've earned whatever I end up getting from the salad bar. So they sent me a lovely heart shaped box of Valentine's chocolates to try.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKK77_AlIXCxYwHZ1lP_8NnqryorI7uJg9M1ViWP7-HmDv6lKMG9cCc3E2k9cK4c1f5h5sOCyWjYkkdMqZkiQqkfPdSPRXwTcpDYGZPj8blENRoGFkDJN5GcnQ_036HfIb3Wwj37dt6qA/s1600/P1040469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKK77_AlIXCxYwHZ1lP_8NnqryorI7uJg9M1ViWP7-HmDv6lKMG9cCc3E2k9cK4c1f5h5sOCyWjYkkdMqZkiQqkfPdSPRXwTcpDYGZPj8blENRoGFkDJN5GcnQ_036HfIb3Wwj37dt6qA/s1600/P1040469.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to dig in</td></tr>
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There's nothing quite like receiving a heart-shaped box filled with sweet treats! Something about the shape and color make it special, and you just know it's not something you'll get any other time of year. My favorite part of opening a new box of chocolates is guessing what each piece has inside. If I'm feeling adventurous I'll just dive right in and bite into a few to find my favorite. But this box came with a handy guide, so I didn't have to guess. Even if you know what's inside, there's still a bit of a surprise when you take that first bite.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IzgMy3RzOsHhl3SpMuEvLUodpOIShFdETaRT6CqpvZ5vtjZ8trXwpGEhvokqo303rZKnuTrY_RujGfWs545VvbfNKDuq0kVVwx2cjWsS8vKz6O5scIyFtX70RjxnHgLrVzuzQ9a46Os/s1600/P1040541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IzgMy3RzOsHhl3SpMuEvLUodpOIShFdETaRT6CqpvZ5vtjZ8trXwpGEhvokqo303rZKnuTrY_RujGfWs545VvbfNKDuq0kVVwx2cjWsS8vKz6O5scIyFtX70RjxnHgLrVzuzQ9a46Os/s1600/P1040541.jpg" height="270" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Temptation- dark chocolate with smooth raspberry center</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN4c4iOMHHhDZ8iitD-vdFKKwP9S-88TWlGYzZQSxrC-0MUfyF4o2vrXsKWuKFCPoJi66HvhKLTzqjqr9jIvSeDe58fZfe_ZZcZS7USidLNyx7PguNrZp0DYIwIJJ3IP5UUCES470dD8/s1600/P1040556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEN4c4iOMHHhDZ8iitD-vdFKKwP9S-88TWlGYzZQSxrC-0MUfyF4o2vrXsKWuKFCPoJi66HvhKLTzqjqr9jIvSeDe58fZfe_ZZcZS7USidLNyx7PguNrZp0DYIwIJJ3IP5UUCES470dD8/s1600/P1040556.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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14 different chocolates, each one unique. I wonder if the number was a deliberate nod to the holiday's date? Either way, it's a good amount for sharing. I started in order listed on the description card, but after I was halfway through I realized I should have probably worked my way from white to milk to dark chocolate. Oh well. While each and every one was delicious, I did have a few favorites. I'm not a fan of white chocolate in general. In my mind, the darker the better. And since these are Belgian chocolates, the dark was super rich and decadent. <br />
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I'm a sucker for caramel and nuts, so those earned big points with me. The two chocolates with liquid caramel were my favorite, with the dark chocolate winning out overall. I mean, whoever first thought to combine dark chocolate, caramel, and sea salt is a genius. The hazelnut filled heart was also pretty amazing. I ate those entirely, but the rest I just took a bite, saving the rest for my husband when he gets home from work today. He'll be greeted with a half-empty box of nibbled chocolates, but it's better than a completely empty box. Or maybe I'll just polish off the box myself and pick up another one next time I'm at Whole Foods, for him to enjoy by himself. Now there's a thought!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvo6g5-PBwsItteCKeOWRIhP5iTS4HbcJfqTjrp2mkbQoKWpwhvPg3RiRD68BfnQlN261fVG8CnZRZiln-FAQWMmQiyjSMzJtFi-HaC9spSY0_ugRlWozq5DYuPMqMdlvIqWJjMOLLPU/s1600/P1040552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtvo6g5-PBwsItteCKeOWRIhP5iTS4HbcJfqTjrp2mkbQoKWpwhvPg3RiRD68BfnQlN261fVG8CnZRZiln-FAQWMmQiyjSMzJtFi-HaC9spSY0_ugRlWozq5DYuPMqMdlvIqWJjMOLLPU/s1600/P1040552.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carnage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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This heart-shaped box would be a great last-minute gift for anyone who forgot or put off buying a Valentine's Day gift. Just pop in to the market, pick up some flowers, champagne, and a box of chocolates, and you're set. A Valentine anyone would love to get. Including me!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-50427057829054791012014-02-11T13:16:00.000-08:002014-02-11T13:16:18.511-08:00Long time, no blog.Wow. I just took a peek at my last post, such a long time ago! I'm not sure why I stopped posting, I certainly didn't stop baking. In any case, I've decided to start up again, with a bit of a different outlook. Having lived in San Francisco for almost 3 years now, I've had ample time to explore the culinary scene, and it's been really inspiring. So I plan on continuing my culinary adventures in the city, and in my kitchen as well. By sharing new recipes and tasting yummy foods, I hope I can inspire others to explore and experiment too. Stay tuned! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-14831499135991709272011-06-01T19:53:00.000-07:002011-06-01T20:19:33.397-07:00Baking suggestions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylc7tME4pjciEWlRZQW4xvdkFg-Rz-HHJ0WIOWxyaPN5nAM-uZY6grdhnVyEvPhkDamEIsruayaxRMj16Y3f3dmfU3f-8CngFxAj4twQaAZ9WAYM6XaErqhukCEDb7_zTp6XRCsp-tWw/s1600/IMG_0710.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylc7tME4pjciEWlRZQW4xvdkFg-Rz-HHJ0WIOWxyaPN5nAM-uZY6grdhnVyEvPhkDamEIsruayaxRMj16Y3f3dmfU3f-8CngFxAj4twQaAZ9WAYM6XaErqhukCEDb7_zTp6XRCsp-tWw/s320/IMG_0710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613454731279133746" border="0" /></a><br />So yesterday I was wondering, what should I bake this week? Without specific inspiration, sometimes it's hard to come up with something to try. So I asked my online friends for their suggestions. I got quite a few interesting ideas!<br /><br />Apple Pie<br />Carrot cake<br />Cheesecake<br />Red Velvet<br />Black Forest<br />Orange Creamsicle Cake balls<br />Pecan Pie cupcakes<br />Banana Cream Pie Cupcakes<br />Strawberry cupcakes with coconut frosting<br />Cream cheese brownies<br />Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies<br />and<br />Meat Cake<br /><br />Well, that's a lot of suggestions! My goal is to keep on baking new things, to expand my abilities. Most of those things I've made before, with the exception of banana cream pie cupcakes and the cranberry oatmeal cookies. Yes, I've even made meat cake, and cupcakes. And I'll never do it again, unless I'm paid very well. Meat is a lot more expensive than flour!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvla0yjb5PGjGxlObfF_ul0uQ_Ujzbn4i2AhPE4QbjlmkDRONSDfE6Epppzeb7Lu-WYSt0mWQG-dkyKY9fHmca5IDMiS44eWo2-1SWK2l8UZnPFMf1EJ9TAVRKJrH7O5X-B4wI2DGSjs/s1600/DSC01348_1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvla0yjb5PGjGxlObfF_ul0uQ_Ujzbn4i2AhPE4QbjlmkDRONSDfE6Epppzeb7Lu-WYSt0mWQG-dkyKY9fHmca5IDMiS44eWo2-1SWK2l8UZnPFMf1EJ9TAVRKJrH7O5X-B4wI2DGSjs/s320/DSC01348_1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613455492262330546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />After all that, I decided to modify a few of my recipes to create a new one: peanut butter-chocolate chip-bacon cupcakes with chocolate frosting. Yum!<br /><br />I used my go-to peanut butter cupcake recipe, added the candied maple bacon from the maple bacon cupcake recipe, threw in some chocolate chips, and topped it all off with a new chocolate frosting recipe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0vkZ7D4XGa2-jzrF-6A54glrk3BlKHfj2bhxF2l1rQzkhjlBMKsDjosPOWbH3qeRee-xod_Q0S4pPqxTrcm-EU_EwiQdLyswK5oTo9xKhnCdtIYg4chJ87Pwx0BCYyZ1x1eyKnog1q0/s1600/DSC06510.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0vkZ7D4XGa2-jzrF-6A54glrk3BlKHfj2bhxF2l1rQzkhjlBMKsDjosPOWbH3qeRee-xod_Q0S4pPqxTrcm-EU_EwiQdLyswK5oTo9xKhnCdtIYg4chJ87Pwx0BCYyZ1x1eyKnog1q0/s320/DSC06510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613455502412938402" border="0" /></a><br />The bacon gets roasted in the oven, with a sprinkling of maple sugar on each side to caramelize it. It's so sweet and crispy and salty! I also used some of the bacon drippings in the batter in place of butter.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuyJSpT1GmEoPzxDeCXq4d-TWvNqECvJe6TUSvSwyyY9sJ90zxuqkx-ZSHKWmL_H6F0Vg9-WqLe1ErHkSPhyphenhyphenJIN2WbEG6QAAefqfWT5w08Ozu4oamZbO7dCxV4lHGAZ8kc5idZR_3f_Y/s1600/IMG_0699.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWuyJSpT1GmEoPzxDeCXq4d-TWvNqECvJe6TUSvSwyyY9sJ90zxuqkx-ZSHKWmL_H6F0Vg9-WqLe1ErHkSPhyphenhyphenJIN2WbEG6QAAefqfWT5w08Ozu4oamZbO7dCxV4lHGAZ8kc5idZR_3f_Y/s320/IMG_0699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613454755342610178" border="0" /></a><br />The cupcakes turned out great, but the peanut butter kind of overpowers the bacon flavor. Even though there are chunks of bacon in the cupcakes, it's not a strong flavor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicahx8-JHOJp3k-LtDf1PMnC1iEr9D-SOildb1xHcQJpgv8RL_r74hHbgAk7aABeAM81fuYcF_2vEJkf2QyW4Nf8on855VdXv2LvhezHsnAKGhVDIeQ4adbXLF0xulQhS9Ww1fWEnHYEI/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicahx8-JHOJp3k-LtDf1PMnC1iEr9D-SOildb1xHcQJpgv8RL_r74hHbgAk7aABeAM81fuYcF_2vEJkf2QyW4Nf8on855VdXv2LvhezHsnAKGhVDIeQ4adbXLF0xulQhS9Ww1fWEnHYEI/s320/IMG_0701.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613454750978687074" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I used a new frosting recipe as well. I'm never satisfied with my chocolate frostings, so I've been trolling the web for a new one. I found this recipe on many food blogs, so I don't feel bad about re-using it. It's pretty much the same as most chocolate buttercream frostings, but it's made in the food processor instead of a stand mixer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL-HUeF-3noPmRvUU-4Oo2DhfoBgNn8Ye5kYxhXhAF7k7HE-bFHlZLhcJw0M_jUNM4KJp-jdACC9TAZbECmZGjRkyKsPo0KojYnfhueFnupNEL67SDOIwXrdrMURYgMW2P4g01YkFrGw/s1600/IMG_0704.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzL-HUeF-3noPmRvUU-4Oo2DhfoBgNn8Ye5kYxhXhAF7k7HE-bFHlZLhcJw0M_jUNM4KJp-jdACC9TAZbECmZGjRkyKsPo0KojYnfhueFnupNEL67SDOIwXrdrMURYgMW2P4g01YkFrGw/s320/IMG_0704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613454743106615618" border="0" /></a>Much quicker, but a bit messier to get it out of the bowl. It also makes a lot of frosting, I had enough left over for at least 3-4 more cupcakes.<br /><br />All in all, these turned out pretty great. A quick dash of glittery sprinkles on top, and done!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtkkEUl_oaRlKf3DB8LXsKXlrVhGQBMVAPAh4uWTqNd4wNJMOejRXE7nxQyCpzg_-HHIBG5oP9nowWHXWWVztJ152QtyFPpmAuxPUZBlsVPpR_oQye_BJBkcUNltelsB3gS5FwtFC9QY/s1600/IMG_0707.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtkkEUl_oaRlKf3DB8LXsKXlrVhGQBMVAPAh4uWTqNd4wNJMOejRXE7nxQyCpzg_-HHIBG5oP9nowWHXWWVztJ152QtyFPpmAuxPUZBlsVPpR_oQye_BJBkcUNltelsB3gS5FwtFC9QY/s320/IMG_0707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613454738920064258" border="0" /></a><br />So thanks to everyone for your suggestions, I'll save some of them for another time when I need inspiration.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-77516829965857156822011-05-20T13:08:00.000-07:002011-05-20T13:40:39.962-07:00Balsamic Strawberry Cupcakes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpfAWaXYHzT70FxJUUQamhfYamG1Dt-es72vEoEJ7No9IuaoYeiWXMX7aybOiDIYYD0pU9TDZNyG4HKcqagtgJlZp3kObRix0684DIiGxx_j_cwSIxErI6MTKSf-kimD9oN3gO-JT6jU/s1600/IMG_0674.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKpfAWaXYHzT70FxJUUQamhfYamG1Dt-es72vEoEJ7No9IuaoYeiWXMX7aybOiDIYYD0pU9TDZNyG4HKcqagtgJlZp3kObRix0684DIiGxx_j_cwSIxErI6MTKSf-kimD9oN3gO-JT6jU/s320/IMG_0674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608900619868962066" border="0" /></a><br />Last weekend, I walked down to Bi-Rite creamery, a local ice cream shop, and tried their new flavor, balsamic strawberry ice cream. It was super yummy! Tart and sweet, with fresh strawberries. So I was inspired to create the same flavor in a cupcake.<br /><br />I walked up a huge hill to the grocery store to get some fresh, local strawberries. so yum! I already had a great strawberry cupcake recipe, so I simply modified it slightly. I first macerated the strawberries in balsamic vinegar and a bit of sugar, until they were super juicy. Then I pureed them as usual and added them to the recipe. The effect was subtle, but I could definitely taste the balsamic. I also used the balsamic strawberries to make the frosting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcvM0UcfNrDPu5oxNl7EbNjqcvOEdFhHcxwrJ0lukcMcQ9D5UySKPD38kWZPnULLwPaLxGuqTSNaiTnLU8qxlWY-pKifw96n5BJE_4RtYukhWjDFk41NYjy818annrNu38SXMcuk8_KY/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkcvM0UcfNrDPu5oxNl7EbNjqcvOEdFhHcxwrJ0lukcMcQ9D5UySKPD38kWZPnULLwPaLxGuqTSNaiTnLU8qxlWY-pKifw96n5BJE_4RtYukhWjDFk41NYjy818annrNu38SXMcuk8_KY/s320/IMG_0670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608900610156758482" border="0" /></a><br />To kick it up, I made a balsamic syrup by boiling balsamic vinegar with some honey until it reduced and got thick. After cooling, I drizzled it over the tops of the cupcakes. Fancy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNIb0GFHIqrmw6ZxfAK880saPaFbbWXVCoAhUBmddQU3QGApZVt7Mbw-sTFXBQUaQwqzJmJf9NFwmc_AkPASCm15hVpVebluS33AP8t601HXcpFFCR-hEM5hbBF09pUQvY-T-edVsJPU/s1600/IMG_0678.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaNIb0GFHIqrmw6ZxfAK880saPaFbbWXVCoAhUBmddQU3QGApZVt7Mbw-sTFXBQUaQwqzJmJf9NFwmc_AkPASCm15hVpVebluS33AP8t601HXcpFFCR-hEM5hbBF09pUQvY-T-edVsJPU/s320/IMG_0678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608900626558977842" border="0" /></a><br />They tasted great, sweet and tangy. I was afraid the concentrated syrup would be too much, but it was great. I even have some leftover, which might get paired with some Grana Padano cheese tonight :)<br /><br />PS- this was the second time baking in my new kitchen, and the oven takes some getting used to. The first batch was almost all burned on the bottom. Not sure if it was the temperature or the ingredients, but this time I baked at a lower temp and added a cookie sheet to block some of the bottom heat. Worked great! No burned bottoms here.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-53484515953099688312011-05-19T19:50:00.001-07:002011-05-19T20:02:42.881-07:00Cake Pops and Sprinkles<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGhu_psJa_U1MJ96S6fuDfYTkeLhK0krgX0ZVczzWN2C5jxc29yevIOc8kv8LlniJbsl3i1jHYqNNlJM-HwIyj2w9gZRjSTQK3nLjb4GZA2hULKqv_eI5wbq5P8KDvbsZjq93U2zDSfw/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiGhu_psJa_U1MJ96S6fuDfYTkeLhK0krgX0ZVczzWN2C5jxc29yevIOc8kv8LlniJbsl3i1jHYqNNlJM-HwIyj2w9gZRjSTQK3nLjb4GZA2hULKqv_eI5wbq5P8KDvbsZjq93U2zDSfw/s320/IMG_0607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608628080759036306" border="0" /></a><br />After donating the 800 cake pops a few months ago, I got a few calls to make more, but this time, I got paid!<br /><br />These pops were for a last minute event, so I had less than 48 hours to get these together. The order was for 200 pops though, so it didn't quite take as long.<br /><br />While prepping to make the pops, I set out my big tub of nonpareil sprinkles so I could easily access it when I needed. Well, a swift jab of the elbow and the sprinkles went flying!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ONQTtoGF7k3tSCUkE0umHyr0u2g7P2rHI7jFl6vIDlFMF7Svj42ExyXrAwil6DY93TsfsMnrOXhFJvoJw9gP16laZLV7JNP7mhPMFBq9_TS8E3XRb9JS_FYrJiUbv4F8Vk4tga4hWB4/s1600/IMG_0600.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ONQTtoGF7k3tSCUkE0umHyr0u2g7P2rHI7jFl6vIDlFMF7Svj42ExyXrAwil6DY93TsfsMnrOXhFJvoJw9gP16laZLV7JNP7mhPMFBq9_TS8E3XRb9JS_FYrJiUbv4F8Vk4tga4hWB4/s320/IMG_0600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608628067663689138" border="0" /></a>It was so pretty I had to take a picture :) Fortunately, I was able to save most of them, but I was finding little colored balls on the floor for a while after that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzx3dEMYmQ2HVQ2k9rivSa0nEzR1YULafyoEgGvQBHEskI5Sb6lklwXwTRfAwf8EEoh1bIkrFJB1H7CQdKHWuNPiOC85zCUDod_6X1Qjf2vLijTzFWrbcg92YYuz8xzWVGOQ4zV8bkC8/s1600/IMG_0602.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzx3dEMYmQ2HVQ2k9rivSa0nEzR1YULafyoEgGvQBHEskI5Sb6lklwXwTRfAwf8EEoh1bIkrFJB1H7CQdKHWuNPiOC85zCUDod_6X1Qjf2vLijTzFWrbcg92YYuz8xzWVGOQ4zV8bkC8/s320/IMG_0602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608628072684346610" border="0" /></a><br />Anyways, finished the cake pops on time and delivered them. It gets easier and easier every time I do them, and I usually learn new tips and techniques too with more practice. Fun!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-5796498249981370122011-05-17T15:22:00.000-07:002011-05-17T15:43:17.758-07:00A non-cupcake challenge: eclairs!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhainzIGRzHJnjdHgfKuJck7_S9pLi9wdjtfSHXb28kuemhvgcTLQ9SJu1LMeVOMbfn8sXJTrp-BdRQjiZfeP9ZQfWjGlWo2ZBgPDFa2kyYi6ZdWShjf7gjmOjMPvHIOHUHdax8Fov1Jg4/s1600/IMG_0518.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhainzIGRzHJnjdHgfKuJck7_S9pLi9wdjtfSHXb28kuemhvgcTLQ9SJu1LMeVOMbfn8sXJTrp-BdRQjiZfeP9ZQfWjGlWo2ZBgPDFa2kyYi6ZdWShjf7gjmOjMPvHIOHUHdax8Fov1Jg4/s320/IMG_0518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607818036353178882" border="0" /></a><br />My new favorite show is Martha Bakes, where the great MS bakes 3 different things all using one base recipe. After watching her show on choux pastry, I was so inspired I made it the very next day.<br /><br />Choux pastry is a cooked dough that when baked, puffs up hollow inside so you can fill it with yummy things. It sounds terribly complicated but was truly easy to do.<br /><br />I made both eclairs and cream puffs, the only difference being the shape. They were filled with a vanilla pastry cream and dipped in an espresso glaze. Yum! Everything was easy to make and assemble, although a bit time consuming.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc28wVlVdzSIMbaPjh-2I6DAdVO0k0S1L97pXRVfw4hW-c_GuCEIRz2_lFo_v1VmGBC28x5qKsBe8aa1yTWKG-ml3pMJNz8FaLw8sMT3uxxoGDzWvmWtdo03GoVcOxBSUBlDQjuHquo38/s1600/IMG_0529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc28wVlVdzSIMbaPjh-2I6DAdVO0k0S1L97pXRVfw4hW-c_GuCEIRz2_lFo_v1VmGBC28x5qKsBe8aa1yTWKG-ml3pMJNz8FaLw8sMT3uxxoGDzWvmWtdo03GoVcOxBSUBlDQjuHquo38/s320/IMG_0529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607817504643555634" border="0" /></a><br />After making the dough on the stovetop, I transferred it to a piping bag and piped out long strips and round circles, for eclairs and puffs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM31lB98Kk1fkq2sqbTuaRjryUbIKuJttjOnXGa7fb75QtwLWwWO1G7K4hKZ2Om7oPhlwTFT2n_WWupXxs33s2Bt6_x950mcdan0PxEeZXEL_N1cXPdYuvgCJQ9xncLCn2nP3Rmm7XgZ4/s1600/IMG_0511.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM31lB98Kk1fkq2sqbTuaRjryUbIKuJttjOnXGa7fb75QtwLWwWO1G7K4hKZ2Om7oPhlwTFT2n_WWupXxs33s2Bt6_x950mcdan0PxEeZXEL_N1cXPdYuvgCJQ9xncLCn2nP3Rmm7XgZ4/s320/IMG_0511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607817501633965234" border="0" /></a>When they came out of the oven all puffy and golden, I literally squealed with delight! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSXrAGVh9rk5gl0kHEU54MSh6lOxlNl8LSrHTGKjJRtXxZb6jGbaXimKpVxB6vl87lA3Mrm027JaoDJXmCBZxUr2MfvriQlJ23RpRko29I5wqUkzHD7wmUJMgjpiacg89g6r_eMety2Y/s1600/IMG_0514.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVSXrAGVh9rk5gl0kHEU54MSh6lOxlNl8LSrHTGKjJRtXxZb6jGbaXimKpVxB6vl87lA3Mrm027JaoDJXmCBZxUr2MfvriQlJ23RpRko29I5wqUkzHD7wmUJMgjpiacg89g6r_eMety2Y/s320/IMG_0514.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607817511576458658" border="0" /></a>It's always uncertain when baking something for the first time, and I couldn't believe they came out perfect the first time. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v6kaYb3tv3kpdeijznZggQyIXZrf9pH6IRlbNI6-rK1B4QTlfZu4uqJmETpGnhy95PAOBJntY2FpkyLbR0Tde9fRzvsHAQL5RF-Vkws-Ic02kW00bs3GFGQ-HkziDNNeWB_4DjzNTlw/s1600/IMG_0533.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1v6kaYb3tv3kpdeijznZggQyIXZrf9pH6IRlbNI6-rK1B4QTlfZu4uqJmETpGnhy95PAOBJntY2FpkyLbR0Tde9fRzvsHAQL5RF-Vkws-Ic02kW00bs3GFGQ-HkziDNNeWB_4DjzNTlw/s320/IMG_0533.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607818042282791058" border="0" /></a>I opened one up to see if they were indeed hollow, and they were! So I naturally had to eat the one I cut into :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0YXRr1PQpzeQySX6UVnPbCt7iGt7aIIudMmo7CwfNQL14ANYKRg3DAaPZcDa4K2wwnbFdSQZDUi2H1Qq-f1bS1FgV4QvN4ulcpmcc7c5f5Jy87VBienvg49tVjp003GaHp1CyOdfm6Q/s1600/IMG_0516.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0YXRr1PQpzeQySX6UVnPbCt7iGt7aIIudMmo7CwfNQL14ANYKRg3DAaPZcDa4K2wwnbFdSQZDUi2H1Qq-f1bS1FgV4QvN4ulcpmcc7c5f5Jy87VBienvg49tVjp003GaHp1CyOdfm6Q/s320/IMG_0516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607817520172911906" border="0" /></a><br />They were filled with vanilla pastry cream, which was then lightened with whipped cream, to make a truly heavenly filling. It was quite easy to fill them, just poke the tip of the piping bag in, and there you go! They're already hollow anyways.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU12DYntBlWFM6Vm5q54umq415f0LfXFhyphenhyphen-Xn-7hORVdOkLVOFAEFLaqD3vKhph_hyphenhyphenwJ43qWG8FKoerUByDB4MawHezdlmaBaExchPrTrC55OChWuNMTZpMQu8tGV2lR-HSZPagMGdKP8/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU12DYntBlWFM6Vm5q54umq415f0LfXFhyphenhyphen-Xn-7hORVdOkLVOFAEFLaqD3vKhph_hyphenhyphenwJ43qWG8FKoerUByDB4MawHezdlmaBaExchPrTrC55OChWuNMTZpMQu8tGV2lR-HSZPagMGdKP8/s320/IMG_0542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607818056862077250" border="0" /></a><br />After filling, the tops were dipped in a decadent espresso glaze. The glaze was just powdered sugar, milk and espresso powder. Yum! It smelled amazing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFFCtdxC-zw-hdsBeMG2L-NNZvEyvSCG7o7fQjZHcB6UBBdghnjWqpVtBrQWeUtATCa3Thy1I-qRwzti3Gyax855Ey0Hud_BTpT77Uaxot7LRTQpBxBuEw7QBOJmTfZL0VojiKUl0ZdQ/s1600/IMG_0538.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFFCtdxC-zw-hdsBeMG2L-NNZvEyvSCG7o7fQjZHcB6UBBdghnjWqpVtBrQWeUtATCa3Thy1I-qRwzti3Gyax855Ey0Hud_BTpT77Uaxot7LRTQpBxBuEw7QBOJmTfZL0VojiKUl0ZdQ/s320/IMG_0538.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5607818045857900226" border="0" /></a><br />Once complete, the pastries looked all professional and pretty! I still almost can't believe that I made them. It seems that they should be in the case of a French bakery in Paris, not in my kitchen :)<br /><br />Now, for the taste: they were delicious! I hardly ever eat what I bake, but I could not resist. Soft and light, creamy and airy. How can something so decadent still be so light?<br /><br />I had leftover pastry cream and glaze, so the next day I made another batch of pastry and used it all up. They were gobbled up quickly! Thanks Martha for inspiring me to try something new!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-54606820509233413012011-05-13T17:56:00.000-07:002011-05-13T18:16:44.120-07:00Belated Easter cupcakes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7E-F7v3uESCB3kMAPdDpRRr-fIGnG6AyqQjgn5EPylS3_EHT3T93xsKA-e8bGT9Nf06UiM3jkTdweLe4RuWesZO-HdX4iQTIZ-kyPEAvkdW31KTj_GmgxFSpH49XaTQ7DVraNiL-vT0k/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7E-F7v3uESCB3kMAPdDpRRr-fIGnG6AyqQjgn5EPylS3_EHT3T93xsKA-e8bGT9Nf06UiM3jkTdweLe4RuWesZO-HdX4iQTIZ-kyPEAvkdW31KTj_GmgxFSpH49XaTQ7DVraNiL-vT0k/s320/IMG_0635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606374148358422226" border="0" /></a><br />It's been quite a month! Found out we were moving to San Francisco, started packing, visited my parents for Easter, lost my kitty Felicia to kidney failure :( , and moved to the West Coast! Needless to say there hasn't been much time for baking (or blogging).<br /><br />But now we're almost all unpacked, our new place is coming together, and I'm getting back on track.<br /><br />As I said, I went to visit my parents in Charlotte, NC for Easter and my mom's birthday, since they were only a few days apart. They live in a huuuuuuge house, it's really more like a chateau. Very swank! So I had to try out the kitchen, since it's probably bigger than my entire apartment.<br /><br />My cousin, his partner, and their adorable daughters were visiting as well. So for Easter, my 4 year old cousin Valentina wanted to make and decorate cupcakes. I baked the cupcakes and made the frosting, and we decorated them together. I decided on lemon cupcakes, since it was Spring, and everyone likes lemon. Also, the acidity cuts the sweetness a bit, and I know my parents aren't fans of sweets. Wonder where I got it from?<br />After the cupcakes were cooled, I tinted the frosting green so it would look like grass. We had pretty Easter cupcake papers and toppers, so all Vale and I had to do was pipe the frosting, add sprinkles, and insert topper. Very easy, and fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8WI8tUjYjrc29w3QjOuuBsrX_vAoHT37KrokyducgMKkokkY_Xl0fLnnKHHniC_ToKhkrXh6rzN85Zly1HRka5Nj9AK58mT4EptzfGFSvYZCtCevojx4y1GBXFmMQYvGjSY9F-qBckI/s1600/IMG_0633.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8WI8tUjYjrc29w3QjOuuBsrX_vAoHT37KrokyducgMKkokkY_Xl0fLnnKHHniC_ToKhkrXh6rzN85Zly1HRka5Nj9AK58mT4EptzfGFSvYZCtCevojx4y1GBXFmMQYvGjSY9F-qBckI/s320/IMG_0633.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606374142768408322" border="0" /></a><br />Valentina helped me direct the piping bag with the grass tip to pipe the green frosting all over the cupcakes. Then she added the sprinkles and toppers. It was so cute how decisive she was about which sprinkles and which toppers to put where. Everything was in her favorite colors, pink and purple. She is truly a little princess.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6YKXlb5ttasVo26IDV9txCaizuH5s6zISJ5d3U-ashyphenhyphenSA1oSNfJkSMP0-gRhDixBccM2x8g3NC6OMQUXBER_PdxaYMhNUYxOKaok8uSFYfVSg7ZQlzhM6BokGhjYjLXxQL03jOBWuoo/s1600/IMG_0639.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6YKXlb5ttasVo26IDV9txCaizuH5s6zISJ5d3U-ashyphenhyphenSA1oSNfJkSMP0-gRhDixBccM2x8g3NC6OMQUXBER_PdxaYMhNUYxOKaok8uSFYfVSg7ZQlzhM6BokGhjYjLXxQL03jOBWuoo/s320/IMG_0639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606374132507478194" border="0" /></a><br />After we were finished, we put all the cupcakes on a lovely display stand, and covered them up. They had to be a surprise! After a lovely Easter dinner, we unveiled the cupcakes and everyone enjoyed them. She was a great little helper and has a great career as a decorator in the future :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-52915056155037170742011-03-17T09:51:00.000-07:002011-03-17T10:01:31.662-07:00St. Patrick's Day cupcakes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Qps3MxL_3ys-1WYsk6NB3DYfEb1TMpl-RxGFVn4RIXsIzKoO-X3E-xxN7tHg3D2hDIXifdVV1PNMkb7hT1Wfx1H60rFsoXj17unMOiz_tzP4QbgRPndF4ryppfiogSdk1L_7hmM_Esk/s1600/DSC08925.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Qps3MxL_3ys-1WYsk6NB3DYfEb1TMpl-RxGFVn4RIXsIzKoO-X3E-xxN7tHg3D2hDIXifdVV1PNMkb7hT1Wfx1H60rFsoXj17unMOiz_tzP4QbgRPndF4ryppfiogSdk1L_7hmM_Esk/s320/DSC08925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585094151905401250" border="0" /></a><br />Once again, as is my yearly tradition, I made chocolate-Guinness cupcakes with Bailey's buttercream. This recipe is such a crowd-pleaser, I can't NOT make it every year :)<br /><br />I just love the way these smell while baking, the slight beer aroma is so tempting! There was one small change to this recipe, as I couldn't find a mini bottle of plain Bailey's. A huge liquor store didn't have mini bottles, only regular sized ones, and I'm not buying a huge bottle when I only need 3-4 tbsp. So instead I got caramel Bailey's. I figured the slight caramel flavor would go well with the chocolate in the cupcake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCgvhYPgn5jAiDP3bK2EW7wXBO8CrZorEG8gUeKC3InqczVVK_1PVsn-3z90RBzwIwrHwR7JoSCmEive30UGmSocNkIIojov0qvshwhVeYGEcDPqgE6Rbzh09o4veMvZQvnX0sf-0044/s1600/DSC08916.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXCgvhYPgn5jAiDP3bK2EW7wXBO8CrZorEG8gUeKC3InqczVVK_1PVsn-3z90RBzwIwrHwR7JoSCmEive30UGmSocNkIIojov0qvshwhVeYGEcDPqgE6Rbzh09o4veMvZQvnX0sf-0044/s320/DSC08916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585094161338767970" border="0" /></a><br />I also got to use my new green glitter! It's edible glitter, just for cake decorating. So fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKHhRz9gr2MVWwe6g7NQPI7LTBD3UBCHI4ohZI35MB479qI4tFH7ED8jtpa1_loR4cQMhwhsuNbvisyAYydBjKfgpJBNQzh9mgtgOPyO9oZfe2ODjqAtttBLx4idsIj58nrGvcaAqrkA/s1600/DSC08926.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKHhRz9gr2MVWwe6g7NQPI7LTBD3UBCHI4ohZI35MB479qI4tFH7ED8jtpa1_loR4cQMhwhsuNbvisyAYydBjKfgpJBNQzh9mgtgOPyO9oZfe2ODjqAtttBLx4idsIj58nrGvcaAqrkA/s320/DSC08926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585094148761871042" border="0" /></a><br />I had some leftover batter after making 2 dozen cupcakes, so I used my new Babycakes mini cupcake maker to make some minis! I got this awesome creation for Christmas and finally got around to using it. It's an electric appliance, just for making mini cupcakes! It was super easy to use, and the cupcakes baked in about 6-7 minutes. It's great for using a little bit of batter, instead of the mini cupcake tins that I have that make 24 at once. This makes only 8 at a time, but sometimes that's all you need!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-16680618344970894802011-03-16T11:18:00.000-07:002011-03-16T11:32:23.806-07:00Birthday Cupcakes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0dsmRRgsj18a-ECTcEfv74QotXu6a78FSnNBohx6iY2MHcpA4S2O0tDlXxKiXya4opF8ZWi0qxMk-N2egInKzrDyJp_lA_EoZJKc6yslJN8uXLd0p3I1ipIvlkDb1nil1WvEs4tZCTI/s1600/DSC08907.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN0dsmRRgsj18a-ECTcEfv74QotXu6a78FSnNBohx6iY2MHcpA4S2O0tDlXxKiXya4opF8ZWi0qxMk-N2egInKzrDyJp_lA_EoZJKc6yslJN8uXLd0p3I1ipIvlkDb1nil1WvEs4tZCTI/s320/DSC08907.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584746921886420530" border="0" /></a><br />After donating the cake pops, I got a few clients for cupcakes! Both ordered 2 dozen for birthdays last weekend. I had so much fun making these.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgvbEWduny2jI8QUGq6TuIN-cu4EmCZX7lvLBfntNkdKIFu9tQm5F7V4wh-dB9WeWgmfklj7hYfXi4KzFGalKX3X68IraJ0DOpjjC871c9T8WY8yfXkQdiH8yP0qa8OQ1VW2vguKQICQ/s1600/DSC08903.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgvbEWduny2jI8QUGq6TuIN-cu4EmCZX7lvLBfntNkdKIFu9tQm5F7V4wh-dB9WeWgmfklj7hYfXi4KzFGalKX3X68IraJ0DOpjjC871c9T8WY8yfXkQdiH8yP0qa8OQ1VW2vguKQICQ/s320/DSC08903.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584746882273422642" border="0" /></a><br />First up was a little girl's birthday. She wanted all pink and purple cupcakes. Her mom was planning an art-themed party, so I made various hues of pink and purple, and topped each with glitter.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuc9e0wvHLtV5uQjrSWbyuH_ImyvfEVjk6EE4eaXK9vZG3L9axeufWCzkwCE6m5VdhObjts_PCj-LblC0qhmiu8Zb8tdBORCx5ozJZ5xugtrDdLCfbowE-e7tX93ljwd_Upf-BXFH9BQ/s1600/DSC08904.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuc9e0wvHLtV5uQjrSWbyuH_ImyvfEVjk6EE4eaXK9vZG3L9axeufWCzkwCE6m5VdhObjts_PCj-LblC0qhmiu8Zb8tdBORCx5ozJZ5xugtrDdLCfbowE-e7tX93ljwd_Upf-BXFH9BQ/s320/DSC08904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584746891329069026" border="0" /></a><br />At the party, when I delivered the cupcakes, I arranged them on a wooden artist's palette for the centerpiece. They looked so cute!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiVXKVO1bpfGr8b4INx6Cq3PvIqnxNK1IOsjDoeIVGJfAVydDEH8z81pcdoRJM-qBAV3l96t7wdGxwOTGFrESmoe5_X7LcjTFVwUX0dzCTT1FyDeitIzSixtijqaJoPNUHdV0rhPES0k/s1600/DSC08911.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFiVXKVO1bpfGr8b4INx6Cq3PvIqnxNK1IOsjDoeIVGJfAVydDEH8z81pcdoRJM-qBAV3l96t7wdGxwOTGFrESmoe5_X7LcjTFVwUX0dzCTT1FyDeitIzSixtijqaJoPNUHdV0rhPES0k/s320/DSC08911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584746908271121218" border="0" /></a><br />The second order was the winner of the auction at the ball. She wanted cupcakes for her daughter's birthday, but this girl was all grown up. See, grown ups love cupcakes too! I did one dozen red velvet and one dozen chocolate, both with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles. Yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1HvdDRiRLXcIlL4FIzHC5iYH4nngBGDVX7tTuSK_yV-vgfIK-w5_mv0Oz798-xrruhdo9S4D-BZ4yau6xXN2q47HWviGlg4NLf0AkqqvVyq9ezWjUaVAaazzwZU-tdwq2rFChgWkBUs/s1600/DSC08915.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge1HvdDRiRLXcIlL4FIzHC5iYH4nngBGDVX7tTuSK_yV-vgfIK-w5_mv0Oz798-xrruhdo9S4D-BZ4yau6xXN2q47HWviGlg4NLf0AkqqvVyq9ezWjUaVAaazzwZU-tdwq2rFChgWkBUs/s320/DSC08915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584746902710290274" border="0" /></a><br />I enjoyed making these orders, and am looking forward to doing more!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-63592342321530552992011-03-10T10:45:00.001-08:002011-03-10T10:55:51.117-08:00800 Cake Pops!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXaupq219MoU6SBFX237CAp1dNDyyOQOGPyGcHC6rFjnAkoqMdLBhsjdoELKs9RfX1dk8jK0EGhmJu3Staimkc5yxJfIb3UgQ3ZyiK37IwSR4mvEgQty_9PxTkXyMITCKZGGt5UCWmqU/s1600/IMG_0486.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 208px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXaupq219MoU6SBFX237CAp1dNDyyOQOGPyGcHC6rFjnAkoqMdLBhsjdoELKs9RfX1dk8jK0EGhmJu3Staimkc5yxJfIb3UgQ3ZyiK37IwSR4mvEgQty_9PxTkXyMITCKZGGt5UCWmqU/s320/IMG_0486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582526248844138210" border="0" /></a><br />Recently, I was asked to donate a certificate for cupcakes to a charity auction. The event was for the Bal Swan school here, where my friend's son attends. It's a yearly event, and they raise tons of money. So of course, I was happy to donate my services for a good cause!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEr0HoKCGpJd5Wt2QVwwsOGGOUeo3LMN_HK1RTMdcynjSO6fTiODai_IhG1YYzv6SFIC1Yh32ooo62iYCbBVS5Ia8V7JaA8r_IbRP7Sk6Z4Y7afZ3ZCQfm35HzIw83O7R7t1H7QLbsFQ/s1600/IMG_0480.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUEr0HoKCGpJd5Wt2QVwwsOGGOUeo3LMN_HK1RTMdcynjSO6fTiODai_IhG1YYzv6SFIC1Yh32ooo62iYCbBVS5Ia8V7JaA8r_IbRP7Sk6Z4Y7afZ3ZCQfm35HzIw83O7R7t1H7QLbsFQ/s320/IMG_0480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582526196519086994" border="0" /></a><br />I also inquired about desserts for the event, and offered to make cake pops and balls to have out in dishes for everyone to munch on throughout the evening. Since they expected about 500 people to attend, they asked for 800 pops and balls, a mixture of both. So I got dipping!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRi2iIoYxpIO3DgDEzFBhZciJEkAwcUKmjLd1O7vOc8Ln7IUot5fBeUiHSHDEiA2hfJ4RXqbW6mUHosWaWeHMPNyJlp70rTrShXUVqMMIjFZQ7_47430xZWAIivfJOW0uAQTy_yr1_nYM/s1600/IMG_0478.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRi2iIoYxpIO3DgDEzFBhZciJEkAwcUKmjLd1O7vOc8Ln7IUot5fBeUiHSHDEiA2hfJ4RXqbW6mUHosWaWeHMPNyJlp70rTrShXUVqMMIjFZQ7_47430xZWAIivfJOW0uAQTy_yr1_nYM/s320/IMG_0478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582526186559395298" border="0" /></a><br />It was a fun project, although time consuming and exhausting. I did everything in stages, first baking the cakes, then forming the balls, then dipping and decorating, all while bopping to the music of the 80s.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt-Is5uis8mAxK9o3wJWYrbvq_oc4WSg3eceiCAqalvWJb_Q9G-j7HvfJBztWFI_ESnTEdW1-YJvSy4YyAaRWlvSHjyCcT0k5zfUYCMtYDkRyAVePNyJ2YaeIgrN3mqeTNxB0StxafF0/s1600/IMG_0483.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmt-Is5uis8mAxK9o3wJWYrbvq_oc4WSg3eceiCAqalvWJb_Q9G-j7HvfJBztWFI_ESnTEdW1-YJvSy4YyAaRWlvSHjyCcT0k5zfUYCMtYDkRyAVePNyJ2YaeIgrN3mqeTNxB0StxafF0/s320/IMG_0483.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582526210807931250" border="0" /></a><br />They turned out great! I did half pops, half balls, both chocolate and vanilla with lots of fun sprinkles. And everyone said how wonderful they were at the ball. It was a great experience for me, and great exposure to a new community. Although I'd rather not see a cake pop for a while :)<br /><br />PS- speaking of cake pops, I hear Starbucks has them now, 3 different flavors. Must try them out!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-81631936778498419462011-03-08T13:02:00.001-08:002011-03-08T13:19:53.138-08:00Mardi Gras<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AhQD8FDaF4KkP8fjK8sCweEUuHNJ6uC9qA9r8qiNxhCvDhaTHEh2cnASXO9U3YWV0PquNrhh02x3A11vMJ-GqpWJ7fvmXGKFjhbtkzaMFGzDa-sAywalaoNtvSeuIg5R5KxHEhMvZU8/s1600/IMG_0493.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9AhQD8FDaF4KkP8fjK8sCweEUuHNJ6uC9qA9r8qiNxhCvDhaTHEh2cnASXO9U3YWV0PquNrhh02x3A11vMJ-GqpWJ7fvmXGKFjhbtkzaMFGzDa-sAywalaoNtvSeuIg5R5KxHEhMvZU8/s320/IMG_0493.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581821571422882610" border="0" /></a><br />Last week my friend John challenged me to make King Cake cupcakes, for Mardi Gras. Last year I made a version of this, but it was a cinnamon vanilla cupcake topped with a glaze and colored sugars. This time, I wanted to make something closer to the traditional King Cake, which is more of a bread than a cake.<br /><br />So I found a good recipe, from a real New Orleans chef, and tried to adapt it for cupcakes. It was a cinnamon and lemon- laced bread-like dough.<br /><br />They looked cute, not much like cupcakes, more like little balls of dough. I had enough to make a King Cake as well, which turned out great. I love the braid, and working with dough is so fun and almost therapeutic.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio22WjxF1C-fOD9UsjtQd-PF4Aop2WsqeqVRsXiamgdtkz7QUWk94in_Sfg-Ee08PX-U0IrIHbnpnQWvWA-YQbDmaRA3hFrGDM0ViVIUhtvt2Yox1GGiVlQlFEdicnoKX8g0KWbjPf-3c/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio22WjxF1C-fOD9UsjtQd-PF4Aop2WsqeqVRsXiamgdtkz7QUWk94in_Sfg-Ee08PX-U0IrIHbnpnQWvWA-YQbDmaRA3hFrGDM0ViVIUhtvt2Yox1GGiVlQlFEdicnoKX8g0KWbjPf-3c/s320/IMG_0492.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581821565365448962" border="0" /></a><br />I think maybe either the yeast wasn't fresh enough, or I was too impatient and didn't let it rise properly, because both the cake and cupcakes seemed kind of heavy and more like bread than it should have been. So some adjustment is needed in order to perfect this recipe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTgnocloOsbHQOYeWGyHoaufrrNxsnJpklbFikBU9WOK0eHX8fgylD4KXT4dnT99mokQW1g76L9_lijC52XCtPn3hmJ6wAinRALEi3Rx1hLuXrqsm9isJ3iKb8nfBN3UqPsJST9a4SQ4/s1600/IMG_0496.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPTgnocloOsbHQOYeWGyHoaufrrNxsnJpklbFikBU9WOK0eHX8fgylD4KXT4dnT99mokQW1g76L9_lijC52XCtPn3hmJ6wAinRALEi3Rx1hLuXrqsm9isJ3iKb8nfBN3UqPsJST9a4SQ4/s320/IMG_0496.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581821587018397490" border="0" /></a><br />The traditional topping for a King Cake is a sweet glaze, with purple, green and gold sprinkles. So that's what I did on both.<br /><br />All in all, it turned out delicious, but this needs more work. There's always next year!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2595639596205030778.post-11074994197910968122011-03-07T10:44:00.000-08:002011-03-07T10:49:46.639-08:00Cakes and PopsI recently did a birthday cake and pops for a real live paying client! I think it turned out great.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOV_ts3T4yunHJKGMdoEBnLJQWLvJS5L_rK6FGr4-5LslujJu1yc7D1060TcjP9wvWwk0vndFmYZvRJsvBSVbQykpgOzuhncYULJd4NomI2JEfzsS9ilkTVmf6VM9_RlpmVGtrJItoaK8/s1600/DSC08849.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOV_ts3T4yunHJKGMdoEBnLJQWLvJS5L_rK6FGr4-5LslujJu1yc7D1060TcjP9wvWwk0vndFmYZvRJsvBSVbQykpgOzuhncYULJd4NomI2JEfzsS9ilkTVmf6VM9_RlpmVGtrJItoaK8/s320/DSC08849.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581411838817109330" border="0" /></a><br />I've been doing more and more cake pops lately, everyone seems to love them! They're cute, bite sized, and a great way to use leftover cake and frosting. I made a big batch for Valentine's Day too. Any excuse to use more sprinkles :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1s69ScX5stSdiB0PAucNmx8xhAbVNvDn6D2c_LS0pCdfmQBxcPU1JSvCkhTZfOlSY3k9Z05MfKwKIFHawC9SC_Cjmk_STtC6RYAKbAa7HvbOaU_ZAKhMMzEbexEBN7fSs3W6PWFmBZY/s1600/DSC08887.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM1s69ScX5stSdiB0PAucNmx8xhAbVNvDn6D2c_LS0pCdfmQBxcPU1JSvCkhTZfOlSY3k9Z05MfKwKIFHawC9SC_Cjmk_STtC6RYAKbAa7HvbOaU_ZAKhMMzEbexEBN7fSs3W6PWFmBZY/s320/DSC08887.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581411831731161762" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm currently working on a website, although I need a name for my cupcake company first. It's been the hardest thing to do, since everytime I think of a great name, I google it and find it's already been taken. I don't want to do anything that anyone else has already done, so it's been difficult with all the bakeries out there now!<br /><br />More cupcakes and pops to come!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3