Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The usuals...

I'm always getting orders for these "usuals"... why? BECAUSE they are awesome. :)
I got to play around with some old china plates I got at an estate sale too!

Sea Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cheerios Marshmallow Treats
Classic Chocolate Whoopie Pie with Marshmallow Filling
Rice Krispy Treats
"Crack" Fish
Krispy Marshmallowy Peanut Buttery Chocolatey Brownie
Dark Espresso Brownie
Cap'n Crunch Marshmallow Treats

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Chewy Ooey Gooey Brownies

These. Are. The. Best. Chewy. Ooey. Gooey. Brownies. Ever.

Made with Valrhona cocoa powder, Ghirardelli 60% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate and espresso powder...

You know you want one (or ten) with a tall glass of cold milk!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Bread in the oven

My favorite thing about baking bread? The smell! MmmmMMMMMmmm! Oh, and eating the warm bread right outta the oven too!
Rustic Country White Bread
Divided and packaged up for sharing!
One of my favorite breads... brioche! My brioche a tete is still in practice, obviously.
I love that nutty brown color! MMMM!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day (p2)!

Oh Valentine's Day... you have come and gone once again. Your obnoxiously commercialized pinks and reds and hearts each year continue to nauseate me every time I walk into a store. Too bad I still end up buying into all of it...

and this year I actually CELEBRATED IT! With a boy! ♥
A homemade dinner of teriyaki salmon, brown rice and steamed asparagus, followed by our attempted dessert of individual molten chocolate cakes.

Based off the recipe I found from America's Test Kitchen. I thought it would be perfect for Valentine's since it was portioned exactly for 2!


After folding the beaten egg mixture with the melted chocolate mixture, my hopes (like the batter) deflated. So that was obviously the major problem.
It was still edible... but no molten chocolate center either. Hmmm. Must have baked too long. Sad face.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day (p1)!

Valentine's Day includes pink and red and flowers and mushy gushy stuff and sweets! Lots of sweets!
Here's a kickback to some of the sweets of V-Day's past.

Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
Scones + Treat Bags
Gift Baskets with a whole mess of homemade treats

And what was in store for this year's Valentine's sweets orders?

Why, a TOOL BOX (a red one no less) filled with treats!

Contents include:
Pink(Strawberry) Rice Krispy Treats
Sea Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies (of course!)
Heart Shaped Chocolate Whoopie Pies (whoopie!)

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Tiramisu for me, Tiramisu for you!

Homemade tiramisu... not as daunting as it might seem.
 I pared down the recipe to serve just two (instead of a whopping 8 people).

Recipe from my CIA book:

Yields 2 4" rounds - used springform pans

1/3C Espresso
2T+2t Kahlua/coffee liquer
1/2C Granulated Sugar- divided into 1/3C and the remainder
2 Egg yolks
1/3 of an Egg (tricky tricky - I divided using weight)
13oz. Mascarpone Cheese
1/3t Vanilla Extract
1 Large Egg White
16 stale Ladyfingers (approximately, I used a whole package of 24)
Cocoa powder for dusting
Powdered sugar for dusting

Combine espresso and Kahlua. Set aside.
Whisk together the 1/3C granulated sugar, egg yolks and the 1/3 of a whole egg. In the stand mixer bowl, set over simmering water, whisk until volume nearly doubles and becomes a light lemon yellow color.
Transfer bowl to mixer with whisk attachment and whip at high speed until mixture is cooled to room temperature.
Add half of the mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract at low speed until very smooth. Scrape bowl as needed. Add remaining mascarpone and mix enough to combine evenly.

In a separate bowl, whip egg white with remaining sugar until forms medium peaks. (This won't be very much). Fold beaten egg white into the mascarpone mixture.

Press 3-4 ladyfingers into the bottom of springform pan. Generously brush with espresso/Kahlua mix. Spread mascarpone filling on top. Top with ladyfingers and brush with espresso/Kahula. Repeat 3-4 times depending on height of your pan. End with mascarpone on top. Dust entire top with cocoa powder and powdered sugar.
Wrap and chill overnight in the fridge.
Carefully unmold! And enjoy!

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Gift Bakets Galore (aka holiday baking bonanza part II)

This post is quite overdue... oops!
Just wanted to tie up the holiday season, though its been long gone...
2 baskets from the Holiday Baking Extravaganza
Special Gift Basket a la The Appropriated Muffin
 Included: the usual Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies and...
Homemade Peppermint Marshmallow with Semisweet Chocolate
Holiday shaped Rice Krispy Treats
Dachshund shaped Butter Cookies with Mini Chocolate Chips for eyes (the recipient was a doxie owner)