6 Bittersweets

Yuzu Mango Coconut Cake Shooters

2012-01-29T20:32:00.003-05:00

What can I say, but that the generosity of my blogger friends continues to amaze me! Right now I'm speaking of Joyti of Darjeeling Dreams, one of the sweetest, brightest girls I know. Though we've been online buddies for a while, it wasn't until last August that I finally got to meet her (and her husband) while visiting San Francisco. Let me just tell you this, she's even sweeter in person than on her blog (and so pretty, too). Joyti blew me away again with her generosity when she recently sent me some fresh yuzu fruit after hearing my lament not having access to it. Not only that, she also sent me a bounty of other citrus, including Meyer lemons! We also decided it would be fun to post our yuzu recipes on the same day. Thanks for the lovely package, Joyti! I can't wait to see what you've made =D.

Lately I've been really into the idea of layered cake and other dessert shooters. They're such a lovely way to fit in multiple light desserts at the end of a party...even when you're mostly stuffed ;p. Especially having just added dessert shooters to my menu, I was excited to have this opportunity to test out a different flavor.

The results were delicious but I unfortunately didn't have enough juice to make the curd from entirely yuzu. Subbing in lemon juice to make up the remainder resulted in a curd that, while delicious, tasted as much of lemon as of yuzu. So if, unlike me, you have regular and abundant access to fresh yuzu, I recommend you use it and only it for the curd so that its delicate flavor and floral aroma is allowed to shine.

P.S. - I've finally submitted my graduate school application! Sorry for the long lull between new recipe posts -- I'm finding my way back slowly and surely =D.

Yuzu Mango Coconut Cake Shooters [Printable Recipe]
Cake adapted from VCTOTW;
Makes about 20 1.75-oz. cake shooters

XIAOLU'S NOTES: You'll need to make both the cake and yuzu curd enough in advance that they'll be fully cooled before you assemble the shooters. You'll only need to use about 1/3 of the cake, but you can use the leftover crumbled cake to make delicious cake pops =). If you don't have access to yuzu, you may choose to make lemon curd instead. The flavor won't be the same but it will still be delicious :). If using similarly-sized shot glasses to mine, you will need to purchase mini spoons. Both are available from Amazon: here and here.

2 cups cold heavy cream
1/2 cup powdered sugar, or more to taste
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
Coconut Cake (Recipe below), crumbled
1 1/2 cups diced ripe mango
Yuzu Curd (Recipe below)

Whip cold heavy cream and powdered sugar to soft peaks. Add in vanilla and continue whipping until medium peaks. Transfer whipped cream to a piping bag or zipper-lock plastic bag with a small opening cut in one corner. Transfer cooled yuzu curd to a second piping bag or zipper-lock bag.

Use a spoon smaller than the shot glasses so scoop 1/2 tablespoon of crumbled cake into the bottom of each glass. Next, pipe slightly under tablespoon of whipped cream into each glass, then pipe slightly under a tablespoon of yuzu curd on top of the cream. Sprinkle about 1/2 tablespoon of diced mango into each glass. Spoon 1/2 tablespoon of crumbled cake into each glass. Pipe whipped cream to fill each glass to the top. Finally, decorate the top of each glass with more diced mango. Chill until ready to serve.

Coconut Cake
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp cornstarch
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup coconut milk [NOT low-fat]
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup canola or other neutral oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8 or 9-inch round baking pan with butter or oil. Sift together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl; set aside. Whisk the coconut milk, and vinegar in a measuring cup and set aside for a few minutes to get good and curdled.

In medium bowl, combine the milk mixture, oil, sugar, and vanilla, and beat thoroughly. Pour wet mixture into the pre-sifted dry ingredients and immediately mix until no large lumps remain [small ones are okay].

Pour batter into the greased baking pan, then bake for 25 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the center of the cake comes out mostly clean (moist crumbs are OK but wet batter is NOT). Let cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Yuzu Curd
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 tsp cornstarch, sifted
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup yuzu juice
1 Tbsp finely grated yuzu zest
Pinch of salt
6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

In a heavy non-reactive saucepan, beat the eggs, yolks, cornstarch, and sugar together until well blended. Stir in yuzu juice, zest, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly and scraping the sides of the pan, until mixture comes to a boil. Let boil 1 to 2 minutes. Mixture will change from translucent to opaque.

Once curd has boiled 1 to 2 minutes, remove from heat and stir in butter until smooth. Press curd through a strainer suspended over a medium bowl to remove any potential lumps. Allow to cool. Curd can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.

Thursday Favorites!

2012-01-26T20:20:00.001-05:00

I took a break from essay-writing to gather this week's favorite food photographs -- hope you enjoy them! Seems to me, in retrospect, that there's a bit of a green theme running throughout. Maybe I'm just looking forward to Spring? Hope everyone's week is going well...only one more day until the weekend =D

Vegetable Soup with Cheesy Puff Pastry Croutons from Katskyful

Photograph of Rosemary-infused Olive Oil from Jennifer Davick

Photograph of Seafood Pasta from John Cullen

Parsley Root Fries from My New Roots

Hot Air Balloon Cake by Jessicacakes

Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Greens from The Bitten Word

Laduree-inspired Dessert Table via Amy Atlas

Photograph of Bunny in Tree Stump Chocolate Cake from Tracey Lau

Bacon-wrapped Shrimp Toast Skewers from Joylicious

Photography of Berry and Plum Wedding Cake from Jose Villa

Salt and Vinegar Kale Chips from Foodess

Cloud-shaped Black Sesame Macarons from Carnets Parisiens

Orange Passionfruit Curd Tartlets on Food Network UK Front Page!

2012-01-23T14:59:00.007-05:00

Happy Year of the Dragon, my friends! And what a wonderful beginning it's been! When my friend Sanjana contacted me recently to share another recipe on Food Network UK's blog, Locally Sourced, I was certainly honored and excited. But never would I have expected to have my photo and recipe featured on their front page today in honor of Chinese New Year! Please head over to check out one of my favorite desserts, tangy Orange Passionfruit Curd and Poppyseed Tartlets -- a fun modern dessert that's perfect for a celebration!

I'd also like to wish my good friend Christine (of Pure Joy Events) a very happy birthday! It is just like her, of course, to generously offer up wonderful prizes to others as part of her 4th Party Tutorial Contest. Please head over to her blog to get all the details of the contest! Fabulous prizes include fondant cupcake toppers from the Lynlee's Petite Cakes, a $40 gift certificate to Piggy Bank Parties party supply store, and a fresh batch of decadent Oreo brownies, browned butter pecan chocolate chip cookies, or cranberry lemon polenta cookies from yours truly. Good luck!

Latest Music Obsession: James Vincent McMorrow

2012-01-21T14:15:00.006-05:00

If you follow my Facebook page, you may have already seen this. But this gorgeous song (and the movie through which I discovered it) has wound itself so deeply into my heart that I feel compelled to share it on the blog itself. If you enjoy this song, please be sure to check out the rest of McMorrow's stunning album, "Early in the Morning." His voice is one of the most incredible sounds I've heard for quite some time.

Third Star, the movie which features this song, follows a 29-year-old man (arguably still a boy) terminally ill with cancer as he embarks on one last fun outing with his childhood friends. You'll not be surprised to learn that my favorite actor, Benedict Cumberbatch, plays the lead. Nor will you be surprised to learn, if you've seen any of his work before, that he is incredibly believable and moving in the skin of this boy who's forced to quickly come to grips with his mortality. I don't want to give away too much, but I will warn you that this film is likely to result in some tears being shed as well as some heavy reflection on the direction of your own life. I'd love to encourage you to purchase the film, but I can't seem to find a version that works in the US/Canada. If you're in this area, I'll just mention innocently that you may be able to find it on Youtube 8).

IBelieveinSherlock || MoriartyWasReal

STOP SOPA/PIPA

2012-01-18T18:16:00.005-05:00

This Something Splendid post says everything you need to know, so here's a quote and please head over to her site to read the rest:

"If you’re a blogger, there’s an important piece of legislation up on Capitol Hill that will effect you – and you don’t have to live in the United States. The House of Representatives’ Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, and its partner in the Senate, the Protect IP Act or PIPA, are bills that overreach and limits the right of free speech by blocking any website that so much as links to any content or website deemed to be “infringing” – even if the owner was not the one to post it. The proposed DNS blocking system is the same as the system used by China, so that anyone with an IP based in the United States will not be able to access the websites on the “blocked list”. If your website is flagged, you will lose your entire readership base in the United States."

IBelieveinSherlock || MoriartyWasReal

Monday Favorites and Baby Shower Cupcakes!

2012-01-16T15:11:00.009-05:00

Phew! I can finally say that the GREs are fully behind me. I took them last Wednesday, and *knock on wood* but I feel fairly good about how I did. Of course now the hardest part lies ahead: writing my application essay! If any of you have tips for me, I'm all ears!

I've still been able to find some time to bake, even if it was for an order. Last week a good friend from high school called to share the news that his sister-in-law was pregnant with a little boy! What's more, he asked me to make an assortment of cupcakes for the shower. Inspired by a photo I'd seen online, I even made little baby footprints out of marzipan as toppers. You can see the results above. Congrats, Pyi and Julia! I can already tell that you 2 will make wonderful parents!

P.S. - If anyone in the DC/Northern Virginia area is interested in ordering desserts for a baby shower or any other party, please check out my offerings and/or contact me via email.

Photograph of Eggs from Food and Story
Simmered Soybeans with Ginger and Soy Sauce from Anh's Food Blog
Photograph of Lemon Meringue Cake from Matt Bites

Photograph of Cranberry Scones from The Jewels of New York
Roasted Pears from Katskyful
Wedding Cake by Miso Bakes
Photograph of a Lemon Goat Cheese Tart from Appledrane
Blue Cheese Tartine with Bacon and Honey from Harvest to Heat
Photograph of Dessert Table also from The Jewels of New York
Photograph of Grilled Burger from Manja Wachsmuth
Mudslide Cocktail Pudding Shots from Bakers Royale

Tangerine Orange Mousse Recipe for Pure Joy Events!

2012-01-12T18:04:00.005-05:00

Photography by Rebecca Watkins

A few months back I was lucky enough to contribute some Chinese New Year-themed desserts to a party shoot by Pure Joy Events for the online party magazine, Bird's Party. Christine liked my Tangerine Mousse so much that she asked me to share the recipe on her blog. Though this would be a great, simple dessert for any party, tangerines and oranges are especially suitable for CNY because their names in Chinese sound similar to the words for luck and wealth, respectively. They're thus are frequently given out around this time of year. Please head over to Pure Joy Events blog to get the recipe!

My Food Photograph/Styling Post Syndicated on BlogHer!

2012-01-10T04:09:00.005-05:00

Yay! I'm happy to share that BlogHer asked to syndicate my post from last year about food photography and styling! Please check out my article on BlogHer today. =D.

Most Beautiful (but Heart-breaking) Song I've Heard in a Long Time

2012-01-07T23:47:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the lack of "real" posts. I actually postponed GREs for a few weeks because I didn't feel quite ready. I'll be back to regular schedule in another week or so. In the meantime, please please listen to this song. It will tug on your heart <3, XL

12 Tasks for 2012

2012-01-04T20:45:00.012-05:00

I'm not a big fan of resolutions traditionally (usually too vague and easily forgotten), but I've found checklists for specific tasks are a great way to keep myself on track throughout the year. Thus I thought it might be fun to share with you just a few of the food and blog-related items on my to-do list for this year. Consider it a little peek at what's coming up on 6 Bittersweets =). Plus I hope it'll encourage you to make and share some of your own foodie goals for 2012!

1. Make my first: multiple-tiered cake (preferably for a paid order hehe), fondant-covered cake, batch of homemade doughnuts, pavlova, poppyseed strudel, homemade ice cream, homemade sushi, French macaron tower, choux pastry

2. Make a Black Russian (Kahlua vodka chocolate) cake from scratch that's every bit as decadently satisfying as the popular version using store-bought cake and pudding mixes

3. Decorate a cake with gumpaste quilling à la My Sweet and Saucy

4. Use my new silicone mold-making kit and edible image-capable printer (awesome gifts from P and his family) to make fun decorations for cakes and cupcakes

5. Try this unique and scrumptious-sounding cobbler with cherry tomatoes and caramelized onions

6. Share more healthy and/or savory recipes on this blog

7. Learn to apply the brush embroidery technique with royal icing à la the cookies below by Etsy seller Sweet Ambs

8. Upgrade my camera to a Canon 50D and expand my photography horizons beyond food/parties

9. Decorate a cake or cupcakes with French macarons à la the ones below by Cupcakes Couture of Manhattan Beach

10. Come up with a reeeeally good tricksy recipe for April Fools Day O;-)

11. Recreate Laduree's incredible Orange Blossom French macarons at home

12. Convince as many people as possible of how awesome the BBC show Sherlock is (FYI, season 1 is on Netflix Instant!) and of how incredibly talented the actors Benedict Cumberbatch (photo collage top) and Michael Fassbender (photo collage bottom) are! (Yep, I know...not even a tiny bit related to baking or this blog but I regret nothing =D)

Oh and just a bonus tidbit of Sherlock candy...try not to swoon ;p

Tuesday Favorites!

2012-01-03T09:45:00.001-05:00

Thanks for the lovely words in response to my previous post =D! I've a busy day ahead, but it's off to a great start with the realization that 6 Bittersweets has now surpassed 1 million page views and has almost 2/3 of a million visits! It's quite small in comparison to what you've given me, but I've moved up posting my weekly favorites in hopes that these photos will get your day off to a lovely start as well!

P.S. - The 2012 Bloggies are open for nominations until Jan. 15. Don't forget to VOTE for your favorites in the many available categories!

Sables Bretons with Lemon Verbana Mousseline Filling Photograph from faye~~

Poppyseed Bars Photograph Styled by Dietlind Wolf

Silver Wedding Cake by Yummy Cupcakes & Cakes

Photograph of Holiday Drink Ingredients from timrobisonjr

Photographs of Gnocchi and Chicken Wings Styled by Simon Bajada

Photograph of French Macarons and Tea from SteveH

Macaron Cake by Mio Cupcakes

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Pistachio Mini Tarts from Life is Great

Photographs of Meat Stew and Salad Styled by Bianca Nice

Tutorial for Making Pearl Bauble Decorations for Cakes from Cakeb0t

Photographs of Rustic Pear Tarts Styled by Simon Bajada

Your Favorite Posts of 2011 (Thanks for Making It Incredible!)

2012-01-02T15:34:00.015-05:00

Wow wow, wow wow WOW...2011 was certainly a thrill-ride for me, in which the blog passed many incredible milestones and in which I've been greatly honored to make sweet treats for some really special people. And "lucky" is the only word I can think of to describe how it's felt to have you all along with me, backing me up every step of the way.

The past year's had so many brilliant moments that I simply couldn't imagine picking my favorites. Luckily you'd already done that job for me, and I bet ya didn't even know it! ;p Once the lovely Tracey of Tracey's Culinary Adventures gave me a crash course on Google Analytics (over Twitter, no less!), it was a cinch to pull a list of my most clicked-on posts of 2011 to compile this list. I hope you enjoy reviewing last year's highlights as much as I have! Wishing you a Happy New Year with much love, XL

1. Boston Cream Pie Cake Pops

2. DIY Pom-pom Cupcake Topper Tutorial

3. My Take on Food Photography and Styling

4. Homemade Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur

5. Lemon-shaped Lemon French Macarons

6. Black Widow Spider Chocolate Rum Halloween Cupcakes

7. Snickers (Chocolate Peanut Caramel) French Macarons

8. French Macaron Tutorial with Step-by-step Photos

9. Butter Paneer Indian Curry and Naan Pizza

10. Oreo Cookies N' Cream Cake Pops

Thursday Favorites and Happy New Year!

2011-12-29T16:00:00.010-05:00

You know the holidays are wonderful indeed, but all the food and presents and festive gatherings can really make you feel spun about and hardly able to tell head from tail. To the point that your usual "Monday Favorites" were buried and forgotten until this morning! (This being a completely hypothetical example, of course =p) I hope you're all similarly and quite happily occupied and thus not too disappointed when my Monday post failed to materialize on time. Well fret not for I have returned ;)...and with not only my trusty selection of drool-worthy food photography features but a few trailers for movies and shows I'm particularly excited about at the moment. The BBC show, Sherlock, is actually going into its 2nd season on New Year's Day (*squee*) but I've opted for the season 1 trailer below since you simply must start at the beginning (easily done as it's only 3 episodes, all of which are on Netflix Instant!).

And both because I'm currently digging all things Benedict Cumberbatch (he's the star of Sherlock) AND because it's a genuinely addictive show, I recommend you check out the British radio show Cabin Pressure, which follows the crew of a hilariously problem-prone single-plane "airline." As always, enjoy! I won't be checking in again 'til next week, so I hope you have a fun and safe New Year's!

Mini Meringue Tart Photograph from Jan Luijk
Raspberry Ice Cream-Filled Eclairs and Almond Cream Puffs Photographs from Taste.au
Draped Wedding Cake by Sharon Wee Creations
Chestnuts Photographs from Rikkims
Baked Challah French Toast from Domino Magazine
Maple Walnut Custard Pie from Seven Spoons
Ginger Mojito from A Little Relish
Kompot (Red Currant and Peach Fruit Drink) from Foodthrualens
Sliced Ham Photograph from Michael Graydon
Lebkuchen and Garam Masala Macarons from Passionate About Baking

Mexican Tea Cakes (Guest Feature on Food Network UK)

2011-12-21T11:21:00.001-05:00

Almost a year ago I shared a recipe for my favorite holiday cookies, the wonderfully nutty, buttery, and powdered sugary balls known as Mexican Tea Cakes...or Mexican wedding cakes or Danish wedding cakes or Russian tea cakes or snowballs or butterballs...and the list goes on. No matter the title, these babies have universal appeal...or at least I've always thought so! Luckily Sanjana of Food Network UK - who also writes one of my favorite blogs, KO Rasoi - felt the same. The recipe and photos as well as a short interview with me are being featured today on Food Network UK's Locally Sourced blog. I'd love it if you'd take the time to check it out =D!

Oops! So About Last Night...=p

2011-12-17T10:25:00.001-05:00

Dear readers, if you subscribe to my feed, you've probably been getting a massive amount of "new posts" in the last 12 hours. I am incredibly sorry for all the posts re-published in your readers and perhaps (though hopefully not) via email! I had a technical issue with the Blogger platform and had to re-publish all my posts multiple times just in order to keep the links to my old posts intact. All of those issues have now been RESOLVED -- thanks in advance for understanding!

Unfortunately, part of the solution required that I switch my blog to a different site under Blogger. My domain remains the same at 6 Bittersweets, so few people will notice any difference. There's just one exception: those of you who follow me via Google and/or subscribe to my Blogger feed will need to switch over to my Feedburner OR e-mail subscription services in order to continue getting updates for new 6 Bittersweets posts. I love connecting with each and every one of you, so I really hope to continue our exchange despite this hiccup. Again, all you need to do is click on either of these links to subscribe to a working feed: (1) Feedburner RSS feed or (2) e-mail subscription.

Happy holidays, and hope to see you all on the other side =D!

Much ♥,
Xiaolu

Saturday Favorites

2011-12-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

I'm finally taking GREs next Tuesday, so I figured I'd get my favorites post out ahead of the usual schedule. This way I can give studying my undivided attention next week. Enjoy and don't forget to take some breaks from the holiday insanity every once in a while ;D!

Hazelnut Nougat Photograph from Pinot & Dita

Citrus Fruit Granitas Photograph from Armin Zoqbaum

Cranberry Almond Mini Upside-down Cakes from Roost

Lace-trimmed Wedding Cake from Erica O'Brien Cake Design

Roasted Cherry Tomatoes Photograph from Delicious.: Simply the Best

Vegetarian Matzo Ball Soup from The Kitchn

Crepes with Roasted Pears and Cajeta Caramel from Minimally Invasive

Reindeer Gingerbread Macarons from From My Lemony Kitchen

Prosciutto-wrapped Figs Photograph from Pinterest

Hand-painted Christmas Cookies Photograph from the incredibly talented Arty McGoo

Ricotta Pastry Cream Filled Sweet Ravioli from L'appetito Vien Leggendo

Raspberry Jam Thimble Cookies from Nikole Herriot | photograph from Michael Graydon

2011 Filmography: Looking Back and Ahead

2011-12-14T03:09:00.000-05:00

Both P and I have a great love of well-acted, thought-provoking, and/or fun movies and TV series. Although I've only taken to mentioning this on the blog recently, it's a passion of mine nearly on par with food and music. Hopefully some of you feel the same because I simply can't resist sharing the video above. It's a retrospective that artfully weaves scenes from 230 films of 2011 to remind us of the incredible ways this medium can uplift, excite, provoke, and transport us...even if just for a few hours!

And wanting to look forward as well as backwards, I've also included trailers for 2 of my most highly anticipated movies this season: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. What are some others you all are excited to see? I'd love to hear what's on your radar in the comments!

Oh and in case you didn't recognize her, check out this comparison of Rooney Mara (the actress who plays the main character in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) before and after her makeover for this role. Would you have recognized this as the same girl? (I sure didn't...) I'll never doubt the transformative power of makeup, hair dye, and facial piercings again 8p!

Monday Favorites (It's Starting to Feel A Bit Like Christmas...)

2011-12-12T00:00:00.000-05:00

It's almost Christmas! Can you believe it? Although I'm not religious, like many, I've still grown up exchanging gifts with and celebrating together with family and friends 'round this time of year. I'll be especially grateful this year when (or IF =p) I survive til Christmas day past finals and GREs! The decorations, holiday ads, and even watching an interview with my favorite Scottish actor have gotten me thinking about Santa. The actor gave me quite a chuckle when he admitted he'd always thought Santa threw presents down the chimney until recently. As for myself, I've never gone through believing in Santa, the Tooth Fairy, or anything like that. I'm kinda glad I avoided the let-down of learning they weren't real, but I have to admit a part of me is curious what it's like to be experience the childlike wonder of discovering "Santa's" gifts on Christmas morning. Perhaps I'm romanticizing it too much? Anyway, here's the latest round of food photography favorites with a healthy dose of holiday spirit!

P.S. - In case you missed it, I've now added photos to my Champagne Brownies post =D. But I have to warn you...these babies are dangerously addictive. Who knew dark chocolate and champagne would make such a great pair?

Beets Photograph from Wrightfood

Shrimp Soba Rolls from Kitchen M

Plum Clafoutis Bars from Delicious Magazine

Sweet Potato Gratin and Stuffed Acorn Squash Photographs from Johnny Miller

Felt Christmas Ornament Tutorial from The Purl Bee

Assorted French Macarons Photograph from Martha Stewart

Snowflake Cookie Ornaments from Carnets Parisiens

Pink French Macarons Photograph from Southern Weddings

Christmas Tree Cookies Photograph from Les Fifoles

Wedding Cake from The Wow Factor Cakes

Hasselback Garlic Cheesy Bread from Lauren's Latest

Wreath Cookies from Cook Republic

Wheatberry Kale Salad from Forest Feast

Champagne Brownies for Nelly!

2011-12-09T14:55:00.006-05:00

Marnely of Cooking with Books, affectionately known as Nelly to many of us, is one of the kindest, most generous food bloggers (and people) I've had the luck to "meet." Though I haven't had the chance to greet her in person (yet), Nelly was one of the first to befriend me when I joined Twitter and was always there to help a girl out, whether that meant retweeting my latest posts or using her cooking chops (from her C.I.A. training and other experience) to answer my frantic questions O=).

So when Nelly announced not so long ago that Murray, the love of her life, had proposed and that they were about to embark on a journey of a lifetime together, you can imagine how delighted we were for her and how many of us wanted to give back just a little of what she'd given to all of us. Fortunately, Sanjeeta of Lite Bite stepped up to the plate and put together a fun n' fabulous blog hop today. There's just 1 day left before Nelly takes the big leap, and we wanted to send as much love to her as possibly before the Big Day!

I knew almost right away what I wanted to make for #NellysBigDay: a rich brownie with a champagne twist. Dark chocolate to remind them that while any real journey will have its high points and rough spots, taken together the experience will be most sublime. And both their love of each other and depth of appreciation for their life together will be greater as a result. Of course, the champagne is in tribute to the sweetness and exuberance of young love with the hope that they'll be as excited to be joined in 40 years as they are on Day 1. Congratulations, Nelly and Murray -- wishing you both a lifetime of happiness!

Fudgy Champagne Brownies [Printable Recipe]
Adapted from Lovescool via She Who Eats
Makes about 16 servings (9-inch square pan)

NOTES: Let the brownies cool completely before cutting. I recommend placing them in the refrigerator overnight to set if you want really clean cuts.

14 oz. dark chocolate, chopped
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cubed, plus extra for buttering the pan
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 3/4 cups sugar PLUS 1 1/2 Tbsp, divided
4 large eggs, room temperature
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup champagne, divided

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan and line with parchment paper (leave extra overhanging the edges for easy removal.)

Melt the chocolate and butter in a microwave or double boiler. If using the microwave, heat in 30 second increments and stir between each addition. Do not overheat or chocolate will seize.

Beat the salt, vanilla and 1 3/4 cups of sugar into the melted chocolate mixture. Let cool slightly (about 5 minutes). Add the eggs one at a time to the chocolate mixture and beat thoroughly to incorporate. Add the flour and mix until blended. Add 3/4 cup PLUS 2 tablespoons of champagne and continue mixing the batter vigorously until it becomes very shiny and pulls away from the sides of the bowl (If you have a stand mixer, let it run for 2 minutes on high. If you don’t, just keep beating hard for several minutes.)

Turn the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out moist, but free of batter, about 40 to 55 minutes.

In a small saucepan, bring remaining 2 tablespoons of champagne and 1 1/2 tablespoons of sugar to a boil. Immediately use a pastry brush to brush the warm brownies with the champagne glaze. The liquid should be completely absorbed into the brownies, leaving a moist, shiny top. Let cool then enjoy!

Please check out what everyone else brought to the Virtual Bridal Shower and special thanks to Sanjeeta kk at Lite Bite for hosting!

Guest Post: Coconut Rice

2011-12-08T15:07:00.001-05:00

You may have noticed that I'm not posting recipes as frequently these days. With both final exams and GREs descending on me in less than 2 weeks, I've simply had to shelf my planned posts until winter recess (with one exception this weekend ^-^). Luckily my dear friend Sala of Veggie Belly has kindly stepped in with an absolutely delicious and doable recipe for her fragrant coconut rice! You may recall that I shared a chocolate chestnut cake roll on her blog back in June. We lived not too far from each other then and I've really missed her company since she moved to the West Coast. While I've never tasted this specific dish of hers, I've sampled enough of her cooking to have confidence that all her recipes are dynamite! Please give your warmest welcome to the exceedingly sweet and talented Sala!

What I enjoy the most about blogging is the fact that I’ve met some amazing, like-minded people through blogging. And that’s how I met Xiaolu; through my blog. After weeks of emailing back and forth, we met up for a meal. It was the start of a great friendship, and exchange of ideas. I’ve come to admire Xiaolu for her passion for baking and blogging, and her meticulous food styling. I’m delighted to guest post today and share with you a simple, flavorful, childhood recipe.

Coconut rice was a staple school lunch. I’d take it to school in a little tiffin box, and it always tasted great, hot or cold. Now, coconut rice has become a standard weeknight meal for me. It’s easy to put together and served with a steamed or curried vegetable like my cauliflower broccoli poriyal or some spinach dal and some yogurt, makes a complete meal.

Good quality, fresh coconut is essential for this recipe. You can find fresh-frozen grated or shredded coconut at Indian and Asian stores. Just break off a chunk and let it thaw on your counter top.

If you like some fruity sweetness in your coconut rice, throw in 2 tablespoons of raisins or dried cranberries or dried apricots.

Coconut Rice [Printable Recipe]
Serves about 2

1/2 tsp PLUS 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp cashewnuts pieces
1/4 tsp black mustard seeds
1 Tbsp chana dal
1/8 tsp asafoetida [hing]
1 dry red chili
4 curry leaves
1 cup fresh shredded coconut, available frozen in Indian and Asian stores
2 cups cooked long grain rice

Heat 1/2 teaspoon oil in a wok. Add the cashewnuts pieces and sauté them on low heat till they are golden. Removed the roasted cashewnuts and set aside.

In the same wok, heat 1 tablespoon oil. When the oil is hot, add the black mustard seeds. When they start to pop, add the chana dal. Sauté on low heat till the chana dal is golden, about 2 minutes. Then add asafetida, red chili and curry leaves. Stir till the red chili darkens a bit, about 1 minute.

Add the shredded coconut. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring often till the coconut starts to turn color and gets a little dry.

Now add the cooked rice and salt and toss well.

Serve hot, garnishes with the roasted cashews.

Holiday Cookies Giveaway Winner!

2011-12-08T01:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered my holiday cookies giveaway! The randomly selected winner is Lindsay Harmony (comment #60)! Congrats and please look out for my email soon about the details of your prize =D.

Sunday Favorites and Some Thoughts on "Shame"

2011-12-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

UPDATE: Michael Fassbender just won Best Actor in this year's British Independent Film Awards for his performance in Shame! Congrats, Michael! You really earned it =D.

I was actually planning a recipe post for this weekend, but what can I say but that life had other things in mind 8). Instead I'm now gonna post my weekly favorites a day early and hope to have some pastries up by mid-week!

Among the things that kept me from baking this weekend was the D.C. premiere of Michael Fassbender and Steve McQueen's incredible movie, Shame, about a sex addict in NYC whose predicament only gets worse when his unstable sister drops in to live with him. Yes, it's NC-17 but NO it's not at all like porn or even a sexy movie. I didn't find any of the scenes gratuitous and would even say that a story like this simply could NOT be told without graphic scenes.

The point of the movie, at least for me, was not necessarily about just sex addiction but about the desperate lengths many of us go to in order to numb the pains of our past, the loneliness and isolation of the present, or whatever other demons we each carry invisibly on our shoulders like so many Atlas's. It's definitely not easy to watch Shame, but I strongly urge that you do. For one, you won't want to miss Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan's Oscar-worthy performances. Morever, with sex addiction becoming more and more common these days, I hope this movie will spark more dialogue and understanding, and discourage blind judgment.

Thanks to any of y'all who read through my 2 cents on Shame. But I think the food photos are why you're really here. Right, right? This week was fabulous for finding inspirational food photography because Donna Hay magazine finally joined Zinio!! If you're not familiar with Zinio, it will allow you to read Donna Hay electronically on a subscription that is MUCH cheaper than imported copies ($60 versus $13/year). And noooo iPad required! So I hope you'll understand that my excitement about this resulted in adding a lot of Donna Hay photos to this round-up. They're plenty easy on the eyes, though, so I assume you won't mind ;p.

Raspberry Ice Cubes Photograph from Donna Hay (Issue 59)

Mushroom Pasta with Cream Pesto Photograph from Aisha Yusaf

Plums and Grapes Photograph from Dolce Vita

Chickpea Tomato Spelt Soup from Martha Stewart

Indian Sweets Burfi and Sandesh Photographs from Cintamani

Christmas Tree Cupcakes from Better Homes & Gardens

Lemongrass Cucumber and Raspberry Basil Cocktails Photographs from Donna Hay (Issue 59)

Rosemary Wreath with Olives, Cherry Tomatoes, and Mozzarella Photograph from Julia Usher

Great idea to imprint cookie dough to help decorate later from Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle

Chickpea Veggie Phyllo Triangle Photograph from Tony Briscoe

Coffee Meringue Brownie from Donna Hay (Issue 59)

Washi Tape Holiday Photo Shoot with Pure Joy Events

2011-11-29T11:25:00.000-05:00

I know I've mentioned before that I'm lucky to be able to work with talented local party stylist and my friend, Christine of Pure Joy Events. Well I was impressed anew by her creativity when we got together 2 weeks ago to shoot these fun DIY holiday craft ideas using pretty Japanese washi tape! Not only did Christine provide me with my first paying photo shoot, but she also pushed my dessert-crafting boundaries again by ordering cake balls (more squares hehe) decorated to match the washi tape and candy cane macarons (I used this recipe but added crushed candy canes to the buttercream).

It all turned out quite well, if I do say so myself =p, and I'm delighted to announce that our shoot's been featured today on The Sweetest Occasion! Trust me, you don't want to miss this post as it includes FREE downloadable gift tags from Frog Prince Paperie, plus a fabulous washi tape GIVEAWAY from Cute Tape. Thanks to Christine and all the contributing vendors for making this shoot a success! I've included some of my favorite photos from the shoot below (several of which didn't make it into the feature) -- enjoy!

Concept + styling: Pure Joy Events / Venue: The Pear Tree Cottage / Washi tape + boxes: Cute Tape / Stationery + printables: Frog Prince Paperie / Sweets + photography: me / Hanging wreath design: The Knock-Knock Factory

Monday Favorites

2011-11-28T00:30:00.000-05:00

This week only I'm adding somethin' extra to my favorites post. As those of you who follow my Twitter may have noticed already, I've recently discovered (and become a wee bit infatuated with...or at least that's what my bf keeps insisting =p) the incredible actor, Michael Fassbender, of Hunger, Fish Tank, Inglorious Basterds, Jane Eyre (as Rochester), and X-Men: First Class (as Magneto) fame. Having seen him in just a handful of movies, I can already tell that he'll be one of the top actors of our generation and hopefully making movies for a long, long time. Michael has already shown himself to be a rare chameleon who disappears into whichever character he's playing at the moment. But whether he's a metal-bending mutant or an IRA volunteer on hunger strike in prison, his performances rivet you from start to finish. As if that weren't enough reason to fall head over heels, he seems humble, funny, and a real gentleman in real life. And the final kicker...he sings and dances (see below), too! My apologies to my male readers for this post, but to my lady friends...ENJOY ^_____^!

Cherry Tomatoes Photographs from James Ransom

Apple Upside-down Cake from Pictures and Pancakes

Passionfruit with Yogurt from Margaret & Joy

Black Plum and Ginger Crumble from Verses from My Kitchen

Apple Tarte Tatin from Foodess

Mini Apple Pies from Christelle is Flabbergasting

Peanut Butter Chocolate Caramel Trifle from Joylicious

Chocolate Cinnamon Teacakes from What Katie Ate

Crispy French Toast from A Little Zaftig

Snowman Macarons from Macaron Fetish

Filled with Thanks (Recipe Shout-Out 4 and Giveaway)

2011-11-27T13:45:00.000-05:00

Hi there! Did you guys all have a fabulous Thanksgiving? If you're anything like us, you've been stuffing yourself FULL of great food and company. Perhaps to the point that 8 pm felt like midnight and you gladly fell into an early slumber, feeling satisfied and thankful on all fronts? On the topic of thankfulness, I have a LOT to be grateful for in 2011.

To name just a few...for my mom finding a new/better job despite this economy; for my friends who gave me the confidence to start selling my baking; for my boyfriend who supported me through all the crazy moments and even revealed a surprising talent for shaping sugar poppies at one point 8p; for all the customers who trusted me to whip up desserts for their family birthdays, anniversaries, and christenings; for 2 magazines publishing my photos, and for so so much more.

And you know I couldn't forget to thank all of you, my readers old and new, for showing such enthusiasm toward all that I do, whether it's the familiar cupcakes or something totally out of left field. I can always count on you all to cheer me on, and that means so much to me. To show my appreciation, I'm here today to present you with my 4th Recipe Shout-Out and yet another giveaway!

In the spirit of the holiday season, I'm giving away a batch of ANY COOKIES, BROWNIES, or OTHER BARS featured on this blog (must be stable enough to ship). I regret to say that this giveaway is limited to addresses in the continental US since baked goods are perishable. To enter, do as many of the following as you want and leave a separate comment for each thing you do! Please also make sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you win. The giveaway will close on December 7 at midnight, and the winner will be announced shortly thereafter. THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

Leave a comment telling me which cookies you'd like if you were to win.
Like 6 Bittersweets on Facebook, then leave a comment telling me you did or already do.
Subscribe to this blog, then leave a comment telling me you did or already do.
Follow 6 Bittersweets on Twitter, then leave a comment telling me you did or already do including your Twitter name.
Tweet about this giveaway, tagging me @6bittersweets, then leave a comment telling me including a link to the post.

Lastly, if you (1) posted about a 6 Bittersweets-inspired recipe and I missed it; (2) made a recipe and took a photo, but don't have a blog; or (3) post about a recipe of mine in the future, please email me your name, photo, and blog post URL (if applicable) and I'll be sure to include it in my next round-up. Now let's see what scrumptious things have been comin' out of your kitchens!

RECIPE SHOUT-OUT (4)

Inspired by Vanilla Bean (or Melted Ice Cream) Buttercream Frosting

Always with Butter - Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Bean Buttercream

Inspired by Best Red Velvet Cupcakes

Will Cook for Friends - Black Widow Cupcakes

Inspired by S’mores Cupcakes

I Heart Baking - S’mores Cupcakes

Dumpling Love - S'mores Cupcakes

Inspired by Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes

Remena Nena - Ferrero Rocher Cupcakes

Inspired by Spiced Pumpkin Cupcakes

Hey, who cut the cheese? - Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Inspired by Gluten-free Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

My InCONCEIVEable Story - Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes with Cinnamon Frosting

Inspired by Black Sesame Matcha Cupcakes

Cemplang Cemplung - Black Sesame Matcha Cupcakes

Inspired by Tissue Paper Pom-Pom Cupcake Toppers

Meghann’s Little Corner - Pom-Pom Cupcake Toppers

Rust & Sunshine - Goldfish Pom-Pom Cake Topper

TurtleCraftyGirl - Bright Tissue Pom-Pom Toppers

Inspired by Rhubarb Raspberry Sour Cream Pie

Bepnhaminh - Rhubarb Tart

Inspired by Cookies N’ Cream Owl Cupcakes

Cuisine Addict - Owl Oreo Cupcakes

The Full Woman - Cookies N’ Cream Owl Cupcakes

Sabor a Galletas - Oreo Owls

Me and My Tadpole - Hootin' Halloween Cupcakes

Caramel Potatoes – Owl Cupcakes

Bon à Croquer - Owl Cupcakes

Inspired by Pumpkin-decorated Sugar Cookies

Of Agates and Madeleines - Halloween Punkin’ Cookies

Inspired by Homemade Irish Cream

Mind Your Bees and Trees - Baileys Cheesecake with Baileys Chocolate Whipped Cream

Inspired by Spinach Feta Stuffed Soft Pretzels

Kucharnia - Pumpkin Stuffed Pretzels

Inspired by Chocolate Dulce de Leche Cupcakes
HedwigSchmidt - Chocolate Dulce de Leche Cupcakes

Robson Ragouter - Chocolate Dulce de Leche Cupcakes with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting

Inspired by Cherry Pistachio Goat Cheese Balls

Witchy Kitchen - Goat Cheese Ball with Sour Cherries and Pistachios

Inspired by Halloween Pumpkin M&M Cupcakes
Bakelife - Mummy Cupcakes

Inspired by Browned Butter Pizzookies
Kucharnia - Pizookie