THE ROLLER PIG

Chocolate Truffles

2016-02-29T20:25:00.000-08:00

These chocolate truffles are SO easy to make, and insanely delicious!

They're basically ganache chilled, rolled and covered in cocoa powder.

Marshmallows

2016-02-28T20:21:00.000-08:00

Today we made Marshmallows, which was pretty easy, but very messy.

These were peppermint flavored, which are delicious.

These are vanilla bean. You can never have enough powdered sugar to cover the sticky exterior!

They're so pretty!!

Petit Fours

2016-02-25T20:14:00.000-08:00

These all turned out well, but it's certainly harder baking smaller things! They tend to dry out faster, and clean lines matter. These little chocolate covered Petit Fours ("little ovens") had freshly made jam in the middle and were my favorites. Clockwise, I made Vanilla Madeleines, Pistachio Financiers, Orange Zest Tuiles, and tiny Madeleines.

Soufflés

2016-02-23T20:08:00.000-08:00

Today in class we made soufflés, which were a little tricky but turned out well.

The only problem is you have to eat them RIGHT away so they don't store well at all.

This was a cheese and chive one, which was super sharp and smoky because of the gouda but pretty great.

This was a classic chocolate soufflé which is never my favorite dessert, surprisingly, but it turned out well. We poured creme anglaise over it which was delicious.

Trip to New Orleans

2016-02-16T13:13:00.000-08:00

I went to New Orleans for my birthday and had cake every single night. This Baked Alaska from Antoine's was by far my favorite dessert of the trip! I wish I took photos of the inside but it was so perfectly sweet, fluffy and creamy.

Antoines in the oldest restaurant in the city, and completely haunted. It has so many beautiful rooms each with their own stories. This emerald green room was my favorite.

My last meal in New Orleans was at the famous Commanders Palace, where we ate an amazing three course brunch while Jazz musicians played in the courtyard. This Pecan Pie was my favorite!

Their strawberry short cake was pretty great too.

You can't go to New Orleans without eating at Cafe du Monde.
I had their begneits almost everyday. They are my favorite!

Happy Valentines Day

2016-02-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

These are a few of my favorite things...

Savory Breads

2016-02-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

This week in class we made whole wheat pita, cheese and herb crackers and foccacia. This was my first time making any breads like these and they all turned out great!

Foccacia before the oven...

After! Topped with Rosemary.

My 30th Birthday

2016-02-09T12:45:00.000-08:00

Had a small birthday game night for my 30th, with lots of pretty girly details. I'm obsessed with these paper plates that look like nice tea china!

How adorable is this cake my friends gave me!! I Love LucyBean!

I cried when I saw this, Cake & Art always kills it.

A close up, so cute. This will live forever on my counter.

A couple days later I was surprised AGAIN with another insanely cute Lucy cake by my other favorite bakery, Hanses Cakes. I love the palm print background so much!

Sweet Breads

2016-02-06T12:33:00.000-08:00

Sticky buns, ready for glaze and the oven...

Out of the oven, flipped over... Pecan Cinnamon sticky buns, SO GOOD.

Chocolate Babka I made in class, it was pretty but not nearly enough chocolate!

I made the Babka again at home with lots of chocolate and hazelnuts and it was much better.

Strawberry Mousse Cake

2016-02-05T12:23:00.000-08:00

In class last week we made Genoise cakes in the egg-levening segment and refrigerated them to use this week with the mousses.

Using gelatin to make a stable Pate a Bombe mouse with strawberry puree, we filled the top of the cake, held together with cellophane and refrigerated it until it hardened a little.

It looks SO cute, and tasted great! Light and fluffy like a strawberry short cake .

Marjolaine & Chocolate Soufflé Cake

2016-02-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

Today's Pro Pastry class focused on egg-levened cakes. AKA a lot of beating egg whites and using their fluffiness to structure the batters.

I had no idea what a Marjolaine was before we made them so I wasn't even sure what it was supposed to look like, but when it came together i was so impressed. This may be one of my favorite new desserts. And coincidentally gluten free, for those who need something tasty without flour! Using almond and hazelnut flours, this cake has an almost wafer-like texture with a delicate nutty flavor. The coffee vanilla swiss buttercream layers and frosting makes it all melt in your mouth. Seriously incredible.

This chocolate soufflé cake, also gluten free, was super easy to make. Tasted like a flour less chocolate cake but a little drier, less fudge. The glaze was my favorite part.

Pro Pastry Level 2 !

2016-02-01T12:03:00.000-08:00

Back to School!

Last month I began my Pro Pastry level 2 series at The Gourmandise School,

my favorite place to spend my Sundays!

Merry Christmas

2015-12-20T12:16:00.000-08:00

It's that time again! We had our annual Holiday party, and as usual had way too much food.

I love the little boxes of candy from Sugarfina. They have so many options of colors and flavors it's out of control.

Easy to make festive cookies and cupcakes.

Stuffed Cookies

2015-03-01T15:00:00.002-08:00

After trying these Stuffed cookies at Cookie-Con, I had to order a box of my own.

Love the packaging and flavors!

Reeces: Chocolate Chips, Potato Chips, Peanut Butter and Pretzels

Cereal N Milk: Frutti Pebbles and Marshmallow, so good!

Japanese Cookies

2015-01-05T22:12:00.003-08:00

Everything in Japan has a face. Thats a fact, and probably why I love it all. I walked into a small convenience store and was in awe of the hundreds of different cookie and candy packages in every shape and color. These little panda cookies were my favorite! They're made of pretzel, butterscotch, and white and milk chocolate. I love how they each have a different expression, so cute!

@Home Cafe, Tokyo

2015-01-05T22:07:00.001-08:00

While in Tokyo I went to @Home Cafe, a Maid Cafe in Akiharaba and it was the most unusual experience. All the waitresses are dressed as maids, call the guests "master", kneel to take the food orders, and draw faces on EVERYTHING!

I ordered these pancakes because it looks like my dog Lucy, it was so cute and really tasty! I think I slipped into a sugar coma this afternoon.

Merry Christmas!

2014-12-25T22:03:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!!!

How adorable is this log cake from Eli Zabars in NY. Somehow this was the first log cake I've ever had, and it was so rich, dense and delicious!

LaDurée Christmas

2014-11-30T22:00:00.000-08:00

LaDurée strikes again. I can't ever go to NYC without stopping by the store, but when I saw this packaging collaboration with the New York City Ballet I got so excited. Two of my favorite things all together looking perfect.

French Macaron Pastry Class

2014-11-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

Back at my favorite Gourmandise School! I learned how to make the adorable, and incredibly labor intensive French Macarons. This was the cream caramel for one of the fillings.

They turned out really well! I made four flavors: Vanilla cream, caramel cream, strawberry and passion fruit.

I'm nervous to try these again at home, for now I just have a massive supply in the freezer.

DIY Crumbs Cupcakes

2014-08-13T21:58:00.000-07:00

I love a good box mix, which is why I was so excited to see Crumbs mix for sale at Target! My friend loved them so I thought I'd make them for her birthday.

They turned out great, a classic funfetti and cream cheese birthday cupcake.

Baby Shower!

2014-07-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to host my first baby shower, along with a couple other of the mother-to-be's friends. I think we did a great job with so many little details!

The candy containers and table topper toys were so cute!

You can never have too many colorful straws, they add such a nice touch to a plastic party cup.

I ordered in catering from Bagel Broker and Nagila, both which were delicious.

All the Nagila salads were so fresh and perfect for an early afternoon lunch.

You can never have too many sweets.

I couldn't resist, I saw this on Pinterest and thought it was hilarious. Ice ice baby.

Me and the mom-to-be!

Beignet's At Home

2014-06-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

While in New Orleans I picked up a box of Cafe Du Monde's famous Beignet mix.

It was not easy, it took several tries to get the beignets to puff the right way, the secret is hot hot hot oil. When you think its hot enough, wait and let it get even hotter! The oil also needs to be deep enough so the dough can really float around.

They turned out great!! Such a unique treat to make at home, can't wait to buy more mix!

Happy Easter!

2014-04-20T21:37:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter from Cleveland!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2014-03-17T06:49:00.001-07:00

The Bun Shop

2014-03-06T14:31:00.003-08:00

Last week I went to The Bun Shop where the desserts are a big part of the experience. The on the left is the Custard Bun, which is a sweet version of the standard bun, filled with custard and topped with salted caramel sauce, sitting on popcorn. It was delicious, but I could do without the popcorn. On the right is their Fried Oreos with green tea ice cream. Its impossible to go wrong with oreos, they're amazing, but I would have paired them with vanilla ice cream.