The belly rules the mind.

Long time no blog.

2011-06-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

Practicing a wedding cake and ended up making these cool puff pastries drizzled with toffee!

Well I think 4 months is enough of a blogging break. I've got A LOT of updating to do so be prepared for many posts in the upcoming days. I made this little number last night. And I was so giddy over the puffs. I had so many left over that I CREATED a dessert. I call them Waffle Puffs. (Still debating the name. I may go with Waffle Whips...Whippity Waffity? Ok. Name still in progress.) This delectable dessert is essentially a cream puff--miniature style. I inserted a maple frosting into the mini cream puff and it seriously tastes like waffles. They were pretty delicious.

Parmesan Chicken

2011-02-10T20:21:00.000-08:00

I made this. For dinner. It was good.

5 comes after 1 right? Day 5.

2011-02-09T20:05:00.000-08:00

Well. I am not good at blogging. I've never pretended to be. And when I said I'd blog every day for nine days, I meant 1..skip a few...5, 6, 7, 8, 9. Yeah. So here's a few things I did. I know it doesn't make up for my failed promise. However, I have a good excuse. I am babysitting my little sibs while my parents are on a cruise. So that means I'm practically the equivalent of a single mom with a 15 year old boy, 10 year old girl and a 7 year old girl. I'm convinced the reason people start to get aches and pains is NOT age--it's children. I have a crick in my neck, my left shoulder hurts and my lower back is throbbing. I am 21. This isn't normal. It has to be these kids with all of their crazy schedules and lives that I have to keep track of. I feel like I'm losing my mind. We're lucky I even got to post once before this.

Shortbread Raspberry Cookies

Caramel Popcorn!

Sidenote: While I was doing this, I remembered that no one had checked the mail today. So I called for my littlest sis to run and grab the mail. I said it twice since she couldn't hear me and I heard her say, " I was already using it, but ok!" Then she comes trotting from the kitchen. She says, "Here you go!" and I turn around to a jar of MAYO being handed to me. Mail..mayo..tomato..tomoto.

Day 1 1 yaD

2011-02-05T12:45:00.000-08:00

!spuC rettuB tuneaP Peanut Butter Cups!

Super delicious. .suoiciled repuS

An updater...

2011-02-04T15:27:00.000-08:00

Now that it IS NOT January anymore...I'll catch you up to date before I start my baking extravaganza. I am going to make 9 things in a row. Now that I've said it, I have to do it. By "in a row" I mean day to day. I have 9 days and 9 recipes to try. So I'll begin tonight and we'll see how it goes. Ok. Here is the updated blog post...

Well...now that I've looked through my photos, I realize this is the only update I have for you....which cannot be right since I did this wedding cake in November and it is now February. I did not go on a baking fast. However, I can't find the dumb pictures...OH WAIT. That's right. I dropped my camera into a bowl of milky chocolate. Yeah. That's what happened. So I suppose this is it. I made this cake for my friend who got married super fast after getting engaged. (I'm telling you this because it meant I had little preparation) I'm pretty happy with it actually. All real cake. Funfetti, Red Velvet, Chocolate Ganache Chocolate, and Vanilla with a blackberry frosting if I remember correctly.

More to come in the 9 days following this!! I know all three of my followers are super ecstatic about that. That's why I put TWO exclamation points. Ok bye.

2011-01-21T09:56:00.003-08:00

Anyone who hates January, raise your hand.

Baci De Dama

2010-12-05T16:11:00.000-08:00

Well. Here's my version of Baci De Dama! Or in English and not Italian...Italian Ladies Kisses. Traditionally these crumbly cookies are supposed to be sandwiching some type of Nutella or chocolatey goodness but...I didn't do that. Mostly because I didn't have time and I needed to make these for an event to serve a large amount of people so I only used one side of the cookie and doubled the amount. Still cute. Just not the Italian cute. Here they are.

Almond goodness before they were cooked.

Almond goodness after they were cooked.

Bloking: a mixture of baking and blogging. Also referred to as Blagging.

2010-11-30T18:02:00.000-08:00

I'm too freezing to do any baking. So i'm blogging. I took off my cuute Indian boots (or Native American as my politically correct bf would say...actually he probably would be most comfortable with me just calling them boots..) and discovered black and white toes. I know what you're thinking--frostbite. I was thinking that too for half a second. Then, I remembered that my body hates my hands and feet and this is just what they look like in winter. So after defrosting them on the heat vent in the bathroom, they again look more or less normal. I am thankful for heating vents.

I realize toes and feet should probably never be mentioned in a food blog, however, I am way too excited that I can feel my toes and move them again to go back and delete that. I am thankful for toes.

Ah November happened. I am so thankful for family, loved ones and friends. I am thankful for freedom, religion and home. Now it's the end. How did I celebrate the end of November? Going to Red Mango for delicious frozen yogurt, of course. MMMMMMMM. It was free topping day if you are in the know with this delightful little place complete with a fireplace to eat your freezing dessert and still be warm. I am thankful for this. My taste buds danced with pomegranate raspberry happiness. Om nom nom. You should check this place out if you like frozen yogurt. It is absolutely THE best. I am thankful for Red Mango AND their free toppings.

Anyway...I did make a few items over this month of thanksgiving. I am thankful for items...haha ok getting carried away, I know.

Alright, I got this idea from my favorite food blog to stalk, Cream Puffs in Venice. But don't check out her version because they are so much prettier than mine. An Italian doughnut infused with Nutella. Called, Bomboloni. Very fun to say, I might add. It was a challenge as part of the Daring Bakers group...which I am a part of as of tomorrow. SO happy.

These are carmel cupcakes with carmel frosting, drizzled with...carmel. The frosting was soooo goood. And I don't even like frosting.

Cranberry cheesecake. From the amazing cookbook, The Professional Pastry Chef by Bo Friberg. Check it out.

I realize the chocolate curls look like mozzarella cheese...but they didn't TASTE like it. Important to keep in mind I think.

Alright. That's all for now. If you don't hear from me again, it's because I'm in a frozen wasteland with black and white limbs. I am thankful for limbs.

Improofed my blog.

2010-11-11T21:30:00.000-08:00

Shout out to Sarah who deserves an award for answering my millions of blogging questions and even letting me know when things were going to get scary to add a button. Yikes..I know. But as you can see, she helped me through and now my header and button are cute. Happy. So have her improof your blog. She helped me. She can help you. One call, that's all. Or..email. http://proofred.blogspot.com/p/free-headers-too-dream-come-true.html Mmmkay.

My little sister's wedding. My first wedding cake.

2010-11-11T21:08:00.000-08:00

Who ya gonna call??

2010-10-31T21:44:00.000-07:00

Must have been a ghost at my sister's dance studio as I spotted THIS in the parking lot. It took everything I had to not ask for a ride..or if I could just hold the Proton gun I'm SURE was hiding in the backseat. Halloween coinkidink? I think NOT.

Alright. I struggle with blogging. But I had to get something on here for the month of October. I do realize nothing can top seeing the Ghostbusters' van/car but here's some things from the month anyway.

Cake I made for a birthday surprise! I made the bottom two layers with the help of my lovely assistant..ok my mom and a great lady in the neighborhood took on the camera. And she did a great job. So fun. I loved playing with the marbled fondant on the bottom tier for an ocean look. Cool.

Next.

My boss had me make a surprise cake for his wife for their 10th anniversary. He wanted half the cake to be about him and half to be about her. It was too small of a cake to be completely half and half so this is what I came up with.

I have to admit...I had a fondant crisis. I tried to do purple fondant and for some reason it was a disaster. Not a good day for fondant. So I took it off and just let it be frosted. Worked out alright.

Tonight, it is Halloween. So. If you've had a dose of a freaky ghost..who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters! What? You can't tell me it's not stuck in your head too.

They might look more like mummies...hmm. Either way. I like em.

Ooookay.

So I didn't make this and it isn't dessert. But it's too cute to boot. So love it with me.

The bread bowl was purchased at a grocery store and I made the soup with my bf. Wisconsin Cauliflower. Yes...like the delicious creation they serve up at Zupas. Tasted just like it. Jealous? I would be too. So cute. LOOVE the pumpkin. I hope they make bread bowl turkeys for Thanksgiving...and we could serve..mashed potatoes in them?

Alright well when it comes through your door, unless you just want some more I think you better call...Ghostbusters! Ow!

Are they called nails or claws? Talons? Anyway, they're shiny.

2010-09-22T16:59:00.000-07:00

Once, my little cousin turned 1. You only turn 1 once. I doubt he remembers it. Yet, I was ecstatic upon being asked to help make his cake by my aunt. We went to some grocery store in Provo that has a name but I really cannot remember what it was. But that is beside the point. The point is we searched for candies and things to use as the parts of a dog. We used fruit roll-ups as the collar/tongue, a single Junior Mint for the nose, Necco Wafers for the whites of the eye and the tag, some unknown blue candy (jelly beans?) for the eyes and coconut for a maltese look. I kind of wonder if we were making a replica of my dog, Kiwi. He's a maltese and minus the blue eyes, this cake was him. Hmm. I'll have to check on that. Anyway, my aunt actually made the cake part and then I came over and we came up with this while we ate delicious Costa Vida salads. The next day, we celebrated in a park and I my cousin was as excited as a 1 year old knows how to be.

I love coconut. And fruit roll-ups. And Necco Wafers. Even though I've been told eating them is like eating multiple tums.

Muffins are just bald cupcakes.

2010-09-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

Or so Jim Gaffigan says...and I agree. I have heard people say that icing detracts from the actual cake underneath. I have this to say..no it doesn't. The icing is a co-worker to the cake. (Of course on the mention of co-worker, I imagine an Anchorman scenario inserted here..cake says to frosting, "Wait. What if, just for tonight,we weren't coworkers? We were co-people?" Frosting, confused, replies, "I don't..." Cut off, of course, by the macho cake, "Shh.You be a woman. I'll be a man. That's all.") Cake, I'm sure, is not as much of a sexist jerk as Ron Bergundy. P.S. I don't recommend that movie for anyone who thinks they should look this up...in case you were wondering.

Anyway, icing/frosting is the hair to the head. The pea to the pod. They go together like shampoo and conditioner. Like a wink and a smile. Which is the song I currently have stuck in my head. Thanks, Harry Connick Jr. So if the icing is the hair on a cake, the fondant, or in this case, the Starburst, is the hair accessory. Which is also completely necessary sometimes. And really enhances the 'do.

I made these Starburst butterfly cupcakes followed by an Oreo flower cake with red M&M ladybugs. So cute. (The holes are from the candles. Sorry I didn't get a picture before the birthday celebration.)

It takes a lot of elbow grease to flatten those Starbursts. So I only did a few and roasted the rest. Which is delicious by the way. Try it.

School is boring. Cupcakes are fun.

2010-09-12T14:52:00.000-07:00

I am at the present time, in a Dynamics of Addictions class. For school. I'm not addicted to anything that I'm aware of. I know..the first sign is denial. I suppose if I was addicted to anything, I would say it was trying to create something unique and different foodwise. I like to have my own spin on things. This does not always work out. Many times in my attempt to be different, I succeed. And by succeed I mean I create something quite disgusting. But it is different. Still, the goal is to make it something delicious.

The cupcakes pictured at the bottom of this post were yummy. Well. So I heard. I actually never tried them. Oddly enough, I am not cake, cupcake or frosting's biggest fan. I only enjoy the creation part. Anyway, I did start off with the intention of creating a neopolitan cupcake. I was sooo excited because it came out of the oven beautifully. Perfect amount, perfect color, perfect. And then I smelled them. Let me tell you, I may not enjoy the taste of these widely accepted as delicious treats, but I do love the smell. And by knowing how cupcakes should smell, I could tell something was different. I believe I had my brother and my mother taste them and both agreed quite forcibly that they were, in fact, quite the opposite of edible. So. Into the garbage went my beautiful cupcakes. I think the problem was the amount of dye in them. Dye tends to ruin the flavor if you use a lot of it. I wish I had a picture. They were so pretty.

Moving on. Since I had previously mentioned on this same evening that I would be bringing a treat to a friend's house, I had to create something. I decided on a mud caramel cupcake with a sugary whipped topping (that I actually did find to tickle my tastebuds in all the right ways) and molded chocolate hearts with red sprinkles. Who doesn't enjoy sprinkles from time to time? This in mind, I got on it. I made the cupcakes which, of course, did not come out as beautifully as the neopolitan ones. The were sunken in and a little too moist. Still, I pushed through and came out with the pictured cupcakes. As it was Februrary, I felt it was quite fitting and I was pleased.

2010-09-11T20:13:00.000-07:00

So here's my first experience with fondant. I made the cake for fun had such a wonderful time rolling the fondant out and getting it back off again (dripping with sarcasm).

Fondant sticks horribly to counters. Especially when it's homemade marshmellow fondant. Such a pain. But after all the effort, I finally got it. Little lumpy but a pretty good, yet stressful. first go. But I have recently discovered that stressed spelled backwards is desserts. And I find that to be fitting when it comes to fondant.

And so it is.

2010-09-11T15:11:00.000-07:00

Well, once a long time ago, I was in a creative writing class. As part of my assignments for the year, I had to create a blog and post 30 times before the semester was over. Of course, I had no intention of ever becoming a blogger. NO way was I following that trend. However, it was part of my grade. So I secretly blogged and (yes I will admit this) I had my friend blog for me on occasion as I just did not enjoy it. Hopefully you'll forgive me for this when you realize at this point, this friend and I had very similar thoughts and I decided what she wrote was something I would definitely say. Haha. Ok. Bad choice..I know.
Embarrassed.

Anyway. Once the class was over, I anxiously forgot about this blog and developed an interest different from creative stories and ideas. This interest was directed toward desserts. I made and baked and rolled and cooked and finally came to the conclusion that I needed to get all of these experiences organized. I heart organization. I heart desserts. Thus starts the beginning of a trend that has been started long ago--a food blog. However, this is no ordinary food blog. This is a diary/journal of the treats I attempt. I say attempt because I will, of course, post the good with the bad. Bad happens. Although I do hope the majority is good. How is this blog different from the millions of other food blogs? Because I will engage you with my witty humor and interesting thoughts.

Ok. That last part is a little uncertain. Then again..."Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first." ~Ernestine Ulmer