Autumn is just around the corner...

And I have found the perfect cookie for the season!

These cookies are jam packed full of different chocolates, cranberries, pecans, and vanilla bean. I baked these off a little larger than normal and they were fabulous!

The recipe is as follows:

My Autumn Cookies

-2 cups flour (unbleached, King Arthur)

-1 teaspoon baking soda

-1 teaspoon coarse salt

Sift all of these ingredients and set aside.

-1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter

-1 cup of light brown sugar

-1/2 cup of cane sugar

Cream these together until light & fluffy.

-1 egg

-1 egg yolk

-1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

-1 vanilla bean

Split the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds from the pod and whisk all these ingredients together.

-4 or 5 ounces of dark chocolate chunks

-4 or 5 ounces of white chocolate chunks

-About 1 cup of chopped pecans

-About 4 ounces of dried cranberries

You can switch up the ratio according to your liking but those are the measurements that I used.

Once all the butter & sugar is light and fluffy, slowly add in the egg and vanilla mixture. After that, add in the dry sifted ingredients little by little. Once everything is fully incorporated add in the chocolates, nuts, and cranberries. Scoop and roll cookies and sprinkle them with some cane sugar before baking for a nice shimmer effect after they are baked. Bake these for about 12-15 minutes at 325 degrees. Enjoy with a nice glass of milk or cup of tea!

These cookies were beautiful, delicious, and fabulously rich: All things that an autumn treat should be! I loved these so much that I think I will be giving these out as part of my Christmas treat baskets. Please do try these cookies out, you will not regret it!

Until next time...

Eat sweet things & enjoy the changing leaves!

I got my chilly, grey, September day...

I woke up to a fierce thunderstorm at about seven o'clock, this morning.

I have been craving Pakastani food so much, it's one of my comfort foods. Growing up one of my dearest friends was Pakastani and I spent almost all my time at her house. Her family became my family and I love them all so much. It's been years since I have spent quality time over at their house but I keep in touch and crave Mama Farzana's food all the time. Since it was rainy and I was all cozied up I thought why not attempt the impossible? I went out and acquired all sorts of ingredients. One of my favorite dishes other than samosas, pakora, and buryani is this keema pilau dish. It turned out really well and here's how I did it...

First:

-1 cup basmati rice

-2 cups of water

-1/2 teaspoon of oil

-1/2 teaspoon of salt

-Pinch of black pepper

Rinse the rice and drain, add oil & rice to to a sauce pot, stir around rice for a minute or two and then add the water. On medium heat allow the water to boil and then turn down to a low heat and cover the pot. Check it in about 15-20 minutes and it should be cooked! Set aside once it is done and keep it covered.

Second:

-1/2 cup of brown lentils (masoor)

-1 1/2 cups of water

Rinse the lentils and drain, add to a sauce pot. Add the water and allow to boil, then reduce the heat and cover the pot with a lid. Check them in about 25-30 minutes, they should be tender. These will need to be cooked for part three.

Third:

-1/3 yellow onion (finely chopped)

-2 cloves of garlic (minced)

-About 1/2 lb. of ground chuck

-1 teaspoon of salt

-2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

-1 small can of tomato paste (you will use about 2/3rds of the can)

-About 2 cups of water (+ or -)

- 1/2 teaspoon Garam Masala

-1 box of Shan: Bombay Biryani mix (you will use half of the packet)

*You should be able to find the Shan Mix at almost any International market or Indian specialty food store.

Finely chop the onion and mince the garlic. Add the butter to a pot, then add the onion and garlic and allow them to begin the caramelize, add the meat and salt. Cook the meat completely, then add the tomato paste and stir. Add in the garam masala and 1/2 of the Shan mix & stir. Add in the water & cooked lentils, stir. You may need more water, based on your desired consistency. Allow this to simmer, occasionally stirring. If your would like a thicker consistency bring to a boil & reduce.

Fourth:

Put some rice in a bowl and add your keema pilau to the top according to your liking and enjoy with a nice glass of water and some naan bread. This dish does have a nice kick to it, so be forewarned. Enjoy!

Until next time...

Cozy up with comfort foods & sweet things!

Oh September,

you are just the start of my favorite time of the year.

I cannot wait for the leaves to turn, fall, and fill the roads and sidewalks. I am anxious for scarves and mittens, hot cocoa and spiced cider, roasted vegetables and hearty stews, jackets and fuzzy blankets. This will be my first autumn in Tennessee, and I could not be more thrilled! My last couple years have been spent in a desert so you can tell that I am anticipating the season's every move.

Today after work I came home and decided to make cupcakes for a friend of mine and take them to some of my coworkers. I was inspired by one of my favorite blogs to make funfetti cupcakes, using sprinkles. The cupcakes were quick and easy and everyone seemed to enjoy them!

I am hoping this year has a lot more in store for me. I am really excited about new opportunities and upcoming events! I will inform everyone as the details become more final, I promise! Some friends of mine are getting married in December and they are having a winter inspired wedding (Congrats, Steve & Jan!). I am going to be working on little gum paste decorations for the cake soon. I will be posting pictures and updating as much as I can about their wedding cake, I am super excited about doing it!

Until next time...

Enjoy the upcoming season & eat sweets!

Apologies friends...

I have been absent for a little over two months and I am sorry for that. I have just been so busy with work lately and it seems like any little bit of time I get I spend it cleaning or being out with friends. Also my laptop is about to retire, my track pad and keyboard have slowly been going out. So, I can hardly find time to type out anything but drafts of blogs that I never end up publishing. So, let's play catch up...

In July I had an amazing baking day with two wonderful friends: Brittany and Rae. We set up this lovely table of treats and sipped on raspberry lemonade and tea all day. All while watching Marie Antoinette and baking homemade sandwich cookies (oreos). Oh, I have this terrible addiction to Raspberry Pim's. Buy now and thank me later.

The photos from that day were taken by Rae:

Another event I missed out on posting about was the release of the newest Harry Potter film. A group of friends came over to my apartment and hosted a Wizard Feast full of all sorts of magical treats and played games to prepare for the midnight showing. It was an incredible day, for sure! I made these brown and dark purple swirly cupcakes with green buttercream. I thought they were fitting for wizards and witches!

In April I made a post about chocolate chip cookies. I was craving those very cookies and thought this time all the ingredients could be made with everything organic and natural from my workplace. It made for a better quality overall and I highly recommend that everyone do this. The taste is so much better when you have the real stuff. Believe it or not it is affordable also, you just have to shop store brand. It saves you money with no compromise on the taste or quality. Anyway here are those cookies again, enjoy!

After a long day of work these cookies really hit the spot. Baking is relaxing to me, it helps me unwind. You should try it out! Take a classic recipe and get your favorite record. Grab all the ingredients and pull out a bowl & spoon, press play, sift, measure, stir, twirl around and hum to yourself, bake and wait, eat and enjoy your hard work. Tonight was once of those nights for me and I loved it!

Until next time...

Relax & eat sweet things!

Shiny new toys and salted flowers...

Two weekends ago, I visited Oklahoma. It was a super short trip, I left for Tulsa on Friday and flew back on Sunday. I decided since I would only be there for a day (basically) I would devote all my time to my family. I saw my Mother who I had not seen in a year and spent time with my younger sisters and my Father. I also got to visit my lovely aunts, uncle, and my amazing Grandparents. The trip was mostly to surprise my youngest sister, Emma, who was turning six! During her birthday dinner they brought out her cake and a second one followed, I was terribly confused. They placed the cake in front of me, it read "Congratulations, Jessica!" I was surprised to say the least! It turned out to be a double party: birthday & graduation. At this party my family gave me very generous gifts: one of which got shipped to me in Nashville this week. It arrived on Thursday, check it out!

My shiny new toy:

I had the day off today and ventured up near Gaylord Opry Hotel to a little bakers' supply store called Sweet Wise. I acquired all sorts of new goodies: petal & luster dusts, new gel-based colors, and gum paste. It is a great store and the employees are very friendly and helpful!

Since, I had this new mixer I decided I wanted to make a batch of Italian butter cream (a meringue-type butter cream) it is my absolute favorite. I made a salted vanilla butter cream. I love the combination of salty & sweet. I made some chocolate almond cupcakes to go along with the butter cream.

After everything was cooled I decorated. A special, little, dainty flower atop each cupcake!

It made for a lovely garden of desserts!

They tasted great, too.

After a day filled with all things that I love, I will rest blissful.

Until next time...

Eat sweet things & rest happy!

It's June: Herbs and new additions

Remember my post about my sprouting herbs?

Well, much to my surprise they have been growing like crazy.

I have been watering them everyday and keeping them in partial shade on my porch. I tried with all my might to revive my rosemary from winter but I do not think it's going to make it. I will have to re-plant and grow that one. As for the others, they are all doing lovely. I cannot wait to start cooking with all of them!

Basil:

Sage & Thyme:

I have some fresh flowers from work to brighten up my apartment!

We really have a great selection of flowers at work and they last forever.

A few years ago I started saving all my glass bottles for recycling and keeping some for myself for other things. One of my favorite things to do is use them as a vase.

Eventually, I would love to use some for that purpose in my future bakery and also for light fixtures.

This weekend, I was going through some boxes and came across a key holder that I made. It is now hanging above a light switch by the front door. I love those cute little wooden figures, you can use them for so much. I bought a ton of them at Michael's.

My not-so-secret anymore for my place always smelling great (i.e. like cupcakes):

I am not sure how I feel about Tennessee summers, just yet.

It has only just begun and it is humid and hot!

I am definitely looking forward to fall weather, that is my favorite.

Until next time..

Eat sweet things & stay hydrated!

Add a little color in your life...

It makes for something bright & cheery. 

Whether, it's in your house or whilst baking... color is a great thing!

It's true! You eat with your eyes , first.  

I know taste is also important, of course.

So, add in little pops of color! 

This color is super concentrated so you only need a few drops. 

You can use it to dye your batter for cakes like a Battenberg. 

You may also use it for frostings and buttercreams. 

However, be careful with how much you use when dying marzipan, fondant, modeling chocolate, and gum paste.

It is a gel based color and it changes the consistency if you use too much. 

AmeriColor has a variety of colors and they also made color for airbrushing!

I know it may not be traditional to dye your cakes, cookies, and cupcakes but it makes it fun! So, get creative and experiment with all your favorite colors!

I had a surprise baby shower to attend last week for a co-worker of mine and experimented with my vanilla almond cupcakes! 

It's a girl! 

She is planning on naming the baby Audrey and I am in the midst of crocheting her baby a scarf and hat for this coming winter although it is still months away. 

Pink swirled cupcakes made for a pleasant surprise to my co-workers and they were pretty!

Last weekend I had some friends come into town and decided to bake some cupcakes last minute! They were vanilla butter cupcakes with some little pops of color and sprinkles!

I loved the way the purple turned out, it was so bright! 

That, plus the frosting and sprinkles: it was so fun and vibrant. 

+Everything tasted delicious!

Until next time...

Experiment & be creative!