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! 

April showers bring, a long overdue post....

Sorry for my absence, from posting. 

I have been so busy with working and all the excitement of spring time. 

Last weekend I planted some herbs: Basil, sage, & thyme and they just started to sprout! I am anxiously awaiting for leaves to show up!

I tried out a new cookie recipe and broke up huge bits of chocolate bars. It made for a an incredible batch of cookies! 

If at all possible I like to use bigger pieces of chocolate and break them up because chips have a lot more wax in them to hold their shape and that takes away from the true chocolate flavor. Another little thing I love to do is sprinkle them with granulated sugar before baking. I do this with almost all my cookies. 

I like the look that the sugar gives the cookie. 

Amazingly delicious cookies:

UNE:  Sift all these and set them aside.

2 cups flour 

1 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of baking soda

DEUX: Cream these together, until light & fluffy.

1 cup of brown sugar (packed)

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter (room temperature)

TROIS: Whisk these together until slightly lighter in color. 

1 egg 

1 egg yolk

1 tablespoon of vanilla 

QUATRE: Break these up into various sizes of you liking. 

12 ounces of your favorite chocolate

-After Deux is creamed really well, add Trois. Mix that until combined and then add Une ( about 1/3 at a time). 

-At the very end mix in all your chocolate bits (Quatre). 

-Chill the dough for 10 minutes in the fridge, if you would like before diving the cookies. 

-Divide them with a scoop or just into sizes of your liking and don't forget: sprinkle them with a little granulated sugar!

-Then bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes (or until golden brown). 

-Then pour yourself a cool glass of milk and enjoy these tasty delights!

*Side notes: I used these for my chocolate and if you can get this vanilla, you will be set!

These were an order for a birthday that I had to do: 

I know you have seen these before! They are my vanilla and almond cupcakes, yumz. 

Until next time,

Enjoy spring & eat sweet things!

St. Patrick's Day Festivities

I am finding that all the little holidays and seasonal events, if celebrated or recognized, make some amazing memories!

So, today it was all things green!

I was looking at menu ideas and recipes trying to think of how to incorporate the color green. 

I thought that would be easier than cooking an authentic meal and it was fun, too!

So, for tonight's meal...

I made a pot of creamy pesto pasta and served it up on green plates!

It was super creamy, fresh, and light. 

And for dessert green ice cream floats!

I used mint chocolate chip ice cream and some cream soda. 

It was bubbly, refreshing, and delicious. 

For other ideas that I thought sounded great go here. 

And for fun holiday crafts check out this neat place!

Until next time...

Eat sweet things & Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Grey has been..

The color of the skies lately, everything all cold and wet. 

I sleep and wake to the sound of the trickles on the railing of my patio, it is so peaceful. 

With all the grey days I have been wanting to make warm, comforting treats. 

I did a spin on my vanilla almond cupcakes. 

I infused them with a favorite tea that I have. 

Both, in the batter and in the glaze.  

For a little extra touch, I added some whipped cream and a dainty blackberry.

I took them in to work for everyone and they disappeared almost as quickly as I brought them in. 

It just goes to show that ideas you get from dreams might be a hit!

 

I thought today would be the perfect day for a crumble!

I brightened up my grey day with a blackberry and peach crumble. 

It was absolutely delightful! I added some pecans to the top. 

The color of this dish was just what I needed, vibrant and sweet. 

Try to brighten up your grey days with food! 

It works for a rainy day in, I promise. 

I am now working full-time at Whole Foods Market, and it is really great so far. I am only a couple weeks in but I am meeting some amazing people. And hey, I get a lot of great food out of it! They are doing this great thing there until the end of this month, check it out and donate if you feel like it!  On these frequenting grey days I cannot help but feel a little grey myself.  I am in the process of getting going with where I want to be and what I want to be doing. I am staying hopeful for a bright and sunny future, though. In the meantime, I get to bake and cook for all the wonderful people that surround me. I only hope that the food I give them makes them as happy as I am to have made it! 

Until next time... 

Brighten up those grey days with bright, delicious sweets!

March has arrived!

I don't know what it is, but this year is just flying by. 

Spring time is almost here, although, it did snow this morning. 

I made a scrumptious, tart, key lime pie this weekend. 

I also made the most delightful  

Dark Chocolate and Almond cupcakes with Raspberries!

I love almond with anything. I also love dark chocolate with raspberries. It is one of those perfect combinations to me. It is tart, sweet, and rich... perfect!  These cupcakes are a take on my Vanilla Almond cupcakes. The cake is light and fluffy, I love it! 

One of my favorites, ever!

These cupcakes will steal your heart, for sure. 

I will be doing another take on these cupcakes later on this week. 

Be on the lookout for the results!

Until next time...

Eat lots of sweet things. :]

Out with the old,

In with the new...

I start orientation for my new job, tomorrow! I am excited for something new and for all the benefits and experiences that I will get with this job. Stop by and I will help you find whatever you need and give you ideas for meals!

Fresh Ideas:

Take your favorite cookies, pie, cake, or whatever else it may be and make something new.

More often than not people want to have new things or things that they can call their own. 

What I do a lot of is modifying recipes to make something new.

Cookies:

Take normal chocolate chip cookies (your favorite recipe) and add something to it:

pecans and caramel, macadamia nuts and coconut, banana, cinnamon & cayenne, orange and almond, your favorite liquor, etc.  

* Come up with fun little names for your creations!

Pies and Crust:

Take your favorite crust for pie and add something to that:

cinnamon, nuts, nutmeg, coconut, zest, etc. 

And for the filling the options are endless. 

I like to do seasonal things mostly, but with a twist:

blueberry & lemon with almonds, peach & blackberry with pecans, apple & cranberry with walnuts,  key lime with macadamia nut & coconut, or chocolate & orange with hazelnuts.

Until next time..

Try some of these ideas or come up with your own. 

Either way it's something new and fun!

Go here for the best ingredients around town. 

Eat lots of sweet things. :]

Links and things:

It's a brand new day, slightly cloudy but pleasant. 

I had a delicious cup of tea, this morning with some cereal. 

I got a call back today about a job!

I am extremely excited about this place that I shall reveal once things are a little more official. 

The new Damnwells came out, today! It's all that I have been listening to. 

Here are a few things that I have not been able to get enough of, lately:

1. Anything on this great little site for handmade things: Etsy

2. This delicious recipe database that I have gotten really into (via cakespy): WetLeather

3. This great chocolate, the Barcelona Bar is my favorite: Vosges

4. My crazy, cute cat: Beeb

5. Chicken Burritos: Chipotle, Qdoba, & (and newly introduced) Baja Burrito

6. Being crafty: Thanks Hobby Lobby, Joann, and Micheal's

7. Baking with and for amazing people

8. The short-lived show: Kitchen Confidential

9. Anything from the amazing: Jamie Oliver

Until next time...

Enjoy the links and eat sweet things!