tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2872731739421104222024-03-19T00:27:13.547-07:00Judy in Her Natural Habitat: The KitchenFollow me on my quest to becoming a Domestic Goddess.Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-44964173088850720942011-01-19T20:17:00.000-08:002011-01-19T20:55:21.920-08:00Caramel CornI've been meaning to post this fantastic recipe for ages now! Prior to trying this recipe, I had a loathing for caramel corn. lol. Yes, it's true. The only experience I've had with caramel corn was from my childhood, when you'd get the stale kind from a large tin can. Remember those? They had painted santas on them and always contained a super disgusting array of sweet and salty popcorn. We'd get them from family and friends around the holidays. Ick! What a bad way to start off the holiday season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK31p-8-0KYtw-wZH2PhT7i-_rVbgl360DOCgUyJDnlaj3l0uZOtAbGltAZyLu6pcMdKNjP517trOUAaAmcA4M86J8M4o-2j9Dcl4rT1G35mNFWBy4StVTxGl5BtMLkQuaKAP_Hi2BaA/s1600/IMG_5634.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVK31p-8-0KYtw-wZH2PhT7i-_rVbgl360DOCgUyJDnlaj3l0uZOtAbGltAZyLu6pcMdKNjP517trOUAaAmcA4M86J8M4o-2j9Dcl4rT1G35mNFWBy4StVTxGl5BtMLkQuaKAP_Hi2BaA/s400/IMG_5634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529237237767782578" border="0" /></a><br />I got this recipe from my dear friend, Colleen, who frequently inspires me in the kitchen. She is a domestic goddess in her own right and we often take on cooking adventures together. One day, she brought me a small batch of this caramel corn, whipped up fresh from her kitchen. Taking little interest in it, I set it aside and promptly forgot about it...until I was extremely hungry the next day and needed a snack to hold me over. Desperate times calls for desperate measures. And really, beggars can't be choosers. Thinking it would be exactly like those stale batches from my childhood, I took a small bite.<br /><br />To my surprise, it was crunchy, salty, and utterly deeeeelicious! I felt like doing cartwheels. Yes, this recipe is just <span style="font-style: italic;">that </span>good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9uT4Ta2KXz9GBwB9Rb4dBrug3VAdeqTT8lPSDrk6Qvx9w3v-GdCRbnbygUy7j0sCk3WaWVEpl7_p-lDCbfqjdxa8opNlBpVFkwJdUyw2EN6_Iypbk-n4Xwd2pBCD7OETxxKfVOiVLDg/s1600/IMG_5459.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK9uT4Ta2KXz9GBwB9Rb4dBrug3VAdeqTT8lPSDrk6Qvx9w3v-GdCRbnbygUy7j0sCk3WaWVEpl7_p-lDCbfqjdxa8opNlBpVFkwJdUyw2EN6_Iypbk-n4Xwd2pBCD7OETxxKfVOiVLDg/s400/IMG_5459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529235692796939554" border="0" /></a><br />The recipe says to pop your own popcorn with kernels and everything. That was waaaay too intense for me. So I microwaved mine. The good ol' fashioned way of making a quick batch of popcorn. AKA the lazy way. Teehee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidObELkH0pt5ZWw5WI792Jmn30EWxyGzXaPxeTLqoZbiKNOLC8L0MY2_LAmJPf8HIfzEI_aWLOZUL1Xs1dwKGu2U56csgo9BpMplHAKtlzDojza0mOMrsUagzE1LDberk5Ts5RwDvvQuE/s1600/IMG_5464.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidObELkH0pt5ZWw5WI792Jmn30EWxyGzXaPxeTLqoZbiKNOLC8L0MY2_LAmJPf8HIfzEI_aWLOZUL1Xs1dwKGu2U56csgo9BpMplHAKtlzDojza0mOMrsUagzE1LDberk5Ts5RwDvvQuE/s400/IMG_5464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529235697845793858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Cover a large cookie sheet with tin foil and brush it lightly with oil. Set aside.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45ItDFcXisQpxrFAC6G25GlVGn0kbrOrbeVQJu6Aea4Gi6bWpDvLx-pPl8ldbAxvR2bi2ti6ZntQ-ycxEUWeBk81K4dIaH64pRzK28E-2zM3ngtcr88-DeMAGQlCuiY6PSpE9LxlomJs/s1600/IMG_5476.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45ItDFcXisQpxrFAC6G25GlVGn0kbrOrbeVQJu6Aea4Gi6bWpDvLx-pPl8ldbAxvR2bi2ti6ZntQ-ycxEUWeBk81K4dIaH64pRzK28E-2zM3ngtcr88-DeMAGQlCuiY6PSpE9LxlomJs/s400/IMG_5476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529235699484486274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now comes the fun part - making the caramel! Let a stick of butter melt in a heavy bottomed saucepan.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkevTYqoXLo5WYn_sftI2L7QUtl_ttCLk1LPFQMnqGaGsQD_7GMCCjzVzX7f-d5_ShCeZJVbbzamp7CsFWDO-ogWDSx1roFmiRJ0LtNHGbeA4Atg7k8Nz8T2hhs9VpzyS2roMCFQ311Yc/s1600/IMG_5480.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkevTYqoXLo5WYn_sftI2L7QUtl_ttCLk1LPFQMnqGaGsQD_7GMCCjzVzX7f-d5_ShCeZJVbbzamp7CsFWDO-ogWDSx1roFmiRJ0LtNHGbeA4Atg7k8Nz8T2hhs9VpzyS2roMCFQ311Yc/s400/IMG_5480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529235702677271586" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllpd8zo2nwZSVS4_DXTrt5daXOknp0pt5tpSO5v3mrjGFpO-dBB9YLIQVuoO2IA0ycw3UqCHV6BrNFykjAi9RplEcBSotA-1oTa9WeGrfvPckind0vDOW25VFhaZtQiBFkDF4y5Zot_Y/s1600/IMG_5487.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllpd8zo2nwZSVS4_DXTrt5daXOknp0pt5tpSO5v3mrjGFpO-dBB9YLIQVuoO2IA0ycw3UqCHV6BrNFykjAi9RplEcBSotA-1oTa9WeGrfvPckind0vDOW25VFhaZtQiBFkDF4y5Zot_Y/s400/IMG_5487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529235704607365778" border="0" /></a><br />Now add brown sugar and corn syrup. Let it all melt together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorgxpgPrxlYqr2I7Aqi2X8TbXobmvcJAdAS_UxhyaEaxeSsq1GzGtt0e0sq8mxR9qBy-ORTAC7aQG2Uk_-Lj5m8lojkpCvHPlFzApXtIUKWDqzr0eZNoOPQED2AwsUWAP0JZ4AyMTG9M/s1600/IMG_5497.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorgxpgPrxlYqr2I7Aqi2X8TbXobmvcJAdAS_UxhyaEaxeSsq1GzGtt0e0sq8mxR9qBy-ORTAC7aQG2Uk_-Lj5m8lojkpCvHPlFzApXtIUKWDqzr0eZNoOPQED2AwsUWAP0JZ4AyMTG9M/s400/IMG_5497.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236044061254114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE5owgmSWWY97ivzW-Zon5Y1Bo04IBV8QIQAl2kmxvm9aF2qz8yMXdegUjdqmj8aIxsTMcFTtDK7mBu39XQBlosHivuyvUEuQjzrw3I8JHX9_EENkB6bk65I0uXlosQrXE11CzRls-tw/s1600/IMG_5500.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgE5owgmSWWY97ivzW-Zon5Y1Bo04IBV8QIQAl2kmxvm9aF2qz8yMXdegUjdqmj8aIxsTMcFTtDK7mBu39XQBlosHivuyvUEuQjzrw3I8JHX9_EENkB6bk65I0uXlosQrXE11CzRls-tw/s400/IMG_5500.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236047010166322" border="0" /></a><br />Then let it boil. Don't stir! Wait until it reaches 300F. This is super important. If the temperature doesn't get high enough, you will not get a hard, crunchy caramel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotdzXNhEMD05LWSzeznuvKJObaNJXnXRXbH9TmafaI2khMBwvrgoYb9e2cXwmtEKSFfWNOKBNXmr79vifjfmRdCSi9f5TKxTaSFwNJUtyQnOkTbUCiY0mE9t8JUFp_DsxXizRaaEeRuc/s1600/IMG_5502.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotdzXNhEMD05LWSzeznuvKJObaNJXnXRXbH9TmafaI2khMBwvrgoYb9e2cXwmtEKSFfWNOKBNXmr79vifjfmRdCSi9f5TKxTaSFwNJUtyQnOkTbUCiY0mE9t8JUFp_DsxXizRaaEeRuc/s400/IMG_5502.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236051508489346" border="0" /></a><br />It'll reach 300 degrees really quickly, so you have to watch it carefully. Once it does, add in baking soda and salt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fq32SNOUwOABKPOrHfRIdfNBjt60UrqlAh5QNTuDGiV7xTion-oMIirt58p_HBdxE3-c5PmQl_aK0rD935dwTd9N2iT6-v6PpY-eZLwFyPEJ3fo49r0opfM7LP4LozbFKWZ8cZOwP7E/s1600/IMG_5522.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fq32SNOUwOABKPOrHfRIdfNBjt60UrqlAh5QNTuDGiV7xTion-oMIirt58p_HBdxE3-c5PmQl_aK0rD935dwTd9N2iT6-v6PpY-eZLwFyPEJ3fo49r0opfM7LP4LozbFKWZ8cZOwP7E/s400/IMG_5522.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236052851325634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The baking soda will make it swell - like double in size. Then quickly, and I mean <span style="font-style: italic;">quickly, </span>add in the peanuts and popcorn.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJXmERQSHx_722pRqqMKrzoSTbqWLQD4jKQSaxNpDOc3uo6Q01U9kFGq8CBL2gjylL2NzcIPt3UT1x9acFdzx74zpHw_wOOcfgHpi7JswaYVNeS4zc-t1QS3fhBFHkhN0w2oCHYzKwlU/s1600/IMG_5528.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJXmERQSHx_722pRqqMKrzoSTbqWLQD4jKQSaxNpDOc3uo6Q01U9kFGq8CBL2gjylL2NzcIPt3UT1x9acFdzx74zpHw_wOOcfgHpi7JswaYVNeS4zc-t1QS3fhBFHkhN0w2oCHYzKwlU/s400/IMG_5528.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236062618815970" border="0" /></a><br />Fold it as fast as you can!!!!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWr9FiOqQorITSwy9GonC3UuNTfxcZJBq63vMIUH2gqwkKDk8Iakjn_y1vekCVQtX86xjRA7sUHgsYtxA1g09pLWSBRvHdnMrdnIsdjQxZpPh0xwNWWoHaoipdqVMzt529pBgZQqweRrc/s1600/IMG_5529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWr9FiOqQorITSwy9GonC3UuNTfxcZJBq63vMIUH2gqwkKDk8Iakjn_y1vekCVQtX86xjRA7sUHgsYtxA1g09pLWSBRvHdnMrdnIsdjQxZpPh0xwNWWoHaoipdqVMzt529pBgZQqweRrc/s400/IMG_5529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236262648385554" border="0" /></a><br />The caramel will start to harden instantly and you'll have a hard time coating it if you wait too long.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC1D7ZDiEV1sHdoFEIFjTdsbTnNRupc-iAVHLWuSM70M2xky8vsyckHzGqu3UWdoWawVvsAJHiE6tw3EIb1KjfDTGyBcPp2nVUlNljv7M740p__M-ocC0FgrwKTJII95zJBSEpR5yzuo/s1600/IMG_5531.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNC1D7ZDiEV1sHdoFEIFjTdsbTnNRupc-iAVHLWuSM70M2xky8vsyckHzGqu3UWdoWawVvsAJHiE6tw3EIb1KjfDTGyBcPp2nVUlNljv7M740p__M-ocC0FgrwKTJII95zJBSEpR5yzuo/s400/IMG_5531.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236263321605346" border="0" /></a><br />Try and fold everything in as evenly as possible. Otherwise, you'll get huge lumps of hardened caramel without popcorn... and popcorn without any caramel on it. Which would be super sad.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NwXl1tVXknNDlAmQYHlq7qomJkrftQ6pc4XBPojAVELzSlrGlk-VnOdPvXrTuvCLxbwsEufb1zGvpXMYNLiQsulllFFPW6hYMfweVDz0C9HH2w6Y-xQOBWkjQTZW56aDbeouJQXqnjA/s1600/IMG_5542.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NwXl1tVXknNDlAmQYHlq7qomJkrftQ6pc4XBPojAVELzSlrGlk-VnOdPvXrTuvCLxbwsEufb1zGvpXMYNLiQsulllFFPW6hYMfweVDz0C9HH2w6Y-xQOBWkjQTZW56aDbeouJQXqnjA/s400/IMG_5542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236273287797506" border="0" /></a><br />Get it all nice & evenly coated!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOiL0gRL3HsFcStrdMilE3KoKoVmryIs24C2WImQdNXG_wEUve1cs1L98Kf64Rotv7jJpB9gMAqn4sCiePE2ygS36gTKzZ34dt20Q3zJUPlmE2jky3Cm4uaCQfURFbcDqgqehrdycGlY/s1600/IMG_5566.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimOiL0gRL3HsFcStrdMilE3KoKoVmryIs24C2WImQdNXG_wEUve1cs1L98Kf64Rotv7jJpB9gMAqn4sCiePE2ygS36gTKzZ34dt20Q3zJUPlmE2jky3Cm4uaCQfURFbcDqgqehrdycGlY/s400/IMG_5566.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236278469083922" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Again, <span style="font-style: italic;">quickly</span> spread the popcorn into a single, thin layer on your cookie sheet. You want to do this fast too, because the caramel will harden quickly and it'll clump into a ball if you don't spread it out in time. Basically, the mixing and the spreading should take less than a minute.<br /></div></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-v9BPj1AiDwP4MyGIpi65dIm3xVfG_toHVzgKy8-fajIdxFTrEpQZAYAnNXny9dcVHTa0R94VS1T3uogbyQXJ9dLs87o9SmyTeOjiQFUJQcmWYpDUQUTc_NuywmDLAAr4sNg8E6sdP8/s1600/IMG_5548.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-v9BPj1AiDwP4MyGIpi65dIm3xVfG_toHVzgKy8-fajIdxFTrEpQZAYAnNXny9dcVHTa0R94VS1T3uogbyQXJ9dLs87o9SmyTeOjiQFUJQcmWYpDUQUTc_NuywmDLAAr4sNg8E6sdP8/s400/IMG_5548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236275383869330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You'll freak out because your beautiful pan will be caked with hardened caramel in less than 30 seconds. And you won't be able to chisel it off with anything. Don't worry! Soak it in water for an hour and when you come back, it'll be completely dissolved and you'll have a perfectly clean pan again!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaZD3uVsYjcu8IitfZrAJ3nDvTYKlWcJeoLj_0wC-L9IWKzaC7KMEEZmVAFU8dqEeW-MjXFE3JVOgFKC-Ks17FlL5K7bctyxihhEAsVMs1iCt67un3JvzSNjNo-oGEk_n78PafxLrvaw/s1600/IMG_5624.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaZD3uVsYjcu8IitfZrAJ3nDvTYKlWcJeoLj_0wC-L9IWKzaC7KMEEZmVAFU8dqEeW-MjXFE3JVOgFKC-Ks17FlL5K7bctyxihhEAsVMs1iCt67un3JvzSNjNo-oGEk_n78PafxLrvaw/s400/IMG_5624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529237226728575778" border="0" /></a><br />See? Ta-da!! Good as new!<br /></div></div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrApXEpc5ahlAE6zdyxNE99OSTny3WuEdbj09nfSSj543PE6CASbran7DFq08Q_p9rha1NYjT-GzdGZ44K6cAiVodZBh-S-wN4afassqMEJxtVIMrONFhxnhwHx3F4tpR6yWCX6KB_lVI/s1600/IMG_5572.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrApXEpc5ahlAE6zdyxNE99OSTny3WuEdbj09nfSSj543PE6CASbran7DFq08Q_p9rha1NYjT-GzdGZ44K6cAiVodZBh-S-wN4afassqMEJxtVIMrONFhxnhwHx3F4tpR6yWCX6KB_lVI/s400/IMG_5572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529237475523382466" border="0" /></a><br />Let it sit and cool. It'll become completely firm and crunchy. The caramel dries very fast. Wait like 5-10 minutes. Then comes the fun part - break it up into smaller pieces!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszurMIyHebgYkkqNk6k9OjFrv3KDGjW_6cywWmaebHU_SXwGmqf6ooWB3EXAhI049vAuUrBsDZ0PyfKRJvwrakIq3fRIZh6ll_eWs-p0ihSxH9ejNNyZMwVAN2vnSnsoU9OuanpXbGLY/s1600/IMG_5636.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszurMIyHebgYkkqNk6k9OjFrv3KDGjW_6cywWmaebHU_SXwGmqf6ooWB3EXAhI049vAuUrBsDZ0PyfKRJvwrakIq3fRIZh6ll_eWs-p0ihSxH9ejNNyZMwVAN2vnSnsoU9OuanpXbGLY/s400/IMG_5636.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236827200947970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SBZLj7xp47VnDgtiUcTAs5w4qvQ8FLxW4hqzzd3dj7OcmRmjaieJRZWxV6Z2C99b-_e86udySMRzxyXBRlLGRyPDip70i2Gczsh00X24XGykIpMp_EfMWpxLrKGTcs0Z8k5sZRA_wwg/s1600/IMG_5646.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3SBZLj7xp47VnDgtiUcTAs5w4qvQ8FLxW4hqzzd3dj7OcmRmjaieJRZWxV6Z2C99b-_e86udySMRzxyXBRlLGRyPDip70i2Gczsh00X24XGykIpMp_EfMWpxLrKGTcs0Z8k5sZRA_wwg/s400/IMG_5646.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529236673500363394" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">I like to store it by lining a covered pan with parchment paper. Any kind of air-tight container will work. It'll still be crunchy (not stale!) the next day.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZwufNb8rqYiUzyK-cLDhwjWEBySY7jdEvRuFUhnJfv_Zy7rC1-2_qnvtMznZUxZTnQmlq0HJT_fccrXoLP9cSHyhfbidyfi9aRgKnGeYKMyBseZ6lQuli-sERcRrWHMT89-3TU4-AzE/s1600/IMG_5626.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZwufNb8rqYiUzyK-cLDhwjWEBySY7jdEvRuFUhnJfv_Zy7rC1-2_qnvtMznZUxZTnQmlq0HJT_fccrXoLP9cSHyhfbidyfi9aRgKnGeYKMyBseZ6lQuli-sERcRrWHMT89-3TU4-AzE/s400/IMG_5626.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529237231969421362" border="0" /></a><br />I just LOVE this recipe. It's super easy to make - takes about 15 minutes and it makes a ton! I've made it several times now and it's always been a huge hit at parties! Everyone always goes crazy over it and asks me for the recipe. If you've never had fresh, homemade caramel corn, you're in for a treat! Give it a try - it'll soon be a favorite among your family and friends too!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hZMldQdWIq7Kk0o5doD2pEFylzKK8fkFQs5NfrL_uoU/edit?hl=en">Click HERE</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for the recipe. </span></span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-67638027388868183092011-01-02T22:00:00.000-08:002011-01-02T22:22:48.782-08:00Caramelized Pear Gingerbread CakeI hope everyone had a great holiday season! Mine was super fun and busy - the in-laws came to visit us and we had a blast! It was our first Christmas ever at our new home and the first time Hubby and I had our very own Christmas tree. It was very special to have everyone come together- both my family and Hubby's. It always smelled like something delicious and it was so festive to have a warm, full, and noisy house! We were so proud to be the ones hosting Christmas this year, especially since, at age 25, we still feel like kids when our parents are around. We are so blessed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6RvaMrVa-9Teueduk7OgUfelfoSY53X-vnop_xxNOM-_ag_xAv8m3aqs_BUouRQR8LzTBh1a43i1sUdDngZwkG94-MzuoXFO6Sah2Zp8vjJNi9nz1t9hXvGeaKEQPfS5f_92lIT65g0/s1600/IMG_6846.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6RvaMrVa-9Teueduk7OgUfelfoSY53X-vnop_xxNOM-_ag_xAv8m3aqs_BUouRQR8LzTBh1a43i1sUdDngZwkG94-MzuoXFO6Sah2Zp8vjJNi9nz1t9hXvGeaKEQPfS5f_92lIT65g0/s400/IMG_6846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557834457105164946" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cbJxQGkIbMuOTbz_zUFFe72XZ7jidf-QsP1ph6ogAL73RwX-b0qQ728AnZ7eT5OCaCSHEJayR6yQwe3izOd_H2Qm0CNC9tEnogd6-rOA20EFO9aggbJYKuRv5bl5zNKHVpu-WG6cUdA/s1600/IMG_6860.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cbJxQGkIbMuOTbz_zUFFe72XZ7jidf-QsP1ph6ogAL73RwX-b0qQ728AnZ7eT5OCaCSHEJayR6yQwe3izOd_H2Qm0CNC9tEnogd6-rOA20EFO9aggbJYKuRv5bl5zNKHVpu-WG6cUdA/s400/IMG_6860.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557834460998792738" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I hope everyone had an equally festive and joyous holiday season!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEubX5YCw0elrwnzxglSws249Xn70rfsMi0DJMkR1p7J3qwMURFLEAYzwArK-g3yGY9XT8mVQfyivSezmHPeUQUjEWUMJZjoJmcqz3GdFg2_kBU3v5I6vwJdjaBG_Cyh1CwbI8-lHvOXk/s1600/IMG_7379.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEubX5YCw0elrwnzxglSws249Xn70rfsMi0DJMkR1p7J3qwMURFLEAYzwArK-g3yGY9XT8mVQfyivSezmHPeUQUjEWUMJZjoJmcqz3GdFg2_kBU3v5I6vwJdjaBG_Cyh1CwbI8-lHvOXk/s400/IMG_7379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556252111756031330" border="0" /></a><br />I made this awesome cake over the holidays and it was a hit! It's an upside down gingerbread cake - you bake it with a gooey topping on the bottom and then flip it. The topping consists of caramelize pear and walnuts. It sounds like a weird combo, but it works! And it's sooo delicious!<br /><br />Ok, so it's not exactly a looker. It was difficult to get some pretty photos of this cake, so you'll just have to take my word for it that it's a spectacular dessert! Well, on the plus side, at least I won't have to worry about someone <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/12/pumpkin-brown-butter-muffins.html">stealing my photos</a> from this post, right? tee hee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb3L6WiNzjh9Ys_p3Xg3FCowGr5j8pgVZ7iUEhWsXxBi337XOxntnaTdBh3HUpXViBI3jS08QWqYIbqIosipbPHIVsOEnnn6o8pfV9TQYKRWkI1A1Eu3xxlVFQTMCKw57ANLZSo0ZRp8/s1600/IMG_7278.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRb3L6WiNzjh9Ys_p3Xg3FCowGr5j8pgVZ7iUEhWsXxBi337XOxntnaTdBh3HUpXViBI3jS08QWqYIbqIosipbPHIVsOEnnn6o8pfV9TQYKRWkI1A1Eu3xxlVFQTMCKw57ANLZSo0ZRp8/s400/IMG_7278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552646010746503042" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">You'll need to peel & dice up some ripe pears.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw07mAbv4vs_Td0w1zkYAUBJ-f78NiryEOzveWjryzIB62lHmT9XCDnPd1EIX8nUCyZRjClUxEZPnvaZFnKZkww8Ta3qWzWFAzX70XpHbGvJ2YXwOUszOISAD6jWVbx_PLejzuRuWEkU/s1600/IMG_7287.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw07mAbv4vs_Td0w1zkYAUBJ-f78NiryEOzveWjryzIB62lHmT9XCDnPd1EIX8nUCyZRjClUxEZPnvaZFnKZkww8Ta3qWzWFAzX70XpHbGvJ2YXwOUszOISAD6jWVbx_PLejzuRuWEkU/s400/IMG_7287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552646013799252162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Next, cream together butter and brown sugar until it's crumbly. Press it into the bottom of the pan and half way up the sides.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydEw0jq8LUW7EU8pLgxDArnqmspXQPFgqCSsK1FivnzPE8wpMQ6DnVHV3pM71zVVhWRsV2ZULdDmGiSem-vitXytRVI_ueQ47Ke0O0VWax-X2Q7TyYKTnvEhePET5qwGRQY1yiR5akBE/s1600/IMG_7289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydEw0jq8LUW7EU8pLgxDArnqmspXQPFgqCSsK1FivnzPE8wpMQ6DnVHV3pM71zVVhWRsV2ZULdDmGiSem-vitXytRVI_ueQ47Ke0O0VWax-X2Q7TyYKTnvEhePET5qwGRQY1yiR5akBE/s400/IMG_7289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552646016955840178" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div>The recipe said to sprinkle walnuts over the brown sugar crumble. I used pecans. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn6QjuMjtgwu1s5-cziRHxb1R6C_n7MLyllNAC94lVWlN0ZsXWqcMMUVUo4K55vSrTMnI4zA0hMBunjshVp74RWewjNTWoXIMw-6ehTOHzGREk7c5lHGMcdOTs8y0-y4h3FNpB7PvaOU/s1600/IMG_7295.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdn6QjuMjtgwu1s5-cziRHxb1R6C_n7MLyllNAC94lVWlN0ZsXWqcMMUVUo4K55vSrTMnI4zA0hMBunjshVp74RWewjNTWoXIMw-6ehTOHzGREk7c5lHGMcdOTs8y0-y4h3FNpB7PvaOU/s400/IMG_7295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552646025056095058" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Then top with the diced pears. Set aside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeSJadblTGbgnlB-eAU_HhS9mnecY8VH0MVajkcQabF-URJBnGK6ZuPqbPv5Ith74NPh09gviMr-ThwggvI07sUa7alC6LaGEB0js_G5qertpeVEf4PbHc-A3eVd-L8pv-Gl6f4mVFwM/s1600/IMG_7298.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyeSJadblTGbgnlB-eAU_HhS9mnecY8VH0MVajkcQabF-URJBnGK6ZuPqbPv5Ith74NPh09gviMr-ThwggvI07sUa7alC6LaGEB0js_G5qertpeVEf4PbHc-A3eVd-L8pv-Gl6f4mVFwM/s400/IMG_7298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552646029021932626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Next, in a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients. This recipe has all the yummy & warm holiday spices: ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves! Delish!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM272nt94oC-br7QwoHBmAL9ajtvICMViaqMIUY5xdXxGpcysmRzd6c3NFO4goQ5PIpKyfbL4a0wseir8nOnOo0wA_6Pws24aZxP26Cj6hpEZZbHZg1AmhadrGyqbpExVGeaeXrxSrB8/s1600/IMG_7305.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 374px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKM272nt94oC-br7QwoHBmAL9ajtvICMViaqMIUY5xdXxGpcysmRzd6c3NFO4goQ5PIpKyfbL4a0wseir8nOnOo0wA_6Pws24aZxP26Cj6hpEZZbHZg1AmhadrGyqbpExVGeaeXrxSrB8/s400/IMG_7305.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556251464278311666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> In another bowl, combine the wet ingredients: eggs, milk, brown sugar, then add the molasses. I love the way it drizzles!<br /></div><br /></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24qkke36hOjf3pbjs13hdKRhbSpbLO40nMxMP2W2qXAzjjNSEsOb51jB36E-aWTyVQCd2Y753oXIBKhll2aGS6bWAy0hm9nl6Abk6uHnzv-mdy2RAUYEtJaMQvTnXoERqM4Plp9ZJvco/s1600/IMG_7334.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj24qkke36hOjf3pbjs13hdKRhbSpbLO40nMxMP2W2qXAzjjNSEsOb51jB36E-aWTyVQCd2Y753oXIBKhll2aGS6bWAy0hm9nl6Abk6uHnzv-mdy2RAUYEtJaMQvTnXoERqM4Plp9ZJvco/s400/IMG_7334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556252103579071618" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It looks so pretty in the bowl!<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmEwQID-Uh-UZM_6poGcwtEVn_Ye9aPqa1pP_DsQz9sMr-Wq0y_uRi1Pb133pwSI23ugddJftU3jpIcep6SjsFEEZW6_fHpMN-AsfGF1dvKs1eIo0NI6yXinf8OphbquR7JOlVJiiEXA/s1600/IMG_7344.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmEwQID-Uh-UZM_6poGcwtEVn_Ye9aPqa1pP_DsQz9sMr-Wq0y_uRi1Pb133pwSI23ugddJftU3jpIcep6SjsFEEZW6_fHpMN-AsfGF1dvKs1eIo0NI6yXinf8OphbquR7JOlVJiiEXA/s400/IMG_7344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556251467323562450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Blend and mix well with the dry ingredients.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx10QB43Gt9VcQ3nEr4kxIOjdlrss8u4XkyMouCDs7ZHN4CxZn9vCNiixUg0cqUKBDl0nZUUEoT5A6Y526jTNvHD3NYdHBi5E6NJt_Kk5fBfQFou7Pv7ayi6LQDAnrScRWUCjPkdRjv4/s1600/IMG_7347.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXx10QB43Gt9VcQ3nEr4kxIOjdlrss8u4XkyMouCDs7ZHN4CxZn9vCNiixUg0cqUKBDl0nZUUEoT5A6Y526jTNvHD3NYdHBi5E6NJt_Kk5fBfQFou7Pv7ayi6LQDAnrScRWUCjPkdRjv4/s400/IMG_7347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556251471396409042" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6sF3fGDsGtnu7knSXNC32EAqexzAyTx07Mb5aYYXEeNruZ9md0_EmLpPDtM2ZiuA4g4H-3EmWFWsKAtdJqNubNR5d-MyCvWKPbLtnaCBO5dVhklQgiZbOxBHzdFvfU3VRCpbfQ4xqyY/s1600/IMG_7359.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6sF3fGDsGtnu7knSXNC32EAqexzAyTx07Mb5aYYXEeNruZ9md0_EmLpPDtM2ZiuA4g4H-3EmWFWsKAtdJqNubNR5d-MyCvWKPbLtnaCBO5dVhklQgiZbOxBHzdFvfU3VRCpbfQ4xqyY/s400/IMG_7359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556251475174200194" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSWHHQrjP7VbtOqPNNQQ2jRM9twj-NvxuKpuHIUc9YxpEKYIg8mJtnFhJcroXM2nRVvQ6O6kX-MS_OuaAtsYimWPzSHOUtedjhM8OocKN0jW1bimA2LaXHP7pgNfET1S7910SIMlNpJk/s1600/IMG_7365.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSWHHQrjP7VbtOqPNNQQ2jRM9twj-NvxuKpuHIUc9YxpEKYIg8mJtnFhJcroXM2nRVvQ6O6kX-MS_OuaAtsYimWPzSHOUtedjhM8OocKN0jW1bimA2LaXHP7pgNfET1S7910SIMlNpJk/s400/IMG_7365.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556252104491603506" border="0" /></a><br />Pour the batter over the pears. Bake at 350 degrees.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mivs9UFDIqTuV5PJwGr7NdoFG383HQmRnlWhnTH3N_wSYB1T8RKLQr-vyvIfYUKjR12iZYkK36L1TxRhH1OH_FU6cyG2XZJHXPVNkr2gVLEe2e1hiO6Ym2deU6LzyOPGubq6TS0T4-I/s1600/IMG_7376.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mivs9UFDIqTuV5PJwGr7NdoFG383HQmRnlWhnTH3N_wSYB1T8RKLQr-vyvIfYUKjR12iZYkK36L1TxRhH1OH_FU6cyG2XZJHXPVNkr2gVLEe2e1hiO6Ym2deU6LzyOPGubq6TS0T4-I/s400/IMG_7376.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556252105706992482" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When it comes out, put a plate over the pan and flip it. You'll get this awesome gooey topping over the gingerbread cake! Serve warm and with fresh whipped cream. Mmm...heavenly!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWArdGVfSM1SGc-klx64fY0qPlsgncwzjSOOF3GJujdvvkCV6Wa-tkOvq94uva8OiRZb0I9SAOCuCkMlmCRB322hU140Rm31OxXskpKpyTGU-zDY2yeWTKbHvbY_CclsqPNN2-xSyuIE/s1600/IMG_7398.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWArdGVfSM1SGc-klx64fY0qPlsgncwzjSOOF3GJujdvvkCV6Wa-tkOvq94uva8OiRZb0I9SAOCuCkMlmCRB322hU140Rm31OxXskpKpyTGU-zDY2yeWTKbHvbY_CclsqPNN2-xSyuIE/s400/IMG_7398.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5556252399548201378" border="0" /></a><br />It was suuuuper delicious! The caramelized pear, with the crunch of the pecans were a perfect combination with the gingerbread cake. At first, I was worried that the cake would be too sweet - but it wasn't! It was delicious & moist...and before you knew it, you'd be finishing a giant slice!<br /><br />This cake is sooo good that it should be served all year round, not just during the holiday season. Really, why don't we serve gingerbread all year round?? It's such a great flavor and shouldn't be reserved for just the last couple of months during the year! I want to start a new movement: gingerbread consumption on a regular basis! =)<br /><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"> <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1Jgu6BPe9_1Y44YWpCQBPtgsoJZ8hJuPY0C3GUlQttDM">CLICK HERE</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for the printable version of the recipe.</span></span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-53331854900155249392010-12-13T21:41:00.000-08:002010-12-13T22:28:10.914-08:00Pumpkin Brown Butter MuffinsWow, I just had some major blogger drama this morning! I woke up to find that one of my readers had emailed me about a company she found that was using my <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/11/hs-cupcakes.html">H Cupcakes</a> photo as their logo! Their company name was H's Cupcakes and they had a "store front" on Facebook. I can't believe they were trying to sell my cupcake creation as their own! Grrr! That made me sooo mad! Luckily, Facebook has an infringement complaint feature and they were able to remove it. I can't believe there are people out there who would plagiarize so shamelessly! (Is it still called "plagiarizing" if it's a photo?) The thing that really makes me mad is that they're trying to sell something to their customers that they didn't even make! How shady is that?! Anyway, I was SO thankful that this reader took the time to email me and let me know. That was such a nice thing to do, wasn't it??<br /><br />Shesh! Anyway... on to happier topics! Pumpkin Brown Butter Muffins! With <span style="font-style: italic;">sage</span>, no less! Weird, huh? But SO gooood.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHZv84i3g02gr9OhyphenhyphenLKXseWyH3_4DDJ-Hg9SMB3i2l4w5ZmOnw791a2S5CUuCeTomRgG6LSEGtAhHODoolLhFjUNxOORHGBknxdDUzeyhTtb04DnTwK9dDJOmQpGlrNgzvayJ3G3SXk0/s1600/IMG_6743.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjHZv84i3g02gr9OhyphenhyphenLKXseWyH3_4DDJ-Hg9SMB3i2l4w5ZmOnw791a2S5CUuCeTomRgG6LSEGtAhHODoolLhFjUNxOORHGBknxdDUzeyhTtb04DnTwK9dDJOmQpGlrNgzvayJ3G3SXk0/s400/IMG_6743.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617795377925218" border="0" /></a><br />Mmmm...brown butter frosting. Delicious!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6QYbP8kJ4RKrbs3w6_aYLQ6kdrxPEdpWFGOq9_cOq4p9kWLHqILvVFmjEwgNJmurMKdFnMTjF2BVJGVtPikaCbzgeKa_RNYekDjJdv2Nunu6LmoRvWC-OTPtXfMyhZSk2RBANVIylyc/s1600/IMG_6214.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf6QYbP8kJ4RKrbs3w6_aYLQ6kdrxPEdpWFGOq9_cOq4p9kWLHqILvVFmjEwgNJmurMKdFnMTjF2BVJGVtPikaCbzgeKa_RNYekDjJdv2Nunu6LmoRvWC-OTPtXfMyhZSk2RBANVIylyc/s400/IMG_6214.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616337885808546" border="0" /></a><br />So as I mentioned before, the secret ingredient in these muffins is sage! At first I thought it would be weird in a sweet muffin. But then I thought of all those times I judged a recipe before making it and all the times those "weird" things turned out to be absolutely divine. So I took a leap of faith. Besides, it's a Martha recipe. You really can't go wrong.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgwwTjMnsf0nUgFUza5aQ2jC0R-pE3kdrbm4TvPTdEAAeFBCydBjj5J38G1M9o11SPksEeq36HoEjcMEdWqYb7shnMnxYQp5Tw7pJBfUvVjBD7SE18848JxIz5V7R4WJJccqOAzyxD7o/s1600/IMG_6238.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgwwTjMnsf0nUgFUza5aQ2jC0R-pE3kdrbm4TvPTdEAAeFBCydBjj5J38G1M9o11SPksEeq36HoEjcMEdWqYb7shnMnxYQp5Tw7pJBfUvVjBD7SE18848JxIz5V7R4WJJccqOAzyxD7o/s400/IMG_6238.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616355089464514" border="0" /></a><br />You'll need to chop the sage up into small pieces. I'd like to take this time to rave about my new knife: the 5.5 inch Shun Kaji Santoku Knife. Hubby recently bought it for me. Isn't it a beauty??<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqL8fvukb6-42AXfHjqUSCazZq8MW-e89m5kE5SivaSh2ao9yv1XaDEhg-ocBRPpDyiMu0w34DAfKZfUm3P_mBaic3bguSP229AmrdLf4WIqts94FcbXnxMpZgixVVPcW6ZJ40VCOfBE/s1600/IMG_6234.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqL8fvukb6-42AXfHjqUSCazZq8MW-e89m5kE5SivaSh2ao9yv1XaDEhg-ocBRPpDyiMu0w34DAfKZfUm3P_mBaic3bguSP229AmrdLf4WIqts94FcbXnxMpZgixVVPcW6ZJ40VCOfBE/s400/IMG_6234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616351794425650" border="0" /></a><br />Can you see the cool logo on the knife handle? I'm soooo in love with this knife! It cuts into onions and potatoes like butter. It literally cuts prep time in half for those recipes that require a lot of ingredients to be chopped. Magical! I've asked "Santa" for the 8 piece knife block. I think I just might get it!!! =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKTv3kbl2u7i7mSrRAD-vkHAmffm2W-X_DoKTHqE4PGWfmScsbBJR2NNHAZXrTaEeJElzTeZCngLOQNdNCsbpp13Gw8BKQOufKBEQfsslY0F5QTZSaBqeMoHkMCWJRxZTOJwtRzzw2EA/s1600/IMG_6241.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKTv3kbl2u7i7mSrRAD-vkHAmffm2W-X_DoKTHqE4PGWfmScsbBJR2NNHAZXrTaEeJElzTeZCngLOQNdNCsbpp13Gw8BKQOufKBEQfsslY0F5QTZSaBqeMoHkMCWJRxZTOJwtRzzw2EA/s400/IMG_6241.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616358951716866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKTv3kbl2u7i7mSrRAD-vkHAmffm2W-X_DoKTHqE4PGWfmScsbBJR2NNHAZXrTaEeJElzTeZCngLOQNdNCsbpp13Gw8BKQOufKBEQfsslY0F5QTZSaBqeMoHkMCWJRxZTOJwtRzzw2EA/s1600/IMG_6241.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Anyway, once you've got your sage chopped up, set it aside to be used later.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlNWRKBa3NA3sBzp-0Eytnf2L5ghCDKDaI3rclmk7RfJiJT2QUElqTUg-oXNEaVjizZjv0OZDyTlnXquuQYUnRUT77qWHcHWATk1u9VssC0IqGALzAn1MeAbQmrhcRUaVvbpP0KMcQJo/s1600/IMG_6248.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNlNWRKBa3NA3sBzp-0Eytnf2L5ghCDKDaI3rclmk7RfJiJT2QUElqTUg-oXNEaVjizZjv0OZDyTlnXquuQYUnRUT77qWHcHWATk1u9VssC0IqGALzAn1MeAbQmrhcRUaVvbpP0KMcQJo/s400/IMG_6248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616388501555778" border="0" /></a><br />Mix together the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves... all the yummy Christmas spices. Set aside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJrL26FGQOLN3PAWl1-633QQ75jIXYKSkyfPWDYzuyg02cTQzBtiXyhxHh9loFaAdJbV8tW1Dqx1zn8-Kt9obgvbsyazNh-JpITM_Tg6Y1lH7qiO1N_zPMuCtkQVupCWZf_WDTjXN6A4/s1600/IMG_6277.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJrL26FGQOLN3PAWl1-633QQ75jIXYKSkyfPWDYzuyg02cTQzBtiXyhxHh9loFaAdJbV8tW1Dqx1zn8-Kt9obgvbsyazNh-JpITM_Tg6Y1lH7qiO1N_zPMuCtkQVupCWZf_WDTjXN6A4/s400/IMG_6277.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616806307113730" border="0" /></a><br />And now for the brown butter. Brown butter is pretty much butter that's browned. lol. Do you like how I explained that so eloquently? =) You melt and heat butter until it's brown, which gives it a super deep, rich, caramel-y flavor. DELISH! If you've never had brown butter treats, you must try it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyF6zAvfMECAX9zgXVp7BEga95lIek3Q5EyD2WiGX3mV2yftGRe0INikpHWfHkqRN8AHdRCeuD2F-CtRwHVi62rYF2XFGK5U66vcbtw0-uy8c_ZX-kk2eu8N3Y2ruqHDwZYwXvyn5Cjg/s1600/IMG_6289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDyF6zAvfMECAX9zgXVp7BEga95lIek3Q5EyD2WiGX3mV2yftGRe0INikpHWfHkqRN8AHdRCeuD2F-CtRwHVi62rYF2XFGK5U66vcbtw0-uy8c_ZX-kk2eu8N3Y2ruqHDwZYwXvyn5Cjg/s400/IMG_6289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616810774810722" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Once the butter turns a golden brown, add the sage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDrMCodwb3dH64cmwoIXa6gXvzdbHVA7OLZHoPyTWPonk3e60wFsFexEy5u8n4Ev01yDiDyCVfTX35TJEO-28LHrN_6fh3d8iSL8AKBxlVA1HIy1389ppW9mtDvOmb-zcTbBFQ6EtHTc/s1600/IMG_6309.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDrMCodwb3dH64cmwoIXa6gXvzdbHVA7OLZHoPyTWPonk3e60wFsFexEy5u8n4Ev01yDiDyCVfTX35TJEO-28LHrN_6fh3d8iSL8AKBxlVA1HIy1389ppW9mtDvOmb-zcTbBFQ6EtHTc/s400/IMG_6309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616815866357010" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">You'll need to skim off the little white foam parts floating on top. Set aside.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq1_U5SqaJ-Iqo5wTg_e-wraNXc9nl8SVRBSVl6Gf7hep1A0vCBWJmwGrEh0BQDjTuJpkXxsixHAHrVnbOkIi4uZaUNUuae_Wpu35d8TYE4wGnOtuVhyphenhyphenN13SPiEYZcQ35JQBog4lpJYo/s1600/IMG_6316.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEq1_U5SqaJ-Iqo5wTg_e-wraNXc9nl8SVRBSVl6Gf7hep1A0vCBWJmwGrEh0BQDjTuJpkXxsixHAHrVnbOkIi4uZaUNUuae_Wpu35d8TYE4wGnOtuVhyphenhyphenN13SPiEYZcQ35JQBog4lpJYo/s400/IMG_6316.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616824789662098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">(When you add it to the batter, make sure not to pour in the burnt bits at the bottom. ick.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajQpi31d4XZjc6a_Yqa3H3yMQ8b7ppNtik-Dj-F7TiBV7JJDfjHeHBenc7FXQozfroLXGdxawvXoVMuQy1arCiGzCbvchEfGj7b_CTcTYIH_9uIaljDqEP2gqIEIJx-aafKWthAe6Zps/s1600/IMG_6329.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajQpi31d4XZjc6a_Yqa3H3yMQ8b7ppNtik-Dj-F7TiBV7JJDfjHeHBenc7FXQozfroLXGdxawvXoVMuQy1arCiGzCbvchEfGj7b_CTcTYIH_9uIaljDqEP2gqIEIJx-aafKWthAe6Zps/s400/IMG_6329.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542616829508107426" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qoqImmuANZnYJBlr5EEq_oRCmHsXLbtWKkgTRY5sHSsz9NhLw1YIIGBsjPMKwppGRJUlfD3AXQCfSOa_45MWa0FFdUcRlYbYxLtJeZBvaY7-Y0ydteALPpLApkrAoKpR7ZdDGpmxbZs/s1600/IMG_6341.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qoqImmuANZnYJBlr5EEq_oRCmHsXLbtWKkgTRY5sHSsz9NhLw1YIIGBsjPMKwppGRJUlfD3AXQCfSOa_45MWa0FFdUcRlYbYxLtJeZBvaY7-Y0ydteALPpLApkrAoKpR7ZdDGpmxbZs/s400/IMG_6341.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617153582463922" border="0" /></a></div></div><br />In another bowl, add the wet ingredients: brown sugar, sugar, eggs, pumpkin, and of course, the brown butter! Mix well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGjqRqCqLTWQGALW_0tUADQxNJgBjHHhl3fcF3WDGGogYBF_oTnxfkl4lSycsxyg1LtDsJDeRcrFx3pZ31rGkmHHNp1WplfI5pKNSLXsk-ZSDiW3XKziGZgu2pErjPf9KE48ipbm2xRM/s1600/IMG_6347.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnGjqRqCqLTWQGALW_0tUADQxNJgBjHHhl3fcF3WDGGogYBF_oTnxfkl4lSycsxyg1LtDsJDeRcrFx3pZ31rGkmHHNp1WplfI5pKNSLXsk-ZSDiW3XKziGZgu2pErjPf9KE48ipbm2xRM/s400/IMG_6347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617157320414578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTD6ok2qCE12PXHMQUsAk6RrdEffOnNw-wMFvbCkjbS-RMP-u4r1jJJ7_tDAXCCN0vSW6LYFq4_ftIoOntYNuoUjJBD2meb-4dCC3uzN8DHEJICmslJYlFxdAjPS4TssB7Rd4EvjOWqo/s1600/IMG_6354.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTD6ok2qCE12PXHMQUsAk6RrdEffOnNw-wMFvbCkjbS-RMP-u4r1jJJ7_tDAXCCN0vSW6LYFq4_ftIoOntYNuoUjJBD2meb-4dCC3uzN8DHEJICmslJYlFxdAjPS4TssB7Rd4EvjOWqo/s400/IMG_6354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617168229017362" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Incorporate the dry ingredients.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLnmCyF6oX7ndjUjaJmrdB0ymcUCzD26j75PIqMYNpuSio81qoaqHq8ggOrSgdKihK2AiLxsPP5QQNoPiw780-JAmrkTq1H5wsGFnwwnqtwTxlNf9DoW0FmULz4ZuKFaZn3d2RY8ZTc4/s1600/IMG_6363.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLnmCyF6oX7ndjUjaJmrdB0ymcUCzD26j75PIqMYNpuSio81qoaqHq8ggOrSgdKihK2AiLxsPP5QQNoPiw780-JAmrkTq1H5wsGFnwwnqtwTxlNf9DoW0FmULz4ZuKFaZn3d2RY8ZTc4/s400/IMG_6363.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617173913465074" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7yQoUJop3U4pPISpi9XX9eHzIuXy5l8dDoTdTq133tFQauXIAIJrVqOdwpwf4tSRPXObO4dhYcP-vpJzMUG28tb08RKW8uGtMnVG4DGiti0alrZZb7WVzq5HvdqnnIxMmZN9999S-zY/s1600/IMG_6673.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD7yQoUJop3U4pPISpi9XX9eHzIuXy5l8dDoTdTq133tFQauXIAIJrVqOdwpwf4tSRPXObO4dhYcP-vpJzMUG28tb08RKW8uGtMnVG4DGiti0alrZZb7WVzq5HvdqnnIxMmZN9999S-zY/s400/IMG_6673.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617261708152626" border="0" /></a><br />Bake at 325F for 20 minutes.<br />Can you see the little green sage bits? So pretty!<br /><br />And now for the brown butter glaze...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGvgH6i1GLo8tQIXTfO8bzbjF0RggHfTnRqkG5RLUz0ad0uIqFVkgxfs01_xEGIAfRSi-lVUNF8Sd9XWX0RFDkkR_pRgKmzZbpzSbXfReCNNiZQM0djpLPWVWBxHBOhFLDX-6hue1gIc/s1600/IMG_6679.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGvgH6i1GLo8tQIXTfO8bzbjF0RggHfTnRqkG5RLUz0ad0uIqFVkgxfs01_xEGIAfRSi-lVUNF8Sd9XWX0RFDkkR_pRgKmzZbpzSbXfReCNNiZQM0djpLPWVWBxHBOhFLDX-6hue1gIc/s400/IMG_6679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617537267233794" border="0" /></a><br />You'll need to make another batch of brown butter and add powdered sugar to it, along with vanilla and a tad of milk.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsDdpBZ4t9q0omkGa7dgt9huJ7BLeCXSWUrSmaCAK6yxukEluoSYlZ6MosZriMtBgV8JXs8tHOsnY16LNQcKPGJZ47f6s7QY7kgYcTJ6C_r3o-tevabpVvfLtyk6akIzgHBuqmouzY2M/s1600/IMG_6685.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsDdpBZ4t9q0omkGa7dgt9huJ7BLeCXSWUrSmaCAK6yxukEluoSYlZ6MosZriMtBgV8JXs8tHOsnY16LNQcKPGJZ47f6s7QY7kgYcTJ6C_r3o-tevabpVvfLtyk6akIzgHBuqmouzY2M/s400/IMG_6685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617539528626050" border="0" /></a><br />Mix until smooth.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vsCmVLAkytIEqjf576m77WmYHW4nLpxso05yOes9znfZucPCNE-jguqIJK5wBDVP_S0ms3bMgLAE-s7xKETQ4hQ3qFP0gPITykC13g7d4fchHsZeG5sup8braBF8Cyh3kmvnM8PcZYc/s1600/IMG_6691.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vsCmVLAkytIEqjf576m77WmYHW4nLpxso05yOes9znfZucPCNE-jguqIJK5wBDVP_S0ms3bMgLAE-s7xKETQ4hQ3qFP0gPITykC13g7d4fchHsZeG5sup8braBF8Cyh3kmvnM8PcZYc/s400/IMG_6691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617545663740274" border="0" /></a><br />This glaze has a great texture...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrtaT0_-TeUtX3aiF1IjbvOoNuesdqJNe8pTlE_1tWm5WUgZcGaUDjU5OulDJoXYMjxSU0VUY9CdNX1KoN0aFDhEmFrMXaFxKgiBKfZv46oOn9Teq3tO0ZnTDRkdJu9ASJf6SEM2uhYY/s1600/IMG_6695.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrtaT0_-TeUtX3aiF1IjbvOoNuesdqJNe8pTlE_1tWm5WUgZcGaUDjU5OulDJoXYMjxSU0VUY9CdNX1KoN0aFDhEmFrMXaFxKgiBKfZv46oOn9Teq3tO0ZnTDRkdJu9ASJf6SEM2uhYY/s400/IMG_6695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617549116970130" border="0" /></a><br />It's very soft and liquid-y. The perfect glaze.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo1WNNLw7lWFb8Y34k3jx4BtXfhc0gL3H8g_VjtbSJ96KxCKnYNBnIPaj7ZPnTaLsjwwa160bsf2SpN-AOJOPYFj2h3lsi2PAvDvIVZXNUBVD-KsDuKuoI05AhQy1NJHzu_sBKxS3g3k/s1600/IMG_6710.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbo1WNNLw7lWFb8Y34k3jx4BtXfhc0gL3H8g_VjtbSJ96KxCKnYNBnIPaj7ZPnTaLsjwwa160bsf2SpN-AOJOPYFj2h3lsi2PAvDvIVZXNUBVD-KsDuKuoI05AhQy1NJHzu_sBKxS3g3k/s400/IMG_6710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617575960044562" border="0" /></a><br />To coat your cupcake, dip it into the bowl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD63AuMZE_Zsq0z96DO0OHSYZFlbR_wCun9b_piTKtKlQzdwsBtqh_e7LWYTINDP3CNJImXGpX_PVMT8Dct_t57aF3K4Iywx2QLIeIEA3MUDM5yKsBn_IcIgI1WN6t5k4OQbjQM6zLQh4/s1600/IMG_6712.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD63AuMZE_Zsq0z96DO0OHSYZFlbR_wCun9b_piTKtKlQzdwsBtqh_e7LWYTINDP3CNJImXGpX_PVMT8Dct_t57aF3K4Iywx2QLIeIEA3MUDM5yKsBn_IcIgI1WN6t5k4OQbjQM6zLQh4/s400/IMG_6712.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617776135022338" border="0" /></a><br />Hold it upside down for a brief second, so the excess can drip off.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitehr-vg91hRfhw8iFIN58Sc3JZA5ErCYu8sNNPa4pGz59vB70S_W8D1Uk8YDZIMZXJOJiu-QGLH9_XxOLBHfTn3UM54yO-5cQ6-u16w15XU6dVszwyzLhrUEbyGcr_lrEn5m0bUSXxsw/s1600/IMG_6721.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitehr-vg91hRfhw8iFIN58Sc3JZA5ErCYu8sNNPa4pGz59vB70S_W8D1Uk8YDZIMZXJOJiu-QGLH9_XxOLBHfTn3UM54yO-5cQ6-u16w15XU6dVszwyzLhrUEbyGcr_lrEn5m0bUSXxsw/s400/IMG_6721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617779390775026" border="0" /></a><br />Then, rotate the cupcake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl3CiQtcjV7KFiT0wxE4yPG27acbiXhlmIWzzT3kzRB_XVmOXw-YOIwf6Ezh-oFX8BpLO5AUpaIEDJsjWiG8JyyImRmngZTvHSDt1X_Kloy-FbE_goZlZQj9zMOQVrvnTTO2sdV8Qbaw/s1600/IMG_6723.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl3CiQtcjV7KFiT0wxE4yPG27acbiXhlmIWzzT3kzRB_XVmOXw-YOIwf6Ezh-oFX8BpLO5AUpaIEDJsjWiG8JyyImRmngZTvHSDt1X_Kloy-FbE_goZlZQj9zMOQVrvnTTO2sdV8Qbaw/s400/IMG_6723.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617786179831362" border="0" /></a><br />The glaze will coat the cupcake perfectly with no "tail."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN9QeuIuWVph0ToUTD5dTIvc85DKQjuQ4J5-xHiHfS4Ed9jr98w7St9nRF_sgXQQalja_wmbN5AiBXqgMkqpDne4x8NeirpaSCP5yz-eU3tc0V4IrQXw0mILWLSU2NNLK9aptsZeIPFU/s1600/IMG_6731.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN9QeuIuWVph0ToUTD5dTIvc85DKQjuQ4J5-xHiHfS4Ed9jr98w7St9nRF_sgXQQalja_wmbN5AiBXqgMkqpDne4x8NeirpaSCP5yz-eU3tc0V4IrQXw0mILWLSU2NNLK9aptsZeIPFU/s400/IMG_6731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617787836708194" border="0" /></a><br />The glaze is really pretty - super shiny!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpCLmOrEl40NocIuL3ePFP2F8PxBIL191IsosnIKdGHGQITd8WewYtxVrKGTrLgoiDEq0T2jOnfacstDQ8uJt_-22lARLvDkOEF0qHRypl2K2DdiOlLBmX-HkI9x4gG3SQj-_hlsTdrw/s1600/IMG_6812.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpCLmOrEl40NocIuL3ePFP2F8PxBIL191IsosnIKdGHGQITd8WewYtxVrKGTrLgoiDEq0T2jOnfacstDQ8uJt_-22lARLvDkOEF0qHRypl2K2DdiOlLBmX-HkI9x4gG3SQj-_hlsTdrw/s400/IMG_6812.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542617893092871490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Mmmm so delicious! One of our friends said that it tasted like Christmas! The flavors are really great together. The caramel-y taste of the brown butter goes perfectly with the warm holiday spices.. the sage adds an extra something special. It's a great overall combination!<br /><br />The frosting will crust over if you leave it overnight in the fridge. But warm it up for 15 seconds in the microwave and it's SO amazing. Give this a try, it'll be a new favorite holiday dessert!<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1XIATVqKWWINESAJWrC1E9vfqMhZ1jwZKuN6aDzgjp0M/edit?hl=en">CLICK HERE</a> for the recipe </span><br /><br /><br /></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-29024851276776031222010-11-28T21:12:00.000-08:002010-11-28T21:54:22.651-08:00Caramelized Pear & Brie CrostiniWow. I can't believe that I received so many "welcome back" comments on my <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/11/silky-pumpkin-cheesecake.html">last post</a>! I thought for sure that I had completely lost all my readers after being gone for so long! Thanks so much, everyone, for all your support! It really means a lot to me that you haven't given up on me/the blog. =) I will take pictures of my kitchen soon! I'm waiting for a good sunny day...which is rare these days in Seattle. hehe.<br /><br />Whew! I meant to post earlier in the week, but I've been super busy with Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday of all time. What could be better than cooking, eating, and shopping?! Three of my favorite things rolled up into one holiday! Not to mention, a four-day weekend. =)<br /><br />We always celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday and for the past couple of years, I've been in charge of the entire dessert spread, which consisted of: (1) Pumpkin Cheesecake, (2) Apple Pie, (3) Pumpkin Pecan Pie, (4) Caramel Corn, (5) Peppermint Bark Dark Chocolate Brownies, and (5) Gingerbread cookies - all decorated in snowflake patterns! What made it on your dessert table this year?<br /><br />My BFF Kelly and I are hardcore about Black Friday Shopping. We get up every year at 4am and shop 'til we drop! This year, I was extremely productive and finished all of my Christmas shopping! We woke up at 4am, shopped for 9 hours, then went home and rested for 20 minutes. After which, I baked for 8 hours straight and ended up going to bed at 1am! BEST DAY EVER.<br /><br />Earlier today, Hubby and I put up the tree - a red and silver themed tree with sprays of cranberries and pine cones! We also wrapped all the presents with 4 different types of red and silver wrapping paper, to match. It's super beautiful!! All in all, it's been an incredibly productive and fun weekend! I hope everyone else had as much fun as I did!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FBQ6nE9G4wwcuFP54t1jajaWW3gTszdzYI5eqNoJmSoSi2kXLSXq-cw5iA-jLIzBfFepjv1sMlM8zXC-AC91eRT8sZYnlJ-U0rJllRXtBbH73MCXF3KgS-udUxm7V_sDILQ0OekW0fY/s1600/IMG_6616.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FBQ6nE9G4wwcuFP54t1jajaWW3gTszdzYI5eqNoJmSoSi2kXLSXq-cw5iA-jLIzBfFepjv1sMlM8zXC-AC91eRT8sZYnlJ-U0rJllRXtBbH73MCXF3KgS-udUxm7V_sDILQ0OekW0fY/s400/IMG_6616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620732511432850" border="0" /></a><br />Today's recipe is a toasted crostini, topped with Brie, Gorgonzola, caramelized cinnamon pear, and minced chives. The cheese is gooey and suuuuper creamy. The crostini is incredibly crispy and has a great crunch to it. This is one of my favorite recipes <span style="font-style: italic;">of all time. </span>Yes, it's just <span style="font-style: italic;">that amazing. </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The Crostini</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfES4363lugJHB1s2RGZWuzB_mzut0J1Zm8lhOHa6tPn_u76b8-YAeGOZSiNgl1a4u3VYhG06vdwybPrp_S5TRKXhsGSt5Kw4GgYWu40-F_4bYxX2vabafhmVuyThyoqhFE_J3qgwyMw/s1600/IMG_6391.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfES4363lugJHB1s2RGZWuzB_mzut0J1Zm8lhOHa6tPn_u76b8-YAeGOZSiNgl1a4u3VYhG06vdwybPrp_S5TRKXhsGSt5Kw4GgYWu40-F_4bYxX2vabafhmVuyThyoqhFE_J3qgwyMw/s400/IMG_6391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619265700625778" border="0" /></a><br />You'll need a baguette, preferably day-old. The trick is to slice it suuuuuper thin. The thinner you can slice it, the better. Seriously, I can't stress it enough. Mine are less than 1/4inch thick.<br /><br />Slicing thin pieces of bread can be difficult to do. What will help is a super sharp knife. So grab the sharpest one you have. If you slice it too thick, it won't toast up to be crispy. This recipe calls for a completely crunchy crostini- think crouton crispy. Just say no to soft centers~! =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNm6tZELWUjJHe8-k4qvvacigVoKsnJWYFkMLBa1bsocDy3_ubn7b6GOdLo3Dn0PnKEJd6ql1By7k3ZXo0tLidI2odtsu7l479i4UCgxIQjDwuBF2ShNLsj3XmKdoB2KcFlahWBCOmXg/s1600/IMG_6393.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNm6tZELWUjJHe8-k4qvvacigVoKsnJWYFkMLBa1bsocDy3_ubn7b6GOdLo3Dn0PnKEJd6ql1By7k3ZXo0tLidI2odtsu7l479i4UCgxIQjDwuBF2ShNLsj3XmKdoB2KcFlahWBCOmXg/s400/IMG_6393.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619303449041730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Line them up on a cookie sheet and coat them with olive oil. Make sure you do both sides.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71UB_QuoiH2brVSQeazpiT5TLj1BZ4OYE649f4cX1-vU5rqKg55KtMMczSqJ6xPJ4DDgaSJ8q0aAB_A6KGKC2uSL2M-DyA79TQDT4SmtR78Sfe1Tjva5JBdEpqJVtBlMBeYmkc5ymDU4/s1600/IMG_6408.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71UB_QuoiH2brVSQeazpiT5TLj1BZ4OYE649f4cX1-vU5rqKg55KtMMczSqJ6xPJ4DDgaSJ8q0aAB_A6KGKC2uSL2M-DyA79TQDT4SmtR78Sfe1Tjva5JBdEpqJVtBlMBeYmkc5ymDU4/s400/IMG_6408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619310286715410" border="0" /></a><br /></div>It's easier if you use Pam olive oil spray, as opposed to brushing it on. It'll take 30 seconds to spray each side.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQz5f13DD5Seq9xszWTD7l8rTc-qCRh_mjuzsD3nYx63Lfq0ud_j5uJiAgCyXZS8iXhgXS-Kgc2_to_cm3wckO8QihNq2f2-gSehMwv1krVs4VcBSo5OB9WbTgUcNaSbW9_EL8kwejoQ/s1600/IMG_6452.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQz5f13DD5Seq9xszWTD7l8rTc-qCRh_mjuzsD3nYx63Lfq0ud_j5uJiAgCyXZS8iXhgXS-Kgc2_to_cm3wckO8QihNq2f2-gSehMwv1krVs4VcBSo5OB9WbTgUcNaSbW9_EL8kwejoQ/s400/IMG_6452.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619588176596962" border="0" /></a><br />When you bake them, let them get golden brown, but be careful not to let it get too dark. You'll have to return them to the oven for about 5 minutes to melt the cheese later, so if you let them get too dark now, they'll burn later. Set aside. (Since they're totally crisped through, they will not get soggy if left on the pan.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) Caramelized Pear</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhG2svezjwxvntqIxWPR9YvycfxTF7gY6_VRjiJo0G2VmEaWRw1JtnFJvxW4woU3qSsh-WDmk1ioa0MnWtt3Sv3npIcKodYWBtrUhSePgsYYjG7eFusWPAESHkHS1Oeq8qDRcOrCEBjg/s1600/IMG_6367.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhG2svezjwxvntqIxWPR9YvycfxTF7gY6_VRjiJo0G2VmEaWRw1JtnFJvxW4woU3qSsh-WDmk1ioa0MnWtt3Sv3npIcKodYWBtrUhSePgsYYjG7eFusWPAESHkHS1Oeq8qDRcOrCEBjg/s400/IMG_6367.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619259344048642" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">You'll want to pick some ripe pears. However, they still need to be firm.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKXsi_BE0OZ_v6KVXC7IkMhhPNQ0VIurwmEDeC9RCTzK18kDifKKeHm6LJS317bJ0naLP46eZSRI6UCMoGM2AtwtJT2p6tcOdLjl1QbnGT5wBvmrVIN2z43ughAB60zVEtSGmXztAURo/s1600/IMG_6414.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKXsi_BE0OZ_v6KVXC7IkMhhPNQ0VIurwmEDeC9RCTzK18kDifKKeHm6LJS317bJ0naLP46eZSRI6UCMoGM2AtwtJT2p6tcOdLjl1QbnGT5wBvmrVIN2z43ughAB60zVEtSGmXztAURo/s400/IMG_6414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619345520303378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt5juL50ozz0p8q3m0rOgbXS9QYmsDuljLrgFzEzj-Y5BppA9z3H2AbMHDri9zRqOpaClzzA_aqxxG_1iPPWst2lp02PZfB5vXoP5JHU3y8c1EUenJyQ3ugJmyROtzcy-cmrxOvtRyiQ/s1600/IMG_6420.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSt5juL50ozz0p8q3m0rOgbXS9QYmsDuljLrgFzEzj-Y5BppA9z3H2AbMHDri9zRqOpaClzzA_aqxxG_1iPPWst2lp02PZfB5vXoP5JHU3y8c1EUenJyQ3ugJmyROtzcy-cmrxOvtRyiQ/s400/IMG_6420.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619575421066482" border="0" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcRXnRf6Suvz2pfP8CjCQxj0Lev2Fr02MQXGKX0JADnNGhyphenhyphenO8XNmseL2xrt7QjExz1p9M3lotpJ8FIeqvHC1zgKuvNQwWNxigQ8xvK4nwYwyCJag8VTHttJmhhOTcB_y1KdDOpb2fP64/s1600/IMG_6426.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcRXnRf6Suvz2pfP8CjCQxj0Lev2Fr02MQXGKX0JADnNGhyphenhyphenO8XNmseL2xrt7QjExz1p9M3lotpJ8FIeqvHC1zgKuvNQwWNxigQ8xvK4nwYwyCJag8VTHttJmhhOTcB_y1KdDOpb2fP64/s400/IMG_6426.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619578779421378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Peel and dice into small, one centimeter cubes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFwWvbMVsu8-UVzzKa85z3hlz7uN3SXRjnBIzXjmlSyZqAkTgZwB-gZhM4_yW56tqMaW0SeoLFFTKONFKAkETzJp02sHLmEJ5QPJjLGoJ5w4j5Wj9go6d3DDYZQLlclSkur1GwLOVVE0/s1600/IMG_6458.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFwWvbMVsu8-UVzzKa85z3hlz7uN3SXRjnBIzXjmlSyZqAkTgZwB-gZhM4_yW56tqMaW0SeoLFFTKONFKAkETzJp02sHLmEJ5QPJjLGoJ5w4j5Wj9go6d3DDYZQLlclSkur1GwLOVVE0/s400/IMG_6458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542619605143725826" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIY6MZCu8UY18jZaobvD-YTBZvhXRnilGdJg-guOwjBr1GYCuuHWAa2RiMLn5fyHRGfkD398mx0AlYyiazm7PEcwzU9SnWGV3ETI0RJgMvva4zdd_DuB40x69jLbHBDyMH530Y4Srw0o/s1600/IMG_6464.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIY6MZCu8UY18jZaobvD-YTBZvhXRnilGdJg-guOwjBr1GYCuuHWAa2RiMLn5fyHRGfkD398mx0AlYyiazm7PEcwzU9SnWGV3ETI0RJgMvva4zdd_DuB40x69jLbHBDyMH530Y4Srw0o/s400/IMG_6464.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620180587099042" border="0" /></a><br />Melt butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Let it simmer and thicken. Then add a small amount of apple juice. Let simmer some more, stirring continuously.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNACbQQ4wyzM7WqqbiMX62BtIQTSJRJznWWG_5IbKgECMHZkbZmDm-9qlGao6VF416qWSP-Gxvk8VelVkI21tmAjX5plAhRS1uy0MqUNH-xIrN0TDbljTcplinBRqmxTYdiZr_QkLbGK0/s1600/IMG_6474.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNACbQQ4wyzM7WqqbiMX62BtIQTSJRJznWWG_5IbKgECMHZkbZmDm-9qlGao6VF416qWSP-Gxvk8VelVkI21tmAjX5plAhRS1uy0MqUNH-xIrN0TDbljTcplinBRqmxTYdiZr_QkLbGK0/s400/IMG_6474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620192340479378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqVu8uMSZe-HpUDl5Q93GLn_b294UaqMGUsnEJK9A1yh5fhlt53gigAHl1mWPLpIWul7o7DMjOwsIgPD-P45UokqEJKeul3CKtS94bm0KY5VL79qqjDj49F76PvBW4mPoQoUGBvYdtaw/s1600/IMG_6491.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqVu8uMSZe-HpUDl5Q93GLn_b294UaqMGUsnEJK9A1yh5fhlt53gigAHl1mWPLpIWul7o7DMjOwsIgPD-P45UokqEJKeul3CKtS94bm0KY5VL79qqjDj49F76PvBW4mPoQoUGBvYdtaw/s400/IMG_6491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620215465759570" border="0" /></a><br />Add the pears and let it cook down and thicken some more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqVu8uMSZe-HpUDl5Q93GLn_b294UaqMGUsnEJK9A1yh5fhlt53gigAHl1mWPLpIWul7o7DMjOwsIgPD-P45UokqEJKeul3CKtS94bm0KY5VL79qqjDj49F76PvBW4mPoQoUGBvYdtaw/s1600/IMG_6491.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3UppODcPtDoL_Gyu5kZjEx5Sj7VfYd-E0oKEjfbVz1vkgHXdHMefABsHnfjAGqYZLxesf_tCPHRzlDabIiAfKh5iOVZ4wAAxwOtxF8Q2U93QBoI8YnY53Xah_VerfnZwjEDbHtNwTTs/s1600/IMG_6494.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3UppODcPtDoL_Gyu5kZjEx5Sj7VfYd-E0oKEjfbVz1vkgHXdHMefABsHnfjAGqYZLxesf_tCPHRzlDabIiAfKh5iOVZ4wAAxwOtxF8Q2U93QBoI8YnY53Xah_VerfnZwjEDbHtNwTTs/s400/IMG_6494.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620219388158034" border="0" /></a><br />When done, it should look like a thick and gooey apple pie filling.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Assembling the Crostini</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd3IIicO_uZF2CUi8EI2Vo6TQpuFY9fGkZlFiynOJsfEzba8tFpK0_bU7pLN1MpbMVRpczM5gwAepcWvyZyzDQXyJuz76CUcuQno290j15GYT9DFwKrOOSIb88EofrDJYFH3B97ND3w0/s1600/IMG_6524.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrd3IIicO_uZF2CUi8EI2Vo6TQpuFY9fGkZlFiynOJsfEzba8tFpK0_bU7pLN1MpbMVRpczM5gwAepcWvyZyzDQXyJuz76CUcuQno290j15GYT9DFwKrOOSIb88EofrDJYFH3B97ND3w0/s400/IMG_6524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620229291750450" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">You'll need crumbled Gorgonzola and small slices of Brie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcUb1U8GAMHbqXb-mxW3Iaj8qFFNRU0UmFeFx0U0emOFCVdJVmr-ofX2NfhFNJEEpjnB9SBbLCVGzuQPd2NdXKwoJFsx8RawUNOPJcnSSIfgFi7SQ32OGHBP2knm9zqqc5o9nCWIiqRU/s1600/IMG_6551.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcUb1U8GAMHbqXb-mxW3Iaj8qFFNRU0UmFeFx0U0emOFCVdJVmr-ofX2NfhFNJEEpjnB9SBbLCVGzuQPd2NdXKwoJFsx8RawUNOPJcnSSIfgFi7SQ32OGHBP2knm9zqqc5o9nCWIiqRU/s400/IMG_6551.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620485117785314" border="0" /></a><br />You'll also some chives. Make sure to chop them into tiny pieces.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDWHe28PnY6N_qTciDdHB8iNZJiO-8jnQvuhAt5ODE4Mx8LHgmp4p1dO-7_4aNwQVxxIDhCA6H77uk_eKFZXlDoh6x0NRCxlO9CVYtm6YmjKh6BD5ESW_NZTJbvEYDhjIUYoeyjc1oeE/s1600/IMG_6529.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDWHe28PnY6N_qTciDdHB8iNZJiO-8jnQvuhAt5ODE4Mx8LHgmp4p1dO-7_4aNwQVxxIDhCA6H77uk_eKFZXlDoh6x0NRCxlO9CVYtm6YmjKh6BD5ESW_NZTJbvEYDhjIUYoeyjc1oeE/s400/IMG_6529.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620479157953442" border="0" /></a><br />First top the crostini with Brie. The Brie tends to get really sticky, so it's easier just to smear it onto the crostini, like you would butter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BZy-rCgJSzmklAbgAQckW46Q3bcTXfu404REvJWRw_We5pho-RSXx8yh3gITtuokK51suuyZgwe9pIZ0QEN8qWGbbKL_m3RKKvUX1WONezW0sTdd-J1tZIEJYVKuufNiLdSB0TW5Hbo/s1600/IMG_6536.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6BZy-rCgJSzmklAbgAQckW46Q3bcTXfu404REvJWRw_We5pho-RSXx8yh3gITtuokK51suuyZgwe9pIZ0QEN8qWGbbKL_m3RKKvUX1WONezW0sTdd-J1tZIEJYVKuufNiLdSB0TW5Hbo/s400/IMG_6536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620478050759730" border="0" /></a><br />Then, top with Gorgonzola. Generously. <span style="font-style: italic;">Very very</span> generously.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijpJ1qADKL2JdK272fxyHW02adBGyNyJ-ipKXF4NO-NMsi-1yE8qtO7DaGPYXLpLKWYSj-xbn_QixfRSEO-EO4iD2V1m-AdFlLdG28kUg7JEZ4uehA-Tpq2g6zDrJwYaTpNu5K0G5XQQ/s1600/IMG_6561.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijpJ1qADKL2JdK272fxyHW02adBGyNyJ-ipKXF4NO-NMsi-1yE8qtO7DaGPYXLpLKWYSj-xbn_QixfRSEO-EO4iD2V1m-AdFlLdG28kUg7JEZ4uehA-Tpq2g6zDrJwYaTpNu5K0G5XQQ/s400/IMG_6561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620519151693490" border="0" /></a><br />Return to the oven for about 5 minutes to melt the cheese.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU5Ypu8MQ66TjCvnm81ujKbbT7F8jmwMdWrK5cF5s_ABLcVLqWCQesgoiP3117NrSI1ASzA5dUcFKwEsZd0fLyfKS0DYr0P2UH5z6e_1wTsXwpgur5h1bZEUTWsPXsJdPGfZZXe210kg/s1600/IMG_6580.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU5Ypu8MQ66TjCvnm81ujKbbT7F8jmwMdWrK5cF5s_ABLcVLqWCQesgoiP3117NrSI1ASzA5dUcFKwEsZd0fLyfKS0DYr0P2UH5z6e_1wTsXwpgur5h1bZEUTWsPXsJdPGfZZXe210kg/s400/IMG_6580.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620525094338674" border="0" /></a><br />Top with the caramelized pear.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWPNJKpCUsySYmZweEhjxGH1hkjHy_PqoVZeKbCLmfblMJ567_PRt34RzjFEvsYg7Qj1-n9TC_15S0-ut6dGiAQTqXGCvZz3Cjcf7xIXytzx2Ddl5jss0lJ2lVjMUvuhyJyU1faX6CfE/s1600/IMG_6611.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCWPNJKpCUsySYmZweEhjxGH1hkjHy_PqoVZeKbCLmfblMJ567_PRt34RzjFEvsYg7Qj1-n9TC_15S0-ut6dGiAQTqXGCvZz3Cjcf7xIXytzx2Ddl5jss0lJ2lVjMUvuhyJyU1faX6CfE/s400/IMG_6611.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620724389229314" border="0" /></a><br />Then sprinkle with chives. You're done! Serve immediately or they'll get soggy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LxGmLHJuenhBZXlBx20ZzumiWjU8uOP-X5rUmfsjGmzZPHEhzeaZ4xjmhp0zsDo6jOatLSFDMp1mlHMKF26RaDpCL4cSzq9-rtGH1hsWcoPBtSW6pznQjiusjeH_8AVAKNY_WCFL0_s/s1600/IMG_6648.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LxGmLHJuenhBZXlBx20ZzumiWjU8uOP-X5rUmfsjGmzZPHEhzeaZ4xjmhp0zsDo6jOatLSFDMp1mlHMKF26RaDpCL4cSzq9-rtGH1hsWcoPBtSW6pznQjiusjeH_8AVAKNY_WCFL0_s/s400/IMG_6648.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542620738849776754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ok look, I don't want any of you to get weirded out by all these seemingly different flavors mashed up together in one crostini. It might sound gross - you know, the sweet with the savory. But TRUST ME. This is the most amazing combination of flavors your tongue will ever experience. Everyone who's ever tried this has been super amazed by its deliciousness. The flavors just work. I can't explain it. It just tastes really <span style="font-style: italic;">gourmet</span>. The flavors are very sophisticated and compliment each other in the best way possible.<br /><br />You'll just have to try it yourself and prepare to be blown away! Seriously, try it for nothing else other than your curiosity. And to surprise all your friends. It'll be fun to see their reactions, I promise. =)<br /><br /><br /></div></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fDxpUSkkicSHGlaAqIb2xBjL9WEJKPaqXXYcxRBR0PA/edit?hl=en">CLICK HERE</a> for the recipe </span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-49733436319931896952010-11-16T17:44:00.000-08:002010-11-16T18:54:21.018-08:00Silky Pumpkin CheesecakeI'm BACK!!! For good!<br /><br />I'm sad about the fact that as I sit down to type this entry, this whole blogging thing now seems so foreign to me. It took me a little longer this time to upload pictures because I had to spend a second trying to remember how to do so!<br /><br />I'm sorry it's taken me this long to get the blog up and running again. This whole moving into a new house thing has been disastrous!! Here are all the reasons why I have been separated from my beloved blog:<br /><br />(1) I packed up my entire apartment in March, prior to leaving for California for a three month work assignment, assuming that when I returned to Seattle in June, we'd be all moved into our house...<br />(2) wishful thinking. Not only was construction delayed, I came home to see that there was a giant gaping hole in my new kitchen's ceiling, among other things. Not only did we NOT get to move into the new house in May, now all my kitchen stuff was packed and we kept thinking, "oh it'll be another week." So I couldn't bring myself to unpack all the stuff I worked for DAYS to pack.<br />(3) Our fridge in our apartment broke (for the third time in two months). Along the same lines as the unpacking thing, we kept thinking that it wouldn't be much longer, so we didn't bother to fix it. We ended up eating out for four consecutive months. Three meals a day, seven days a week. I hadn't stepped foot into a kitchen at that point for six consecutive months. It was killing me. I was dying a slow painful death on the inside from not being able to bake or cook. Or use my glorious kitchenaid mixer.<br />(4) We finally moved in at the end of September. Hurray! Then it's taken me about a month and a half to unpack, set up my kitchen, acquire new furniture, start blogging, etc.<br /><br />So needless to say, it's been quite the adventure. But now I'm back for good! I've got a GIANT kitchen now. It's glorious! Just the center island alone is 6ft by 7ft! With it's own built in sink, no less. And I've got TWO ovens. Yesss! I don't know how I ever lived with one before. It feels SO good to be back! To be in a kitchen again! To be cooking and baking again! To be back in my natural habitat.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Silky Pumpkin Cheesecake<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcXWsWMttKZB4bQLGGaAfHMAr4RTWsi5rXLd1RrgPw3a8cRSCt0NfLTpcIu9sJfJkV4OyjWPNS9Ln-VXXNAGWGfokyPI_6_zGsXgqon9xDZ1zY25FyP278mDSbSvPGNSKClXRSp8UUh8/s1600/IMG_5427.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcXWsWMttKZB4bQLGGaAfHMAr4RTWsi5rXLd1RrgPw3a8cRSCt0NfLTpcIu9sJfJkV4OyjWPNS9Ln-VXXNAGWGfokyPI_6_zGsXgqon9xDZ1zY25FyP278mDSbSvPGNSKClXRSp8UUh8/s400/IMG_5427.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228462758856242" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So I was feeling super ambitious. My first kitchen adventure in almost EIGHT months had to be a good one. Last year, I was <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> excited about <a href="http://butteryum.blogspot.com/2009/11/pumpkin-cheesecake.html">Patricia's pumpkin cheesecake</a>, that I ran out and immediately acquired the cookbook. Ever since seeing it on her blog, it's been at the top of my to-do list. This was the perfect "welcome back to the kitchen" recipe.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div></div><br /><br />Make sure you make this a day in advance because it needs to chill in the fridge overnight.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The Gingersnap Crust</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACn0Uk37gO4YIS0t0yNV8j8n4Tmsc6vykBCS6PUgKUugonB2F3GIjvYH05vlVRKg8lh60uJrHFRuK7gbKsODNBkUm9CPDi-gL-a63wpPpGJVPN4bBXhIDfJrCRepBeRXswjbdcB5JavM/s1600/pumpkin+-+online.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACn0Uk37gO4YIS0t0yNV8j8n4Tmsc6vykBCS6PUgKUugonB2F3GIjvYH05vlVRKg8lh60uJrHFRuK7gbKsODNBkUm9CPDi-gL-a63wpPpGJVPN4bBXhIDfJrCRepBeRXswjbdcB5JavM/s400/pumpkin+-+online.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227206876126946" border="0" /></a><br />The crust is super easy to make. You'll need gingersnap cookies, pecans, sugar, and butter. You can find gingersnap cookies at your local grocery store. The recipe called for toasted pecans, but I bought the candied ones, which worked out awesome! Candied pecans are simply irresistible.<br /><br />Break up the gingersnaps and grind in the food processor until it becomes a fine crumb. I found that it was easier if you did a small handful at a time. Add the pecans, sugar, and a pinch of salt to the food processor and pulse a few times until all of it becomes incorporated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCIObY6rtyuKKS_8VzeAO56rlxFw2iFPoAnoLi8F73L5e73NqEhV0i4MrRoX0PMxGEshdmUJBrCWldRWEFYsxHbXUe6oTzjbuJxT78_rprrRAOEoY0KPXwhXWCx7qW58Fw8GQ-GpPlPo/s1600/IMG_5151.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCIObY6rtyuKKS_8VzeAO56rlxFw2iFPoAnoLi8F73L5e73NqEhV0i4MrRoX0PMxGEshdmUJBrCWldRWEFYsxHbXUe6oTzjbuJxT78_rprrRAOEoY0KPXwhXWCx7qW58Fw8GQ-GpPlPo/s400/IMG_5151.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227209139593490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Then, add melted butter and pulse for a few seconds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlivIfH6nCgal71j6t-E2Q5whEcLik3i7M11bzTahTXfcI6fUqGMjmmHzWkvONmPx_6WFhNdF5-LdL89OEfVjHcxndlaM1IpGgn-KC1422lWp2u0ZOc6leKuCuug983lxJE0tmKU_arEw/s1600/IMG_5173.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlivIfH6nCgal71j6t-E2Q5whEcLik3i7M11bzTahTXfcI6fUqGMjmmHzWkvONmPx_6WFhNdF5-LdL89OEfVjHcxndlaM1IpGgn-KC1422lWp2u0ZOc6leKuCuug983lxJE0tmKU_arEw/s400/IMG_5173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227215316741810" border="0" /></a><br />Pour the contents into a greased 9 inch spring form pan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDI9blH2qGlIwjTl8kSGODOl-3AZqzQVkVe-U4sm-_QgEWycyWyBjp7MLEFk_Ana39XpAjSFm4PciDr9Aae_gsRNPaa5b-34QMxNnafYAOzWTKp-N7X0NGLGHAdVmnmW0sUSHQIdJbBY/s1600/IMG_5181.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDI9blH2qGlIwjTl8kSGODOl-3AZqzQVkVe-U4sm-_QgEWycyWyBjp7MLEFk_Ana39XpAjSFm4PciDr9Aae_gsRNPaa5b-34QMxNnafYAOzWTKp-N7X0NGLGHAdVmnmW0sUSHQIdJbBY/s400/IMG_5181.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227217423297266" border="0" /></a><br />Press the crumbs into the pan and up the sides. Done! Set aside.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) The Pumpkin Cheesecake Filling<br /><br /><br /></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieF8XzEWutZAiRmyqA7esokiKUDx2GHIJsIiSiW9m9eFWZNWepc-UN4m8MB9G7hH-BCQUlI6KeEOTbibEUtmBnvAa_QvYC8_IVgTvFGDiuOnuwM0YKv2sZep4_WTsRkILvyG12sdNxojM/s1600/IMG_5192.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieF8XzEWutZAiRmyqA7esokiKUDx2GHIJsIiSiW9m9eFWZNWepc-UN4m8MB9G7hH-BCQUlI6KeEOTbibEUtmBnvAa_QvYC8_IVgTvFGDiuOnuwM0YKv2sZep4_WTsRkILvyG12sdNxojM/s400/IMG_5192.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227227070491394" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneF-NIa787HLBKYVnb-JRzAvZ3doMoRZqR9fQNEF2GHosKS7vkLgiv5ijDpZOz_s_ypAIcRKyzyPwlSQs5TrjWxJTEdYoPc8Hy_jgc6EprboYWMCfWUVmaaemhN6mfncfXsGXPonlbqw/s1600/IMG_5203.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneF-NIa787HLBKYVnb-JRzAvZ3doMoRZqR9fQNEF2GHosKS7vkLgiv5ijDpZOz_s_ypAIcRKyzyPwlSQs5TrjWxJTEdYoPc8Hy_jgc6EprboYWMCfWUVmaaemhN6mfncfXsGXPonlbqw/s400/IMG_5203.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227597164373394" border="0" /></a><br />You'll need Turbinado sugar. I didn't know what this was prior to going to the grocery store. I just copied it down from the recipe and blindly went looking for it in the baking aisle. To my surprise, it was right next to the regular sugars. Basically, from what I can tell, the only difference is that it's more course and granular than regular sugar. Plus, it's um.. not white. lol. Very scientific, eh? =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH7YRj3YrVggg3oRpfdNvNQ7aniqrtNlvmMlU52MT_Pr3CzEp5ggyr-JHLF5ntbpCotrBH5y9tuJ-qjo12ZKs4jK-NNpZxmkiMatcGlQKADIDFH1MSP1yv-oV8cbtu3BQ8dzsRFnEN0M/s1600/IMG_5207.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIH7YRj3YrVggg3oRpfdNvNQ7aniqrtNlvmMlU52MT_Pr3CzEp5ggyr-JHLF5ntbpCotrBH5y9tuJ-qjo12ZKs4jK-NNpZxmkiMatcGlQKADIDFH1MSP1yv-oV8cbtu3BQ8dzsRFnEN0M/s400/IMG_5207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227603928755634" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_cJZhFDdUQM-yrNnFY8ZU9SmuEE971lVg1L7YpNeG23lm_NiLyF6PcBQQcpDQ4pBuABf5S9fxk-M8F-gWHB83PWFscrS33Rllo2SfBK-ISC_QLvYSHy_QZjfDAO56rogAeYmFfiIcTU/s1600/IMG_5230.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_cJZhFDdUQM-yrNnFY8ZU9SmuEE971lVg1L7YpNeG23lm_NiLyF6PcBQQcpDQ4pBuABf5S9fxk-M8F-gWHB83PWFscrS33Rllo2SfBK-ISC_QLvYSHy_QZjfDAO56rogAeYmFfiIcTU/s400/IMG_5230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227608807179810" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Anyway, heat up the sugar and pumpkin puree in a small saucepan.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1X8vDgSIq28p-MgKEYzoNHBLGL5OAuytQ0UXcbZ1TT-tnx_qjvqNhBOeG9oGE4ELCRPN3n2jtqBhvvtM1DgL4hk6-JM75sGWDF3BAonzhUp3hKiG4ogwyPeaGN2Yc0tE4brd1nw3S3yY/s1600/IMG_5244.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1X8vDgSIq28p-MgKEYzoNHBLGL5OAuytQ0UXcbZ1TT-tnx_qjvqNhBOeG9oGE4ELCRPN3n2jtqBhvvtM1DgL4hk6-JM75sGWDF3BAonzhUp3hKiG4ogwyPeaGN2Yc0tE4brd1nw3S3yY/s400/IMG_5244.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227608561800290" border="0" /></a><br />It'll get super shiny!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz7RgNHwWKb40Li4HGw77LPv6-e-4inag7zvii6jvknWJTzjexdRKOLDOBFmF35VBwLlIkvYcQrxLkldKKpZjVKdrDym2HuoAnrf79dsvQOfjgd3HxVWArqGmJCzi4g67-5RZhGzWtmY/s1600/IMG_5252.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz7RgNHwWKb40Li4HGw77LPv6-e-4inag7zvii6jvknWJTzjexdRKOLDOBFmF35VBwLlIkvYcQrxLkldKKpZjVKdrDym2HuoAnrf79dsvQOfjgd3HxVWArqGmJCzi4g67-5RZhGzWtmY/s400/IMG_5252.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529227614440681170" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then comes the easy part. You basically dump everything into the food processor and let it work its magic. Barely any effort involved!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eaVEMgW5LBvkn6CloxIb0Bdgq45NogAXYMixx3Pa7Zhns0XIAA0Kl3gfZ5ZyK8F5G5UhgoD45AYOYpW7sjmODDp59DTc4RkBiPb_ZLT7uyBV2ceKlMp3RV29gobGNvSfRsJieqvwaP0/s1600/IMG_5263.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eaVEMgW5LBvkn6CloxIb0Bdgq45NogAXYMixx3Pa7Zhns0XIAA0Kl3gfZ5ZyK8F5G5UhgoD45AYOYpW7sjmODDp59DTc4RkBiPb_ZLT7uyBV2ceKlMp3RV29gobGNvSfRsJieqvwaP0/s400/IMG_5263.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228060261027234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In goes the pumpkin mixture, cream, cream cheese, eggs, egg yolks...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGPymQ4_qaYt2Q-5q9QfA69rMfoeNQJat-QHM7KAYknJzDqpisDrSmu69u4f8dvczP8FVINYMNbr9vKDcQsnPrl63msQ7J3OjFL7w0KPkdQQyO9hQb6wQ-ySh3-3aQHJXwuMqYuoMReI/s1600/IMG_5270.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGPymQ4_qaYt2Q-5q9QfA69rMfoeNQJat-QHM7KAYknJzDqpisDrSmu69u4f8dvczP8FVINYMNbr9vKDcQsnPrl63msQ7J3OjFL7w0KPkdQQyO9hQb6wQ-ySh3-3aQHJXwuMqYuoMReI/s400/IMG_5270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228060545374914" border="0" /></a><br />...and it comes out super smooth!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfk_nsXGf2BLZnxfVNVZtNbuvlHaIDRJBME7X5_WifXU7UQ1qr0QXkJ0StFPlB-T9VCCX0JUFVW4VNlXb4d1fYEUDlnvMES_AS3vwzTpq4zcixx6vdsw1ll17sbwnF9dMapt395RLVE-k/s1600/IMG_5289.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfk_nsXGf2BLZnxfVNVZtNbuvlHaIDRJBME7X5_WifXU7UQ1qr0QXkJ0StFPlB-T9VCCX0JUFVW4VNlXb4d1fYEUDlnvMES_AS3vwzTpq4zcixx6vdsw1ll17sbwnF9dMapt395RLVE-k/s400/IMG_5289.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228065758462498" border="0" /></a><br />Pour it into your awaiting crust.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now comes the tricky part, which I completely forgot to take pictures of! <span style="font-style: italic;">Great</span>! In my defense, it was my first time back in the kitchen, so I was off my game a bit.<br /><br />Ok, so you'll need to cover the sides of the pan with aluminum foil, and then place it in a water bath. You'll need a slightly larger pan to place it in and fill it up with about 1 inch of water. I didn't have a larger roasting pan, so I used my super large dutch oven, which worked perfectly. Um, word of advice: CAREFULLY place the pan into the oven and CAREFULLY take it out. Because splashing water onto your cheesecake would be bad. Not that I would know from experience or anything. *cough, cough* Moving on...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjPynqHqApG9pin1BYdem-_jJW7CPU74H9T2QVyrHWOBD9j2htMpfFZ2M2JBUZOreMhqPZ6rXPG09knUSPnOIJaNa-hMKWP3mPv7QscuonC9KQDtn_8CgSy3cCHddKnrDVTlg0jcWAtw/s1600/IMG_5294.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjPynqHqApG9pin1BYdem-_jJW7CPU74H9T2QVyrHWOBD9j2htMpfFZ2M2JBUZOreMhqPZ6rXPG09knUSPnOIJaNa-hMKWP3mPv7QscuonC9KQDtn_8CgSy3cCHddKnrDVTlg0jcWAtw/s400/IMG_5294.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228080852731906" border="0" /></a><br />Bake it, let it cool, put it in the fridge overnight, un-mold it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The recipe made the unmolding process seem like it was a super big deal. And I totally tried the hot towel thing at first, then thought, "screw this. it's way too complicated." Then I took a knife and ran it along the inside of the cake pan. Perfect.<br /></div></div><br /></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5xrLiWhBD1ZriNFNfCHjXQl7qbzA75gTcScn7b7M4lDUuGgb_foT5HXe-rM4pZKFL8JCmdc4HExk-gXZ4MLSsprboTGAWonYeDarPb1uL3I9ZvNjjg7TC8B0TZKUmqK3TGI7LME0tgY/s1600/IMG_5375.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5xrLiWhBD1ZriNFNfCHjXQl7qbzA75gTcScn7b7M4lDUuGgb_foT5HXe-rM4pZKFL8JCmdc4HExk-gXZ4MLSsprboTGAWonYeDarPb1uL3I9ZvNjjg7TC8B0TZKUmqK3TGI7LME0tgY/s400/IMG_5375.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228079116235506" border="0" /></a><br />It came out just fine, didn't it? =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ut6jsKitcZYBW_iD1iyyMqLyugRSoTExQdCa6JFugbAgFYD9OYuqRB5X15BJXRU7nJWISAJkl0soBK9pezqyog-4bYtAx-Pu4tYbpv4Pz9FHSDCd9skTbo2Xx7h8_DOQSFpSZcvsqAo/s1600/IMG_5389.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Ut6jsKitcZYBW_iD1iyyMqLyugRSoTExQdCa6JFugbAgFYD9OYuqRB5X15BJXRU7nJWISAJkl0soBK9pezqyog-4bYtAx-Pu4tYbpv4Pz9FHSDCd9skTbo2Xx7h8_DOQSFpSZcvsqAo/s400/IMG_5389.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228446983520706" border="0" /></a><br />Smother it with <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/08/chocolate-salted-caramel-cupcakes-with.html">caramel sauce</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaAzmKKEaWlSyDzpcmGWBrlqoyGVfVy6ikFg8kbsl0CJmo3Droa-hipV-nUGULseK1G4L1pr8q0JrPbzpopRa7ues5WD8Z5NPwXOyHd6dIdg-7WRhRmN9D8O7aAuu9WCvOC-FUkVYFYo/s1600/IMG_5403.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaAzmKKEaWlSyDzpcmGWBrlqoyGVfVy6ikFg8kbsl0CJmo3Droa-hipV-nUGULseK1G4L1pr8q0JrPbzpopRa7ues5WD8Z5NPwXOyHd6dIdg-7WRhRmN9D8O7aAuu9WCvOC-FUkVYFYo/s400/IMG_5403.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228451986788194" border="0" /></a><br />Don't forget the whipped cream!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXBJMZsNnoky_kLv2q11YUr_7Mr5ydifZnaAIXsIHKZl8AhiI3_J4eshSlpp7MeV6y4S5PGSs-hkrcQQptoGEuLkGgdzL1icG-sQgW8Of3ivw2ekqnx6RG_CwSoYmNJvl1XAk4eYaHx4/s1600/IMG_5415.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXBJMZsNnoky_kLv2q11YUr_7Mr5ydifZnaAIXsIHKZl8AhiI3_J4eshSlpp7MeV6y4S5PGSs-hkrcQQptoGEuLkGgdzL1icG-sQgW8Of3ivw2ekqnx6RG_CwSoYmNJvl1XAk4eYaHx4/s400/IMG_5415.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228455604894018" border="0" /></a><br />And more caramel sauce.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftJoQ5gw2ICmE7D9HyQ732WZS8mfVyEl4G5Z8Y7pr6qdJr_gX5ZdCtw232Ufll8-CfegI0VHq6Lo6MGcuBYeiMt_hy9kBHoI_nuK12z0pzs5ZXOPiArDGe_ArPZ_HqGh6IdCmnPeX97Y/s1600/IMG_5426.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftJoQ5gw2ICmE7D9HyQ732WZS8mfVyEl4G5Z8Y7pr6qdJr_gX5ZdCtw232Ufll8-CfegI0VHq6Lo6MGcuBYeiMt_hy9kBHoI_nuK12z0pzs5ZXOPiArDGe_ArPZ_HqGh6IdCmnPeX97Y/s400/IMG_5426.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529228455087659858" border="0" /></a><br />Devour!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">OH. EM. GEE. This cheesecake was the most <span style="font-style: italic;">amazing</span> cheesecake in the history of <span style="font-style: italic;">cheesecakes</span>! Hubby, who usually hates cheesecakes, told me specifically that I wasn't allowed to give any of it away because he was going to eat it all!<br /><br />It was smooth and silky...and surprisingly light on the palate, which is amazingly unusual when you're talking about cheesecake. I did end up giving some of it away and every one who tried it was equally as impressed by it!<br /><br />This would be the <span style="font-style: italic;">perfect</span> addition to the thanksgiving dessert table! I'm already planning on adding it to my line up this year. It should be a thanksgiving tradition in every household - right up there with pumpkin pie and stuffing. Seriously. It's just THAT good.<br /><br /></div></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1mEtiwOQbayOOXNMB1Ot3wLF5yd3PL9dP_XlXyazmUvA&hl=en"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">CLICK HERE</span></a> for the recipe. </span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-21625548668553797672010-06-15T15:22:00.000-07:002010-06-15T17:38:34.366-07:00Chocolate Toffee CookiesOk, ok! I know. I've been a<span style="font-style: italic;"> super </span>bad blogger. I haven't updated in a <span style="font-style: italic;">month</span>. A whole month! Recently, I've had <span style="font-style: italic;">several</span> disgruntled readers bug me about putting up a new post. =) I must tell you- I haven't forgotten about this blog, I promise! In fact, every day that has gone by, I have thought about my blog and yearned to sit down to write. But life has been SO hectic lately and even though I've been back in Seattle for two weeks now, I'm still running around like a headless chicken, trying to get my life back in order. hehe.<br /><br />I thought that everything would be back to normal once I got back. Wishful thinking. It's actually incredibly difficult to get back into the swing of things when you've been gone for three months. I mean, think of all the errands you'd have to run!<br /><br />In addition, we've had a few set backs with building the house. Remember how it was supposed to be finished in May? And how I was scrambling to pack up my entire kitchen before I left for California back in March? Well, I came back to find that it has been delayed until July! And I just couldn't bare to unpack the kitchen that I spent DAYS packing up so nicely...just to have to pack it up again in a month. So I've been depressed. I haven't baked since March 12th. And I won't be able to until July. Isn't that the pits? We've been eating out every night. And we microwave stuff. Oh how the mighty have fallen! lol. I went from making everything from scratch to microwaving. I can't even stand it!<br /><br />Anyway, luckily, I still have pictures saved up from when I did bake before...did I mention that this was <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> March 12th?? So MSCC readers, if you're here for this month's cupcakes, you're out of luck!<br /><br />However, this cookie recipe is a close second, I'd say! It's adapted from Martha Stewart Cookies!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg972tBRYIwoiXnf9b9WaVPpF2cb3TowydYypPsK1896Nkh8olAQxV3RFMXHSlC02io5hPNnJpBMDkn_gf_I-Quw02uKnftFEyRKaNPHc6YEaZJsKDFByo21imXx7A18-iPG4oDQCQosWE/s1600/IMG_1750-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg972tBRYIwoiXnf9b9WaVPpF2cb3TowydYypPsK1896Nkh8olAQxV3RFMXHSlC02io5hPNnJpBMDkn_gf_I-Quw02uKnftFEyRKaNPHc6YEaZJsKDFByo21imXx7A18-iPG4oDQCQosWE/s400/IMG_1750-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790814497437442" border="0" /></a><br />It's a dark chocolate cookie with milk chocolate chips and toffee bits. Mmmm...sooo good! It's funny because when I first started blogging, I really disliked cookies. But now that I've featured three different ones, I've realized that it was only a matter of finding a good recipe. Homemade cookies are just SO irresistible!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfIsOV30A4Sl8SftB6JzzAgPxQe5f11Sn61u-J8vd2AOMJKCIdo3Ii3q7JR5scq2HBk7u3NTUYugLsZAOdjjysxplD0V3dfeMhVe21uFP3G4PCHxWqLx63FQ27532rzBC7nxDSQ0oaog/s1600/IMG_1725-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfIsOV30A4Sl8SftB6JzzAgPxQe5f11Sn61u-J8vd2AOMJKCIdo3Ii3q7JR5scq2HBk7u3NTUYugLsZAOdjjysxplD0V3dfeMhVe21uFP3G4PCHxWqLx63FQ27532rzBC7nxDSQ0oaog/s400/IMG_1725-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790560162077266" border="0" /></a><br />And they're the best fresh out of the oven!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4B95vNG7x3y4a1OrS_MMF6oO436VSxEz8v56KNWKLhy78nCj1XB0t8ywwc31UIe4cdb7RuL0DXFEmwq_h7fS_z14tDBgk_N3mdtL1Y24IlQtPfjzPeBu37YBSm_fk59HE4ZisZdVItE/s1600/IMG_1639-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4B95vNG7x3y4a1OrS_MMF6oO436VSxEz8v56KNWKLhy78nCj1XB0t8ywwc31UIe4cdb7RuL0DXFEmwq_h7fS_z14tDBgk_N3mdtL1Y24IlQtPfjzPeBu37YBSm_fk59HE4ZisZdVItE/s400/IMG_1639-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790056329505154" border="0" /></a><br />Start out by combining all the dry ingredients.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkx7VTlljLNrVxmYHY7g75uUglXwolQDiKbBVumLb3HeujVBroB2dP7HBOvDVwVF9prmVCKX84mwrSYc6A50_-Xwn5tazIAaCfnH9PLsSEmIVC__Ba7riLpFcx308yx8tFavlKa1D0aI/s1600/IMG_1652-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkx7VTlljLNrVxmYHY7g75uUglXwolQDiKbBVumLb3HeujVBroB2dP7HBOvDVwVF9prmVCKX84mwrSYc6A50_-Xwn5tazIAaCfnH9PLsSEmIVC__Ba7riLpFcx308yx8tFavlKa1D0aI/s400/IMG_1652-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790062174941858" border="0" /></a><br />Melt dark chocolate and butter together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gMxaqw9_kI3FAdpuOAwIjf044wSNMjqsD652HqAQ0RLpiUAfAz1LYDs8MBxGCSqjfQJtJxwpDxRykp9S6xje3xMFKa8L5I3XLCYM-2SGtMYAu9BdapQmtp6MaWGqGEfSkfThpyz6_QU/s1600/IMG_1662-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gMxaqw9_kI3FAdpuOAwIjf044wSNMjqsD652HqAQ0RLpiUAfAz1LYDs8MBxGCSqjfQJtJxwpDxRykp9S6xje3xMFKa8L5I3XLCYM-2SGtMYAu9BdapQmtp6MaWGqGEfSkfThpyz6_QU/s400/IMG_1662-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790065977885042" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciRvuPCPnILXIE2vXHeVMMP4689Ub6tShHiWv96SP5ifQhf2bRO_laa1Z6kcT3WP5HznzMsyF_5Mp3b0VZ2W6IxFW1uljMnVlIsVA7ZFqILMOfwU9vPKQO3D8bxRqOjAmy80vectKgvo/s1600/IMG_1670-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciRvuPCPnILXIE2vXHeVMMP4689Ub6tShHiWv96SP5ifQhf2bRO_laa1Z6kcT3WP5HznzMsyF_5Mp3b0VZ2W6IxFW1uljMnVlIsVA7ZFqILMOfwU9vPKQO3D8bxRqOjAmy80vectKgvo/s400/IMG_1670-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790077504111442" border="0" /></a><br />Combine sugar, eggs, vanilla, and the melted chocolate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKipMqTermjxcnMN1kSSDc4bUqB9vxd4UNQSuL0sadVxh-c3BJmzo5VOpzdJmYHQ_mWqO6NDax5DxCI_zHT5Z5x5BEutAxuc1LMJe2ee-jqOEKE78C5-TaMQNZWl2whIshyphenhyphenMl2KMdn9rE/s1600/IMG_1674-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKipMqTermjxcnMN1kSSDc4bUqB9vxd4UNQSuL0sadVxh-c3BJmzo5VOpzdJmYHQ_mWqO6NDax5DxCI_zHT5Z5x5BEutAxuc1LMJe2ee-jqOEKE78C5-TaMQNZWl2whIshyphenhyphenMl2KMdn9rE/s400/IMG_1674-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790078690655986" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHK7e805EEGRznrfbCLzhfkPkAygA5PPvdmVHDmXVa9Wth5FLzYzYVVXDlvDWX0XaesQuInHSuTQuhcJKxmQdoCea_ZlvujjQOLwrXr8yq-KYIVbA1SXIQ3hiF4zihBFddOqhKpNqEws/s1600/IMG_1682-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxHK7e805EEGRznrfbCLzhfkPkAygA5PPvdmVHDmXVa9Wth5FLzYzYVVXDlvDWX0XaesQuInHSuTQuhcJKxmQdoCea_ZlvujjQOLwrXr8yq-KYIVbA1SXIQ3hiF4zihBFddOqhKpNqEws/s400/IMG_1682-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790538747264658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8acDSheKbSyxLNqvB_RCyHkGzPOJeWTAkHV4CCQqpAK-gf41qU31z_9V9wWQlXBZzirKhx7tmKeF_y44RNu72Wmr3UL_lmnK13PlNEQCSE6hDaJrSCdjj0YCFLS2o0hgil0BmaCz8oU/s1600/IMG_1685-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8acDSheKbSyxLNqvB_RCyHkGzPOJeWTAkHV4CCQqpAK-gf41qU31z_9V9wWQlXBZzirKhx7tmKeF_y44RNu72Wmr3UL_lmnK13PlNEQCSE6hDaJrSCdjj0YCFLS2o0hgil0BmaCz8oU/s400/IMG_1685-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790544734064482" border="0" /></a><br />Gradually mix in the dry ingredients. Then add the chocolate and toffee chips.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWznB_FZTl1i8Efg0R8Eb-a3WI71w3MQ2HI7RXcSbUQiVx4-F8dzIXk473HcZPjTSZsi-6kjBYzZeWKC671xcBXsvm_24fuM5xiHZnmQgPAAXhEubhc8pIBY_hO1aIkeLNaCv1izbfVo0/s1600/IMG_1692-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWznB_FZTl1i8Efg0R8Eb-a3WI71w3MQ2HI7RXcSbUQiVx4-F8dzIXk473HcZPjTSZsi-6kjBYzZeWKC671xcBXsvm_24fuM5xiHZnmQgPAAXhEubhc8pIBY_hO1aIkeLNaCv1izbfVo0/s400/IMG_1692-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790550059632194" border="0" /></a><br />Plop them on a cookie sheet and bake for about 15 minutes.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-AFFPKFg1FbUros1YQICIUMGrGl8DNMkeZeLAJrI1vVMQJkuCapP2qHyw-2R74rnnV7DfgmHnPF0eL0G7yxHgvCkbR5Oxq_5b81J0QOTaCnjZkCE5BvMxqmHorpcSgRRul0WZwoh3MM/s1600/IMG_1702-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-AFFPKFg1FbUros1YQICIUMGrGl8DNMkeZeLAJrI1vVMQJkuCapP2qHyw-2R74rnnV7DfgmHnPF0eL0G7yxHgvCkbR5Oxq_5b81J0QOTaCnjZkCE5BvMxqmHorpcSgRRul0WZwoh3MM/s400/IMG_1702-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790556117622418" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Allow to cool. Or not!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhf2TWihlXti1kvCk0zzTYEc2pzENFiH6KV508t6Sjjd9ujakF1Ss_3Ne8jei2yEFEIYXoTfImM1sPECduNKaCLwIuMLP15JGk68HFf2WR7rz-YVEQYB-uTWnaPvSGxxVPFaNSBg8yX0/s1600/IMG_1738-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOhf2TWihlXti1kvCk0zzTYEc2pzENFiH6KV508t6Sjjd9ujakF1Ss_3Ne8jei2yEFEIYXoTfImM1sPECduNKaCLwIuMLP15JGk68HFf2WR7rz-YVEQYB-uTWnaPvSGxxVPFaNSBg8yX0/s400/IMG_1738-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479790812075560162" border="0" /></a><br />If you're a die-hard chocolate fan, this cookie is for you!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I'm not sure how regularly I will be able to post. Right now, we're spending every waking moment outside of work trying to get last minute things done for the house. There are so many little things that you don't really think about until you're building a house... like "where am I going to find a mailbox?" and "what should our door-knobs look like?" AND my personal favorite: "um...honey? how come the down stairs bathroom is missing a toilet??" hehe. I imagine that life will be pretty chaotic until we're all moved and unpacked, which could take a while. I will try to update as often as possible- I still have a handful of entries that I have queued up from before. But please bare with me! Blogging is still a passion, but unfortunately, not a priority at the moment. I've got bigger fish to fry! <span style="font-style: italic;">har har</span>! Thank you for thinking of me, though! I'm touched that so many people emailed/commented asking for a new post! xoxo, j.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_172468d6zfq">CLICK HERE</a> for the recipe!</span></span><br /></div><br /></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-49958553621681668342010-05-14T23:58:00.000-07:002010-05-14T23:58:00.705-07:00Tres Leches CupcakesIt's that time again: May's entry for the Martha Stewart Cupcake Club! I'm still super ashamed about not posting very much in the last month. I can't believe that I've only <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/05/heart-cake.html">posted once</a> since the last MSCC entry, <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/04/jumbo-hostess-cupcakes.html">Jumbo Hostess Cupcakes</a>. In an attempt to rectify the matter, I'm posting twice this week! Yay!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnwqSBlA4U8WEQigEhvg1e_bJgFyT5FRb4Pzn0hNCWnjiPajl9pp4njXs-mU9q33OEu7Apu3CU6_QITrqSq6MJ3m8zIMtWkxFmaJB1GZ75_pvNkug86_-pr7PbTa10Xee9zmO6Mkz2D0/s1600/IMG_3486.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnwqSBlA4U8WEQigEhvg1e_bJgFyT5FRb4Pzn0hNCWnjiPajl9pp4njXs-mU9q33OEu7Apu3CU6_QITrqSq6MJ3m8zIMtWkxFmaJB1GZ75_pvNkug86_-pr7PbTa10Xee9zmO6Mkz2D0/s400/IMG_3486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470555033827051314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Tres Leches Cupcakes!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This cupcake is soaked in a sweet blend of heavy whipping cream, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUD2D13-onbx79IuUvKpc6isuSF0hMp3Qyo3YYAuD58v4_ZbcvGezM5fxpKThn5c9eJYAa64twvK88ZjboR7CXPPO_tUA8502yNErFopqlUlhatXwMg0wRrMBqp_vhNKWAOEQY4MRFYY/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihUD2D13-onbx79IuUvKpc6isuSF0hMp3Qyo3YYAuD58v4_ZbcvGezM5fxpKThn5c9eJYAa64twvK88ZjboR7CXPPO_tUA8502yNErFopqlUlhatXwMg0wRrMBqp_vhNKWAOEQY4MRFYY/s400/IMG_3210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553387961582850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">You'll need a stand mixer for this one. Unless you like hand cramps.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcS1BewfHFZnnsti0N1yv7hdggV-uEEGSNRIal3S_auZoAjKI9C8HXX8O_UIG9BwrGCEuIWnNdP9SvVh1BDdxfaGawQBFBLF_3RbsTOThapeTRyhnC1EZbOHrOqVq13l7VxOQvLGGFt4M/s1600/IMG_3218.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcS1BewfHFZnnsti0N1yv7hdggV-uEEGSNRIal3S_auZoAjKI9C8HXX8O_UIG9BwrGCEuIWnNdP9SvVh1BDdxfaGawQBFBLF_3RbsTOThapeTRyhnC1EZbOHrOqVq13l7VxOQvLGGFt4M/s400/IMG_3218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553392844325074" border="0" /></a><br />Beat together egg whites, baking soda, and salt until soft peaks form.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUyZ4xRWXsuOgx3S7Ya7aKsebTZkFedfbCSH1vy5QOVv2B_92eFI_zduS1EfybE8wbY5K7QHIyIO9uvHg3JfMM1x1A-Qb5WljdFYTIJnMs8PjISIkvHvKFVn0Wb1WebUJFyaMWY4Yyss/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUyZ4xRWXsuOgx3S7Ya7aKsebTZkFedfbCSH1vy5QOVv2B_92eFI_zduS1EfybE8wbY5K7QHIyIO9uvHg3JfMM1x1A-Qb5WljdFYTIJnMs8PjISIkvHvKFVn0Wb1WebUJFyaMWY4Yyss/s400/IMG_3227.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553400207020706" border="0" /></a><br />Add in yolks...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5rAb4B39NNS0UtYIqai8r0BL9O_0LUuKcj4qfVDy4We3voT1TqIzttTeuIOTNSIJPoWdaR_kFjLzM5_aSsl7SLPj6S-A0-F4ZchpSLlUo_HiXLmA8aR4yXY7N6l47rDvdFRFtZCepDQ/s1600/IMG_3222.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA5rAb4B39NNS0UtYIqai8r0BL9O_0LUuKcj4qfVDy4We3voT1TqIzttTeuIOTNSIJPoWdaR_kFjLzM5_aSsl7SLPj6S-A0-F4ZchpSLlUo_HiXLmA8aR4yXY7N6l47rDvdFRFtZCepDQ/s400/IMG_3222.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553398434503938" border="0" /></a><br />...and sugar until well combined.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuVPXz8pGr-az9wMHrpIa5H27Dtuy1kJoOMwVfdhK1MSySsrGCcxnLghTrAiQ923JyQkAS7ycIWmlsLg6C0gxAeG4WJ065QJZaSs5h4nWix4gLDQQvAMEQGDSfxJkpPl2IRfqywG36PU/s1600/IMG_3239.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXuVPXz8pGr-az9wMHrpIa5H27Dtuy1kJoOMwVfdhK1MSySsrGCcxnLghTrAiQ923JyQkAS7ycIWmlsLg6C0gxAeG4WJ065QJZaSs5h4nWix4gLDQQvAMEQGDSfxJkpPl2IRfqywG36PU/s400/IMG_3239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553677647382978" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VEi2CAzuDC3Rff5sDdOoGj7SVqRutWc2ONCvzAVJHPNUSEOKUUbVKDj9z5q7qHAIMK36cwdITcIy2DzW5-6NV3Ozd8ppywlaNDHrQfol6FFe05EPpdOKZyKgYVWmPOEojC6FPII9rdo/s1600/IMG_3229.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VEi2CAzuDC3Rff5sDdOoGj7SVqRutWc2ONCvzAVJHPNUSEOKUUbVKDj9z5q7qHAIMK36cwdITcIy2DzW5-6NV3Ozd8ppywlaNDHrQfol6FFe05EPpdOKZyKgYVWmPOEojC6FPII9rdo/s400/IMG_3229.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553406886307874" border="0" /></a><br />Fold in melted butter...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjuPdnZXuDt8fTyJypsYITIABS2cHs1DmAdiKZfnuVgOVVvROK_BC2KXVb1DwCW48DgPDytLCMjkVkjxDiU6aulCjTqnjQp4beWCQBY4F5ZObMUqfl-jhwPiy7qmyrq-IAmr_nL4cHrI/s1600/IMG_3244.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjuPdnZXuDt8fTyJypsYITIABS2cHs1DmAdiKZfnuVgOVVvROK_BC2KXVb1DwCW48DgPDytLCMjkVkjxDiU6aulCjTqnjQp4beWCQBY4F5ZObMUqfl-jhwPiy7qmyrq-IAmr_nL4cHrI/s400/IMG_3244.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553681483706754" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTopmNssng1wZxjlKaJpJ6wghEfZrKh_VFpCNEnKWv0jwEwCaGp7wj8YSIgxchWrDkck9YbiCkmv07xcHhNcmuoIMvAIR8gZqeGME1WNu2J5NP3oa7gRBv6D_34BRoUfyyic4-E3gcoLc/s1600/IMG_3249.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTopmNssng1wZxjlKaJpJ6wghEfZrKh_VFpCNEnKWv0jwEwCaGp7wj8YSIgxchWrDkck9YbiCkmv07xcHhNcmuoIMvAIR8gZqeGME1WNu2J5NP3oa7gRBv6D_34BRoUfyyic4-E3gcoLc/s400/IMG_3249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553688906167730" border="0" /></a><br />...then the flour.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTrr_vwmsEElw2zf5Ja5WxVUjbrpdAn0B4VuMC0yas8GqLEN3ITmlvtPcI2vSLbKo5yQmmbazkBC9q6Yz6k161FRUKVIbicGq7usdLxT1qLRBzmXZ487qLm7atp_q-WyePCoho_AIpIQ/s1600/IMG_3289.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTrr_vwmsEElw2zf5Ja5WxVUjbrpdAn0B4VuMC0yas8GqLEN3ITmlvtPcI2vSLbKo5yQmmbazkBC9q6Yz6k161FRUKVIbicGq7usdLxT1qLRBzmXZ487qLm7atp_q-WyePCoho_AIpIQ/s400/IMG_3289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554241423437506" border="0" /></a><br />Bake at 325 for about 25 minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAWMrj2i4kRjTf6i_EDu8UtVHePjYLJJ0zZ7Q9pt5G-jRWs6qOQldoWejxiN_Y9Qlj7h86ayYTMtbUW52a1DAe_l4NBtYF2Sl88ijN4gi0bcsoBs1hCOrCpuDeiPbCjYE_nm1HLgAWG0/s1600/IMG_3292.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAWMrj2i4kRjTf6i_EDu8UtVHePjYLJJ0zZ7Q9pt5G-jRWs6qOQldoWejxiN_Y9Qlj7h86ayYTMtbUW52a1DAe_l4NBtYF2Sl88ijN4gi0bcsoBs1hCOrCpuDeiPbCjYE_nm1HLgAWG0/s400/IMG_3292.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554242265235090" border="0" /></a><br />When you pull them out of the oven, immediately use a fork to poke holes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMEBtvzxEjZE-KOdqYkdL8tspG81iGJ6pxCFlP2jXyEVOteYSpoglM8_PxEMINvwPnrcV377vyq5dN2z9DlbMedBYYDayqpx5D2FOhA-vGDh0FBoTb8R14plEqAPNt78tOAC1CeUXbRo/s1600/IMG_3266.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAMEBtvzxEjZE-KOdqYkdL8tspG81iGJ6pxCFlP2jXyEVOteYSpoglM8_PxEMINvwPnrcV377vyq5dN2z9DlbMedBYYDayqpx5D2FOhA-vGDh0FBoTb8R14plEqAPNt78tOAC1CeUXbRo/s400/IMG_3266.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553691785230178" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfCe8peQlRkC16zfNxrUQu4dTVjlBUwFYMQ8WMacFwmYN-yhvw63jbDuVRmGEqoC_651S3WaoKCkazKyhqBm8LezeMC9j9zxlKGW3z-KNDv-IsS4PUti3g6W5IoyPfgm95aYZTTNiE6Y/s1600/IMG_3282.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfCe8peQlRkC16zfNxrUQu4dTVjlBUwFYMQ8WMacFwmYN-yhvw63jbDuVRmGEqoC_651S3WaoKCkazKyhqBm8LezeMC9j9zxlKGW3z-KNDv-IsS4PUti3g6W5IoyPfgm95aYZTTNiE6Y/s400/IMG_3282.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470553702087256738" border="0" /></a><br />Whisk together the tres leches!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rBw5y6xrH8L__sgpDjUDfhmQmr6JXZCRffaON2Lcka5_9yVww_NjJFtMP75ijQ2Icjct3qWYTd94lN3g9yIspVHLCeDX9VHH71NW810wxLljinOY3Et9l7sVQOikEdtoAGDPjAvzs2s/s1600/IMG_3295.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rBw5y6xrH8L__sgpDjUDfhmQmr6JXZCRffaON2Lcka5_9yVww_NjJFtMP75ijQ2Icjct3qWYTd94lN3g9yIspVHLCeDX9VHH71NW810wxLljinOY3Et9l7sVQOikEdtoAGDPjAvzs2s/s400/IMG_3295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554252179778546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now comes the messy part! Brush the milk mixture over each cupcake, over and over until all of the milk has been absorbed. This is super tedious and takes a while to do.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQrmMMjPLcDU1E7HDA1aSnnNj1t4z05fKQEtw41pw8O0TuyjHJvyJ7WOO0h3yYqFeWcIXv0q20HP2RkHu-klWSV3iYxzLJI9BRXVyjknU2hUXAOqtPvF04W64JyErMQOlvQm-dP4u8JA/s1600/IMG_3339.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQrmMMjPLcDU1E7HDA1aSnnNj1t4z05fKQEtw41pw8O0TuyjHJvyJ7WOO0h3yYqFeWcIXv0q20HP2RkHu-klWSV3iYxzLJI9BRXVyjknU2hUXAOqtPvF04W64JyErMQOlvQm-dP4u8JA/s400/IMG_3339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554258988464178" border="0" /></a><br />And it's suuuuuuper messy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc84jgXT4GtW451iAtpGkfNml54pdExdzu62-5DX71N3dY7E_Xb4G9S_AoI2F5bd9R_shzE7SGEDu5hCoQ7p57XsOceL3gEqYuRXwJyYeTpPXgi-snUpTzPIUxkZ6TXgILgs6BJmisl7M/s1600/IMG_3375.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc84jgXT4GtW451iAtpGkfNml54pdExdzu62-5DX71N3dY7E_Xb4G9S_AoI2F5bd9R_shzE7SGEDu5hCoQ7p57XsOceL3gEqYuRXwJyYeTpPXgi-snUpTzPIUxkZ6TXgILgs6BJmisl7M/s400/IMG_3375.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554807159147746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Oops! As it turns out, I mis-read the recipe. IMPORTANT: it called for tin foil liners, not paper ones. More on this later.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLK0RAFtLHkfbmww2Vb0Wy1VPhoDUFOLm74VphrMg8BtMFbaEEtr6moSqo1NFe83Dkyllk3W8fmoc_fLY5w55JXDUwEI-nsAy-c_gmeVmdnvwV6A08lNyJGRHohKvLlsvC_dlb_skrWI/s1600/IMG_3379.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLK0RAFtLHkfbmww2Vb0Wy1VPhoDUFOLm74VphrMg8BtMFbaEEtr6moSqo1NFe83Dkyllk3W8fmoc_fLY5w55JXDUwEI-nsAy-c_gmeVmdnvwV6A08lNyJGRHohKvLlsvC_dlb_skrWI/s400/IMG_3379.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554813705939970" border="0" /></a><br />The frosting is a super light fresh whipped cream! YUM!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBB3svUmTyVhiWOtZV735ipCOiAV4j8LTLIUFzuYSQUUpUfiwuzmQLCNMslbrQcgwo_LcT7GhtQGYw8mUH7FZS5mVzSTpPHaYn3HaIEvOlnmMj1qsVPZ-2Tk6DW3Puas2dTOwazLQpYe4/s1600/IMG_3388.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBB3svUmTyVhiWOtZV735ipCOiAV4j8LTLIUFzuYSQUUpUfiwuzmQLCNMslbrQcgwo_LcT7GhtQGYw8mUH7FZS5mVzSTpPHaYn3HaIEvOlnmMj1qsVPZ-2Tk6DW3Puas2dTOwazLQpYe4/s400/IMG_3388.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554815787637490" border="0" /></a><br />Mix together heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and sugar to taste.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0qrMOE1dvoFZbaeux05Mt7D7Q0mOG5b-qeAg3o4i3GbVQ-RNjf3rpDqqzedrS2T8Odjk-zrPXwUiCtnVRwLrHGrxXCEamHivcfHObAPd5zYdSe21UUOpTHvcQhZdmxCkDEWkB8M1yts/s1600/IMG_3392.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0qrMOE1dvoFZbaeux05Mt7D7Q0mOG5b-qeAg3o4i3GbVQ-RNjf3rpDqqzedrS2T8Odjk-zrPXwUiCtnVRwLrHGrxXCEamHivcfHObAPd5zYdSe21UUOpTHvcQhZdmxCkDEWkB8M1yts/s400/IMG_3392.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554820624499138" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">This is why using the paper liners was a bad idea. You see how the milk mixture is leaking out the bottom of the cupcake? Yikes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrH7QFTA1wJlzLT4FznDXAOQenUCy3CdB08UQU3gl56khaiz_HAk9xJBE3ytBBMp3YlYL-h2W6JxdD5jIeiGMUA5_3zfTyfrDjVb1_12lPlHBBoFlXsXKpivDX2PTjkyJa2_46iyLHZTw/s1600/IMG_3326.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrH7QFTA1wJlzLT4FznDXAOQenUCy3CdB08UQU3gl56khaiz_HAk9xJBE3ytBBMp3YlYL-h2W6JxdD5jIeiGMUA5_3zfTyfrDjVb1_12lPlHBBoFlXsXKpivDX2PTjkyJa2_46iyLHZTw/s400/IMG_3326.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554257788372242" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Luckily, I had some extra cute liners laying around!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogcnajU3imamZVMlxykmFG5TIQchX59BKMZpqnia4Zi45qG7c-injJUZqBQ7-Jm_RzY2CMqfGlZsxUxVh9aFeFt0PJnb7oTXu11r1GMS1LBhh8542arWy_XyX5OU1_B3gh_ecumyms6w/s1600/IMG_3369.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogcnajU3imamZVMlxykmFG5TIQchX59BKMZpqnia4Zi45qG7c-injJUZqBQ7-Jm_RzY2CMqfGlZsxUxVh9aFeFt0PJnb7oTXu11r1GMS1LBhh8542arWy_XyX5OU1_B3gh_ecumyms6w/s400/IMG_3369.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470554801225798706" border="0" /></a><br />I dropped each cupcake into an extra liner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TpvCxdv14L96mc6DOK30n3nZaZJYeUuujvVhkvpczLfburUQooLTZZ67zZLCKPywqylvmT-lsHPr2u2jX1vKoQHdGWHjEmfZzYV1OF5s_VUqHUt32_GkbyTs2yJUabHdoGOFEe5mWes/s1600/IMG_3444.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0TpvCxdv14L96mc6DOK30n3nZaZJYeUuujvVhkvpczLfburUQooLTZZ67zZLCKPywqylvmT-lsHPr2u2jX1vKoQHdGWHjEmfZzYV1OF5s_VUqHUt32_GkbyTs2yJUabHdoGOFEe5mWes/s400/IMG_3444.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470555023975540322" border="0" /></a><br />Beautiful! The whipped cream looks like little puffy clouds!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELjAZJkvgL71pYBHMVBxrIrnt8H6uYA4gt_cUtPAazhX9a1qnIt-lOx5l9hkPDSZ3QMnZhiXyZt5jlGT3Pkf6hpuFY0AJcU5tRIuyw5AFbmJtw5rDLQSryOELmhLWoi8thwqw-PDchKw/s1600/IMG_3458.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELjAZJkvgL71pYBHMVBxrIrnt8H6uYA4gt_cUtPAazhX9a1qnIt-lOx5l9hkPDSZ3QMnZhiXyZt5jlGT3Pkf6hpuFY0AJcU5tRIuyw5AFbmJtw5rDLQSryOELmhLWoi8thwqw-PDchKw/s400/IMG_3458.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470555028217607714" border="0" /></a><br />I dusted them with a bit of cinnamon as a finishing touch!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The verdict</span>: they were really delicious in terms of <span style="font-style: italic;">flavor</span>. I thought it was super weird in terms of texture, though. They seemed...<span style="font-style: italic;">soggy</span> to me. And I really didn't like the texture the next day, after it had been refrigerated. They were soggy <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> cold. lol. Did anyone else think so? =)<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_171hnbtq7dz">CLICK HERE</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for the recipe.</span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-48006204901969014172010-05-10T18:07:00.000-07:002010-05-10T22:09:14.072-07:00Heart CakeWow, it's been THREE whole weeks since I last updated! I'm SO sorry. I hope my loyal readers haven't abandoned me! I've been super busy here in Cali and the whole experience has been quite <span style="font-style: italic;">taxing</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">har har</span>, pun intended!) I've been bogged down by work and haven't had a free moment to breathe. I haven't spouted <span style="font-style: italic;">this many</span> pimples on my face since my pre-teen years! lol. But anyway, I'm happy to report that all in all, I've been having a great time and loving every moment of my busy new job!<br /><br />Anyway, I made this amazing disaster- oh, I mean... CAKE a couple of months ago, before leaving Seattle.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rqOQ7q8rcCx0OYXMprF1WS7PQqQQG2p9a9m-g5cdQ50AdRRS-drN_M8nAnxmVg0zduoermvDgj7SVCr8GpbsxuwyUa6AlGBGl5nLvPH1WXMz4sYw3trBQX0uxzZSTSNaVdQ8BHskvMM/s1600/IMG_2425.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rqOQ7q8rcCx0OYXMprF1WS7PQqQQG2p9a9m-g5cdQ50AdRRS-drN_M8nAnxmVg0zduoermvDgj7SVCr8GpbsxuwyUa6AlGBGl5nLvPH1WXMz4sYw3trBQX0uxzZSTSNaVdQ8BHskvMM/s400/IMG_2425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122521642691666" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Can you tell what it is? It's a cake! With a heart in it!<br /></div><br />I first stumbled across the idea on <a href="http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2010/01/heart-cake.html">i am baker</a>. The author of this blog is <span style="font-style: italic;">amazing</span>! I was in utter shock and awe when I saw it. I can't even imagine the number of hours it must have taken her to figure it out! Pure <span style="font-style: italic;">genius</span>!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ubf5rtNYvqmmOIkD2w2AKJlATKoQYyHOiZeQbhwCsYLQYaZCf6Mf4cfWU1gf9QgETzHWOrk38APZnPIkIchXP6EXkHoGnLDw7iygvpa0lhu_cY4L6QsFxitpx2wntupulpy_zpMHED0/s1600/IMG_2026.JPG"><br /></a>She's posted recipes <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> a step by step tutorial in two separate entries. Please see her posts for really good instructions and waaaay better photos!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2010/01/heart-cake.html">Click Here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for the recipes</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://iammommy.typepad.com/i_am_baker/2010/02/heart-cake-tutorial.html">Click Here</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for the tutorials</span></span><br /><br />It seemed utterly complicated, which <span style="font-style: italic;">of course</span>, meant that I <span style="font-style: italic;">had</span> to attempt it. It was instantly bumped up to number one on my To-Try list. Even if I failed, it was at least worth documenting! =)<br /><br />Since I knew that this was most likely going to end in disaster, I wasn't willing to bake a gi-normous amount of cake from scratch. So I went against my always-bake-from-scratch philosophy and grabbed a few boxes of cake mix from the store. <span style="font-style: italic;">*gasp*</span> I know I know, shame on me. tee hee.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KzJkBRpo-IVV0E7vllZcdyl-Bv3Z5LQo1xJJXqg6jKhl0Z2IwhkLfZ-FKeuCeCY30LHcZ3Ycks9mY7gbMGFZTk1QMqMP6DErubffeW4-48FqnsHGx2TFZ44_Np2foM3MNkwUtgtXzUs/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KzJkBRpo-IVV0E7vllZcdyl-Bv3Z5LQo1xJJXqg6jKhl0Z2IwhkLfZ-FKeuCeCY30LHcZ3Ycks9mY7gbMGFZTk1QMqMP6DErubffeW4-48FqnsHGx2TFZ44_Np2foM3MNkwUtgtXzUs/s400/IMG_2051.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463120139153269186" border="0" /></a><br />But in my defense: I wasn't going to feed it to anyone- this was purely for experimental purposes! Justification validated. Now let's move on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJae0xdUXa_nThIaQhusg7pON9CeNsFlp_5YRxlsVXb9i7if-ESERpvVKK4vCb0hu0kJZRtyGdkNviirNLD6iBzthe1Yc2-5xukJ5IqXN-RnsYy_AYPpZlQ4Dt8sQ5Al5bZf416cqJSdY/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJae0xdUXa_nThIaQhusg7pON9CeNsFlp_5YRxlsVXb9i7if-ESERpvVKK4vCb0hu0kJZRtyGdkNviirNLD6iBzthe1Yc2-5xukJ5IqXN-RnsYy_AYPpZlQ4Dt8sQ5Al5bZf416cqJSdY/s400/IMG_2068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463120923784150658" border="0" /></a><br />First, the red velvet cake: I baked it in a regular 13x9 pan because you're just going to mush it up anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_erN9CJxamq-6mOyY6Gt1QISF_wQtCm2z8us7AGnAEHLZXBpNZ_fGdF0tcbQtAPgBNre0TGYBzv3ljzRDl1osuUrwdRtcHkbBx9GFIbiTvErUQ3KUwnpJHKULTjEbuO3-gQa5SAsI4o/s1600/IMG_2074.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_erN9CJxamq-6mOyY6Gt1QISF_wQtCm2z8us7AGnAEHLZXBpNZ_fGdF0tcbQtAPgBNre0TGYBzv3ljzRDl1osuUrwdRtcHkbBx9GFIbiTvErUQ3KUwnpJHKULTjEbuO3-gQa5SAsI4o/s400/IMG_2074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463120934586413506" border="0" /></a><br />When it was done baking, I allowed it to cool, then crumbled it up and transferred it into a mixing bowl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT_JkWOXPyfR-TmoAP43pZjtkpwYJ8Bm7TK2naSPW4HWvYLjdDfupIbB5kGQgpdy5SAlYe_wC-TyvXBKco0TfxS4COTNFlA6C0oQKv3qaEkbdiBb5g-rCPwDal9lEMtice87XxC9byqY/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNT_JkWOXPyfR-TmoAP43pZjtkpwYJ8Bm7TK2naSPW4HWvYLjdDfupIbB5kGQgpdy5SAlYe_wC-TyvXBKco0TfxS4COTNFlA6C0oQKv3qaEkbdiBb5g-rCPwDal9lEMtice87XxC9byqY/s400/IMG_2101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463120957515206978" border="0" /></a><br />Now, you'll need to whip up a batch of American buttercream. Yeah, that's right. The kind that crusts. I usually don't use this because I dislike the taste and the way it crusts. But since this is what the recipe called for and it's more of a "looker" cake than a "tastes good" cake, I went with it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_9khnR36KDTuPhe83slr7kMZh0TAZexF0kD2ypuyrenUsf0bOvA9GxwRSuLbW9ox8_bLhcCN_ZQfITQ-1VkhLHWSPpXJsXr4YDg1X1aWL2LNPgkERXqyVwc3rku6m3N70VSNh7qoMP8/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_9khnR36KDTuPhe83slr7kMZh0TAZexF0kD2ypuyrenUsf0bOvA9GxwRSuLbW9ox8_bLhcCN_ZQfITQ-1VkhLHWSPpXJsXr4YDg1X1aWL2LNPgkERXqyVwc3rku6m3N70VSNh7qoMP8/s400/IMG_2144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121341048725122" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Now, combine the butter cream with the red velvet crumbs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3RnPMOuEC6MQJKe9Q-w9kg4-Co2ltCWAc9pBxeobqHwL7_CWrGLG8M3fBVzRW1ns-G5RYKdzQuJl4wzPZ2AoLD53iEGXxFltCwix_uX3v3StsdBNtJIAKXJiV0h2ifDfZhoLM2qNKBY/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3RnPMOuEC6MQJKe9Q-w9kg4-Co2ltCWAc9pBxeobqHwL7_CWrGLG8M3fBVzRW1ns-G5RYKdzQuJl4wzPZ2AoLD53iEGXxFltCwix_uX3v3StsdBNtJIAKXJiV0h2ifDfZhoLM2qNKBY/s400/IMG_2156.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121353030595618" border="0" /></a><br />Do a little bit at a time, until everything is well combined.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh7ljvIE4_pNhcl4duMpkQONsOgQeks6PTxQ44YJzlvuX-W7Oy6s6FssV8UCM9cBG_QxR4fzrbXcyoGuIXpmq333jPN0tNRPQlnX9S-_aieXn9H9zG0NpvLzLBmpPuWSO-0jgEABsXcc/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh7ljvIE4_pNhcl4duMpkQONsOgQeks6PTxQ44YJzlvuX-W7Oy6s6FssV8UCM9cBG_QxR4fzrbXcyoGuIXpmq333jPN0tNRPQlnX9S-_aieXn9H9zG0NpvLzLBmpPuWSO-0jgEABsXcc/s400/IMG_2168.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121360646078274" border="0" /></a></div><br />Then I dumped everything back into the 13x9 pan and then refrigerated it over night. Make sure to cover it really well.<br /><br />And now, moving on to the round vanilla cakes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJ2y5PeW_Q4d_7NezuaBQR8JXiGTETs4_v1IEFfMG8klNbmC1ZyWazsF242RcYDnJkcbvFMI6BSKIo61-2OglZkQqvq3kiFE1duKzosbWEHQ9M9Se1uv2KEQHvenQ2t8T0sQtLOQ7ZBg/s1600/IMG_2083.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJ2y5PeW_Q4d_7NezuaBQR8JXiGTETs4_v1IEFfMG8klNbmC1ZyWazsF242RcYDnJkcbvFMI6BSKIo61-2OglZkQqvq3kiFE1duKzosbWEHQ9M9Se1uv2KEQHvenQ2t8T0sQtLOQ7ZBg/s400/IMG_2083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463120940644054642" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, here's my problem: the recipe called for 8 inch rounds. But I only had 9 inch pans. I knew that this was going to give me a shorter cake to work with, so I had my fingers crossed that it wasn't going to be too big of a deal when I went to carve it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cyX6KZQHFlv5U2drZr-GygLZ3KLBODE32CT5OOBj5b_NkdQDJvYOPdSaEdJj8NTgOOFx8DZ5OK64TjnopBSs5nC3FmHj78sBvWjDghSOs0bva5Yf2CTorgvAVapFpKECA71JWlhfm50/s1600/IMG_2099.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cyX6KZQHFlv5U2drZr-GygLZ3KLBODE32CT5OOBj5b_NkdQDJvYOPdSaEdJj8NTgOOFx8DZ5OK64TjnopBSs5nC3FmHj78sBvWjDghSOs0bva5Yf2CTorgvAVapFpKECA71JWlhfm50/s400/IMG_2099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463120951525959698" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I baked four 9-inch rounds and leveled the tops off.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At this point, you want to ice <span style="font-weight: bold;">two</span> layers together. Meaning, spread a middle layer of icing between two layers, and possibly a little on the sides and top if you want to do a crumb coating.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt9KP0SqOonmwgqAY0wCZUY8HPv8dBSNrz29lKPiA8QKqNHKyw6hG93xbLM88B32oUiE3dM_2wq0CxutsJeBgsOFC3A5EV3rkI1u3vbJQ7Lwq3JMiVH-zhWd9O8unTRzY297Fgertfnc/s1600/IMG_2249.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkt9KP0SqOonmwgqAY0wCZUY8HPv8dBSNrz29lKPiA8QKqNHKyw6hG93xbLM88B32oUiE3dM_2wq0CxutsJeBgsOFC3A5EV3rkI1u3vbJQ7Lwq3JMiVH-zhWd9O8unTRzY297Fgertfnc/s400/IMG_2249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122177629774594" border="0" /></a><br />In this picture, I'm showing the <span style="font-style: italic;">two sets</span> of iced layers that I placed on top of each other for refrigerating over night. Notice how the very middle layer isn't iced together. I did it this way to save room in my fridge. It was hard to create enough space for two separate sets of 9 inch rounds AND my 13x9 red velvet. So I consolidated by stacking them. But please don't get confused and ice all four layer together! You'll have to separate the two sets the next day when you go to carve them.<br /><br />Ok, onto day two. Take one set of your 9 inch round and begin carving the bottom of the heart.<br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHyHRJzDc1mSPgPR6r_EcTNT_CsXK3yVSU3wKOGYkdWV1dNi3rt9_6CgdRta9DhPm7wcIKcNPlVp9kvyd9l8apFOLN1A3JaTSfmMjrmLiLXzgyLiy-CBWQgqzAuQm5DzBnD70UqyDNFk/s1600/IMG_2170.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijHyHRJzDc1mSPgPR6r_EcTNT_CsXK3yVSU3wKOGYkdWV1dNi3rt9_6CgdRta9DhPm7wcIKcNPlVp9kvyd9l8apFOLN1A3JaTSfmMjrmLiLXzgyLiy-CBWQgqzAuQm5DzBnD70UqyDNFk/s400/IMG_2170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121366094685826" border="0" /></a><br />She says to do this by taking a toothpick and tying a ribbon between them. This will allow you to draw an even circumference around the cake, so that you'll know where to carve.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnBipAUme1gHUE25wlf5V1UfmPXB6_-7GuoufZYnNySMIxwGXJsGnQatZznGQ76k6uKH_1KgzmNNpSS18DJLnz2LEP83OkgDHp7PxpDJa2hh-awgH4LDhqXvDU7QKu5mIe9xNorwZ04o/s1600/IMG_2211.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitnBipAUme1gHUE25wlf5V1UfmPXB6_-7GuoufZYnNySMIxwGXJsGnQatZznGQ76k6uKH_1KgzmNNpSS18DJLnz2LEP83OkgDHp7PxpDJa2hh-awgH4LDhqXvDU7QKu5mIe9xNorwZ04o/s400/IMG_2211.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121843639701986" border="0" /></a><br />The bottom wasn't so hard to do. Except, since I did 9 inch rounds, I felt like my "cone shape" was a little bit too flat. Perhaps I should have made a smaller heart, but I didn't think of it until afterward. Why is everything so much simpler in retrospect??<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCurYweFc_NLRNejWUSaeFg0QyUAIjYHyL0byHdnch9rHfgPKehcJ97qnQ73VV6FMNoTbheBSxXfhJKDIngs2c2WvSMcTVW05J3Qw08TaZcDnHSz8L5Z6hxqUQoI1XRmpseNRv66RgTI/s1600/IMG_2182.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsCurYweFc_NLRNejWUSaeFg0QyUAIjYHyL0byHdnch9rHfgPKehcJ97qnQ73VV6FMNoTbheBSxXfhJKDIngs2c2WvSMcTVW05J3Qw08TaZcDnHSz8L5Z6hxqUQoI1XRmpseNRv66RgTI/s400/IMG_2182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121371782733026" border="0" /></a><br />Next, carve out the top of the heart. This is WAY harder to do. You need a little inverted ice cream cone shape, in the middle of your big ice cream cone. Confused? I was too! See i am baker's blog for this step. She has better pictures and what she did was waaay more precise. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lPZcqsGrgy9EAinNflQUM1OvyLIOBPO-wAwcZ5Q0kATrTf75GzV9mI1EMpXJduFLcQ4soHCP8cNmSXmZ9g0w23X_5lYm5oS7IdQPBdI6MeK_FdNFEAiFcluthxi_nxUWbYN7klxfJxY/s1600/IMG_2186.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-lPZcqsGrgy9EAinNflQUM1OvyLIOBPO-wAwcZ5Q0kATrTf75GzV9mI1EMpXJduFLcQ4soHCP8cNmSXmZ9g0w23X_5lYm5oS7IdQPBdI6MeK_FdNFEAiFcluthxi_nxUWbYN7klxfJxY/s400/IMG_2186.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121825805063138" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLml9_Ev66_gtV7TDHZdtUG4I0vqP88GxKTljT8EEMI-yL4ZiNHvNWJBGQCdT1rl_63yZeoPE9iCuv-2Yo9vtqhpvo7na9rS6xBlzs_4WdvP6I_GhX3aijxoL4xl-Zn0CEm-QrTuX5Dic/s1600/IMG_2189.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLml9_Ev66_gtV7TDHZdtUG4I0vqP88GxKTljT8EEMI-yL4ZiNHvNWJBGQCdT1rl_63yZeoPE9iCuv-2Yo9vtqhpvo7na9rS6xBlzs_4WdvP6I_GhX3aijxoL4xl-Zn0CEm-QrTuX5Dic/s400/IMG_2189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121835983525730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRl8gr1U6Q23lB6RiZfxMCI-2oiTNZlY1COLR5t3hjDXaV9nvoK2z0B_HaylwDadJB4coJLpAiibqGqDbHoAckogguxDLhXxH0usRLu8G9cQWUjVx9dj6KQ2-3VuwK1Dx47ZitQ-Ip50/s1600/IMG_2203.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRl8gr1U6Q23lB6RiZfxMCI-2oiTNZlY1COLR5t3hjDXaV9nvoK2z0B_HaylwDadJB4coJLpAiibqGqDbHoAckogguxDLhXxH0usRLu8G9cQWUjVx9dj6KQ2-3VuwK1Dx47ZitQ-Ip50/s400/IMG_2203.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121839679267218" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This was as close to a cone shape as I could get it. =/<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_Ytgmwmc9CW8wo6LpiJ6d9pSIDwc-7LY-vnWCK8Z4TCcPClzYB9LyHNhgCMZTOqcpRXtDpQIiJLiihx7J0FlBXaY00X5pmFTsnzieEyfxM3_AjT_SI9DDnQa4pMgrvQPZLOjj4pdL_4/s1600/IMG_2212.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_Ytgmwmc9CW8wo6LpiJ6d9pSIDwc-7LY-vnWCK8Z4TCcPClzYB9LyHNhgCMZTOqcpRXtDpQIiJLiihx7J0FlBXaY00X5pmFTsnzieEyfxM3_AjT_SI9DDnQa4pMgrvQPZLOjj4pdL_4/s400/IMG_2212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463121855110117586" border="0" /></a><br />You'll have lots of scraps left over!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYMMGl-4k5LSS2jgQ5G1eQhGjnu-zzmWRsWLSJcZBsEr4HwmvlB9iueb1L7-jnmLB_kVPU4g6Jf7SjWNnbbM_kORN1M-efCy2U8HmuSMPlnvXN0FKHeNth5klTh5OuDE95j9OwtI4-Ys/s1600/IMG_2228.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhYMMGl-4k5LSS2jgQ5G1eQhGjnu-zzmWRsWLSJcZBsEr4HwmvlB9iueb1L7-jnmLB_kVPU4g6Jf7SjWNnbbM_kORN1M-efCy2U8HmuSMPlnvXN0FKHeNth5klTh5OuDE95j9OwtI4-Ys/s400/IMG_2228.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122159642559858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmnD04SPQDSLAOcAC7dojQ3yZ3Pfvj46mu7JMV_DZL3FCx1ivd8KQ9rHDqixaZAOPrMcqhkQpSI-Ww0X3pQYbsr1a97HeKjDzIq7TMyipkVAaDyyQwftfd1mLRCR6XejezwcHVaXn_Sw/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmnD04SPQDSLAOcAC7dojQ3yZ3Pfvj46mu7JMV_DZL3FCx1ivd8KQ9rHDqixaZAOPrMcqhkQpSI-Ww0X3pQYbsr1a97HeKjDzIq7TMyipkVAaDyyQwftfd1mLRCR6XejezwcHVaXn_Sw/s400/IMG_2232.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122161700164946" border="0" /></a><br />Now, fill in the cake with red velvet!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizESSdAfKJrH9unOr7gT-mWxlT8CmB6AEe2wcXDCvn-o3Pb8b06yWYoQljOx6M2CjoRpDtTLW_ZO5ekZ_a_pfeImssJ6LKoET-yrWiv_PbOj1CSTTGHJVg5Zu_2ZJ-c_8AXq8g7AeQmts/s1600/IMG_2246.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizESSdAfKJrH9unOr7gT-mWxlT8CmB6AEe2wcXDCvn-o3Pb8b06yWYoQljOx6M2CjoRpDtTLW_ZO5ekZ_a_pfeImssJ6LKoET-yrWiv_PbOj1CSTTGHJVg5Zu_2ZJ-c_8AXq8g7AeQmts/s400/IMG_2246.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122172996235650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Do it for both halves. Make sure you remember which half is which! Refrigerate both halves or put it in the freezer for a while. This will make it easier to flip the top half onto the bottom.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5d0JXzXN3EcmaHDxIvS0Zp6vEZi0TpkQCm9zKTmI9c7yeu-4UzReJ1PnZQb8mWdNLwfXgvsdV2GHAfn6ckjQH2EPiDAJZ40XLF6xrP2zU6eauhWIEhKK_K2F4O9P6gomhnHRQ3ndvmo/s1600/IMG_2254.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5d0JXzXN3EcmaHDxIvS0Zp6vEZi0TpkQCm9zKTmI9c7yeu-4UzReJ1PnZQb8mWdNLwfXgvsdV2GHAfn6ckjQH2EPiDAJZ40XLF6xrP2zU6eauhWIEhKK_K2F4O9P6gomhnHRQ3ndvmo/s400/IMG_2254.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122183891147826" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">After you assemble the two halves, frost the entire cake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAPk2F1_BFJ3sY8uh5SEh1cuAqPIYm3IpegP0Giehi9zy7YOKzXYwr5amicbGSFKm15Px80iRUWxHfI4KOjyism37u85lthQAwycemhSN7kQQkNwpGc2-MTi4oW9Utrlv2eLiZet6tJU/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAPk2F1_BFJ3sY8uh5SEh1cuAqPIYm3IpegP0Giehi9zy7YOKzXYwr5amicbGSFKm15Px80iRUWxHfI4KOjyism37u85lthQAwycemhSN7kQQkNwpGc2-MTi4oW9Utrlv2eLiZet6tJU/s400/IMG_2267.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122502077356002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I wasn't feeling particularly creative, so I just dumped the rest of the red velvet on top, like how it was featured on i am baker.<br /></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmnD04SPQDSLAOcAC7dojQ3yZ3Pfvj46mu7JMV_DZL3FCx1ivd8KQ9rHDqixaZAOPrMcqhkQpSI-Ww0X3pQYbsr1a97HeKjDzIq7TMyipkVAaDyyQwftfd1mLRCR6XejezwcHVaXn_Sw/s1600/IMG_2232.JPG"><br /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN00JeTxja_LjC18OizXb7LjU4jPmj-qn3Ilxrn09TlzfjSH1LX75Vx5QbstyIKfjF2B4u0jrbBn8YO6_mJ5lEMxpqQxDHJTnDo9kDTIYA2xeNmMFrHs-rj8T9pHdaKPfssUcgbUJtfs/s1600/IMG_2339.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGN00JeTxja_LjC18OizXb7LjU4jPmj-qn3Ilxrn09TlzfjSH1LX75Vx5QbstyIKfjF2B4u0jrbBn8YO6_mJ5lEMxpqQxDHJTnDo9kDTIYA2xeNmMFrHs-rj8T9pHdaKPfssUcgbUJtfs/s400/IMG_2339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122510570455634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Ok, so when I sliced it open, it wasn't as beautiful as I had hoped. =/ But I was still pretty darn happy that you can at least tell what shape it's supposed to be. Baby steps, right? Not bad for a first attempt, I decided!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUKY6RotFclM9j8Yv_DuLiZoDNjN5ZK_nHKSAj9uccdtvteTtW19Ta7Bs-Du9D9rjndgPSXgDK_d-DjGRfAG52ZL90HvdCXwvDsJhMfofGOhD3gpBf4WZBZIHMUZMBeKA47xs2HFlNnk/s1600/IMG_2450.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUKY6RotFclM9j8Yv_DuLiZoDNjN5ZK_nHKSAj9uccdtvteTtW19Ta7Bs-Du9D9rjndgPSXgDK_d-DjGRfAG52ZL90HvdCXwvDsJhMfofGOhD3gpBf4WZBZIHMUZMBeKA47xs2HFlNnk/s400/IMG_2450.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463122625757873554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The piece that I cut out looked pretty good though! I think it's the slight slant of the slice that makes the heart shape more defined.<br /><br />YEssss! An overall success, I'd say!<br /><br />Ok, I don't mean to end this entry abruptly, but it's late and I'm really tired. I gotta rest up for another grueling day of tax law. =)<br /><br />And I promise that it won't be another three weeks before I blog again!<br /></div></div><br /></div></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rqOQ7q8rcCx0OYXMprF1WS7PQqQQG2p9a9m-g5cdQ50AdRRS-drN_M8nAnxmVg0zduoermvDgj7SVCr8GpbsxuwyUa6AlGBGl5nLvPH1WXMz4sYw3trBQX0uxzZSTSNaVdQ8BHskvMM/s1600/IMG_2425.JPG"><br /></a>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-43055236019273924842010-04-14T17:43:00.000-07:002010-04-14T18:26:49.119-07:00Jumbo Hostess CupcakesWow, I can't believe it's already time for April's Martha Stewart Cupcake Club entry. This means it's almost Tax Day! Yay! Hope everyone's getting refunds! =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggztn7bFrMo85yxGofMqUvuH_mJAkoUlWtfD1x08SMk7VMbbPfyyCX6yDhunx4MOO7csDL0qyz8D207L3Hys6MjTNOMwbl3Xj_7Kv46wNeMtWXDMLftxUCaTbUS3dn8-YKU-yAiFZVDow/s1600/IMG_3073.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggztn7bFrMo85yxGofMqUvuH_mJAkoUlWtfD1x08SMk7VMbbPfyyCX6yDhunx4MOO7csDL0qyz8D207L3Hys6MjTNOMwbl3Xj_7Kv46wNeMtWXDMLftxUCaTbUS3dn8-YKU-yAiFZVDow/s400/IMG_3073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161586603796466" border="0" /></a><br />This month's cupcakes were really fun to make! I was actually surprised at the simplicity of it. What could be better than homemade Hostess Cupcakes??<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vqHQLSKYWXmApN60op-SIK7wPcKfLrh6IegyX3om0VI0SCCRy_8j-QRWnSBkvq7-92y6bxycl3F2G9gpXTns3vTAHCImfP4alfTPA4YsCOfpvmjKIC9y2oNDO_CJjhfBa5Yx3bgTQUs/s1600/IMG_2851.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6vqHQLSKYWXmApN60op-SIK7wPcKfLrh6IegyX3om0VI0SCCRy_8j-QRWnSBkvq7-92y6bxycl3F2G9gpXTns3vTAHCImfP4alfTPA4YsCOfpvmjKIC9y2oNDO_CJjhfBa5Yx3bgTQUs/s400/IMG_2851.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159109303686018" border="0" /></a><br />Whisk together all the dry ingredients.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5sZ6yQvkSfblbtAkvJkbFTACfcdXm7mY1esLayblDszNXGynMiWMt53csZNyriu-U8Z1YsG-1_UcBp3knfNy-ae_doGH8UhsmpfsT11G_0zReKcWHjJcbLDsuHU-Qv-KMUz2VUgivog/s1600/IMG_2874.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5sZ6yQvkSfblbtAkvJkbFTACfcdXm7mY1esLayblDszNXGynMiWMt53csZNyriu-U8Z1YsG-1_UcBp3knfNy-ae_doGH8UhsmpfsT11G_0zReKcWHjJcbLDsuHU-Qv-KMUz2VUgivog/s400/IMG_2874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159111523149970" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Then add in eggs, one at a time.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OrKMFyWceU9MqpGaelUVFd0ROZyV_rbuEKp3Wni0t1N5rmwZNOrmp6tHycr1Zie3K6eC96_VA5xjr9Mk466lGYrYzS_j3WWIS909mSJr3wweTA8iXlnxZWDs5JJDS0mOyVON8Di8ohE/s1600/IMG_2882.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OrKMFyWceU9MqpGaelUVFd0ROZyV_rbuEKp3Wni0t1N5rmwZNOrmp6tHycr1Zie3K6eC96_VA5xjr9Mk466lGYrYzS_j3WWIS909mSJr3wweTA8iXlnxZWDs5JJDS0mOyVON8Di8ohE/s400/IMG_2882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159121362654802" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvwf52oHkj3BhHRCqVvSnx5wraZl0C0_H9auOMbZfndyLxNVvL6Qxx6nHiFmRYxFgIMkPQhxzTMfn1x0ft9AdAcvj_1keY6yO8VDvvvy7mueOUkZYgno5jecx2oQTlg6WOV-b_yMOXeg/s1600/IMG_2886.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmvwf52oHkj3BhHRCqVvSnx5wraZl0C0_H9auOMbZfndyLxNVvL6Qxx6nHiFmRYxFgIMkPQhxzTMfn1x0ft9AdAcvj_1keY6yO8VDvvvy7mueOUkZYgno5jecx2oQTlg6WOV-b_yMOXeg/s400/IMG_2886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159123063841026" border="0" /></a><br />Add in the flour mixture in batches, alternating with sour cream. I know there are many chocolate cake recipes out there that call for sour cream, but I've never tried it before. It seems like such a weird ingredient to have in a cake, doesn't it?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-q64L3l-es0o-xMUkaKApkIYekD5sB6N683bHiwgFx5gjSeXSaZs7TGonP33DmGGyXRSgT7Xd3pASUuyLdaY6-y2Z18KjT-qlxGnhWwW_KPJv7tJByDFnh8We0JH30DKi95DVI5LnxSA/s1600/IMG_2904.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-q64L3l-es0o-xMUkaKApkIYekD5sB6N683bHiwgFx5gjSeXSaZs7TGonP33DmGGyXRSgT7Xd3pASUuyLdaY6-y2Z18KjT-qlxGnhWwW_KPJv7tJByDFnh8We0JH30DKi95DVI5LnxSA/s400/IMG_2904.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159129748938146" border="0" /></a><br />You should get this beautiful and thick chocolate batter!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiMo44cNNGnocrWOSI09aDmiuM7O5WHz6epfhyyDLwc_o4CR0joW_KlcF4SynykGx4lqPZVYP7tJt8-ALf2IfkTWtWJjnXLXJ7KD_SU3Sa5yjyyqApT0qKz_2B2moHbv5qacChcR8WeE/s1600/IMG_2911.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiMo44cNNGnocrWOSI09aDmiuM7O5WHz6epfhyyDLwc_o4CR0joW_KlcF4SynykGx4lqPZVYP7tJt8-ALf2IfkTWtWJjnXLXJ7KD_SU3Sa5yjyyqApT0qKz_2B2moHbv5qacChcR8WeE/s400/IMG_2911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159741828920130" border="0" /></a><br />Scoop your batter into greased jumbo muffin tins.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X-zauXoO_YrLrfCZ9MOeaVspOYUqVhQiv5rxdICQsG33vbae4-gJgN-qr2nTFY7qVR0KhilmstzEuoBhiDzFOpURR0v1at0Jt3Dnchj_FGjkLEMkezNgsNilkxVzkavnkiZ1aDapk20/s1600/IMG_2944.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6X-zauXoO_YrLrfCZ9MOeaVspOYUqVhQiv5rxdICQsG33vbae4-gJgN-qr2nTFY7qVR0KhilmstzEuoBhiDzFOpURR0v1at0Jt3Dnchj_FGjkLEMkezNgsNilkxVzkavnkiZ1aDapk20/s400/IMG_2944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159806963897218" border="0" /></a><br />Bake at 350 degrees and cool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLFncrhEIadMY678OLLkwzzy00NN4aPpn_kMJnbmXeVn1blnB7Y53MnVPm65Yzr19LIIoNXNiHSNOjBL-H2gfQAzdggA7s1-4J3QUT0Jl3Kmm1fXALCyIr_U_xjkkZAD65MwNCtXP6kc/s1600/IMG_2912.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLFncrhEIadMY678OLLkwzzy00NN4aPpn_kMJnbmXeVn1blnB7Y53MnVPm65Yzr19LIIoNXNiHSNOjBL-H2gfQAzdggA7s1-4J3QUT0Jl3Kmm1fXALCyIr_U_xjkkZAD65MwNCtXP6kc/s400/IMG_2912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159747686620738" border="0" /></a><br />Meanwhile, prepare the cream filling!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-NNB-leZs8KGWGI2h8b9xICwyFCHSsjirfqi5oSpJ8B-FUt5ieakXUVrOofseNDnRP5uzAxVkx9HM7OVVslMv_6Rb_QNTxr-gaFLeWHHbyw_04Ht8-xwSNQ7GVjRr5OPsDANOnNH6kU/s1600/IMG_2925.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-NNB-leZs8KGWGI2h8b9xICwyFCHSsjirfqi5oSpJ8B-FUt5ieakXUVrOofseNDnRP5uzAxVkx9HM7OVVslMv_6Rb_QNTxr-gaFLeWHHbyw_04Ht8-xwSNQ7GVjRr5OPsDANOnNH6kU/s400/IMG_2925.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159797916884274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">MMMmmmm...is it wrong to love marshmallow creme?? Because, really, I could eat it out of the jar all day, every day. But then I'd probably die of heart failure at age 26. lol.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e2aFD4Nm-UAu7T3krsKOS6f9_9DPP3aQaiGoaKmDhkxLJxAHoGBGvPvEY8AhZjV9j0Gv-2WGnSiXE3PqXS68S_tX3mR-17LbJlYlnSlSO4sIcRrxbqnmcax1JH5YTLvGqKMN_cWNxvU/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e2aFD4Nm-UAu7T3krsKOS6f9_9DPP3aQaiGoaKmDhkxLJxAHoGBGvPvEY8AhZjV9j0Gv-2WGnSiXE3PqXS68S_tX3mR-17LbJlYlnSlSO4sIcRrxbqnmcax1JH5YTLvGqKMN_cWNxvU/s400/IMG_2931.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460159804200087442" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, back to this cream filling. It's super easy to make. You just beat together softened butter and Marshmallow Creme until well combined. SO good!<br /><br />Ok, now we fill them! Ready for this?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1wH49gRc1VPyYhCBQBJYAOfqi6ZxKQpqhmlVyOv_nuClk3MewBjwWSduqkznRO5bOw_jiSd32Ebrd-7ZInIJYvWgpyZK2RYE-p6PMcZ8yF4sEhiLFe6PiSrpZnuFIC_a5_HTCj2ReYo/s1600/IMG_2973.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL1wH49gRc1VPyYhCBQBJYAOfqi6ZxKQpqhmlVyOv_nuClk3MewBjwWSduqkznRO5bOw_jiSd32Ebrd-7ZInIJYvWgpyZK2RYE-p6PMcZ8yF4sEhiLFe6PiSrpZnuFIC_a5_HTCj2ReYo/s400/IMG_2973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161263717156018" border="0" /></a><br />The recipe says to use a melon baller. But I didn't have one, so I just took a small knife and cut a circle in the bottoms of each cupcake. The little circle of cake lifted right out and remained in one piece. Then I took the tip of the knife and gently carved out some of the cake in the center. The crumbs were really soft and loosened up easily. Then, all you have to do is tip the cupcake and the crumbs will fall out. I was surprised at how easy it was! I was expecting a few failed attempts, but all of them came out perfectly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXM6nlMJ_d0RoxvPu83AjmxfYoeHM3c_D5i3tpUzB-fjgpHIlWAe7MfBZNIeAmYyoGAja7zY5upWpEkNhcvOPYkbypatTvlm9zU_HtURoUOSzzFGQqqW3lBryXGHFreYqecuuRXcS57Q/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXM6nlMJ_d0RoxvPu83AjmxfYoeHM3c_D5i3tpUzB-fjgpHIlWAe7MfBZNIeAmYyoGAja7zY5upWpEkNhcvOPYkbypatTvlm9zU_HtURoUOSzzFGQqqW3lBryXGHFreYqecuuRXcS57Q/s400/IMG_3006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161268926001714" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Fill it with the cream. I just spooned it in. No biggie.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV_vKezl3NV1YNREtLa6uZWS5VnIJ8mtbHkbDb0v9gZz5UVswPdZcXf2B2C_MXbLqzXiuNZTREO0pbPoTe9hCMeiaOyOLiqkdbcbBB6SXMOshxJn7rydAUeiKUvYGfM50CmQltX8p70E/s1600/IMG_3013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizV_vKezl3NV1YNREtLa6uZWS5VnIJ8mtbHkbDb0v9gZz5UVswPdZcXf2B2C_MXbLqzXiuNZTREO0pbPoTe9hCMeiaOyOLiqkdbcbBB6SXMOshxJn7rydAUeiKUvYGfM50CmQltX8p70E/s400/IMG_3013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161272318950242" border="0" /></a><br />Then I replaced the circle that I cut out earlier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJf_1SNUZAU5STPtr3IO9nc1KzueU6d-FaHaflM90LRKRyQKt-nCmouGo4z-dmjIYdtc7Y555enCGNMkRgzcqsxRbqOdkik1GjKye6r0Z9dc6K_7_MgXTeUJvQPRqd3mL65uutmuCq0U/s1600/IMG_3041.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJf_1SNUZAU5STPtr3IO9nc1KzueU6d-FaHaflM90LRKRyQKt-nCmouGo4z-dmjIYdtc7Y555enCGNMkRgzcqsxRbqOdkik1GjKye6r0Z9dc6K_7_MgXTeUJvQPRqd3mL65uutmuCq0U/s400/IMG_3041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161285983243490" border="0" /></a><br />Ta-DA! Happy cream-filled cupcakes! Now, turn 'em around to face upward.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P8GFxY24MIRvoZKTMxHlBl6-CuAUpd6k3iSzT8LNB96id8vvcfa4ivGiNHRYKbCCTu3U45sJEvt75Xzzb0qBxtPmcDHwWxBppdSETa22KY7a39t6KfLWxT6o2gftNjPnmzjJpiqiS90/s1600/IMG_3024.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P8GFxY24MIRvoZKTMxHlBl6-CuAUpd6k3iSzT8LNB96id8vvcfa4ivGiNHRYKbCCTu3U45sJEvt75Xzzb0qBxtPmcDHwWxBppdSETa22KY7a39t6KfLWxT6o2gftNjPnmzjJpiqiS90/s400/IMG_3024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161275475636066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Fear not! No cake was wasted in this process. These crumbs made it to my happy tummy~!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUJby7cPIQuyjI6NJdSMoV6YAZhlGOxQjx6G0NrsWwE8gE3xHmn0ktCfwavtJVUR-pVH-Uzs9-SDt0WSLsSS4rNCEIVQW24boSBR7zyAhimZkJcV7MWVG5fpHrh6xXuKk82xIlqO1QGE/s1600/IMG_3054.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYUJby7cPIQuyjI6NJdSMoV6YAZhlGOxQjx6G0NrsWwE8gE3xHmn0ktCfwavtJVUR-pVH-Uzs9-SDt0WSLsSS4rNCEIVQW24boSBR7zyAhimZkJcV7MWVG5fpHrh6xXuKk82xIlqO1QGE/s400/IMG_3054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161579649010722" border="0" /></a><br />And now, place the rest of the filling into a piping bag and snip off a small hole. No piping tip needed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3U4fuKhdJ6fXmV3Ccg1MKq24x36Qczz9XiEv92SroCsY08lPY5NgGSjLL1YYe2g2UC2MIgWdDvMrSbmavnkK77fj1FVD4nGyohE_cJtHdyC1nCz6I7FpK-VRDuKbXhu_lr92En5xFjhM/s1600/IMG_3084.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3U4fuKhdJ6fXmV3Ccg1MKq24x36Qczz9XiEv92SroCsY08lPY5NgGSjLL1YYe2g2UC2MIgWdDvMrSbmavnkK77fj1FVD4nGyohE_cJtHdyC1nCz6I7FpK-VRDuKbXhu_lr92En5xFjhM/s400/IMG_3084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161600794090626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Draw some squiggles!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXn1qajLGn0flxGlHYYz5y9FIxAxLIW0YD3uS6HFPULyl8gqmCA9LbguFCzEhX9lLd9D1X4XaZvtMvDwKnrOjyFDvkuF8X-oLd5S7S0puL8TyjzBZoU5cSMSoIb1rVJ0Tj5kvR1TJFPT8/s1600/IMG_3185.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXn1qajLGn0flxGlHYYz5y9FIxAxLIW0YD3uS6HFPULyl8gqmCA9LbguFCzEhX9lLd9D1X4XaZvtMvDwKnrOjyFDvkuF8X-oLd5S7S0puL8TyjzBZoU5cSMSoIb1rVJ0Tj5kvR1TJFPT8/s400/IMG_3185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460161602104246210" border="0" /></a><br />Check out all that ooey gooey goodness!<br /></div></div></div><br /><br />These didn't taste very much like the real thing but no one really cared! They were suuuper delicious in their own right and got gobbled up almost right away. For those of you who are doubtful/frightened by the Marshmallow Fluff, give it a chance! You'd be surprised at how awesome it tastes! hehe.<br /><br />Happy Tax Day, everyone! woo! Taxes and cupcakes rock my socks! =)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_170ft5v5tfk"><br />CLICK HERE </a>for the recipe.<br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-67586516274267654802010-04-04T16:40:00.000-07:002010-04-04T17:14:19.139-07:00The Best Spice Cake EVERHi everyone! I'm <span style="font-weight: bold;">so</span> sorry it's taken me this long to put up a decent post! I hope you still remember me... you know, the woman who used to write a food blog. hehe.<br /><br />Things have been crazy and hectic here in Cali...in the best way possible! I've been meeting a ton of new people and experiencing a lot of new things. I come back to my hotel room at night just to crash and I barely have time to do anything else. I've already been here for three whole weeks and it's seemed to fly by SO quickly! I thought I would be super homesick, but actually, I'm happy to report that I'm doing just fine out here by myself. The sun makes me so giddy! =)<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">***EDIT***</span> Scratch what I said before. Half way through typing this entry, a 7.2 earthquake hit! And I was SCARED!!!!! The walls of my hotel room were shaking and swaying back and forth! I thought, "I'm going to die! I'm on the 11th floor!" And to top it all off, this was the second one I've experienced in the span of three weeks. Ok, I'm definitely ready to go home now! lol. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3LJEgIe7LLjAQtNjkHvUPFOHVsBE2Po4ThYvwSZ5CYWBhI_TT0IHtPQ6kf8yB6OS1zCN4M3BNZoTooRzA-qFOtE6ArzvJcSoIJwI2pVB3pwv2_mXFmkemQorS9wdLHmoidwyu5BzVkE/s1600/IMG_1538-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt3LJEgIe7LLjAQtNjkHvUPFOHVsBE2Po4ThYvwSZ5CYWBhI_TT0IHtPQ6kf8yB6OS1zCN4M3BNZoTooRzA-qFOtE6ArzvJcSoIJwI2pVB3pwv2_mXFmkemQorS9wdLHmoidwyu5BzVkE/s400/IMG_1538-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027715631995346" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, enough about me. Onto this recipe! I'm so excited to be sharing this spice cake with all of you!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdqhttvbdi33cvL_f1Mnksc3Gj9M8AmCu1H10UCxo6eN-sQSQYiC_l61PVuMSnSNXDCr6L2Ie9SrMwYNPVdv8eLPGTXWU2oCdg1Lywl5rMZ4GDWWyDU9jjUH6eLdg59neOr8iDdMm64Y/s1600/IMG_1602-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBdqhttvbdi33cvL_f1Mnksc3Gj9M8AmCu1H10UCxo6eN-sQSQYiC_l61PVuMSnSNXDCr6L2Ie9SrMwYNPVdv8eLPGTXWU2oCdg1Lywl5rMZ4GDWWyDU9jjUH6eLdg59neOr8iDdMm64Y/s400/IMG_1602-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027969050938402" border="0" /></a><br />Remember how I did the <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/flourless-chocolate-cake-with-white.html">Flourless Chocolate Cake</a> a while ago? It was a fabulously decadent chocolate cake with a secret ingredient that no one can guess- BEANS. Well, you're in for a treat today because this spice cake also has a secret ingredient! And you'll NEVER guess what's in it!<br /><br />You'll be shocked. You'll gasp in surprise. Are you ready for this?? Brace yourself. It's none other than..........<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JU1HSXgvqQSkxqaH4EOrLlyODxQ82em42GiGkDxiJIPlWL23VqfCQjvVyEXO8azQtlQnutfGNhnksOuB3UzGtoW96CmuXZkehHkK9AfcPg2XgVGYQdPoYYOE8DG2YcUpz5kDGf1Zjao/s1600/IMG_1387-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JU1HSXgvqQSkxqaH4EOrLlyODxQ82em42GiGkDxiJIPlWL23VqfCQjvVyEXO8azQtlQnutfGNhnksOuB3UzGtoW96CmuXZkehHkK9AfcPg2XgVGYQdPoYYOE8DG2YcUpz5kDGf1Zjao/s400/IMG_1387-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027137584901026" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">A can of Campbell's Tomato Soup! Oh, the insanity of it!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For me, it was one of those "that sounds SO incredibly gross that I must try it immediately" kind of things. lol.<br /><br />You <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> how I am about these things. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lDkAKwSgeBCPaBsL2iaxODPzRnE2gyNkkeaXwEvH711ZbDnPQGQvksAzkLJQ4o2RtZn0i4qM0W6l0Gqbhvunq61mMLbZ1m3B2yq3ZyQfgi1TuAOICsZIAngT8_rvevg8Y7itGooERjM/s1600/IMG_1377-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6lDkAKwSgeBCPaBsL2iaxODPzRnE2gyNkkeaXwEvH711ZbDnPQGQvksAzkLJQ4o2RtZn0i4qM0W6l0Gqbhvunq61mMLbZ1m3B2yq3ZyQfgi1TuAOICsZIAngT8_rvevg8Y7itGooERjM/s400/IMG_1377-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027126091473922" border="0" /></a><span class="style_3"><br />In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients along with all the wonderful spice cake spices! Give it a good stir. Mmm...the room smells wonderful already!<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PXs2GoPCPRDqXQo7IhN07nnpDQ4-QUGPsEMB0QTDMzwt8ItptGW8NXO6wjkGwJLYYG3J_nxid_LOxJz4l6pFyiCf5WzNlOxKzxNwF0jIEFEtJg_3e5rveU2vdgAOesmbncULzh6Xnv8/s1600/IMG_1393-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PXs2GoPCPRDqXQo7IhN07nnpDQ4-QUGPsEMB0QTDMzwt8ItptGW8NXO6wjkGwJLYYG3J_nxid_LOxJz4l6pFyiCf5WzNlOxKzxNwF0jIEFEtJg_3e5rveU2vdgAOesmbncULzh6Xnv8/s400/IMG_1393-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027139804730466" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And now, for the secret ingredient!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI1S9-YiKTJN-ajpFh_iJkJmLAxJlCc306rY92SqFUfjVM8zpg_vLS3wxdjNX_SZZzjz6MWXXCoFZHH9aIgX23C3Vi_KsP_1cWVqPYTdVpgV_J8MIAJVbRxyUpV1uvGjzOgftXKwt5Wk/s1600/IMG_1399-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXI1S9-YiKTJN-ajpFh_iJkJmLAxJlCc306rY92SqFUfjVM8zpg_vLS3wxdjNX_SZZzjz6MWXXCoFZHH9aIgX23C3Vi_KsP_1cWVqPYTdVpgV_J8MIAJVbRxyUpV1uvGjzOgftXKwt5Wk/s400/IMG_1399-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027146232364930" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SybjNxsczF3W8HpsjnpdFdDizRxIFTooXGOnOjnrWEVYVDJ-4ZOQE90d6l7U3fPXCY9cfsUaRx5ttoXvA8soKbE1vuwOhsgooJug1IcmYxCHO5fTh69y60UShG3duP28MUcdNNGUXGM/s1600/IMG_1401-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3SybjNxsczF3W8HpsjnpdFdDizRxIFTooXGOnOjnrWEVYVDJ-4ZOQE90d6l7U3fPXCY9cfsUaRx5ttoXvA8soKbE1vuwOhsgooJug1IcmYxCHO5fTh69y60UShG3duP28MUcdNNGUXGM/s400/IMG_1401-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027411004342082" border="0" /></a><br />It definitely looks kinda gross at this point! hehe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0V663WE4sXc9CYx4ykmfFqFyXV8SeLjhlqJNeNZ_CN62w-mCDSxtXayunv4rjlRs6gw_Ipea-VyqGTRhlsfrRLh-qoa1xL-9FZBSKfUO1AbrHqK5JyJWUUz3Mb0WhlSqvrR6jBI5IwE/s1600/IMG_1411-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0V663WE4sXc9CYx4ykmfFqFyXV8SeLjhlqJNeNZ_CN62w-mCDSxtXayunv4rjlRs6gw_Ipea-VyqGTRhlsfrRLh-qoa1xL-9FZBSKfUO1AbrHqK5JyJWUUz3Mb0WhlSqvrR6jBI5IwE/s400/IMG_1411-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027418592562978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Also add the butter (it calls for shortening but I can't ever bring myself to use it- yuck!), eggs, and water. Combine well. I love that this recipe only uses one bowl! Super easy and convenient.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDmbDyVjnZGP3V1-Ie_IuxhUu9ClKvCiit3wKK5gE47IYl9RV6ZekyHxEZwyU6ynYQHemN60jFe-SgvOAZzcWX_22FI3mj5Di8s_60fvVxeM5311G7Z39M-x5XTyOQK-qqt7G4yAv6M8/s1600/IMG_1417-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDmbDyVjnZGP3V1-Ie_IuxhUu9ClKvCiit3wKK5gE47IYl9RV6ZekyHxEZwyU6ynYQHemN60jFe-SgvOAZzcWX_22FI3mj5Di8s_60fvVxeM5311G7Z39M-x5XTyOQK-qqt7G4yAv6M8/s400/IMG_1417-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027425094406994" border="0" /></a><br />Pour it into a bunt pan and bake at 325 for 35-40 minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7yU11Pca5_XTTi0a2uVSOAI05azPBA1y72-3Pz5IbXWiGTylEmZxtqIf2UlCYsEH5-sUBZVMgFjaI7LhAKBOCJHsx1QRYmUecW1WLLg5dt4JX2FOSNUSg3dJaI0DlowPxHZYfWrvNPM/s1600/IMG_1428-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL7yU11Pca5_XTTi0a2uVSOAI05azPBA1y72-3Pz5IbXWiGTylEmZxtqIf2UlCYsEH5-sUBZVMgFjaI7LhAKBOCJHsx1QRYmUecW1WLLg5dt4JX2FOSNUSg3dJaI0DlowPxHZYfWrvNPM/s400/IMG_1428-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027433323914114" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I used my new Heritage bundt pan (Williams Sonoma) for this. It was my first time making a bundt! And I thought this pan was just the most beautiful thing ever!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9OhaiVPMEAyu8Dpm1WUllXWOSoAnTG3kT7-kWeK4HeY_t6fU3jqpn9spPkRat9hD3W_jvD-iX5Cic1eDMtBhyphenhyphenpeoHGY0SReTI_oX0Bs_WdXriMUgdidwOq-gU_4eKVW3mSB8hyphenhyphenlzc08/s1600/IMG_1452-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9OhaiVPMEAyu8Dpm1WUllXWOSoAnTG3kT7-kWeK4HeY_t6fU3jqpn9spPkRat9hD3W_jvD-iX5Cic1eDMtBhyphenhyphenpeoHGY0SReTI_oX0Bs_WdXriMUgdidwOq-gU_4eKVW3mSB8hyphenhyphenlzc08/s400/IMG_1452-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027436688451874" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8QUqW68jgqr4UrG5M_2GXcTO5cnb-2BzrxsC-6I-ZTIiV0oABlNWX6ks9AnWi_QYDmbYr1E-YSmcwfx4TuzN4DeVmaV8-_6RTAyMN0quXR5p3zgWKrGcdX8tSuAY9EMwlUoMD5fv7-4/s1600/IMG_1489-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8QUqW68jgqr4UrG5M_2GXcTO5cnb-2BzrxsC-6I-ZTIiV0oABlNWX6ks9AnWi_QYDmbYr1E-YSmcwfx4TuzN4DeVmaV8-_6RTAyMN0quXR5p3zgWKrGcdX8tSuAY9EMwlUoMD5fv7-4/s400/IMG_1489-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027691086968242" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div><span class="style_3"><br /></span></div></div>It came out beautifully, didn't it?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXJo0fpN8udCmB2MmoERNIbkUwxkrDIuz_90lDuOs2lRtcnYq5X2QWqYz1AYaAQl1fuUWCtSaQ8YocbKDAqjevQ3YnYqfh0xkXgbH6NVS44h0CjHcdgo5k9vMQVgMZTfEDcLKD7aPgps/s1600/IMG_1522-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNXJo0fpN8udCmB2MmoERNIbkUwxkrDIuz_90lDuOs2lRtcnYq5X2QWqYz1AYaAQl1fuUWCtSaQ8YocbKDAqjevQ3YnYqfh0xkXgbH6NVS44h0CjHcdgo5k9vMQVgMZTfEDcLKD7aPgps/s400/IMG_1522-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027707436366066" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For the glaze, I used a simple vanilla-cinnamon frosting. I just improvised. I threw together a stick of softened butter, powdered sugar, cinnamon, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix it all together until you get the consistency you like. (Add more or less powdered sugar, depending on if you like it thicker or more thin.)<br /></div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP4OKF3di7mDd5jpYZfkoyhcuaZHr_3NwC3nbF1By_dj7GuVB19n05dKgIr60tn9WY8TJsmznXeOpGjsSn8GgqOhsKWXgHoaJhsAfvEdYvXPdn27dVsZKfyNq0eMOI-UzX40TpilTnFI/s1600/IMG_1545-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfP4OKF3di7mDd5jpYZfkoyhcuaZHr_3NwC3nbF1By_dj7GuVB19n05dKgIr60tn9WY8TJsmznXeOpGjsSn8GgqOhsKWXgHoaJhsAfvEdYvXPdn27dVsZKfyNq0eMOI-UzX40TpilTnFI/s400/IMG_1545-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027719590192082" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIFQZXKVU2dSIiP2aqxoZSt18kuFh970AzunrWxJbUvNeu_tY5XI-u4-hDjGWSjKCh8vz8VE0TxT2cnsBQGT6RzQpBLbJa04s92OStNolGnoY64FGovegAjtaQSiGlVoJ6nw2U3UhQDE/s1600/IMG_1578-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbIFQZXKVU2dSIiP2aqxoZSt18kuFh970AzunrWxJbUvNeu_tY5XI-u4-hDjGWSjKCh8vz8VE0TxT2cnsBQGT6RzQpBLbJa04s92OStNolGnoY64FGovegAjtaQSiGlVoJ6nw2U3UhQDE/s400/IMG_1578-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027960939820610" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, so this bundt was pretty without the frosting, but the swirls make it hard for the glaze to "fall gracefully" over the cake. humph! And now I've made it ugly. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwB-ghE1tv6RycTizVtF2KJTAthUjoh78VL1bFB4q-Qj17_A5OjNTbU7s1rFiYFySr4jGxWv8NJvpIhvPosLFNC6Mgu-ms_7uF-AegShP894uRIEaDKMlP6L4Uj52aTtw1t8fpASfC5-A/s1600/IMG_1610-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwB-ghE1tv6RycTizVtF2KJTAthUjoh78VL1bFB4q-Qj17_A5OjNTbU7s1rFiYFySr4jGxWv8NJvpIhvPosLFNC6Mgu-ms_7uF-AegShP894uRIEaDKMlP6L4Uj52aTtw1t8fpASfC5-A/s400/IMG_1610-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027976568024146" border="0" /></a><br />This spice cake was one of the best I have ever tasted! You can't detect the tomato soup at all. I totally fooled my friends with this one! But the soup really brought out the flavors of the spices. The crumb was super soft and moist- it was incredible!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzV_Z4ypEN3iG9hRG_TAbbnxBMK3Xay0tOVhb6OXQobUGqfS02Q1QdGygNDi8CzRYeEtMjcq1llzKH0B_BV0uKBJuHRDElFdVGtHf1Xhjz2YHdNCfK6GcwQ9d_o944sXA-9VbImCnKA5w/s1600/IMG_1625-1.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzV_Z4ypEN3iG9hRG_TAbbnxBMK3Xay0tOVhb6OXQobUGqfS02Q1QdGygNDi8CzRYeEtMjcq1llzKH0B_BV0uKBJuHRDElFdVGtHf1Xhjz2YHdNCfK6GcwQ9d_o944sXA-9VbImCnKA5w/s400/IMG_1625-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455027980809346466" border="0" /></a><br />And I can't believe that this recipe uses only one bowl! It makes for a super easy clean up.<br /><br />I have to thank Mike of <a href="http://web.me.com/mikejdunlap/Site/BLOG/Entries/2010/2/20_Tomato_Soup_Cake.html">Mike's Blog</a> for introducing this fabulous recipe to me! Check out what he has to say about this recipe too!<br /><br />If you like spice cakes, this is the only recipe you'll ever need. Guaranteed. YAY for weird secret ingredients! =)<br /><br />Happy Easter, everyone!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><br /><br />Click <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_163hk46h4dz">HERE</a> for the recipe. </span><br /></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-53444464930795453672010-03-24T18:39:00.000-07:002010-03-24T20:32:29.248-07:00Ten Food Blogs I love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0yhw1hy3rHTyoX5iMdrehnbrneHEEdG_rbOYB27SyBLzWRlb3nrsl01ZK6t33Y_8vt8t8o6Xe4L3yS1NBfKsCKj-Ti8UruLwibztYhmHoF28lYTseZtLvaxfTYoD4ZWV18-wbfoSva0/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG"><br /></a><br />I got tagged by a fellow blogger friend, Lucy of <a href="http://lucilleinthesky.blogspot.com/2010/03/let-me-count-ways-i-love-thee.html">Mes <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Pensees</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">et</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Reves</span></a>, to do a post on "ten things that I love." <span style="font-style: italic;">(Lucy, how the heck do you get those crazy accents over the E's to show up?? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">lol</span>.)</span> She recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl (her first!) and blogged about the most amazing and inspirational <a href="http://lucilleinthesky.blogspot.com/2010/02/my-natural-birth-story.html">birth story ever</a>! She'll make you wanna do a natural birth, too. I know it has nothing to do with food, but it's definitely worth reading!<br /><br />Anyway, I thought that it would be fun to do a "ten of my favorite food blogs" list, since food is my life! =) I subscribe to a giant list of food blogs through Google reader and I always look forward to it at the end of the day- sometimes I'll have up to 50 new posts! I always get so excited about this part of my day because I get so much of my inspiration from these blogs. It was hard to narrow it down to only ten! But here they are, in no particular order.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.bakerella.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Bakerella</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span></span><br /></div><br />The most amazing food art EVER: <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/cake-pops/">cake pops</a>! I'm sure everyone and their moms have seen these beauties, but I <span style="font-style: italic;">just had</span> to mention it. Her extremely detailed creations never cease to amaze me! In fact, her food blog was the first one I had ever seen and it was what got me into food blogging! She inspired me to start my own! And here I am today- aspiring to be as good as her one day.<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >*<a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/">The Pioneer Woman Cooks</a>*</span><br /></div><br />Equally as amazing as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bakerella</span>. She lives on a ranch. Her hubby is a real live cowboy. She home schools her beautiful children. Takes amazing photographs. Published her own cookbook. AND she has time to blog. She's basically superwoman. I am always inspired by her creations!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />*</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://une-deuxsenses.blogspot.com/2010/03/matcha-pancakes.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Une</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">deux</span> Senses</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Food and Fashion, all in one blog! Need I say more? =)<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >*<a href="http://greedygourmand.blogspot.com/">Greedy Gourmand</a>*</span><br /></div><br />I like that she rates all the recipes for you and tells you whether or not she'd make it again, along with how much time it took to execute.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mytartelette.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Tartelette</span></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">She's the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">macaron</span> queen! She always posts the most amazing <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">maracons</span> ever! (among other things.) She makes it look easy.<br /><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >*<a href="http://17andbaking.com/">17 and Baking</a>*</span><br /></div><br />This girl's amazing! She's only had her blog for about a year and it's been wildly successful! She's in high school and has some mad photography skills! She's also from Seattle! Wouldn't it be cool if I actually met her one day??!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://web.me.com/mikejdunlap/Site/BLOG/Entries/2010/3/23_Dulce_De_Leche_Duos.html">Mike's Blog</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span></span><br /></div><br />Mike bakes every night. I kid you not. Yes, he is just <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> passionate and dedicated! His posts are short & sweet, and features great recipes, along with fabulous photos! Plus his blog layout is one of the most creative and unique ones I've seen!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >*<a href="http://www.6bittersweets.com/">6 Bittersweets</a>*</span><br /></div><br />This girl likes to "bake outside of the box." She always has really unique, interesting, and super creative recipes/entries! I never get bored of reading her blog! Example 1: <a href="http://www.bakerella.com/category/pops-bites/cake-pops/">apple cupcakes with brie frosting</a>! She's also done a lot of vegan recipes in the past, for those of you who are interested. Not to mention- awesome, mouthwatering photos!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://deliciousdeliciousdelicious.blogspot.com/">Delicious Delicious Delicious</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">*</span></span><br /></div><br />Run by P, my favorite Brit. (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ok</span>, maybe he's the only Brit I know, but still my favorite). I always enjoy reading his entries because they're so funny and witty! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">lol</span>. Plus, he's recently started a series on Rome. It's a food guide for those of you who are lucky enough to travel there and would like to know where your stomach can go to have a good time! Apparently, P travels there so often that he's become a good authority on such matters. SO jealous.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >*<a href="http://butteryum.blogspot.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ButterYum</span></a>*</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I save the best for last! Patricia of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ButterYum</span> is the ultimate authority on...well, everything when it comes to kitchen matters! She's especially gifted in the baking department and has become my cake decorating guru. The woman knows everything there is to know about baking & decorating cakes. In fact, she's featured some pretty impressive wedding cakes on her site! So if you ever have any baking questions, you know where to go! =)<br /><br />Alright, there you have it. I hope these blogs will inspire you, too!<br /><br />Since this is a food blog, I don't want to leave you without posting some food photos. =) Here's a sneak peak at some of the items I have queued up!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxteeeHspB26jMUvVCDDRGodAcLIuYFvWF5S3ALxVHF5F955ALwgX2IXCW3YYMjAh0Gwhg8yvtuu0iql3tsbLusof4WyZZJdfHFQFEdFyYf3WQr5G8EZp7XYxqc1JcnaA77sH3p-VUFi0/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxteeeHspB26jMUvVCDDRGodAcLIuYFvWF5S3ALxVHF5F955ALwgX2IXCW3YYMjAh0Gwhg8yvtuu0iql3tsbLusof4WyZZJdfHFQFEdFyYf3WQr5G8EZp7XYxqc1JcnaA77sH3p-VUFi0/s400/IMG_1602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452399836020980322" border="0" /></a><br />The most amazing spice cake EVER. With a special ingredient- and you'll NEVER in a million years guess what's in it if you tasted it! Yup. It's exactly like that <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/flourless-chocolate-cake-with-white.html">bean cake</a> I featured a while back. And for those of you who have tried it, you know what amazingness I'm talking about!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrI1heHM4ruz-3OdGXvyWWHX_L_LFl1Skxi32GKjBm2NPIvWyFDYvsj9h5Y8aN1RZ3MgDMwfzcrajqTsH0dd0BNyezdgPVuJOqrG2XAn6f5QZmc0zwEOOlOqHVHY_sXgiOYWqWJ_ICC0k/s1600/IMG_1725.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrI1heHM4ruz-3OdGXvyWWHX_L_LFl1Skxi32GKjBm2NPIvWyFDYvsj9h5Y8aN1RZ3MgDMwfzcrajqTsH0dd0BNyezdgPVuJOqrG2XAn6f5QZmc0zwEOOlOqHVHY_sXgiOYWqWJ_ICC0k/s400/IMG_1725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452399845595240738" border="0" /></a><br />I keep saying that I don't like cookies, but now I'm beginning to think that maybe I've just never had a good home made cookie until I started my blog! hehe. These were to die for. My friends kept raving about them! Dark chocolate cookie, with milk chocolate chips and toffee bits! Mmmm. Get excited for this one!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqYEv0CoAJ3xMk0QS0P-8eHblA8C-lCFAWCNktpLmy6zQNeEJvqluIipaknKYQ-lbM57nfJiBSoJJhT23yNPzKFa2V0w7sEbjSQnWmVRUAS9Rjhkec_Bm9lmWeqJAPNnt917ONFJk8n8/s1600/IMG_5563.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqYEv0CoAJ3xMk0QS0P-8eHblA8C-lCFAWCNktpLmy6zQNeEJvqluIipaknKYQ-lbM57nfJiBSoJJhT23yNPzKFa2V0w7sEbjSQnWmVRUAS9Rjhkec_Bm9lmWeqJAPNnt917ONFJk8n8/s400/IMG_5563.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452399851787924770" border="0" /></a><br />A classic. And a must-try recipe for lemon fans like me. Bite sized lemon blueberry tartlettes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0yhw1hy3rHTyoX5iMdrehnbrneHEEdG_rbOYB27SyBLzWRlb3nrsl01ZK6t33Y_8vt8t8o6Xe4L3yS1NBfKsCKj-Ti8UruLwibztYhmHoF28lYTseZtLvaxfTYoD4ZWV18-wbfoSva0/s1600/IMG_3719.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0yhw1hy3rHTyoX5iMdrehnbrneHEEdG_rbOYB27SyBLzWRlb3nrsl01ZK6t33Y_8vt8t8o6Xe4L3yS1NBfKsCKj-Ti8UruLwibztYhmHoF28lYTseZtLvaxfTYoD4ZWV18-wbfoSva0/s400/IMG_3719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452408958653817874" border="0" /></a><br />And make sure to check out last week's post if you missed it! <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/03/sugar-cookie-flowersum-cupcakes.html">Sugar cookie cupcakes</a>. Aren't they adorable?<br /><br />I'm excited to share these recipes with you in the coming weeks! I don't have a kitchen, but at least I can still blog. Takes the edge off, for sure. =)<br /><br />And for the "Ten Things that I Love" blog post, I tag:<br /><br />Bryn of Live from the 925<br />Mariko from Crafty Mariko<br />Alyssa from Alyssa's Two Bites<br /><br /></div></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-45890616441001523902010-03-21T08:49:00.000-07:002010-03-21T09:35:18.155-07:00Sugar Cookie Flowers...um, CupcakesWow, the title of this blog post was hard to come up with! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hehe</span>. I didn't know whether to call them cookies or cupcakes because...well, see for yourself. =)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3hY7kKPh07vpICCYcVko4MzAD7MR6swtwEVsXlVLtOY8uCyM0gG9m_IHm6dOxNzm0cMdgxa9wLoYW7x4WC2PV1V48x3qKsKPqcpSK00GDMxt534NC5kleMrZlN7NPqRcolJTDwY1Fh8/s1600-h/IMG_3548.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3hY7kKPh07vpICCYcVko4MzAD7MR6swtwEVsXlVLtOY8uCyM0gG9m_IHm6dOxNzm0cMdgxa9wLoYW7x4WC2PV1V48x3qKsKPqcpSK00GDMxt534NC5kleMrZlN7NPqRcolJTDwY1Fh8/s400/IMG_3548.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960601075878050" border="0" /></a><br />Here are the cupcakes...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXO8j6QWmUBaVe4S457Mc0qlIzQALdk0fNfQ1xdrZcN340Gfwq5xUp9qc2E68nqNfpaOvbO_VYQRRwrOCssUKuVKM5HZkoQZB0HfSw66C2g436Zo1sp_LwifEne77lflBg83ATxbhzyZA/s1600-h/IMG_3618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXO8j6QWmUBaVe4S457Mc0qlIzQALdk0fNfQ1xdrZcN340Gfwq5xUp9qc2E68nqNfpaOvbO_VYQRRwrOCssUKuVKM5HZkoQZB0HfSw66C2g436Zo1sp_LwifEne77lflBg83ATxbhzyZA/s400/IMG_3618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960899222623650" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are the decorated sugar cookies...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1t8jd1sVLZDVtRCa9mkY8Cky72WkqZR4gqDFtSUe7RXHAYTxboXM_4FPC1UeKg4GqOSKWue1K9o7uN85zWzyTABc1s-55XEXpgr86HoUKmOgTD0RGJ_xxt8Uweuo120pau4DsB6yUwg/s1600-h/IMG_3719.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn1t8jd1sVLZDVtRCa9mkY8Cky72WkqZR4gqDFtSUe7RXHAYTxboXM_4FPC1UeKg4GqOSKWue1K9o7uN85zWzyTABc1s-55XEXpgr86HoUKmOgTD0RGJ_xxt8Uweuo120pau4DsB6yUwg/s400/IMG_3719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450961319967218562" border="0" /></a><br />And these beauties are the finished product!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">See what I mean? I promise the next post will have a less confusing title. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">hehe</span>. Anyway, I thought these cookies/cupcakes would be a good way to celebrate Spring! It's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">officially</span> here! Although, I'd have to say that I've been quite confused about time-of-year since arriving in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">SoCal</span> last week. The temperature has been around 80-85 degrees F this whole time! It makes me feel like we should really be celebrating summer! I have to keep reminding myself that it's only March. =)<br /><br />Anyway, more about these cookies/cupcakes...I saw them in Martha Stewart's Cupcake book last month and knew that I had to make them. The cuteness was <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">irresistible</span>. I have a major weakness for aesthetically pleasing food.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzu7XjaXu0u_nKrXNScSdzTIvs_dDwAuWIhEu2yQ05jXa8ThmyiKzw5D3qHW7idEIEXoLHT006Cuj5rK-4tZBhcCdpissNqcu_G4lP-w2DkFgF6Q8O3xGYZ353neh1pkNoRkeCfxu0fSg/s1600-h/IMG_1319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzu7XjaXu0u_nKrXNScSdzTIvs_dDwAuWIhEu2yQ05jXa8ThmyiKzw5D3qHW7idEIEXoLHT006Cuj5rK-4tZBhcCdpissNqcu_G4lP-w2DkFgF6Q8O3xGYZ353neh1pkNoRkeCfxu0fSg/s400/IMG_1319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451110321472225890" border="0" /></a><br />And since the cupcake-shaped <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/cupcake-sugar-cookie-pops.html">Sugar Cookie Pops</a> I made last month turned out to be such a big hit, I knew these would be awesome!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The Sugar Cookie Pops</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEcqYiB15AXJomwCsoXaGZsKasndHoUV-72ssII5dNdxA598ydZckcYTgtfx3NgIMZnGu6GwRCS2nLyteelbasw8z3ytFD3tMqQToqN3njn_C6stanPUw2Yoy30wxcRmskpaYtoJBpNM/s1600-h/IMG_3511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEcqYiB15AXJomwCsoXaGZsKasndHoUV-72ssII5dNdxA598ydZckcYTgtfx3NgIMZnGu6GwRCS2nLyteelbasw8z3ytFD3tMqQToqN3njn_C6stanPUw2Yoy30wxcRmskpaYtoJBpNM/s400/IMG_3511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960328681403282" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLhyphenhypheny_6daKJcBk8rHAjbiob7406-8zA4mbumaJiQi3KZrH_1GcPpPhV-bBAgQSMaaaUmK-ALyD6G9CnVzGZpPir_mcAZoVLCkwbvbAlK57AlTRccaqFCgzTUcUzswKpG5OvCzfwOiL-o/s1600-h/IMG_3515.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnLhyphenhypheny_6daKJcBk8rHAjbiob7406-8zA4mbumaJiQi3KZrH_1GcPpPhV-bBAgQSMaaaUmK-ALyD6G9CnVzGZpPir_mcAZoVLCkwbvbAlK57AlTRccaqFCgzTUcUzswKpG5OvCzfwOiL-o/s400/IMG_3515.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960335873974386" border="0" /></a></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3_IrfRHbLcQafOoGsQBZ-hiJ6nyea73iKxuT2rog_38d5teVPdFfdLdV3d3QI0EIY4SigUzqBMP2kHsyA8vrpTiCU0bgn3A-3eH2rzn-AE4Iuq2jUpV3cRUjG8c7sfD7HwFybF2cyd4/s1600-h/IMG_3520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE3_IrfRHbLcQafOoGsQBZ-hiJ6nyea73iKxuT2rog_38d5teVPdFfdLdV3d3QI0EIY4SigUzqBMP2kHsyA8vrpTiCU0bgn3A-3eH2rzn-AE4Iuq2jUpV3cRUjG8c7sfD7HwFybF2cyd4/s400/IMG_3520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960342650709074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYeXcmodYnUYIhBFlUteWAVhk17XdOoSnof4XbCfJL4y8XsvTClIwsdbOR80ecN2NKoRA4solUNa7BibtLcmlmgcozn7DeyLd8a5oPEt_HkieEeNSL1m0l4j90QtjQyzaGFiMMyWUR04/s1600-h/IMG_3570.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPYeXcmodYnUYIhBFlUteWAVhk17XdOoSnof4XbCfJL4y8XsvTClIwsdbOR80ecN2NKoRA4solUNa7BibtLcmlmgcozn7DeyLd8a5oPEt_HkieEeNSL1m0l4j90QtjQyzaGFiMMyWUR04/s400/IMG_3570.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960604528206498" border="0" /></a><br />I'm not going to go into a lot of detail on how to make these because I already featured them in the <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/cupcake-sugar-cookie-pops.html">cupcake-shaped pops</a> entry. You can reference it for tips and step by step photos.<br /><br />Just make sure your flower cookie cutter isn't too big. Something around 2-3 inches in diameter would be perfect. And get the 6 inch lollipop sticks.<br /><br />Here are some additional helpful links that I mentioned in my previous post:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/12/tutorial-glace-icing-and-cookie.html">Click HERE</a> for Our Best Bites' Sugar Cookie Decorating Tutorial<br /><a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/02/tutorial-valentine-sugar-cookie-pops.html">Click HERE</a> for Our Best Bites' Sugar Cookie Pops Tutorial<br /><a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/12/sugar-cookies.html">Click HERE</a> for Our Best Bites' Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9rpF-riaof_mx99pI_Pzld4_JVzdgU2wrCoCvbx4KA_GcOQQ6SE8mJQFvixQO76dRWYaXIYyCo8PCghKxqxahtDSexj8TDykcIBj2e3m42QB9cBI7ZyPAhQeWBaeyF8ECBICeKfY2tQ/s1600-h/IMG_3573.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9rpF-riaof_mx99pI_Pzld4_JVzdgU2wrCoCvbx4KA_GcOQQ6SE8mJQFvixQO76dRWYaXIYyCo8PCghKxqxahtDSexj8TDykcIBj2e3m42QB9cBI7ZyPAhQeWBaeyF8ECBICeKfY2tQ/s400/IMG_3573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960609053429106" border="0" /></a><br />Decorating these was really fun! I picked out three colors: white, pink, and yellow. Perfect shades for spring!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHBZ7KhSH9s17D3h4HVxESbBPpxZ4TmM8kW01HYBJoLVtMvA1_pZ48srjEWeZhbnUzO1eGbKoBKTjTxzCc0KlJsHhyphenhyphenRqr-PGmhOn188z8hzd4YMn_pVzQhBxD2cgccKuputJVty23-vM/s1600-h/IMG_3579.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHBZ7KhSH9s17D3h4HVxESbBPpxZ4TmM8kW01HYBJoLVtMvA1_pZ48srjEWeZhbnUzO1eGbKoBKTjTxzCc0KlJsHhyphenhyphenRqr-PGmhOn188z8hzd4YMn_pVzQhBxD2cgccKuputJVty23-vM/s400/IMG_3579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960619125686818" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeFy4Hz8wh7N10yxJTa81yA9hNp02LicdnPmrST486gpUCfeT8t-TamaYgAq-YYEzNszTLATrvAV3kDPipWaB1jvtMwGL_yXEYCFSb8Vd3wo_XN8CLhkSA7K3xECHsAislRGDoqiRYeM/s1600-h/IMG_3586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZeFy4Hz8wh7N10yxJTa81yA9hNp02LicdnPmrST486gpUCfeT8t-TamaYgAq-YYEzNszTLATrvAV3kDPipWaB1jvtMwGL_yXEYCFSb8Vd3wo_XN8CLhkSA7K3xECHsAislRGDoqiRYeM/s400/IMG_3586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960630730004258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I outlined them in white and used yellow for the centers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mijxq7DqxXuT_aKEOCRuZVKpLWNeZkj8a16Q3Ib-zqloOgMntRKSuBng4ERbgKEaKCoVh0nZdSNlPaBAVPaUcoqJxvO6PUAMMCB2DmcGy7wot2mONcjLeRdC7FTpf50TNjYn7Qq_tvc/s1600-h/IMG_3597.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mijxq7DqxXuT_aKEOCRuZVKpLWNeZkj8a16Q3Ib-zqloOgMntRKSuBng4ERbgKEaKCoVh0nZdSNlPaBAVPaUcoqJxvO6PUAMMCB2DmcGy7wot2mONcjLeRdC7FTpf50TNjYn7Qq_tvc/s400/IMG_3597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960886194002994" border="0" /></a><br />Then I very carefully filled in the pink petals.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo-0HEhbARhquD52fR0YmddF3ApV6jWwc6k-ZpoyDfZeeJ6bGOCwwZs8uJ59ib0mfuic-YnLrNgX18hfrY1boI2hEcZ23b-oTPz7fVf1tb7V9qOXe6t2WAgO-VcLOH4RQi2d98xA30zU/s1600-h/IMG_3612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo-0HEhbARhquD52fR0YmddF3ApV6jWwc6k-ZpoyDfZeeJ6bGOCwwZs8uJ59ib0mfuic-YnLrNgX18hfrY1boI2hEcZ23b-oTPz7fVf1tb7V9qOXe6t2WAgO-VcLOH4RQi2d98xA30zU/s400/IMG_3612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960890306504034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Allow the icing to dry. Let the cookies sit uncovered for about 24 hours.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) The Leafs</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpixe7kMcx_Qrf2rbYcqYupgHp06fMA4_GxOoNjcX9hfIB3Y3oTrXGV1ucfquqRtqpxejfVc_WeIveVt6yQ9qqBRmB72Zb2qNKnDnNWStnzo_ijrbBcZTl43OOBOzyzBPsrvnVTZp3-7A/s1600-h/IMG_3627.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpixe7kMcx_Qrf2rbYcqYupgHp06fMA4_GxOoNjcX9hfIB3Y3oTrXGV1ucfquqRtqpxejfVc_WeIveVt6yQ9qqBRmB72Zb2qNKnDnNWStnzo_ijrbBcZTl43OOBOzyzBPsrvnVTZp3-7A/s400/IMG_3627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960907753120002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">These were really easy to do. All you need is some gum paste, a small leaf-shaped cookie cutter, and green food coloring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-IPAqgu5ETuBPvpYSsFbD63Kdi-gOJUUCHI-UmhbGS0HP-hXZr2j1OIp4wIKG4kSwSJ27QdySSG7r5aPVZCaiISdJuhLy8r6xdR_T6tLkuTzkgMfkmtVlI7JNAF9ixmYGS_5xOdoi8I/s1600-h/IMG_3631.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-IPAqgu5ETuBPvpYSsFbD63Kdi-gOJUUCHI-UmhbGS0HP-hXZr2j1OIp4wIKG4kSwSJ27QdySSG7r5aPVZCaiISdJuhLy8r6xdR_T6tLkuTzkgMfkmtVlI7JNAF9ixmYGS_5xOdoi8I/s400/IMG_3631.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450961147554155346" border="0" /></a><br />Color your gum paste and roll it out. If your gum paste it too sticky, you can use corn starch to dust the surface of your work area.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZqW6JbaA6wp7wYvbtuR2OmZYiTTi_-KR-wO0Qc4dn4PBbOObEzt9huhV_MfmGxCNrMl6I6JKRV-7nMWCyQChkil5MC_a26dml5xTZEXfmu1-cWwnNyPE-19x5UzVpSqH7UeACHuCoaU/s1600-h/IMG_3652.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBZqW6JbaA6wp7wYvbtuR2OmZYiTTi_-KR-wO0Qc4dn4PBbOObEzt9huhV_MfmGxCNrMl6I6JKRV-7nMWCyQChkil5MC_a26dml5xTZEXfmu1-cWwnNyPE-19x5UzVpSqH7UeACHuCoaU/s400/IMG_3652.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450961155157332226" border="0" /></a><br />And there you have it! Easy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">peasy</span>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPKgSEMCL_81N-ZvsZwtQ-h0Lvc1rcfK9yzsPp1maY5yyuuXjvNtqicdGGzueTmVUSmbCB-4iVYrNjiNI2k1FDcHaipG242uQNePbJtgTWMe9S0Vz9PPW06mtr5nTRy6mN7D0MxJeJ2o/s1600-h/IMG_3678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPKgSEMCL_81N-ZvsZwtQ-h0Lvc1rcfK9yzsPp1maY5yyuuXjvNtqicdGGzueTmVUSmbCB-4iVYrNjiNI2k1FDcHaipG242uQNePbJtgTWMe9S0Vz9PPW06mtr5nTRy6mN7D0MxJeJ2o/s400/IMG_3678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450961172081048754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I like to stick the leafs on right away, before they have a chance to harden. When it's soft, you can bend it slightly in the middle to mimic a real leaf. But I'm getting ahead of myself here...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) The Cupcakes</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJwYH7UFxOQFO74SAdqYIRF0yQlYHN1jC6xjUdErwVXKZ_3umQFWSNo1rWBeIOjIOCa-jR9JOdq7ajBroan3dbxBn2cNducMSOpnSBw0VoZFXKf3buhj9XC9GT-51gUBZ1CM349BCx-M/s1600-h/IMG_3527.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJwYH7UFxOQFO74SAdqYIRF0yQlYHN1jC6xjUdErwVXKZ_3umQFWSNo1rWBeIOjIOCa-jR9JOdq7ajBroan3dbxBn2cNducMSOpnSBw0VoZFXKf3buhj9XC9GT-51gUBZ1CM349BCx-M/s400/IMG_3527.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960347565713346" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq68ha5Z-dGjq3bY3gi2D5ScQ_05WxvocfqDXdWP9coO4ptYEMVvE8qjkgh3hulAbL1DqZwkAILVN03XmJ14BS7_ywhS2eLo0NeHrOWBin5QCGiIFwEPkDnDYM9n5LHjrravAOlDKpPfQ/s1600-h/IMG_3535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq68ha5Z-dGjq3bY3gi2D5ScQ_05WxvocfqDXdWP9coO4ptYEMVvE8qjkgh3hulAbL1DqZwkAILVN03XmJ14BS7_ywhS2eLo0NeHrOWBin5QCGiIFwEPkDnDYM9n5LHjrravAOlDKpPfQ/s400/IMG_3535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450960359169438482" border="0" /></a></div></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Use your favorite cupcake recipe. Chocolate cupcakes would be awesome too! In retrospect, chocolate probably would've been better, huh? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">hehe</span>. Oh, well. Maybe next time. And use whatever frosting you like! What about cute <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">liners</span>? Maybe green <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">polka</span>-dotted ones! My point is: you can get super creative with these! Go wild!<br /><br />For the frosting, I used Wilton's grass tip. Here's <a href="http://www.wilton.com/technique/Grass">a good tutorial</a> on how to pipe it. I thought it was going to be way hard, but it actually turned out to be quite intuitive! You'll know what to do when the time comes. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">hehe</span>. I didn't like for the grass to be super uniformed. So instead of pulling straight up, I pulled every which way, to make it look more real. Because grass never just grows straight up, you know? It's more like "artistically messy," I'd say.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Putting it all together</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguE2YS8dgiFvH8rk5cwgXpTIpsvImPsy746aNY3D4MiyoyaeMhDaI_52gcTxKMXygIdRJMqJjBGI9eKyTUx_lsGkTZG8a2SN-GTr_RpEhOOwiHu5SCUm_51PitciA6mXSs6bJxJH2l68/s1600-h/IMG_3676.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjguE2YS8dgiFvH8rk5cwgXpTIpsvImPsy746aNY3D4MiyoyaeMhDaI_52gcTxKMXygIdRJMqJjBGI9eKyTUx_lsGkTZG8a2SN-GTr_RpEhOOwiHu5SCUm_51PitciA6mXSs6bJxJH2l68/s400/IMG_3676.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450961164056755842" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWsT-D70RKCbEuHQzk6sioAaYkB_xN-pNrKhP9h-QT9-pGn8i3c5pdviyZjZH_ESRT34Wgc5FE8gXF2nnwefwfu6YS2PYjnHya93N9q_dTenjIHX60AHzkOw3THM9_RODa8DxdREB3aU/s1600-h/IMG_3663.JPG"></a></div></div><br />No <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">explanation</span> needed, really. Stick the cookies in the middle of the cupcakes, then add leafs. Some of them had one, some had two. I'm very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">unpredictable</span> like that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE800ICxpCRFonH7ZOWi0Xk9Qz-XhCuAB7XVAn9hXFwWTIBk3Neoc3t86xhVQj-x_53Y8Co5zPp0bVSa4yNn5efs3NPAfhtaM791d5ZNQ2k-lG47tHq6WBG3WiJQo5WPzPPgPCV-J9Wdc/s1600-h/IMG_3750.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE800ICxpCRFonH7ZOWi0Xk9Qz-XhCuAB7XVAn9hXFwWTIBk3Neoc3t86xhVQj-x_53Y8Co5zPp0bVSa4yNn5efs3NPAfhtaM791d5ZNQ2k-lG47tHq6WBG3WiJQo5WPzPPgPCV-J9Wdc/s400/IMG_3750.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450961333262544370" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Wouldn't these be cute for a baby shower?<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5DhaJWSJ0S1n97bW3GF9e8xi2Egp02bJvM_AwBfCb52G_qt3M3r8IrBLfUXCbN9JsIaiHWyu1qkJM6yP_k2amrGfnfzVYD5h66VB5P8gpWyqMaEjPczkDZXRyAk0iMscyTKz5tLqYQY/s1600-h/IMG_3744.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU5DhaJWSJ0S1n97bW3GF9e8xi2Egp02bJvM_AwBfCb52G_qt3M3r8IrBLfUXCbN9JsIaiHWyu1qkJM6yP_k2amrGfnfzVYD5h66VB5P8gpWyqMaEjPczkDZXRyAk0iMscyTKz5tLqYQY/s400/IMG_3744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450961321746456290" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Ok</span>, and here's one more picture. Because I couldn't resist. =)<br /><br /><br />Happy Spring and Happy Baking!<br /><br /></div></div></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-86458165886857390882010-03-10T14:43:00.000-08:002010-03-10T20:16:44.594-08:00Lemon Meringue CupcakesWow, it feels like ages since I last blogged, but in reality, my last post was only a week ago. I really don't like this once-a-week-blogging thing. It makes me feel like less of a blogger. hehe. I'm definitely going through a little bit of blogging withdrawal and need my blogging fix more often. Oh well, I better get used to it, I suppose. This is how it'll be until June. So sad. (<a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/03/life-changes.html">Click here</a> if you're out of the loop and have no idea what I'm talking about. hehe)<br /><br />In other news, I'm happy to report that in my mad baking frenzy last week, I was able to queue up enough posts for at least once a week from now until June! Yay!<br /><br />I only have a few more days here in Seattle (through the end of this week), and I still have so much to do! I'm kind of up in a panic these days, actually. I experienced a few bumps in the road this past week that put me behind schedule on my packing...the main one being the fact that I had a slight dislocation of my left shoulder! That put me out of commissions for a couple of days. Luckily, I'm back on my feet today, or um...arm, rather and am able to type this entry! hehe.<br /><br />This is the March recipe for the Martha Stewart Cupcake Club. I really like all things lemon, so I knew immediately that this cupcake and I would be BFFs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucRtUmCCnJgYQhM6lCNBw-BzDwf5mqNNPI6usUdXd3q4C9eOfTB5j38qafLsB-TYRVYHIfwic3LU4LvHgUL8DYNhZmZjwiahWNwClzR6SN_r16T8uTLH0KR3vZ-ZVzvXjqZ6WCXzeGRQ/s1600-h/IMG_2651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucRtUmCCnJgYQhM6lCNBw-BzDwf5mqNNPI6usUdXd3q4C9eOfTB5j38qafLsB-TYRVYHIfwic3LU4LvHgUL8DYNhZmZjwiahWNwClzR6SN_r16T8uTLH0KR3vZ-ZVzvXjqZ6WCXzeGRQ/s400/IMG_2651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141607033369122" border="0" /></a><br />It's a lemon cupcake, filled with lemon curd and topped with a light meringue frosting. Deeeeelish!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) Lemon Cupcakes</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVis8z-K-L4Oobwq2YBxmu395TIxcVi4cp0WFPe8yyogzZVBGvHsY6weXqxitG_dv-mrBSRhM9Dokj6580nkACUWD5H9J655c6uw6Mla2wn2Wvebuj0anP7FZsBZ_vCGJ2GCbhyphenhyphenKwCrHQ/s1600-h/IMG_2504.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVis8z-K-L4Oobwq2YBxmu395TIxcVi4cp0WFPe8yyogzZVBGvHsY6weXqxitG_dv-mrBSRhM9Dokj6580nkACUWD5H9J655c6uw6Mla2wn2Wvebuj0anP7FZsBZ_vCGJ2GCbhyphenhyphenKwCrHQ/s400/IMG_2504.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140032799041538" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sift together the dry ingredients.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyPHWHwbDY3APf8CkydFsxRPuI1M_GzGK6NbaFY7KQIccHfdvsjMu8oDfnXBFrMMxGxDO7F7EV7JoWsp25zcWB6tzdHuKSSNrqtA0h8WMfaee0HQWXfccIz29jQ3qbTlh0ATx2NeporI/s1600-h/IMG_2516.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyPHWHwbDY3APf8CkydFsxRPuI1M_GzGK6NbaFY7KQIccHfdvsjMu8oDfnXBFrMMxGxDO7F7EV7JoWsp25zcWB6tzdHuKSSNrqtA0h8WMfaee0HQWXfccIz29jQ3qbTlh0ATx2NeporI/s400/IMG_2516.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140045715683730" border="0" /></a><br />Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Add eggs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmWX-hL6d_Fusnx8dzj9bsoLZ2O40y2kL-m8Ddnv1b6_X_WSQ61YzCPGd6WyoEihUzP0xZf43tbs_4qbPu8CstPp4cgjwhelIU9Bpg447mcUiVQDvqMB1D8QdKyBzzwY6UmONYRWWuiM/s1600-h/IMG_2520.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmWX-hL6d_Fusnx8dzj9bsoLZ2O40y2kL-m8Ddnv1b6_X_WSQ61YzCPGd6WyoEihUzP0xZf43tbs_4qbPu8CstPp4cgjwhelIU9Bpg447mcUiVQDvqMB1D8QdKyBzzwY6UmONYRWWuiM/s400/IMG_2520.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140054179992418" border="0" /></a><br />Beat in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUJbkZMFQmTtE2DrVnwVrBi7Xkvo8fSKLogZIblkS9mNJ16VL_6SpArLD6jrF7ZAXEopWQqozRflVz8zyHsXXQdQTc3f_7LQ7n16GtXIBTZKJ92xxaigkblTtkrZC_3jCPMnrmHvLclM/s1600-h/IMG_2536.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUJbkZMFQmTtE2DrVnwVrBi7Xkvo8fSKLogZIblkS9mNJ16VL_6SpArLD6jrF7ZAXEopWQqozRflVz8zyHsXXQdQTc3f_7LQ7n16GtXIBTZKJ92xxaigkblTtkrZC_3jCPMnrmHvLclM/s400/IMG_2536.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447140062806728386" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VkdokZFpwZK2gyIbT1U7MIJfqtvDF3rwidTs0IxiuqFw_O-fns4Dx4qIV69uvp4aZNVYMcy7PKAMq69yDvfvt2kvSM_3QOdMqMYbWxcavBZKlR0n1TZwmGlPyTrWndszkPV88yFotW8/s1600-h/IMG_2540.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VkdokZFpwZK2gyIbT1U7MIJfqtvDF3rwidTs0IxiuqFw_O-fns4Dx4qIV69uvp4aZNVYMcy7PKAMq69yDvfvt2kvSM_3QOdMqMYbWxcavBZKlR0n1TZwmGlPyTrWndszkPV88yFotW8/s400/IMG_2540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141307435091858" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOvZpeTx3DSL_QxQ456FQt8VZNyiM3U6By671N9QOwLIQPiehSGzflUT5A2UNUBagHYmgVICCLdT1EIKJpw2_UpUbWXiQv7AbgJzgRKstuEAjp_TmOfwSMq9Nxr94Q_LexW8yyV023Q4/s1600-h/IMG_2546.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOvZpeTx3DSL_QxQ456FQt8VZNyiM3U6By671N9QOwLIQPiehSGzflUT5A2UNUBagHYmgVICCLdT1EIKJpw2_UpUbWXiQv7AbgJzgRKstuEAjp_TmOfwSMq9Nxr94Q_LexW8yyV023Q4/s400/IMG_2546.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141314869485570" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk and lemon juice, and beating until just combined after each.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG8U5KWjwBeJlxVhhVWGxtdUVE-AWVwfUmeZzao4L3wUgHugGXO4YuJc2lwX5YLr-nNhCrZ6pDOm17_STbmE0OL9IX4cVRL-g9teMGAypjSDWzmIKY2HpVpwXdPArIzgqm4ATG6E9KFo/s1600-h/IMG_2569.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirG8U5KWjwBeJlxVhhVWGxtdUVE-AWVwfUmeZzao4L3wUgHugGXO4YuJc2lwX5YLr-nNhCrZ6pDOm17_STbmE0OL9IX4cVRL-g9teMGAypjSDWzmIKY2HpVpwXdPArIzgqm4ATG6E9KFo/s400/IMG_2569.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141323858766594" border="0" /></a><br />Bake at 325F for about 25 minutes.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) Lemon Curd</span><br /><br />For step by step instructions and photos on how to make lemon curd, click <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/09/lemon-filled-vanilla-cupcakes-with.html">HERE</a>.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-c24GNVbk96pr1rXsXP41Ejwf95Mcp-XjM0dqL49_IadWLnYYl4LM7jgQ5KO-JQTKJ4JYH9rGv-PmO3285-PywuYGtgfqZjOx1H_5Lxef0jLE1M1TXuCnYqEXeEOwOvdC4fWwRkcEGY4/s1600-h/IMG_2586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-c24GNVbk96pr1rXsXP41Ejwf95Mcp-XjM0dqL49_IadWLnYYl4LM7jgQ5KO-JQTKJ4JYH9rGv-PmO3285-PywuYGtgfqZjOx1H_5Lxef0jLE1M1TXuCnYqEXeEOwOvdC4fWwRkcEGY4/s400/IMG_2586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141327941715298" border="0" /></a><br />After the lemon curd had a chance to chill and set, I spooned it into a piping bag with a large round tip.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFE8Y_1SHv4ixMKnBwvZ0W-0iKZsdq9SOZkvqO7XBUiN-vr0d9lYh2Hm73fVda-NG6a9lK0X9dsSeEhOkcQzwft5DevhTB1FCIFr5AykXNRJdtM7KrvAR097p4s2lSmoeirVOujjLrYI/s1600-h/IMG_2593.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFE8Y_1SHv4ixMKnBwvZ0W-0iKZsdq9SOZkvqO7XBUiN-vr0d9lYh2Hm73fVda-NG6a9lK0X9dsSeEhOkcQzwft5DevhTB1FCIFr5AykXNRJdtM7KrvAR097p4s2lSmoeirVOujjLrYI/s400/IMG_2593.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141337417337410" border="0" /></a><br />Then I used it to inject the lemon curd into the cupcake. This way, it'll have a nice lemony filling! (The recipe says to just spread the lemon curd on the cupcake, then follow with the frosting.)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) The Meringue Frosting</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVD4JF3dlzTgWm1WMtdKtPHSNOsDrzcO6zoJFsmpMhLsbkFvc2yhwmDCKxJ30Uukf4MJI18gAeynbsNyJ9HiVxeA3xjCdhaaNW1cQJ08nMrlHzExGcR_oglqH_su81DchrEMynTCjrGQ/s1600-h/IMG_2609.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVD4JF3dlzTgWm1WMtdKtPHSNOsDrzcO6zoJFsmpMhLsbkFvc2yhwmDCKxJ30Uukf4MJI18gAeynbsNyJ9HiVxeA3xjCdhaaNW1cQJ08nMrlHzExGcR_oglqH_su81DchrEMynTCjrGQ/s400/IMG_2609.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141592985643138" border="0" /></a><br />Sorry, I don't have step by step photos for this, but it's a lot similar to the IMB, only minus the butter step. You can reference <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/11/chocolate-cupcakes-with-matcha-italian.html">this entry</a> for detailed photos on IMB.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33lCZX7QC0e95zS7R4OwukzNzT5MVas2SVt1hdZjOEjToO9InrT2Z5CiiP3J1BvMT3wcWuHY57IZXNr-N4R0fkhyCCEzmqskwcdkYHOIn3WdqsxvgH6Q4P4uQFkdwoRvwxs5TH-7dMe0/s1600-h/IMG_2624.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj33lCZX7QC0e95zS7R4OwukzNzT5MVas2SVt1hdZjOEjToO9InrT2Z5CiiP3J1BvMT3wcWuHY57IZXNr-N4R0fkhyCCEzmqskwcdkYHOIn3WdqsxvgH6Q4P4uQFkdwoRvwxs5TH-7dMe0/s400/IMG_2624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141596761654306" border="0" /></a><br />I really like this frosting! It's exactly the same as IMB, only you don't add any butter what so ever. You whip up egg whites until soft peaks, then pour in hot sugar syrup. For people who complain that there's too much butter in the IMB/SMB, this is a really good alternative. (Bryn, you'd like this one!) It comes out SUPER light and fluffy.<br /><br />It stiffens up a little bit if you leave it out. So you have to pipe it on immediately. It will hold its shape really well- awesome swirls, but you have to work quickly. This is not to say that it's stiff or hard when you bite into it. It's still super soft, airy, and delicious!<br /><br />A really interesting frosting. Definitely worth trying.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0L36YhDceufnu1rjAKuFlaQYVJ9QwuOT5tFcTelQsVH4iKHdqVAge0TbYv-2gFWu5UphSYz98bPaCIgazw2hh73kOnVd5e98w8drqGLoReyKiyNWbS5Y-X-pm-xHLS2m7Ff4-0FKIqfk/s1600-h/IMG_2705.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0L36YhDceufnu1rjAKuFlaQYVJ9QwuOT5tFcTelQsVH4iKHdqVAge0TbYv-2gFWu5UphSYz98bPaCIgazw2hh73kOnVd5e98w8drqGLoReyKiyNWbS5Y-X-pm-xHLS2m7Ff4-0FKIqfk/s400/IMG_2705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447141611754525906" border="0" /></a><br />You can see more clearly in this picture that the frosting holds its shape, even when it's half falling off of the cupcake. Weird, huh? Weird, but fabulous! Mmmm... look at that yummy lemon filling!<br /><br />You can also fire up a kitchen torch and brown the edges of the frosting, kinda like what you'd do for marshmallow. I didn't have time for it, but it would've been really pretty.<br /><br />Since I'm short on time these days, I'm going to wrap this up quickly. Simply put, there's my opinion on these cupcakes:<br /><br />(1) Must try, especially if you're a lemon fan<br />(2) Super delicious flavors, with a very unique frosting<br />(3) Would definitely make these again<br />(4) One of my favorite cupcakes<br /><br />Ok, see you all next week! I'll be in Cali by then! =)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_169d9kb7fmp">Click HERE</a> for the recipes.Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-34235094207897852062010-03-03T14:11:00.000-08:002010-03-04T08:27:24.667-08:00Peanut Butter Cookies - Surprise!First off, I want to thank everyone for the flood of supportive comments and emails that I received about my <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/03/life-changes.html">last entry</a>! I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> can't express how much all of your warm wishes means to me. This blog has been a huge part of my life ever since starting it about eight months ago. It's brought me so much joy and happiness. I've never been so passionate about anything before in my entire life, and I'm sad about having to put it on the back burner for a while...<br /><br />But I assure you that I am trying very hard to queue up some posts so that I can still continue to share recipes with all of you while I'm away. So, please don't think that I'm going to abandon blogging all together until June. The posts will be sporadic and less frequent. But I promise that I'll be posting here and there, so not to worry! I'm sorry if I scared some of you into thinking that I was going completely MIA for three months straight! It's true that I won't have a kitchen and won't be able to cook, but I'll have recipes/pictures saved up so that I can still blog occasionally while I'm in Cali. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIq3a6ZpqvXorHZ7X__f22Rd4huafYze5D2Vhyphenhyphen_QG_FjKWnT428qEnmL2ekMT4EzAX2cHKh1VmidqH0Nv_kmlZx0QUqRSvPvdIn-oGKdHWCxAgRIFTY48ts3b_genpqrb_ZPPj-pErPA/s1600-h/IMG_2009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIq3a6ZpqvXorHZ7X__f22Rd4huafYze5D2Vhyphenhyphen_QG_FjKWnT428qEnmL2ekMT4EzAX2cHKh1VmidqH0Nv_kmlZx0QUqRSvPvdIn-oGKdHWCxAgRIFTY48ts3b_genpqrb_ZPPj-pErPA/s400/IMG_2009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534955017555458" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, so onto today's recipe! These look like any boring old peanut butter cookies, right? Wrong! They're what I like to call "Peanut Butter Cookies Surprise!" What's the secret ingredient, you ask? Tee hee. You'll never guess! And you probably won't even believe me until you see the step by step photos for yourself, but it's none other than:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKkwPcEUvK2v6-jTypGKgmPM-NWZXBVOIq6lLFi_7tZNmImCigWgqj8D9dIAuh_NWBjWjQxw5JaC0vAkNjduQyFaUw_omIdl9-t2frJJ9nSfx2S5KBd6Cz7pYU2AJjnykaORdakWJokk/s1600-h/IMG_1934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKkwPcEUvK2v6-jTypGKgmPM-NWZXBVOIq6lLFi_7tZNmImCigWgqj8D9dIAuh_NWBjWjQxw5JaC0vAkNjduQyFaUw_omIdl9-t2frJJ9nSfx2S5KBd6Cz7pYU2AJjnykaORdakWJokk/s400/IMG_1934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534210808055490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">KETCHUP!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Bet you did a double take, didn't you? =) And I bet the first thing that came to mind was "yuck!" hehe. Because I know that's exactly what I thought, too, when I first saw the recipe.<br /><br />Ok, so here's how this whole peanut-butter-ketchup-cookie thing came to be: last week, a fellow blogger, Mike of <a href="http://web.me.com/mikejdunlap/Site/BLOG/Entries/2010/3/3_Secret_Spice_Cookies.html">Good Things About Living out West</a>, emailed me a photo of the following ketchup bottle that he came across while grocery shopping:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjki3QCLLN1PSlrqVjQ2a3zGJ9IiCMGNECcIwfpr83a42u1NaENtOo7C8kozzTQ1CTDZhKu9iaAcUerXi2hFp0YXHLmm_1gpXfc3GShpZSliY4MOLTwm8EhYlZbVxWkCc_t2KGNlTZugFA/s1600-h/0226001823.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjki3QCLLN1PSlrqVjQ2a3zGJ9IiCMGNECcIwfpr83a42u1NaENtOo7C8kozzTQ1CTDZhKu9iaAcUerXi2hFp0YXHLmm_1gpXfc3GShpZSliY4MOLTwm8EhYlZbVxWkCc_t2KGNlTZugFA/s400/0226001823.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444612755967193586" border="0" /></a><br />I was instantly intrigued and went to <a href="http://www.heinzketchup.com/RecipeCollection.aspx?collection=desserts">the website</a> to check out the recipes. WOW. Incredibly, they put ketchup in a lot of popular desserts! I'm talking: apple pie, cookies, and cakes! The PB cookies were <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> especially disgusting sounding that I had to bake them immediately- just to, you know, prove that they were disgusting. lol.<br /><br />So Mike and I decided to do a collaborative blog project where we'd both try one of the ketchup cookie recipes and post on the same day! That way, we can let our readers know how TWO ketchup dessert recipes panned out! Fun! So make sure to check out his blog for <a href="http://web.me.com/mikejdunlap/Site/BLOG/Entries/2010/3/3_Secret_Spice_Cookies.html">Spice Ketchup cookies</a>.<br /><br />Ok, here goes nothing! In the spirit of weird kitchen experiments, I give you: PB Ketchup Cookies!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_64X3FxCjN5bdEjcNT9Qqf7krpEqku_thXmWHOmVRfyZVGGeVFBBxfLcHhMC-fxD9ZDttHTjcABp-pRZ_KE2MZEFfRpMalJlhvZQoO84qVaPx_FbK-mZ0jumQoVlwl4UfqWQlc_5LeSI/s1600-h/IMG_1918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_64X3FxCjN5bdEjcNT9Qqf7krpEqku_thXmWHOmVRfyZVGGeVFBBxfLcHhMC-fxD9ZDttHTjcABp-pRZ_KE2MZEFfRpMalJlhvZQoO84qVaPx_FbK-mZ0jumQoVlwl4UfqWQlc_5LeSI/s400/IMG_1918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534188076865586" border="0" /></a><br />It started out innocently enough. Combine the dry ingredients.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAmIdqWehph02PJqbUUnRmewe_FIOtZOZfHCWeud4LvGjerYJvIIfwXBykczNxOt7fuVMeFfjLyPUWT189Of5U1-MEYZbwoInZLyTWPKUfbBRRoP1UxosOH1_l4ZcyqptnFRYSgp-iyo/s1600-h/IMG_1920.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAmIdqWehph02PJqbUUnRmewe_FIOtZOZfHCWeud4LvGjerYJvIIfwXBykczNxOt7fuVMeFfjLyPUWT189Of5U1-MEYZbwoInZLyTWPKUfbBRRoP1UxosOH1_l4ZcyqptnFRYSgp-iyo/s400/IMG_1920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534195216861394" border="0" /></a><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KyYPbwy-VCCZdg1UOADkkaUyE8C064y0MXgmQN0SNSh3MD4wnjX8LkfK2C6Esee-jhEdg3GjIeEzTNYYshOZpcYBgzqpRaktm5DlQuQAwgP2udIVdQ5dkW6lktbCJbCqehK9umOxDNw/s1600-h/IMG_1924.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KyYPbwy-VCCZdg1UOADkkaUyE8C064y0MXgmQN0SNSh3MD4wnjX8LkfK2C6Esee-jhEdg3GjIeEzTNYYshOZpcYBgzqpRaktm5DlQuQAwgP2udIVdQ5dkW6lktbCJbCqehK9umOxDNw/s400/IMG_1924.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534202921154114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AAG55r7fZd1F2Bg3Z-71MgeRrSDlElv5CRTE723cg02ghj5t7AtPp5q_udf1_NTzi_lNrsONe8wKuPxYbpLxc_kmfZisItj9Uos1bc5FWchDRaiCbJ46dmeBhyMRv9qJa-68lXrKp_A/s1600-h/IMG_1947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AAG55r7fZd1F2Bg3Z-71MgeRrSDlElv5CRTE723cg02ghj5t7AtPp5q_udf1_NTzi_lNrsONe8wKuPxYbpLxc_kmfZisItj9Uos1bc5FWchDRaiCbJ46dmeBhyMRv9qJa-68lXrKp_A/s400/IMG_1947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534220767716674" border="0" /></a><br />In a separate bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and peanut butter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DOVBjxVNGyl9THH31krrG1J38IXiX9H2JQeiiVwJFHR8s0oih-K2s0Vk2zsDnO1uiOCiY8jYy_DEj13-Uvrf8ctgdoZk-o3_cS_WnP5mEvaAk3PnMVkf0TMphPJoE-bsVrB07nygUxM/s1600-h/IMG_1955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DOVBjxVNGyl9THH31krrG1J38IXiX9H2JQeiiVwJFHR8s0oih-K2s0Vk2zsDnO1uiOCiY8jYy_DEj13-Uvrf8ctgdoZk-o3_cS_WnP5mEvaAk3PnMVkf0TMphPJoE-bsVrB07nygUxM/s400/IMG_1955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534565278195634" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Now comes the secret ingredient! And an egg. Eww. I was definitely feeling thoroughly disgusted at this point! hehe. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uWc1kzjOJwHHN_EbtHnbDgfLn_DZgd_NnEyxo6XcN9zoR8w-Jux-FP6L2aG8nfKi-qvHsmYMalS1_2quOIrrWVgiTTzwRtZcEjI_SU9VZqddcFH9mc710obZv-vHArlVUU2GdPfAZ10/s1600-h/IMG_1957.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uWc1kzjOJwHHN_EbtHnbDgfLn_DZgd_NnEyxo6XcN9zoR8w-Jux-FP6L2aG8nfKi-qvHsmYMalS1_2quOIrrWVgiTTzwRtZcEjI_SU9VZqddcFH9mc710obZv-vHArlVUU2GdPfAZ10/s400/IMG_1957.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534572151954018" border="0" /></a><br />But it all mixed together quite nicely, and I couldn't smell the ketchup anymore. I took it as a good sign and moved right along.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LlaBT5_kvQ3vcQA8-oQ83w1deM5_sN4COBZ0FyhwnzbzWLNEIFqUNKS8KQASlOhSFWw_rNRTlEuzRjg4hGQFWxppf3sPAT-3ppxPTH1m4ZRwL8_ZbiNK5-kkkOr0ICkVVol6tkLK-ck/s1600-h/IMG_1960.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LlaBT5_kvQ3vcQA8-oQ83w1deM5_sN4COBZ0FyhwnzbzWLNEIFqUNKS8KQASlOhSFWw_rNRTlEuzRjg4hGQFWxppf3sPAT-3ppxPTH1m4ZRwL8_ZbiNK5-kkkOr0ICkVVol6tkLK-ck/s400/IMG_1960.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534579742468562" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShoGiTLoTL0HPd3KkzfJucEiiSQAwhp4xcBPjbUPJHkQCOB_jQNMdtThZhXQSk5-xs_7_dxMvLmh_bClCEHwHNcoTmAygNJ3If3FsKpqaEdlTK7wRRkSfzhXCG5zATnnV_kxWsviy1Sg/s1600-h/IMG_1964.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgShoGiTLoTL0HPd3KkzfJucEiiSQAwhp4xcBPjbUPJHkQCOB_jQNMdtThZhXQSk5-xs_7_dxMvLmh_bClCEHwHNcoTmAygNJ3If3FsKpqaEdlTK7wRRkSfzhXCG5zATnnV_kxWsviy1Sg/s400/IMG_1964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534583730255634" border="0" /></a><br />Combine the dry ingredients until well incorporated.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGkUqiObptoUi4DqU9jAR8WiHmQUcOosQPOgzFJrGBUZ7lyGd4rtnQEcSY28oq8DYcatsTxOrc1jLTAeRsx69V_bdcero_eOfqrTIE9pDeeV_cEBIytjokYfbh5d4ZTEH0IELGACB6jQ/s1600-h/IMG_1973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGkUqiObptoUi4DqU9jAR8WiHmQUcOosQPOgzFJrGBUZ7lyGd4rtnQEcSY28oq8DYcatsTxOrc1jLTAeRsx69V_bdcero_eOfqrTIE9pDeeV_cEBIytjokYfbh5d4ZTEH0IELGACB6jQ/s400/IMG_1973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534594349457298" border="0" /></a><br />Place rounds onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-1IosiPWMmHJt9IT3_sV1lGg6FuWIWPAAZGY5vB-jssZfGYwV6Gb3emzOZM-Jypm4B4Rk9g8hyphenhyphenx45ImVtZpUX3529V2emTrF1iZVrb8dMbjQ9CTCZOrkehMv_er2EphjIecAxLAEXB0/s1600-h/IMG_1976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-1IosiPWMmHJt9IT3_sV1lGg6FuWIWPAAZGY5vB-jssZfGYwV6Gb3emzOZM-Jypm4B4Rk9g8hyphenhyphenx45ImVtZpUX3529V2emTrF1iZVrb8dMbjQ9CTCZOrkehMv_er2EphjIecAxLAEXB0/s400/IMG_1976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534922471742226" border="0" /></a><br />Dip a fork into some flour...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj4WubhZFkjT1zCps14kavTcBdVlKKLm_vf4HQHCgm80hKoTUlKoDG2aoMX0DAjGqt2v-zD9ZBNy6OreSJU5Az_kdITDjtgsOurlqDrieNQPcmMfLRPVDbguA_Rgn2HioHLUaB7NZ4Dc/s1600-h/IMG_1977.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihj4WubhZFkjT1zCps14kavTcBdVlKKLm_vf4HQHCgm80hKoTUlKoDG2aoMX0DAjGqt2v-zD9ZBNy6OreSJU5Az_kdITDjtgsOurlqDrieNQPcmMfLRPVDbguA_Rgn2HioHLUaB7NZ4Dc/s400/IMG_1977.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534933981976306" border="0" /></a><br />...then press it into the dough.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_EYu9X43DXuXVmJafLxqepZjSY2x0WdYvnbxyHOuL8wa1kNrsnk5Qo4KJOM2XN7pD_3WWJUoHF-q69grwJHlpC0xMDrOVmJkLPevyk9z9A98Coy-MOlDbmu_JrsPousdt-CMN1rqL04/s1600-h/IMG_1982.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_EYu9X43DXuXVmJafLxqepZjSY2x0WdYvnbxyHOuL8wa1kNrsnk5Qo4KJOM2XN7pD_3WWJUoHF-q69grwJHlpC0xMDrOVmJkLPevyk9z9A98Coy-MOlDbmu_JrsPousdt-CMN1rqL04/s400/IMG_1982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444534941152711826" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Make little "tic tac toe" lines on the cookies with your fork. Then pop them into the 375F oven for about 8-10 minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eqnJKRQdhHi__uvQVZ9FndIznCUo_YXg_mmkingLRUPeWJDTi0QO1L7Gc7qKzoHws7XdpedMbCip61kF35G0D1oDvkfJcXF93_NKTle9RjCEdeovJ6cQMgNSj1a_ZRbkc0375o3Y8do/s1600-h/IMG_2012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0eqnJKRQdhHi__uvQVZ9FndIznCUo_YXg_mmkingLRUPeWJDTi0QO1L7Gc7qKzoHws7XdpedMbCip61kF35G0D1oDvkfJcXF93_NKTle9RjCEdeovJ6cQMgNSj1a_ZRbkc0375o3Y8do/s400/IMG_2012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444535087712455586" border="0" /></a><br />When I tried these, I really cautiously put 1/4 of a cookie into my mouth. As did Hubby. We were expecting it to be entirely disgusting, but to our surprise, it wasn't! =)<br /><br />They actually tasted like any old PB cookie and you really couldn't detect much of a difference unless you knew it was there. There was just a sliiiight hint of something, and it tasted more like a spice than anything else - not like ketchup anything!<br /><br />The crumb of the cookie was nice, though! It was super soft and had a great texture. Wow, who would've thought to put ketchup in a PB cookie!<br /><br />Are these better than regular PB cookies? Probably not. They're delicious cookies, but not superior in any way. <span style="font-style: italic;">But</span> wouldn't it be fun to bake up a batch and have your friends try to guess what the secret ingredient was?? I know I had fun doing so! They'll be in so much shock when you tell them that you just fed them a cookie made with ketchup! =)<br /><br />All in all, it was a pretty fun experiment! And they were pretty yummy, as all PB cookies are. Give it a whirl just for fun!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_165qhgz43hh"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click HERE</span></a> for the recipe. </span><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-66558748480332244032010-03-01T10:41:00.000-08:002010-03-01T16:59:26.185-08:00Life ChangesThis is probably the only post that will ever write about myself. I want the focus of this blog to be on food and recipes, not me or my thoughts on life...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_lDs_5kOZ47G1kKNdI47tmJJKuRG-kxCWzb4MnBLXAUfb9_wURHFor63tTSmCaJ34B3TRg0jczYqhQwi33l5wHN75yZDVmr-28Z116AaKLpmd7gLYkLu__GUAKgWCYhlfGTZExuysGk/s1600-h/1414693_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_lDs_5kOZ47G1kKNdI47tmJJKuRG-kxCWzb4MnBLXAUfb9_wURHFor63tTSmCaJ34B3TRg0jczYqhQwi33l5wHN75yZDVmr-28Z116AaKLpmd7gLYkLu__GUAKgWCYhlfGTZExuysGk/s400/1414693_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443773790889907602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Me, trying to relax on my wedding day, before getting into my dress.<br />Photo by GHKim.</span></span><br /></div><br />But if you want to get to know me a little better, then read on. If not, here's the main point of this post: I will not be able to regularly post twice a week from now on, and probably won't be able to until June, at the soonest. It breaks my heart to say this because cooking, baking, and blogging is my passion in life! But I promise that I will try my best to post at least once a week.<br /><br />Here's my story.<br /><br />I'm facing a lot of life changes right now. Good changes. But big changes, nonetheless. Ones that take up an incredible amount of my time and have consumed a large part of my life, leaving hardly any time for anything else.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityGGKs15qlns0gsP7MjydydYKT-dIJPMRvpO2k7haRAqExl0U6Y-5-guPUG-RjcMtpzkS4wFUUds2p4oXxJvm4IXZhfJNMvWEExSNd_HRnkYmYgxjf4-NgaiMEubwTfczElX3Ar2avFo/s1600-h/IMG_1325.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityGGKs15qlns0gsP7MjydydYKT-dIJPMRvpO2k7haRAqExl0U6Y-5-guPUG-RjcMtpzkS4wFUUds2p4oXxJvm4IXZhfJNMvWEExSNd_HRnkYmYgxjf4-NgaiMEubwTfczElX3Ar2avFo/s400/IMG_1325.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443775734664632498" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Our house, currently under construction.</span></span><br /></div><br />(1) Hubby and I have spent the past two years building our dream house. And it's finally all coming together! We'll be ready to move in at the end of April! It sits on 1.4 acres and has a beautiful stream running through the back, adjacent to a large park with a ton of great hiking trails! Once fully constructed, it'll be about 4500 sq feet- enough for a few kids and a lot of pets!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Py2X_31f7kQBGQMujIj667Z_RD1DLh9nrWdrC7o0t60vKWpkyTVgB_mjKzmpcddlEpTsm0dB0mXPi2Hbye0iZSUAP7uezNhxP0qhPRKU7aIcXIR2CNk7nqNwzjmpVqsYrAcThhSuLKw/s1600-h/IMG_1344.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Py2X_31f7kQBGQMujIj667Z_RD1DLh9nrWdrC7o0t60vKWpkyTVgB_mjKzmpcddlEpTsm0dB0mXPi2Hbye0iZSUAP7uezNhxP0qhPRKU7aIcXIR2CNk7nqNwzjmpVqsYrAcThhSuLKw/s400/IMG_1344.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443775742276071250" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The stream.</span></span><br /></div><br />But I only have the next two weeks to pack up our currently place. (Because it's not like I can count on Hubby to do it. He can't even figure out where his left sock is sometimes. hehe. You know how men are! ) Why so soon, you ask? Because of reason number two...<br /><br />(2) I'm starting a new job in two weeks. And they're temporarily relocating me to California for 11 weeks. I won't be back until June. I'll be living in a hotel the entire time and won't have access to a kitchen. (I know, I know. What a nightmare! I don't know if I'll make it! hehe.)<br /><br />So about this job. It's my dream job, actually. But I didn't know that until recently. It took me a while to figure out that this job was the perfect one for me, but once I did, I pursued it relentlessly until I got it. I'm really excited about this opportunity, even though it comes at such a high cost- leaving Hubby and my kitchen for such an extended period of time! (I'll miss you dearly, my little red kitchenaid mixer!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOxqR0WS3QSI1lJO3Sw6MQTChQAht9Sci3NRzWSVWqyGPuwVlIsxeKiQWdnrG9Yp8OVqjDu5dysN7p17aAQ7v8nEgYoZh-81YDg2DEriSCXJOxq8y1nqkHtL9wo0OZv0rL5j92tCXixA/s1600-h/53547_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOxqR0WS3QSI1lJO3Sw6MQTChQAht9Sci3NRzWSVWqyGPuwVlIsxeKiQWdnrG9Yp8OVqjDu5dysN7p17aAQ7v8nEgYoZh-81YDg2DEriSCXJOxq8y1nqkHtL9wo0OZv0rL5j92tCXixA/s400/53547_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443332398849146514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I love this photo of us, it's from our engagement session with GHKim, the most amazing photographers ever! </span></span><br /></div><br />I've been with Hubby for about eight years now, from dating to marriage. So it's hard for me to imagine life without him, living like a single gal in airports and hotels. GAH! But anyway, I'm excited about this opportunity and I'm embracing it full on. I'm trying to make the best of the situation by cooking and baking as much as possible in the next two weeks so I can queue some entries up for the 11 weeks when I'll be on the road.<br /><br />When I return and settle into my new job, hopefully I'll be able to get back into the kitchen again. I'm not sure how demanding this new job will be, so maybe I'll only be able to continue posting once a week even after I get back. We'll see how crazy things get. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdDlgzsdTNWkdLzeoeQFUnpAnYYRW-gUu_pf7MPxlrQlua4rLsouNGtopOrV-Tc0cD9UVXk5rCtxRtWo2WKqMqBtUYEXrEMCTjkk7_GS3A5c_zX1uKgSG2kJ3H0hq-6AWVySob8hP1Ew/s1600-h/1040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 338px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdDlgzsdTNWkdLzeoeQFUnpAnYYRW-gUu_pf7MPxlrQlua4rLsouNGtopOrV-Tc0cD9UVXk5rCtxRtWo2WKqMqBtUYEXrEMCTjkk7_GS3A5c_zX1uKgSG2kJ3H0hq-6AWVySob8hP1Ew/s400/1040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443777878590234578" border="0" /></a><br />And for those of you who are curious about what I do, I suppose I'll stop being embarrassed and secretive about it... I'm a tax accountant. lol. There, I said it. Boring and meticulous, right? Now you see why I need a creative outlet! tee hee. Actually, in all seriousness, I do really like tax and its complexities. It challenges me and I understand it. It was just a matter of finding the right employer to work for. =)<br /><br />(3) Lastly, I've gotta research cars before I leave, which I have no interest in what so ever. So it's been a painful process- like pulling teeth, really. Since we're moving from an urban area to the suburbs (kinda), we can't get by with just one car anymore. But this means I actually have to figure out what kind of car I want, which is problematic because I know nothing about cars and really don't care to. I suggested a hot pink hummer on a whim and Hubby said something to the affect of: "NO, because no one else on the road would be safe. And I can't in good conscious allow you to wreak that much havoc onto society." lol. Ok so...maybe an SUV? That would be a good car to have for, um...kids or something, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSw0_gjLc0B7a_JTetS240o_nG8GGzLgBwCNx-e0dnBWi8zidL3KZgHFMXGKiv1RDFSKno5gYLkvoQ1nuVZ7-yoKi1KcCPB3VeavgU_5ZsZ8VUfEGaAzv4UajLRpSDMwXCXBRDsflV30/s1600-h/2706907501_164d3387b3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSw0_gjLc0B7a_JTetS240o_nG8GGzLgBwCNx-e0dnBWi8zidL3KZgHFMXGKiv1RDFSKno5gYLkvoQ1nuVZ7-yoKi1KcCPB3VeavgU_5ZsZ8VUfEGaAzv4UajLRpSDMwXCXBRDsflV30/s400/2706907501_164d3387b3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443834712047538914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Ok, so I was just kidding when I told Hubby I wanted a pink Hummer. But I thought it would be funny to post a picture of it. 'Lo and behold- I actually found one on the internet! lol. looks like something Malibu Barbie would drive! hehe. </span></span><br /><br />So there you have it: me in a nutshell and the current events in my life. I just have a lot to deal with within the next two weeks, and all the way through June. I'm not sure how many posts I can actually queue up and if it'll last me through when I get back. But I will try my best!<br /><br />I'm excited for what lies ahead and excited to be sharing it with the best hubby ever!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSKQEr2QClVoSH2qgm4cSWjIOUSbBWSPBIJ2mYuNr7DWb0D4kjchEB8hFqXLBAKH9FOGMkbsSiuieHI-sBzl5B85cnJEtxooQdVH0w_CZbuZ_CjxaQ23t3gpgfbLTFwyBEo9-eDXg49w/s1600-h/5930_793213885958_10705864_45221940_2092623_n.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSKQEr2QClVoSH2qgm4cSWjIOUSbBWSPBIJ2mYuNr7DWb0D4kjchEB8hFqXLBAKH9FOGMkbsSiuieHI-sBzl5B85cnJEtxooQdVH0w_CZbuZ_CjxaQ23t3gpgfbLTFwyBEo9-eDXg49w/s400/5930_793213885958_10705864_45221940_2092623_n.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443775728963619522" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Me and Hubby. GHKim Photography.</span></span><br /></div><br />The next few months will be hard, but exciting at the same time! Wish me luck! =)Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-63398056761086174582010-02-27T21:52:00.000-08:002010-02-27T22:12:24.654-08:00Cupcake Sugar Cookie PopsA while back, I saw these beauties featured on one of my favorite food blogs, <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/02/tutorial-valentine-sugar-cookie-pops.html">Our Best Bites</a>, and knew that I had to try it! This blog always has such great tutorials on how-to's. They make the most complicated things seem easy! Even this sugar cookie business.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nR9imVaQw3s-1MEVZdpotGJ2PVnG90CwxcROPuS0ipS_sFes9P39wIlO0x4YfZCiv06kCGPFCiYNWSyI-8c1I6wdQ3C00fsj4lYGmSQ4MWIYeSLdXtCaOjMO5FARU23L3JjQfe-LkZk/s1600-h/IMG_1319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-nR9imVaQw3s-1MEVZdpotGJ2PVnG90CwxcROPuS0ipS_sFes9P39wIlO0x4YfZCiv06kCGPFCiYNWSyI-8c1I6wdQ3C00fsj4lYGmSQ4MWIYeSLdXtCaOjMO5FARU23L3JjQfe-LkZk/s400/IMG_1319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917706520709314" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't had a whole lot of experience with decorating sugar cookies. I've never gone all out and covered the entire cookie with beautiful designs, as I have seen others do fantastically! I've only done the draw-a-few-white-lines-on-snowflake-cookies thing. It's...a daunting thing to take on, you know? But after reading meticulously through <a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/12/tutorial-glace-icing-and-cookie.html">Our Best Bites' tutorials</a>, I felt like I was ready!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Since they do such a great and thorough job on guiding you through the process, and since I'm such a novice at this whole sugar cookie decorating thing, I'm going to be brief in this entry. I will only discuss the areas that I personally had problems with. For more info, please reference their awesome site for detailed tutorials- see links below. They explain it better than I ever could!)</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The Sugar Cookie Dough</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_jz1XvQ3zpv0LKn-ZnWpqmxA_7ibEa78TrUtVclGC8_FkyOt2ShX62n8FBtWJ2enPZId5gGy5Gx5WE3DklfAqe1Jgp0xT4W7Lh1Y5vhlppnVrBav-lITLRx0KxGnOQrd0Gk1Ti5KOfo/s1600-h/IMG_0911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_jz1XvQ3zpv0LKn-ZnWpqmxA_7ibEa78TrUtVclGC8_FkyOt2ShX62n8FBtWJ2enPZId5gGy5Gx5WE3DklfAqe1Jgp0xT4W7Lh1Y5vhlppnVrBav-lITLRx0KxGnOQrd0Gk1Ti5KOfo/s400/IMG_0911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441915989614594018" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJL8a65mX0bhyphenhyphenwejMC2gPjaSXFKvF_CnFMKXGDyNss7lKxQDqc-WUIwTNsw5I-NEHqMDylr4Dajfavw5Zord-oN9tINxDYZpD9mmu50JhNKWg8Hz1600MtJCFc81DgM2c5NYX8DJmT56k/s1600-h/IMG_0930.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJL8a65mX0bhyphenhyphenwejMC2gPjaSXFKvF_CnFMKXGDyNss7lKxQDqc-WUIwTNsw5I-NEHqMDylr4Dajfavw5Zord-oN9tINxDYZpD9mmu50JhNKWg8Hz1600MtJCFc81DgM2c5NYX8DJmT56k/s400/IMG_0930.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441915998350402610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SH580Bx9QYlPPfGiiTqslabJBxs1RP105zG4vXmnbLySkHffklQxUepwkB2NErQIKjcwvHKaw9XqDqBp9dOedQYD6jM_HTeRCktzdsUUaXjJjvNiRJh3Rr1sH38RublAJFGrtU37z14/s1600-h/IMG_0939.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6SH580Bx9QYlPPfGiiTqslabJBxs1RP105zG4vXmnbLySkHffklQxUepwkB2NErQIKjcwvHKaw9XqDqBp9dOedQYD6jM_HTeRCktzdsUUaXjJjvNiRJh3Rr1sH38RublAJFGrtU37z14/s400/IMG_0939.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916003850436066" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiDnkr0MBZ8uALK67RxQsGQne9OsNcf18rbq85LgaBCF7yJK3N6BvcV_bP15tnY1IfnkdCMQjMPvuNQBSLLXtZjbxc6-gWd-0xvpMzCDwVjmerH8y3pfz5wOEueyyGbEdPeWqTFUlICo/s1600-h/IMG_0944.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXiDnkr0MBZ8uALK67RxQsGQne9OsNcf18rbq85LgaBCF7yJK3N6BvcV_bP15tnY1IfnkdCMQjMPvuNQBSLLXtZjbxc6-gWd-0xvpMzCDwVjmerH8y3pfz5wOEueyyGbEdPeWqTFUlICo/s400/IMG_0944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916004549353074" border="0" /></a><br />Their sugar cookie recipe was super easy to follow and make. It came together really well, and quite quickly! On their site, they say to refrigerate it after the dough comes together for about 1-2 hours.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3YOXbnhfICMokvecnRa56Z02bWlOCDp7wMH-qOweOUh-37yu1qruowuQcxLMD1E5h0D6JZrZf2cSyP77Tz2XHLG3C2mbGt5voB09-Od5bYiuKjVIvw8ITtQGRZ74QX-S9V94__lBI4M/s1600-h/IMG_0968.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG3YOXbnhfICMokvecnRa56Z02bWlOCDp7wMH-qOweOUh-37yu1qruowuQcxLMD1E5h0D6JZrZf2cSyP77Tz2XHLG3C2mbGt5voB09-Od5bYiuKjVIvw8ITtQGRZ74QX-S9V94__lBI4M/s400/IMG_0968.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916502492434434" border="0" /></a><br />However, as a time saving tip, they suggested rolling out the dough right away and sticking it in the freezer. I found that this was the best way to go. I tried it both ways and found that freezing it was more effective than refrigerating it because:<br /><br />(1) Freezing it only takes about 5 minutes before the dough is good to go- SO much less time!<br />(2) Freezing it automatically gives you the right consistency, so that the dough lifts up easily after you cut into it.<br />(3) With the refrigeration method, I found it harder to control the consistency of the dough, making it harder to cut out the cookies. Sometimes, if I left it in for too long, the lump of dough would be too cold to even roll out. Then, if I left it out to warm a bit, it might get too soft, then I'd end up freezing it anyway, after I rolled it out.<br /><br />Basically, forget the refrigeration step. Go straight to rolling it out and freezing it for 5 minutes. As for the excess dough, it will be too hard to roll back into a ball at first, so leave it aside and work on a different piece. It will thaw out quickly. Or you can play around with it a bit by rolling it with your hands. This will speed up the process.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) Making the Sugar Cookie Pops</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnw_MQQiQvRz2nvWqo-O35jyWL5fqZa6rAFzEF43m6nR_U2BLBOXHQ_nxZuNxknWEmPPJyTe6J4-MTPhDSHK8A5sIdqQIkycaA7Y967DxlE1zBE2jYFqY1dPFJZLquIsVbuGqB70e8Lo/s1600-h/IMG_0955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGnw_MQQiQvRz2nvWqo-O35jyWL5fqZa6rAFzEF43m6nR_U2BLBOXHQ_nxZuNxknWEmPPJyTe6J4-MTPhDSHK8A5sIdqQIkycaA7Y967DxlE1zBE2jYFqY1dPFJZLquIsVbuGqB70e8Lo/s400/IMG_0955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916011667217538" border="0" /></a><br />One of the reasons why I put off making these was because I didn't have the right cutters. I wanted something cool and kept my eye out for it whenever I was at kitchenware stores (which is quite often). Imagine my excitement when I saw these cupcake cutters at Crate and Barrel! I couldn't believe it! Perfect for my blog, wouldn't you say?! They came in two sizes, too! Yup, there were two cutters in each pack!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfZEoV_rR04KRBa126Z9sq0nz0rA-tJ7-qBAdJE2d3dsU90TH5ghFVQBehZn3BNLwRt3RoRb5Y5EK4xFwMD9LF8T_9XKlz6kqVV8bTU7Z1sq3h5SQMaBTpQhULyW5cruJ_mfi-DWAqno/s1600-h/IMG_0972.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcfZEoV_rR04KRBa126Z9sq0nz0rA-tJ7-qBAdJE2d3dsU90TH5ghFVQBehZn3BNLwRt3RoRb5Y5EK4xFwMD9LF8T_9XKlz6kqVV8bTU7Z1sq3h5SQMaBTpQhULyW5cruJ_mfi-DWAqno/s400/IMG_0972.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916506847474322" border="0" /></a><br />I only used the smaller cookie cutter because the larger one would've been too heavy for the lollipop sticks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJffNZNwrDmiZHz142bu_3Vh8Ytzs8Qg2JcyhUuUzqZqDJfLEw1LweBZvEkeK8tEFVt0DD3Y41hsYI3MEyp6CEMHt03OtMDazAIhJUdK21tqyiA7ZfZafeLtrX48fzcaCH2yOC7A9W-Eg/s1600-h/IMG_0982.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJffNZNwrDmiZHz142bu_3Vh8Ytzs8Qg2JcyhUuUzqZqDJfLEw1LweBZvEkeK8tEFVt0DD3Y41hsYI3MEyp6CEMHt03OtMDazAIhJUdK21tqyiA7ZfZafeLtrX48fzcaCH2yOC7A9W-Eg/s400/IMG_0982.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916510779350706" border="0" /></a><br />I bought some 6 inch long lollipop sticks from Michael's, which ended up being the perfect length.<br /><br />You see how the cookie dough doesn't sit flatly on the lollipop stick? I was worried about that. I wanted my cookie to bake flat, but it looked like that wasn't going to happen. I think I didn't roll out my dough to be thick enough.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKCTv3nMO7oZbV-t7LI_R59s5QIk4kPU_jYb6JdOIOvlB8XwjsaRC4VnkS1lpUA9ZlidNe2H0NuCEGvcG9hK-LD0LXEGogkXcdlHnIMSBwAXM37appuTt5-mTqaZD8Se7NoapKuguWXY/s1600-h/IMG_1070.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicKCTv3nMO7oZbV-t7LI_R59s5QIk4kPU_jYb6JdOIOvlB8XwjsaRC4VnkS1lpUA9ZlidNe2H0NuCEGvcG9hK-LD0LXEGogkXcdlHnIMSBwAXM37appuTt5-mTqaZD8Se7NoapKuguWXY/s400/IMG_1070.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916514993495074" border="0" /></a><br />Here's what they looked like when they came out of the oven. They expanded a bit, but not too much. Not enough to become flat and completely cover the lollipop stick. I started to panic and thought about baking another batch. But then I thought: hey, maybe I can cover it up with frosting! So I pushed on.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzXuCfWI8grj1eIQ0cLA8qYL2evYgEJIroW3GKDBmwIVNlqP0MuRENXNGQZbZaNx56_mMK9DM0db0iVKL9w-g7a9rMUOUAnNAgrYsAzq4RRbTJjONLC99NbuYiAcW4QjjtZrXPZ9yOg8/s1600-h/IMG_1073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzXuCfWI8grj1eIQ0cLA8qYL2evYgEJIroW3GKDBmwIVNlqP0MuRENXNGQZbZaNx56_mMK9DM0db0iVKL9w-g7a9rMUOUAnNAgrYsAzq4RRbTJjONLC99NbuYiAcW4QjjtZrXPZ9yOg8/s400/IMG_1073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916516404236578" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVyI1EuC6XN6Vbsag73P8C1GDWSumMiZ9ecM6gzW8kle2VN2GIDfgMRgnCr86I6rx0mcFOzm8FNfJiTOE1PkARdl-g_Thx8-zBrbeZT_tO_Mna5H_GzEp2cHHJoWbb4_Fj6mg35xxRPE/s1600-h/IMG_1075.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVyI1EuC6XN6Vbsag73P8C1GDWSumMiZ9ecM6gzW8kle2VN2GIDfgMRgnCr86I6rx0mcFOzm8FNfJiTOE1PkARdl-g_Thx8-zBrbeZT_tO_Mna5H_GzEp2cHHJoWbb4_Fj6mg35xxRPE/s400/IMG_1075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916957595553666" border="0" /></a><br />The cookies held up pretty well! Here's a front and back view. They weren't falling off the stick, as I was half expecting.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Frosting and Decorating</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNjKSomOKBEboaE8M3A_5ovHh0FR1IK3ngEUl_aEzKN6LpDVPl9I7IyryiCs_Xiv3E4iW1nFzbGIcPk_EKZao-g_mRy-HK09CSE84bXspi7yZB-yyK4nupN-Yhpvfz8C2gaEisZt281c/s1600-h/IMG_1080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNjKSomOKBEboaE8M3A_5ovHh0FR1IK3ngEUl_aEzKN6LpDVPl9I7IyryiCs_Xiv3E4iW1nFzbGIcPk_EKZao-g_mRy-HK09CSE84bXspi7yZB-yyK4nupN-Yhpvfz8C2gaEisZt281c/s400/IMG_1080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916960841398290" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ9t06lsiOJ8GEELOi9_J4MIj8YnCMikklNlnrLc0DNr-B9vxJ46bT0dUmB-HYqh-uRX_UfOTUU01tbJDHO_uv1fCODbceH9n9k94-6lmcvQw_8xg7FAW-xU4FVWbUZqMp_Rk3IHVzfo/s1600-h/IMG_1086.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ9t06lsiOJ8GEELOi9_J4MIj8YnCMikklNlnrLc0DNr-B9vxJ46bT0dUmB-HYqh-uRX_UfOTUU01tbJDHO_uv1fCODbceH9n9k94-6lmcvQw_8xg7FAW-xU4FVWbUZqMp_Rk3IHVzfo/s400/IMG_1086.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916963501118546" border="0" /></a><br />Their icing recipe consists of a few simple ingredients: light corn syrup, powdered sugar, milk, and extract.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8cyJV9-kkwiM7ZM1gJDDzmF_CAHSl6b9jXuPozfKL4FxjZ97ZyWCn0ZpdJ1IrUdwbEdruEe4Ma2ENRf03iDeaBFyG3IXjvy7XvCxKQwXp7RIqVnBv9FUa2W-aBL0wpZcOioSu5KPCsw/s1600-h/IMG_1089.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8cyJV9-kkwiM7ZM1gJDDzmF_CAHSl6b9jXuPozfKL4FxjZ97ZyWCn0ZpdJ1IrUdwbEdruEe4Ma2ENRf03iDeaBFyG3IXjvy7XvCxKQwXp7RIqVnBv9FUa2W-aBL0wpZcOioSu5KPCsw/s400/IMG_1089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916966618706722" border="0" /></a><br />The directions were really easy to follow and pretty soon I achieved the right consistency.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKswJXePk_AGYCH7y5R-WAXX50oWYzdkSdMbrWUsLMFPuFtop5khryOXlG0EoukWiaKS1GoQai0eW64LVq7a0I2OJUZYIuZC10EJp038J7Z_pqffagGv_QWIqwt0qpNT27h_S-_axCjcQ/s1600-h/IMG_1109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKswJXePk_AGYCH7y5R-WAXX50oWYzdkSdMbrWUsLMFPuFtop5khryOXlG0EoukWiaKS1GoQai0eW64LVq7a0I2OJUZYIuZC10EJp038J7Z_pqffagGv_QWIqwt0qpNT27h_S-_axCjcQ/s400/IMG_1109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917217203521794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">I used simple icing bags and snipped off the tips ever so slightly. Yess! Ready to decorate!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuPGT2va9OB85bFBC_CK3OWSARzeBiyxqKpl2B3HhafZ_4YvlVsHPGG-PxPk0TTcovohtan3R8anUl7eh9I1If0Abn00qTc1G17c3g6kFFMPGMvtgc9S-K4VQfdxRW-PT4nw_SPz_S7s/s1600-h/IMG_1092.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuPGT2va9OB85bFBC_CK3OWSARzeBiyxqKpl2B3HhafZ_4YvlVsHPGG-PxPk0TTcovohtan3R8anUl7eh9I1If0Abn00qTc1G17c3g6kFFMPGMvtgc9S-K4VQfdxRW-PT4nw_SPz_S7s/s400/IMG_1092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441916977239992898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctBV4Lpyi8E1-wAm5Pgl8y3SQ7rD_fBglJ_4M8Ytb20qpwoDBikMQBKFnxozSfg3pDL1f6hq57BbYRpTrWQ4redBRrrhAQP9ZkWU4hVo_3TLt7yjN1VpqgGvVu3DQEuCEB51wGuyoVdc/s1600-h/IMG_1235.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjctBV4Lpyi8E1-wAm5Pgl8y3SQ7rD_fBglJ_4M8Ytb20qpwoDBikMQBKFnxozSfg3pDL1f6hq57BbYRpTrWQ4redBRrrhAQP9ZkWU4hVo_3TLt7yjN1VpqgGvVu3DQEuCEB51wGuyoVdc/s400/IMG_1235.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917224771044402" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">It was easier than I expected! Although, I <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> use really simple decorating techniques. =) I basically just colored them in and stuck on some M&Ms.<br /><br />Leave the cookies sitting out for about 24 hours, so that the frosting can dry and set.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(4) Cute Packaging!</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseFKRnfmpL407E9-utk1hi4PlRzn2-1rLQOOkxSV2AKo5A8uGzuMJy67rEV-U0GyXxaUyPgN8L0x1NmBK7ZFEzU19KFWeT3mZMT6JUdnEIlNwLUQCd0eK0PY-obZdueWJfYmLJAq6v7o/s1600-h/IMG_1250.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhseFKRnfmpL407E9-utk1hi4PlRzn2-1rLQOOkxSV2AKo5A8uGzuMJy67rEV-U0GyXxaUyPgN8L0x1NmBK7ZFEzU19KFWeT3mZMT6JUdnEIlNwLUQCd0eK0PY-obZdueWJfYmLJAq6v7o/s400/IMG_1250.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917230899194354" border="0" /></a><br />I found some clear treat bags, a spool of cute ribbon, and an amazing cupcake stamp from Impress.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS9p7bub28LsKTfmx-UTCyibkqiOE8sE9rKaLZatI3b94LA06Hv_F_0o1m4MfHXoXCBhjiNmb6Pao7j7PQnEL-j1moM5imT3ANvyr79SOQ-aSJ4pGdDOt4A5C6W2nhVjbDAn4rIt7RBk/s1600-h/IMG_1251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvS9p7bub28LsKTfmx-UTCyibkqiOE8sE9rKaLZatI3b94LA06Hv_F_0o1m4MfHXoXCBhjiNmb6Pao7j7PQnEL-j1moM5imT3ANvyr79SOQ-aSJ4pGdDOt4A5C6W2nhVjbDAn4rIt7RBk/s400/IMG_1251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917240889745490" border="0" /></a><br />The stamp is a two-in-one! On one side of it, there's the cupcake image, and on the smaller end, you can use it to stamp the words "hey cupcake." How cute is that?!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPh65LIeTTpWrI35FEAjxts2tQppAKDD1RmpO0AcEVG5JWeMU217zZN0NQpQ4HNFwVwy2WZPRSpZwTDkZ_pk7cB4rMqs9acU-DKQRWmc4Y2UgewPbHW0O405WYnYaiSk7rN2HmEYOKmk/s1600-h/IMG_1283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPh65LIeTTpWrI35FEAjxts2tQppAKDD1RmpO0AcEVG5JWeMU217zZN0NQpQ4HNFwVwy2WZPRSpZwTDkZ_pk7cB4rMqs9acU-DKQRWmc4Y2UgewPbHW0O405WYnYaiSk7rN2HmEYOKmk/s400/IMG_1283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917695515998386" border="0" /></a><br />I also made a few non-pop cookies. These packaged up nicely! I used the "Hey Cupcake" stamp to seal the back of each package. It worked out pretty well with some double sided tape.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvviLLryVGmZ9c6JDYf_ICFtafrcDw3-_qN3mhwfu7fugJ6kjSYxXD0LHs-5sXCDEdtHN0tXPlkn8FdXSt2wTCzcpmjvq2FSaW-V5xwPC4rYOjLqRkszqVfTECsuLhe8YZ51uTFJCR68/s1600-h/IMG_1294.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxvviLLryVGmZ9c6JDYf_ICFtafrcDw3-_qN3mhwfu7fugJ6kjSYxXD0LHs-5sXCDEdtHN0tXPlkn8FdXSt2wTCzcpmjvq2FSaW-V5xwPC4rYOjLqRkszqVfTECsuLhe8YZ51uTFJCR68/s400/IMG_1294.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917700704261970" border="0" /></a><br />The pops turned out even better! I love how the ribbon matches the cupcake frosting! And see how you can barely notice the "wrinkles" in the cookie, now that they frosting has set and dried? Awesome!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbGbkyQyLYAeOvqoCmfqo552-gHZGWbM26os9ucKxbGSCbR8-Bi7M7f5pXCMhicnBd0-uCS5NhsiOPltOKXGcSqWL4gFcj12ebOwy0VELD4IwubztHbduIXBAco_pwLE__QAtI48MGAs/s1600-h/IMG_1304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbGbkyQyLYAeOvqoCmfqo552-gHZGWbM26os9ucKxbGSCbR8-Bi7M7f5pXCMhicnBd0-uCS5NhsiOPltOKXGcSqWL4gFcj12ebOwy0VELD4IwubztHbduIXBAco_pwLE__QAtI48MGAs/s400/IMG_1304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917701324076834" border="0" /></a><br />For the pops, I attached the "Hey Cupcake" tags to the end of each ribbon. It turned out to be super cute too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Vj2fRf6khSaK6iDE124QxoTUb2v0UXGSyhlUQHOT7d4HS9exydgbjnvsveP_7FBlShLrg6rRy_84Ju4ozjs_0Fl2v7o5LL6bGvKHEMCJ4QqWKFeTBX9RvJ6YajoWynnrBZ7ivSsJmMI/s1600-h/IMG_1265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Vj2fRf6khSaK6iDE124QxoTUb2v0UXGSyhlUQHOT7d4HS9exydgbjnvsveP_7FBlShLrg6rRy_84Ju4ozjs_0Fl2v7o5LL6bGvKHEMCJ4QqWKFeTBX9RvJ6YajoWynnrBZ7ivSsJmMI/s400/IMG_1265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441917685113163586" border="0" /></a><br />I'm really glad I finally got a chance to do this cookie project! It took a long time, from beginning to end, but it was really fun and acted as a great artistic outlet. Wouldn't these be perfect for a birthday party or shower?<br /><br />Give these a try! If a novice like me can do it, anyone can! Just be sure to read through Our Best Bites' great tutorials first! =)<br /></div></div><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/12/tutorial-glace-icing-and-cookie.html">Click HERE</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for Our Best Bites' Sugar Cookie Decorating Tutorial</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/02/tutorial-valentine-sugar-cookie-pops.html">Click HERE</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for Our Best Bites' Sugar Cookie Pops Tutorial</span><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/12/sugar-cookies.html">Click HERE</a><span style="font-weight: bold;"> for Our Best Bites' Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_SpellCheck" title="Check Spelling" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);BLOG_spellcheck();;ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Check Spelling" class="gl_spell" border="0" /></span></span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-7637517267321479382010-02-24T21:45:00.000-08:002010-02-24T22:06:09.476-08:00Rose Water Cupcakes with Flour FrostingThese cupcakes were totally an experiment, from frosting to cake. I've never baked with rose water before and was super excited when I found some at a local kitchenware store. I didn't really know what to do with it, so I thought I'd stick with the basics before I branched out. Cupcakes, it was!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUY8AAxbaOx6lHe8yza1FFsqdCRCz2YTWrd_oN1qpGmr_VU33jHzh3sOvj-PblvzuPkpQmp2Fzu6pp58p6c8f5fuIf3xMyCVg5-B0zgdPDYOLXi5S3K5gm1BnBPAW4b8qOEojSp23oVo/s1600-h/IMG_1188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUY8AAxbaOx6lHe8yza1FFsqdCRCz2YTWrd_oN1qpGmr_VU33jHzh3sOvj-PblvzuPkpQmp2Fzu6pp58p6c8f5fuIf3xMyCVg5-B0zgdPDYOLXi5S3K5gm1BnBPAW4b8qOEojSp23oVo/s400/IMG_1188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441915237350539026" border="0" /></a><br />But instead of my usual SMB, I wanted to try a unique flour frosting recipe that I recently stumbled upon. The fact that it's made with a flour base instantly piqued my curiosity. I mean, <span style="font-style: italic;">flour</span> in frosting? How weird was that?! I needed to taste it. Immediately.<br /><br />Needless to say, I was super excited about the day of experimenting in my kitchen! New flavor, new frosting- new cupcake!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The Rose Water Cupcakes</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FpZi9tml5pPg3YZAsA-8r97_WfuD8v2NLYPrJ8_cCiVrs_XYI7ITaPqsHfnnmus3lTpu_Zc9QMv0prmqc8Pu1rUoZUT7TzwxCjrOycNoI5Sh_noZcl4WiDTFgS4SwFhYKurP3sUFl84/s1600-h/IMG_1004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FpZi9tml5pPg3YZAsA-8r97_WfuD8v2NLYPrJ8_cCiVrs_XYI7ITaPqsHfnnmus3lTpu_Zc9QMv0prmqc8Pu1rUoZUT7TzwxCjrOycNoI5Sh_noZcl4WiDTFgS4SwFhYKurP3sUFl84/s400/IMG_1004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914333369183490" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrFzMwfS8kcOa6KNNSVrIJAunZt3V8DvdsWmkhNj5P9OUnV77znKzhvJ3KpZYIJ3P13sLhjxx1CwrU-IuNmL4mnrx4w1_leusKKkRT1s06Vgmy52gsD3YcxXPg1erIAYrEGu49pDXdFY/s1600-h/IMG_1017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDrFzMwfS8kcOa6KNNSVrIJAunZt3V8DvdsWmkhNj5P9OUnV77znKzhvJ3KpZYIJ3P13sLhjxx1CwrU-IuNmL4mnrx4w1_leusKKkRT1s06Vgmy52gsD3YcxXPg1erIAYrEGu49pDXdFY/s400/IMG_1017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914345658540962" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp7PiWfy7jbutQICxy6IHKICAngKiSDv18t5gD3Z-tzV805DxFyR4RItyYO4ehzPXLsjkmaf7CHrNh-_BWi92EN8ybOoURL2fGWaQHwko6nHZRFYFus5E3TdQsMutXYds8SCNtln8gAA/s1600-h/IMG_1029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJp7PiWfy7jbutQICxy6IHKICAngKiSDv18t5gD3Z-tzV805DxFyR4RItyYO4ehzPXLsjkmaf7CHrNh-_BWi92EN8ybOoURL2fGWaQHwko6nHZRFYFus5E3TdQsMutXYds8SCNtln8gAA/s400/IMG_1029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914351361838194" border="0" /></a><br />These cupcakes were really simple. Just use your favorite vanilla cupcake recipe and replace the vanilla extract with rose water. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Use whatever measurement the cake recipe calls for. You can probably even add a tiny splash of vanilla to it too, but I left it out because I didn't want it to mask the flavor of the rose water.</span>) I personally like the Vanilla Cupcake recipe from Williams Sonoma. It's the same recipe I used for the <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_70d5x6qrhd">Blueberry Lemon Filled Cupcakes. </a><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) The Rose Water Flour Frosting</span><br /></div><br />Ok, now on to the interesting part! I found this recipe on <a href="http://obsessedwithbaking.blogspot.com/2009/02/flour-frosting.html">Obsessed with Baking</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VeuZIhKFIQ-yWHKo0ycTJYoGvfAFW6de7rOk1PgT5NRTUKGu-XRQI0TmBt9eBqX71LL1KDkLw8PMSShM8OejDrIfjxeV4gNfYKRcpFQrYn6HIsVW3L8hUdib0-7uDz2fd2awBthT7Xo/s1600-h/IMG_1036.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-VeuZIhKFIQ-yWHKo0ycTJYoGvfAFW6de7rOk1PgT5NRTUKGu-XRQI0TmBt9eBqX71LL1KDkLw8PMSShM8OejDrIfjxeV4gNfYKRcpFQrYn6HIsVW3L8hUdib0-7uDz2fd2awBthT7Xo/s400/IMG_1036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914356793414370" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90c4EWxHFSH5Qqqhctv-Kesvt4a2xWgNvdtIJqYT5hg-cvShi9nvvFk8J0IgFrRGRp4fzelGHb5yTwKdQkkl7EgSFPj-ZfjQUF5kpmU9o6x_Qdycw-bEJCm931GkN0ebCAAylNnA_l8Y/s1600-h/IMG_1039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90c4EWxHFSH5Qqqhctv-Kesvt4a2xWgNvdtIJqYT5hg-cvShi9nvvFk8J0IgFrRGRp4fzelGHb5yTwKdQkkl7EgSFPj-ZfjQUF5kpmU9o6x_Qdycw-bEJCm931GkN0ebCAAylNnA_l8Y/s400/IMG_1039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914366692354418" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In a heavy bottomed sauce pan, combine flour and sugar.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9AO3VviEt9JD0erwEwBnduqIOIKECubzI1sw2Nyo1PYtCNycQ_HEolBfSIG8WpnC-jRyBYGciUnpoDLHXReHXlqLO8NGKf5N9X1KJLU8h9ByIb88AJVLdQ2xM3I3ZaBcMfxQumYRKN4/s1600-h/IMG_1044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg9AO3VviEt9JD0erwEwBnduqIOIKECubzI1sw2Nyo1PYtCNycQ_HEolBfSIG8WpnC-jRyBYGciUnpoDLHXReHXlqLO8NGKf5N9X1KJLU8h9ByIb88AJVLdQ2xM3I3ZaBcMfxQumYRKN4/s400/IMG_1044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914642858527234" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">And add some milk. Don't worry if it produces flour clumps at first.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BxCIKJHz3HDjT7Vs-mroL8_YkXOP69qZGyO-L7lPG7UNdVFTiF3DzAyJUeAiHMurFkGYxRY9S8F52PtqbvJdJ48VMxv590RQpq3iLnhlSxL_eZTshZ9NPdeWjjcw1r5ylNTQZ7NPzZo/s1600-h/IMG_1046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4BxCIKJHz3HDjT7Vs-mroL8_YkXOP69qZGyO-L7lPG7UNdVFTiF3DzAyJUeAiHMurFkGYxRY9S8F52PtqbvJdJ48VMxv590RQpq3iLnhlSxL_eZTshZ9NPdeWjjcw1r5ylNTQZ7NPzZo/s400/IMG_1046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914651383882978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">On medium heat, whisk constantly, making sure that it doesn't boil and that the clumps made by the milk has dissolved. After a few minutes, the mixture will thicken. Ready to go!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok9y6RgeyKZZh81vbkrLC_mU_h3Fi-0dEQBQLVye-U_r9lWKrcf0wHX4m_TC1z8VKFegntMxnIHDnwELUmcvfHJbhug6ZVPdIFfUIJ0LNu6I7vZreklE0z9hnPvYn3GgPIsvVm5IHhkc/s1600-h/IMG_1053.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjok9y6RgeyKZZh81vbkrLC_mU_h3Fi-0dEQBQLVye-U_r9lWKrcf0wHX4m_TC1z8VKFegntMxnIHDnwELUmcvfHJbhug6ZVPdIFfUIJ0LNu6I7vZreklE0z9hnPvYn3GgPIsvVm5IHhkc/s400/IMG_1053.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914657330017650" border="0" /></a><br />Transfer the mixture to a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on high for several minutes until it has cooled. (Took me maybe ten minutes.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmBK7-mrHbmE96XpYKm3YcfP1iOdahhJjRkOV-S7wfT7vXa24FsesOhv0P3RnKgK7etnq9NNnOy-CvKoOHyawE6F0JVsxHqkyUaILoepF9c9LLYYMexf_X7Tqr6ripNExK-i3pnfZRc4/s1600-h/IMG_1057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmBK7-mrHbmE96XpYKm3YcfP1iOdahhJjRkOV-S7wfT7vXa24FsesOhv0P3RnKgK7etnq9NNnOy-CvKoOHyawE6F0JVsxHqkyUaILoepF9c9LLYYMexf_X7Tqr6ripNExK-i3pnfZRc4/s400/IMG_1057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914670340937362" border="0" /></a><br />Once the mixture has cooled, slowly add in the butter until well incorporated. This is what it looked like after all the butter was mixed in. It was a bit soft, which concerned me. Can you tell that it's like... mushy? Reminded me of a cream cheese frosting that was too soft. But I pushed on anyway.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7eghtpz_yQ54jm35LeCLoSJwyhD5yE4sV8bjyR64Rbjb9AXQYjauXbVp1YCrTpL-5oGytiV8aYNyqLM-RnPwgNd2dAUTJzZ16UKOdf2TpV8C3hsHSp5uWU_AWxgoRcyyN8unIHUPhCo/s1600-h/IMG_1059.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp7eghtpz_yQ54jm35LeCLoSJwyhD5yE4sV8bjyR64Rbjb9AXQYjauXbVp1YCrTpL-5oGytiV8aYNyqLM-RnPwgNd2dAUTJzZ16UKOdf2TpV8C3hsHSp5uWU_AWxgoRcyyN8unIHUPhCo/s400/IMG_1059.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914962749325458" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtC0dTRHzwr4Uf_ua-eAVMq_uD1gCSR8NiYHrPcL4VZMTm5-iZFJcJoTuLLpuajajUjxbA3ZATSqzzftNjekSoYi2URkCOHJA21gKjSjbNKjSq5NCDCY-Cfqv-i3voNlrQhpr5dQBJsQ/s1600-h/IMG_1061.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtC0dTRHzwr4Uf_ua-eAVMq_uD1gCSR8NiYHrPcL4VZMTm5-iZFJcJoTuLLpuajajUjxbA3ZATSqzzftNjekSoYi2URkCOHJA21gKjSjbNKjSq5NCDCY-Cfqv-i3voNlrQhpr5dQBJsQ/s400/IMG_1061.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914968333368402" border="0" /></a><br />At this point, I added 1/2 teaspoon of rose water and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, along with some red gel food coloring. Then I mixed it again for about a minute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXjvgTheorp1F6JqX1fqAT1KiJ6h0LyP2yRYZXdn4hGD-xJQI8XZLIQRtO_uQGQ6OhoKuIdZb51d0w9HTLHkXE7JEzZYMALbt7nDx2SVB7Lb1HbQp4ZrVaU-sW9c7ucphpL4fFdSovXM/s1600-h/IMG_1065.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXjvgTheorp1F6JqX1fqAT1KiJ6h0LyP2yRYZXdn4hGD-xJQI8XZLIQRtO_uQGQ6OhoKuIdZb51d0w9HTLHkXE7JEzZYMALbt7nDx2SVB7Lb1HbQp4ZrVaU-sW9c7ucphpL4fFdSovXM/s400/IMG_1065.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914970868410882" border="0" /></a><br />Hm.. still too soft. The consistency was off. You wouldn't be able to pipe with it. The instructions said that if this happens, you should stick it in the fridge to cool down. Ok, so I did that. Then I checked on it 15 minutes later. Still too soft. Then 40 minutes later. No good. Finally, more than an hour later, it looked like it had stiffened a bit, so I tired piping on the swirls. (You know, my usual swirly-cupcake-frosting-thing.) The swirls turned out ugly! I wish I had taken photos to show you guys. The frosting just wasn't stiff enough to hold.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXJoW8mGQw2fuqi3B2kTT9S8EunqvWgaSyQdYQuzi6ZcaoGLt5p-tCVqz3H8OL0c0iX0lBMgMVYQeEVeg9Gt0eBJl4wSeIO1-TErwVU5IB96_uYHMCz_ExFeaUDhDWL8kXX3hGu487-8/s1600-h/IMG_1131.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXJoW8mGQw2fuqi3B2kTT9S8EunqvWgaSyQdYQuzi6ZcaoGLt5p-tCVqz3H8OL0c0iX0lBMgMVYQeEVeg9Gt0eBJl4wSeIO1-TErwVU5IB96_uYHMCz_ExFeaUDhDWL8kXX3hGu487-8/s400/IMG_1131.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441914977675847122" border="0" /></a><br />So I had to use my off-set spatula. Which didn't make me happy, because I had to squeeze all that frosting back out of my piping bag. And I had already done this once before, when I decided to use a different tip (because I don't use couplers for my jumbo tips). The frosting was WAY soft... to the point where it was difficult to smooth out with an off-set spatula. humph! You know how I like my cupcake swirls...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D2q0PwlpyGsPHQ73X8NMgyQAAVwyHauLRuED6RL1r-z2f-p7HGp-2_ayAObbVfBRR2ro-9VWtigv7VqSYZhyL82ygRXVHiUj0fyLYyN-XvH-lcA-UcbneWhIe6aMuzpa7r-fUKK88Y8/s1600-h/IMG_1175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6D2q0PwlpyGsPHQ73X8NMgyQAAVwyHauLRuED6RL1r-z2f-p7HGp-2_ayAObbVfBRR2ro-9VWtigv7VqSYZhyL82ygRXVHiUj0fyLYyN-XvH-lcA-UcbneWhIe6aMuzpa7r-fUKK88Y8/s400/IMG_1175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441915232247310450" border="0" /></a><br />So without the swirls, I had to find other ways to spruce these babies up. Luckily, I recently purchased these pretty pink liners that seemed to match the frosting pretty well!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVJvW9GfVzD0rZ3_obV7KlTq_wLcJv0iCXQ4NjtQFIYvyiOSUimgb5ghV-VUUzwmaInmIFkId8e95Zy3H9xu5RFQRMiL5Uaamym2LLxM6mjkKSIgdu1NsjHH86__ZsC3koayf88psO1Y/s1600-h/IMG_1195.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVJvW9GfVzD0rZ3_obV7KlTq_wLcJv0iCXQ4NjtQFIYvyiOSUimgb5ghV-VUUzwmaInmIFkId8e95Zy3H9xu5RFQRMiL5Uaamym2LLxM6mjkKSIgdu1NsjHH86__ZsC3koayf88psO1Y/s400/IMG_1195.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441915248026687154" border="0" /></a><br />Then I topped them off with some cute white sprinkles. Not bad. I was happy about being able to salvage them. (You know how obsessive compulsive I am about creating aesthetically pleasing cupcakes. tee hee.)<br /><br />Ok, so how did they turn out? <span style="font-style: italic;">FANTASTICALLY!</span> They were <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> delicious! The rose scent in the cupcake/frosting was phenomenal! It was subtly fragrant without being overly "perfume-y." It tasted like how a rose smells...wonderful! The frosting was pretty awesome in its own right. (I couldn't detect the flour at all. You wouldn't even know that it was there.) It was creamy, rich, and just melted in your mouth, without being too over overpoweringly sweet. Even though I didn't like the texture when I was piping it on, it was love at first bite! <span style="font-style: italic;">har har.</span> It was very smooth and creamy- could definitely hold its own against other buttercreams!<br /></div></div><br />These cupcakes have definitely made it to the top of my list! It's right up there with (<span style="font-style: italic;">gasp</span>, dare I say), the chocolate salted caramel cupcake! I think the rose water frosting would also go well with a chocolate cupcake too. Well, doesn't everything go well with chocolate?<br /><br />I highly recommend getting your hands on some rose water! It sure was a great flavor experience. =)<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_70d5x6qrhd"><br /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_70d5x6qrhd">Click HERE</a> for the WS Vanilla Cupcake Recipe.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_158dnn2q9kc">Click HERE</a> for the Rose Water Flour Frosting Recipe.<br /><br /><br /></span></span></span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-53534716267021611142010-02-21T15:45:00.000-08:002010-02-21T16:34:00.253-08:00White Chocolate Mousse CakeI meant to post this entry sooner, but I've been so busy recently that I don't know where all the time goes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEefpuPUwoIoZ9opLime2yy-FSC9DKk6vCrgQA54fpBmJdGI9ocA6BwQl4y2uFNLaNM9UGl4K8XnwloGpviyfXktJZrIAiIYOPmF5BUaGFiyCu3_1yqDjGdwhpnOw0-ypzULCxRMh4YM/s1600-h/IMG_7695.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEefpuPUwoIoZ9opLime2yy-FSC9DKk6vCrgQA54fpBmJdGI9ocA6BwQl4y2uFNLaNM9UGl4K8XnwloGpviyfXktJZrIAiIYOPmF5BUaGFiyCu3_1yqDjGdwhpnOw0-ypzULCxRMh4YM/s400/IMG_7695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435683532903974578" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, as promised, here's a look at my third cake ever! It's the <a href="http://www.saltys.com/recipes/desserts/wchocolatemoussecake.asp">White Chocolate Mousse Cake</a> from Salty's on Alki, a really well known and beloved seafood house in Seattle. I am so in love with this cake! It's one of my favorite desserts!<br /><br />A significant part of the cake batter consists of egg whites beaten to soft peaks, giving the cake a super light and fluffy texture. The crumb is absolutely perfect! It's covered in white chocolate mousse and white chocolate curls, to finish! The white chocolate mousse is basically fresh whipped cream with melted white chocolate mixed in. It's the most fantastic blend of flavors and textures! It's so delicious and light on the palate that you'll find yourself eating slice after slice! I can never get enough of this cake!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The Fluffy Egg-White Cake</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HZDR2DjXYyDsLbgmWZLK7P2iL2huezpRhcEjjGIHccPEiGZ24ththfw2pRE1AQr_HVXmi7wqr1xHKkNBEWilhigX9onCo7jMfkzFOZupf-Oar0qH0cld8g19fww5eaS-35eAtIkmQoM/s1600-h/IMG_7381-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HZDR2DjXYyDsLbgmWZLK7P2iL2huezpRhcEjjGIHccPEiGZ24ththfw2pRE1AQr_HVXmi7wqr1xHKkNBEWilhigX9onCo7jMfkzFOZupf-Oar0qH0cld8g19fww5eaS-35eAtIkmQoM/s400/IMG_7381-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435687363571202562" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Mix & sift the dry ingredients.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbOkeDNNraiWFAPBqKCwIMDBF1mQqiyBGvjeLm5Y-MgKaSSSP-LW61vmqjwShJif_mey8QRJDBljdIp9LhiyNwmRq9Ah_ts5fkJGTWLBW2S5rTe6R-Q1F1p0rA0_RZml4-BSLH_g9FMk/s1600-h/IMG_7397-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbOkeDNNraiWFAPBqKCwIMDBF1mQqiyBGvjeLm5Y-MgKaSSSP-LW61vmqjwShJif_mey8QRJDBljdIp9LhiyNwmRq9Ah_ts5fkJGTWLBW2S5rTe6R-Q1F1p0rA0_RZml4-BSLH_g9FMk/s400/IMG_7397-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435687348346059890" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In a separate bowl, cream together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6ZYAl1RM7_5Fqo-KaKnmZtDmbh-Rqmy2_sL5Po5De7dtRce-9LyY-_Sd8euSoTeS-qgqouuxyMayjrMktBoF3zipEOP-nPPCDpCpMVnPue8DN1cQWjp3yQJoDUR2GZu5-MbiAs98sjg/s1600-h/IMG_7419-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm6ZYAl1RM7_5Fqo-KaKnmZtDmbh-Rqmy2_sL5Po5De7dtRce-9LyY-_Sd8euSoTeS-qgqouuxyMayjrMktBoF3zipEOP-nPPCDpCpMVnPue8DN1cQWjp3yQJoDUR2GZu5-MbiAs98sjg/s400/IMG_7419-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686978355593650" border="0" /></a><br />Then add the vanilla.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV-5HY0tQQKYfXYYGToa74hnTabTS66oEugeXNOBkrVIgptT7haaZFZ06BEtCGVtR_IBWlKkMp-kcJpcMr0O0u2BmR7AWfi5qRVMbXrB66E3MjF0ptWR9J9ZvlUkTEQwcFdEWPSEierU/s1600-h/IMG_7426-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVV-5HY0tQQKYfXYYGToa74hnTabTS66oEugeXNOBkrVIgptT7haaZFZ06BEtCGVtR_IBWlKkMp-kcJpcMr0O0u2BmR7AWfi5qRVMbXrB66E3MjF0ptWR9J9ZvlUkTEQwcFdEWPSEierU/s400/IMG_7426-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686969895659314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeXmyjBwM4j-DFkHp87R9pkM-lt92ft64QXqmeUYdSTIZ_F5VLC805IDF4aztZ4mIApvgn2OQcDikN6Tx2DP9Gng8R9SY8FLfzWIlnCXUaEWsshKe6E39xfy7asN2Cjo5zgNqm91J-kg/s1600-h/IMG_7445-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHeXmyjBwM4j-DFkHp87R9pkM-lt92ft64QXqmeUYdSTIZ_F5VLC805IDF4aztZ4mIApvgn2OQcDikN6Tx2DP9Gng8R9SY8FLfzWIlnCXUaEWsshKe6E39xfy7asN2Cjo5zgNqm91J-kg/s400/IMG_7445-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686964883320114" border="0" /></a><br />Next, add the flour mixture, alternating with milk...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyH2JAYK7Vc9aDsm_yYP1XwdsbLXcYHyoduojFzF-bm3yf9dgOzp-9fRoPBY_bOqr17J8imzeJKMCRWm2jARDtr0nxyJ56P_SU-vB8W7LgaH0ij6k52AU5DU882qm74UGLKAW1h28etos/s1600-h/IMG_7450-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyH2JAYK7Vc9aDsm_yYP1XwdsbLXcYHyoduojFzF-bm3yf9dgOzp-9fRoPBY_bOqr17J8imzeJKMCRWm2jARDtr0nxyJ56P_SU-vB8W7LgaH0ij6k52AU5DU882qm74UGLKAW1h28etos/s400/IMG_7450-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686960627510338" border="0" /></a><br />...until everything is well combined. Set aside.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj_Gqi956D0XyfbEZPb8dHIatc4YnJneDtn0fD4pagAWXTdiK5HM7N7yjYB25ahMn1SKrP_G4ztSaUIdnOOlYHshDUeZece8Ik9eJLIwXrOrMbX14mc6LqjlB_DDM1KTgEza7MRsdMnQ/s1600-h/IMG_7413-1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGj_Gqi956D0XyfbEZPb8dHIatc4YnJneDtn0fD4pagAWXTdiK5HM7N7yjYB25ahMn1SKrP_G4ztSaUIdnOOlYHshDUeZece8Ik9eJLIwXrOrMbX14mc6LqjlB_DDM1KTgEza7MRsdMnQ/s400/IMG_7413-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686981567843858" border="0" /></a><br />Now, onto the egg whites! The eggs are supposed to be at room temperature. But if you don't have ones readily available, you can set them in warm water before separating out the whites. Beat until soft peaks form.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy_gcxvTl1x8AjSxixFGYhAJunyubNxZF4BetTA0ZA5TUYuWonKZKM5_Z-jKi6z4zTrgCd1fTMQEG9ba20Yao6g9g48b3aJmORrFP6-9uByoIoH6sdfIIZGBtqOss32nt07RSa3os_Qg/s1600-h/IMG_7471.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigy_gcxvTl1x8AjSxixFGYhAJunyubNxZF4BetTA0ZA5TUYuWonKZKM5_Z-jKi6z4zTrgCd1fTMQEG9ba20Yao6g9g48b3aJmORrFP6-9uByoIoH6sdfIIZGBtqOss32nt07RSa3os_Qg/s400/IMG_7471.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686524723808002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksdafUOtOlSY9LMMNBl8bQwGtnH0mrZxHBE551FILIapTdX1O_VM1kAsSJgX9uXTPA8jSmdrqvFGsVGtLjZd6h98kjVTzbJw-0HCeeqSVrpDZBKlINC_VbfRyPXDljNFHCVOCeQTM2vg/s1600-h/IMG_7491.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiksdafUOtOlSY9LMMNBl8bQwGtnH0mrZxHBE551FILIapTdX1O_VM1kAsSJgX9uXTPA8jSmdrqvFGsVGtLjZd6h98kjVTzbJw-0HCeeqSVrpDZBKlINC_VbfRyPXDljNFHCVOCeQTM2vg/s400/IMG_7491.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686518743109394" border="0" /></a><br />Only fold in 1/3 of the egg whites first.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0q9ibSxQR-ki1ugSfD2m1UPLkDCWvFFrdllQDdV2V2KxkF6CtR_RcyEoCXyQy7257gf9Hsp1BMmo7q-e-AzHIXr5-Qqz8YTZOecrdsTqev_xujmprkPgngowRJuy1XCQjFDi5mFPRkg/s1600-h/IMG_7506.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0q9ibSxQR-ki1ugSfD2m1UPLkDCWvFFrdllQDdV2V2KxkF6CtR_RcyEoCXyQy7257gf9Hsp1BMmo7q-e-AzHIXr5-Qqz8YTZOecrdsTqev_xujmprkPgngowRJuy1XCQjFDi5mFPRkg/s400/IMG_7506.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686513222356962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Use a cutting motion from the middle of the bowl, and turning it as you fold.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0n5JkfZG6ezHk0JQKKv621AMCktuMvreV1__fk0rvghqpkT-1id0SnS7ls_M1cEVv9dJ3ZMSaZ-PxjANYw-JMclHA_A5np5tZQwb8oX3tjPDLZiw_M7Qt0DJJLzfBS-oEEdvPLpH4w8/s1600-h/IMG_7511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF0n5JkfZG6ezHk0JQKKv621AMCktuMvreV1__fk0rvghqpkT-1id0SnS7ls_M1cEVv9dJ3ZMSaZ-PxjANYw-JMclHA_A5np5tZQwb8oX3tjPDLZiw_M7Qt0DJJLzfBS-oEEdvPLpH4w8/s400/IMG_7511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686507949578770" border="0" /></a><br />Gently fold the rest of the egg whites into the batter until just combined. Don't over mix, or you'll destroy the air whipped into the egg whites and your cake will turn out to be tough and dense. This cake is supposed to be super light and airy.<br /><br />Ok, now onto the baking part...when I last blogged about the <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/white-velvet-matcha-cake-with-chocolate.html">White Velvet Matcha Cake</a>, remember how I talked about the sides browning too quickly and the cake creating a dome in the center? Well, this is how to solve that problem:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFu1_2b84PlUjCDO_6Is3DOnDN4g1JlXqRCV0Zbo0M4m9k5YJ2UVsDphPZS9tpXPKebXxlV0tgeFEHroYLz8-6xGUZvSR_KadVevWrogGKMVlKZHEOsZVhtw1eJ_OibZr5__dmHZ7x-0/s1600-h/IMG_7374.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFu1_2b84PlUjCDO_6Is3DOnDN4g1JlXqRCV0Zbo0M4m9k5YJ2UVsDphPZS9tpXPKebXxlV0tgeFEHroYLz8-6xGUZvSR_KadVevWrogGKMVlKZHEOsZVhtw1eJ_OibZr5__dmHZ7x-0/s400/IMG_7374.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435687368366224690" border="0" /></a><br />You'll need some baking strips. You can find these at any specialty baking store. They are also available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DDXL6?ie=UTF8&tag=judyinhernatu-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0000DDXL6">Amazon</a> for a pretty reasonable price. You gotta make sure to get the right sized strips- they come both for 8 inch and 9 inch pans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeYeQFgOpQFSVd0WK9_um_AV7-KBnc_MCwrbaVB8eBi6J-J38BCRA_gjkgZWyyoi2tDrfuDG3Ts7DHl1vHCQyOU3qfzU5LW9E6necIkXGqQwMV0x27z4hlpsMCZSVevoWw_GPk3sbI4Y/s1600-h/IMG_7364.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeYeQFgOpQFSVd0WK9_um_AV7-KBnc_MCwrbaVB8eBi6J-J38BCRA_gjkgZWyyoi2tDrfuDG3Ts7DHl1vHCQyOU3qfzU5LW9E6necIkXGqQwMV0x27z4hlpsMCZSVevoWw_GPk3sbI4Y/s400/IMG_7364.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435687377755419538" border="0" /></a><br />So here's how you use them: wet the strips through entirely and then wring out the excess water. Wrap the strips around the pan and you're ready to go! This makes sure that the cake bakes evenly throughout, not browning the edges before the middle is fully done. It will also help with the dome shape. Grease the pan, and bake your cake as usual. I used 9 inch spring form pans and lined the bottom with parchment paper rounds.<br /><br />Ok, one warning about the baking strips: the first time you use them, you'll think that your kitchen is on fire after about 5 minutes. It produced a super strong stink in my kitchen: like burning rubber. I kept checking on the cake every other minute, worried that the strips had caught on fire. I think it was just because they had never been used before. The second time I used them, the smell was hardly there. So don't be alarmed! hehe.<br /><br />After I posted about the Matcha cake earlier this week, I received the most wonder email from a reader. She had some pretty fantastic tips for resolving these issues. Here's what she said:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Regarding the dome, the strips work great. But for your fans, they can also save a buck and make their own. Take an old terry towel and cut in strips that are twice the height of the pan. If the pan is 2 inches high, cut the towel in a 4 inch wide strip that is several inches longer than the circumference of the pan. Fold the strip in half lengthwise. Wet and wring out just like the boughten strip. Wrap around the pan and attach with a metal t-pin, safety pin (you don't need to close it) or a metal office binder clip. Works just like the boughten strips. It also helps to lower the oven to 325 when baking.<br /><br />And if you take a metal flower nail, spray with some Pam, and after you pour the batter, place the nail upside down in the center of the pan. So the top of the flower nail is touching the pan and the nail is sticking up. The strips slow down the baking on the outside edge of the pan, the nail brings more heat into the batter in the center of the pan. Both allow the center to bake at the same time as the edge. When I use the strips, 325 oven, and a flower nail I never have a dome. Nice and flat with no cutting a dome off or having uneven layers.<br /><br /></span>Wow! I was so amazed by how savvy and creative she was! I never thought to make my own strips! The flower nail tip was pretty cool, wasn't it? I haven't tried it yet, but the next cake I bake, I'll be sure to put it to the test! Flower nails can be found anywhere- even at Michael's. It's the kind you use to pipe buttercream roses. Thanks so much, Denette, for the awesome tips!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) The Red Currant Filling</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBfkAJfjgFWUaBZZI3AWVBk6laR1OT5gsaOlH4rR_5T64J54GeMyZ0JzGdPGHiO9-VOCqidhUBpD5z4-TwqYUAfKBVFo3uGjRd1uvHueeOb9bHZtpT6L8XCDhdGEhKVZZOm1EMZ0RMIY/s1600-h/IMG_7525.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBfkAJfjgFWUaBZZI3AWVBk6laR1OT5gsaOlH4rR_5T64J54GeMyZ0JzGdPGHiO9-VOCqidhUBpD5z4-TwqYUAfKBVFo3uGjRd1uvHueeOb9bHZtpT6L8XCDhdGEhKVZZOm1EMZ0RMIY/s400/IMG_7525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435686505797361730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00ncuZtATL7AXgNQHCS-zWmaSZKklx2I72WwhEFdEQH8A1wq8cpK_gbMnqOfnzaWpuiRPsOl-MtEX0DPG7B3atlJOTsOhiB7KoCzqeGI7x0x-0j6N439mCsJNItiVsmsbS3xxjA4rEq8/s1600-h/IMG_7534.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00ncuZtATL7AXgNQHCS-zWmaSZKklx2I72WwhEFdEQH8A1wq8cpK_gbMnqOfnzaWpuiRPsOl-MtEX0DPG7B3atlJOTsOhiB7KoCzqeGI7x0x-0j6N439mCsJNItiVsmsbS3xxjA4rEq8/s400/IMG_7534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685953913331154" border="0" /></a><br />The recipe called for red currant jelly as the filling. Basically all you do is whisk the jelly until it becomes smooth. There's not actually a whole lot of it once you spread it around the cake. The idea is to have a tiny bit of flavor in the center. However, I always wish there was more! I'd double what the recipe calls for, to get a more flavorful cake!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) The White Chocolate Curls</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZG39TfESrXsGJkfLSaIwxm8iXvwX1i6YAUVTCRbWw8f0jvkV4yGkYYPT95zxA3IJUB-xHFFi1NBFHf9TZu3UDJPwZLVTmrjGmhFvdA_QADTsR1usVc_c1iVE3f6nENnTwyAOdCovIJ0/s1600-h/IMG_7550.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZG39TfESrXsGJkfLSaIwxm8iXvwX1i6YAUVTCRbWw8f0jvkV4yGkYYPT95zxA3IJUB-xHFFi1NBFHf9TZu3UDJPwZLVTmrjGmhFvdA_QADTsR1usVc_c1iVE3f6nENnTwyAOdCovIJ0/s400/IMG_7550.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685950141106578" border="0" /></a><br />The chocolate curls are super easy to make. Be sure to use a high quality white chocolate bar, with real cocoa butter in it. I usually get mine from Whole Foods. All you have to do is take a potato peeler to it. I have a nice red one with a ceramic blade from Sur La Table. It works perfectly on white chocolate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhc2eDAiHl864jOmXGquEEOGDfMFesdsr3OXQkys5JiyAzMEpbuHmWj96tY-Fb3gtogssuo25Mkr6nBUFpav7_PfFSoS1VMOHmTQpFfjmUx9DgPACLNEr27kJ-Md-IHB_N0DOfbc33NI/s1600-h/IMG_7558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhc2eDAiHl864jOmXGquEEOGDfMFesdsr3OXQkys5JiyAzMEpbuHmWj96tY-Fb3gtogssuo25Mkr6nBUFpav7_PfFSoS1VMOHmTQpFfjmUx9DgPACLNEr27kJ-Md-IHB_N0DOfbc33NI/s400/IMG_7558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685944114733938" border="0" /></a><br />A great trick to getting perfect curls: warm up the surface of the chocolate first, before curling. Do this by placing the palm of your hand over the bar of chocolate for a few seconds before shaving the chocolate. This will make sure it's soft enough to curl easily, without breaking.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(4) The White Chocolate Mousse</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdcNHgCtONmJ60xjgGiwaaj4EGrHFecUaqOtKvALWDw15gIYbbm6WHF-9e2s27n2wf9Saoc5OxwbttKqKBp5z1oNIeGUktzFnscm2RPDYJnsgk9b03mAHx8EcdTHs_a28hW8Hk-m137c/s1600-h/IMG_7576.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdcNHgCtONmJ60xjgGiwaaj4EGrHFecUaqOtKvALWDw15gIYbbm6WHF-9e2s27n2wf9Saoc5OxwbttKqKBp5z1oNIeGUktzFnscm2RPDYJnsgk9b03mAHx8EcdTHs_a28hW8Hk-m137c/s400/IMG_7576.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685941132781922" border="0" /></a><br />First, melt your white chocolate and make sure it's had ample time to cool down completely.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxGDLGJ5wiNSd_5vCkRtX22xZ10SaJJx55Mv3X0OcVBcOsT0GSinNNI1HhL3Mj__SSoELYArDOo-dntXnxHvsjvtSLuXraLo6IP5AhrlogjaDrHx3QslH4MekVrORjDziAi-nAIZLrX0/s1600-h/IMG_7606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxGDLGJ5wiNSd_5vCkRtX22xZ10SaJJx55Mv3X0OcVBcOsT0GSinNNI1HhL3Mj__SSoELYArDOo-dntXnxHvsjvtSLuXraLo6IP5AhrlogjaDrHx3QslH4MekVrORjDziAi-nAIZLrX0/s400/IMG_7606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685435957521010" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In an electric mixer, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiFpUmmqu2vMwcMhLqXbn945RManITttbrCRikqe1VEsOQ55wjmy-NPuvroNYSWNapmHL5D5d2qL7yxMYhPbxi0oGm_XCh-Gpe_LAERHVF1SGw3eh9BAu52lcBE_Ddit9uhSXHGTF8AY/s1600-h/IMG_7614.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiFpUmmqu2vMwcMhLqXbn945RManITttbrCRikqe1VEsOQ55wjmy-NPuvroNYSWNapmHL5D5d2qL7yxMYhPbxi0oGm_XCh-Gpe_LAERHVF1SGw3eh9BAu52lcBE_Ddit9uhSXHGTF8AY/s400/IMG_7614.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685427535832546" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_jSAlXDwpg-v_PDmLWusKIRaeqR8hBDUNsf_BtEXlQUds52gSKk9sM4bz3OHH-bWqkb4p9MbHKdJ_m4Pe6O2H30RcQmKAZUuw5ElnUnU_tgbwHz-pZaAAK28oYLjKtiSm5HX5FmVeN4/s1600-h/IMG_7616.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_jSAlXDwpg-v_PDmLWusKIRaeqR8hBDUNsf_BtEXlQUds52gSKk9sM4bz3OHH-bWqkb4p9MbHKdJ_m4Pe6O2H30RcQmKAZUuw5ElnUnU_tgbwHz-pZaAAK28oYLjKtiSm5HX5FmVeN4/s400/IMG_7616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685422282674146" border="0" /></a><br />Yay! I love freshly whipped whip cream!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2LlxC9tcxTloce49ag4MNSJ0HdPsxVqYonZM8L4HF-BZNayaMqh-PAk_Tug8ZsKCzwHZjpH4nCvmjMWP30nvFbpxCUqiA5UqsB1Wuc_VyJcRjsGVxvQloX7m8XJ119KMIuc5b3wggTU/s1600-h/IMG_7621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ2LlxC9tcxTloce49ag4MNSJ0HdPsxVqYonZM8L4HF-BZNayaMqh-PAk_Tug8ZsKCzwHZjpH4nCvmjMWP30nvFbpxCUqiA5UqsB1Wuc_VyJcRjsGVxvQloX7m8XJ119KMIuc5b3wggTU/s400/IMG_7621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685417496676338" border="0" /></a><br />Pour in the white chocolate..<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgao4PzTrnRq9tsdUa2ARimvnPgBI9ulUeh8P2qqL2_z0T-yCbM0-69weX9py-jtfJet4BO-y4C8yJ7nYS-jG7essOksfGueYepvC6zvtowXSkdw6AFhdXHHPvETCx3KNcHdCwuxVCk1AA/s1600-h/IMG_7634.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgao4PzTrnRq9tsdUa2ARimvnPgBI9ulUeh8P2qqL2_z0T-yCbM0-69weX9py-jtfJet4BO-y4C8yJ7nYS-jG7essOksfGueYepvC6zvtowXSkdw6AFhdXHHPvETCx3KNcHdCwuxVCk1AA/s400/IMG_7634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685412822333970" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_VPd1ZnxkyRRxYfMRvJcBIbyAI0Him-4dbLB_zOAjvqfAnZ659zBGOUvcDOFe_xtmgl3v1beBEyqraNpNIlUn95_NJHpbtKYf29RTvRRr81HzSudYsTTdZNacfdy3i5ixQVEdezPihA/s1600-h/IMG_7645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_VPd1ZnxkyRRxYfMRvJcBIbyAI0Him-4dbLB_zOAjvqfAnZ659zBGOUvcDOFe_xtmgl3v1beBEyqraNpNIlUn95_NJHpbtKYf29RTvRRr81HzSudYsTTdZNacfdy3i5ixQVEdezPihA/s400/IMG_7645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435684927141371602" border="0" /></a><br />...and mix until well combined.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If your chocolate is still slightly warm, you'll get chunks of white chocolate in your whipped cream, and it won't be as smooth. It's fine if this happens, it'll still taste just as great!<br /><br />What you can do is slowly drizzle the melted chocolate in while the mixer is running. This will also reduce the chances of getting clumps. (I find that folding it in by hand usually creates more lumps.)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">(5) Putting it all together<br /></div></div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulcNNOz8yDg8diK0-1o0_yhPIjdmTotCzKx5Q-mXY6H_MzySmPrwD5YtYTr3e5CCaVbVwf97Vg-kvhvaiwxlnsoQv1rMSuBydwUfDrAH8bE9-PPwIhTmA6PGym9VPXGEMKbvhaU0uT3w/s1600-h/IMG_7589.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgulcNNOz8yDg8diK0-1o0_yhPIjdmTotCzKx5Q-mXY6H_MzySmPrwD5YtYTr3e5CCaVbVwf97Vg-kvhvaiwxlnsoQv1rMSuBydwUfDrAH8bE9-PPwIhTmA6PGym9VPXGEMKbvhaU0uT3w/s400/IMG_7589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435685934825913362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Start with the first layer. Spread the red currant jelly evenly.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">See how beautifully the sides of the cake turned out to be this time?! =) The baking strips worked like a charm! (Thanks Patricia!) Although, there was still a tad bit of a dome on top that I had to trim down, but it wasn't such a big deal this time. It was a tiiiiiiiiiny dome that probably wouldn't have made a difference if I didn't trim it. But I wanted to get rid of the "brown top" anyway, so I gave it a tiny trim. I will be sure to try the nail thing next time! It sounds so cool! hehe. And wouldn't it be nice to get a completely flat layer?! I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. =)<br /><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOmew2UdPUEZmQ00NpBRY9jlEiCabdQu1XAGphIW-gplPstVihzyZgOB1Rhmx2StZzb8I0TV3dIooiVGk6n3Em9j7NMfdvj817WFG4gdTgyFeS1wW9JfGL9r6r-4VhH532Z3WaFQmyd0/s1600-h/IMG_7649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOmew2UdPUEZmQ00NpBRY9jlEiCabdQu1XAGphIW-gplPstVihzyZgOB1Rhmx2StZzb8I0TV3dIooiVGk6n3Em9j7NMfdvj817WFG4gdTgyFeS1wW9JfGL9r6r-4VhH532Z3WaFQmyd0/s400/IMG_7649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435684923927915730" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XV7m9gp3T1Re7B4xwjj_YQZrLcF0KQA7tgfj1Yo98ECVy4SYGIFyTg3UMrASjWNfCEZB8JyPPoojBGG3pPwVaJdeWtNIBXToak-_5YUi-LDRaWMqtlZmuUfBwSwPZQkVWkrFAPqMqAw/s1600-h/IMG_7651.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XV7m9gp3T1Re7B4xwjj_YQZrLcF0KQA7tgfj1Yo98ECVy4SYGIFyTg3UMrASjWNfCEZB8JyPPoojBGG3pPwVaJdeWtNIBXToak-_5YUi-LDRaWMqtlZmuUfBwSwPZQkVWkrFAPqMqAw/s400/IMG_7651.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435684916763227058" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, moving on... spread some white chocolate mousse over the red currant layer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PKu9Xnj_kNjX_WkF95LO6P3ldOI_KylE7X5uMKVAZ2XVLm5XdcgeMlrzC87QlpZdvEMOOkeFPIeNqZqRnD6hY9o1gJu5m6dwDGuEHbk5-B6oH54kiUkEoHWN6gCPeuBOIRZ0aScb2fs/s1600-h/IMG_7660.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PKu9Xnj_kNjX_WkF95LO6P3ldOI_KylE7X5uMKVAZ2XVLm5XdcgeMlrzC87QlpZdvEMOOkeFPIeNqZqRnD6hY9o1gJu5m6dwDGuEHbk5-B6oH54kiUkEoHWN6gCPeuBOIRZ0aScb2fs/s400/IMG_7660.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435684911656602130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDo-oizpi9g6TlbadoDE-aaBFGPlU_ZDUxfNBElhqvRCvHlk8x0sTBrfdzBy4n6GgdiA27abHva9Zco2rBmpmBDZDMRoOooSgQVsqSmBTKB3-fj7YDQ4zRv7tBWhLT-ZORSLxbPyCQBHA/s1600-h/IMG_7678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDo-oizpi9g6TlbadoDE-aaBFGPlU_ZDUxfNBElhqvRCvHlk8x0sTBrfdzBy4n6GgdiA27abHva9Zco2rBmpmBDZDMRoOooSgQVsqSmBTKB3-fj7YDQ4zRv7tBWhLT-ZORSLxbPyCQBHA/s400/IMG_7678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435684906962146514" border="0" /></a><br />Continue to frost the cake completely, until the entire thing is covered with the white chocolate mousse.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNewE2qkXEVtdcbuE64E3NbiDbytWXHXj4Q6nnsrEUs76bN38jdNj9nngkFwwrLS5OoKgf7D1FCzx7HGpBhalimvS2BHCv1ruvo97aeV_eotibg4tMPRaBL_jiikMzDsFhR2zbnYzGlZI/s1600-h/IMG_7699.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNewE2qkXEVtdcbuE64E3NbiDbytWXHXj4Q6nnsrEUs76bN38jdNj9nngkFwwrLS5OoKgf7D1FCzx7HGpBhalimvS2BHCv1ruvo97aeV_eotibg4tMPRaBL_jiikMzDsFhR2zbnYzGlZI/s400/IMG_7699.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435683522952094610" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Then top with white chocolate curls to finish!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I didn't mean to do another cake with white chocolate curls. It just so happens that this cake was designed that way. The curls are super forgiving and will cover a lot of flaws. Whipping cream is hard to get smooth anyway, so the curls are perfect. But I really need to do some cakes with "real" decorating, by using a SMB or IMB. That's what I really need to practice!<br /><br />Remember how I last talked about icing tips that I got from my readers? Well, Denette had something to say about those too:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">To use the roller (or viva paper towel technique that is also popular and effective) you need a buttercream that crusts. You have to be able to lightly touch it with your finger and the buttercream won't come off on your finger.</span><br /><br />I'm glad she told me this because I was super excited about trying out the roller technique. But as you all know, I don't ever use American buttercream that crusts. So, she saved me from a lot of potential frustration! hehe. I wasn't aware that some techniques don't work on certain buttercreams. See what I mean about being a novice? hehe. =)<br /><br />Ok, so how did this third one turn out??<br /><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZBbvmq36nvcnW0pVaKza0TfKNHhQ3uCAii9woVTyf-LhgL_8V_zXVxbSmkbGNQyKo1B_qHi8fCji-mU6eENXeoor0PZLsFubh-lx7NkwdYnVyeevlxJJ2_Afps86oQesfG5Dq1tZpxE/s1600-h/IMG_7781.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZBbvmq36nvcnW0pVaKza0TfKNHhQ3uCAii9woVTyf-LhgL_8V_zXVxbSmkbGNQyKo1B_qHi8fCji-mU6eENXeoor0PZLsFubh-lx7NkwdYnVyeevlxJJ2_Afps86oQesfG5Dq1tZpxE/s400/IMG_7781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435683506877576578" border="0" /></a><br />Definitely better, since I had the baking strips. But I still had problems with the layers. I didn't weigh out the batter to make sure it was even this time- I should never skip that step!! hehe. because you can see here that my layers weren't even. I put more batter in one pan and less in the other. Also, when I went to trim the top, I didn't trim it entirely flat. And also, I seemed to have trimmed the edges more than the center..? lol. Not sure how I pulled that one off! oh well, this just means that I have to practice more, right? hehe.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWB8BKUKVng2Nt0ziQRi0x-aQxL3DSN0BULDj22c1KuFB4UGU_BPGG6sPfQC-3lHZLxrnaUwfFdqliByyb7HdF1JfHg1H-LimPt7RWtpdPQSZab5Dn5V6d3DZmgdhUjmf06TiVZMVYodg/s1600-h/IMG_7795.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWB8BKUKVng2Nt0ziQRi0x-aQxL3DSN0BULDj22c1KuFB4UGU_BPGG6sPfQC-3lHZLxrnaUwfFdqliByyb7HdF1JfHg1H-LimPt7RWtpdPQSZab5Dn5V6d3DZmgdhUjmf06TiVZMVYodg/s400/IMG_7795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435683498947003426" border="0" /></a><br />As for how it tastes: AMAZING! I brought it to a party and everyone loved it! A lot of people commented on the fact that it was super light and fluffy. Of what little we had left over, people were signing up to take some home!<br /><br />It truly is a great cake! It's subtly sweet, but has a great flavor at the same time. I hope you will put this on your list of To-Trys, it truly is an amazing cake!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_157c438rqfp">HERE</a> for the recipes shown in this entry.</span></span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-82678755710998322842010-02-16T17:31:00.000-08:002010-02-16T20:28:13.885-08:00White Velvet Matcha Cake with Chocolate Italian Meringue ButtercreamHere it is: my second cake ever! If you'll remember, the first one was my version of Cheesecake Factory's <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/10/red-velvet-white-chocolate-cheesecake.html">Red Velvet White Chocolate</a> cheesecake. (It turned out really well and since then, I've gotten a lot of positive feedback from readers who have tried it! Yay!) Anyway, because of that post, I got some great cake decorating tips from readers, so I set out to try them!<br /><br />Nope, it's not any easier or less daunting the second time around, in case you were wondering. hehe. I don't know why, but cake baking/decorating has always been the bane of my existence. Even though the first one turned out fantastically, it didn't seem to alleviate any of the nervousness that I get when I think about making another one. It requires so much skill and knowledge.. and I'm still such a novice.<br /><br />Anyway, I know that if I don't practice, I'll never get better. So I pushed on and decided to finally trying my hand at a second cake.<br /><br />I've been putting off this entry because I stumbled around quite a bit and it's not one of my proudest kitchen moments. hehe. But I figured: I learned a lot from it, which I can then share with all of you! Plus, it turned out to be one great tasting cake, so the recipe is definitely worth sharing, too!<br /><br />Here it is: White Velvet Matcha cake with Chocolate Italian Meringue Buttercream!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZ-UtWNADgOEx6QdqgdFcFet9Za7HI4qEB1TnmIOWKaVYhyDX2C2PwkLrKLEJYKbjtjUvvy4qaATKP6AOKtjUDSR9GTWC2C8V5hWQIUhKmKGv8uyOSpykQDLE-WNzUK1AsDmYLglsfg0/s1600-h/IMG_5455.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZ-UtWNADgOEx6QdqgdFcFet9Za7HI4qEB1TnmIOWKaVYhyDX2C2PwkLrKLEJYKbjtjUvvy4qaATKP6AOKtjUDSR9GTWC2C8V5hWQIUhKmKGv8uyOSpykQDLE-WNzUK1AsDmYLglsfg0/s400/IMG_5455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435679668894607090" border="0" /></a><br />I really like matcha flavored desserts. The funny thing is that I greatly dislike drinking matcha when it's in tea form. hehe. Weird, huh? I think it's because the flavor is just too strong when you make it into tea, but it's perfect when you bake it into a dessert! And it pairs especially well with chocolate!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlSD2FCexyfPnygCQItxqlO5Pg0iQ9fM5wl8xRcDlzzcHXwWCDdypYWvrnaGcbAPD69zUYHqPDGRoFytcw77JryzqRnk5HL1I80QTE4boMeO_9mWr4JZQm9C-oKG7gnIjimt7sF48mkI/s1600-h/IMG_0558.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlSD2FCexyfPnygCQItxqlO5Pg0iQ9fM5wl8xRcDlzzcHXwWCDdypYWvrnaGcbAPD69zUYHqPDGRoFytcw77JryzqRnk5HL1I80QTE4boMeO_9mWr4JZQm9C-oKG7gnIjimt7sF48mkI/s400/IMG_0558.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439000879545956306" border="0" /></a><br />You can usually find it at specialty tea shops like Teavanna or Japanese grocery stores. You can even purchase it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0019FOZC4?ie=UTF8&tag=judyinhernatu-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0019FOZC4">Amazon</a>. It's super expensive, but totally worth it! You don't use a lot of it at a time, so a little goes a long way.<br /><br />If you're unfamiliar with it, here are some quick facts:<br /><br />(1) It's a super high-end type of green tea.<br />(2) It's a really fine, beautiful green powder. Think: baking powder consistency.<br />(3) The taste reminds me a lot of dark chocolate- slightly bitter and kinda earthy. It's really unique tasting and difficult to describe. It's exotic! Once it's paired with chocolate and sweetened in a dessert, the flavor really shines through. It's worth trying at least once in your life! =)<br />(4) It's super high in antioxidants and has a ton of great health benefits. So you can, um, feel good about scarfing down half of this cake in one sitting. Completely guilt-free! Or something like that.. tee hee.<br /><br />Ok, done rambling now. On with the cake baking adventure!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The White Velvet Matcha Cake</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">For this cake, I used Rose Levy Beranbaum's classic White Velvet Cake recipe. As I've mentioned before, it's the perfect "cake base" for flavors and different types of frosting. It's called "white velvet" because that's what it feels like on your tongue! It's perfect!<br /></div></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jVOsTs9vsJ3irYcw6eNQ7Jp-ongZ9z-d1-s2hyphenhyphen301rFYljzmTUt-VEZOG0lLZHPgt-D8cXiIF4pGnaKCQJyBbiuG6RKgkydy6i89J61HlWK95e_hFZ5P-cSbf58iXdxwk5hj6wtLzNs/s1600-h/IMG_4833.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jVOsTs9vsJ3irYcw6eNQ7Jp-ongZ9z-d1-s2hyphenhyphen301rFYljzmTUt-VEZOG0lLZHPgt-D8cXiIF4pGnaKCQJyBbiuG6RKgkydy6i89J61HlWK95e_hFZ5P-cSbf58iXdxwk5hj6wtLzNs/s400/IMG_4833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435682374375069938" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphNvg48FQzqaxzK_OPZljvnIctvhySmSW_M-1cHB2SkXuTl3HaQ0e_zK9ZN6GxU7CAF75ngjxg5Rh3SigGVECfF2C2JjdaEE26W8eRJUtHbdBlfVJFa3y3QDd_FeItWKX6pAGLlZUKQ8/s1600-h/IMG_4840.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphNvg48FQzqaxzK_OPZljvnIctvhySmSW_M-1cHB2SkXuTl3HaQ0e_zK9ZN6GxU7CAF75ngjxg5Rh3SigGVECfF2C2JjdaEE26W8eRJUtHbdBlfVJFa3y3QDd_FeItWKX6pAGLlZUKQ8/s400/IMG_4840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435682369595361666" border="0" /></a><br />In a medium bowl, whisk egg whites, milk and the vanilla just until lightly combined.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJY46r6vLJifHuodJ4fxsEi3ozyNTaaCuuTaiD00n26MGtz2X-MdA8IjTRvicD40x65nLWmOSA_TvDpVMDJSONomgr_T9RoELtCtnRsXGWMY44dTU787T3bMWHFMNB7xmsBNHtXt9jeE/s1600-h/IMG_4846.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJY46r6vLJifHuodJ4fxsEi3ozyNTaaCuuTaiD00n26MGtz2X-MdA8IjTRvicD40x65nLWmOSA_TvDpVMDJSONomgr_T9RoELtCtnRsXGWMY44dTU787T3bMWHFMNB7xmsBNHtXt9jeE/s400/IMG_4846.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435682019855670450" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In another bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqiUVG-PRkX3x8gtQZcn_xnlGNCqI6M0GZLbSFrEBLByN272RrkxC1I5LY_lOpEPSsgFpFXPbBiRLsG8gGfmoJNrs1ykEsApojHZ5cip58JMEQgABey298SxAzn5nh0Xz-KrBIzor9JM/s1600-h/IMG_4850.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqiUVG-PRkX3x8gtQZcn_xnlGNCqI6M0GZLbSFrEBLByN272RrkxC1I5LY_lOpEPSsgFpFXPbBiRLsG8gGfmoJNrs1ykEsApojHZ5cip58JMEQgABey298SxAzn5nh0Xz-KrBIzor9JM/s400/IMG_4850.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435682017914203410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1EGJztdRw7jnxldfPRZXg0BT1lH3kb_H4ArciDScmWbvkUzJYIjSbH6UZH-fs7Az6l6j4KXVZ4MN9cbM3EBXerBsXBV_SpfVUumCI5BLyBXAuP5Q5dIr7wM-V39O3noKOrEQN2OV7EA/s1600-h/IMG_4862.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1EGJztdRw7jnxldfPRZXg0BT1lH3kb_H4ArciDScmWbvkUzJYIjSbH6UZH-fs7Az6l6j4KXVZ4MN9cbM3EBXerBsXBV_SpfVUumCI5BLyBXAuP5Q5dIr7wM-V39O3noKOrEQN2OV7EA/s400/IMG_4862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435682007624975602" border="0" /></a><br />Add butter and milk. Mix until well combined.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphi0yuJyJ8zf-KOqtI8Sg_M2cWgHGWiwBTLxIwK2MIAhM3E3ibAEY3zW6fo4BCOK3RPgs7kLKJznbi9Cn9H7viDLLgEuSgRSyk1eyCW3INXc9WssP4uzpiHfK_pId_s4yYaipoXvA5SE/s1600-h/IMG_4874.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphi0yuJyJ8zf-KOqtI8Sg_M2cWgHGWiwBTLxIwK2MIAhM3E3ibAEY3zW6fo4BCOK3RPgs7kLKJznbi9Cn9H7viDLLgEuSgRSyk1eyCW3INXc9WssP4uzpiHfK_pId_s4yYaipoXvA5SE/s400/IMG_4874.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681999738758290" border="0" /></a><br />Gradually add the egg mixture to the batter in two parts, beating on medium speed for 30 seconds after each addition to incorporate ingredients and strengthen the structure. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNBFwQGJRVQ7sGlf5iXab1ZB3XIi8qLLhaoyQM29YKNkN7kF_jsQb6sqckrwBlVFiRUqceZCp-oo8F8SezMsk40LFXbr6NHgej4G8XGNrp6OWMUEvfEZXAuqIMbOBUGjxNGKf9ce2cg0/s1600-h/IMG_4882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNBFwQGJRVQ7sGlf5iXab1ZB3XIi8qLLhaoyQM29YKNkN7kF_jsQb6sqckrwBlVFiRUqceZCp-oo8F8SezMsk40LFXbr6NHgej4G8XGNrp6OWMUEvfEZXAuqIMbOBUGjxNGKf9ce2cg0/s400/IMG_4882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681993782395762" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSjBmDtcdKnkdiaH6uM7NTHBfXLfpv3JfbQ7FAm-FbYLCePqPoTrEMy_0EBbz4k6P3mFCEtQ0Pip088QKg-VdBKoddjiwSk1aS3Myi9bcHGvAQt24UQHkhI5231-EoFgpndkK45hSFkI/s1600-h/IMG_4895.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBSjBmDtcdKnkdiaH6uM7NTHBfXLfpv3JfbQ7FAm-FbYLCePqPoTrEMy_0EBbz4k6P3mFCEtQ0Pip088QKg-VdBKoddjiwSk1aS3Myi9bcHGvAQt24UQHkhI5231-EoFgpndkK45hSFkI/s400/IMG_4895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681554673097474" border="0" /></a><br />Divide the batter evenly and add Matcha to 1/2 of the batter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rZDNlvbrIlwkwFWiqhZ8HmY5iyEeXsb-iiVrcAkoRoaaHW3gqtL1F-6tsNNOzCl3oqnnuMa5ljE8LZF8HSFp4oh_540LzePNyGgL6zVR5SxyGQaKNmypdLbr7-FTOa5ue2DhOrlonZM/s1600-h/IMG_4902.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6rZDNlvbrIlwkwFWiqhZ8HmY5iyEeXsb-iiVrcAkoRoaaHW3gqtL1F-6tsNNOzCl3oqnnuMa5ljE8LZF8HSFp4oh_540LzePNyGgL6zVR5SxyGQaKNmypdLbr7-FTOa5ue2DhOrlonZM/s400/IMG_4902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681550911519410" border="0" /></a><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ9Vgbvjr_vJD-OXccDY2RYygwTarYoTcnsDOBXbfVQQQEVBt42u4uXFYOHt-l2f2le4vrP4BxO-NkC4dyRv9gE_zPyXHnZJNXTjdS31iR7Id9MiFjnBnUZ655gL3EC2dWnZzl-W5_uQ/s1600-h/IMG_4911.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQ9Vgbvjr_vJD-OXccDY2RYygwTarYoTcnsDOBXbfVQQQEVBt42u4uXFYOHt-l2f2le4vrP4BxO-NkC4dyRv9gE_zPyXHnZJNXTjdS31iR7Id9MiFjnBnUZ655gL3EC2dWnZzl-W5_uQ/s400/IMG_4911.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681545899745842" border="0" /></a></div><br />Gently fold the matcha powder in, until just combined.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-tFX-m9Yfoa8oxINWTcbek9gDZh_ZzMUn8sClnSa-3CwRDskY6hWngARzLZ9iqdXBy4nj6bAKo4shAnHlQoUdxOTnFur3Afu9yZ5Ou_PmLGRoAjIaxPyDHPs19kGvXcIoA0UUrY5qOU/s1600-h/IMG_4919.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv-tFX-m9Yfoa8oxINWTcbek9gDZh_ZzMUn8sClnSa-3CwRDskY6hWngARzLZ9iqdXBy4nj6bAKo4shAnHlQoUdxOTnFur3Afu9yZ5Ou_PmLGRoAjIaxPyDHPs19kGvXcIoA0UUrY5qOU/s400/IMG_4919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681537932859250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Grease two 9 inch springform pans. I also placed parchment paper rounds on the bottom of the pans. Bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees F.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhTgpouYP23jvY8s3N9KAQ-YKvyUBYQPgE6rNYCZMw59vn15X1zo0T8d4cW8aFm3b0DsGYvcAHy82Vrhy1_XKXGz3S0EGxjW44_P5Mw1aEky62wG_kuqD2hHL1qTdVt_e3h9KZpmxt9Y/s1600-h/IMG_4934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhTgpouYP23jvY8s3N9KAQ-YKvyUBYQPgE6rNYCZMw59vn15X1zo0T8d4cW8aFm3b0DsGYvcAHy82Vrhy1_XKXGz3S0EGxjW44_P5Mw1aEky62wG_kuqD2hHL1qTdVt_e3h9KZpmxt9Y/s400/IMG_4934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681525461584610" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, here's where I encountered some problems. Notice how the sides of my cake are SUPER brown, whereas the top is a nice green. This is bad. It makes the sides really tough. I think it means that it baked unevenly, also creating a dome shape on top. This became a problem later, when I went to slice it in half, horizontally. You'll see what I mean...more on this later.<br /><br />Here's a really great tip that I got about slicing your cake layers: use dental floss! Crazy, eh? I mentioned in my first cake post that I got one of those levelers, which didn't work very well. A reader told me that I should just use floss- which turned out to be really effective! Give it a whirl next time you bake a cake. =)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) The Chocolate Mousseline Buttercream</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is Rose's version of the Italian Meringue Buttercream.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YMNYB02MJeonxD1ukuk5-4glSbbthfUPXoX22lTxWlIa2-APNeWQScT0JUBYIh53DbHQOAIEgwiY4WC9qhMoFJly0A4XHul7jqDvSIKMfK59jTfI5ocf7-93ZnTpoHfz7zIlrorKo-w/s1600-h/IMG_5040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YMNYB02MJeonxD1ukuk5-4glSbbthfUPXoX22lTxWlIa2-APNeWQScT0JUBYIh53DbHQOAIEgwiY4WC9qhMoFJly0A4XHul7jqDvSIKMfK59jTfI5ocf7-93ZnTpoHfz7zIlrorKo-w/s400/IMG_5040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681099290018130" border="0" /></a><br />You'll need 6 oz of dark chocolate, melted and cooled. It's super important for it to be cooled, because it will melt the butter in the buttercream and disrupt the overall consistency.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wYVp85ldyCZNQXIQRvq8L6vQNFPZGNsyRTTlFM1AglvE0dxlk-L09CWONy2-L9hYS-oNIbbbMHArxIbasaknWP7aZXOM6JaGMPcd-elqvny6jVWRnIjseU0ihnKVV5WIoxvan4YjDmE/s1600-h/IMG_5043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wYVp85ldyCZNQXIQRvq8L6vQNFPZGNsyRTTlFM1AglvE0dxlk-L09CWONy2-L9hYS-oNIbbbMHArxIbasaknWP7aZXOM6JaGMPcd-elqvny6jVWRnIjseU0ihnKVV5WIoxvan4YjDmE/s400/IMG_5043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681097801006322" border="0" /></a><br />You'll need to cut up 2 cups of butter that's softened, but still cool. This is important too- you don't want butter that's completely at room temperature. (It will be too soft and will also disrupt the consistency.) It should be soft around the edges, but still be a bit stiff and cool in the center.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JWyQm-4UAPtsaLH6cIwXTeZD-P4e8H1AWft3jXyxn9b1-JvKLUGw72ZGoWI5pM2liEO6n_ALXzr99Kuz1dJpvClaj7BDeYvk0cTKnzBr8CQLVNJg8DmoYXwI0OdOAeesjDXnFmCOnEM/s1600-h/IMG_5066.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JWyQm-4UAPtsaLH6cIwXTeZD-P4e8H1AWft3jXyxn9b1-JvKLUGw72ZGoWI5pM2liEO6n_ALXzr99Kuz1dJpvClaj7BDeYvk0cTKnzBr8CQLVNJg8DmoYXwI0OdOAeesjDXnFmCOnEM/s400/IMG_5066.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681091541448706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Ot5ldFfVhMvi3IXrSvhbx4mIAxbatGv0g_SDfTRydrErB8cOK1ViG-jCBxucGoCgWWqyHBJfTCnaQI5YFDYZ_yysdlBJyG6bt67arZFMNiLzYZAEe_MftiAgVtZJVWRuu0jykz2O7M/s1600-h/IMG_5073.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh50Ot5ldFfVhMvi3IXrSvhbx4mIAxbatGv0g_SDfTRydrErB8cOK1ViG-jCBxucGoCgWWqyHBJfTCnaQI5YFDYZ_yysdlBJyG6bt67arZFMNiLzYZAEe_MftiAgVtZJVWRuu0jykz2O7M/s400/IMG_5073.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681085472763730" border="0" /></a><br />For a complete, step by step tutorial on how to make Italian Meringue Buttercream, please visit this entry: <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/11/chocolate-cupcakes-with-matcha-italian.html">Chocolate Matcha Cupcakes</a>. (Highly recommended for first timers.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6gSWQgkPqN3vPpU1Fpd8adAQi9PEqIppoYLAC5Rs8XUvhtSQ8YuVvnKwRuY-uerMLRqoqBDurxgiSQ5POUnnuDUcgfDIyY-KJHqMsxlc19C8khIAjquTeXgh142I98kNRwLsPqA11sc/s1600-h/IMG_5074.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6gSWQgkPqN3vPpU1Fpd8adAQi9PEqIppoYLAC5Rs8XUvhtSQ8YuVvnKwRuY-uerMLRqoqBDurxgiSQ5POUnnuDUcgfDIyY-KJHqMsxlc19C8khIAjquTeXgh142I98kNRwLsPqA11sc/s400/IMG_5074.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435681081610470850" border="0" /></a><br />When your buttercream comes together, it should be smooth, silky, and have a beautiful sheen to it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhY3WRdkxMtc2X0IGfEQtbmMJiwQul49-1jPLHUWBiTBx7lKVsBum3UPAXHFpRRBy-YfNR89ZWwhz6UzmIt8AscSTGSGytSr_sGQuT5xtQjBiTFXr5UwM-H_rdCsCUjafJqhd5burTGNA/s1600-h/IMG_5083.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhY3WRdkxMtc2X0IGfEQtbmMJiwQul49-1jPLHUWBiTBx7lKVsBum3UPAXHFpRRBy-YfNR89ZWwhz6UzmIt8AscSTGSGytSr_sGQuT5xtQjBiTFXr5UwM-H_rdCsCUjafJqhd5burTGNA/s400/IMG_5083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680631557493602" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Mix in the melted chocolate until just combined.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfRcJZ4zMkZ395b9LoA4hsl1UIOTik_LiIRZv34VnVtO7YytJftC7xKTFefnzOVa3yMo62yPHLAEPQYzuAsTRsNKfWzMI877NGVt-mEczMPAV2mt4AKm0vKtncsc3Alt_zaYrB3HJMKE/s1600-h/IMG_5100.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKfRcJZ4zMkZ395b9LoA4hsl1UIOTik_LiIRZv34VnVtO7YytJftC7xKTFefnzOVa3yMo62yPHLAEPQYzuAsTRsNKfWzMI877NGVt-mEczMPAV2mt4AKm0vKtncsc3Alt_zaYrB3HJMKE/s400/IMG_5100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680628002182802" border="0" /></a><br />Mmmm! So delicious! See how shiny it is? =)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Putting it all together </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(The hard part for me)</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrq-Eq8hOwDKiGgdgEaoprI670vfW0jndDnrdzj12umHcxb7r2wDTCHsfubMOMgqXXGIk2MFz9gQNVtDA36cVR8zfnsXBdUyMOVdLp8SQmkl0tyrkXnpy_KlWfzkuSHCeakITw32EvMi0/s1600-h/IMG_5107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrq-Eq8hOwDKiGgdgEaoprI670vfW0jndDnrdzj12umHcxb7r2wDTCHsfubMOMgqXXGIk2MFz9gQNVtDA36cVR8zfnsXBdUyMOVdLp8SQmkl0tyrkXnpy_KlWfzkuSHCeakITw32EvMi0/s400/IMG_5107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680622305690050" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I sliced both the white cake and the matcha cake in half, horizontally, so that I ended up with four layers.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9VCT4B7xf_nek16QtnBn8VNksAr-eXaioGnVBWVe_CRCIIjBupt4QS3PYhYldexdAtdBUFZXkEdzdt5UN7iAnrpOasEHLkeeZ7qBSpHLiC2D9IOmmmHajoRN3KeBGJaLoWukWtFT6P8/s1600-h/IMG_5123.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9VCT4B7xf_nek16QtnBn8VNksAr-eXaioGnVBWVe_CRCIIjBupt4QS3PYhYldexdAtdBUFZXkEdzdt5UN7iAnrpOasEHLkeeZ7qBSpHLiC2D9IOmmmHajoRN3KeBGJaLoWukWtFT6P8/s400/IMG_5123.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680614915240194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip59iLPbIiZ4QcmdUbZAbEHAKU91CggQtzrHS37SIFLenGroH4VCs2S9xBwkh4rX-_wBuKNeGvbK2xS0M-7YcjOlVDgObCBzWudNYZNFPL5lvIVbEgmdxdl_wPfD9zq2Z4iBki5gy8DMI/s1600-h/IMG_5127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip59iLPbIiZ4QcmdUbZAbEHAKU91CggQtzrHS37SIFLenGroH4VCs2S9xBwkh4rX-_wBuKNeGvbK2xS0M-7YcjOlVDgObCBzWudNYZNFPL5lvIVbEgmdxdl_wPfD9zq2Z4iBki5gy8DMI/s400/IMG_5127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680610734330978" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCfhswuwI9WUSzglkWGLTFQOSfM6N7tQHHO1pRClgno4PrkM76iuw0HYGSfIMf3HFJTUa9Vh7KVAGXIFL4xZjx4eHmsWU-fN0nIOIbeFolEOzQ2E1jMcF2aJWnz9UurNUQDvKUQhGXaY/s1600-h/IMG_5130.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpCfhswuwI9WUSzglkWGLTFQOSfM6N7tQHHO1pRClgno4PrkM76iuw0HYGSfIMf3HFJTUa9Vh7KVAGXIFL4xZjx4eHmsWU-fN0nIOIbeFolEOzQ2E1jMcF2aJWnz9UurNUQDvKUQhGXaY/s400/IMG_5130.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680120201577746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I put buttercream between each layer. Yikes! It's messy and not very pretty. This is usually when I start to panic. Yup. Definitely panicked.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-x7Y-p0Jd89kA6qF8rxyMLn8_RO3zDUsKayBGPta_EfJR0fhj9U2WU1C9tnLNcC_7qV5tT8fb6Lh9SeWqFsUeg05roenX-plXh4x_1kAnSNrCFJJ6F2KWI_qVwelPeHlAb4_7L7VcAA/s1600-h/IMG_5134.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY-x7Y-p0Jd89kA6qF8rxyMLn8_RO3zDUsKayBGPta_EfJR0fhj9U2WU1C9tnLNcC_7qV5tT8fb6Lh9SeWqFsUeg05roenX-plXh4x_1kAnSNrCFJJ6F2KWI_qVwelPeHlAb4_7L7VcAA/s400/IMG_5134.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680118416447250" border="0" /></a><br />Last time, I kept on picking up pesky red crumbs in my white cream cheese frosting. Not so good. My readers emailed saying that I should do a "crumb coating" layer. Meaning, you thinly coat the cake first, then refrigerate it. Once you put on the second coat of buttercream, it will be crumb free! That worked out great for me! Thanks!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l-dm5f3tt16JALZCQuJ1AJHSdSaNlk8lr_Cgd39-oL4_OZ9Bt7S2kl_85_PFfDuARRtD_XshRZEYovHRbgo5oSKFeAI4-UNuCkiwf9erEaowzrYHinsDIYSt3uS_zzoySwM_Zp1mrto/s1600-h/IMG_5311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8l-dm5f3tt16JALZCQuJ1AJHSdSaNlk8lr_Cgd39-oL4_OZ9Bt7S2kl_85_PFfDuARRtD_XshRZEYovHRbgo5oSKFeAI4-UNuCkiwf9erEaowzrYHinsDIYSt3uS_zzoySwM_Zp1mrto/s400/IMG_5311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680113645360210" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then I started to decorate. Small problem: I didn't have enough buttercream for piping. Dang! Shoulda thought of that. I think I ran out of buttercream because I had four layers and used up extra for the filling. If you try this recipe, you should probably multiply everything by 1.5.<br /><br />Here are some tips I got for making the buttercream smooth:<br /><br />(1) You can use a bench scraper. It's basically a scraper with a flat edge. You can find it at most baking supply stores.<br />(2) It helps if you chill the cake and then scrape.<br />(3) Here's a crazy one that I wasn't able to try out yet- use a small, dense paint roller! lol. Chill your cake and then take a paint roller to it. Apparently it works wonders! (You rock, Ellen!) I really want to attempt this but haven't had time to run out and get one. Apparently you can find them at Home Depot! Cool, eh? I'll let you guys know how it works out once I get a chance to try it!<br /><br />I didn't feel like doing another half batch of the buttercream, so I used white chocolate to decorate the cake. I sprinkled some shavings on top. Not the prettiest way to decorate, but it got the job done. Plus, now there's white chocolate on the cake- yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lHyppPV9eZvTF1ERy5_BiJSBQSYDGY02IvT_1bSsBjVtFLYOhnqMBAZRHO61CNiqrnRUNb8WxxEVUUsZmX5GSiyPb4HzVxQ6klng9DobjVna8t4AbeNJwyqViLsTUnGKBDJkGODbT38/s1600-h/IMG_5422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9lHyppPV9eZvTF1ERy5_BiJSBQSYDGY02IvT_1bSsBjVtFLYOhnqMBAZRHO61CNiqrnRUNb8WxxEVUUsZmX5GSiyPb4HzVxQ6klng9DobjVna8t4AbeNJwyqViLsTUnGKBDJkGODbT38/s400/IMG_5422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435680104114344578" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, remember how I said that the cake baked unevenly and created a "dome" on top? This is why that was bad.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgZgwUFPEEFFUOWCG6Iw18zgJjdu5Pr8mq0LxpNuear_VsewdJa8cxN0LOyGUoFspxOBEwN9nqEM5C4xJsl7qZG1OaN5aQID5TNR2YzOUpppL8VDPQW7TWupCBtwvm2Fl7yFu1c9rntA/s1600-h/IMG_5427.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgZgwUFPEEFFUOWCG6Iw18zgJjdu5Pr8mq0LxpNuear_VsewdJa8cxN0LOyGUoFspxOBEwN9nqEM5C4xJsl7qZG1OaN5aQID5TNR2YzOUpppL8VDPQW7TWupCBtwvm2Fl7yFu1c9rntA/s400/IMG_5427.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435679674275377202" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a close-up of "The Bad." =)<br /><br />I was really careful when I sliced the cake horizontally- I made sure that it was precisely cut in half at the center line. But since there was a giant dome on top, when I cut a slice out, I realized that it created two unequal layers- one with a giant dome shape, and a super skinny layer! I was super upset by this, because I was so careful about making it even when I sliced it. I should have over compensated for the domed half.<br /><br />Of course, I consulted the cake guru, Patricia of <a href="http://butteryum.blogspot.com/">Butteryum</a>. The woman regularly makes wedding cakes! How impressive is that? Anyway, I explained my problem to her and she had a simple solution: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DDXL6?ie=UTF8&tag=judyinhernatu-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0000DDXL6">insulated baking strips</a>. What the heck? I had no idea what they were.<br /><br />Apparently, they're long strips of... something (no idea what), and you wrap it around the cake pan to "insulate" it. This insures that it bakes evenly- no brown or burnt edges, and it reduces the dome effect! As it turns out, they're not very expensive. A great investment, if you ask me!<br /><br />I ran out and got one immediately and attempted my third cake ever with it! Stay tuned later this week when I blog about how they worked out! =) I guess this week will be "Judy's Cake Adventure Week." hehe. I assure you that this third cake is equally as mouth-watering!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9WlNav9JghwdPxkOmmANC9nnerwYzSdu4b1xw2-bfD9XAXfI06C_hz88JWkgwpiGN92D36GiF37bfhfr96b1CLd0zSnjD3wWhP2TMuBF_W3-Sb7xIWj5OLbr1A1HZ_SsiFZhzgH2Ads/s1600-h/IMG_5456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9WlNav9JghwdPxkOmmANC9nnerwYzSdu4b1xw2-bfD9XAXfI06C_hz88JWkgwpiGN92D36GiF37bfhfr96b1CLd0zSnjD3wWhP2TMuBF_W3-Sb7xIWj5OLbr1A1HZ_SsiFZhzgH2Ads/s400/IMG_5456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435679664593850466" border="0" /></a><br />Alright, here's my review of the recipe: SO DELISH! The crumb was perfect- just like velvet in your mouth, as promised! The flavors came together really well and complimented each other. As it turned out, it was actually a blessing that I ran out of buttercream, because the white chocolate ended up being a great addition to the cake!<br /><br />I brought this cake to a party and it was an instant hit! Everyone thought it was super delicious and I got a ton of compliments. This cake really is pretty unique- both in terms of the texture and the flavors. It's not something that you get to taste everyday!<br /><br />And I loved the beautiful vibrant color of the matcha! If I coulda just gotten the layers to be even, it would've been an even more beautiful cake. Everyone was super impressed by its beauty, even with my mess-up! =) It definitely has the "wow" factor.<br /><br />Give this recipe a try, just so you can experience matcha in its finest form!<br /><br /></div><br /></div></div></div><span style="font-size:180%;"> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Click <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_152dgdfdsdp">HERE</a> for the recipes</span></span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-54715120848098935332010-02-14T00:07:00.000-08:002010-02-14T00:17:48.213-08:00Giveaway Winners<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Martha Stewart Cupcake Club Members:</span></span><br /></div>If you're stopping by for the February S'mores Cupcake entry, please <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/smores-cupcakes.html">CLICK HERE</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiZaUJPnBUtzpctZDXQzP8Z6-CaL5kzkj4cR32U6Wxfslfko71MyslarAdS_LjAYByZf8Y1zN1TYe70X8ln6XbVtPwuvDQAoTuNOteObl_4DcDRu-gkCvkqiWrLQI146DXkvBI3AOtsI/s1600-h/IMG_0627.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqiZaUJPnBUtzpctZDXQzP8Z6-CaL5kzkj4cR32U6Wxfslfko71MyslarAdS_LjAYByZf8Y1zN1TYe70X8ln6XbVtPwuvDQAoTuNOteObl_4DcDRu-gkCvkqiWrLQI146DXkvBI3AOtsI/s400/IMG_0627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437959013710268306" border="0" /></a><br />And for those of you who are here for the Giveaway Winners Announcement, please read on!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZ-QQBPncmV9b5CfhQ32Lj6ybwleSsyU7RuVWIUadbTZruKKhJbuWVu06WMR6-sYl5pb-e-AKWXXXY7ZUZT57Mu5OzGt7YX-GZ6iSd3TotQHe1E9m6R1Ri-IdiURG9hjHdWz2uyxZcMo/s1600-h/salted+-+online-3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihZ-QQBPncmV9b5CfhQ32Lj6ybwleSsyU7RuVWIUadbTZruKKhJbuWVu06WMR6-sYl5pb-e-AKWXXXY7ZUZT57Mu5OzGt7YX-GZ6iSd3TotQHe1E9m6R1Ri-IdiURG9hjHdWz2uyxZcMo/s400/salted+-+online-3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437527245414201394" border="0" /></a><br />So, I originally promised this tip: the Ateco 855. But there's been a slight change in plans... =)<br /><br />After I posted the Giveaway entry, I went to my favorite Mom & Pop baking supplies store to find that they recently had a huge shipment of jumbo icing tips come in! They're the only place in the area that I've been able to find such a large selection of icing tips, so I was super excited!<br /><br />I was going straight for the 855's when something else caught my eye: the 846's!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMlDgVaLzljzlaerffchBfVkBVpdJ_wpv2p_n2uxXQvhYlcb1tDj3d1fuD40yo_ReGqm_4PjsQwDwcaXB7l_UG2vOefqbnfsPimpugKGGhmfboYhnDha5vUmRuuOk829VIn0-PSN7mag/s1600-h/smores-+online.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMlDgVaLzljzlaerffchBfVkBVpdJ_wpv2p_n2uxXQvhYlcb1tDj3d1fuD40yo_ReGqm_4PjsQwDwcaXB7l_UG2vOefqbnfsPimpugKGGhmfboYhnDha5vUmRuuOk829VIn0-PSN7mag/s400/smores-+online.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437527250299630930" border="0" /></a><br />Wow, was this tip a beauty! It's equally as large as the 855, but instead of six flower petals, it has seven! I really wanted to see what type of frosting swirl this would produce, so I purchased one and went straight home to bake cupcakes!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9tCo4165hRL06vZeW2yQ7D_1blrjdHEhSsTG8VWvMwnsLyD3MH20NPHY4VCCXssFU7XpnlP3o8hR748ZXMqoSL2h9YQOSTvNaOAfEbIUEJ-coAjV2w1VCOCtdlDxvgmGb7Lk0I7b46w/s1600-h/IMG_0535.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 393px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9tCo4165hRL06vZeW2yQ7D_1blrjdHEhSsTG8VWvMwnsLyD3MH20NPHY4VCCXssFU7XpnlP3o8hR748ZXMqoSL2h9YQOSTvNaOAfEbIUEJ-coAjV2w1VCOCtdlDxvgmGb7Lk0I7b46w/s400/IMG_0535.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437527235619129682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Behold: Incredible swirls!!!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I like this tip better because it produced "tighter" swirls, if that makes sense. There's more of the swirl and gives a sharper edge- more structure to the swirl. It is now my favorite tip EVER!<br /><br />I know the 846 isn't what I originally promised, but I figured you guys won't really mind getting a new and improved version of the old tip!<br /><br />I was so excited that I went back and got FIVE of these tips, instead of three. hehe. Figured you guys wouldn't mind that either! =) I wanted to be able to share it with more of you!<br /><br />So let's get on with this... the winners!<br /></div></div></div><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADJgRtGURNLxGEg-b9chsBsYhPFyDk5_O-J0xDyZ21HSzBPN60vyFKGKYqRpse5qvuYgjCRnk8QVgK2fCx2yJqoGP_YAyElzSbnnIsqnVXvG1i4g2WTN1kkcqtFQ2FrusvAjpg7qG5bk/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 61px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgADJgRtGURNLxGEg-b9chsBsYhPFyDk5_O-J0xDyZ21HSzBPN60vyFKGKYqRpse5qvuYgjCRnk8QVgK2fCx2yJqoGP_YAyElzSbnnIsqnVXvG1i4g2WTN1kkcqtFQ2FrusvAjpg7qG5bk/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437959005759562450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">There were 47 comments and 45 entries. The random number generator was asked to generate numbers between 1 and 45. </span></span><br /></div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIlFFbyoNWE2XJfYa_MPSrO_OVSNJ96Rybobt9tPks60bHOvZei-_8lTsdewAC5lpIcxbHqWubZXTzXksye4FsofMUNuLJn55fwFI20YUZlYVw0M4-O2ZKmi4b44lohCG0__TxgIfDVc/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 171px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilIlFFbyoNWE2XJfYa_MPSrO_OVSNJ96Rybobt9tPks60bHOvZei-_8lTsdewAC5lpIcxbHqWubZXTzXksye4FsofMUNuLJn55fwFI20YUZlYVw0M4-O2ZKmi4b44lohCG0__TxgIfDVc/s400/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437962222096038722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VswD1LVgD2NV11ZVKh4yJkOjlyL39T08xZxrkW2M8LRK7uoGlnkoCpxXGUJ1ujs-MNRIPL3NQX1P4Uym30I0fgpmlF-SV-hu0oaK1CFp-HZqhdBtRYTQrZn-4wjEhDUPwFalTI-nkXs/s1600-h/Picture+3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 379px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VswD1LVgD2NV11ZVKh4yJkOjlyL39T08xZxrkW2M8LRK7uoGlnkoCpxXGUJ1ujs-MNRIPL3NQX1P4Uym30I0fgpmlF-SV-hu0oaK1CFp-HZqhdBtRYTQrZn-4wjEhDUPwFalTI-nkXs/s400/Picture+3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437963996310763666" border="0" /></a>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_fNL3IwBZZ5cxUbqqno1LbukS5bPhI-OVCm_UcTgmhA9qt9Re-us1hWVa2ubYgQ-ps1bjXm3LT3LQpyRXQXGg7LbeaSQkE5-ER9akp0AV3IAOygfm82-xEBvZi6IhRFECQsd_uPeBeU/s1600-h/Picture+3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_fNL3IwBZZ5cxUbqqno1LbukS5bPhI-OVCm_UcTgmhA9qt9Re-us1hWVa2ubYgQ-ps1bjXm3LT3LQpyRXQXGg7LbeaSQkE5-ER9akp0AV3IAOygfm82-xEBvZi6IhRFECQsd_uPeBeU/s400/Picture+3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437961811739222930" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd-4vWGpiUNFjlFkgjhER_JA13_b0Hd3VEh0xcgdnIi0gdcEgkxAd_btiRPFIFV2pk9B-S1oviaeCdEFSiIfb2GGDVqP6KrUY8swpB9zt9CoK24wl1Enjnyxv2FrZRY31iXp1-6W8j4s/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 392px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBd-4vWGpiUNFjlFkgjhER_JA13_b0Hd3VEh0xcgdnIi0gdcEgkxAd_btiRPFIFV2pk9B-S1oviaeCdEFSiIfb2GGDVqP6KrUY8swpB9zt9CoK24wl1Enjnyxv2FrZRY31iXp1-6W8j4s/s400/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437963020351502034" border="0" /></a>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxTJdQU4AsKUCbPT5C_nYMTJxLD_tv_g7oOTxTovHaMrqlSN0P2hnHg-NX6SA9sSwggpzLcy4lxH_Px8gvae7S_4ztIqfEEpedIK3kGMPYL8w9-xzNrOkTgTun7vzLTZCx_dYZlXbHHA/s1600-h/Picture+7.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 169px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxTJdQU4AsKUCbPT5C_nYMTJxLD_tv_g7oOTxTovHaMrqlSN0P2hnHg-NX6SA9sSwggpzLcy4lxH_Px8gvae7S_4ztIqfEEpedIK3kGMPYL8w9-xzNrOkTgTun7vzLTZCx_dYZlXbHHA/s400/Picture+7.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437962229046762994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPljMePwDqeC3qZU99-__a1z0ymI7vACAfBffVW8mRLCPyd63r5GMwA9B939JGn2i7OO1x3k-sCZ-pTqDorsSxWYC9-irCEYjGvWeLkKm0Y9p4q99vDta1uQzZq7xSbJEaEPpL6m8lmn8/s1600-h/Picture+5.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPljMePwDqeC3qZU99-__a1z0ymI7vACAfBffVW8mRLCPyd63r5GMwA9B939JGn2i7OO1x3k-sCZ-pTqDorsSxWYC9-irCEYjGvWeLkKm0Y9p4q99vDta1uQzZq7xSbJEaEPpL6m8lmn8/s400/Picture+5.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437965328311017442" border="0" /></a>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEKwdsNtvpQ01C3XQbiQtK_LPHryegMpmAmFyZg5RHQAhY7rnTT7laXarJ-4Xp3kEgoP31oI8jHWQXwRDUlEqEY0ylM9rogafxy4rLE-m0wB51zDlf9lOjwgW8xtA9mHLUaiYsUpdgis/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEKwdsNtvpQ01C3XQbiQtK_LPHryegMpmAmFyZg5RHQAhY7rnTT7laXarJ-4Xp3kEgoP31oI8jHWQXwRDUlEqEY0ylM9rogafxy4rLE-m0wB51zDlf9lOjwgW8xtA9mHLUaiYsUpdgis/s400/Picture+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437961812784664098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMkInZyjPBrX35X2fJOt2WN0aaAyh5MtWWhJ14vB9J7FXROkzOsDW1DKb6M85loaqWqqB7iFAcWNTZbeTopTDYqdhWAgPJEuzbc1eTa3UFMHxGZq8K46JTvoNUS8LZIjGGby9LleR7r0/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 91px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmMkInZyjPBrX35X2fJOt2WN0aaAyh5MtWWhJ14vB9J7FXROkzOsDW1DKb6M85loaqWqqB7iFAcWNTZbeTopTDYqdhWAgPJEuzbc1eTa3UFMHxGZq8K46JTvoNUS8LZIjGGby9LleR7r0/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437963012926498802" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSMGPEBvBZPH94wNGHIDhbV9OsRvS0CMwOtbEtdlFJwiVrFQ4cqWrwFoaoqWO-6pBcrj9yt5SuNmn4BOWig2-ppr3BO8hoeE0g-21h067Hls3hZPIRlIcLe-ZKOpAvvnbJIKTKppcN-A/s1600-h/Picture+5.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 177px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSMGPEBvBZPH94wNGHIDhbV9OsRvS0CMwOtbEtdlFJwiVrFQ4cqWrwFoaoqWO-6pBcrj9yt5SuNmn4BOWig2-ppr3BO8hoeE0g-21h067Hls3hZPIRlIcLe-ZKOpAvvnbJIKTKppcN-A/s400/Picture+5.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437961819221692706" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfXr88WP7P2dGcy_5r679FA0hRhK8f-hLB3OzqudTU0b3GafiYJBQ2iu1kZS_Pc54qxAWGjxe414Iut2jKMjoLCJSFAe7Db2XXEKrWcj8-jdeNcn61qydMgtCqGj5n_vOsZZc6QDnauM/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 101px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfXr88WP7P2dGcy_5r679FA0hRhK8f-hLB3OzqudTU0b3GafiYJBQ2iu1kZS_Pc54qxAWGjxe414Iut2jKMjoLCJSFAe7Db2XXEKrWcj8-jdeNcn61qydMgtCqGj5n_vOsZZc6QDnauM/s400/Picture+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437964917145325186" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Congrats: Mike, Mr.P, Carleigh, Judy B, and Kimmie!</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I will mail these out next Thursday, February 18th, 2010. Please email me (jlong10@gmail.com) with your address by Wednesday night! Please write "Giveaway Winner" in the subject line.<br /><br />Since this giveaway was so popular, I will be sure to do it again! =)<br /><br />Thank you so much to everyone who participated- I was super touched by all your comments! You guys rock my socks!<br /><br /><br /></div></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-4096379991733448562010-02-13T17:03:00.000-08:002010-02-13T20:18:06.575-08:00S'mores CupcakesIt's time for the February Martha Stewart Cupcake Club post. If you've been following along, you know that all the cupcakes I've made for the club thus far have been a hit. There were a few that seemed like they would be a flop, but came out awesome in the end and totally surprised me!<br /><br />However, I knew the day would come when I would not be so lucky. It pains me to say that this month's cupcake <span style="font-style: italic;">did indeed</span> turn out to be a HUGE flop! But now that I know you guys enjoy reading about my various kitchen disasters, I don't feel so bad posting about this one. tee hee. (If you missed it, you can read about the Lamington Debacle <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/01/chocolate-salted-caramel-dulce-de-leche.html">HERE</a>.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cWBy5pLG0vp7WrxOKC9K1_NXP2hhU7PITUiesK3ckAZw3T6BSrTpUKWs-nz_tHs0rS6gxNnDPfppIRV-6-HgaPUp_sZ2vRYpZGLTu2sz2N0OnPZ0ig4f81Th1-HsxjcZwZP4ChFmhvA/s1600-h/IMG_0654.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cWBy5pLG0vp7WrxOKC9K1_NXP2hhU7PITUiesK3ckAZw3T6BSrTpUKWs-nz_tHs0rS6gxNnDPfppIRV-6-HgaPUp_sZ2vRYpZGLTu2sz2N0OnPZ0ig4f81Th1-HsxjcZwZP4ChFmhvA/s400/IMG_0654.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437529157747812194" border="0" /></a><br />They were, um... supposed to be S'mores, but in the form of a cupcake, I guess. They seemed super promising, like they'd be delicious. I mean, you can't go wrong with graham crackers and chocolate, right? WRONG.<br /><br />Geeze, I promised you guys I'd post something awesome this weekend in my <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/02/small-giveaway.html">Wednesday Giveaway</a> post, thinking that I would make these on Friday...but I guess I spoke too soon. I just assumed that these would turn out to be awesome. hehe. So, I'm sorry to disappoint! But now I'm stuck. I gotta post about these before the 15th of the month, so it's not like I can replace it with something else. So I guess you're suck with this entry until early next week. The good news is that I will announce the winners of the giveaway tomorrow! Something to look forward to! =)<br /><br />Ok here goes: on to these disappointing cupcakes...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Graham" Cupcake</span>s<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9REP0Va8tnDMaVICDJ9WTG6le8ae8U2s6_DJa5Y_fEJpUGMTjXV19kb7AmmTlcvsCD5TQWJd73ILodP2xfLYjhwQMGyH-gZ3WKRxkCvNdGYie1heYqzJ5AE8h5ln49LgYxTA8PcRQVYc/s1600-h/IMG_0391.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9REP0Va8tnDMaVICDJ9WTG6le8ae8U2s6_DJa5Y_fEJpUGMTjXV19kb7AmmTlcvsCD5TQWJd73ILodP2xfLYjhwQMGyH-gZ3WKRxkCvNdGYie1heYqzJ5AE8h5ln49LgYxTA8PcRQVYc/s400/IMG_0391.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528100195282946" border="0" /></a><br />The recipe called for something I'd never heard of: Graham flour. This is where it all went wrong, little did I know. The very first step! It was doomed from the very beginning. Humph!<br /><br />There was a blurb about it being available at "health food stores." Lo and behold, I found it in the baking aisle of Whole Foods. Was it supposed to be in "wheat" form? Did it have a "white" form like flour? Heck if I should know. The "wheat" variety was the only kind they had. So I went with it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBJHiNfkKIK3HyW69CtV9pzwHdbP2P3fEgzOKhm5_CYRz1epvHTINO8YXNNewwCOLXvGnKS0NOEQE4DJE0Anqj29UH8HIRfjYhEGM3h1-oUluHg9SSMO0w_Bu2GSV8PQhlcfn80qVdlQ/s1600-h/IMG_0395.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBJHiNfkKIK3HyW69CtV9pzwHdbP2P3fEgzOKhm5_CYRz1epvHTINO8YXNNewwCOLXvGnKS0NOEQE4DJE0Anqj29UH8HIRfjYhEGM3h1-oUluHg9SSMO0w_Bu2GSV8PQhlcfn80qVdlQ/s400/IMG_0395.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528106834833202" border="0" /></a><br />Upon initial inspection, it seemed harmless enough. It was thicker than regular flour- it was grainy, kinda like wheat flour, I suppose. And it didn't smell like anything in particular.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO_1WLEIdUS009LI5-VKq6oVtapQqBtkqDh_mPR3Ow5sh3BthdmqR4vpvgstmO7_ZyByzV7hbxcw-oXC8SJCP_S8bdelLtjovKR4bmWwQKuXJa64RURSzOlxV-BWvCQNcY0L1ZuSph6s/s1600-h/IMG_0399.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaO_1WLEIdUS009LI5-VKq6oVtapQqBtkqDh_mPR3Ow5sh3BthdmqR4vpvgstmO7_ZyByzV7hbxcw-oXC8SJCP_S8bdelLtjovKR4bmWwQKuXJa64RURSzOlxV-BWvCQNcY0L1ZuSph6s/s400/IMG_0399.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528114451001042" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, you're supposed to mix it all together with the other dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcieA7MJ6H64MMc39NWuoNi8incWI9jmfsF0TfeN-8w81BU2UI-k6VZdg2sJfyPXrUcfuSnn0QCpcC5RvUgZBNBDylUe9YvPlHl_NPNtvj_HtPG5fAwWfT7OHtb7S9cmnTY3aAEdJP8w/s1600-h/IMG_0403.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcieA7MJ6H64MMc39NWuoNi8incWI9jmfsF0TfeN-8w81BU2UI-k6VZdg2sJfyPXrUcfuSnn0QCpcC5RvUgZBNBDylUe9YvPlHl_NPNtvj_HtPG5fAwWfT7OHtb7S9cmnTY3aAEdJP8w/s400/IMG_0403.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528119720861746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJPIpp2ojYxNrAiaD9O-fKzlPtTKx2ytWa_-D0Ow8JrJjQtKqdWmx_-prcg4BvyvGFGjNz5LWcaPbVgynwcXAP4Vo5zNxtx2kxlkNAojEfvyzDhEvVQVcazdffXcMBJU-sLQtXoI2Dn4/s1600-h/IMG_0415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJPIpp2ojYxNrAiaD9O-fKzlPtTKx2ytWa_-D0Ow8JrJjQtKqdWmx_-prcg4BvyvGFGjNz5LWcaPbVgynwcXAP4Vo5zNxtx2kxlkNAojEfvyzDhEvVQVcazdffXcMBJU-sLQtXoI2Dn4/s400/IMG_0415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528128241885122" border="0" /></a><br />Next, in a separate bowl, cream together brown sugar, honey, and butter. Ick. It ended up being waaaaay too sweet! Why would you add 2 cups of sugar <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> 1/4 cup of honey? Honey is super sweet already as it is! I shoulda known right then to cut out some of the sugar. It nagged at me, but I went with it anyway. I should really trust my instincts more.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLg8PowH7q2br4n7zyTaZTWfqLS_NajIfLLiL4Oh1QkbVtQZuwRMtsaraESTOa80U_zMVt6xRPJTGNdw5r1-GuYrBguBX7jI37pWId89DJR1NYe28h-qexwHZyLQdJlugjIPuWnADB3is/s1600-h/IMG_0421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLg8PowH7q2br4n7zyTaZTWfqLS_NajIfLLiL4Oh1QkbVtQZuwRMtsaraESTOa80U_zMVt6xRPJTGNdw5r1-GuYrBguBX7jI37pWId89DJR1NYe28h-qexwHZyLQdJlugjIPuWnADB3is/s400/IMG_0421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528520024322754" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Next, add the eggs and vanilla.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL-UnJBHRwnP7SF7mfyvR6UlORdrR-85iffHeB8Hgn5lzFW3nC7y67BWOBP0UgB1OQV92MjnawRuSPbcow_VelR0d60zFPhtEv7DkvhwBJUii2gcL33TJvQjabvkdSfmL3h1IIkoxrZM/s1600-h/IMG_0423.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWL-UnJBHRwnP7SF7mfyvR6UlORdrR-85iffHeB8Hgn5lzFW3nC7y67BWOBP0UgB1OQV92MjnawRuSPbcow_VelR0d60zFPhtEv7DkvhwBJUii2gcL33TJvQjabvkdSfmL3h1IIkoxrZM/s400/IMG_0423.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528524517484834" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRKUg9qTD-E_j9s-U2qeyZBViG6sIClRggbyPWDmGTpC2SdGA_mQw2TKokr72e7uJLvyOhi2HBMrAGc3zA_qHDIrRD33EexHn93QoZIYukxg5l8yXuaNbCEzlFyXAIFOtw1Fr6EYFglk/s1600-h/IMG_0432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRKUg9qTD-E_j9s-U2qeyZBViG6sIClRggbyPWDmGTpC2SdGA_mQw2TKokr72e7uJLvyOhi2HBMrAGc3zA_qHDIrRD33EexHn93QoZIYukxg5l8yXuaNbCEzlFyXAIFOtw1Fr6EYFglk/s400/IMG_0432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528530563953586" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Then mix in the flour until well combined.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKIc4cuVbyNJLilxpU5rR3Bj8KDoD6-E4-knCcxCZSAS_yt2skyDkS5L3TJWQfcRc4KAf3DezMV9rcMCkVtbpUpknDc17u8wUH4mKrRWleLRje8TdGm3_Hysb_3vhLJ3b1wpXWv7tWy8/s1600-h/IMG_0440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKIc4cuVbyNJLilxpU5rR3Bj8KDoD6-E4-knCcxCZSAS_yt2skyDkS5L3TJWQfcRc4KAf3DezMV9rcMCkVtbpUpknDc17u8wUH4mKrRWleLRje8TdGm3_Hysb_3vhLJ3b1wpXWv7tWy8/s400/IMG_0440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528536691135682" border="0" /></a><br />Ok, here's another thing that really annoyed me: it said to bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes, but...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmQ-1gFaD2K4_XJeNPp72gJ8Z-AmHnIp__sT-evk9sfEhjoKD4b3skHlP7hpkjL_p9GBnl5oD3GMY_87FfU53EjseCRRxcstKrCPaFuHo7DRkYy3RtEv2jOt2i8qsiUxvz9fXy-F_lFQ/s1600-h/IMG_0467.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEmQ-1gFaD2K4_XJeNPp72gJ8Z-AmHnIp__sT-evk9sfEhjoKD4b3skHlP7hpkjL_p9GBnl5oD3GMY_87FfU53EjseCRRxcstKrCPaFuHo7DRkYy3RtEv2jOt2i8qsiUxvz9fXy-F_lFQ/s400/IMG_0467.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528542389385842" border="0" /></a><br />...this is what it looked like after only 22 minutes! They were almost burnt! Good thing I kept an eye on them, sorta. hehe. If I was really paying attention, they wouldn't have turned out to be so brown. Eh, they were still edible, so I guess no harm done.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">(2) The Vanilla Swiss Meringue Buttercream<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AGP-ztFjjV1spZbi0yF0Med6psw65wzXQkANO1bziL4unUQXSys1LHAQ2YmIVKtd08KLAPB1FrWWJ3HRmJYh7727pFTYreNnV5bLFsx8z6qyManJgm20S884lIYEtjd2F6LyduyHpTs/s1600-h/IMG_0530.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3AGP-ztFjjV1spZbi0yF0Med6psw65wzXQkANO1bziL4unUQXSys1LHAQ2YmIVKtd08KLAPB1FrWWJ3HRmJYh7727pFTYreNnV5bLFsx8z6qyManJgm20S884lIYEtjd2F6LyduyHpTs/s400/IMG_0530.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528869088528706" border="0" /></a><br />So the recipe called for marshmallow as the frosting. Ew. Marshmallow is really sweet and I only like it on certain things.. in a real s'more, for example, when it's warm and gooey...or homemade rice crispy treats! yum! But I thought: ok, this is going to be nasty when it hardens overnight in the fridge. Do you really want hard marshmallow on your cupcake? I think not.<br /><br />So I used a basic vanilla flavored Swiss Meringue Buttercream.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Putting it all together</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2TrMJAP_cXFYr8w_7ZGCc_-0W58-KRxFmkUT51MCztL2VA6171d6jOJSi9KsueYI5IKawAD8m5v7zSpMYd8z9J0-MEa_VNByZgyImBek5In8GsM5zfTW8DVQmcAImVLRnE9565WdG7E/s1600-h/IMG_0661.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2TrMJAP_cXFYr8w_7ZGCc_-0W58-KRxFmkUT51MCztL2VA6171d6jOJSi9KsueYI5IKawAD8m5v7zSpMYd8z9J0-MEa_VNByZgyImBek5In8GsM5zfTW8DVQmcAImVLRnE9565WdG7E/s400/IMG_0661.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437529163136890802" border="0" /></a><br />As usual, I used a piping tip to frost the cupcakes. Then I drizzled melted chocolate on top and sprinkled some graham cracker crumbs. Eh, it looked kinda plain. So I came up with another plan of attack...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjTzCUBIXLnMoBIapjj69kFKxZ9vQkkgqYB3bD5wI_gr2UCUBD3AqteHOP1asz9vlaX066TiQNOfPupao_lAsHW5_dTelbcqKXa8tjLeURWjdHXzeUaZ6LuGsTnPcgGUmSaS_iWRiHG4/s1600-h/IMG_0573.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 276px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjTzCUBIXLnMoBIapjj69kFKxZ9vQkkgqYB3bD5wI_gr2UCUBD3AqteHOP1asz9vlaX066TiQNOfPupao_lAsHW5_dTelbcqKXa8tjLeURWjdHXzeUaZ6LuGsTnPcgGUmSaS_iWRiHG4/s400/IMG_0573.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437528877353771522" border="0" /></a><br />I used an off-set spatula to create little frosting mounds with a flat surface on top.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb4KXhudhbUpYpCn1mJXrA69s6ngvgJyMf9Oyx_tMJcy7MWv_ZXEwAoVdhPj1wjbekmY0PXAsZ_yOhlYttvV2F7MbEtJWtMRT42-i8-8Pz0j9NxqNpzE7DFLviClgOvbFBKUkCPzhd9M/s1600-h/IMG_0615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEb4KXhudhbUpYpCn1mJXrA69s6ngvgJyMf9Oyx_tMJcy7MWv_ZXEwAoVdhPj1wjbekmY0PXAsZ_yOhlYttvV2F7MbEtJWtMRT42-i8-8Pz0j9NxqNpzE7DFLviClgOvbFBKUkCPzhd9M/s400/IMG_0615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437529138633272290" border="0" /></a><br />Then I dipped the sides in graham cracker and topped it with a little pool of melted chocolate. Hm...there's still something missing, I think.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN61yf7IaXfuFPD5XNFnv8m3ElljF8uG9yFBpq1lYsUD28AQdcG9NIJdeLXhbNfc3sg717G7TnPYqCzogp8hdcxiv0EYUgQxW6-_kUUpzjRKi6eFaZIU7_yS1tzXMtaXGAcIAdlDcmkKU/s1600-h/IMG_0627.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN61yf7IaXfuFPD5XNFnv8m3ElljF8uG9yFBpq1lYsUD28AQdcG9NIJdeLXhbNfc3sg717G7TnPYqCzogp8hdcxiv0EYUgQxW6-_kUUpzjRKi6eFaZIU7_yS1tzXMtaXGAcIAdlDcmkKU/s400/IMG_0627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437529153868920514" border="0" /></a><br />So I topped them off with little chocolate hearts! Wow, they turned out pretty cute. I was really happy with them until I took my first bite. lol.<br /><br />Holy cow! These were quite disgusting. Bleh! Not even my super-awesome-fantastic-no-fail Swiss Meringue buttercream could salvage this mess of a cupcake. And no, it wasn't because I messed up on one of the steps, because I am always meticulous when it comes to my cupcakes, you know? The recipe itself was just terrible. In fact, the buttercream was just about the only thing that was delicious and edible.<br /><br />As I mentioned before, it was WAY too sweet. I felt like I was chugging a jar of honey. The sweetness level was just plain gross. PLUS, it was <span style="font-style: italic;">gritty. </span>(Think back to that gritty graham flour!)<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>Yes, the crumb was not good. It was dense, overly sweet, and gritty! I was <span style="font-style: italic;">so disgusted </span>by them that I didn't even give them away to friends, as I always do with my creations. I'd be too embarrassed to put my name on them. Ew.<br /><br />Did anyone else think these were gross too??<br /><br />The recipe really isn't worth posting. So I'm not going to take the time to put it up. If anyone is curious and wants to give it a try, you can email me (jlong10@gmail.com) for the recipe. hehe. I suppose this post is really only good for the eye candy, because at least the pictures are pretty!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" >EDIT: </span>After posting, my friend Patricia, left a comment saying that she's tried a different s'mores cupcake recipe from Martha's site that turned out really well. It looked super delicious on her site, <a href="http://butteryum.blogspot.com/2009/04/chocolate-graham-cracker-cupcakes-with.html">ButterYum</a>! I read through the recipe and it actually looks pretty awesome! No weird graham flour stuff! Thanks so much for the excellent tip, Patricia!Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-49358798312334026572010-02-10T18:12:00.000-08:002010-02-10T19:38:40.731-08:00A Small Giveaway!I'm doing a giveaway because...um, it's Wednesday. You probably think I'm kidding. But I'm not. hehe.<br /><br />I've been super swamped at work this week and haven't had a chance to update. And since my posting schedule is once during Mon - Wed and once during Thurs - Sun, I'm way behind.<br /><br />But now I'm tired and too lazy to post anything cool. So here... you guys get a giveaway instead of a recipe! hehe. Sorry if you were looking forward to a sweet creation. =) Promise I'll post something cool this weekend.<br /><br />So anyway, on with the giveaway!<br /><br />It's been brought to my attention that readers go crazy for my cupcake frosting swirls. They're pretty awesome, aren't they?<br /><br />Behold, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Exhibits I, II, and III</span>:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tGz27w4BDqsvRX92Nn9zB5UZoRqyLVeyqKhg8Z5te2UHXU_3JvR2iz8kLE1G1MeNwLU0IFmUmcUGOBuDhP01fv-5bTL8xqBKYil3dlFniR8OEkT4OhfJRJzROnk3epcbRei1WwFqEDo/s1600-h/IMG_0714.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3tGz27w4BDqsvRX92Nn9zB5UZoRqyLVeyqKhg8Z5te2UHXU_3JvR2iz8kLE1G1MeNwLU0IFmUmcUGOBuDhP01fv-5bTL8xqBKYil3dlFniR8OEkT4OhfJRJzROnk3epcbRei1WwFqEDo/s400/IMG_0714.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436805740217303138" border="0" /></a><a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/11/chocolate-cupcakes-with-matcha-italian.html"><br />Chocolate Cupcakes with Matcha Italian Meringue Buttercream</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwdYapOymx9nbKOjsC7JYcV3QNvRx2em6OO4QTStb8d8xHhvj57pfejNtZm2LARC5zwKbnhLzabi3M4BQI3ypxijW2PaMZq2zgVGAX56Y-KFkxKCu52oDLL1MRa63m89MFPf00ciy9dI/s1600-h/IMG_4957.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwdYapOymx9nbKOjsC7JYcV3QNvRx2em6OO4QTStb8d8xHhvj57pfejNtZm2LARC5zwKbnhLzabi3M4BQI3ypxijW2PaMZq2zgVGAX56Y-KFkxKCu52oDLL1MRa63m89MFPf00ciy9dI/s400/IMG_4957.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436805747055976722" border="0" /></a><a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/08/chocolate-salted-caramel-cupcakes-with.html"><br />Chocolate Salted Caramel Cupcakes</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtaVh4URIhtumNBPzOojGI6H0Ld7rEtqEbfh1f_5sfGKUgaygxe17KZQKKO_Bu2UuCMlhWooKL1QejohW9olOvUcmQXBJwjHiwz8btA3y0NH4wnPlhT89S5UOKlETg6Uz-FoicEj2sIA/s1600-h/IMG_5392.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtaVh4URIhtumNBPzOojGI6H0Ld7rEtqEbfh1f_5sfGKUgaygxe17KZQKKO_Bu2UuCMlhWooKL1QejohW9olOvUcmQXBJwjHiwz8btA3y0NH4wnPlhT89S5UOKlETg6Uz-FoicEj2sIA/s400/IMG_5392.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436805749586157586" border="0" /></a><a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2009/09/lemon-filled-vanilla-cupcakes-with.html"><br />Lemon filled Vanilla Cupcakes with Blueberry Swiss Meringue Buttercream</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I've gotten a surprising amount of emails from readers asking where they can find the frosting tip! Apparently everyone wants one! hehe. Beautiful cupcakes are in high demand.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYjVhFCBu-UZq3d3O0jEsgKJjQovS9p2CirvgzqolrXBdK1N-T51KtTIyDJw8i4x_N3UyAj1qzX_b38grBa4fgh8oG0hrNfHeUy3FuP6z2RJOIUbSEWgEU2TRB_D4JuQXL1N3XWygYkA/s1600-h/salted+-+online-3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTYjVhFCBu-UZq3d3O0jEsgKJjQovS9p2CirvgzqolrXBdK1N-T51KtTIyDJw8i4x_N3UyAj1qzX_b38grBa4fgh8oG0hrNfHeUy3FuP6z2RJOIUbSEWgEU2TRB_D4JuQXL1N3XWygYkA/s400/salted+-+online-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436805756486818386" border="0" /></a><br />This is my favorite jumbo go-to tip. It's fabulous! And I don't even use a coupler for it. I just snip the end of a piping bag and stick it straight in. Works like a charm!<br /><br />Ok, so I'm giving <span style="font-weight: bold;">THREE</span> of these away! Yay!<br /><br />There you have it. I really hope you guys don't think this is a lame giveaway...I have my fingers crossed that I'll get at least three comments. lol. =)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alright here's how to enter:</span><br /><br />Make sure to subscribe to the blog either via reader, email, or by "following."<br /><br />Leave a comment with the following info (1) how you've subscribed, and (2) your favorite cupcake flavor. (Maybe I'll try some of them!)<br /><br />Make sure to comment by Saturday, 2/13/2010 @ 9:00pm Pacific time. Winners will be chosen at random and announced on Sunday.<br /><br />This giveaway is open to everyone, even international readers! =)<br /><br /></div></div>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-56805709553780861472010-02-06T07:59:00.000-08:002010-02-07T16:37:44.816-08:00Flourless Dark Chocolate Cake with White Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Coulis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sDwMYO9NbcALgcvchyphenhyphenFac6RBFA-O5WQ6-fK_3GyWbKXmfxVXAh1mQCQv2EUc5k7znyEIdvOfhYRA47F9s4nTo6Gb4eiVbEPakcvFGc5o6TXb7c8g_0IAYEujTHGu8Jk4TrObVs3Qfd0/s1600-h/IMG_0104.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_sDwMYO9NbcALgcvchyphenhyphenFac6RBFA-O5WQ6-fK_3GyWbKXmfxVXAh1mQCQv2EUc5k7znyEIdvOfhYRA47F9s4nTo6Gb4eiVbEPakcvFGc5o6TXb7c8g_0IAYEujTHGu8Jk4TrObVs3Qfd0/s400/IMG_0104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162454193369362" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1FYSWe9zJjX_6fbyEEXXN4Acq4j5piPDdl-IT58ebSLVmSALiMFvQ4Dpz6JtaMuNgkmR5pjzquNv6B4IW60m6BRUu1m7h22nlOD9nPl50yoPJjAwVzl2EGVVX4t1c5-tR5-Hiw3hTlA/s1600-h/IMG_0216.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1FYSWe9zJjX_6fbyEEXXN4Acq4j5piPDdl-IT58ebSLVmSALiMFvQ4Dpz6JtaMuNgkmR5pjzquNv6B4IW60m6BRUu1m7h22nlOD9nPl50yoPJjAwVzl2EGVVX4t1c5-tR5-Hiw3hTlA/s400/IMG_0216.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162755811653890" border="0" /></a><br />The second I saw this recipe featured on <a href="http://eatingwelllivingthin.wordpress.com/2009/10/16/youre-kidding/">Eating Well, Living Thin</a>, I knew I had to try it. It sparked my curiosity, to say the least. I didn't really understand how you could make a <span style="font-style: italic;">healthy</span> chocolate cake, let alone one without flour! I was instantly intrigued. And since I love experimenting with unique recipes, this one immediately made it to the top of my To-Try list.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfF9zEePz9ZkUNjFZpgTRqs4Ntgw7JUNIy-0-doiWkEORYaHCncZ7g6QlZxcQXRz1ew9wNh76I2BCt49WyQIpwOPYBidFPPN9dixtf_qn7995rhhmGsNAUXyWVwaJXNqTrw4a9eCNhDY/s1600-h/IMG_9822.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVfF9zEePz9ZkUNjFZpgTRqs4Ntgw7JUNIy-0-doiWkEORYaHCncZ7g6QlZxcQXRz1ew9wNh76I2BCt49WyQIpwOPYBidFPPN9dixtf_qn7995rhhmGsNAUXyWVwaJXNqTrw4a9eCNhDY/s400/IMG_9822.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162754487358354" border="0" /></a><br />The secret ingredient? Canned BEANS. Yes, that's right. BEANS- kidney or black, either would work. <span style="font-style: italic;">Isn't that crazy</span>? I just couldn't believe it! In the back of my mind, I thought: wow, this is going to be nasty. But I couldn't help myself. Now I <span style="font-style: italic;">really really</span> had to try it, just to prove that little voice wrong. Especially since the author of Eating Well, Living Thin insists that this will turn out to be a "super moist and delicious cake."<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The Flourless Cake</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUuxZqVsyAG3ipyS-RKe4m6VrJwGtISf56fmfQW62CBcuUpm4sOx2U2DAA7gMgrQvgx3oYAGdvlI2uQsY7rIrgboXqSPxs3Ex4SWu33L6oQEUdbxgo7b6HC7gjayxwOHw78_dOJxk1o8/s1600-h/IMG_9830.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUuxZqVsyAG3ipyS-RKe4m6VrJwGtISf56fmfQW62CBcuUpm4sOx2U2DAA7gMgrQvgx3oYAGdvlI2uQsY7rIrgboXqSPxs3Ex4SWu33L6oQEUdbxgo7b6HC7gjayxwOHw78_dOJxk1o8/s400/IMG_9830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163691926546658" border="0" /></a><br /></div>After reading through some of the comments, I noticed that a lot of people left responses saying that Kidney beans work better- they give a better flavor. So that's what decided to use.<br /><br />Drain and rinse the can of beans.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4HLtzyMnD9I3vtZmjimarxpIXEvCxwVvB__-2hytufL-pGdnw60IN9s_CuyMezA4kp8nuA28V24P5GxE8oZxrckujKtdZeGpb6W5VAQ1VAOY8ZwBTmfRXNuK3mBLkVgw_GCLJ60sjtM/s1600-h/IMG_9841.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit4HLtzyMnD9I3vtZmjimarxpIXEvCxwVvB__-2hytufL-pGdnw60IN9s_CuyMezA4kp8nuA28V24P5GxE8oZxrckujKtdZeGpb6W5VAQ1VAOY8ZwBTmfRXNuK3mBLkVgw_GCLJ60sjtM/s400/IMG_9841.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163696306066146" border="0" /></a><br />Pulse them in the food processor with vanilla and 1 tbsp of coffee until smooth. It'll look kinda like a freckled paste/mush. Set aside.<br /><br />This bean mixture smelled delicious! Like vanilla. Vanilla Beans! Tee-hee.<br /><br />Don't skip out on the coffee, even if you're not a coffee drinker. This small amount of coffee will really bring out the flavor of the cake. It makes it taste really dark and decadent- like dark chocolate. For you coffee haters out there, you can rest assured that it won't make the whole cake taste like coffee. Just do it. You'll see that I was right when you taste the cake. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQuxA66CZdbEGQMHkmn2it_1Udo6z6xSKUHlmd5Szz5GHkg6izv0FyzjKwzrIk5Yruisj1jd5tytK1aLsH73i28vCJtcs-syitLKDNvZSvsC4Du5atwHj2Ycflt0uAwMyU7H1mt1Ykcg/s1600-h/IMG_9859.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaQuxA66CZdbEGQMHkmn2it_1Udo6z6xSKUHlmd5Szz5GHkg6izv0FyzjKwzrIk5Yruisj1jd5tytK1aLsH73i28vCJtcs-syitLKDNvZSvsC4Du5atwHj2Ycflt0uAwMyU7H1mt1Ykcg/s400/IMG_9859.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163709178836642" border="0" /></a><br />Combine the dry ingredients- unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgccc9nbyMgCjdZN12pXQCdMIqH5p9bG57NJxQHSeGPsOW7ECcFarvZC3jprWHn-HwR-ShHWjKxc_ug9PnEiUmvs6crjJcmMHsBgQuxq-JkRJZG1CeddFH_ZJFb_hA3GxA3SazG-DawA4/s1600-h/IMG_9857.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgccc9nbyMgCjdZN12pXQCdMIqH5p9bG57NJxQHSeGPsOW7ECcFarvZC3jprWHn-HwR-ShHWjKxc_ug9PnEiUmvs6crjJcmMHsBgQuxq-JkRJZG1CeddFH_ZJFb_hA3GxA3SazG-DawA4/s400/IMG_9857.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163703501327746" border="0" /></a><br />I always use a high quality cocoa powder - Ghirardelli. It'll really make a difference. Your end product is only as good as the ingredients you put in it. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmSdQ3tdYzET57aO3ah0rxIzLgEXP3JIcdsC392gQXlWvTIaSy6HQdc-taWSGzQjApCeG0Ij8AEjVJC0yMVKy0JDMOdzxURuinp77uy0is-MnbfhQKcTSHRrhAF0xvr2A1PzsulpfUXU/s1600-h/IMG_9845.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmSdQ3tdYzET57aO3ah0rxIzLgEXP3JIcdsC392gQXlWvTIaSy6HQdc-taWSGzQjApCeG0Ij8AEjVJC0yMVKy0JDMOdzxURuinp77uy0is-MnbfhQKcTSHRrhAF0xvr2A1PzsulpfUXU/s400/IMG_9845.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163699876245746" border="0" /></a><br />Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. This recipe uses very little butter and sugar. Which is what makes it a healthier cake. (One cup of sugar and less than one stick of butter for the entire cake!)<br /><br />The original recipe called for a synthetic sugar, in order to make it a completely healthy and sugar-free cake. However, synthetic sugar scares the crap out of me and I would never feed it to my family. (In fact, we're moving towards organic right now, which is completely on the other end of that spectrum.) So I just went with real sugar. This cake is already healthy enough, a little real sugar won't hurt. =)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5YOUSqTM8BQ7skfFZXCmvneMLYYyc64U9DiFeeNaCmQjY9Kv0p2s8rElK5o9rRvpLAusljVuaG0bC02WSPX0fj3dTWsHQUffK-SII3g2AOs73O7Jtb783-I5CWgc4LTvXmG6xZHFSRw/s1600-h/IMG_9868.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5YOUSqTM8BQ7skfFZXCmvneMLYYyc64U9DiFeeNaCmQjY9Kv0p2s8rElK5o9rRvpLAusljVuaG0bC02WSPX0fj3dTWsHQUffK-SII3g2AOs73O7Jtb783-I5CWgc4LTvXmG6xZHFSRw/s400/IMG_9868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163978368134722" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiet-nc5O4xXt3YWOPf-VN3FN2JbcT4XLa3G2ByBH-PT7W5DbVC5KdWbkzYHORsNhxVN_j6i2N_dHftbgdXCtzeW07vYfnXqXIXrQAdZMWNT6-vB5-a8dwSRJdXZ8FuRe9x6B_UIsALUGE/s1600-h/IMG_9870.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiet-nc5O4xXt3YWOPf-VN3FN2JbcT4XLa3G2ByBH-PT7W5DbVC5KdWbkzYHORsNhxVN_j6i2N_dHftbgdXCtzeW07vYfnXqXIXrQAdZMWNT6-vB5-a8dwSRJdXZ8FuRe9x6B_UIsALUGE/s400/IMG_9870.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163982345577682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Add in 5 eggs and beat until light & fluffy.<br />There's a lot of protein in this cake!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ulvg3FQJDy1cg7hBxxFMYhZhcPX5oXYmpdYiBbkOSx8t_qswxDTHMRAQK56wTW3RXF8A2B5LIP2TNr-oofqlytPPRdoz82lTbsya1GKBHFOEGahm-G-oYoK8WSM1er_7z4yl0aGvnHw/s1600-h/IMG_9878.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Ulvg3FQJDy1cg7hBxxFMYhZhcPX5oXYmpdYiBbkOSx8t_qswxDTHMRAQK56wTW3RXF8A2B5LIP2TNr-oofqlytPPRdoz82lTbsya1GKBHFOEGahm-G-oYoK8WSM1er_7z4yl0aGvnHw/s400/IMG_9878.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163989587034018" border="0" /></a><br />Add in the bean paste.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpPkfR1dCGWYD6gjJ97Fq0fX_KXjj25YgRhJOwnZ7e-iKLqlHBbtDbieQ1cTn8xwNz3RNbbRZNgbCBNyEl9ONwTEWOd7gf6nhNNQ0Uh2C-A1G5iDELkLVlJ-edZo2S_L18xk0nsU_7gM/s1600-h/IMG_9880.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpPkfR1dCGWYD6gjJ97Fq0fX_KXjj25YgRhJOwnZ7e-iKLqlHBbtDbieQ1cTn8xwNz3RNbbRZNgbCBNyEl9ONwTEWOd7gf6nhNNQ0Uh2C-A1G5iDELkLVlJ-edZo2S_L18xk0nsU_7gM/s400/IMG_9880.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163993751658594" border="0" /></a><br />Mix until well combined.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwcVhH-VDRVI7fLoT74Xp-1rV9EeRPg4KgC7ZiVRvLbPlduDxq6yxKVFj-XbUiFFfEuTuFl0BiGPL32eoDhtSUY5qMv-mk69bNSOZx3coNpuOXHSQjjbPGNZqlkUBCqRniPqs2p__5Kc/s1600-h/IMG_9882.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgwcVhH-VDRVI7fLoT74Xp-1rV9EeRPg4KgC7ZiVRvLbPlduDxq6yxKVFj-XbUiFFfEuTuFl0BiGPL32eoDhtSUY5qMv-mk69bNSOZx3coNpuOXHSQjjbPGNZqlkUBCqRniPqs2p__5Kc/s400/IMG_9882.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435163999983029810" border="0" /></a><br />Mix in the dry ingredients.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi9A4sronZ6DybHDV22Hu5WVOZRc0s0QLXCEHAVrYk3v2yYi2YHmm4XWF4gYxJJXYUB_iUozBBbUTMgMOeOo_pI6QuJHUcxvjShYX-dvVCQIa8HuvyZjTfjatFWgq6AqueFOZjlKCZo4/s1600-h/IMG_9886.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi9A4sronZ6DybHDV22Hu5WVOZRc0s0QLXCEHAVrYk3v2yYi2YHmm4XWF4gYxJJXYUB_iUozBBbUTMgMOeOo_pI6QuJHUcxvjShYX-dvVCQIa8HuvyZjTfjatFWgq6AqueFOZjlKCZo4/s400/IMG_9886.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435164434999872658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The mixture seemed a bit liquidy to me. It wasn't as thick as usual cake batters. (But later, when the cake came out, I realized that it didn't matter.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlSMF7a5SOVJlhDyPJfP0qmBlKn8dV8D8Y4r5Ix5SRQuJ6IdqTnJFDTCnN-sEKpqHWXe661q3aG9smartt-ckGYeDNRaq_xO3-PDyOLbQYxQEbZC5GUQ5mt01W4GITOZskm1yx4gUv4A/s1600-h/IMG_9893.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlSMF7a5SOVJlhDyPJfP0qmBlKn8dV8D8Y4r5Ix5SRQuJ6IdqTnJFDTCnN-sEKpqHWXe661q3aG9smartt-ckGYeDNRaq_xO3-PDyOLbQYxQEbZC5GUQ5mt01W4GITOZskm1yx4gUv4A/s400/IMG_9893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435164439179754290" border="0" /></a><br />Pour into a nine inch, greased springform pan. Bake at 325 for about 35 - 40 minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZplHBCq1wqaSVT9DTGQ-1qY-Lmw970p5Ao4n-Eq6NYweCpAFrrrsD3hni_5m0xsR82iNkTe6j6cQn66GC6a2sUUw6vW75QrMnc91wAEsSY0j4BLMBPT7W1q9_DVBZorQTWLUim4HOWw/s1600-h/IMG_9915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZplHBCq1wqaSVT9DTGQ-1qY-Lmw970p5Ao4n-Eq6NYweCpAFrrrsD3hni_5m0xsR82iNkTe6j6cQn66GC6a2sUUw6vW75QrMnc91wAEsSY0j4BLMBPT7W1q9_DVBZorQTWLUim4HOWw/s400/IMG_9915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435164444515018034" border="0" /></a><br />Allow to cool. Optional, but highly recommended: refrigerate overnight. It smelled pretty good when it came out of the oven - like a chocolate cake. Seemed promising!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) The Raspberry Coulis</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7grEQnMRXX3B_eV4vDMiti43bjulnESzmdBcGCM4nDwwss-4Mz5osiPr0KXDMKrd2bKHRkApQ0HUvQnsSV83JKCUKnR72wWc2kCoo1CzAgMxkf6B5hzGLZOaM9aYARoRBs_TWkGQ7CA/s1600-h/IMG_9910.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7grEQnMRXX3B_eV4vDMiti43bjulnESzmdBcGCM4nDwwss-4Mz5osiPr0KXDMKrd2bKHRkApQ0HUvQnsSV83JKCUKnR72wWc2kCoo1CzAgMxkf6B5hzGLZOaM9aYARoRBs_TWkGQ7CA/s400/IMG_9910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435164440548162450" border="0" /></a><br />Raspberry Coulis is basically a fancy name for raspberry sauce or syrup. It's really delicious on pancakes. You can use fresh berries or frozen ones. I used a bag of sweetened frozen raspberries.<br /><br /></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyQC75N7V6emB1bCGHSQcjuwrwNw4XazlTXAek0Siw6F_kzJdLHH2l7J9QWuXU9ZMGc1Bm-IWW6EVqmgOGb6xikG4h-StH_H4JH-QNHGsiHIYmaOMmL1WlN1eWIMd4y6kZeBHrUVRCHI/s1600-h/IMG_9976.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyQC75N7V6emB1bCGHSQcjuwrwNw4XazlTXAek0Siw6F_kzJdLHH2l7J9QWuXU9ZMGc1Bm-IWW6EVqmgOGb6xikG4h-StH_H4JH-QNHGsiHIYmaOMmL1WlN1eWIMd4y6kZeBHrUVRCHI/s400/IMG_9976.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435164447192347106" border="0" /></a><br />It's really easy to make. You just combine water, sugar, and the berries in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer for about 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.<br /><br />You can adjust the sugar to your liking. Add more for a sweeter sauce, less if you like it tart.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbJ_QL4d5HOsAGJk3fW5GT1H4Aw6r6SAB60mgEoIyUdhHpOExS0Ce43zeboNHMLa7romb9Dq8CcSzRgb24eRoSjpzPXTFCXx3HwA0DXI8K5sBSpSB_UZA4NaK4ZFjaR30a4VyS6uUpvI/s1600-h/IMG_9993.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbJ_QL4d5HOsAGJk3fW5GT1H4Aw6r6SAB60mgEoIyUdhHpOExS0Ce43zeboNHMLa7romb9Dq8CcSzRgb24eRoSjpzPXTFCXx3HwA0DXI8K5sBSpSB_UZA4NaK4ZFjaR30a4VyS6uUpvI/s400/IMG_9993.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435164619082437826" border="0" /></a><br />Puree with a blender or food processor. Then here comes the hard part: push the sauce through a fine mesh sieve. Sounds easy but it actually takes a long time to do, because of all the seeds. You'll need a large sized sieve. A small one won't work. Put the sieve over a bowl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3Lu7weUw-tQ06rvjHcC55ByT_ct6cAULE94Bdd2ln5hOoHP4p8RPIMlcM0kV1WGqLm1J-M5Z6hzDKNw8NPSt78Gt-avaT7ek_hLLkQiDOrabcXCcz57l0BHZqIeIKAdc_ys8dtqRe5U/s1600-h/IMG_0016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe3Lu7weUw-tQ06rvjHcC55ByT_ct6cAULE94Bdd2ln5hOoHP4p8RPIMlcM0kV1WGqLm1J-M5Z6hzDKNw8NPSt78Gt-avaT7ek_hLLkQiDOrabcXCcz57l0BHZqIeIKAdc_ys8dtqRe5U/s400/IMG_0016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162255144772898" border="0" /></a><br />Use a spatula to push the raspberry sauce over the sieve, using a back and forth, side to side motion. Spread it over the entire sieve as much as you can. The sauce will be thick, so it won't just run out the other side. Once in a while, turn the sieve around and scrape the sauce from the back side. This will allow more to be pushed through.<br /><br />Do it in batches. Pour 1/3 of the sauce into the sieve each time. When you can't get any more out, and it's mainly just seeds left (pictured above), discard and pour another 1/3 of the sauce into the sieve. It takes practice. You'll see what I mean when you start to do it. It sounds more complicated than it actually is. Ok, I retract what I said earlier- it's not necessarily <span style="font-style: italic;">hard</span>, just <span style="font-style: italic;">time consuming. </span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfbiXbNRCAq84KcuLOYdmDZKuiTeduyLXeUqclIjstDW7DQf1bUOJW6ISQ2XZSzecbQ8b3_mOPP0hHBI7PU5_OG91hAoLV2DFPkUW0B-Vw9zZulBEEITpO1vBlPgF3_1KtmusRspMudM/s1600-h/IMG_0028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfbiXbNRCAq84KcuLOYdmDZKuiTeduyLXeUqclIjstDW7DQf1bUOJW6ISQ2XZSzecbQ8b3_mOPP0hHBI7PU5_OG91hAoLV2DFPkUW0B-Vw9zZulBEEITpO1vBlPgF3_1KtmusRspMudM/s400/IMG_0028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162262637149298" border="0" /></a><br />But it's worth it! Afterward, you'll get this gorgeous and oh-so-delicious raspberry sauce!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) White Chocolate Mousse</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhpxG19PFAPgQJaFziC61LNCK45k3M0rZF6P4SZjs3YTj9Q5DYdMnazksShKGtm2UQNXK3XpSJLLosUs3DvNyLZNypGedrXJH-4iiEarfEwGqPjdZIluJcF8q6bQ1lU5vxtN2RonRAvI/s1600-h/IMG_0049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFhpxG19PFAPgQJaFziC61LNCK45k3M0rZF6P4SZjs3YTj9Q5DYdMnazksShKGtm2UQNXK3XpSJLLosUs3DvNyLZNypGedrXJH-4iiEarfEwGqPjdZIluJcF8q6bQ1lU5vxtN2RonRAvI/s400/IMG_0049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162261509007010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaAh8gVy-oXnhH8Ntycqk7g5GFgz7iGT10XNwCilAA7N3GsqdjH49i1gL4NTo1MC0wBIVQgQYn6Ve28TgkZx2Aa-TPZnGwNQbS7NRyFFY3uUVcXGILiznm0xgf117cwYjT1X8MGEI3u0/s1600-h/IMG_0057.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaAh8gVy-oXnhH8Ntycqk7g5GFgz7iGT10XNwCilAA7N3GsqdjH49i1gL4NTo1MC0wBIVQgQYn6Ve28TgkZx2Aa-TPZnGwNQbS7NRyFFY3uUVcXGILiznm0xgf117cwYjT1X8MGEI3u0/s400/IMG_0057.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162271301539474" border="0" /></a><br />The white chocolate mousse is really easy to make. It's basically melted white chocolate folded into whipped cream. Start with your white chocolate. Make sure to use a good quality one with real cocoa butter in it.<br /><br />Chop it up into pieces, then melt until completely smooth. Set aside to cool.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUVEXdzaKfqbRUhOQ3Dm9ZG-qxp4RquFTSKBBzYQdBhu6IFEMnyxS9gm4wzyVHVf5cpw36e5S4haEeesETLV94tJdubZc4pq4MqKaW7BQjczE4uqU-zwu5IbPJL-8nwH4n9iyC2vWJI0/s1600-h/IMG_0075.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUVEXdzaKfqbRUhOQ3Dm9ZG-qxp4RquFTSKBBzYQdBhu6IFEMnyxS9gm4wzyVHVf5cpw36e5S4haEeesETLV94tJdubZc4pq4MqKaW7BQjczE4uqU-zwu5IbPJL-8nwH4n9iyC2vWJI0/s400/IMG_0075.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162267740152162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Now, start on your whipped cream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBVeoGi3rEUq3BoUCAkC0pKso4Vx38vsqjtG7AbtsTUCUuDn5_qGPAg9ctmeFnC86fI75Twpm4Tl-n7nZ9on-13yNU1oI0XrsQxXAEARAzrEzHb3N4ptk8QHnMDZxaHMvd7TdAzkbV88/s1600-h/IMG_0085.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBVeoGi3rEUq3BoUCAkC0pKso4Vx38vsqjtG7AbtsTUCUuDn5_qGPAg9ctmeFnC86fI75Twpm4Tl-n7nZ9on-13yNU1oI0XrsQxXAEARAzrEzHb3N4ptk8QHnMDZxaHMvd7TdAzkbV88/s400/IMG_0085.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162440569167266" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;">Beat the heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks form. Then add in the melted white chocolate. Beat for another 30 seconds until everything is well combined.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDg3PNl_9N3Gh8w_gfcCzce5Qsj0DoAWZ6Zw_wjqi_QypBa0f4NHrwZWwuglvqLMK28jxjiU-RY9x4lbqBftnEeubFF_6Rcrgcectto_9b2oOTDQn77captVQAUyJG5cGGWlLk8Xyq1k/s1600-h/IMG_0095.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHDg3PNl_9N3Gh8w_gfcCzce5Qsj0DoAWZ6Zw_wjqi_QypBa0f4NHrwZWwuglvqLMK28jxjiU-RY9x4lbqBftnEeubFF_6Rcrgcectto_9b2oOTDQn77captVQAUyJG5cGGWlLk8Xyq1k/s400/IMG_0095.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162442646112098" border="0" /></a><br />When you're done, it should still pretty much look like whipped cream. Only now it's white chocolate flavored whipped cream! =) Use right away- this does not keep well.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(4) Putting it all together</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhOIPIWCYVAioln23DjP0fu9PS98qOxkQIJfzun9iyHULvAoSKzF5o2Z7gxdWEaVo50g7ymtsEHlim9wXMg91FNeb1uG-bMEKhfZdCCbvam9-1YQS5yEXqCRxK9zr9EnEWBqUL7YrvB4/s1600-h/IMG_0097.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbhOIPIWCYVAioln23DjP0fu9PS98qOxkQIJfzun9iyHULvAoSKzF5o2Z7gxdWEaVo50g7ymtsEHlim9wXMg91FNeb1uG-bMEKhfZdCCbvam9-1YQS5yEXqCRxK9zr9EnEWBqUL7YrvB4/s400/IMG_0097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162448518444274" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">You'll need some fresh raspberries, of course!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1aFzfLbq9_jriDrLn3x5pU5iuPZKgf1E7dCOLw_W3sDzDOusx_oKyz3xwvk6b5rTCyVxNBdwRa7DZg_nxVzflbxYb9F4Y85qRXYzBEgHrNOuJpZ5spuKARL1xMOeXr5LaAlaR4RGVGA/s1600-h/IMG_0099.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1aFzfLbq9_jriDrLn3x5pU5iuPZKgf1E7dCOLw_W3sDzDOusx_oKyz3xwvk6b5rTCyVxNBdwRa7DZg_nxVzflbxYb9F4Y85qRXYzBEgHrNOuJpZ5spuKARL1xMOeXr5LaAlaR4RGVGA/s400/IMG_0099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162451459721986" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I dusted it with powdered sugar, then added the mousse and fresh raspberries on top! Simple but elegant.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fzwjCwCQdEr4tH8pJPGjWEuc6hLB74Hery1njepg4ckve3RDWxotmT-0hjqVAeThz0iBdFckUhIunpfcHWa3Sv2LzzVzeNFcx_xZw9kAgyMXHC3fz2f92YcsqH0jEtlMmg07Xbexkzc/s1600-h/IMG_0212.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8fzwjCwCQdEr4tH8pJPGjWEuc6hLB74Hery1njepg4ckve3RDWxotmT-0hjqVAeThz0iBdFckUhIunpfcHWa3Sv2LzzVzeNFcx_xZw9kAgyMXHC3fz2f92YcsqH0jEtlMmg07Xbexkzc/s400/IMG_0212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162751438867186" border="0" /></a><br />To serve, drizzle the raspberry coulis over the cake and decorate with extra whipped cream and fresh raspberries!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b0SWxGWp27iviGKpTPmPhKmp5qq1l2HyeOf_xVSxQcazmlRP8LjBznc38qQdSlkMbOvyw2cEuhAcrbA7kh5RYfbjU30CVFd76D7o3Az7UkCOF_yB5rp-r55nMugpTNSultRmmAv9U14/s1600-h/IMG_0166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4b0SWxGWp27iviGKpTPmPhKmp5qq1l2HyeOf_xVSxQcazmlRP8LjBznc38qQdSlkMbOvyw2cEuhAcrbA7kh5RYfbjU30CVFd76D7o3Az7UkCOF_yB5rp-r55nMugpTNSultRmmAv9U14/s400/IMG_0166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162740177343282" border="0" /></a><br />Wow, this cake turned out to be gorgeous! Wouldn't it be the perfect dessert for a romantic Valentine's day dinner? =) You can serve it up in many creative ways!<br /></div></div></div></div><br /><br />Alright, here's the moment you've all been waiting for: The REVIEW. How did it stack up?<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">*Drumroll* </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">*Suspense*</span><br /><br /></div><br />It was absolutely <span style="font-style: italic;">DIVINE</span>. I can honestly say that it was <span style="font-style: italic;">one of the best</span> chocolate cakes I have ever tasted! And by far one of my favorites!!!<br /><br />I tested it out on my family and friends. No one could guess that there were beans it in! And everyone went crazy for it- saying that it was one of their favorite cakes! Crazy, eh? I can't believe that <span style="font-style: italic;">so many</span> different people came to the same independent conclusion: that a crazy bean cake was one of the best they've had!<br /><br />Here are the facts:<br /><br />1. It was insanely moist and fluffy! It can definitely hold its own among "real" cakes.<br /><br />2. It tasted <span style="font-style: italic;">so decadent</span>, like biting into a really awesome dark chocolate bar. And I don't even like dark chocolate! The splash of coffee really enhanced the chocolate flavor, giving the illusion that you're eating a really fancy dark chocolate cake.<br /><br />3. Although it tasted decadent, it wasn't actually heavy on the palate, amazingly enough! You know how when you bite into a chocolate torte or heavy chocolate cake, it's so rich that you take three bites of it, and you're done? Well, this one's just the opposite! It was light and fluffy, therefore making it light on the palate. You could literally sit there and eat the entire cake without feeling like it was too rich! And without feeling too guilty! =)<br /><br />4. The raspberry sauce and white chocolate mousse were the perfect parings for this cake! Since the cake lacked sugar and tasted like a great dark chocolate bar, the sides really complimented its flavor and added a little bit more sweetness, without having it be<span style="font-style: italic;"> too sweet</span>. All of the components put together was simply... <span style="font-style: italic;">perfect</span>.<br /><br />5. I would highly suggest refrigerating it overnight before decorating and serving. I found that the flavors of the cake really pulled together the next day. It's one of those rare cakes that tastes better when cold and straight out of the fridge. When I tasted it after it had cooled on the first day, I thought that I could detect a little bit of the beans in it. But after it had rested in the fridge overnight, it was perfect! It tasted like a super fancy dark chocolate cake- with no bean flavor what so ever!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaer1B40v2OcoQTxjAzAt-t6pALqwpYkU6g334F_rgqBBrEp1T1Szh6DMkd2wDv4-iWPfb4xRNX57j6Sz3XgYCyuxaKYZQeg2Vh9p62TmJww_PatV0gyz7TVh2GpVe0-bTfVvFbIMWhhg/s1600-h/IMG_0189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaer1B40v2OcoQTxjAzAt-t6pALqwpYkU6g334F_rgqBBrEp1T1Szh6DMkd2wDv4-iWPfb4xRNX57j6Sz3XgYCyuxaKYZQeg2Vh9p62TmJww_PatV0gyz7TVh2GpVe0-bTfVvFbIMWhhg/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435162747114387330" border="0" /></a><br />So there you have it: my favorite cake of all time is not even a legitimate cake! lol. I urge all of you to give this cake a try- for no reason other than the fact that it's strange and interesting!<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_146g8qgvrhg">HERE</a> for the recipes!</span><br /></span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-56018361090515015022010-02-02T18:28:00.000-08:002010-02-02T22:06:59.563-08:00Crab & Garlic Pasta AlfredoI've always been a fan of seafood, but lately it's manifested into an obsession for dungeness crab. I think it all started with the <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/01/crab-spinach-artichoke-mac-cheese.html">Crab Mac & Cheese</a> from Salty's. Mmm...makes me wanna drool just thinking about it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB6m2rIgUWrjEPEu_e7467iGP5TljX_Ioz3ksiyy_koqturo0kZFexwwhmBAu_1rEDV4xYhIJtvOBUqdX8PBXdobQ3972_nCXT4CxepMdjM8UqsYlC6atXCf9W0EWgSVR9XnYvEb65j0/s1600-h/IMG_9801.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJB6m2rIgUWrjEPEu_e7467iGP5TljX_Ioz3ksiyy_koqturo0kZFexwwhmBAu_1rEDV4xYhIJtvOBUqdX8PBXdobQ3972_nCXT4CxepMdjM8UqsYlC6atXCf9W0EWgSVR9XnYvEb65j0/s400/IMG_9801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433894650024740674" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway, since then I've been scouring the menus of my favorite restaurants for good crab dishes...which really isn't hard, considering all the great seafood houses we have in Seattle! This Crab Pasta with Garlic Alfredo sauce was inspired by one of my favorite dishes at Anthony's Home Port. If you're ever in the area, you must stop by to try it! Hubby, who usually hates white sauced pastas, gives it two thumbs up!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) The Pasta</span><br /></div><br />I have no idea why I didn't take any pictures of the pasta! Wow, I'm only 24 and starting to lose my marbles. hehe. Sorry, guess you'll just have to imagine it. =)<br /><br />You can use any type of pasta you want. The common pasta to use is fettuccine. I just really like bow tie pasta for some reason. It's cute. And festive! If you used fettuccine noodles, then you could legitimately call it a Crab and Garlic Fettuccine Alfredo, which I guess sounds fancier than "Pasta Alfredo." hehe.<br /><br />Cook 12 oz of whatever pasta you like, according to the instructions on the box. Make sure to add a bit of olive oil and salt to the water. Drain and set aside.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;">(2) The Crab & Garlic Alfredo Sauce<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbxBn0Pvfj_jDr-rLmP0Tt32TIZoWLhMmMba3zNFnYYo9FvFrFLEyhkfgdJfUnUlao-YrYyR9xvnXn4wKC0UCULYnhJZfQB_qUDk0r77EruUhR7Kl9VHxuYxmoSNq5q5sUNZUiI2_YpA/s1600-h/IMG_9753.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbxBn0Pvfj_jDr-rLmP0Tt32TIZoWLhMmMba3zNFnYYo9FvFrFLEyhkfgdJfUnUlao-YrYyR9xvnXn4wKC0UCULYnhJZfQB_qUDk0r77EruUhR7Kl9VHxuYxmoSNq5q5sUNZUiI2_YpA/s400/IMG_9753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499051691364242" border="0" /></a><br />Start by heating up olive oil in a heavy bottomed sauce pan. Add a ton of garlic to it and stir quickly, non-stop! You don't want the garlic to burn. If it burns, it'll be super bitter and you'll have to throw the whole pot out and start over, so be careful.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mx2KWBWcJsJ5_9qphl1z3qLbtDYR2IS7RfJe6YtvsIQrPWdH82yyrrdGht3mmnlQmmIf2Cqci6VJi3vqYmeuDVvxSv5AZNlOGHNYkvvwSTXUuJ1Hzj0D3m1aBJqmsBvr_xPjJucqHnU/s1600-h/IMG_9757.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mx2KWBWcJsJ5_9qphl1z3qLbtDYR2IS7RfJe6YtvsIQrPWdH82yyrrdGht3mmnlQmmIf2Cqci6VJi3vqYmeuDVvxSv5AZNlOGHNYkvvwSTXUuJ1Hzj0D3m1aBJqmsBvr_xPjJucqHnU/s400/IMG_9757.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499060847036978" border="0" /></a><br />You want to keep stirring and tossing it, so that it can start to caramelize. This will happen pretty quickly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjAVl3WaKwG8JfT-YPHcolVimfZS9xF21x3ZUXX6BEJSfiqtF5MCpA5S7dXIAtheb6mSppPE8ddWJuvnnL7AO_oc28Q4fUHcZa0JOTkYm6T0k4_koEPadnN8YRDxN0-NCeimBV4y00CQ/s1600-h/IMG_9761.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjAVl3WaKwG8JfT-YPHcolVimfZS9xF21x3ZUXX6BEJSfiqtF5MCpA5S7dXIAtheb6mSppPE8ddWJuvnnL7AO_oc28Q4fUHcZa0JOTkYm6T0k4_koEPadnN8YRDxN0-NCeimBV4y00CQ/s400/IMG_9761.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499286890265922" border="0" /></a><br />Once most of the garlic has browned on the edges, you're good to go. This process takes the garlic-y edge out of the cloves and makes it slightly sweeter, while giving the sauce a super yummy garlic flavor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiXOVf4Ks4TlGfuZ1rHuKPKa9w6P0r6xyABL8IR43vEWmqIq3jYHpszPjZKP_QGuI_d0rRA2SKsm1DSyH9bBFXir7z_iyKjRDBkuFcAu15nBPrXbquwyfNOAcGta322yR_WM18ucJA1M/s1600-h/IMG_9766.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiXOVf4Ks4TlGfuZ1rHuKPKa9w6P0r6xyABL8IR43vEWmqIq3jYHpszPjZKP_QGuI_d0rRA2SKsm1DSyH9bBFXir7z_iyKjRDBkuFcAu15nBPrXbquwyfNOAcGta322yR_WM18ucJA1M/s400/IMG_9766.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499292177219170" border="0" /></a><br />Immediately add heavy cream, butter, garlic salt, and cream cheese. Stir until everything has melted together. Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oN0xFgNfY6pRy7A2dBFo4ygskHpoC4RZORTS0YT_9iBruOOwgQxKldq0Lf8jP_pxgTssjBMSE_ZjQvkr8V9dAOcp-ADHD1xsBJjCBXYYaxBroavJuv0rTim-Dm3ZXOH5xw54xwk8MAs/s1600-h/IMG_9769.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0oN0xFgNfY6pRy7A2dBFo4ygskHpoC4RZORTS0YT_9iBruOOwgQxKldq0Lf8jP_pxgTssjBMSE_ZjQvkr8V9dAOcp-ADHD1xsBJjCBXYYaxBroavJuv0rTim-Dm3ZXOH5xw54xwk8MAs/s400/IMG_9769.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499294369575106" border="0" /></a><br />Add in 1 1/2 cups of Parmesan cheese. I make my alfredo sauce slightly on the "lighter" side. It's not as cheesy and heavy on the palate as some sauces. If you like a more cheesy sauce, you can add more Parmesan to it, along with more garlic salt. Mix until well combined.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ7EME1KXPgeex-1QC7Q5-QSbsqvV2bVMET0QFrqFRXHYHs8Ic0ieXDr2QcOqrrOV-VnFspl9XF0FB9hDP53ZX8GySblR2EKnO4Wg0QGo3SgeaMgpUH04ZML-FfvMjsnLgQ00uAe_H5o/s1600-h/IMG_9726.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ7EME1KXPgeex-1QC7Q5-QSbsqvV2bVMET0QFrqFRXHYHs8Ic0ieXDr2QcOqrrOV-VnFspl9XF0FB9hDP53ZX8GySblR2EKnO4Wg0QGo3SgeaMgpUH04ZML-FfvMjsnLgQ00uAe_H5o/s400/IMG_9726.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499039971071266" border="0" /></a><br />Now for the best part!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8bJa9ogTiQJMUS9VjFT0hvMwHKZVu4ihDZBnfdaTDFysqGM7qdZawFVlg-kz7y1ztPmmFeAr4ET0qcI6zFIWyTj2Wl5PoTh_aeAVxs6uclSYdrqxZ1SODLXkTgx-Cp56EJh8ZqxOpXY/s1600-h/IMG_9773.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8bJa9ogTiQJMUS9VjFT0hvMwHKZVu4ihDZBnfdaTDFysqGM7qdZawFVlg-kz7y1ztPmmFeAr4ET0qcI6zFIWyTj2Wl5PoTh_aeAVxs6uclSYdrqxZ1SODLXkTgx-Cp56EJh8ZqxOpXY/s400/IMG_9773.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499301925558770" border="0" /></a><br />Fold in the crab! Set aside.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Putting it all together</span><br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLGNiGkiXNztpuK4VV-hMJDJLN7KEKM0B9v5WG0AMKyWmSO1z5w_Rdi2eMOK5N6Q314YIiHFvv23AxhQpCcxXJYf4HCOXe79AkKreUKWCpFYaapXC2cKCr8UHTXASz96-1c3sgm9rCdY/s1600-h/IMG_9715.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihLGNiGkiXNztpuK4VV-hMJDJLN7KEKM0B9v5WG0AMKyWmSO1z5w_Rdi2eMOK5N6Q314YIiHFvv23AxhQpCcxXJYf4HCOXe79AkKreUKWCpFYaapXC2cKCr8UHTXASz96-1c3sgm9rCdY/s400/IMG_9715.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499033103790274" border="0" /></a><br />Just to add a tad more flavor to the dish, and to sneakily get Hubby to eat his veggies, I started with a large chopped onion and a bag of frozen peas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrpk5-2101LnTHwCnL8XLCfFm3NIKRtfnnUJm7pwwsl4ekoKqrZMEn5pp7CMixDMU56JvXl2g10dUOFNT5bxZ6RXdVq2E34Vr1XdduRDhEP5bGrucDBJWt3_k_LASGMG0vRm0U1afDjw/s1600-h/IMG_9749.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRrpk5-2101LnTHwCnL8XLCfFm3NIKRtfnnUJm7pwwsl4ekoKqrZMEn5pp7CMixDMU56JvXl2g10dUOFNT5bxZ6RXdVq2E34Vr1XdduRDhEP5bGrucDBJWt3_k_LASGMG0vRm0U1afDjw/s400/IMG_9749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499046332874882" border="0" /></a><br />In a large dutch oven (or other large pot), saute the onion in olive oil until it has completely caramelized. Quickly add in the peas and toss for about 2 minutes, or until it has completely thawed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQcA_5DYmT-TVJfTIsQxTZM7qI4p0y20etRUNYzKga_bQNfJYEK6-c7ugc_bnC97VkgxyLplSqlwDMrfffhf2f0vfQPF0mmNO8dKsrZfFi7DJw6-_CXN_Y4ZopHbsjhqjL1Bn-NyWqGE/s1600-h/IMG_9783.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQcA_5DYmT-TVJfTIsQxTZM7qI4p0y20etRUNYzKga_bQNfJYEK6-c7ugc_bnC97VkgxyLplSqlwDMrfffhf2f0vfQPF0mmNO8dKsrZfFi7DJw6-_CXN_Y4ZopHbsjhqjL1Bn-NyWqGE/s400/IMG_9783.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499307256823858" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Toss in the pasta until well combined.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAt33L8-Rd77ip4ZtTtixTrsX_AQblceJuBBm9Ah1U_Vo2neRIjz9M67epoFJ63J5xHaWtAfGQ4BoywxXgVPSBWPbZu9NHxHNiKWwiCieMMOqS9eYXGKUU8wRCyLQHnrFAOqb3WjKCKA/s1600-h/IMG_9785.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAt33L8-Rd77ip4ZtTtixTrsX_AQblceJuBBm9Ah1U_Vo2neRIjz9M67epoFJ63J5xHaWtAfGQ4BoywxXgVPSBWPbZu9NHxHNiKWwiCieMMOqS9eYXGKUU8wRCyLQHnrFAOqb3WjKCKA/s400/IMG_9785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499541182770994" border="0" /></a><br />Pour in the Alfredo sauce and fold until everything is well coated.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXXMTDv0-GsDpjWtWwNG0Sb6_EPBXgw4sf63c8RsHbfF1Ro2mU7q9n_R3MgwWkSJWaadmuWebDdrHzYda_Oe42yaukaJsX1u_NNBLyRqtsWmDod3KBzSrAvMQ8rYs2xsRLFJhVB6ta0I/s1600-h/IMG_9794.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXXMTDv0-GsDpjWtWwNG0Sb6_EPBXgw4sf63c8RsHbfF1Ro2mU7q9n_R3MgwWkSJWaadmuWebDdrHzYda_Oe42yaukaJsX1u_NNBLyRqtsWmDod3KBzSrAvMQ8rYs2xsRLFJhVB6ta0I/s400/IMG_9794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499545481493138" border="0" /></a><br />Add in salt and pepper to taste.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgela5wTqw04sEJRP-_O70ArL5F-fpfCZnpELxnhVTWBTicAU1iPDLtgmDXOwKyxYz0ZPzN0HT5uquxfCaKnMEknIaTP3xOee-cnzek39b_c3sR4_8r1Sg3TrzIxx1Cf9RG_zOYRDM7TrU/s1600-h/IMG_9798.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgela5wTqw04sEJRP-_O70ArL5F-fpfCZnpELxnhVTWBTicAU1iPDLtgmDXOwKyxYz0ZPzN0HT5uquxfCaKnMEknIaTP3xOee-cnzek39b_c3sR4_8r1Sg3TrzIxx1Cf9RG_zOYRDM7TrU/s400/IMG_9798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430499551518596226" border="0" /></a><br />Serve with an extra generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese...which is also not pictured here. hehe. But this one was actually on purpose because Hubby doesn't like extra cheese, and this plate was for him. =)<br /><br />Give this dish a try! It's sooo delicious and super easy to make. I think a lot of people shy away from making their own Alfredo sauce because it seems a bit intimidating. But actually, it's really easy and practically comes together on its own.<br /><br />This dish is also incredibly versatile. You can add practically anything to the cream sauce base- any kind of meat or veggies you like! It's sure to please everyone, even super picky eaters!<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >Click <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_87xwn2f5gm">HERE</a> for the recipe</span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-287273173942110422.post-63432827922575675492010-01-29T11:22:00.000-08:002010-02-02T22:47:49.516-08:00Dulce de Leche Apple Cinnamon RollsWow, I was <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">amazed and touched</span> by the flood of comments that came in about my last post, the <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/01/chocolate-salted-caramel-dulce-de-leche.html">Lamington Debacle</a>! Thank you <span style="font-style: italic;">so much</span> for all your supportive comments- it made me feel ten times better about the whole situation! I really can't express how much your encouragement means to me- it keeps me going and makes me feel like the time and effort I put into this blog is all SO worthwhile. I'm really glad that so many of you are able to benefit from even my failed recipes! As far as future kitchen disasters- I will fear not! hehe. I might even post more of them, seeing as so many of you enjoyed reading about it! =)<br /><br />One good thing <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> come out of the whole Lamington mess: my discovery of dulce de leche in the form of sweetened condensed milk! I've been <span style="font-style: italic;">utterly obsessed</span> with it recently and wanted to find different ways to use it...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqffa3zkMcFsCmHAYNGk5o2R_ANCdIZ2SGCbv9MzWROeUcJ_nR3KTfrLF00AlxDJLCqJl-UMwQoEyDfdDqVGGlv9F5adP9rDpM4nvvo523sU7bcCkfw57eqKHTPLMTdvYgQS3QA8DHaXA/s1600-h/IMG_9621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqffa3zkMcFsCmHAYNGk5o2R_ANCdIZ2SGCbv9MzWROeUcJ_nR3KTfrLF00AlxDJLCqJl-UMwQoEyDfdDqVGGlv9F5adP9rDpM4nvvo523sU7bcCkfw57eqKHTPLMTdvYgQS3QA8DHaXA/s400/IMG_9621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430498245634367218" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HfkP0RBua2e_bXs-Iqtk-pxlZQ-iKP9FBfoUn3DzK8AbjCs2e-2_gKaNjsyR1MccskNU5PRF6jyqPAT5EsX0ckdelg1G4pBYEZyZnYvgmZ9VtsQg0r_Eafm1gYgyhbu3qOPIKCwtVMQ/s1600-h/IMG_9659.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HfkP0RBua2e_bXs-Iqtk-pxlZQ-iKP9FBfoUn3DzK8AbjCs2e-2_gKaNjsyR1MccskNU5PRF6jyqPAT5EsX0ckdelg1G4pBYEZyZnYvgmZ9VtsQg0r_Eafm1gYgyhbu3qOPIKCwtVMQ/s400/IMG_9659.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430498251671749714" border="0" /></a><br />So here's what I came up with: dulce de leche smeared on top of cinnamon rolls. But not just any cinnamon rolls- we're talking ones with apple pie filling in them! Need I say more?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(1) Dulce de Leche</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpooqKPcCvaQj8hoyiRxsE3CUHzBj8I-1mAJPhIfSF40jerNU7kaR5ZFo5m79CqUqgAQcuJ_8XDU6zX-bs0MTGUX-BWmkRU_2gIkjHirU7yVbHO3mPxtEgi1j1CbYwl9Q78as3MnUorQw/s1600-h/IMG_9027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpooqKPcCvaQj8hoyiRxsE3CUHzBj8I-1mAJPhIfSF40jerNU7kaR5ZFo5m79CqUqgAQcuJ_8XDU6zX-bs0MTGUX-BWmkRU_2gIkjHirU7yVbHO3mPxtEgi1j1CbYwl9Q78as3MnUorQw/s400/IMG_9027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497397957256786" border="0" /></a><br />If you missed <a href="http://domesticgoddessadventures.blogspot.com/2010/01/chocolate-salted-caramel-dulce-de-leche.html">my last post</a> about the dulce de leche, here's a quick recap:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4ePDZ0ig4gna6Z7gpECmBhIT7-JYVDXGH3lhyEPt_X_roSMrRa31AJuguoGJfdNxst1AGASSn7Kq19kbVd7IanbbuIlKEMrY3GkK8P9GHxTIZEMVKn39MBkeb1RuCWH6m2r699NmTSU/s1600-h/IMG_8873.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ4ePDZ0ig4gna6Z7gpECmBhIT7-JYVDXGH3lhyEPt_X_roSMrRa31AJuguoGJfdNxst1AGASSn7Kq19kbVd7IanbbuIlKEMrY3GkK8P9GHxTIZEMVKn39MBkeb1RuCWH6m2r699NmTSU/s400/IMG_8873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497386341873682" border="0" /></a><br />Basically, take a can of sweetened condensed milk- all you have to do is rip the wrapper off and then boil the heck out of it for three hours straight. Yes, you're boiling the can itself, unopened. How cool is that?! Wait for it to cool completely (crucial), then when you open it up, it's thick, beautiful, and utterly divine!<br /><br />Here are a few tips:<br /><ul><li>Run it under cold water if you want it to cool faster, but don't open it until it's completely cooled.</li><li>You can boil it for up to four hours - the longer you boil it, the thicker it becomes.</li><li>Vice versa, if you want a more runny version, boil it for only two hours.</li><li>Have a pot of extra boiling water handy, because as the pot boils, it will evaporate. So you'll need to add extra water every 20-30 minutes, to make sure the can stays immersed the whole time.<br /></li></ul>It's pretty easy to do. Three hours seems like a long time, but it actually doesn't require a whole lot of maintenance. Just pour more water in it every once in a while. Then three hours later, you've got perfect dulce de leche that soooo good, you'll want to spoon it straight into your mouth, which I have done...on many, many occasions.<br /><br />In fact, I'm not even ashamed to suggest the following:<br />Say you have five people coming over for a dinner party and you don't know what to do for dessert. Well, why don't you just boil five cans of sweetened condensed milk?! Serve it up straight from the can! lol. Okok, kidding. But YES, it really IS THAT GOOD. I promise. =)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) Apple Cinnamon Rolls</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPCEwwFWNfY2rw-nDw_sAta5NZqD8BtefSoeeiVf3rJUt5sLYrj-XjWnKXgTDxacQm4W8QNee5o5vI13yB3505kA1m5fHAzLk206v-8uis-SCC_n_jMVZQ8bZ-NMY-IyY-gCxNeO3QSA/s1600-h/IMG_9572.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPCEwwFWNfY2rw-nDw_sAta5NZqD8BtefSoeeiVf3rJUt5sLYrj-XjWnKXgTDxacQm4W8QNee5o5vI13yB3505kA1m5fHAzLk206v-8uis-SCC_n_jMVZQ8bZ-NMY-IyY-gCxNeO3QSA/s400/IMG_9572.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430498233963451698" border="0" /></a><br />In case you missed the first two pictures, here's another one to refresh your memory. =) Not only does it taste good, it's also a beauty and photographs soo nicely! Tee hee.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0mLdCwTNf5RMCMvWdmNmjJglbDh-3rP_U_aNfwoBBU9EzO8RDOPvvhturGhq7TF1PoIlgfDbQWjZexV54bepo_OhOJ5WJfTi744cl74K9r89RnnYFzotwARCZcmiHkLmrC00R8Ceuk0/s1600-h/IMG_9419.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0mLdCwTNf5RMCMvWdmNmjJglbDh-3rP_U_aNfwoBBU9EzO8RDOPvvhturGhq7TF1PoIlgfDbQWjZexV54bepo_OhOJ5WJfTi744cl74K9r89RnnYFzotwARCZcmiHkLmrC00R8Ceuk0/s400/IMG_9419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497400781771666" border="0" /></a><br />Combine 1 cup of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dPR-ueXzJOLM1rCqDeoPGjkwlOuwZ917hLseF9yC2es6JG22AVNHowL0JX1xsAPo0uQ30P3QHPzT-DGncablas7PzIdlJgkaARVfdJ3Wgl0dhskFPIMPw1aRnA63lgO7-3c0DO_X62g/s1600-h/IMG_9425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-dPR-ueXzJOLM1rCqDeoPGjkwlOuwZ917hLseF9yC2es6JG22AVNHowL0JX1xsAPo0uQ30P3QHPzT-DGncablas7PzIdlJgkaARVfdJ3Wgl0dhskFPIMPw1aRnA63lgO7-3c0DO_X62g/s400/IMG_9425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497411793214466" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">In a separate bowl, heat up water, milk, and butter until very warm.<br /></div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16vfIy-GLkQ9MPijUDSFnrWNGTRg13A7UG0JybuFabXSF9QBvUIPgv13soH7BaN5LgsJXL8bo7orBL5yFOac1bUSTjt2QS-HR-HxeEFM8PM0-65eeIBCus0zWrI2xwiu4dmcCFj2yUSg/s1600-h/IMG_9434.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16vfIy-GLkQ9MPijUDSFnrWNGTRg13A7UG0JybuFabXSF9QBvUIPgv13soH7BaN5LgsJXL8bo7orBL5yFOac1bUSTjt2QS-HR-HxeEFM8PM0-65eeIBCus0zWrI2xwiu4dmcCFj2yUSg/s400/IMG_9434.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497654678476722" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Then slowly add it to the dry mixture. Beat for about 2 minutes on medium speed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IDNL7FUg6zsfkCCCdpld3Vq5dh7NcV14FiwB_ojWBIwVfNq604YSXWyo9k7lSWgh6ytwJjVOCis-wQSzt-pCV-9To3piK7Y-FDmDJIWJfAWmscYVQFlehSHT0O-GRnAgnA3HDSxgEd0/s1600-h/IMG_9451.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5IDNL7FUg6zsfkCCCdpld3Vq5dh7NcV14FiwB_ojWBIwVfNq604YSXWyo9k7lSWgh6ytwJjVOCis-wQSzt-pCV-9To3piK7Y-FDmDJIWJfAWmscYVQFlehSHT0O-GRnAgnA3HDSxgEd0/s400/IMG_9451.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497660406387618" border="0" /></a><br />Then add eggs and 1 more cup of flour, beat for another 2 minutes or so. Stir enough of the remaining flour to make the dough soft.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLya9OtvdXi9Zh8ZOJ91wvx1KdRuk5pRdTteLyEI81eNsPwGZpVMyeMgtTeefji-84N5H23QkD7w5IErp2M5lnT0HJVlv_lUxQpNUQsCxiHa1yTgXqGwb6SAmAPUnyiszgMBzLS8MGSM/s1600-h/IMG_9459.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLya9OtvdXi9Zh8ZOJ91wvx1KdRuk5pRdTteLyEI81eNsPwGZpVMyeMgtTeefji-84N5H23QkD7w5IErp2M5lnT0HJVlv_lUxQpNUQsCxiHa1yTgXqGwb6SAmAPUnyiszgMBzLS8MGSM/s400/IMG_9459.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497662525353330" border="0" /></a><br />Kneed on a lightly floured surface until smooth and elastic. The recipe says to kneed it for about 8 to 10 minutes. But I didn't have the patience. hehe. I did it for like 3 minutes and called it good. Mine still turned out perfect, so I don't think it mattered in the end. Cover and let rest for about 10 minutes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(2) The Apple Pie Filling</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCkrzFKGEXbEFXjWL9oKmUg9-K1V8GBEb_cBNzZEPHpaaAN4M1zP3j1euu1ZjrVOIL5IWz-d_EldlgwxCItcaqn6cQ6g8GfBxkv1X5aIBOuX6p7LGTjzkngV6NRIXuf4vI7NaOmmGgzk/s1600-h/IMG_9474.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCkrzFKGEXbEFXjWL9oKmUg9-K1V8GBEb_cBNzZEPHpaaAN4M1zP3j1euu1ZjrVOIL5IWz-d_EldlgwxCItcaqn6cQ6g8GfBxkv1X5aIBOuX6p7LGTjzkngV6NRIXuf4vI7NaOmmGgzk/s400/IMG_9474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497666444164210" border="0" /></a><br />You'll need 4 large granny smith apples. As large as you can get them! Chop them up into small cubes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7PMckv1Wry3Ulc7JvTEl_Htwmm4cy7qvdxhtqzslpOWUSNqj-ypz2opP5vknrYjJqM5Xw0lBOz4S-77f-77vJZhF1bwbk9VOGpJkGLJRVy8VsVZUCh7y-sp1aEIblKRh5yGgilpxg_U/s1600-h/IMG_9482.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7PMckv1Wry3Ulc7JvTEl_Htwmm4cy7qvdxhtqzslpOWUSNqj-ypz2opP5vknrYjJqM5Xw0lBOz4S-77f-77vJZhF1bwbk9VOGpJkGLJRVy8VsVZUCh7y-sp1aEIblKRh5yGgilpxg_U/s400/IMG_9482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497671414808370" border="0" /></a><br />It's super easy to make. Just dump everything into a pot: the apples, some flour, butter, sugar, and brown sugar. Then bring to a boil, cook for about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat and simmer for like 10 minutes, stirring, until it becomes thick. Mix in some cinnamon at the end and you're done!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">(3) Putting it all together</span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQBZN0q4kcPgC5RfkPXeLHzCpYtyDDnOhZzjRzpsM4jUmtrfM9gQCCi1EHjRZSF1CGgF7sL6AJbty2VQYYXVG5GkgcKVNEkpLlRMmXrAW9WmgZRvC7idSoDwY1HE9aiBpkfShwT8t3Qg/s1600-h/IMG_9486.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfQBZN0q4kcPgC5RfkPXeLHzCpYtyDDnOhZzjRzpsM4jUmtrfM9gQCCi1EHjRZSF1CGgF7sL6AJbty2VQYYXVG5GkgcKVNEkpLlRMmXrAW9WmgZRvC7idSoDwY1HE9aiBpkfShwT8t3Qg/s400/IMG_9486.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497918302964226" border="0" /></a><br />Divide your dough in half and roll out two large rectangular slabs. About 15x10 in. Doesn't have to be exact. Divide the apple pie filling in half and evenly spread them over the two rectangular slabs of dough.<br /><br />Starting from the side that's longer in length, roll up the dough. You'll end up with a long roll (about 15 inches in length). Cut each log evenly into 8 or 9 pieces and place them into a greased 9-inch spring form pan. You'll need two 9-inch pans, one for each log.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OCWWqlNw2lsHKWfPSECNIXUAizX34keYFlBPEfoRWDBs7-mQXb6uHKhtIBtNqNOQB8lSUvYIJbKe82yx58TGRKuTgUS9q8zycu3dOXqkmlT7YehMgvBwW8eE6ARRkMvKn0qJwyIgEbo/s1600-h/IMG_9508.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5OCWWqlNw2lsHKWfPSECNIXUAizX34keYFlBPEfoRWDBs7-mQXb6uHKhtIBtNqNOQB8lSUvYIJbKe82yx58TGRKuTgUS9q8zycu3dOXqkmlT7YehMgvBwW8eE6ARRkMvKn0qJwyIgEbo/s400/IMG_9508.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497932921570882" border="0" /></a><br />After you've fit them all into the pan, cover and allow them to double in size, about 45 minutes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR-IfA7TngJgoHqGxsaSWQGZYJ8awG4j-II5lqjByW1rFOFkbRo6mBtNgh94dl86IXuBe-rblRupGThXBVWtlPtnRcqVuWgoOfIPIFkGPuGPWsFvYCDieuICqyFemjXDc1uGKsJL8WDA/s1600-h/IMG_9540.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrR-IfA7TngJgoHqGxsaSWQGZYJ8awG4j-II5lqjByW1rFOFkbRo6mBtNgh94dl86IXuBe-rblRupGThXBVWtlPtnRcqVuWgoOfIPIFkGPuGPWsFvYCDieuICqyFemjXDc1uGKsJL8WDA/s400/IMG_9540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430497945032774034" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Bake for about 25-30 minutes at 375.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQV6HWGwW2namb3YqwTmEshZMi4yLGg0KuuAsFFgIg4YSPEEMmXCCVRt3MOxwqQmsBacYNlsOTHbj7fH_1dL1qnU6f3sFhAvceFxOt00DylHPDKiWzm2k802QMXgbuWkzLxiw_qJ15H8/s1600-h/IMG_9640.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpQV6HWGwW2namb3YqwTmEshZMi4yLGg0KuuAsFFgIg4YSPEEMmXCCVRt3MOxwqQmsBacYNlsOTHbj7fH_1dL1qnU6f3sFhAvceFxOt00DylHPDKiWzm2k802QMXgbuWkzLxiw_qJ15H8/s400/IMG_9640.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430498247443588850" border="0" /></a><br />Allow to cool slightly before removing from the pan. The sides should leave the pan nicely.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetHa9ONcGzmyiGG9Z71biwhku8WOKpSLDIM_bDvRJV6rSK2aMjBC6GtVxp6xgLOklJXBh1qagr2LresBoMXR0bV9-FhxizXlW_0Fvw0yf0mdH7oX3yWlZo2TvaCvWkOfbbvf6KBCRt68/s1600-h/IMG_9685.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetHa9ONcGzmyiGG9Z71biwhku8WOKpSLDIM_bDvRJV6rSK2aMjBC6GtVxp6xgLOklJXBh1qagr2LresBoMXR0bV9-FhxizXlW_0Fvw0yf0mdH7oX3yWlZo2TvaCvWkOfbbvf6KBCRt68/s400/IMG_9685.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430498497127755474" border="0" /></a><br />And now, for the best part: slather on a good thick layer of warm dulce de leche! One can for each batch of cinnamon rolls!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsj5OE4AgyvUScqEIX_QISMGnxY3vwMEjklWMppKDfyj-4eyoEBFIRBb2aDcYF4cYayP6E8ZTcrd4E6DgxsTTo7kEidehB93hZnHb93WeOjTkDXFDR25o1G_c1sEB8YkS0Gz3-Cni7UKw/s1600-h/IMG_9694.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsj5OE4AgyvUScqEIX_QISMGnxY3vwMEjklWMppKDfyj-4eyoEBFIRBb2aDcYF4cYayP6E8ZTcrd4E6DgxsTTo7kEidehB93hZnHb93WeOjTkDXFDR25o1G_c1sEB8YkS0Gz3-Cni7UKw/s400/IMG_9694.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430498493270940658" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Serve these warm and straight out of the oven for best results!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">MMMmmm...SO delish!! Everyone who tried these were so floored by how delicious they were! They certainly aren't your normal run-of-the-mill cinnamon rolls, that's for sure! I sent some home with my friend Karen, who later told me that she loved them so much, she ate two a day, everyday for breakfast!<br /></div></div><br />Give these a try- you can never go wrong with apple pie filling and dulce de leche! YUM!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click <a href="http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc2jd9m8_84c34pfwf7">HERE</a> for the recipe<br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">EDIT:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">After posting this, a reader emailed me, saying that sometimes boiling a can of sweetened condensed milk can be dangerous. If it isn't completely submerged in water at all times, it can explode. So you have to be really careful about keeping an eye on the water level. You can also make dulce de leche by pouring the sweetened condensed milk into a pie plate, covering it tightly with aluminum foil, and placing it in a water bath to bake for 1-1.5 hours. This method is safer. Here's a <a href="http://www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2005/11/dulce_de_lechec.html">great link </a>that she sent me. Thanks Jeana!</span></span></span>Judyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08688986254809153879noreply@blogger.com17