Valentine's Day Baking

The perfect Valentines Day cupcake... Red Velvet with Cream cheese Frosting. I used the Magnolia Bakery recipe, with a simple Cream Cheese frosting. They were delicious, and I loved the way they baked up. And the recipe ended up making about 3 dozen.

I also made Barefoot Contessa's famous Coconut Cupcakes. These turn out perfect every time. Earlier in the week I was able to stop at Corti Brothers, an italian gourmet grocery store in Sacramento. I love browsing the aisles, I can always find something different that I want to try. This time I found V. Alisios sweetened large shred coconut. What a difference it makes...definitely worth the splurge.

I have also been trying to perfect these mini lemon meringue tarts. I have been trying to come up with a good crust. So far I've used Fillo, and this shortbread based crust which really didn't turn out well. It was delicious, but broke apart easily... I will come up with something. The curd and meringue came from Baked. So simple, and melts in your mouth.

Valentine Sugar Cookies

I had an order for two dozen valentine sugar cookies... I ended up with extra so I thought I would play around with it a little... Sugar Cookie Sandwiches, just in case one cookie isn't sweet enough :)

Filled with raspberry jam, and bottom row filled with frosting and sprinkles.

Check back later this week, I promise to bake something besides sugar cookies.

Christmas at my House

I thought I'd share a few pictures of my Christmas decor this year.
I have been wanting this Santa head (which I placed next to my front door) for several years. My friend had one, but it seemed to be long gone and I wasn't able to find one anywhere. This year when I went to Pottery World I discovered it in the 50% off room... Score! Finally found it, and half off yay! Gotta love a deal!

As I placed my ornaments on our tree this year I came to the realization that I must be obsessed with Santa heads haha!

I found this wreath and the three trees half off after Christmas last year.

My handmade bear that my friend's mom made...how talented is she???

One of my favorite ornaments. I was able to get two more rolls of the harlequin ribbon on sale at Ballard Designs last week.

The Pastry tree in my kitchen.

The girls...trying to get both of them to sit still for a picture is challenging, I'm hoping to get a better picture today for our Christmas card :)

Chocolate Espresso Pot de Creme

Tonight my friend Amanda hosted a Christmas party. She asked me to make the desserts for her, which I love to do. In addition to the lemon mini cheesecakes with raspberry sauce that has become a staple in my repitaur, I wanted to make something chocolate. It had to be something rich and decadent, and in individual servings. I immediately thought of Lava Cakes.... but still wanted it to be something a little different. I remembered these cute little Pot de Creme pots that I had, and thought they would be perfect. I found a recipe on Epicurious that had high reviews, and was simple enough.

They sure were cute! I hope that Amanda and her friends enjoyed them as much as I enjoyed making them.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

Today My friend Charlotte and I drove up to Pottery World in Rocklin Ca. for a little Christmas inspiration.

And there was a ton of it! It was so nice browsing all of their wonderfully decorated areas. There was a theme for everyone. There was whimsical and sophisticated. I gravitate more towards the whimsical, but enjoy looking at it all.

There was even an area that was very naturey, if that's a word???

The Polar Bears in the White area.

This was the Candy Cane area. Very Whimsical!

We loved the Snowman hat for the tree-topper. Charlotte purchased one for her Snowman Tree. I'm so glad you got that Charlotte!

There were Santa Clauses and Elves everywhere. Pottery World definitely took a lot of time and thought in their displays...very talented decorators!

Entrance into Winter Wonderland.

And my personal favorite Santa for the kitchen.

Thanks Charlotte, I had so much fun!!!

Happy 4th of July!

image: Coastal Living

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Cupcakes

It's okay to cheat if it's from a Barefoot Contessa mix ;)
Honestly, her mixes taste just like her recipes from her fabulous cookbooks.
So I thought I would use a short-cut tonight. And I only got rave reviews. I added fondant heart cut-outs, valentine sprinkles, and red liners...instant Valentine's Day Cupcakes.


image: Barefoot Contessa

Now if I had this cute apron to bake them in I'd be set.


image: Jessie Steele

Cookie Decorating

Andrea and her sister Jamie came over for sugar decorating night.
They were very creative!


This is a ladies mitt that Jamie created, so cute!

We had a great time watching Christmas movies, visiting, and decorating cookies.

I have been busy at work... this is our busiest time of year. And I still need to finish my Christmas cookie platters. More baking for the next couple of nights.

Shortbread

This shortbread recipe comes from the owner of the kitchen store, Lorraine Hitchcock. It is one of the fabulous recipes in our cookbook. We have featured it in one of our classes, "gifts from your kitchen". It really is a good cookie recipe for your cookie platters. This shortbread is easy, uses only 4 ingredients, it keeps well, and it makes a lot. Did I mention it's the most delicious shortbread I have ever tasted???

SHORTBREAD

1 lb. unsalted butter, room temperature

4 cups all purpose flour

1 cup superfine sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Sift flour, sugar and salt over top of butter. Knead until mixture forms a smooth ball. Press into an ungreased 10x15 inch jelly-roll pan, and prick the dough with a fork. Bake in a preheated 325 degree oven. Check the shortbread after 20 minutes (mine took about 30 minutes). You're looking for a very light golden brown. Cut while warm, and cool in the pan. Makes about 48.

Christmas Inspiration

image: contry living

image: BHG

Just some random Christmas inspiration.

I love white and green Christmas decor, but don't know if I could actually use it in my home. It wouldn't be the same without the traditional red and green.

images: country living

image: BHG

How fun is this apron from City Girl Aprons ?

Don't forget to leave a comment on the previous post for a chance to win my first giveaway.

Some Christmas Decor and My First Giveaway

I am having my first giveaway! And I thought it would be fun to pick something from the kitchen store. We put together these cute little packages of Stonewall's sugar cookie mix, some green sanding sugar, and a little Christmas tree cookie cutter. Just in time for your holiday baking. Or it would make a cute little hostess gift all wrapped up and ready to go. To enter to win just leave a comment on this post and if you would like to be entered twice let me know that you have mentioned my giveaway on your blog with a link to my blog. I will randomly pick a winner on Sunday, December 7th.

And now on to some decorating! I have slowly but surely been getting out my Christmas decor. Just wanted to share a few things that I have done so far. We haven't gotten the tree yet (hopefully tonight)

This is a hand-made bear that a friend's mother made. Some people are so talented!



My mantel

My pastry tree in the kitchen area

Just a few things that I have collected over the years.