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

Ok. I will be honest. I love Christmas, even though I am not very religious. I love the traditions, little things like picking a tree, putting up the decorations, and of course, Christmas themed baked goods. Here are some I found online:

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYBODY!

Just a Reminder to Eat Chocolate

Just a reminder:

Frankenweenie

Have you seen the new claymation movie Frankenweenie? it is adorable, however the baked goods are even more adorable! here are two links to Frankenweenie baked goods:
cake, cake pops

here are some pictures:

This is way too cute!

Ummm, Yes Please!

I just ran into an icing recipe that is butter-free! I mean, I love butter, but it is so expensive. This recipe is based on egg whites. Doesn't it look delicious?

I mean, YUM! Here is the recipe:

White meringue frosting:

Makes enough to frost 12 cupcakes.

3/4 cup (170 g) granulated white sugar
3 large egg whites
2 tbsp cold water
1 tsp lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

It is best to make this frosting in a metal bowl from a kitchen mixer. But if you dont have one you can make it in a double boiler, using a hand mixer.

Step 1: place all ingredients in the mixer bowl and whisk until well combined. Fill a saucepan with water about (2-3 cups). The saucepan should be large enough for the mixer bowl to “rest in it” but without touching the bottom of the saucepan.

Step 2: When the water is shimmering place the bowl in the sauce pan and whisk the mixture. The mixture must not boil. Whisk until all the sugar is dissovled or you will end up with a grainy looking frosting. Check to see if it has reached a temperature of 160-170 F (70-75 C) Remove from the saucepan.

Step 3: Place the bowl in the kitchen mixer with the whisk attachment on. Whisk the meringue frosting until stiff peaks forms and has a glossy look. This can take up to 12 -15 minutes or more.

Step 4: When the white meringue frosting is ready, you can use it as it is or color it with food gel colors. This frosting will crust over time but the center of the frosting swirl will still be thick and fluffy.

Cakes and cupcakes with white meringue frosting can be stored in the refrigerator for two days.

Macarons

Last night I made macaroons. I am really proud of myself because these little cookies are very hard to make. here is my picture:

sorry it is so grainy, the only camera I have is on my iPad 2, and it isn't the best at night. here is a link to the recipe I followed: macarons
Enjoy!!!!!!!!

Red Velvet and Cream Cheese

I swear, one of the best combinations on earth is red velvet cake with cream cheese icing. You have the chocolate and vanilla war going on in the cake, and the smooth cream cheese flavour in the icing. I made them for a customer two days ago and they were beautiful. here is a like picture:

I love red decorating sugar. 

All I had on hand was a box of vanilla mix. I tampered with it ad got a delicious red velvet, here is the recipe:

ingrediants
box mix
vanilla
cocoa
red gel colouring
4 eggs
1/3 cup oil
1 cup buttermilk

 Follow the directions on the box, but add the cocoa, vanilla, colour & buttermilk in before you mix it for about 3 mins. Bake as normal.



Enjoy!

The Hunger Games

Yesterday, the Hunger Games movie came out on DVD. In The Hunger Games, food has a fairly important part. The pig  with the apple in it's mouth the gamemakers order. The Lamb stew with dried plums. Peeta's bread. Here is a link to a website that has recipes for many important meals:
http://www.fictionalfood.net/category/books/hunger-games-book/

Enjoy!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate

Peanut Butter. Chocolate. Very possibly the best combination since the beginning of time. How could you possibly make this any better? make it into a cupcake.

Cupcakes

1 box cake mix

2 tbs unsweetened cocoa

3 eggs

amount of oil on the box

1 cup buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Put all ingredients in bowl and mix until fully incorporated
3. Beat 3 mins on medium 
4. Put in oven for 20 mins

_________________________________________________________________________________

Icing

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup confectioners sugar

1/4 cup light brown sugar

milk for thinning

1. Combine all ingredients. Thin with milk to your choice of consistency

_________________________________________________________________________________

Let cupcakes cool for 1 hour. Smear icing on top. Sprinkle with shaved chocolate for garnish.

ENJOY  :)

Long time no post

Hi everybody! hope your still out there! Sorry I haven't posted recently, but here are some sweets I made:
Brownies
Chocolate crackle cookies
Angel food cake
Cupcakes
Lemon curd cake with whipped cream icing and berries
Pavlova
mini whole wheat cupcakes(Yum!)
baked donut holes
cake pops
Here are some examples, I forgot to take pictures(Whoops):

lemon curd cake

Angel food cake

Crackle cookies

Donut holes

pavlova

Stay cool this summer!

Paris and Switzerland

I haven't written in a while. Want to know why? The last little bit I have been in France and Switzerland. The sweets here are so cool. In paris,for the first time, I tried a Macaron. They were delicious. I can't wait to make them!

Sugar Colours

          Don't you just hate it when your in the middle of a project, need a certain colour of sugar, and when you go to get it, there isn't any left? I have the solution. Next time, put about a cup of white sugar in a sealable container(ziplock bag or Tupperware) and add several drops of liquid food colouring. shake thoroughly and spread out on wax paper to dry(15 mins). Store in the container you shook it in. Ta-da! you can also put different colours of colouring in one bag, to make other colours(lots of blue+a bit of green=teal sugar)
                                                      ~Have Fun!

*It is best to keep out of direct sunlight to keep colours from fading*

Cookie Dough

Mmmmmm. Who doesn't love cookie dough? Think about it. How many time have you eaten more cookie dough than you've put in the oven? It's one of those things you know you shouldn't eat but do anyway. The other day I make cookie dough without eggs in it so it would be safe to eat just as it was.  Lets just say, it lasted about a half hour in my house(everyone ate them)!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

What's your favourite cookie dough?

Thank You

I know this isn't about baking, but to anybody out there who are viewing my blog, Thank You!!!!!! You are the people who actually kept me writing... I was thinking about shutting this down because I thought nobody was viewing it.
~THANK YOU!!!!!

Candy Making

Over the last week, I have experimented a bit with candy making. It is a simple process that includes melting the candy, pouring it into the mold, and letting it harden. I have made mini peanut butter cups and lollipops(the chocolate ones). I have enjoyed myself thoroughly and encourage you to try to make some candy!

The Cake Pop

A few decorating ideas:

Invented by Bakerella and made famous by Starbucks, the cake pop is a fairly new thing. Created by crumbling you cake and mixing it with icing, than adding sticks and candy coating, it is a very simple process. I don't own this video and must say that Cakeb0t did an excellent job. I found a picture guide to making the basic cake ball(No stick). Please use it, I believe it was created by Bakerella, and I am sorry it is so grainy.

Thank You! please leave a comment!

Welcome

This is my very first post online. I hope you enjoy reading my posts and leave comments. Here are some projects I have tackled so far that I remember:

Cakes

• neon cake
• spring lemon cake
• easter cake
• whimsical fondant cake

Cupcakes

• spaghetti cupcakes
• turkey cupcakes
• daffodil cupcakes
• rose cupcakes
• mashed potato cupcakes
• basic swirl topped cupcakes
• ladybug cupcakes

Cake Pops

I haven't tried cake pops too many times, and when I do, I tend to marble chocolate. You end with a very professional finish. This photo isn't mine(mine are messier), but it gives you an idea of what I mean:

Thanks for reading my blog!

Question of the week: 

Give an example of a cake, cupcake or cake pop project in the comments section!