20111019

my california blues....

sometimes we hit that fork in the road, and we need to figure out which way to go. we also know that if we take the wrong way, we can go back. my decision to go back to the east coast was basically settled on that ideology. i can always go back. but now that i am here, i need to look forward, until i feel like i have to look back. i do love venice, the place that i still consider home.

the things i will miss seeing daily....
ak

my 3 favorite palm trees

the end of my street

that will never leave :)

my beach

at the end of rose
paul newman at my door to greet me.

my alley

my parking spot
I will miss bitches brew most of all

that warm california sun

my bookshelf

my bed
my large closet and mirrors

zombies, imagine a world.


























20110306

REE-DIK-YOU-LUZ CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES



My mother called me today to tell me she was baking chocolate chip cookies with my cousin and they were so excited! She said she found a recipe online that she was going to try, but I know the perfect recipe and unfortunately she already started making them so I let this one slide. But never again. I will never let her or anyone who reads this blog make imperfect chocolate chip cookies ever again. I have baked and tried so many chocolate chip cookie recipes in my lifetime, and this recipe (that I have no idea where I got it) is by far the worlds greatest. If these don't work for you, please let me know and I will mail you some of mine to prove to you that they truly are AMAZING.


My first word of advice is make sure your ingredients are all at room temperature. The butter should be soft- but not melted. When you cream it (with a paddle attachment on a kitchen aid) it should look like mayonnaise. The butter and sugar should be creamed together to a pale ivory color- the more you whip it the more air you incorporate (but do not over beat it- 4 minutes should be good) which makes the cookies plumper. If its not mixed properly your cookies will be flat and crisp. The chocolate you use is important, spend the extra couple dollars and get quality chocolate, don't go crazy but it really does make a difference. And I prefer to use dark chocolate over semi-sweet, but that's just me. I use light brown sugar because I like the flavor, but if you prefer a deeper molasses flavor you can use dark brown sugar.

You can refrigerate your dough after its made or freeze it. I usually roll it into a log wrap it in plastic wrap and then foil and freeze it and bake them when I have company. They love the fresh baked cookies. Also, I prefer using a non stick pan or a heavy duty sheet pan. I would avoid using lightweight shitty pans that are probably warped and burnt on the bottom because your cookies will not be perfect :)

Ree-Dik-You-Luz Chocolate Chip Cookies

6 oz (12 Tbsp) unsalted butter, softened 
1 c light brown sugar
3/4 c sugar
2 eggs, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 c Callebaut callets 63%or 73% (or more if you like them super chocolaty)

Cream the butter and sugar. While thats creaming, sift the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside. Beat the eggs and vanilla in a small bowl and add it to the butter mixture. Blend Well!! Add the flour mixture and beat until just combined (that means don't run off when you add it- you will over beat it!) Scrape down bowl and add chocolate.
I find refrigerating the dough before you bake it has a better result- the cookies hold shape better when they are baked. When I bake them straight away they melt faster in the oven and get flatter and bigger.

Bake at 350 for about 10-15 minutes.
They should be crisp on the outside and chewy in the center. Let me know if they don't   :D





20110214

Valentine's Smalentines!

blahhh valentines day.

I have to say that I never enjoyed this 'holiday'. Although, I do love that people ALWAYS order dessert on vday. A day to indulge and treat people nice- meh, you should eat dessert and treat people nice errrrdayyyy!?>!<@


Because I am kind and treat people nice everyday I baked my friend a sweet little birthday cake. A delicious vanilla pink cake to be exact. I filled it with crème chiboust (also known as lightened pastry cream- which is pastry cream folded with whipped cream) and I added some maraschino cherry liquor for flavor and tint. I also threw in some strawberries, blackberries, and chocolate chips in the filling. It was iced in a mocha swiss buttercream.








 also. how cute. i look forward to google themes.




<3

i'm also learning how to use photoshop- like my text input in ma cake?!?!?! what!? CRAZYY

20110209

fun map!!

heres an interesting map that we all should brush up on!





United States of BEERR

20110207

street sweets

i love finding great inspiring websites while surfing the netty!!! this one is superrrr cute!!! check it out!
takin it to the sweets! 

all things sweet :)

20110201

crack what!?!



When I was home last month I stopped by Momofuku Milk Bar for some special treats and totally fell in love with crack pie. I decided to bring it back with me. I googled a recipe and found this blog that had the crack pie recipe. I made variations but this is the one I liked most. You don't have to brown the butter, but I love the nutty flavor of browned butter and oats.


cereal milk ice cream and frosted flakes is amazingggg
 and i love nekked cakes.



crack pie.




Pie Crust

4 - 9" cake pans

1/2c butter, softened (room temperature)
1/3 c brown sugar
3 Tbsp sugar
1 egg
2/3 c + 1 Tbsp all purpose flour
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 c Trader Joes Low Fat Vanilla Almond Granola

When creaming butter and sugars, the butter temperature is very important. the butter should cream and emulsify with the sugars instantly. beat until the butter and sugars look light and fluffy. Add the egg and be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl. mix the dry ingredients and sift them into the butter mixture. add the granola last. bake the dough on a sheet pan as one big cookie until it is evenly browned at 350.


Crust
Granola Cookie crust
1/4 c butter
1 1/2 tbsp brown sugar
1/8 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients in a food processor until blended and a semi fine crumble forms. divide the crusts up into the four greased cake pans. i made my crust shallow because i wanted my pies to be shallow (not a lot of filling as well).






Filling
3/4 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
1 c browned butter (just let it slowly boil until it starts changing color then take it off the heat because it continues to brown so you dont want to burn it!)
1/3 c  + 1 tsp dry milk
3/4 c heavy cream
8 egg yolks
2 tsp vanilla extract

whisk together the sugars, salt and milk powder. add melted butter. then whisk in heavy cream and vanilla. whisk in egg yolks, scraping down sides of bowl often.
divide the filling into cake pans.

bake pies about 10-12 minutes at 350.


I serve mine cold with vanilla pastry cream and fresh berries and the flavors compliment each other perfectly :)

Vanilla Pastry Cream

1 quart milk
8 oz sugar (split)
3.5 oz cornstarch
2 eggs
8 egg yolks
4 oz butter
3 tbsp vanilla extract

Boil milk and half of sugar. Add the other half of sugar to the egg mixture but not until milk is simmering. Sift in cornstarch and whisk until fully incorporated and there are no clumps. To temper the egg mixture with the milk mixture, very slowly and steadily add the other half the hot milk with the egg mixture. the stream needs to be slow and steady as you whisk it into the egg mixture. even heating is very important when tempering eggs because you don't want to end up with scrambled eggs. add the egg mixture to the milk while continually whisking and put the pot back on a medium heat. whisk the mixture constantly and be sure to get the sides and corners of the pot. when the mixture starts to thicken up take it off the heat while mixing and add the butter and vanilla. pour into a clean bowl or a plastic wrap lined sheet pan. be sure to cover the surface of the pastry cream with plastic wrap or a skin will form over it and will make your pastry cream clumpy. let it cool and then refrigerate. Rewhip before using and plating to smooth it out.

Variation: Fold some fresh whipped cream into the pastry cream to make a lightened pastry cream or add other extracts or flavorings when/if you add the vanilla.