Windy Sydney

Here are some of the things I have been working on...

The first set is some cupcakes I made with leftover fondant. I was inspired by a photo I saw on WeeLoveBaking, and decided to do my own take on the idea. Mine turned out okay, but not even close to the wonderful work done by the original baker. Be sure to check out her stuff!!



It was time for me to try a new chocolate chip cookie recipe, and I knew I couldn't go wrong if I went with Martha Stewart. I was right. The cookie recipe was delicious, and unfortunately I don't have time to search for the link... just look up "chewy chocolate chip" on her recipe info and it should be there for you. For the chocolate cookies I added melted bakers chocolate to the batter and used white chocolate chips.



This set of cupcakes were inspired by Mother's Day. They were really good, and I took a lot of time on them. I really like the quilted design of the first one..

I created these for Earth Day!


In honor of Earth Day I made a vow to make sure none of these cupcakes go to waste. Hehe...

I have never made homemade french toast before. Can you believe that? It's always been the store-bought-nuke-in-the-microwave type. I found this french toast casserole on one of the many food websites I frequent and I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did!!

First steps is to line your dish with a lot of butter. In the same casserole dish, mix three scrambled eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon (or any other spices you might enjoy... I hear banana extract is a nice touch, or maybe chocolate chips!) and then stir lightly so you don't really mess up the butter coating on the bottom. Add the bread of your choice... all I had was plain old white sandwich bread, it would have been a LOT better with cinnamon bread or maybe even left over pound cake! Let everything sit in the fridge for a few hours (some say overnight) and then pop it into the oven at 350 degrees until the the top of the toast is a golden brown (about 38 minutes in my case).


I added a few more pats of butter, a dusting of powdered sugar, and a light drizzle of maple syrup. Give this one a shot! It's great!

Andee

I was busy in the kitchen on my days off:


So full. So. Very. Full.

Andee

I have been busy practicing my fondant skills lately, and I think I am getting a little better. I really need to get some fresh fondant, because the crap I have left is old, gross, and crumbly.

This is what I have been working on:


Abbey likes them...

The other day I shared some cupcake pops by Bakerella. They inspired me to make these Spring Chick Cupcakes!

Hope you like 'em!

Spooky approves of them...

I also made these candy bar cupcakes for a friend's birthday party:

The flavors were Heath, Butterfinger, and York Peppermint Patty. They were fantastic!!!

Andee

If you haven't been to the Bakerella website you are missing out on some amazing ideas. You are also missing out on the talent this woman has! b Holy crap! Her cakes and other desserts are out of this world! Don't miss the Valentines Day box of chocolates that is made completely out of cake. Yep, thats right... the box is cake, too! How cool is that? Check out her blog for other cake pops and directions on how to make these cute creatures yourself!


I just checked in with the website and I was immediately inspired. Check out these photos (not taken by me, and the food is certainly not mine) by Bakerella!

Tomorrow one of my supervisors is transferring to another department. It's not like I will never see him again or anything, but he is really cool and I will miss his laid back approach. He's cool. Luckily, the person taking his spot seems pretty cool as well.

So... I used his last day in the department as an excuse to bake. I will take any excuse to bake, most of you know this by now.

Here are my latest creations:

These are homemade girl scout cookies... samoas.



The cookie itself is shortbread. I used the recipe from Martha Stewart magazine but you could substitute store-bought cookies if you like. Sandies Simply Shortbread are just as good as the cookies from scratch if you ask me!!! And you don't have to tell anyone you didn't make 'em!

I melted a bag of milk chocolate chips, and poured half the chocolate onto a cookie sheet covered with wax paper. I then placed my shortbread cookies on the chocolate to coat the bottom. Then, I took some toasted coconut and caramel sundae sauce, mixed them, and put a little of the mixture on top of the cookies (still on the cookie sheet). I then used a fork and drizzled the remaining chocolate over the cookies. Pop them in the fridge to let the chocolate cool and harden, then break the cookies up and put them on a plate. The chocolate breaks randomly, and I like the homestyle look it gives the cookies.

I didn't have as much coconut as I thought I did and that was a bummer. I highly suggest using more than I did!



I know they look nothing like the girl scout version, but the taste is similar and quite good.

Next, we have:


Chocolate Toffee Cupcakes!

It's devil's food cake with tons of chopped toffee candy bars in the cake batter. Then I iced the cupcakes with chocolate frosting and then rolled the cupcakes in the remaining candy bar pieces. These are really good, and I am definitely planning on making them again.


Last, but certainly not least:

Devil's Food Mint Chocolate Brownie Cupcakes.

Yes, this one was pretty damned complicated, but very worth it.

In each cupcake cup I placed a spoonful of devil's food cake batter, then a layer of mint chocolate brownie batter, then another layer of devil's food cake batter. Bake, then cool. They look like these:
I didn't want too much chocolate in the cupcake, so I used vanilla frosting and tinted it green to play up the mint flavor inside the cake itself...


Then I took some time and used the remaining mint chocolate brownie batter and baked up the topping...


Yeah, this cupcake will probably kill any diet created. It's worth it, though. Promise.

The chocolate sauce is mint chocolate sauce, which really helps the flavor.

Hope you all like 'em!

Andee

Wow, I was just featured on Utah Loves Cupcakes, a wonderful blog about everything cupcake in my home state.

What an honor!!!

Andee

I made some treats today.

Peanut Butter Cookies Dipped in Milk Chocolate

Brownie/Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars