Bakery Name Deadline

Ok, two more days until I chose my bakery name.  TWO MORE!! :)  The winner will be announced February 1, 2011 by 12:00 pm.  Last chance to get those ideas out!! :)

Bakery Name / Contest!!!

Hello all.  I am hosting a contest on facebook and it didn't seem fair not to include my readers here as well!  Here are the details.  I am re-vamping my blog / "future" bakery name.  "Taste of Heaven" was just too common.  It will be an allergy sensitive (egg, milk, gluten, nutt free lines) and diabetic friendly (low-carb line) bakery.  I would LOVE to hear your ideas.  To make this more interesting, I am offering a free box of cookies shipped / given to whomever comes up with the name we (the hubby and I) decide to choose.  The deadline to enter is January 31st.  I can't wait to hear what you come up with!!! :)


Happy Baking!!

BAKERELLA!!

Yes fans, I met the woman herself.  And she is so gosh darn cute and sweet!  I barely said anything I was so nervous, but I dragged my little toddler to the book signing (2 hour car drive + 1hour wait) and LOVED IT!  I even had the nerve to give her cake balls and shortbread cookies. :)  And this is what I came home with . . .

HOW RIDICULOUSLY COOL!  Yes I am a groupie, so sue me. :)

I think she'd be proud of these pictures.....

And Williams-Sonoma threw these in as well ....

The left one which was a girlie pink has already been added to my daughter's daily attire.

And they fed us peppermint bark while we were in line.  Um, yum!!  I'm still walking on a cloud.......

Make sure you check out her website and newest giveaway, its totally worth the look...........

Happy Baking!

Cake Balls

Inspired by my upcoming visit with Bakerella and the signing of her new book "Cake Pops", I decided to give them a shot.  Of course, I forgot to get lollipop sticks, so I decided to start easy and make them just balls.  I learned several things from my adventure.

1.  Candy chocolate melted and placed on cooling racks sticks.  Better put it on parchment paper and then trim the excess.
2.  Candy coating is a lot harder than most things I have done.  I need a class in how to use chocolate properly . . . maybe in modeling chocolate too so I can kill two birds with one stone.  Mary, if you are reading I'll be looking for your next class. :)

But they are fun, and taste like very small pieces of cake. :)  Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (of course!!)

Mmm...I don't know about you but I could really just eat them without the coating.  But they wouldn't be nearly as cute.

So I got everything ready. . . 

And wha-la!  Little pumpkins.

And last but not least, my pumpkin patch.....

Hope you guys are able to try them!

Happy Baking!

Apple Pie

One of the great joys of the fall is the numerous apple dishes one can prepare.  The thing that started me baking in the first place was apple pie, as taught by Mrs. Hall, my home economics teacher.  I've been told numerous times its my best recipe, so I look forward to making them every fall.  In fact, its what we make every year instead of a cake for my husband's birthday.

And since I was in the mood friday, I made one in the morning at my best friend's house and then came home and made another for the hubby.  The one for the hubby came out particularly pretty, so I had to share!!

Happy Baking!

Fall Fun

Sorry for my long disappearance . . . I've actually gotten so wrapped up in baking I've forgotten to write about it!  Which in my case, is not a horrible thing. :)  So first thing is first . . . Bakerella is doing book signings all over the country at Williams and Sonoma stores.  If you are interested in her cake pops, this book is fantastic!!  If you are interested in meeting her (and why wouldn't you be???) you can find her schedule here.  I will be at the one in King of Prussia, PA . . . you should come too!!

This fall I've taken a step back from the new and exciting, to make a few oldies but goodies with a new twist.

First, the fall pumpkin sugar cookies, Betty Crocker style (lighter recipe with sugar sprinkled on top!).  My first time coloring them.

This was me trying to be creative with my pictures . . . 

Ah, doesn't it look so picturesque next to the mixer that created it? 

That day I also tried shortbread two different ways with two different recipes.  The first is totally not worth repeating, the second, however, was fantastic.  I made them in a 9 x 13 pan . . . which wasn't a total bust but made for the outside cookies being much drier than the inside.  I would suggest when making shortbread cookies you chill them first, roll them out, and then use a cookie cutter to create them.  The cookie bakes more evenly with just the right amount of moisture.  Nevertheless, they were FANTASTIC!

Mmm, so crumbly and delicious . . . 

And then, simply because I had a craving, the classic chocolate chip cookie.  I personally love the Betty Crocker Recipe minus the nuts.

I'm not sure what's better, the baked cookie or the dough before . . . 

Don't you just want to eat a ton of it with a spoon??

But then again, when you see that cookie . . . well, you forget the dough and bite into its warm, chocolate goodness . . .  

More to come as I bake my way through what promises to be a cold winter . . . 

Happy Baking!

Giants Cookies

After my last post I just simply had to come up with a reason to try those sugar cookies with royal icing.  What better reason than the "Manning-Bowl" today.  So I made sugar cookies with Martha Stewart's recipe.

And baked them . . . 

And then I frosted them . . . 

A close up.  I LOVE it. 

And don't forget the footballs . . . we must have them.

Not to mention the Jerseys.  Complete with player names.  Yes, I got a little carried away . . . 

I just couldn't resist.  It took a long time, but was totally worth it.  If you'd like to see how they are done, go to Brown Eyed Baker's site, she gives a tutorial.

And in case you are wondering how they taste . . . ask my husband.  I think he's eaten half of them already and they've only been done for a day.

Happy Caking!