Tuesdays with Dorie - Creme Brulee

I was happy to dust off my culinary torch to complete this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe. I love creme brulee and I love the fact that I can make such a delectable and classic dessert dish.

This week's host was Mari from Mevrouw Cupcake. Be sure to check out her blog for the complete recipe or on page 393 of "Baking from My Home to Yours" by Dorie Greenspan. And don't forget to visit the blogroll and see the other TWD baker's results for this yummy brulee.

My original ramekins that came with my set from Williams-Sonoma. The oval dishes are new that I bought specifically for this! It's fun to have very shallow dishes now. All are Apilco.

I was surprised to see the difference in how Dorie makes hers. Specifically, how she doesn't use a creme brulee pan and rack, filling the pan with water. This is how I learned. While I'm not an expert at this dish I have made it enough to know what I'm doing and what to expect.

It took me a while to get over it. For the longest time I just kept saying to myself that she left that detail out. My husband kept telling me, "Just trust Dorie. Just trust her." After about the fiftieth time of him saying that, I just accepted the fact and made it. I'm glad I did cause her recipe was wonderful! I added fresh raspberries that I picked minutes before adding! I even played around with whoppers and ghirardelli chocolate squares However, I did have to cook it for about 75 minutes and I will use my super fine sugar instead of brown sugar.

Does it get any more romantic than this? I think not.
Two spoons and a dish of creme brulee with ghirardelli chocolate.

Next week: Caramel-Peanut-Topped Brownie Cake

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Hello, Cupcake!

Look what was waiting at my door this afternoon!
The Hello, Cupcake! book by Karen Tack & Alan Richardson.
That's right I'll be making some fun creations in the near future.
I think I'll start with penguins, westies or corn on the cob.

Giant Round Cookie Pan

I was putting some dishes up the other day when I ran into this...
Wilton's Giant Round Cookie Pan.
"Oh," I said. "I forgot I bought this."

So, I need to use it.
I think I'll make and decorate a giant Halloween cookie!
Ideas, anyone?

Rice Krispie Ice Cream Sandwich - BYU Football Helmet Edition

This was (supposed to be) the first tailgate treat of the football season!

A Rice Krispie Ice Cream Sandwich, shaped like a football helmet and dyed BYU blue.

I used LaVell's Vanilla ice cream from the BYU Creamery and got the recipe from allrecipes.com.

Your probably wondering why I said, "supposed to be," well...I'll let you enjoy the successful part of my experiment before I show you my "little disaster."

Stay tuned!

Easy Purse Cake

I made this easy purse cake for my li'l sis back in July.
Simple.

Two 9-inch rounds, sliced and faced upright.
Decorated with vanilla buttercream.
I used the triple star, multi-opening Wilton tip
..which to be honest wasn't as great as i thought it would be.
But who knows? Maybe it was me?
It was the first cake I decorated after moving back from NYC!

p.s. the nail polish and lipstick were part of her gift!

Tuesdays with Dorie - Dimply Plum Cake

I'm just going to come out and say it. I love sugar. Not the plain sugar. But the brown. And oh yes, the confectioners kind as well. When I looked at this week's TWD recipe and saw that it included brown sugar, I knew it was going to be great.

Then I saw that the batter was basically a simple coffee cake and I got more excited. Memories flooded my mind and senses of that warm and inviting smell of the coffee cake my mom made growing up. I was completely sold.

So take all these, add some plums and orange zest and there you have it--another Tuesdays with Dorie success!

This recipe, chosen by Michelle of Bake-en, also included the spice cardamom. What's say ye? Cardamom!? Yes. I had never used it--come to find out it's not a cheap spice. But I'm so glad I bought and used it. It was so aromatic and I truly believe it changed the texture of the batter to be rather smooth.

To see the complete recipe go to page 41 of "Baking: from My Home to Yours" by Dorie Greenspan or to Michelle's blog.

I would make this again, and probably try the suggested alternatives using peaches and lemon zest or apricots, orange zest and star anise...just for the fun of it.

Next week: Creme Brulee (yes, that means I get to bust out my culinary torch!)

Related Post:
Tuesdays with Dorie

First Day of Autumn!

Happy First Day of Autumn!
I can't wait for all the leaves to change and fall!
Photo by Bethany Jackman Photography

Wonderstruck

MAC's LUSTREGLASS in Wonderstruck.
I'm all out of this. :(
It's a sad, sad day.
Guess, I need to bring in some new fall colors, anyway.
Suggestions?

Saturday Sampler Quilt Block #2 - Double Nine Patch

Welp, I finished block number dos! This month Amy at American Quilting chose the "Double Nine Patch."

I absolutely loved the colors. From the moment I found out the quilt's theme-- Americana, I was excited. Really, how can you go wrong with these colors? So far there has been a great mix of red, white and blue (with some greens and browns). I'm delighted.

The Double Nine Patch was first published in 1896 in the Ohio Farmer as the "nine patch." Patterns of the nine patch showed up in the women's pages of that periodical in the 1890. Other places the Double Nine patch appeared were the Kansas City Star in 1933 and in published patterns by Marie D. Webster, an writer for Ladies Home Journal, in 1915.

I found the smaller nine patches challenging because they were so small. I'm satisfied with my work and feel I am progressing in my quilting skills.

Next quilt block: Broken Dishes Set!

**Note: I cannot share patterns nor reveal any trade secrets of Amy's quilt block designs registered for "Under the Garden Moon." Patterns will be available to the general public after the entire Saturday Sampler Americana quilt is finished in August 2009.**

Butterfly Cupcakes

I helped one of my girlfriends last week make these Butterfly cupcakes for her niece.
We utilized my trusty cupcake tree and the some Wilton Candy Melts for the wings!
Rumor has it the birthday girl was delighted!

The Melting Pot Cookbook has arrived!

Just in time for fall, The Melting Pot has release their first ever cookbook! I am absolutely ecstatic! It's about time I whip out my fondue pots and have a romantic dinner or fun gathering with some friends. This cookbook sounds wonderful and since I love the restaurant it has to be good. I've actually been lucky enough to already have my hands on two of their recipes, thanks to a sis-in-law who took a fondue class from them at Thanksgiving Point. They are the best fondue recipes I've tried and I even have another cookbook devoted to the glorious goo.

Since I haven't received it in the mail yet, I can't give you my own review. So, I'll leave you with the official description from The Melting Pot.

"Now you can take the Melting Pot fondue experience with you, and Dip into Something Different at home. The Melting Pot's first cookbook, Dip into Something Different: A Collection of Recipes from Our Fondue Pot to Yours, allows you to create your own fondue at home. This exciting new book's 160 pages are filled with step-by-step instructions for making perfect fondue, finding the perfect fondue pots for chocolate or cheese, throwing unforgettable fondue parties, and hundreds of recipes for cooking styles, lavish cheese fondues, tempting chocolate and dessert fondues, and decadent drinks. This is the ultimate fondue cookbook from the fondue aficionados at the Melting Pot. Get your copy today, and Dip into Something Different!"

The cookbook is available online on www.themeltingpot.com or at your local Melting Pot restaurant, $29.95

{Dip Away!}

Halloween Time - Better Homes and Gardens

I picked up the Better Homes and Gardens - Halloween "special interest publication" at the market the other day and absolutely love it!

I'm normally one to just browse these things at stores or other peoples homes, but I couldn't resist.

There are some really great ideas in here for Halloween home decorating, treat bags, costumes, "eerie edibles", parties and fun feature stories on extreme gardening--huge pumpkins and more!


Go grab this, or hang around these next few weeks cause I'll be posting my favorite ideas from the magazine!

Cupcake Tree Give-a-way Extended!

Hey everyone!
I've extended the Cupcake Tree Give-a-way of Goodness till September 22th!
Remember to comment on this (the original) post!

The Cupcake Courier

Thanks to Jennifer Gunn, the long time and frustrating problem of transporting several frosted cupcakes has been solved. 

Gunn, the genious baking mother is the designer of The Cupcake Courier. She was constantly baking cupcakes and transporting them to parties..and after having them slip around the back of the car and getting the frosting all smeared, she had had it. And then voila--the device was born. This glorious invention  will now allow me to transport 36 cupcakes to this Saturday's tailgate! Thanks, Jen and mucho props to my gf Hailie for the tip! I owe you big time!

Besides cupcakes the courier can carry tiered cakes, muffins, brownies--anything really. It's available online at the official Cupcake Courier Web site or at various retailers including Bed Bath and Beyond, Dillards and Target. It comes in Petal Pink, Lemon Grass, Saffron Yellow or the original Soft Blue Sky. Can you guess what color I chose?

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Saturday Sampler Quilt Block #1 - Road to the White House

It's the year of the quilt! That's what I keep telling myself, even though my life is continually invaded by cupcakes and frosting.

As you may remember, I mentioned here that I was enrolled in a year-long quilting class at American Quilting. Saturday Sampler, is what they call it and I go with mi madre who, by the way has already mastered the quilt block... years ago. She's the perfect buddy!

Anyway, we've had loads of fun--and though our blocks take us twice as long because we are constantly chatting and giggling, we still make precise cuts and measurements and try to focus on that darn quarter inch seam...it's so much fun.

A word about the class. Amy, the delightful owner of American Quilting designs a themed quilt each year. This year it happens to be an Americana quilt--lucky me! She never reveals what the quilt looks like. Each month you attend a class where Amy reveals the block for the month. Each class member must complete the block and bring it back the next month in order to receive the next block! So fun, right! You bet, enrollment is around 350 members! And perfect for all of us who have a hard time finishing a project.

A highlight of this class for me is the history Amy gives about quilting in general or the specific block for the month. For instance, this month's block is called "Road to the White House" Here's Amy's description: "Designed and named by the Farm Journal in January 1938, the "Road to the White House" quilt block is 70 years old in 2008. Iowa is home to the nation's first caucus, making each presidential candidate's "Road to the White House" begin in the Hawkeye State."

Next quilt block: The Double-Nine Patch!

Be sure to go to American Quilting in Orem. If kits are your thang, than this your store! They have several classes available for all interests and skill levels. And did I mention there is some spooky and delightful Halloween fabric right now?

**Note: I cannot share patterns nor reveal any trade secrets of Amy's quilt block designs registered for "Under the Garden Moon." Patterns will be available to the general public after the entire Saturday Sampler Americana quilt is finished in August 2009.**

Tuesdays with Dorie - Chocolate Malted Whopper Drops

Hello Tuesday! Hello Dorie!

It's another cookie with another crazy name. The verdict is still out on this cookie. I can't decide if I'm a believer. They are chewy yes, and I love malt. But in my opinion not one flavor stands out. It's a mess of chocolate, which to some isn't so bad. However, I'm liking them the longer they sit out. I definitely wouldn't put them in the "eat-right-out-of-the-oven-cookie" category. Mine looked nothing like Dorie's from her cookbook. They were so much more flat.

They are worth a try, so go check out Rachel's blog, Confessions of a Tangerine Tart for the recipe or on page 85 of "Baking from My Home to Yours" by Dorie Greenspan. And don't forget to see how the other TWD bakers' cookies turned out!

{peace and whoppers}

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Happy 6-month blogiversary!

****DEADLINE EXTENDED TO SEPTEMBER 22!****

Just like a cheesy high school couple, I'm going to celebrate a 6-month anniversary. Actually, maybe it's more like a 1/2 birthday, which I'm all for and highly encourage everyone to do!

Either way, it's been so great to have this blog as an outlet for all my domestic journeys. Thanks to all of you for reading it, commenting and making my life more joyous!

So, what better way to celebrate than to have a give-a-way of goodness. See, I told you one was coming this fall!

Leave a comment on this post by Saturday, September 13 and you'll be entered to win this prize!
Increase your chances by blogging or tweeting about it and leaving the link with your comment.

Adios!



{p.s. you've been wondering what was in my blue Tiffany's box, right? look on my wrist!}
{p.p.s. maybe i was one of those cheesy couples...maybe not:)}

Red Velvet Cupcakes

Remember this poll? You should.

Basically I've been going through my cupcake cookbook, "Cupcakes" by Shelly Kaldunski and you've been helping me by voting on which ones I will make next.

The Red Velvet cupcakes won and I made them. I loved them. Not going to lie Shelly's recipe was basically better than a lot of NYC cupcakeries' red velvets...and I didn't think that was possible. It was paired with cream cheese frosting with buttered pecans folded into the silky goodness.

It's now time for a new poll! Be sure to vote!

The Little Blue Box

Woke up this morning to one of these.

I may not have had my contacts in but I sure knew what it was!

I love my hubby.

...it's going to be a great birthday!

Tuesdays with Dorie - Chunky Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters

I wish there were some widget to insert smells onto blog posts--because my kitchen smells sooo good!

It must be the cookies, or rather the endless list of yummy ingredients in them: chocolate chunks, brown sugar, peanut butter, oatmeal and vanilla.

This week for Tuesdays with Dorie, Stephany of Proceed with Caution chose Chunky Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Chocolate Chipsters. (yes a mouthful to say, make and eat!) Dorie says they are "really three great cookies rolled into one" and I totally agree.

Note: The only thing I would change is actually follow Dorie's recommendation to chill the dough. I did this for the second part of the batch and they turned out much prettier as they held their shape. Oh, and I'm debating whether or not I'd use less nutmeg...I'm kind of liking the subtle aroma it leaves in my mouth after the last bite.

I'm starting to love making cookies more and more. There's something about their simplicity that is growing on me. I'm excited to say that I actually loved the dough. I'm not one for cookie dough (minus the father-in-law's famous cookie bar..but those are in a league of their own!) but I was really thinking about saving some and adding it to some vanilla ice cream. Dreamy!  But then I cam back down to Earth and realized that the dough wouldn't last a second in our fridge because my husband would have it consumed the second I turned my back.

You did it again, Dorie! I love your recipes. Be sure to check out the other TWD bakers on the blogroll and try the recipe out for yourself, it's on page 73 of "Baking: From my Home to Yours" by Dorie Greenspan or on Stephany's blog.

Next week: Chocolate Whopper Malted Drops

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Eucalyptus Oil

I was spoiled a few weekends ago at a corporate retreat.

One of the many fun and relaxing activities was a day at the Homestead Aveda Concept Spa in Midway, Utah.

What services did I enjoy, you ask?

The Purifying Stone Massage and

The Caribbean Therapy Body Treatment!

This Eucalyptus Oil  is one of the oils/scents I used to encompass my senses and enhance my relaxing journey...or something like that!

Either way, I'm 'bout ready to buy me some for home!