Fairytale Ending

{a cake i made for a friend's daughter's 2nd b'day - princess themed}

This week's playlist is inspired by something I love - Fairy tales! Harps, chimes, harpsichord, etc make all these songs Princess ready:

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1. Running – No Doubt
2. I’m Not Calling You A Liar - Florence + the Machine
3. Candyland - CocoRosie
4. Golden Brown – Alexi Murdoch
5. Walking On A Dream - Gary Go
6. Loch Raven – Animal Collective
7. Night Swimmer – Beth Jeans Houghton
8. Jynweythek Ylow – Aphex Twin
9. Cuddle Fuddle – Passion Pit
10. Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) (ACOUSTIC) – Florence + the Machine

Out in the club, sippin' that bubb'

(some cupcakes from my birthday)

It's my birthday week of turning 21 - so here is my playlist of songs perfect for girls getting ready to go out and have a good time (notice all the Lady Gaga, I can't help but love her):

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1. Love Today - Mika
2. Hurricane Drunk – Florence + The Machine
3. Party in the USA – Miley Cyrus
4. Cheap Champagne – Georgie James
5. Telephone – Lady Gaga
6. I Gotta Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
7. Boys Boys Boys – Lady Gaga
8. Drinking Song – Jenny Owen Youngs
9. Dancing With Myself – The Donnas
10. Just Dance – Lady Gaga

^LOTS of guilty pleasures!

It's my birthday and I can drink if I want to

An "I Love List" - Birthday Edition:

I love my friends. Last night I went over to spend the night with my best friends from high school. My friend who had it at her house got all these balloons, made a cake and had out all this food for a little celebration. It totally made my day. At midnight we popped open some champagne and celebrated by 21st! Then we continued to talk and snack until 5am - I had work at 10am, mind you, but it was completely worth it :)

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I love my the people I work for/with. They all wished me happy birthday and gave me a bottle champagne and an adorable apron. They're all just so fun!

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I love sleep. Right now I am crashing BIG TIME. I even started falling asleep kinda at dinner - running on 3 1/2 hours of sleep is hard and I don't recommend it right before your b'day.

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I love my parents. They took me out to a yummy sushi dinner tonight. It was my first time ordering alcohol, but since my parents made such a scene about me being 21 and how it is my birthday to the waiters, they didn't even card me, because they just assumed that we were telling the truth - which we were! Still - I wanted to be carded though! There's always a next (thousand) time (s) haha

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I love how everything is in bloom. Everything is so lush and green. When I came home from work, my mom had cut all theses fresh flowers from our yard and put them in vases in my room. She knows how I love flowers (and ice cream cake, which is pictured above).

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I love Anthropologie. I am on their member /shopper list thingie and they send me this adorable candle necklace with a 15% off coupon. Talk about customer service. It made my day when it arrived in the mail. I plan on using it in California :D

I love birthdays.

Heath Toffee Cookies

I made these yummy cookies for a bakesale a few weeks ago and basically only used what I had in the pantry. They're semi-healthy with the wheat flour and margerine (or so I tell myself). I wish I took pictures, but they're much better tasting than they look. In fact, they were DELICIOUS!

1 1/2 c. sifted white wheat flour, minus 3 TBL
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. margarine (I used Parkay)
3/4 c. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3c. toffee bits (1 package)

1. Combine flour, soda, and salt. Set aside.
2. Cream margerine and add sugar, egg, and vanilla. Mix until smooth and creamy and stir in dry ingredients.
3. Blend in candy.
4. Drop 2 inch apart onto greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Makes approximately 3 dozen

Tangerine Chiffon Cake

When I was home for Easter a few weekends ago, we had over my best friend's family for dinner. We had a very spring-like menu for dinner and when I was put in charge of dessert, I wanted to do something light and airy. I've always liked the way a chiffon cake sounds, I guess because I love the fabric. This Tangerine Chiffon Cake I made was delicious - flavorful because of all the zest, moist and light. I also attempted to make the candy flowers they suggested to go on top. They looked cute on the cake, but I don't think I'll make them again - they were much harder to do than I thought!

**Also, enter my Orient Watch Giveaway and Petit Rococo Giveaway!

Guest Post: Sara Bimmel

Strawberry Galette

flickr

If you’re used to the perfectly crimped borders and heaped filling of pies, a galette may seem strange at first. As a rustic tart, it’s not often pretty, and it’s not for those who prefer filling over crust. But if you don’t care much about aesthetics and you appreciate the flakiness and flavor of a good pastry, the galette is right up your alley. And with farmers’ markets soon to open their doors for the season and push summer’s beautiful stone fruits and ripe berries, the time to make one is fast approaching.

I recommend a strawberry filling, especially if you can get your hands on some wild berries. The flavor is so great on its own, but the other wonderful thing about strawberries is that they meld well with almost any other fruit, so you can fill the tart with a combination that includes blueberries, peaches, rhubarb, or even apples.

Strawberry Galette
This makes one tart and will serve 6 to 8.

for the pastry:
• 1 c. all-purpose flour
• 1/3 c. whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 tsp. finely ground sea salt
• 1 T. sugar
• 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1/4 c. ice water

for the filling:
• 2 pints (4 c.) fresh strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped
• 1/3 c. sugar
• 1/4 c. tapioca flour
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• 1 T. strawberry liqueur or 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

1. Toss together the flours, sugar, and salt for the pastry. Cut the cold stick of unsalted butter into small pieces, and use a pastry blender or food processor to cut the butter into the flour. Stop when the butter is in pea-sized lumps.
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2.Gradually add the ice water to the pastry, a tablespoon at a time. Toss the pastry after each addition, and stop adding water when the dough comes together in a lump.
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3. Gather the dough into a rough ball, pat it down into a disc, wrap the disc in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes and up to two days.

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4. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

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5.While you chill the dough, make the filling for the galette. Pour the strawberries into a large bowl, and toss the sugar, tapioca flour, cinnamon, and salt in a separate bowl. Sprinkle the dry ingredients evenly over the strawberries, and toss to combine. Pour in the liqueur or vanilla extract (if using), and stir the mixture again. Let it sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.

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6. When the dough is done chilling, unwrap it and place it on a flat surface that you have coated with flour. Sprinkle flour on a rolling pin, and roll out the dough to an even, flat circle that is close to 15 inches in diameter. Transfer the dough circle to a baking sheet coated with parchment paper.

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7. Heap the strawberry filling in the middle of the dough circle, making sure it doesn’t spread too much by scooping it in at the sides if necessary.

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8. Create the edges of the tart by grabbing the edges of the dough and folding them inwards. If you want better looking edges, trim the dough to an even circle before you fold it. If you’d like, paint the edges of the tart lightly with melted butter.

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9. Bake the tart at 375 for 45 minutes or until the crust is a light golden brown. Let it cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing and serving. If you’d like, sprinkle the tart with powdered sugar and serve with fresh whipped cream.

This post was contributed by Sara Bimmel, who writes about Halloween costumes over at StarCostumes.com

Many Maries

I love the look of this video for Acid Girl's Lightworks. The song is okay, but the theme of this video - Marie Antoinette - is super fantastic! The costumes and the food - it literally is eye candy!

Guest Post: Sarah Bimmel

Raspberry Lemon Pudding Cake

When spring arrives, I tend to want lemons and berries all the time. Well, that's a lie—I don't want actual lemons. Straight-up, they're a bit too sour for me. What I really want are lemon desserts that are light and pillowy and preferably come with berries. When those desserts include include pudding, so much the better. Am I right?!

That’s why I adore this recipe for lemon pudding cake. It’s never failed me, and I’ve made it many, many times—it can be whipped up in less than a half hour, and it’s divinely delicious whether warm or cold. Plus, it’s perfectly suited for any kind of accompaniment. If you don’t have raspberries, try blackberries or blueberries. No berries at all? No worries; just stick on a dollop of whipped cream and some lemon zest along with the confectioners’ sugar. You can’t go wrong! The cake makes four giant servings or five to six more moderate portions.

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Ingredients

1/4 c. flour

2/3 c. + 1/4 c. sugar, separated

1/8 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1 c. buttermilk

2 tsp. grated lemon zest

1/4. c. fresh lemon juice

2 T. melted butter

2 large egg yolks

3 large egg whites

1 1/2 c. raspberries

Confectioners’ sugar
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Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius), and spray an 8-inch square baking pan or similarly sized soufflé pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine the flour with the 2/3 c. sugar, the salt, and the nutmeg. Add the buttermilk, lemon zest, lemon juice, butter, and egg yolks. Whisk until smooth.
Beat egg whites with an electric mixer until they are foamy. Add the 1/4 c. sugar to the whites, one tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the egg-white mixture into the buttermilk mixture, just until combined.
Finally, fold in the berries, reserving a scant 1/2 c. to scatter on top of the cake. Pour the batter into the baking pan, and place the pan in large casserole dish that is filled with 1 inch of hot water. Bake the cake for 35 minutes or until it springs back lightly when touched. To serve, sprinkle on the berries and sift the confectioners’ sugar over them. It might be simple but it’s a beautiful spring treat!

This post was contributed by Sara Bimmel, who equitably divides her time between baking and writing about Halloween costumes over at StarCostumes.com

Roll the Credits

This is a cake I did for a movie and popcorn themed party. Whenever I go back home my mom and friend's parents plan a huge themed party for all the families who have kids away at college to get together, eat and socialize. It is something I always look forward too....and believe one might happen when I'm home for spring break in a week :)

To go along with the movie cake, here is a playlist of some of my favorite songs from some of my favorite movies:

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1. All Is Love – Where The Wild Things Are
2. The Sound of Music - The Sound of Music
3. Liz on Top of the World – Pride and Prejudice
4. Falling Slowly - Once
5. Come What May – Moulin Rouge
6. Let Go – Garden State
7. Moon River – Breakfast at Tiffany’s
8. Meet Me On the Equinox – New Moon
9. O Saya – Slumdog Millionaire
10. Cell Block Tango – Chicago

Think Pink

There is a color coded post for grey/silver, blue, red and yellow.....now here is the pink one just in time for Valentines Day. Songs and artists about the color pink/rose with items to go along:

1. Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1 – The Flaming Lips

earphones, fredflare.com

2. Razzle Dazzle Rose – Camera Obscura

necklace, anthropologie

3. Goodnight Rose – Ryan Adams

book, anthropologie

4. Pink and Blue – Andre 3000

sneakers, Lanvin

5. Roses – Andre 3000

dress, Stella McCartney @ the out net

6. Everywhere – Pink Martini

a pink Amy Atlas party

7. Dominoes – The Big Pink

cardigan, fredflare.com

8. Pink Moon – Nick Drake

tunic, anthropologie

9. Tennessee Rose – The Deep Vibration

top, D&G

10. Rose City – Viva Voce

necklace, modcloth.com

B is for Boombox

^a boombox cake I made in high school for my dance team

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The weekly top 10 songs that all feature artists whose names begin with a "B" (here is "A"):

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1. Bloc Party - Signs
2. Band of Horses – No One’s Gonna Love You
3. Bon Iver - Flume
4. Beach House – Used to Be
5. Bat for Lashes - Prescilla
6. Beirut - My Night With The Prostitute From Marseille
7. Bombay Bicycle Club – Cancel on Me
8. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Sympathetic Noose
9. Beck – E-Pro
10. Ben Folds – Landed

Ruffles

I made this cake over winter break and was inspired by fall leaves. I took my piping bag and put a dollop of yellow and orange in there at the same time and came out with this effect. It has a cool ombre effect to it. I topped the cake off with yellow and gold edible glitter (my signature touch to every cake - edible glitter!). I think the 2 color icing idea would work good on cupcakes as well, just don't do contrasting colors, like blue and orange because you will get an ugly brown color! Happy decorating: )

2010>2009

^^these are pictures from last year's New Years Eve cake and cookies I made (the marshmallows are supposed to look like bubbles in champagne)
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Let's just say 2009 was NOT my fave and it didn't like me so much either. But instead of dwelling on the past (I am a big dweller), I am looking forward to 2010 - a lot. The most important resolution I am going to try and keep this year (and hopefully the rest of my life) is to be more positive. I am a happy, energetic person, but I am also paranoid and think the worst of most situations. Being positive is the root of so many other resolutions as well, like not being judgemental, not worrying and being stressed all the time, etc etc. I realize that when I'm not being positive, it affects not only me but others too. So starting now my resolution (for life, because these resolutions should really be life changes, not changes for a year) is to always look at the glass half full, even if it a half full glass of yucky grapefruit juice.
Cheers to a wonderful and positive 2010!

What are your New Years resolutions?

Peppermint Party

Here are some pictures from the Christmas dessert party I had the other night. It had a peppermint color theme and was inspired by Amy Atlas' dessertscapes.

I made my usual yellow cake with cream cheese icing covered in candy. I bought the huge lollipops on either side of the cake at Target, stuck it in Styrofoam and tucked red cellophane wrap all around it so you couldn't see it through the glass.

These huge tissue fans can be found at partycheap.com

^ Party or not, every year I make homemade gingerbread with royal icing.

To rim these cups filled with eggnog, I lightly dipped the rim of the cup in light corn syrup and then dipped it in a bowl of sugar sprinkles and let dry overnight.

The chain on the table cloth is actually stapled candy canes. Click to see a larger picture.

Peppermint bark!

Overall, it was a very successful party with family and friends - I love when people linger till 1am , it means they're having a good time :)

I wish all of you a very happy Christmas, I am leaving town tomorrow to visit family but will resume blogging again on Sunday. here is my final Christmas playlist of the season:

.1. The Winter Solstice – Sufjan Stevens
2. Snow Angel – Tori Amos
3. Winter Wonderland – Kate Havnevik
4. The Blizzard of ’96 – The Walkmen
5. I Celebrate the Day – Relient K
6. The Heartache Can Wait – Brandi Carlile
7. Wish You Well – A Fine Frenzy
8. White Christmas – Bing Crosby
9. Interlude – Joshua James
10. Let It Snow – Diana Krall

Kiddie Kit

As imperfect and juvenile this may look, my best friends and I made this gingerbread house last Christmas using one of those kits. I feel that as I get older and older the spirit and excitement of Christmas is becoming less and less. As a kid I was carefree, had no gifts to buy and believed in Santa. Now around the holidays I am taking finals, shopping for gifts and working at the bakery. So i try and do things like this to put a little joy and nostalgia into the season, like how its supposed to be :) I wish this time of year lasted longer than a month so I could actually relax and enjoy it - oh well, must make the best of it!
I must say the ice skaters are a nice touch ;)

Toxicity

HAPPY HALLOWEEN Y'ALL!
last bit of Halloween songs that have a very creepy, eerie sound to them....along with some items
1. Window Blues – Lykke Li

cupcake toppers, Layer Cake Home

2. Toxic – Yael Naim

dress, Stella McCartney

3. Lyla - Cocorosie

shoes, Free People

4. Trophy – Bat for Lashes

clutch, Judith Leiber

5. Noah’s Ark - Cocorosie

candy corn

6. Seal Jubilee – Bat for Lashes

toy, Target

7. Phantom Other – Department of Eagles

cookies, Eleni's Bakery NYC

8. You Are the Blood – Sufjan Stevens

dress, Anna Sui

9. Classical Records – Department of Eagles

ring, fredflare.com

10. Prison Girls – Neko Case

jacket, Julien Macdonald