Double Chocolate Almond Cookies

So I was resting after a long day of booking loans when I came across this recipe on Barefoot Contessa. I love that Ina Garten!!! And nothing takes the edge off a long day like watching the Food Network. Now I know these are cookies, and I have made cookies before and am very good at the drop dough method. But I was caught off guard by the delicious looking chocolaty delights. I was tired and wanted to relax after almost losing my mind in booking Hades. So I rushed to the store to get the ingredients. While at the store I was so delighted to find the dark cocoa powder that I started to do a salsa jig to the Spanish music at the Bottom Dollar. I was immediately halted when I felt the eyes of a creepo spying on my dancing. I guess he wasn't offended since he stopped to spy. After rushing to the cash register to avoid seeing the creepo again I was out. Ready to bake. The recipe was easy. I have creamed and sifted one hundred times and yet the motions were so peaceful I lost myself in the chocolate world. The smell of cocoa powder, and creaming butter and sugar took over me. That is until the flour and cocoa powder jumped up out of the bowl and onto my shirt. The finished batter was thick and rich, just like I expected. After the 15 min baking time I was more than happy that my creations came out exactly as I saw just a few hours ago on TV. I felt as if I watched a celebrity come to life before my eyes. I loved this recipe and so did my family. Who by the way reminded me of the fox, pig, and other animals in The Little Red Hen who refused to help get the ingredients but were ready to eat once the work was done. Alas I love to bake and this experience was effortless. What a lovely day for some chocolate cookies! P.S-Next time I will omit the white chocolate chips. Although they do give the cookie a visually stunning appeal they added too much sweetness. Until next time...: o D

Homemade Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

These oatmeal cookies were the brain child of my mom. She wanted me to make them for her to subdue her craving. She provided the ingredients and the recipe and I provided the baking skills. With the help of my retired baker father I got the temperature and cooking times just right. They didn't turn out too bad. Not to toot my own horn. He He He. I love baking. Especially when its for others who supply the ingredients. Another task down. P.S in case your still waiting for that list of thing I'm going to bake I'm still working on it. Patience please.It will come soon.

Cocoa-Nut Cupcakes

This is an original creation. No recipe, just imagination and flavor to guide me. They turned out so good my mom ate 3 in one sitting. This is definitely going on the recipe list for my bakery. My Bakery. I am so happy to be able to say it again. My dreams are within reach.

Cheese Danish

So I saw this recipie on Barefoot Contessa. I have always loved danish and the cheesy filling is irresistable. It didn't look too dificult. I am proud of this dish. It reminds me of the danish my father would bring home from work. Yummy!!

Presents!!!!

Two new cupcake books from my boyfriend. I'm so happy. I will work thru these books along with my list. Horray for books. They can teach you everything you need to know! : o D

Rat Cupcakes

This is my first attempt at Rat Cupcakes. This project was so much fun. Although I stayed up all night in order to get it right. I still have a lot of practicing to do. But for my first attempt I am happy.

Back In Action..With A New Direction

Well guys. I guess you've been wondering why I haven't made any recent posts. Aside from the huge disappointment that I did not win the big scholarship of my dreams I was finishing up my semester. I graduated from my college with a degree in Business Management and tried to tie up the loose ends needed before attending the pastry school. The semester was so close I could taste it and I wanted to make sure I had everything in order. Except for the fact that my job wasn't budging on my schedule change request and I couldn’t make any financial decisions until I knew my class schedule. I had to wait until mid-July to get my schedule and figure everything out. But I did it. I figured out a plan that would work for me and allow me to stay financially stable during the semester. But as I maneuvered through every hoop the school put me thru I soon found out that lack of scholarships and the dreaded thought of gaining thousands of dollars of debt from student loans was the least of my worries. I encountered a new obstacle. A new dark eyed monster that would put a huge damper on my dreams. I was denied for the student loan!!!! The thing I tried so hard to avoid, that I thought was always a last resort was snatched from me just moments after I finally accepted that idea of taking one out. So I needed a co-signer, that wouldn't be too hard right. I mean as much as I didn't want to drag anyone down with me I also really wanted my pastry degree. At this point with the semester so close I was willing to do anything. So I applied with not one but two different co-signers and was still denied. I don't know what this says about me or my co-signers credit but I felt horrible. I mean I thought anyone could get a loan. I thought banks were handing loans out like free toasters. But I guess with the down turn in the economy people are getting sketchy about who they lend to. And so my dreams of attending BIC and learning the art of show pieces and international bread was crushed. Crushed like a mint leaf in the bottom of a mojito glass. For a while after this shocking reality hit me I was upset. Of course any human being with a soul would be upset if they knew that everything they worked for was gone. Never to be seen or dreamt of again. I figured I would work at my job until the day I died. That was it. I could start my life now, no pastry degree just loan modifications, office parties, and cubicles. That was until I found out my job may be closing. I guess that plan is not an option either. This whole experience and my boyfriends "never say die" attitude drove me to my new goal. My new plan. Being a planning person I was finally excited to have something new to work towards. This is the beginning of my attempts to make my dreams come true for myself. I'm going to practice baking skills more than ever. I'm going to learn everything I can about pastries and sweets for FREE. I will take my future into my own hands and make my dreams into reality. Now how to do this.. I will bake and bake and bake all day. I will practice recipes over and over until I get the right mix of ingredients and textures. I can't wait to start. In order to learn everything I can I have to start making things I'm not used to. So I'm making a list. A list that I will supply later. A list of all the pastry, deserts, cakes, and cookies I have always wanted to make but haven't been able to. I will work my way down the list learning to make every item the best way possible. I will have my bakery one day and the path starts here…