Oh the Weather Outside...

Everytime~literally~E.V.E.R.Y.T.I.M.E!!...a cold/cool front

comes thru my little corner of the world,

I get the need ~NO not for speed (movie reference;))~

but the need to BAKE. 

And not just bake some sort of extra-fat goodies, but

the need to bake--every.  single.  recipe.  that I have in

my arsenal!  Literally!!

 

Is that a bad thing?  I  think not! And I think 9 out of 10 test subjects

would agree with me on that fact.  By test subjects,

I mean those that sleep under my roof...and maybe a

 few select that don't.   

 

The way I see it, it's best to take advantage of

this nice weather because I can turn the a/c off--open up my windows--

that way, when I crank the oven on, it won't get

hot in here.  Come on, who doesn't

like a lower electric bill, huh?

 

Plus, I get to tease my neighbors

with the fan-tab-u-lous smells that

exude from my house--(don't be jealous ;))--

 as the breeze blows throughout!

 

Well, due to time (& energy) restrictions,

(Dr appt's, toddler that now--not just walks, but is running & getting

into literally...EVERYTHING,--hence, the lack of energy, etc)

I have had to reign myself in when it comes to baking time

....what a shame, I know!

 

I did manage to get SOME baking done...I baked cookies!

Yummy ones, too.  Both Sugar & Gingerbread

cookies~~and I must say, I've got a nice snack to go along with

my coffee now ;)

 

I snapped a few shots...take a look:

 

 

I am so bad when it comes to taking pictures of what I make...

that's why some of these are bagged...some of them

*ahem* were consumed, lol.

 

I will do my best to take pictures BEFOREHAND, next time

around...I promise...to try to remember ;)

 

Now, it being a nice cool day....

it's time to get myself a cup of coffee...some cookies...

a blanket...kick someone off my couch spot...

& finally, watch tv/movie!

 

Later--a gingerbread house! ;)

 

Thanx for stopping by,

 

Cori

 

 

 



Fondant!

A few years ago, my oldest graduated!

Her party had an Alice in Wonderland Theme~

so needless to say, we had to have a quirky cake...you know,

things have to line up at times in girly life!!

 

I love baking...as you know...so being the over-achiever that I am,

I decided to make her cake myself!  I experimented

with a few recipes...found one that my

daughter really loved (Lemon~Raspberry)...I wasn't too thrilled with it

cuz of all the seeds...Y.U.K...they get all stuck

in your teeth & if you don't brush & floss your teeth right,

you'll be having those seeds for breakfast the next day...(Stop it~I did

warn you of the yukiness)...

 

During my quest, I also tried the Wilton fondant...&

 N.E.V.E.R....A.G.A.I.N.

So I went back to the drawing board (ok, the computer)

and I searched....and searched...and searched... 

till I finally found a recipe for homemade

rolled fondant.  At first I was really skeptical but when I finally decided to

try it out...WOW! It was REALLY good!!!

Kid's approved & asked that I never buy, ahem--"that crappy one",

again.   I absolutely vowed to make my own from

that point on.....

 

Although the fondant came out fan-tab-u-lous....due to time

restraints & work issues (yes, I had a real job back then), we decided to have

the cake made...it was really good tho!  Normal looking on the

outside, but swirly & colorful on the inside!

You know, kept it in line with the movie theme...

On a side note, I did manage to make several dozen cheesecake

 pops~which by the

way, also turned out fan-tab-u-lous!!!  That reminds me,

I've gotta make time to make those again ;)

 

So just this week, I decided to look for a BETTER Lemon~Raspberry

recipe for us to try out.  I also made the fondant

that we fell in love with...BUT, this time...I played with the play dough 

fondant and made flowers, birds, tree branches, leaves..you

know, girly stuff...all for decorating the cake.

 

I have watched SO many videos on decorations made of fondant,

but being the nerd & scaredy cat that I am...I came up with this...

Yea, pretty boring right?  Well, I kinda liked the way it looked~

but at the same time didn't (if that makes sense).

 

Then I remembered a video I saw that just AMAZED me...it was a post

from Elizabeth Adams (Arty McGoo).  In this video, she is

painting....yes, painting ....on cookies

(using food coloring~I think).

Anyway, it was just beautiful the way she ....turned that

cookie canvas into a work of art!!!

I've mentioned before of how little I know about art...painting included.

But being in a somewhat...daring mood...at this point, I

reasoned: "What the heck...give it a try.  This cake is really just

for us here at home.  If I fail...I fail....today."

So I broke out just a few food gel colors (Americolor~of course)

and my little pack of paint brushes (which are strictly for food!!!)

I quickly recalled how she worked the paint & brushes

with a little bit of water...So I went to

work!  This is what became

of my cake....

What do you think?  Epic Fail?  Eh-So-So?

or Fairly Decent--for a first timer?

Well, whatever you think, that's fine...I for my part...am Happy! 

Happy that I gave it a go!  Happy that it tastes good, at least!

& Happy that my family & friends liked it!

 

That is motivation in itself...to try again...& again...& again...

till ...well, till I reach perfection ;)

 

So......now we just gotta slice it up!

 

Leave me your thoughts, I'd love to hear them!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Buenas Noches Amigos, Cori ;)