Barking up the right tree...

This time of year a big piece of Peppermint Bark is Perfect with Hot chocolate or in Cookies!
I usually just pick some up from Costco but I decided to make it myself...It is so simple I can't believe that I have never attempted it before.
I started by melting my favorite chocolate 8 oz of 60 % {dark chocolate} in a double boiler on medium heat. I poured in a 8 inch round pan lined with parchment. I allowed it to cool in the refrigerator for 20 min.
Meanwhile I weighed out 8 oz of Callebaut White chocolate that I got from Chef Bait
and crushed up approx. 6 candy canes. I melted down the white chocolate and let it cool for a few minutes then poured it in top of the harden dark chocolate. Sprinkled the peppermint chunks on top.
Refrigerate for 20 min and pop out!
I only got about 8 big pieces out of this recipe. I made Peppermint bark cookies.
Paired with Large Mexican Wedding and Life is Good!

I'm in LOVE with a MAN

Snowman that is......

He stole my heart with his black hat and red scarf.

These are some of the winter cookies that I worked on this week.

I was pretty bored with just plain snowflake cutters so I decided to make my own designs.

Time consuming yes...but the ones that came out were pretty neat {of course some didn't}

I also did a few plain ones.

Having my girls home with me this week.... of course Abigail wanted to make her favorite cookie Peanut butter and chocolate chip with me:)

She is such a doll! I want to eat her up!

See what happens when I get time at home!

rolled up....

I had another order for pumpkin rolls so I snapped a picture this time....I really do love them. I have had a busy couple of weeks between everything . I'm pretty bummed that I didn't get a single picture any of my production the last two weeks! What the heck! I made Carrot Cakes and Frangipane Apple Tarts {I chose to be graded on the tart for my final}. I was suppose to do pecan diamond also but we had limited supply both weeks so we went without! I made the mistake of doing a special order cake. It was a half sheet cake not my fav to do. It was cover with fondant....I seriously feel sick even thinking about how ugly it came out...excuse me I'll be back...
Now that I have barfed I can continue.
The problem started with being thrown off by color scheme. I had invisioned a chocolate butter cream cake with pink, lime green and tangerine fondant pieces. Instead it was white with white and red sugar bubbles...what was I to do? urgh! I started to get a Migraine and I was irritated that it seemed chaotic in the place and there was no one to help me brain storm... I wanted to fold instead I used the pink and made different polka dots sizes and red scrolls......once it was done I felt better but hated it so much!!!!!!! Never again! I will only do cakes that I have creative control! I don't work well under pressure or surround by chaos!
The Day got better and we ended tired and in the mood for a much needed drink!:)

So what now? The semester is over winter is here and strangely I'm sad to have to hang my coat up for five weeks! I know I'll continue to be busy at work and having fun visiting my wonderful friends and family in California! But I know that it is going to get even more busy when the Spring semester starts.I'll be picking up confectionery arts on Wednesdays..
Until then ....No school

Baby Testa

{little princess}

I was so happy when One of my bestest friend asked me to make cookies for her in laws baby shower. Of course the answer was YES...but how to get them to Las Vegas in one piece?

{Lafayette}

I had shipping boxes in my basement and a heat sealer so I figured if I made extra cookies and used ton of bubble wrap that it could work!

{ballerina}

So I took a couple of days and made these pink and green cookies. I love the onesies more than any other baby cookie I do! I got a new leaner looking one for girls and I'll be using my older one for boys and uni sex showers.

{Kimono Style}

{Casual Girl}

{ they are off!}

I wasn't able to use my heat sealer because it sealed them to the point of having to cut the bags...LOL {good for regular cookies but favors not so much}

I was very happy to hear that only a handful had damage and that they loved the cookies!

{special note:Love Ya Lauren T. and can't wait to see you in a few weeks!}

This first leap may lead to more shipping in the future!

Fall Pumpkins

My favorite season is coming to an end! So my farewell is oh so sweet... I had a few orders for decorated cookies and a pumpkin cream chesse roll. I wish I had gotten a picture of it but I had boxed it up then realized I forgot :(
For my family I made a Pumpkin Cheesecake the funny thing is that I didn't really have a recipe that appealed to me so I made a morph of my NY cheesecake recipe and added pumpkin and spices. Not too bad. I really love the pecan crust.

{Pumpkin cheesecake with a pecan crust and topped with Chantily Cream}

Oh I can't leave my Savory Pumpkin out...I have been enjoying you as well. We have a Fabulous Thai Pumpkin Bisque at Dean and Deluca. This incredible soup with coconut milk , pumpkin and a whole lotta spice is YUM. This season I came across this tastebud adventure dip at William Sonoma. You have to try it to believe.... so here's the recipe.

16 oz full fat cream cheese
1 jar of Muirhead pecan pumpkin butter
Cream together
Then add
1 cup of toasted salted chopped pecans
1 and 1/2 cup of chopped cooked bacon
and 1 cup finely chopped chives
refrigerate a bit and enjoy with buttery crackers
Promise you'll love it

Well my lovely pumpkin I haven't had time to make more of you this month but I will continue to make wonderful treats with you even through winter or until I turn orange! ;)

Pate Choux

Well this run in school...Pate Choux

This the batter that makes Eclairs and Cream puffs. Of course I messed up the first batch and had a bit of trouble with the shapes. But all in all they came out fine. I Love the Elcairs they are filled with Diplomat cream { pastry cream ,whip cream and gelatin} again messed up by whipping it instead of paddling it but again it was ultimately fine. Then they are dipped in chocolate glaze YUM! I'm happy I can try to do these again this week without error {well see...}
I also did Mexican wedding cookies {but you know how I feel about the cookies we do in class..LOL}

Ten years of Love

I was honored to be asked to do The Cake, Favors and desserts for my Cousin Della's Ten year wedding {renewal}.
Ten years ago Ismael and Della eloped in Tahoe, Nevada { I was unable to go because I had just had a baby.} Their vow is more important than the ceremony but it was so nice for them to have a proper renewal!
Here are the favors. I wish I had more time to work on them. I also made Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips and Chocolate Walnut Cookies,
Mini Carrot Cake Cupcakes and Almond Parisian Macarons with Ganache filling.


Of course not everything goes as planned. I made these gum paste flowers for the top of the cake but they didn't sit right on it. So I put white roses on top instead. It was such a beautiful event full of love!Can't wait to get the pictures from the photographer!
My regrets...That I didn't get a picture of me and my cousin and that I didn't make my own chocolate cake.

freaky cake

I had to post the Halloween cake that Chef Flick made for someone. I like it because it reminds me of the Godfather.Plus it's really cool to be able to work with Chocolate like that!

Key lime and Coconut Macaroon

Well I'm a week behind on my school production updates. But last week amd the week before I was working on Key lime tarts and Coconut macaroons along with chantilly cream and short dough.

{me about to enjoy one of these delightful tarts, not the best picture of me but it made me really happy eating it }

I made an 12" and 4" tarts. I also asked if I could do a lemon meringue version and was told reluctantly yes. I loved the lemon curd but not the meringue.:(

The coconut macaroons were also great with a drizzle of prima chocolate..YUM.



On Chef Flick's work load 450 pieces of mini desserts like petite fours, cream puffs and tarts. Of course it takes him no time at all to put together...that is why I want to learn from him,even if he drives me crazy sometimes ;)

{another wedding cake he did}

This week I'm working on many things at School~ Flourless chocolate cake and mini's,cream horns and brioche. Personally~ I'm working on my cousin's ten year wedding renewal, picking up one too many shifts at D and D and making gift baskets....so I'll have more work to share on my crazy train of desserts....and hopefully some recipes to share