sugared limes

Coming Soon

2011-07-19T23:18:00.000-04:00

its been quite a while since i had a chance to update anything around here.

so i figure i might as well go big.

you might have noticed some changes in the design here on sugared limes.

well...this is just temporary,

i'm in the process of working on a completely different look.

since it is summer, and i do as much as i can to enjoy the sunshine

(while im not stuck in the office working hours on end)

it might be a while before i'm ready for the big reveal,

but hopefully it will be worth it.

and i have lots and lots of recipes and pictures

to share when i'm back up and running.

Peppermint Jo Jo Truffles

2011-06-05T21:23:00.002-04:00

on my few and far between trips to Trader Joes,

i always keep an eye out for a few of my seasonal favorites.

peppermint joe joe's are at the top of my list

this time i took a whole package and smashed them with a hammer,

mixed them with softened cream cheese and rolled them into small balls

then dipped them in melted chocolate

for a smooth, glorious, minty, chocolaty truffle.

Something A Little Different

2011-04-25T08:22:00.000-04:00

today i've got a little something different

no delicious recipes to try

or pictures to persuade you to stray

from your (quickly approaching) bikini season diets.

just a simple request.

[here]

my new years resolution this year was to

read 50 books in 52 weeks.

aggressive, i know.

so far, i'm a little behind

and thats where you come in

i need suggestions!

have any great new finds or old favorites to recommend?

Car Bomb Cookie Sandwiches

2011-04-20T11:00:00.002-04:00

almost a month ago now,

my ~~sisters best friend~~ future brother in law turned 21

21!! i can't believe he is finally legal

since he lives miles and miles away, and cupcakes don't travel so well,

i turned my car bomb cupcakes into car bomb sandwiches

start with chocolate Guinness cookies

and frosting that has both Jameson and Bailey's

ice every other cookie

and press together forming sandwiches

i packed them into parchment lined boxes and sent them

on their way to a house full of 20 something frat boys

i can assure you they did not last long

-xo, enjoy!

Skinny Taste: Poached Eggs Over Pasta

2011-04-12T09:00:00.002-04:00

for a while now i've been a huge fan of Skinny Taste,

gina has amazingly delicious healthy recipes

last week i made one of her newer recipes

poached eggs and asparagus over pasta

while your pasta is cooking (i used tri color noodles)

shave some romano cheese,

and cut asparagus into small pieces

add the asparagus to the pasta water about 8 minutes

before the pasta is done

(this is when you should poach your eggs)

drain pasta and asparagus, pour into a dish,

and top with poached eggs

and cheese

-xo, enjoy!

St. Patrick's Day: Car Bomb Cupcakes

2011-04-11T08:19:00.004-04:00

i've finallllllly gotten my picture situation figured out...i think

so now i can finally share all of the recipes that i've been

saving up for you

starting with the car bomb cupcakes i made to celebrate my favorite

day of the year - St. Patrick's Day!

a little Guinness, (it wouldn't be St. Patrick's Day without it)

flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, eggs, butter, and sugar & sour cream

make an amazing chocolate guinness cupcake

check out my earlier post for the recipe

milk, butter, chocolate and Jameson Whiskey make up

the chocolate ganache filling

lots and lots of sugar, butter and Bailey's Irish Cream

(and some kelly green food coloring)

make up the frosting

dig out the center of your baked and cooled cupcakes

and fill with the Jameson ganache

top with the green Bailey's icing and

resist the temptation to eat these throughout the process...

the finished product is worth the wait!

-xo, enjoy!

Ten Years

2011-04-08T10:36:00.000-04:00

a while back, one of my dearest friends cait started a food blog.

when cait and i met, she was among the pickiest eaters i know.

her diet consisted of mainly pasta, bread, chick-fil-a, pretzels, and lettuce.

the latter of the two were her "normal" pre-prom/homecoming diet

which always resulted in her amazingly talented and crafy Mammy coming over the morning

of the dance for last minute alterations so her dress didnt fall off.

she has since learned to love many foods and over the last year expanded her palate beyond belief!

a little over a year ago i got cait to try sushi for the first time

and yesterday she posted it on her blog.

it brought back lots of funny memories that i've had

with this girl over the past (nearly) ten years.

[thats right pretty, we've been friends for almost TEN years!]

heres a look at the video and be sure to visit cait's blog!

Frustration

2011-03-16T22:36:00.000-04:00

as you can tell from my last three posts

i'm having many issues trying to upload pictures to my blogs lately.

i've been making so many delicious things that i cant wait to share with you!

hopefully i'll have this issue sorted out soon!

in the mean time,

tomorrow is my favorite holiday!

"St Patrick's Day is an enchanted time - a day to

begin transforming winter's dreams with summer's magic"

how are you spending your St Patrick's Day?

Mini Key Lime Cheesecakes

2011-03-16T08:00:00.003-04:00

even with the lost hour of sleep this weekend i was inspired to cross many things off my to do list. baking for a friends birthday being one of them.

i saw this recipe on Patent and The Pantry and was so excited to make them!
since it was the first time i made them i followed the recipe almost exactly so take a
look at gwendolyn's site for the exact measurements.

limes, cream cheese, graham crackers, lime juice, butter, sugar and one egg
make this microwaveable treat super quick and super easy!
and yes, i said microwaveable.

press graham cracker crumbs and melted butter into the bottom of mini
canning jars to form a graham cracker crust.

mix the rest of the ingredients until smooth and fluffy,
spoon over the crust and microwave for 2 minutes
give or take 30 seconds.

chill in the refrigerator for at least an hour

enjoy -xo

Sunday Lunch

2011-03-14T07:15:00.004-04:00

as i was running errands this weekend i worked up quite an appetite
and was craving something light and summery

what better than a tomato, basil and mozzarella sandwich?
it was quick and easy and made with all fresh ingredients.

i sliced tomatoes, and mozzarella and put them on top of whole grain bread

with some mustard and balsamic vinaigrette.

enjoy -xo

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

2011-02-27T21:24:00.001-05:00

the secret ingredient in this recipe?

yep. yogurt. plain lowfat yogurt.

adding yogurt (or sour cream) to a plain old cake mix

makes for a deliciously soft cake.

or cupcakes for this matter.

slice some fresh berries and push into the raw batter before baking

and after just a few minutes in a warm oven, they'll look something like this:

pulse some fresh strawberries, and beat with softened butter

and lots and lots and lots of sugar

for a gorgeously sugary pink frosting

dip in melted chocolate

xox -enjoy!

Homemade Pizza

2011-02-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

some pillsbury pizza dough, mushrooms, peppers, onions,

garlic, balsamic vinegar, and cheese

make a pretttttty good (and quick) pizza.

while your crust is pre-baking for 10 minutes,

cook your veggies in a pan with some balsamic vinegar

spread cheese on the warm crust, and top with cooked vegetables

return to the oven until crispy golden brown

join with a small salad

and a cold beer

-enjoy!

Valentine Menu

2011-02-22T07:00:00.001-05:00

this year for valentines day

we made stuffed pork chops and a delicious chocolate raspberry cake.

in the stuffed pork chops were these funny looking things

oyster mushrooms,

weird looking,

strange texture,

great flavor.

dessert was this:

chocolate cake, with chocolate whipped cream frosting.

top with fresh raspberries for some valentines day prettiness.

quick, easy & delicious!

Happy Valentines Day

2011-02-15T21:01:00.000-05:00

...a day late.

so what. i have this adorable cake to make up for it.

i wish i could say that i made this....it would have been the cutest

valentine baking project. instead you'll have to wait until later this week to see

what i whipped up this weekend.

[here]

Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-02-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

everyone loves chocolate chip cookies.

but lately ive been a little bored with the classic chocolate chip.

so this time around i added a few extras,

and they turned out deliciously!

i followed my go to recipe found on the back of nestle tollhouse chocolate chips

but this time i added some toasted coconut and sliced almonds

bake and enjoy with a little milk.

Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese

2011-02-12T11:51:00.001-05:00

there are a few things about super bowl sunday that i should preface this post with

1. i dont care even a little bit about either of the teams that played this year

2. super bowl sunday should consist of beer, friends,

sweatpants, naps, good food, and a warm fire

3. i firmly believe that calories dont count on a day like today

these are the reasons i spent a few solid hours in the kitchen today

while my dad cooked up some bacon wrapped shrimp

and spicy italian sausage stuffed pepperdos, I made cheeseburger mac & cheese

ingredients
5 slices thick-cut bacon

1/4 lb ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
¼ cup all-purpose flour
One 14-ounce can vegetable broth
3 cups milk
1 1/2 tablespoon good-quality chili powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard
4 cups (1 pound) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups dried elbow macaroni, cooked

cut the bacon and cook in a dutch oven over medium heat until crisp

remove to paper towels & drain

add the onion, cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally

add the garlic and continue cooking until onion is soft and lightly browned
add the flour and mix well. cook for 2 minutes

add the broth and bring to a simmer, stirring often
add the milk, chili powder, pepper, and mustard

return the soup to a simmer, stirring occasionally, cook for 3 minutes

add the cheese and bacon, cook about 4 minutes

stir in macaroni and return to a simmer

Two Years

2011-02-07T07:00:00.003-05:00

when there are no words...
know that the silences are carrying the
thoughts and prayers of all who love you.
-dawn dais

KMH
5.20.85-2.7.09

seven hundred and thirty days

thinking of you today,

as if today is like every other;

but its not.

today we can't say "last year..."

today is plural.

today...

today we are two years closer to seeing you again

i miss you.

i love you. as always.

Lull

2011-01-30T20:52:00.000-05:00

the past few weeks have been somewhat of a lull for me

only in regards to baking.

all other aspects of my life have been an insane whirlwind

of work, attempting to meet up with friends, work,

buying a new car, work, reading,

and the occasional few hours of sleep a night

{this should be considered a nap. by no means have i

gotten a good nights sleep in far too long}

for christmas i was given an array of baking/cooking related items

and i cant wait to use them.

unfortunately for now, my bed,

a cup of tea (or a ~~bottle~~ glass of wine), and a good book

are a lot more appealing.

i have a few posts up my sleeves

to hold you over until i get back in the groove

but i'd love to have your input.

what would you like to see on this blog?

have a type of cupcake, cookie, pie or dessert

that you've been meaning to try?

let me in on all your little secrets!

Mustard Filled Croissants

2011-01-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

similarly to this recipe i posted a little while back

i made these easy appetizers to take to a friends this weekend

only 30 minutes start to finish!

using store bought croissants lay out each triangle

spread with mustard

sprinkle salt and ground pepper

starting with the larger end, roll croissant

bake until golden

eat warm or allow to cool

Yuengling Beer Bread

2011-01-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

this past sunday i wanted an easy but fun recipe for a relaxing

sunday of movies, cooking and watching football.

luckily a friend at work shared this one with me on friday before leaving for the weekend.

beer bread is always a crowd pleaser, even if the crowd is only three.

1 yuengling

1 stick of butter

3 cups of self rising flour

1/2 cup cheese

1/3 cup sugar

mix all ingredients (except the butter) until just combined

pour batter into a loaf pan like this:

melt the butter and pour on top of the dough.

i didnt take a picture of this because to me it became incredibly

unappetizing at that step in the process.

luckily after baking at 350 for one hour it looked like this:

deliciously golden brown and crispy on top.

allow to cool, slice and enjoy.

if you cant tell i got a little impatient during the cooling process

and had to slice into it while still warm

(look closely and note the steam)

Biscotti

2011-01-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

biscotti is one of those things that instantly brings me back to one particular memory.

it immediately brings me to a family friends mountain house in the pocono's.

our families used to spend a week or so their every winter,

a good time was had by all every time.

i was too young to drink coffee back then but i'm pretty sure,

our moms drank coffee and chocolate dipped biscotti every morning

on those week long get-a-ways.

biscotti making is a little bit tedious but absolutely worth it in the end.

while searching the depths of the internet for the perfect biscotti recipe,

i found so many possibilities & ended up combining many to create my own.

flour, salt, baking powder, sliced almonds, eggs, butter,

baking powder, sugar and vanilla and almond extracts

combine perfectly into a delicious crunchy treat.

after shaping the dough into a log,

it is baked until golden brown,

allowed to cool and sliced.

lay the slices onto a baking sheet and bake once more until golden brown

be sure to flip the slices half way through to brown both sides.

these were perfect without chocolate but you could also

dip the bottom into melted dark chocolate for some extra sweetness

Guinness Chocolate Cupcakes

2011-01-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

if you've been keeping up with me here at sugared limes,

you've been waiting for this recipe ever since this post last week.

hopefully the suspense was worth it. these cupcakes were definitely

worth the hard work and late night.

i found this recipe months ago and have been waiting to break it out ever since.

when friends were visiting last weekend to celebrate their birthdays,

i knew this would be a perfect recipe for the occasion.

1 1/2 cups Guinness

1 cup butter

3/4 cup cocoa powder

2 cups cake flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 tbsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

2/3 cup sour cream

in a small sauce pan simmer beer and butter until butter melts

beat eggs and sour cream in mixing bowl

add cocoa powder to beer and butter and whisk until smooth

add beer, butter and cocoa mixture to eggs and sour cream

fold in flour, salt, sugar and baking soda

mix until smooth

fill cupcake wells 3/4 of the way and bake at 350

until toothpick comes out clean.

cool completely.

the frosting was my favorite part.

unlike the original recipe, i used

homemade chocolate whipped cream frosting

1/3 cup confectioners sugar

2 tbsp cocoa

1 cup whipping cream

1 tsp vanilla extract

add cream and vanilla to sugar and cocoa mixture

beat until thick

Mini Cupcake Poppers

2011-01-23T15:40:00.001-05:00

a few weeks ago i spent a night with three adorable little ones.

if you read Always Love you've definitely seen them around

for these mini cupcake poppers

i used confetti cake mix, canned vanilla frosting,

and my trusty wilton food coloring gels

mix the cake according to the directions on the box,

separate into 4 different bowls and mix with 4 colors of coloring gel

fill mini cupcake wells and bake

after the cupcakes are done baking and cooled,

cut the tops off and discard the bottoms

fill with a little spoonful of frosting and press two tops together

creating a mini sandwich.

hand out to beautiful little girls and watch their faces light up!

Chocolate Cherry Cookies

2011-01-18T21:19:00.000-05:00

for those of you impatiently awaiting my follow up post from last week....

this isn't it.

i haven't had time to upload my pictures yet,

so i thought this post might hold you over just a little longer.

here i used canola oil, cherry jam, sugar, and cocoa powder,

vanilla extract, salt, baking powder, and

mix all ingredients (i used my hands cause it was alot more fun)

and mold into balls and flatten on a cookie sheet.

bake at 350 for approximately 8 minutes

let cool and enjoy!

Why...

2011-01-14T08:58:00.000-05:00

...do i always start baking after 930?

for some reason i find most of my baking motivation

around 10pm, on work nights.

starting a project at 10pm, finishing at 1am

and a 6am alarm clock, do not make for a friendly friday morning.

luckily last nights project was worth it, or at least i hope it was

i cant tell exactly what it was just yet, and

i'm celebrating friends birthdays this weekend,

so check back next week for the pictures and recipe!

Mustard & Parmesan Breadsticks

2011-01-12T19:48:00.000-05:00

i came up with this super quick appetizer recipe

for a holiday party at a friends house

thaw one sheet of phyllo dough and lay flat on floured surface

spread spicy mustard on one half of dough as shown above

add fresh cracked pepper and a sprinkle of salt

fold top down over mustard and cut into strips

bake at 350 until tops are golden brown

arrange on a platter or in a jar and enjoy!

Halloween: Orange & Dark Chocolate Cake Balls

2011-01-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

as a self proclaimed "baker," when halloween came around

(yes. i do realize that was months ago)

i couldn't give out store bought candies to the adorable

trick-or-treaters at my work. i knew just what i would make.

i chose dark chocolate covered orange cake pops.

follow the simple cake pops recipe here using an orange flavored cake mix

dip in melted dark chocolate and top with white sprinkles

Lesson Learned: I HATE Flaxseed

2011-01-11T13:48:00.001-05:00

once upon a time i tried to bake healthy.

i learned a few things:

1. i love baked goods for their sugary sweetness

2. i need to try many "healthy" baking recipes before i will be successful

3. i HATE flaxseed

here i used roasted flaxseed, almond butter, peanut butter, honey and oats

in an attempt to make my own no bake granola bars.

mix all ingredients and spread into a glass baking dish. freeze until solid and cut.

place in individual plastic baggies to ensure freshness and have an easy

on the go snack ready at all times!

doesnt look so bad does it?

looks can be deceiving my friends!

the flaxseeds were AWFUL. not only to they smell funny

but they taste terrible and over powered my poor granola bars.

luckily my mom liked them so they didnt go to waste!

next i used the above ingredients to make pumpkin oatmeal muffins.

sadly i had not tried my granola bars before i baked these and added flaxseed unknowing of its terribleness.

although these muffins were much better than the granola, they still were not my favorite.

maybe soon i will give "healthy" baking another shot...minus the flaxseeds.

do you have a favorite "healthy" treat or recipe? please share!

Apple Tarts, Pumpkin Bread, and Pomegranate Banana Muffins

2011-01-05T21:21:00.000-05:00

when a dear friend bought her first house a few months ago,

she invited me over for a day of interior decorating talk good company.

and what better way to break in a new oven than a day of fall baking?

we chose fall recipes, went shopping and got to work.

first up was pumpkin bread with cream cheese filling

next up we made mini apple pies in tart tins.

line tins with store bought pie crust;

peel and dice apples and toss with sugar, cinnamon,

brown sugar, nutmeg, and flour.

fill lined tins with flavored apples and bake.

we made some without tops

and some with tops

they turned out perfect golden brown

next we made banana pomegranate muffins

once again we did a little bake as you go experimenting

and i have very little "recipes" to go from.

what are your favorite fall treats?

Christmas Morning Breakfast

2010-12-30T16:01:00.000-05:00

Christmas morning was low key and relaxing around my house

and it couldn't have been much better.

until i made some delicious egg muffins, then it was perfect.

and what's better than red green and white in a Christmas morning breakfast?

i got the idea for this breakfast from

my friend Cait over at a bicycle built for two.

preheat your oven to 350.

first i chopped red and green peppers, onions and shredded some cheese.

next cook the peppers and onions in a pan with a little olive oil

(much healthier than butter).

while they're cooking, whisk some eggs.

pour eggs into muffin tins and add peppers and onions

top with shredded cheese.

bake for about 20 minutes until eggs are firm

and start to turn golden brown.

if you're a cheese lover like everyone in my family,

top with some more shredded cheese,

some salt and freshly ground pepper and enjoy!

my family usually has monkey bread every Christmas morning but this years

breakfast was a much healthier option.

what are your favorite family holiday meal traditions?

mini pumpkin pies

2010-12-29T19:58:00.000-05:00

one of my favorite fall dishes is pumpkin pie.

i also have a love for mini desserts.

this is my combination of the best of both worlds.

pumpkin pie just isnt the same without Libby's

did any of you experience the hurt that i did when i found my

local markets shelves bare where i would normally find

this lovely little orange labeled can?

oh the excitement when i found last years

pumpkin crop catastrophe was over!

following Libby's trusty recipe, i mixed the ingredients and

filled mini tart tins lined with pie crust.

bake until filling is firm and crust is golden

top with whipped cream and

revel in the taste of fall.

black bottom cupcakes

2010-12-29T17:18:00.000-05:00

as i perused the internet for ideas of somethign to make before

running off to a weekend at my family's new york lake house,

i saw many recipes for black bottom cupcakes.

believe me, they taste better than they sound.

i took a little from many recipes so i will try to remember as best as i can

[i really need to start writing every recipe down]

preheat oven to 350°

1 package softened cream cheese

1 egg

1/3 cup granulated sugar

pinch of salt

mix these ingredients until smooth then add 1 cup chocolate chips

1 1/2 cup flour

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder (heaping for extra cholocolatey cupcakes)

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup water

approximately 1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tbsp vinegar

vanilla extract

sift together dry ingredients before folding in wet ingredients

mix well and divide into cupcake papers

spoon filling into the center of each cupcake

bake until tops are golden brown

weheartit: cupcakes

2010-12-28T20:00:00.000-05:00

if any of you have read my other blog

Always Love

you will probably have noticed that recently i developed

a interest/love/obsession with weheartit

here are a few of my favorite finds using keyword: cupcake

[here]

with many cake/cupcake/baking book gifts this holiday,

my bookshelf will very soon look just like this

[here]

strawberry seduction angel food cake

2010-12-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

word travels extremely fast around my office

like, exceptionally fast.

depending on the topic of conversation this can be good or bad.

however, after the graduation party desserts i made for someone at work,

the word that traveled fast was good.

pretty soon after, I was asked to make a birthday cake for someones wife.

i was given no restrictions and the options were endless.

we decided she liked angel food cake and strawberries and those were my only guidelines.

heres what i came up with.

i found this recipe for strawberry whipped cream angel food cake

and used it as my starting line.

while my cake was baking i played around with marzipan flowers.

this was my first go at such a thing and i was delighted with the outcome.

after the cake was cooled i cut the hole in the middle to be larger than normal.

then i used homemade whipped cream frosting

(i wish i could tell you the recipe, but i made it up as i went and forgot to write it down)

i flavored some of the frosting with strawberry extract and used that to fill the hole.

also layered in there were some sliced strawberries, chopped dark chocolate, and plain frosting.

next up, i dirty iced the outside of the cake (this eliminates crumbs in the final layer of icing)

and set it in the freezer for a little while.

after letting the cake chill and set,
i whipped up some fresh frosting (no pun intended)
and added my marzipan roses and leaves
then came the writing,
the most nerve-wracking part.
after holding my breath the entire time,
it turned out alright.

i added some halved strawberries around the sides and it was complete.

anniversary party

2010-12-27T19:30:00.000-05:00

as you can imagine,

by the end of my baking weekend

i was beyond exhausted.

in my sleep walking state of mind i

completely forgot to take pictures of my

anniversary party cupcakes.

luckily these were for my friend cait's parents

and cait had her camera out snapping all sorts of pictures.

here are my gluten free lemon cupcakes

i used Betty Crocker's gluten free cake mix and frosting

and added some lemon zest and lemon extract to enhance the flavor

i also used bright colored cupcake papers and wilton gel

food coloring to make four different colors of frosting.

graduation party

2010-12-27T10:30:00.000-05:00

party number two was a highschool graduation party.

the graduate's high school and college happened to have the same school colors

so the color choices for this project were pretty easy.

first up was blueberry lemonade popsicles.

they were my favorite of the three desserts and

ended up being the most popular.

first i did a layer of lemonade and let it freeze

before pouring the blueberry mixture on top.

[note to self-when blueberries are blended, they turn pinkish purple...not blue]

next up was ice cream sandwich cups.

i did a layer of ice cream (vanilla or chocolate)

a layer of homemade chocolate chip cookies

that i crumbled a food processor,

then topped with another layer of ice cream.

adding in those little wooden spoons

(circa fourth grade cafeterias)

and you have a great summer treat!

lastly i made graduation hat cake pops.

after seeing Bakerellas post with these adorable caps

i knew i had to make them for the party.

they were definitely a little difficult but they were

definitely worth it!

bridal shower

2010-12-26T22:00:00.000-05:00

my first delivery of the day was for a bridal shower.

i had been asked to make bride and groom cookies for this special occasion.

i used a standard sugar cookie recipe and buttercream frosting,

adding wilton gel frosting to create the gray suits and teal bow ties.

just a little visual of exactly how many cookies were made.

and this is only half of them.

three parties. one weekend. baking 24/7

2010-12-26T18:12:00.000-05:00

when i first started baking on a regular basis i would make anything.

i was (and still am) willing to try pretty much everything.

word got around and before i knew it, i was making deserts for three parties

in the same weekend...actually...on the same day.

i was making desserts for a graduation party,
a bridal shower,

and an anniversary party.

i was thrilled.
but the title of this post doesnt lie.

having decided on menu items that couldnt

exactly be made ahead of time, i spent many many hours

baking up until the last minute for most of the events.
i came home from work friday afternoon (with my lovely assistant Mairead)
and worked on a few of the items. while taking Mairead home, we got
persuaded to meet a few friends for a ~~well deserved break~~ drink(s).
i pulled myself away from the fun to return to my tasks at hand,
before i knew it...it was 430 am. whoops.
i wrapped up and hit the hay, waking up just three short hours later.

strawberry and vanilla cupcakes with cream cheese frosting

2010-12-23T14:13:00.000-05:00

using a standard white cake mix

some flavored extract, and cream cheese frosting

i made these bite size treats to share at a friends annual labor day party.

first i filled a tray with plain cake batter(for those that are particularly picky)

and then made a tray of strawberry flavored cupcakes.

while cupcakes are baking and cooling, in a mixer

whip together softened cream cheese, a little vanilla extract

and some sugar for a simple cream cheese frosting

pipe just a little onto the cupcakes...

add a slice of strawberry to a few...

and just like that, youre done!

mini strawberry lemon cakes

2010-12-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

this might be one of my favorite recipes so far.

it was another spur of the moment,

bake with whatever i find in the cabinet kind of night.

i baked lemon cake mix (yes i know. another cake mix,

but hey, it was late and spur of the moment.)

instead of baking the cake in a regular cake pan, i divided

the batter into muffin tins, for easy individual servings.

i whipped up some semi-homemade frosting and mixed in

a little strawberry extract for added flavor.

top with sliced fresh strawberries and enjoy!

Bride & Groom Chocolate Covered Strawberries

2010-12-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

nearly two years ago, the world lost the most beautiful person i've ever met.
Kate was not only beautiful on the outside, but even more so on the inside.

Heaven is extremely lucky to have her. (but i know she feels luckier to be there.)

over the past two years i've had the privilege of getting to know Kates older sister Aftan.

Aften is just as gorgeous. She is extremely creative, faithful, hilarious, fashionable and

all around adorable; i definitely see the relation between the two of them.

six months ago Aftan got married! when she asked me if i was interested in helping

with some of the pre-wedding "crafts" i was thrilled.

unfortunately i had to work the night before our arts & crafts day at the Hunt household,

so i knew i would be particularly tired that morning.

while working from home over night into the early morning hours i decided to

take a stab at a new recipe idea i had seen online. i know what youre thinking.

who starts a project at 12am. yep. i do. blame my moms side of the family, thanks to them,

i have the worlds worst sleeping patterns. anyways, what better than strawberries and chocolate

to give you a little pick me up? of course couldnt take plain old chocolate covered strawberries.

instead i made brides and grooms.

they were perfect. i was so happy with how they came out

and even happier seeing the look on Aftans face when she saw them.

heres how they came out.

away she goes

2010-12-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

hello dear readers (all 5 of you).

i'm off to a tropical vacation to escape the

upcoming threat of a snow storm along the north east.

i will be publishing a few posts while away, but not very many.

check back late next week for lots of exciting posts.

while i'm gone be sure to check out

Always Love

for lots of fun surprises!

Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries

2010-12-16T10:33:00.000-05:00

so this might not be the most appetizing picture to start with.

but this recipe certainly won everyone over at a company meeting this year.

i've since had so many requests for this dish.

the best part of this?

i threw this idea together in oh...2 minutes?

above is crushed oreos mixed with some melted butter.

you then press this mixture into the bottom of some plastic cups

or dishes of your choice to create a crust.

top the crust with chocolate mousse and a few pieces of fresh fruit.

i also added a few more oreo crumbs to the top.

enjoy!

Pecan Pie

2010-12-15T08:56:00.000-05:00

classic pecan pie

preheat oven to 350.

3 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup corn syrup

2 tbs melted butter

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cup pecans

1 pie crust

pre bake pie crust for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

in a medium bowl mix eggs, sugar, corn syrup, butter and vanilla.

fold in pecans (you can leave these whole or chop them, i give them a rough chop)

pour into pie crust and return to oven for 50-55 minutes.

when done, the pie should be firm around the edges and soft but set in the middle.

allow pie to cool/set before serving.

lemon-kiwi-mango-coconut cake

2010-12-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

sounds complicated right? wrong.

i needed a quick dessert to take to a spur of the moment party,

this is what i came up with.

sorry for the lack of proper pictures to illustrate this delight, since it

was a somewhat rushed quick production, i didnt have much time for hardly

any shots, let alone fancy ones.

1. bake a lemon boxed cake (told you it was spur of the moment)

2. peel and slice almost any kind a fruit- i chose mangos and kiwis.

3. cut cake widthwise to create two layers. ice bottom layer and add fruit, place more

icing on top of the fruit and place top layer.

4. Ice entire cake and add coconut to sides.

mini baked donuts

2010-12-13T20:15:00.000-05:00

many of you may have seen last fridays guest

blog post on sunshine on a cloudy day,

here is the recipe to go with those

adorable mini baked (semi-good for you) donuts

Donuts

*preheat oven to 425*

2 cups cake flour

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

3/4 cup almond milk

2 tsp melted butter

2 eggs

sift together dry ingredients before combining

in the milk, butter and eggs. mix until just combined.

spray donut pan with non-stick spray.

fill each donut well approximately 3/4 of the way full.

bake 6 minutes (cooking time will vary by oven)

[Recipe adapted from Wilton]

Icing

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 tbs almond milk

1/2 tsp extract (i used vanilla)

in a small bowl stir together the above ingredents.

dip cooled donuts and let set.

enjoy!

Cake Pops

2010-12-08T08:25:00.000-05:00

who starts a baking blog with a boxed cake mix?
i do.

this first adventure that i'm sharing with you is a pretty special one.

one of my oldest and dearest friends Cait got married this summer.

all of her bridesmaids threw her a bridal shower; these were among my contributions.

Caits older sister has a Gluten allergy and can rarely share certain foods

just incase theres any gluten involved. in order to be positive we would have a gluten free dessert for her at the shower, i made these GF treasures with her in mind!

these cake pops, inspired by none other than bakerella,

are super cute, super easy and loved by all.

Its amazing what you can do with a box of cake and some frosting.

first bake the cake, then crumble it into small pieces.

next add half of a container of frosting. mix throughly.

Betty Crocker makes Gluten Free mixes and frostings, but

be sure to read the labels just to be safe.

shape into 1 inch balls. (using a melon baller or ice cream scoop

is a great way to get uniform sizes.) place in the fridge to set.

slowly melt candy melts (Wilton melts are also GF) in a double boiler or microwave.

dip one end of a lolly pop stick into the melted chocolate before inserting

into the chilled cake balls. let these dry in a styrofom block before you continue.

re-melt your chocolate melts and dip each cake ball.

place in styrofoam block to dry.

once dry decorate as you wish.

Well Hello

2010-12-06T15:05:00.000-05:00

hello friends!

over the past months i've become fascinated with baking.

its such a calming and creative way to spend your time.

there are infinite options. you can follow a recipe,

or just gather some ingredients,

and see where they take you.

lets see where i end up with an ever so quickly

overflowing cubbord of baking supplies

and a little piece of the internet.
enjoy!