confessions

So this is how it started…..

Yesterday, I bought a package of Archway Dutch Cocoa cookies. You know….the soft ones with the sugar on top. These, peeps:

My coworker turned to me and said “You like those? I’m really surprised, since you’re, like, a baker and everything.”

HOLD UP.

So I’m not allowed to like Dutch Cocoa cookies because baking is part of my job? (one of them at least). They’re delicious, 100 calories for a huge cookie and $1.00 a pack. i mean, cha-ching, right? WTF guys? Remember the box cake craving? Stop hatin’.

So here.. I thought I’d unload some confessions about myself to get the record straight about some things…

-         I have no idea how to cut a mango. Really, no idea. I read books, I live on ehow.com...somehow, it always ends up being an orange disaster all over my counter…and usually results in several cuts all over my hands.

-         When I bake a cheesecake, I sit on the floor in front of my oven for the entire time to make sure it doesn’t crack/burn/fall/start a mini fire in the oven.

-         You know this already, but I love boxed mix cake. Sometimes with canned frosting. sometimes with my own frosting. Sometimes just plain. it's so delicious and i'm not afraid to admit it. 

-         I have yet to make a perfect muffin. I have a really hard time getting them to the fluffiness that I so desire. I’m working on it.

-         I eat ice cream out of a mug and it makes my husband crazy. He doesn’t understand that when it comes to ice cream, I have a problem with portion control and must eat it out of my ice cream mug.

-         Speak of the devil…sometimes, when my husband is traveling, I eat two bowls cereal for dinner and watch reruns of sex and the city.

-         Last weekend, I burnt a dozen cupcakes. I was so upset that I threw each one in the garbage, one at a time, and let out of a string of four letter words. My poor padre (who doesn’t swear) was standing in the kitchen while it happened.

-         I love finding sweets from my childhood, like moon pies, pecan swirls or rainbow ice cream. I feel like I hit the jackpot. Adding to this, finding bakery outlet stores also gives me this feeling. Like a Wonder Bread/Hostess outlet. aisles and aisles of treats and breads for $1. They are so rare these days.. like the holy grail of baked goods. amazing. 

-         Andddd speaking of hostess....Hostess Orange Cupcakes are my favorite treat, as well as my mother’s. They aren’t always easy to find, but when we do come across them, we always call each other and say “guess what I’m eating?” Unfortunately for me, the gas station across the street from my office ALWAYS has them and I have to beat myself off with a stick to avoid getting a pack every day.

Here’s the point I’m trying to make, guys. Baking is my favorite thing to do and I’m good at it (I mean, whatever. Toot toot beep beep.) I feel accomplished and I enjoy making other people happy with my desserts.

This doesn’t make me a pretentious dessert snob. I’m a simple little lady. Who now wants orange cupcakes.

what's been happening lately....

things have been nuts around here, party peeps. but all good things! here's what's going on...

#1. Three months ago, I told you all that I was pursuing a business venture. And this summer, that's just what I did. After making cupcakes for bridal showers, birthday parties, friends, etc etc etc.... I thought it was time to try to make this passion of mine legitimate. (this always makes me think of Michael Corleone from the Godfather.. but this is off topic.) ... so I went for it. I launched my own small business called Eat Dessert First. (check out zee website!) EDF specializes in cupcakes and little treats, such as cake pops, brownies and mini pies. Need dessert? Do you hate baking? Call me, I love baking..and I'll take care of you.

2. Eat Dessert First catered their first large event this past weekend, Rachel and Daniel's wedding in Germantown, PA! We (we meaning me with help from my madre) baked over 150 cupcakes for Rach and Dan's wedding and it was a big hit! on the menu: a lemon infused cupcake with raspberry filling and raspberry butter cream, a Reese's cupcake (including two big ones for the newlyweds to cut), Classic Carrot Cake and a Mochacino cupcake. Here are a few pictures...and check out more details at Meredith's blog!

chillen with the cupcakes.

3. I contributed some delicious cake pops to our friends at m2 photography for a beginner's workshop. You can check out the sneak peek here!

it happened.

Several months ago, I blogged about wanting to have Pinkberry when I went to see my sista on the Left coast. But it never happened. It’s like a dessert urban legend to me…something I just need to have.

...this Saturday evening, after a bachelorette dinner in NYC for one our lady friends, my other girlfran said to me, “Can we stop for Pinkberry before we go back?” And then my heart stopped for a second.

So we went to Pinkberry. And we stood in line. And I got nervous. What was I supposed to get? All I could think were TOPPINGS, TOPPINGS, TOPPINGS!! Original with fruit and cereal? Cap’n crunch or fruity pebbles? What about coconut? Bananas and chocolate chips? Should I go the sundae route? Wait, they have gummi bears too? ARE THOSE CHEESCAKE BITES?
Anxiety ensues.

I approach the counter and the pinkberry girl CLEARLY notices that it’s my first time here. Gives me the Pinkberry speech while I stare at all the toppings. I panic some more. Remember that scene from A Christmas Story where Ralphie sits on Santa’s lap and blanks about telling him that he wants an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two hundred shot range model air rifle? This was me… but with toppings. I was so worried about making the wrong decision. this was a big deal, i didn't want to sabotage my first Pinkberry experience by choosing the wrong toppings...it could ruin everything...

So I made a decision. This was it:

with heath bar pieces, coconut and raspberries.

and it was bliss.  

cake pops are for lovers?

cake pops seem to be all the rage these days. should i be renaming my blog? this like the time I found out all the zodiac signs changed and thought I had to get my Scorpio tattoo removed.

no no no no. I still have my tattoo. and I still love cupcakes. but I confess - I am falling in to the cake pop craze. It really all started a few months ago when I went to Starbucks for an iced soy misto and left with my misto + a Rocky Road cake pop. I blame the kid in front of me who asked for one first.



like i could actually walk out without one of these? yeah oooook...

but now I'm loving the cake pop. I generally love all things on a stick and mini-sized, so this just takes the cake. (GET IT???!?!!!) they are so perfect for kid's party or for wedding/engagement party favors. check these out!

so versatile, so delicious. yeah, these are definitely the new cupcake.




moving on - I am providing some baked goods for a photographer's workshop this weekend and guess what I'm providing? don't guess, it's cake pops. i'm thinking about doing something like the genius at bakarella aka the princess of pops has done here:

on a finale not, my friend Jenny makes pretty amazing cake pops. i'm learning my mad pop skillz from her.

just a little hiatus...

guyssssssssssssss

i haven't been around. well, friday i was. but i will be doing this for the next week:

and it bites. i hate it. i just shoved my fave cupcake pan into a box filled with living room stuff. get it together, kris.
but my hub and i are moving into our dream home, so my complaints should really be scarce.

i'll be back soon, faithful 16! xo

treats from the 90's that i miss

i am a legit child of the 90's. established 1984. i am also a big reminiscer, hence, the origin of this post. looking back now on all the amazing delights that were available in the 90's, it makes sense as to why i was such a fat kid.

anyway, here's how this post was inspired:

it's a heatageddon here today in philly. and I've been on a MAJOR chocolate and banana kick as of late. in my humid haze, i started thinking about this delicious chocolate and banana fudgesicle i used to enjoy in my chubby younger years. so a google search later, i found it. although, it doesn't look the same, but this is it:

i love anything that has "bonanza" in the name.



isn't it wild how you can still remember the way that things used to taste when you were a kid? if i had one of these in my paw right now, i bet it would taste exactly the same. probably because they never changed the ingredients. you get the idea. 

anyway, here i am. reverting back to my fat kid years and about to divulge in some seriously mortifying details of my childhood. but it's Friday and I'm going to do it anyway...
here is the lowdown of my favorite treats that are no longer alive. (except for a few that i occasionally can find on the last shelve in the snack aisle.)
 

i vividly remember this tasting like plastic - but loving it anyway.



alright, these jawns are still around. i know this because i bought a pack for my coworkers last year and it was gone in 30 seconds. but regardless, a 90's staple.



the white ones were my fave.



this is the holy grail of 90's treats to me. I would probably pay an embarrassing sum of money to get my hands on some.



the ultimate variety pack. DUH!!



the 90's were the prime years for breakfast cereal.
my mother bought this once for me. I ate it one day and she never bought it again.

give it up to me people.. what are your favorite nostaligic treats?

no-bake desserts

guys, it's so hot here in Philly. ungodly-stupid-can't move-want-to-kill-someone hot. here's the proof:

102 degrees? for realz?

i don't know about you guys, but turning on the oven in this heat is just a silly idea. I don't care who wants a cupcake - not happening. but with the summer heat comes summer produce as well as a bundle of other goodies which are always more delicious from May-July (like ice cream. duh!)

if you're having guests this weekend or you're just hunkering down inside to avoid melting in the heat, try one of these delicious no bake desserts. so easy and you won't asphyxiate yourself by turning the oven on. HOORAY!

Shortcut Shortcake
Top a pre-made angel food cake or mini sponge cakes (you can find these pups by the produce) with a gaggle of your berry of choice. top with store-bought whipped cream or be brave and whip up some of your own with some heavy cream and sugar (me love this).

Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches
Toast your favorite frozen waffle. Spread a little hot fudge or Nutella on the inside. Add your favorite softened ice cream and top with the other waffle.

Banana Split Ice Cream Pie
Start with store bought chocolate or graham crust. (don't hate on these Ready Crusts. They are amazing in the summer months.) Line the bottom of the crust with a layer of hot fudge. Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes or until the fudge has hardened a bit. Top the fudge layer with sliced bananas and stick it back in the fridge (or freezer) for another 10-15 minutes. Top with your favorite flavor of ice cream, softened. (i prefer breyer's vanilla bean for this) Top the ice cream with another drizzle of hot fudge and some chopped nuts. Add a few swirls of whipped cream, a cherry on top and serve.