anecdotes and apple cores
Peanut Butter Cheerio Cookies 01/29/2012
So it seems like I blinked and now half of my friends have the most precious babies.
I mean, weren't we all just in high school? How did we suddenly become so grown up? But I love watching these new moms and dads fawn over their little ones. Very endearing, very tempting. Especially when I found out that my older sister is having her 4th baby in August! Goodness, I really wanted one then. Ryan and I look definitely forward to having kids...but we also know how life-changing children can be. Going out to Elizabeth Street Cafe for three hours on a Sunday night? Well, when you have kids, that delightful date takes a little more planning. 5 Comments Easy Tiger 01/27/2012
 So I didn't wake up yesterday to run around my apartment, snatching up clothes and throwing together a poorly aligned sandwich (you know what I'm talking about...tomatoes are sliding out of one side, a thick glob of mustard pools near the northern crust.) No, I woke up and went to acupuncture. RELAXING. Then, I decided to go to work late. And when you go to work late, you revel in the freedom of making a less-than-practical choice. So you make another. I stopped by Easy Tiger yesterday because I wanted a croissant and a 3 dollar cup of coffee. This bake shop and beer garden has been getting buzz for months...and it finally opened on Monday. I walked through the doors and saw this....a wall decorated in loaves and pretzels and baguettes. I ordered. I admired the GORGEOUS bakery--who know ovens could gleam so brightly?-and then I peeled back layer after layer of my perfectly laminated croissant. HEAVEN.  Cats and Cake 01/26/2012
What am I doing this week? Taking quiet moments to sit and think. A cat in your lap is welcome encouragement to rest a little longer. Baking cakes. Spiderman birthday last Saturday. Wedding cake testing this Saturday. I'm dreaming of buttercream and perfectly flat cake layers. Learning how to stay alert during mid-afternoon slumps. -10 minutes of sun. -A walk -A cup of ginger tea -Conversation with mom -Triscuits with melted cheese Reading. Always reading. Adoring Karen Russel's book of short stories and praying her mad skills will seep in through the contact of my thumbs with her fantabulous collection. Do tell me, what is making your week? 
Jacob's cake is covered in the most fabulous buttercream in the world. As pretty as fondant looks, it tastes like cardboard compared to this. Recipe to come...
Animal Cracker Cupcakes 01/22/2012
Two of my latest obsessions:
-Goodwill Excursions -Porcelain Animals For the former, I credit my husband. Because growing up, I didn't go thrift-store shopping. Not ever. Not once. Now mind you, my mom is one of the most budget-conscious people I know, but with four girls to clothe, she didn't have time to rummage for treasures. So when I met my husband, I also discovered the excitement of finding something special amongst....well, let's say it...trash. Ryan and I been to Goodwill four times in the last two weeks, and we've found our share of vintage wares. The second obsession--my porcelain animals--came, no doubt, from the books and zoo trips and stuffed animals of my childhood. We were a family that adored the great outdoors. When I was 15, I even went to Botswana. I watched herds of giraffe run along side our bus as we cruised down dirt-packed roads. I woke up to find an elephant wandering through our campsite. My childhood was infused with experiences and images of majestic beasts. And oh yes, did I mention I ate a lot of animal crackers? Cubicles and Cake 01/18/2012
I may not have time to write more than one post each week, but I do have time to share pictures like this: A blackberry cake in my cubicle at work. (Forgive the lightning. We're dealing with florescent, my friends.) Because sometimes, we need a little sweetness to get through our day. And I've needed A LOT lately. 
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world." Anne Frank
Lean Bread 01/15/2012
Why do I bake bread?
1. Because the world can be a scary place. For me, the process of measuring, kneading, and waiting allows my mind to settle on a singular purpose--creating something whole out of a collection of disparate parts. 2. Because I like my house to smell good. Forget synthetic room fresheners or heavily scented candles. Give me the aroma of baking bread and melted butter. Nothing, and I'll stand behind this, smells better than freshly baked bread. 3. Because bread brings people together. This morning, I visited a local bakery in Austin. As I sat with friends, I watched families, couples and acquaintances join the snaking line to the front counter. Seeing all these people together, in a store full of flour and sugar and the heady aroma of yeast, made me glad I participate in this age-old endeavor. 4. Because bread heals wounds. If you've flipped through a magazine lately, you might have seen an advertisement for Pepperidge Farm Cinnamon Bread. In the middle of the page, a single slice of cinnamon bread rests, with all its sugary swirls leading to one small cinnamon heart in the middle. Can any food make me feel better than a slice of warm bread? Bon Appetit 01/10/2012
I'm slowing down here. Quality over quantity. With school starting in one week, two novels brewing, several wedding cakes on the books, and a full-time job...something had to give. But don't worry, I'll still be here every Monday with words and treats. So in consolation for no more posts this week, I'm hosting a giveaway. Jump over to my Facebook page to find out how to win a year subscription to one of my favorite magazines--Bon Appetit. And if you happen to win and already receive Bon Appetit, I'll send you another culinary magazine...surely you don't get them all! Always, Monet Anecdotes and Apple Cores Pear Chocolate Cake with Buttermilk Cream 01/08/2012
Should we just end with the title?
Do I really need to say anything more about this cake? Okay...I guess I should say at least a few more words. Because I'm truly glad you've stopped in. This, my friends, is a moist, spicy-sweet cake with chunks of chocolate complimented by a heavy dollop of a slightly tangy buttermilk pasty cream. In its condensed description: delicious. This pear and chocolate cake is one of those desserts you should bake for company. Complex flavors and textures along with a beautiful presentation makes this recipe one of my go-to favorites when entertaining guests. You might even bring out your fancy plates to serve it. Portuguese Egg Tarts 01/04/2012
Coming home from 13 days away and I'm swimming in a long list of to-dos.
Thankfully, I've already checked off the most imposing--clean the house--and my cat has just found her way into my lap. With a granola bar on my right and a cup of tea on my left, I feel confident that my organizational skills will pull me through these next few months. Being in Colorado was relaxing, a chance to reconnect with my family, friends and desires. Sometimes stepping away from normalcy--the busyness, the chores, the responsibilities--helps you to refocus. Double Chocolate Cake with Caramel Filling 01/02/2012
 What does the New Year hold for you?
I'm entering my fourth semester of graduate school, working on TWO novels, and venturing into the world of cake decorating. After the last few years of tragedies, I'm ready for a year full of life and celebration. Cakes are baked and shared at birthday parties, at weddings, at events meant to bring people together. They look beautiful and taste fantastic. They make people smile...and we all need more smiles during days like these. | 
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