So...school has taken over my life

And I have been failing to post ANYTHING for months :( Well, here are some sweet pictures of things I've made recently! Excuse the corny jokes and overwhelming number of cupcakes...I have issues.

AND I'm super excited because I just ordered styrofoam cake dummies online.  For my next trick...I'll be attempting wedding cakes!

Camo cupcakes for my wonderful boyfriend's birthday 

(inspired by The Crafty Mama Blog)

Smore's cupcakes!

Cowboy cake with chocolate frosting! 

Didn't quite master the swirled frosting as well as I'd hoped...

Self-explanatory.

Many attempts later, I finally succeeded in souffles! 

The most amazing mac and cheese ever! 

Baked cheese = LOVE

Deviled eggs for the Superbowl! 

Too bad the Niners lost :(

Blueberry muffins from Rustic Garden Bistro via Barefoot Contessa

Used my own streusel recipe though :) Yum.

Panini with roasted eggplant, red peppers, garlic, marinated artichokes, and mozzarella.

I hook it up good.

Chicken bake with roasted bell peppers, mushrooms, olives, and (of course) garlic!

Not a bad attempt at ruffled frosting for the first time! 

Vanilla on vanilla on vanillaaaaa.

Cinnamon chocolate churro cupcakes from love & olive oil.

AMAZING!

Double Chocolate Brownies

Nothing beats warm brownies out of the oven. We didn't happen to have any vanilla ice cream in the house to make this utter perfection, but these brownies were a pretty damn good dessert to my pasta and salad for dinner. Like chocolate chip cookies, I think every baker should have a go-to recipe for brownies, and while this one may not be perfect in every way posible, I think it is a good basis to begin my search for perfection in the world of brownies.

Double Chocolate Brownies
from Kitchen Grrrls, recipe found here

Ingredients
1 cup 70% dark chocolate (I used Schaffen Berger bittersweet baking chunks)
6 tbsp butter, cut up into small chunks
3 eggs
1 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a pan of simmering water filled halfway, place a heatproof bowl with the butter and bittersweet chocolate chunks. Stir until everything is just melted and the mixture is silky and smooth.

In a separate bowl, combine eggs, sugar, salt, and vanilla, beating with an electric mixture for about 2 minutes, or until thickens a bit.

Whisk in the melted chocolate and butter. Fold in the flour. Stir in chocolate chips, if desired, then pour batter into a greased 8x8 pan.

Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Mini Chocolate Cake

Living in a house with a health food conscious mother, two gym rats for brothers, and a father who's often gone on business trips, I often fear that my baked goods will go to waste as a result of not being able to find homes for whatever I make. Therefore, I only feel justified in my baking endeavors when I know of an upcoming party or social event. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love feeding my friends and family, they are my best critics. And maybe it's simply because I'm new to the life of a foodie that I can't get enough of it, but I want to bake more than any of my friends or family members can put up with.

Anyways, sometimes you just wake up and want dessert. And you don't want to go to all the effort to bake a full on cake or batch, or you know everyone's gone for the day and you could so easily bake something and eat it before they ever find out what happened that the temptation is too strong to resist. That's how I felt this morning. Yes, I got out of bed and immediately starting baking myself a cake. This is my life.

Not just any cake though. A perfectly sized and incredibly tasty personal cake. I baked it in a cup-sized ramekin (by the way, I am slightly obsessed with ramekins, and find just about any opportunity to use my brightly colored ones in baking and cooking....they just put me in such a good mood).

But regardless, I got my chocolate cake fix. And all while my brothers were at the gym and before my parents got home. Success.

Mini Chocolate Cake
from Bakergirl, recipe found here

Ingredients
1/4 cup flour
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 egg
2 tbsp canola oil
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix together the flour, cocoa, sugar, salt, baking soda, egg, oil, and vanilla until well combined.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring between each until fully melted.

Briskly stir in the melted chocolate until well combined.

Pour into a greased ramekin and bake for 25 - 30 minutes.


Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
from Bakergirl, (doubled) recipe found here

Ingredients
5 tbsp softened butter (2.5 ounces)
2 tbsp vegetable shortening (24 grams)
1/2 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
2 cup powdered sugar (250 grams)
2 tbsp milk

Directions
Beat together butter and shortening until fluffy. Add vanilla and salt and mix well.

Reduce mixer speed to low, then add powdered sugar. Add milk one tablespoon at a time as necessary to create the optimal consistency.

I find that once I have added all ingredients, beating for 2-3 more minutes creates a lighter and fluffier consistency.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

While it may be considered one of the most basic recipes, I think every baker should have their own, perfected recipe for chocolate chip cookies. All too many recipes I've tried look good initially, but once I put the ingredients into action, the cookies turn out too flat, too hard, or just plain ugly.

Not sure where I first found this recipe about a month ago but since then I've seen it circulating around the internet like crazy....so it's probably no surprise I'd use it to christen my blog. I've tweaked it a bit, nothing major, and everyone I've given these cookies too swears they have never had any better. Not to brag or anything ;)

Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from this recipe by Anna Olson (Food Network Canada)

Ingredients
1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
1/4 cup vegetable shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups cornstarch
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Sea salt

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream together the butter, shortening, and sugars until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl if necessary, then add the egg and vanilla. Mix until well combined.

Mix if flour, cornstarch, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt.

Stir in the chocolate chips (and walnuts if desired).

Drop by rounded tablespoons onto baking sheet, then press each one down a bit with your fingers. Sprinkle each cookie with a pinch of sea salt.

Bake 10 - 12 minutes in preheated oven, or until barely golden brown around the edges.