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Cream Soda Cupcakes with Almond Whipped Cream I've been craving carbonated drinks but especially cream soda. Cream soda is basically a vanilla flavored soda...that I put in these cupcakes! This recipe doesn't call for baking soda (which usually helps it rise) because the carbonation in the drink makes up for it. The original recipe uses Coca-Cola and is for a layer cake which can
Strawberry Mostachon Cake A stunning way to celebrate the beginning of strawberry season! The sweet and tart strawberries add freshness to the lightness of the meringue cake. Perfectly balanced with lightly sweetened cream cheese and crunchy walnuts. Mostachon is a traditional cake from Mexico and it means macaroon in Spanish. Typically Maria crackers are used in the b
Hazelnut Macarons with Praline Buttercream I took a class at Sur la table to master the art of french macarons and learned so much. My favorite recipe was this delicious and crunchy hazelnut cookie and smooth creamy filling made with nutella. Incredibly irresistible Let's be honest, macarons are moody. The humidity has to be perfect, the egg whites need to be at room temperature and y
Blueberry Scones These blueberry scones have a layer of strawberry jam in the middle which is my secret to keeping the scones moist and soft. Who wants a tough scone on Valentine's day or on any day for that matter? Valentine's day is not just about spending time with a lover. The essence is to show the people who are important to you how much you care. It can be as simple as
Berry Bagel Puffs So I have neglected the blog long enough and now I'm getting back into the swing of things. Recently I have been obsessed with these super soft bagels that are packed with flavor. And everyone knows, there is nothing more disappointing than a hard chewy bagel. So I went on a quest to find a bagel recipe that achieved the texture I was looking for. I found i
Want the most popular recipes from my blog? Click the links to see why these are the top ten blog posts for 2012. Start a baking marathon tonight or save them to your list of recipes to try. Happy New Year! 1. Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcake 2. Hibiscus Tea Cupcake with Lemon Hibiscus Tea Frosting 3. Mexican Chocolate Cupcakes with Ancho Whipped Crea
Biscoff Spread Cookies This cookie butter is better than Nutella. Yeah, I said it. Not too sweet and has a cinnamon and gingersnapish taste. I had no idea what I was in for when I stuck a tablespoon inside this jar and found myself constantly going back for more. Extremetly addictive - these cookies were meant to cure a sad and gloomy day. Soft, cakey, buttery melt in your mouth co
I'm always trying to be creative for each of my son's birthdays. I have to say this particular birthday really brought out the "Wonka" in me. Every detail was exciting, surprising and whimsical. If you want to be creative, stay in part a child, with the creativity and invention that characterizes children before they are changed by adult society. ~Jean Piaget Dr. Seuss th
Thomas Keller's Oreos White and dark chocolate filled cocoa cookies: the sophisticated Oreo. The first bite of these cookies sends you traveling back to a stress-free time with flavors of the salty cookie and sweet chocolate filling. It is the ultimate balance. It's like the cookie goes inside your brain and pushes the nostalgia button. Yeah, it's that good. Thomas Keller'
Fig and Mint Tartlet This deliciously satisfying, elegant miniature tart has a cream cheese and honey filling and topped with fresh figs, mint and pistachios. Figs are thought to have been first cultivated in Egypt. They spread to Ancient Greece and Rome were later introduced to other regions of the Mediterranean by ancient conquerors and then brought to the Western Hemisphere by the
Gluten-Free Cardamom Cupcake with White Chocolate Buttercream Finally, a cupcake you don't feel so bad about. This was my first time experimenting with rice flour and it made my cakes light and fluffy and moist. The hint of cardamom and the delicate sweetness from the white chocolate was perfect. Gluten-Free Cardamom Cupcakes with White Chocolate Buttercream Recipe Ing
Blackberry Coffee Cake A firm, moist cake with bursts of fruity blackberries topped with a delicious crumble of brown sugar and chocolate. Genius is the person who invented coffee cake but then made it even better by adding berries and chocolate. Coffee cake is meant to be eaten with coffee, obviously. The sweetness of the cake helps balance the bitterness of the coffee and we are in
Date and Walnut Bread A delicious way to start your Eid with a cup of coffee and this simple bread. Even better, use this simple recipe and invite friends over for tea and impress them with your baking skills. Health benefits of dates are uncountable, as this fruit is full of natural fibers. Dates are even rich in several vitamins and minerals. These natural products con
Pumpkin Cake Roulade This easy dessert is a great way to try out baking with pumpkin if you have never tried it before. The pumpkin flavor is just right and does not take over the dish. Macadamia nuts add a delicious buttery crunch. Pumpkins are rich in vitamin A and boast a unique mix of both antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. They protect the immune system as well a
Eton Mess Eton mess is a traditional English dessert consisting of a mixture of strawberries, pieces of meringue and cream, which is traditionally served at Eton College's annual cricket game against the students of Winchester College. The dish has been known by this name since the 19th century and was originally made with either strawberries or bananas mixed with ice-cream or
Chocolate Banana Upside Down Cake There is something unusually gratifying about baking a cake. This one requires no frosting, which means only one thing: it goes in your mouth faster. I used a smaller baking pan than what the recipe asked for causing the bananas to slide to the side. It actually looks beautiful this way! Just be sure to put a baking tray underneath to catch the e
Salted Caramel Pecan Crunch Ice Cream Yes, I know the summer is over and it's now fall but you wouldn't know it in Southern California. It is still warm enough to have an excuse to make ice cream! Salted caramel has become popular but it also is considered a fall flavor. Salted caramel ice cream? Now that's a California kind of fall. This ice cream hits all
Pomegranate Meringue Rose Tart A Middle Eastern inspired tart begins with a buttery pistachio crust and is filled with a orange and rose scented chocolate ganache. The entire tart is covered in a light pomegranate meringue which you have the option to brown with a blow torch for a beautiful presentation. Theraputic topic for the week: Ever wonder why we love to eat? More s
Coconut Cake with Mango Curd and Vanilla Frosting Sitting at a Starbucks while eating this dessert and blogging. This is exactly why cupcake in a jar is genius. It beats getting your hands messy or worrying about getting cake stuck in your teeth. The beauty is, if you are having a sweet tooth but don't want to eat an entire cupcake; take a bite and stick it in the fridge. My cupca
Dark Chocolate Valrhona Cupcakes with Mango Swiss Meringue Buttercream Dark chocolate cake meets sweet mango buttercream. Why not mix high quality chocolate with a classic South Asian dessert flavor? The ultimate Eid cupcake. What is Valrhona Chocolate? Valrhona focuses mainly on high-grade luxury chocolate marketed for professional as well as for private consumption.
Salted Caramel Chocolate Cupcakes Want delicious mouth watering cupcakes? Try salted caramel. Ever wonder why salted caramel is such a crowd pleaser? The flavors of salty and sweet are balanced leaving you satisfied with just one cupcake (or maybe two). Caramel is great on it's own but add salt and suddenly its a grown up treat. Making your own carame
Mini Cherry Pies A pie is only as good as it's crust. Ever feel like there is too much filling and not enough flaky, buttery crust? Maybe you are craving pie but you don't want to make the whole dessert? Sometimes pies can be large and overwhelming - especially when cooking for two. These miniature cherry pies give you best of both worlds combining a classic dessert into a bite size
Raspberry Almond Petit Four A petit four is a small confectionery generally eaten at the end of a meal or served as part of dessert. The name is from the French petit four (French pronunciation: [p?.ti.fur]), meaning "small oven". Petits fours glacés (glacé meaning "iced") are iced or decorated in some way, such as tiny cakes covered in fondant or icing. This small individual desse
Roasted Peachy Sherbet Did you know July is National Ice Cream Month? I think it's fair to dedicate an entire month to ice cream considering it is consumed by 90% of the nation in the United States. My contribution is summery, light and made with peaches. The tartness of the buttermilk is mellowed with the sweetness of the peaches and balanced with cinnamon. It's like ha
Pistachio Choco-date Cookies Celebrate Ramadan with this delicious recipe that is SO addictive! The blending of flavors like pistachio, date and chocolate are so unique and satisfying. This cookie is crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside giving you balanced textures with these amazing flavors. Enjoy with a big glass of milk after iftar, a strong cup of coffee at suhoor or a midnight
Mexican Chocolate Cupcakes with Ancho Whipped Cream Chile in a cupcake? Yes, the balance of spiciness and sweetness are harmonious in this delicious cupcake. Light, fluffy, moist cake topped with a sweetened whipped cream and a little warmth in the back of your throat when you're done. Amazing and satisfying. Stress relief tip of the day: Accept what
Mango Cardamom Icebox Cake An icebox cake is a dessert consisting of whipped cream and chocolate wafers. The wafers are stacked with whipped cream cementing them together, and then left overnight in the refrigerator. The wafers absorb moisture from the whipped cream and the cake can be served in slices. This retro dessert is redone with Italian ladyfingers and a mango mouss
Blueberry Orange Marmalade The abundance of fruits calls for cooking them down and making them spreadable. The tart but sweet marmalade gets an extra burst of blueberry, making this recipe unique. Stress relief tip of the week: Seek advice. Our minds and bodies are closely connected. How you think, feel, and act affects your total health and well-being. Many emo
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting Did you know that in World War II, bakers used boiled beets to enhance the color of their red velvet cakes? The reddish-brown color of the cake was originally from a reaction of the cocoa powder with buttermilk. Now however, red food coloring is added. Arrange the cupcakes in the shape of a flag for the 4th of July -- great ide
Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream Need a great Father's Day baking idea? Make these simple chocolate cupcakes and add a white chocolate "dad" or star for decoration! What more can a dad ask for Father's Day? To view the complete recipe click here.
Very Berry Pavlova This dessert was inspired by a bakery in Los Angeles called Proof. They have these amazing meringues made with dehydrated strawberries that gives it extra flavor. I used this concept to make a pavlova, a light crisp delicate crust with a soft sweet marshmallow center. It's filled with sweetened mascarpone cheese, topped with a vibrant raspberr
Halal Rocky Road Ice Cream Every Muslim knows what I'm talking about. Walking into an ice cream shop because your parents say you earned an ice cream cone. You decide you want the chocolate one with the fluffy white clouds and your parents say no. Why? Because marshmallows have pork gelatin. Finally, after all these years, Whole Foods carries a miniature marshmallow made with fish gela
This is so creative I just needed to post! Saveur asks some of their favorite comic artists to draw a recipe and this is what Travis Nichols drew for an oat cookie that I thought I would share. I often make a cookie dough recipe like this one but don't bake off the entire batch. I will roll them out into balls, freeze them in a tray and then transfer them to a freezer bag. This way I can
Hibiscus Tea Cupcakes with Lemon Hibiscus Tea Frosting These cupcakes are inspired by a Hibiscus tea lemonade available at Peet's Coffee during the summertime. The floral notes are complemented by the lemon in the frosting. This cupcake is topped with white chocolate Valrhona pearls and sugared rose and violet petals from Venice. Stress releif tip for the day: Ju
Raspberry Lemonade Bars My obsession with raspberries has returned. Actually it never left. It's hard not to love these bright colors. The best part is, this intense color is packed with an intense but smooth tangy flavor. . . and fresh lemon juice. The top layer is sweet, tart, and luscious. Pucker up, it's time for Spring. Raspberry Lemonade Bar Recipe Ingredients: For the
Brown Sugar Cinnamon Bread There's something fascinating about watching dough double in size within just an hour. Add a sweet smell of brown sugar and cinnamon and the whole house swims with this delicious aroma after it's baked. Stress relief tip for the day:Progressive muscle relaxation. Learning how to do relaxation exercises can benefit you greatly and give you a tool to use when y
Carrot Cake Whoopie Pie Soft and fluffy carrot cake sandwiched in between a lightly sweetened honey cream cheese filling. This creative twist on a whoopie pie is worth the effort. Stress relief tip of the day: Turn up the jams. The 2011 American Psychological Association's "Stress in America" report was released on January 11, 2012. It is obvious that adults manage their stress in a
Double Chocolate Toffee Brownies Moist, rich and cake-like brownies at the tip of your fingers. This is the first time I have seen brownies made in this method and it makes delicious homemade brownies accessible to even the laziest person. Double Chocolate Toffee Brownie RecipeMakes 18-24 brownies INGREDIENTS 3 sticks plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 12 ounces best-quality bitters
Venice is a food lover's paradise. Some of the best pastries, coffee and gelato come from Italy. Italian cooking prides itself on using local ingredients such as the ones found in the Rialto Market. Ingredients are showcased in specialty entrees such as this house-made linguine with artichokes and mint. You can choose to buy pastries and coffee to-go, standing at the bar or in th
Chocolate Hazelnut Spread Try this homemade version of a family favorite. Control the quality of chocolate and the sweetness of the spread. Best of all -- you can actually see and taste bits of hazelnut. Chocolate Hazelnut Spread Recipe Ingredients 1 cup semisweet chocolate 1 cup skinned hazelnuts, toasted 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 tablespoon honey 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
Baked Alaska The ultimate combination of hot and cold in what seems like an accidental science experiment. The meringue acts as an insulator and keeps the ice cream from melting in the oven. Meanwhile, the edges of the meringue become crispy and add a texture to the dessert. The tartness of the raspberry sorbet cuts through the richness of the chocolate ice cream and brownie. Hard frozen
Layers of Lemon Layers of lemon promises exactly this: tart and sweet lemon curd alternated with vanilla bean cake and whipped cream. The best part is, everyone gets their own and it's a stunning presentation. Stress relief tip of the day:Press on it. Acupressure is a quick and effective tension releaser—it can reduce stress by up to 39 percent, according to researchers at Hong Kong Polytechn
Chocolate Lover's Cupcake Silky soft chocolate buttercream floating on a fluffy chocolate cupcake coated in dark chocolate ganache. Hurry up, we're dreaming. Stress relief tip of the day: Rhythmic exercise—such as running, walking, rowing, or cycling—is most effective at relieving stress when performed with relaxation in mind. As with meditation, mindfulness requires being fully engag
Swiss Berry Cookies Crisp, delicate cookies with a touch of strawberry and raspberry. Perfect for your afternoon tea. Stress relief tip of the day:Try an herbal tea. Studies suggest that teas such as mint, chamomile, lavender and ginseng can help alleviate stress. Also a simple black tea has shown a reduction in levels of cortisol, a stress related hormone. Swiss Berry Cookies (Spitzb
Belgian Waffles The buttery, yeast-like sweet smell can wake anyone up on a lazy Sunday. Make this dough the day before and impress your morning guests by simply pressing into your waffle iron. Stress relief tip of the day:Sleep for a good six to eight hours a day or take an afternoon nap. people who don't get enough sleep are very vulnerable to stress. Sleep is the time when your body
Pumpkin chocolate chip cake pops Deliciously sweet and soft with the tangy-ness of cream cheese. Taste buds rejoice. Stress relief tip of the day:Humor. Laughter is one of the most effective therapies for stress relief and bringing down levels of anxiety. A laugh can decrease levels of stress hormones like cosrtisol and adrenal, causes endorphin levels to rise and strengthens our immune
Pumpkin French Toast Delicious fall flavors with home made brioche and pumpkin puree. Warm pumpkin pie spices make this treat special on a lazy Sunday. Stress tip relief tip of the day: Know your limits and stick to them. Whether in your personal or professional life, refuse to accept added responsibilities when you’re close to reaching them. Taking on more than you can handle is a sur
Brioche This buttery bread is light, airy and so rich that it seems like it's a cake. Stress relief tip of the day:Do something you enjoy everyday. Make time for leisure activities that bring you joy. Whether its taking a walk, going for a drive or singing along to your favorite song. Brioche Recipe Ingredients Batter: 1 cup unsalted butter 1 1/2 tbsp warm whole milk
Apple Galette Tender sweet apples en-robed in buttery, flaky pastry dough. What more could you ask for? Stress relief tip of the day:Physical activity plays a key role in preventing the effects of stress. Make time for at least thirty minutes of exercise three times a week. Nothing beats aerobic exercise for releasing stress and tension. Apple Galette Recipe Ingredients Flaky pa
Sweet Potato Corn Bread Fall is all about warm comfort foods. Add a little yam and we're good to go. Stress relief tip of the day: Spend time with positive people who enhance your life. A strong support system will buffer you from the negative effects of stress. Sweet Potato Corn Bread Recipe Ingredients 2 organic sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and cut into chunks1 cup yellow corn
