m a k e { a n d } t a k e

c o o k i n g { a n d } p h o t o g r a p h y

candy corn cake { happy halloween }. October 31, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — nikkichi14 @ 8:32 pm

i’m back.  from a blog break, you could say.  not necessarily from a baking break.  just blogging.  i have been baking.  i made some old-fashioned chewy molasses cookies for a pumpkin carving party that were a hit.  i made the previous posts’ milk chocolate cookies a few times.  { and } a handful of other things, here { and } there.  i have honestly just had a busy month.  busy at work.  at home.  with family.  with friends.  you name it, it’s been going on this month.  all good things, though, so i’m not complaining.  but it feels good to be back to the blog.

i love baking.  just for fun.  it relaxes me.  { and } i love to challenge myself with decorating because i’m not very good at it, but i’m getting better.  it’s funny to me that people tend to think things like this cake are fancy just because they’re home-made.  trust me, i have made many a cookies that are  w a y  easier than your standard chocolate chip cookie recipe.  go outside your comfort zone people, try a new cookie.  or cupcake.  or cake.  you won’t regret it.

i found this recipe in my friend irene’s magazine collection.  it’s from a land ‘o lakes harvest baking magazine, { and } i knew i wanted to make it as soon as i saw it.  unfortunately, i made it last night so i don’t have any step-by-step photos, but i am damn proud of this cake.  i went with the cuisine at home old-fashioned chocolate cake,  paired with the land o lakes frosting recipe.  this cake is not fancy, just time consuming.  typically when i make something that looks on the fancy side, like this-the conversation goes something like:

yes i made it.  no, it’s not box cake mix.  yes, really, it’s from scratch.  no, i don’t bake for a living.  no, i don’t want to open a bakery.  yes, i just do it for fun { and } give it away.  yes, i can make you something – what do you like?

side note: my favorite disney movie is a bug’s life, { and } every time i look at these pictures i think of heimlich.  “candy corn!  here let me help you to finish it.”  yes, i’m a grown adult – don’t judge, it’s a good movie.

p u r e  sugar.

cake is super easy – combine dry ingredients.

whisk together.

combine wet ingredients in a measuring cup.

slowly whisk wet into dry.

there will be some lumps.

bake in two 9″ x 2″ cake pans, coated with non-stick spray.

moist, delicious, old-fashioned chocolate cake.

 candy corn!

believe it or not, the piping was the easiest part.

 

milk-chocolate cookies. October 10, 2010

Filed under: Uncategorized — nikkichi14 @ 9:08 pm
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these are my  f a v o r i t e  cookie.  of the ones i’ve made.  i could make them over { and } over { and } over again.  yum. 

milk-chocolate cookies.

from martha stewart.

ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened dutch-process cocoa powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 8 ounces good-quality milk chocolate, 4 ounces coarsely chopped, 4 ounces cut into 1/4-inch chunks
  • 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    • directions:

    1. preheat oven to 325 degrees. whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, { and } salt in a medium bowl; set aside. melt coarsely chopped chocolate with the butter in a small heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.
    2. transfer chocolate mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. add sugar, eggs, { and } vanilla; mix on medium speed until combined. reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture. fold in chocolate chunks.
    3. scoop batter using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop; place 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. bake until cookies are flat { and } surfaces begin to crack, about 15 minutes. transfer on parchment to wire racks. let cool 5 minutes. cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
     

    butterfinger cupcakes. October 10, 2010

    Filed under: Uncategorized — nikkichi14 @ 8:55 pm
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    in case you couldn’t tell, i’m developing a slight obsession with cupcakes.  miniature ones in particular.  i think they’re great.  very adaptable, fun { and } easy.  i chose to make a butterfinger cupcake for my aunt donna { and } uncle steve’s annual fall fest yesterday.  i used martha stewart’s vanilla cupcake recipe to keep it nice { and } simple.  i’m finding simple works best when using a flavorful or really sweet frosting.  the frosting is what makes these, though, for sure.  i ground some frozen butterfinger into a powder { and } added that to the frosting before piping.  delicious.

     

     

     

    vanilla cupcakes.

    from martha stewart.

    ingredients:

    • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 1/8 teaspoons baking powder
    • 5/8 teaspoon salt
    • 9 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
    • 1 1/8 cups sugar
    • 3 large eggs
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 5/8 cup milk

    directions:

    1. preheat oven to 350°f.  line muffin tins with paper liners.  whisk together flour, baking powder, { and } salt.
    2. with an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter { and } sugar until pale { and } fluffy, about 4 minutes.  mix in the eggs, one at a time, scraping down sides of bowl as needed, until well blended.  mix in vanilla.
    3. add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with milk in two batches, beating until combined after each.  divide batter evenly among prepared muffin tins.  bake until tops spring back when lightly touched, about 20 minutes.  let cool in tins on wire racks. 

    butterfinger frosting.

    adapted from gale gand’s quick vanilla buttercream frosting.

    ingredients:

    • 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
    • 1 cup butter
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 to 2 tablespoons whipping cream
    • 8 miniature butterfingers, frozen

    directions:

    1. in a food processor, pulse 4 butterfingers until ground into a fine powder.  chop the remaining 4 butterfingers coarsely for the topping.
    2. in a standing mixer fitted with a whisk, mix together sugar { and } butter.  mix on low speed until well blended { and } then increase speed to medium { and } beat for another 3 minutes.
    3. add vanilla { and } cream { and } continue to beat on medium speed for 1 minute more, adding more cream if needed for spreading consistency.
     

    roasted cashew brittle {sweet melissa sundays}. October 10, 2010

    Filed under: Uncategorized — nikkichi14 @ 7:58 pm
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    …{ and } i’m back.  life’s been a bit hectic since august 30.  first, i had a big assignment at work for two weeks.  next was disney.  then my oldest niece ava’s birthday.  followed by ava { and } my nephew nicholas’ birthday party.  immediately followed by a trip to dallas for work for a week.  came home to sleep { and } head to my ten-year high school reunion, which was far more fun than i ever expected.  had a semi-chaotic schedule this past week.  { and } now sunday.  my favorite day of the week { and } i haven’t left the house all day.  my kind of sunday {minus the mid-80 degree weather this weekend…ugh.  i love fall { and } fall is not here right now}.  i will be doing multiple posts, my apologies, but i’m trying to get all caught up.  so…back to baking.

    i was so disappointed that i didn’t get to bake with the sweet melissa sundays group last week.  eliana of a chica bakes is one of my favorites { and } i came up with a great idea {which i still may attempt at a later time}, but ultimately just ran out of time.  so i’m back this week { and } stephanie of ice cream before dinner hosted.  she chose a great recipe for roasted cashew brittle.  i had never made brittle before so i was excited to try it.  i followed the recipe exactly { and } it came out perfectly crunchy { and } sweet.  i would definitely make it again, it was  s u p e r  easy.  if you’d like the recipe just head over to stephanie’s blog.

    very simply to make…only 7 ingredients.

    cut the butter to 1/2-inch pieces.

     

     

     

    packaged up { and } ready to go.

     

     
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