red velvet event

What's that?

Looking at this, you would never suspect that I put a lot less than the recommended amount of food colouring.  It isn't as if I feel that colouring is unhealthy, but because I don't quite like the taste.  Yes.  The taste. 

I also made some other adjustments to the recipe, I added ingredients that I like such as vanilla, put less of those things I don't really like--besides food colour, vinegar.  I hate red velvet that taste of vinegar. 

I also mixed some brown sugar into the batter because, well, you guessed right, I love the taste!

I truly could not decide what to make of the cake, so I made three batches.  

The first being the mini two layer round cakes because the recipe I got online was really to make a two layer cake with vanilla frosting in between and all over.  Nothing too exciting.

The second batch I designed for the person I'm with.  I lined muffin cups with dark chocolate, dumped some batter and topped it with semi sweet chocolate.

Ketchup and Chocolate?

I was pretty pleased with the result.  I ate one hot from the oven and truly, I knew the person I'm with will flip!  

"taste me"

He loves moist cakes that are not too sweet, plus he is crazy about dark chocolate.  

The anticipation is close to unbearable, really.

some striptease action

The third batch was simple enough, I placed the plain batter into muffin cups and when they were done, I topped it with the (carrot cake recipe) cream cheese frosting--my favorite frosting :)

 

tasty twosome ;)

 I am torn between the second and third batches.  The first batch was okay, but the last two kinda blew me away.

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I wonder what I'll be baking next.

double (trouble)

 Today I baked again!  In line with my Tuesday, I decided that my Wednesday ought to be a bittersweet day too.  What better bitterness than dark chocolate chips.

Double chocolate cookies.

I tried out an altered white choco chip cookie recipe for two reasons.  One obviously, is because of the theme.  The other?  Well, both the person I'm with and my bestfriend don't like white chocolate.  They are after all, my most valued customers.

Admittedly, the cookie dough looked kind of funny, but when they came out of the oven... ugly duckling.

I was happier even after I took a bite of the oddest shaped cookie.  I knew.

The hand mixing and supplies lugging were in vain. 

 As I had a second batch, I decided to pop some chips on top of the dough drops just to add dimension if you like on the boring (but beautiful) brown :)

I honestly think I love the first batch more, only because they taste better than they look.  There is no element of surprise on the second batch.  These cookies, don't have game.

Cookie naman o! 

bittersweet

I wish that I was writing about chocolate that I'd pop into my next baking project. I'm not. I am writing about an unfortunate event this morning that got me into tears. The details are not important but I would go as far as saying that remembrance somewhat gets me choked up. Still. And then what? My afternoon. The person I'm with. With me. I know he knows, but told him, just before we parted that it had been a horrible but wonderful day.

butterscotch

On a roll here...

Despite my fever, I pre-heated, mixed, lined, poked and cut.

I sampled too!

It was nostalgic. I was suddenly reminded of summer breaks and car pooling.

I am very excited for the person I'm with to give it a go seeing how much he loved the carrot cake.

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I did tell my best friend that I baked some and I was just too happy to receive as sms from her that said "Wow.  My favorite butterscotch--reminds me of high school".

I may be able to get some to her on Tuesday.

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Yesterday, I bought cupcake bakeware planning to make red velvet ones next week.

I don't think the person I'm with had made up his mind if it's love or hate for red velvet, and I am hoping to sway him to loving it. So, I decided that I'd play with the recipe and add dark chocolate chips--a touch that he'd definitely welcome.

Can hardly wait for the next baking session.

the baker is back

I haven't baked for a very, very long time.

My last attempt failed because, well, we had a spoilt oven. I was told the day after that "it was known to everyone" that it was broken. Okaaay.

It was reassuring thought--that it wasn't me. (smiles)

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For some odd reason, when people meet me for the first time it seems that the impression I give is that I can't cook nor can I do sports. Not that I talk about cooking. Or sports.

The person I'm with is no exception. He sort of looks at me wide eyed (and nodding) whenever I mention something about myself involving either.

You won't believe how much time it took him to stop laughing that day I drove and shot an imaginary basket. When I asked him why it was funny, he said it just was.

He later admitted that my form was pretty good. An achievement in my book knowing how much he loves the sport.

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And then, there's the other thing. Baking.

Tonight, I baked him a carrot cake.

I am just too excited for him to look at me wide eyed (and nodding) saying "this is really good--even better than your shooting form".

:)

fab at forty

A good friend turned forty and a set of very thoughtful loved ones arranged a surprise birthday party for her.

I wish I could say that I was part of the team, but truly, apart from physical cut-and-past action and a little layout work, I was good as any other random visitor.

You won't imagine the intricacies of birthday wishes documentation, wall decorations and faux helium balloon arrangement! And let us not forget about logistics and the spread.

Needless to say it was a success :)

I was telling the person I'm with that while I was not the celebrant, I was overwhelmed by the thoughtfulness of the people who surround the birthday girl.

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It was a very touching gathering and I can't help but feel grateful to be part of something beautiful :)

bLeach bum

I'm kinda stuck thinking about bleached apparel. Particularly dip bleached. I am fascinated too by another bleaching effect for which I don't know the terminology--I call my favorite bleached pair of trousers "clouds pants".

On Labor Day, I labored on an old pair of jeans. I worked in getting the gradient effect.

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I took out an old pair of jeans, dragged my sweaty-from-the-gym-and-hungry-for-pork-ribs boyfriend to go to the grocery to buy bleach and (pink) rubber gloves.

And then it began!

I felt like a wicked witch boiling in a giant cauldron some bat wings, a newt, snake venom, a lock of hair and the Power Puff Girl ingredient, Chemical X. But truly, all I had was a mixture of warm water and bleach.

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Obviously there are no before photos, because I get consumed like that ;)

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I must say that I'm very happy with how my first project turned out that I am now thinking of other things to throw in a bleach solution.

Admittedly there is some hesitation knowing this will be a (quickly) passing fancy. My reluctance is growing by the minute.

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This is not to say that I had stopped thinking of the antonym of my project that is the dip dyed shirt in white and navy.

Only, the potential of staining other clothes really for me is a deal breaker.