Spring has sprung!

I didn't participate in the Daring Barkers March challenge as I am not a huge lasagna fan.  However, I did make these little cuties instead:

 

These are my Spring Blossom Babycakes - basic chocolate cake with vanilla icing tinted in spring pastels.  I think they are adorable :)

My Snuggle Bug

I've adopted a kitty-cat!  Introducing "Oliver Twist": 

Ollie is my first cat.  Now, I do not actually consider myself a cat person (although I am an animal lover, in general) but, as I am not allowed dogs in my apartment and was desperate for a pet, I searched out a breed of "puppy-cats".  Ollie is a Bicolour Blue Lynx Ragdoll and I think he is pretty perfect.  Ragdolls are known for their laid back and puppyish approach to life so, even though I feel a wee bit guilty for not adopting through the SPCA (the humane society where I volunteer), I feel like I got the right cat for me (which is really the most important thing in committing to a pet, right?).  

I did compromise by adopting a retired breeding cat rather than a kitten so, at the ripe age of two, Ollie is just starting to get used to typical pet life.  We had a bit of a rough start with some crying and howling (on both of our parts), but after two months together, Ollie is showing his true Ragdoll personality.  He loves to cuddle and play fetch and purrs non-stop. Our vet even confirmed that he is a super star on our last visit (male breeding cats do not always make good pets).  Phew!

Adopting a cat was a bit of a leap of faith for me, but I think it's going to work out well for both of us.  Now, if only we can get the shedding under control ;)

Daring Bakers February Challenge - The Chocolate Valentino

The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef.  We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.

The Chocolate Valentino is my idea of a perfect desert (chocolate + more chocolate) so I was thrilled to have this challenge!  

Rather than preparing ice cream (I am an ice cream addict and it is best not to have it around), I added a layer of seedless raspberry jam to the cake and topped it off with a chocolate ganache.  I let the ganache cool too much before adding so I didn't get the smooth effect I was hoping for.  Despite this, I thought the cake was fantastic and I would definitely make it again!

The Chocolate Valentino

mmmmm

Thank you to Wendy and Dharm for hosting the February challenge and adding to my chocolate recipe repertoire!  

Daring Bakers January Challenge - Tuiles

This month's challenge is brought to us by Karen of Bake My Day and Zorra of 1x umruehren bitte aka Kochtopf. They have chosen Tuiles from The Chocolate Book by Angélique Schmeink and Nougatine and Chocolate Tuiles from Michel Roux.

As I am suffering from a post-Christmas sugar high, I elected to prepare "Savory Tuiles" from Thomas Keller's "The French Laundry Cookbook."  I served the tuiles with Roasted Baby Beet Salad with Mint Dressing (and replaced the raisins this recipe called for with dried cherries).  I've decided that Tulies aren't quiet my cup of tea, but I think that their buttery crunch went well with the zippy mint and garlic dressing in this salad.

Roasted Baby Beet Salad with Mint Dressing and Savory Tuiles.

Thank you to Baking Soda and Zorra for hosting this challenge.

Sweet Jesse Babycakes

These are some cupcakes I made for a recent baby shower.  They are vanilla cupcakes with blue tinted vanilla icing and I used Martha Stewart Mix-and-Match Cupcakes for both recipies.  My swirly icing didn't turn out quite as expected, but it is hard to go too wrong with cupcakes!

Christmas Cookies - Week 3!

I didn't get around to baking quite as many types of cookies as I would have liked to this year, but I had to make sure to get in my favourites - Martha Stewart's Outrageous Chocolate Cookies.  These cookies are absolutely divine and always a big hit.  I made one batch with semi-sweet chocolate chunks (as the recipe calls for) and another with white chocolate chunks.  Both are amazing!

Christmas Cookies - Week 2!

This week was sugar cookie week.  Sugar cookies are one of my favourite things to bake.  I love the artistic aspect of them - the colours, the shapes and the sprinkles.  I did go a bit overboard this year though.  Between making some for a cookie exchange, some for my family and some for gifts, I think I made at least 12 dozen.  I am now ready for a sugar cookie break until Christmas 2009!

Sugar Cookies!

"Flooding" the cookies.

And done, yay!