...jennydoll

Coffee. Wonderful. Delicious. I love the smell of coffee.  I am not a huge coffee drinker but I do love those frou frou coffee drinks.  The last two weeks my mother in law has been visiting and she is an avid book reader.  She has been reading a series called, "Coffeehouse Mysteries"  by Cleo Coyle and in the back of each book are recipes that were featured in the book.  I wrote down one that looked really good and decided that I would make it this afternoon.  I improvised a little because I was too lazy to go to the store twice in one day.  So, the sour cream that was supposed to be one cup became a spatula scoop.  I also did not put the icing on that it called for.  I sprinkled powdered sugar on top along with some miniature chocolate chips and sliced almonds. They turned out pretty tasty! On a side note, I received my candle order today that consisted of Black Coffee and Gingerbread.  They were handmade by a friend of mine who owns...

This past Sunday was Valentine's Day.  A day that is not really celebrated in our house.  Don't get me wrong, I am not down on the whole holiday and if you enjoy it and celebrate it, please do!  We don't.  I spent a number of years as a floral designer and know the "pressures" that this holiday causes.  People stress over making sure they have the right flowers, chocolates, or other token of love to give to the significant other and I don't feel it's worth it.  I also know how much the cost of flowers are increased due to this holiday.  When Dave and I were married we, more me, decided that if he wanted to give me flowers to do it on a day or an occassion that it wasn't expected.  We felt that we did not need a specific day to express our love to each other.  You should show it every day!  Yes, I realize that sounds a bit schoompy.  Anyway, since I had found these cute little frog cupcake picks and I decided to...

I am so excited about baseball season starting soon!  Go Cards!  My brother and I share a love of baseball so it only seemed fitting to make him baseball themed cupcakes for his birthday.  Granted, my brother is not a huge sweet eater like I am but I found these fun baseball picks so I had to make him these.  I made dark chocolate cupcakes in cardinal red liners and topped them with either a coffee buttercream or maraschino cherry buttercream.  I also made the lettering out of dark chocolate and placed it on top of the icing.  They smelled delicious!  It was hard not to eat them myself!  Enjoy!

Over the Christmas holiday break I made lots of goodies! I use the cookies as gifts for family, friends, and neighbors. These goodies are gifts that everyone looks forward to and I enjoy making them.   Raspberry Filled Poppyseed Shortbread Cookies ~courtesy of Spice Islands~ 2 sticks of butter, softened 1/2 c. sugar 2 egg yolks 1 tbsp vanilla 2-1/4 c. flour 3 tbsp. poppy seeds 1/8 tsp. salt 1/2 c. seedless raspberry jam Beat butter & sugar until light; beat in egg yolks and vanilla. In medium bowl, combine flour, poppy seed, and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, mixing until just blended. Shape dough into 1" balls. Place 1" apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Make a deep indentation in center of each ball. Bake at 350 degress for 15 to 18 minutes or until edges just begin to brown. Transfer from sheet to wire racks; cool completely. Spoon jam into centers of cookies; dust with powdered sugar, as desired.    This quiche was just something I sor...

We have an annual Halloween Family Get Together. This year I made the dessert. I made dark chocolate cupcakes with whipped cream icing. I also made brownie pumpkin bites. The bites are usually with cream cheese and these are but I added pumpkin to it. The decorated graham house was made in my class. I roasted a butternut squash and made cupcakes with chocolate chips & pecans and dusted the tops with cinnamon. Dinner for Dave and I: breaded porkchops, lemon green beans, and saffron rice. The dark chocolate cake with buttercream icing was my final cake decorating class project. Recipe for BUTTERNUT SQUASH MUFFINS courtesy of Michele Herndon: 1 c. sugar 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 c. margarine/butter/butter crisco, your choice 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1 egg 1-1/2 c. flour 1/4 tsp. baking powder --- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg 1/2 tsp. cloves 1/2 tsp. ginger powder --- you can use any of the below to make your muffin of choice... 1 c. mashed banana-cinnamon and clove ...

This is my third class project that samples some more of my new decorating skills. Clown figures, teddy bears, and flowers. I really like the clowns with the bow ties!

Here's a photo of my first project from my Cake Decorating Class. Turned out pretty good, I think! Dark Chocolate cake with Buttercream Icing. Yummy! BUTTER CREAM ICING (this is for icing the cake and you will have some leftover) 2 lb. powdered sugar 1/2. c milk 1 tsp. butter flavoring 1-1/2 c crisco shortening 2 tsp. clear vanilla dash of salt Place most of the powered sugar in a large mixing bowl. Add the liquid ingredients and start mixing on low speed. Add the shortening a little at a time; continue mixing at low speed. Add the remaining powered sugar and mix at medium speed until smooth and creamy. *The above recipe will give you pure white icing. I use butter crisco so I eliminate the butter flavoring and substitute another flavor if I choose. I also use real vanilla, which is brown. This does affect the color of the icing and makes it an ivory color.