Birthday Cake Chaos

In the last while I have had the honour of baking a number of birthday cakes. Layer cakes are a lot of work, but they are worth it. There have been a few more that never managed to get their portrait taken, but here are the majority:

I have been baking, I always bake. I usually take some photos - they usually aren't that great. But nevertheless, here they are: Chocolate chip cookies stuffed with Peanut butter Snickers bars.

Oh yes!! Recipe from Picky Palate

Rhubarb Snacking Cake from Smitten Kitchen. Isn't it pretty?

Cucumber Loaf

I know, I know, cucumber?! But I'm telling you, cucumber bread is the new zucchini bread. True story. My darling sister recently brought me a bunch of vegetables; vegetables I do not normally eat, like radishes and a cucumber. The radishes were roasted with carrots (delicious) and the cucumber was combined with lovely ingredients such as flour, sugar, cinnamon and eggs and baked in a loaf pan.

I simply took a zucchini bread recipe and subbed grated cucumber for the zucchini called for. Even more delicious than roasted radishes.

Strawberry Sour Cream Ice Cream

I know it's been awhile (give or take a few months) since I've made an appearance on my own blog... but a while ago I was reminded why I started this blog in the first place: because it is fun to take photos, write, make delicious food and then share that. And blogs are fun to read (goodness knows I love reading them) - so it is my goal that this blog might be fun for someone out there to read and look at. Here's hoping...

This Strawberry Sour Cream Ice Cream from The Perfect Scoop has been making quite an appearance lately on different blogs, and for good reason! Like every other recipe I have made from The Perfect Scoop, it is delicious. This ice cream is also incredibly quick and easy to make - no custard making required!

Two Peas & Their Pod have the recipe posted. We

We made a cake!!!

This past weekend my sister and I baked a cake for my father's birthday. Dorie Greenspan's Perfect Party cake filled with lemon curd and decorated with 7-minute frosting and fresh raspberries. It makes me think that spring is almost here!

I am alive...

I am alive, for the few of you who are wondering ;) It is the middle of November and that means that I am in the midst of National Novel Writing Month! My novel is... interesting. I am hoping that this is one of those things that will look a lot better a few months from now! Most of the time when I am not sleeping or working is spent writing, or sitting at my computer staring at the screen! I have recently discovered Frank Turner and have spent many hours listening to every song of his that I can find. If Ever I Stray and Saint Christopher is Coming Home are my current favourites! Hope that all of you are well =D

French Fridays with Dorie - Top 5 of 50

Well folks, as of this week, we have made 52 recipes from Dorie Greenspan's book, Around My French Table. 52! (Unless my math is off...totally possible) And tomorrow, October first, is one year since we have posted the first results of the first recipe: Gougeres! I have not been faithful in making every recipe, but I have made most of them! This group has forced/led me to expand both in cooking and in eating, which is a great thing. Here are my five favourite recipes from our journey thus far!!

Warm Weather Pot de Feu This utterly simple soup is one I have made at least two times more since we made it as a group. It is warm, Delicious and satisfying but packs a ton of veggies in a bowl! Chicken B'stilla What can I say... the flavours and textures in this dish were amazing. So unlike anything I have made before! Cafe Salle Pleyel Hamburger I loved the Red Onion Marmalade and the sun-dried tomatoes in the burgers, delicious and different. Vanilla eclairs To be honest, it was the Chocolate Pastry cream of Dorie's that made me fall in love with these eclairs. I ate... many. Salted Butter Break-ups A sweet and salty humongous cookie to break up with friends, what can go wrong?