Tarts, Macarons and "Cupcakes"

I am definitely not the only person in my house who likes to bake.  My niece, Pearl, is also on a roll.  During a white elephant exchange, Pearl managed to "steal" a Keebler Pie Maker and was able to make both mini pies and tarts for the family.  She made banana cream pie tarts and they were absolutely delicious!

Pearl's mini banana cream pie tarts!

Pearl also made me a very very special cupcake.  We decided to nestle her cupcake within the bowl on chocolate macarons filled with chocolate hazelnut spread from Istanbul, homemade caramel and cream cheese....yum.

Pearl's Special cupcake with chocolate macarons ^_^

Lavender...

After I got back from Italy, it was my younger cousin's 10th birthday.  She requested lavender cake pops and cupcakes so that was what she got.  I made vanilla cupcakes with lavender cream cheese frosting.  The cake pops were red velvet even though it's hard to tell by just looking at it.  She was very pleased with the outcome as was I.   We used Wilton's cupcake holder and individually wrapped each cake pop with a champagne colored ribbon.  

  

Her birthday pancakes  were the pigs below....

Italy and Istanbul

A few weeks ago I attended one of the most beautiful weddings that I have ever been to in Italy and it was just perfect.  I know that people say that often, but I genuinely believe that this wedding was just perfect as well as the days leading up to it....

Turkish Delights!

Chocolate Croissant

Cappuccino 

Creme Filled

Hands down the best pizza!

Pompei

Ravello

Amalfi Coast

Breath Taking Views and Delicious Food

Baby Shower

A dear friend of mine is soon to be a Daddy, so my friends and I decided to throw him a baby shower.  The food was delicious!  I took on the task of desserts.

Hand Dipped Oreo Pops

Red Velvet Cupcakes w/Cream Cheese Frosting & Star shaped sugar cookies

Mini Eclairs 

Saturday Morning Breakfast

So I got creative this past Saturday just because I was sick of making the same ol' same ol'.  However, knowing that the kids preferred eating pancakes on Saturday mornings I decided to change it up a bit.  Instead of my typical round pancakes, Hello Kitty waffles or belgian waffles, I decided to personalize each pancake.  I poured the batter into a squeeze bottle and wrote out each of their names and the kids loved it!

Homemade puff pastry filled with cinnamon and sugar

In addition to writing their name in pancake batter; I also made my own puff pastry dough.  Yup puff pastry.  For years I have failed over and over again, but out of the blue I decided to give it a try and voila puff pastry.  Yes, it was labor intensive and took an  entire day, but it was worth it.

Magic Lemons

I found Magic Lemons.  What are Magic Lemons?

Magic Lemon

Well you see, on the outside it may look like your everyday meyer lemon, however, when you cut it open you will find somethig very special =)  You just never know what you're gonna get!

Orange and Strawberry Flavored Lemon Wedges

Pretty cool huh?  It made my day.

Dunk Em!

Almond Biscotti, Madeleine and Coffee

Last night I just HAD to bake and the reason is because I got a new mini madeleine pan.  It is the cutest pan ever. Since I have been baking lots of madeleine cookies/cake I decided to also make almond biscotti.  I have been making biscotti for the past several years, but I am not a fan compared to my sister.  I like to eat biscotti like a cookie, while she likes to dunk it in her coffee and I think that a lot of people prefer it that way.  I enjoy making biscotti because of the aroma of the almond and the way it perfumes the house.  Hopefully, someone out there will make an attempt at making biscotti =)

Ingredients:
Preheat oven at 325 Degrees Fahrenheit and line 1 baking sheet with parchment paper
1 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 tsp almond extract
6 tbs butter, melted
1 cup chopped toasted almonds

Directions:
1. Sift all the dry ingredients except the almonds in a large bowl and create a well in the center.
2. In the well add the wet ingredients then mix with a wooden spoon.
3. Add toasted almonds.
4. The dough will be sticky, but wet your hands a little and form a log and bake it on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper or a Silpat for 35 minutes.
5. Remove the log from the oven and lower the temperature to 300 degrees.  Allow the log to cool for about 10-15 minutes, then slice diagonally.
6. Place the baking sheet with sliced cookies back into the oven for another 20 minutes or until dry and enjoy!