Showing posts with label cookies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cookies. Show all posts

10.15.2009

Airy Orange chiffon cake recipe

{orange chiffon cake topped with whipped cream and the strawberries I bought from the farmer's market last weekend}

{sneaking that third piece}

{the cookie monster}

My oven and Kitchen Aid mixer have a strange way of pulling at my heartstrings. Despite a never ending to-do list breathing down my back, I somehow always find a way to put it on hold and make time for baking. This week's creations included a dreamy orange chiffon cake and tons of chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies.

This sounds strange, but indulging in chiffon cake is like eating sweet airy bites of clouds. It's almost guilt free. That's why I ended up sneaking a third piece. SHHH!

ORANGE CHIFFON CAKE (adapted from Kevin Chai's recipe)

Ingredients:

Part I

7 egg yolks room temperature
1/3 c sugar
1/4 c orange juice
½ tsp salt
1tsp orange essence
4 tbsp vegetable oil
1 c cake flour plus 1 tsp. baking powder



Part II
7 egg whites
1 cup sugar
½ tsp cream of tartar


Directions:

Part I
1. Mix egg yolks, sugar, salt, oil, orange essence, and orange juice in a mixing bowl. Fold in sifted flour carefully until combined.

Part II
1. Whisk egg white and sugar (divided into 3 parts). Do this three times until soft peaks form. Add cream of tarter until stiff peaks form. It is imperative that the peaks are STIFF.
2. Fold in one-third of the whites into the yolk mixture. Then add the yolk mixture into the remaining whites and fold in gently until well mixed.
3. Pour into a 9 in tube pan and bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 30 -40 minutes or until cooked. ( my oven gets super hot, so I only baked it for 30 mins)

3. Remove from oven and invert cake pan to cool completely on rack.

Top it with homemade whipped cream, and you are golden :)

6.24.2009

let's be friends!


A few weeks ago, I took part in a swap hosted by the lovely Stacey of  love and photographs.  I had a blast putting together a little package of my favorite things for my new blog friend EmileeA couple days after we received news of our partners, she sent me a sweet and hilarious email introducing herself, and at that moment, I knew we would be great blog friends :)  The package she sent to me definitely did not disappoint: 

the mixed CD is all I listen to in my car now (track #19- "Every little thing she does is magic" is my absolute favorite), thanks to the buxom lipgloss, I am now running around with Angelina Jolie-esque lips, and the book "the language of letting go" has some of the most beautiful meditations and is definitely a must read for those of us who want to learn how to thoroughly enjoy life without letting all the trivial stuff get in the way.  Thank you, thank you, thank you, for your awesome package, I loved everything about it ! 

As for what I sent to her, I was in the middle of finals during our swap, so I didn't get to explain the madness of my random package.  Now that the ruckus is over, I can finally give a proper explanation for everything.  Emilee, if you're reading this... my sincerest apologies for making you wait so long!!! Here goes...

1. A stack of my favorite homemade cookies that can make almost any bad day better ... I PROMISE!!! 
2. One of my favorite beeswax candles. Your home will smell like you just walked into Anthropologie.
3. A makeup pouch for stashing all your beauty needs on the go.  ( I stick mine in my purse to avoid everything getting lost in that "black hole")
4. A swallow necklace I purchased at a craft fair in San Francisco.  The artist is a seller on Etsy, but I unfortunately lost her card :(
5. An eco-friendly eye-mask for serene, refreshing naps.  You will feel rested and ready to go again in minutes!
6. Burts Beeswax lip balm.  Keeps lips soft and especially kissable ;)
7. A sassy shade of nail polish for a night out, or even just for fun.

I hope you enjoyed everything thus far! I'm so glad that I was able to meet you through this swap :)

Blog friends for life!

<3,melissa



 

4.24.2009

milk and cookies


Last night, I strayed from my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, and tried this one by the quirky Alton Brown.  It was described as soft,chewy, with a slight crispy underside (just like I like them), and the outcome definitely did not disappoint.  I think I ate five cookies in one sitting, which negated the running I did just an hour prior to baking, but it was well worth it.  This cookie was good, but I am always always always on the lookout for the next best recipe.  Next up will be this one.  What is your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe?
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