Jan. 1, 2009

What did you do today??? This is what I did...

1. Made waffles for breakfast.

2. MADE homemade bread. There's a reason why people don't make bread anymore. It literally took me ALL DAY LONG. Mix, rise 1 1/2 hrs., kneed, rise another 45 min., put in pan, let rise another hour to double...seriously...and the final result? Its edible, but ugly and I thought there were enough for 2 loafs but it ended up being only one. Anyways...I'm going to continue to buy my bread. The only bread I will be making is banana.

I had thought there were enough for 2 loafs...either they didn't rise "double their size," or I misjudged? I also didn't know how to roll them. I just formed them in long shapes and put them in the pan (I tried to understand my mothers directions via phone, yeah...).The final product: tastes edible when plastered with butter and jam of choice. lol

3. Painted. Our living room piece still isn't finished (its completely experimental) and I had to do something while waiting for the bread to rise...3 times!

4. Then went here, thanks Antro!:

Ahhh....what a lovely way to end the day :)

R.I.P. Hamilton

I started to make a batch of lovely, yummy, holiday sugar cookies this morning. As soon as I turned on my Hamilton Beach hand mixer, it *poofed* and then...nothing. I though the plug may have tripped, but alas, no such luck. My college hand mixer was dead. I had just started to cream the butter, lame, so had to clean out the beaters and pull out my trusty (no fail) wooden spoon. I finished the cookies (ended up using my washed and sanitized hands as kneaders and tossed the too-much-effort-to-mix wooden spoon). Now, I have a lot of appliances that I got in college, as the near by Wal Mart that are still in working condition. I haven't felt justified enough to toss them and buy the ones I really want yet because they are still in good shape, just not top of the line. Anyways, so I happy that it had timed it parting with Macy's one-day sale. Yeah (I'm always looking for excuses to spend money on something I want...ask me about my William Sonoma waffle iron that I bought for our chicken and waffle potluck). Anyways. I couldn't open my pockets and fork out the $300 (one-day sale priced) 5 qt. Kitchen Aid Artisan mixer (in a myriad of lovely colors), so I settled for a black, 5 speed Kitchen Aid hand mixer.

It was $20 off and not as cute as the 7-speed Martha Stewart Blue Collection one (priced at $70), but suits me just the same (the blue was soooo cute!). Anyways, so today was out with the old, and in with the new. Rest In Peace Hamilton! You served me and my college roommates well! Its been lovely! Oh, and I'll have to let you know how I feel about this new mixer. Its cute. And hopefully I really like it and that it'll last me a long time (since I could have busted it over the the nearest Wal Mart for another $20 mixer...). Ahhh......now, next I need to shop for a hair dryer! Mine FINALLY died. Yeah:)

(I swear I'm trying to eat the cookie, not scream in its earz....)

"I Love You Like a Fat Kid Loves Cake..."

Jamie had a birthday...and we had fun with the cake. A extensive photo documentation can be found below:
(Action shots. Notice the chocolate smeared face intermixed with laugher?)
(A much more delicate try...)
(Mastered!)

Who knew food could be so much fun? Thanks Jamie!

LET THEM EAT CAKE!!!

This is why we should become professional bakers/cake makers:

The finished product you say? Almost!

Andrew Chapman = Lungs of Steel

Watch our Rachel Ray!

This is my current Playlist of Love...(not necessarily love songs, just songs that I'm currently in love with...this week that is :)

Interpol - No I in Threesome
- Nuffsedd
It's Not Over Yet - Klaxons
Normandie - Shout Out Louds
You and I - Jason Mraz
The Promise - When In Rome
Everything - Dramarama
Seriously - Katchafire
Silver Lining - Rilo Kiley
Everything's Magic - Angels and Airwaves
Until One Day - J-Boog
Hard to Beat - Hard-Fi
As Night as Now- Mates of State
Take Me Away - Laga Savea

I like to listen to it, while eating these :) The latest creation...

Hi, My Names Nacolynn and I'm an Addict.

Cupcakes. Are. My. Current. Obsession.

I've been doing a lot of blog browsing for new cupcake ideas, inspiration, and recipes. I figure the only reason why I really enjoy baking these tender little cakes, is because all baking is, is another form of art. My mother and I were discussing this today (she's an AMAZING self taught wedding cake maker), and its just another medium: icing instead of paints, cake instead of paper or a canvas, parchment bags and knifes instead of paint brushes, etc. It still requires an aesthetic eye and creativity, and the way you manipulate the icing (fondant, butter creme, icing, etc) takes time and practice, just as one would when playing with paint.

Anyways, I've been to my share of BBQ/potlucks lately where I've made cupcakes (I use these as an excuse to practice this edible form of art on others) and had troubles with transport. So, yesterday, I clipped that 40% off coupons from the Michaels add and purchased my 1st 3-in-one carrier. It carries 24 cupcakes, mini cupcakes, or a 9x11 flat cake. Its splendid and I love it. Here's a photo documentation of my lovely cupcake baking filled morning :)

Here are a few fellow cupcake blog spots that I check out frequently:
http://the-cupcakery-blog.blogspot.com/
http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/
http://bakerella.blogspot.com/

The End :)