Valentine's Cake

I know Valentine's was almost two weeks ago, but this is the first chance I got to write about the two cakes a made for that day.

About a week and a half before Valentine's day, a teacher at my daughter's school asked me if wouldn't mind if I would think of something to make for her and her husband for Valentine's day.  Of course I was more then happy to think of something for them.  This wasn't very hard because I was already eyeing a new toy I wanted, but had no reason to get it.  Now I did.

I wanted a pan that Wilton made that allows you to do this......

I couldn't wait to try the pan out.  I decided to make a trial run before the final product.  The final cake I would be making was a chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse and buttercream icing.  Something I thought that would have a very nice contrast.  But, for the trial this combination would not work because hubby isn't too fond of chocolate.  (I know... How dare he?  Everyone loves chocolate!)   So,  I needed to come up with something else.  Also, I didn't want to do the same old same old.  After thinking and surfing the web, this is what I cam up with..... Applesauce Cake with a Apple Mousse.

The trial was a 50/50 success.  The cake it self turn out great.  It is a little heavier then a regular was is fine.  If you like to try is for yourself here is the link http://www.marthastewart.com/340985/applesauce-cake .  I am not a big fan of Martha Stewart usually, but this was good.  The Apple Mousse.... well not so good.  The taste was great, but the texture was something to be desired.  It ended up being more like a thicker applesauce then a mousse.  Because of this, it made it interesting putting the cake together.  I was able to, but in the end the cake ended up soaking in much of it.  So, when I cut into we had a hole in the center of the cake rather then a nice filling.  Oh well!  Live and Learn!

The final cake came out much better.  L and her hubby were very happy the cake.  I only wish I could have gotten a picture to share with all of you, but she forgot.  (It is ok.  It just gives me another excuse to use the pan again.)

I have a few other things happen these past few weeks, but those are for other posts.

Until next time....... Happy Baking!

Apple Streusel Muffins

In the past two weeks I tried two new things.  Both are a little outside my comfort zone.  I was a little hesitated about doing this, but was very excited at the same time.  I decided to try my hand at muffins.  Overall, one was more successful then the other.

The one that had more success was the Apple Streusel Muffins.  I found the recipe on allrecipes.com  several  months ago, but never had the real desire to try it until now.  (I can't lie.  My first thoughts about it was it had too many steps to build the muffin.  I was lazy in the beginning.)  I am very happy that I tried it out.  They tasted really really good.  If you want to check it out here is the link..... http://allrecipes.com/recipe/apple-streusel-muffins-2/detail.aspx .

YUM-YUM!

Everyone that had one thought they were great.  I even have to admit they were good. I had only one complaint..... there needed to be more filling.

See what I mean?

This one wasn't too bad, but some also needed the filling to be more throughout the muffin.  While talking with my husband after each of us taste testing them.  He suggested about freezing the filling before putting them in the muffins.  I thought that was great idea.  Then the wheels really started turning for me. (I was told he could almost see my brain working with a million ideas.)  After talking out loud, saying random things, and not standing still it finally hit me.   I could use a mold to put the filling in until in harden then just drop them in the muffins.  So, the search began for the mold.

My first thought for a mold was a cake pop mold I came across a few weeks ago.  The original mold was only six and much deeper then what I really needed.  I thought this would work, but I ended finding something even better.

Much better!

So, I have already made the filling and put into the mold and in the freezer.  Later today I will be making as many muffins I can.  I promise to let you all know how things turn out.  (Oh no! This might mean two posts in one day!  Who would have thunk it? Ok, to be honest the post will probably be tomorrow after more people taste test them.)

Until next time...... Happy Baking!

Doing things for fun!

I have not had any orders recently which to a part is good because I have been working overnights the few weeks.  But, I did do some things for fun.

I currently work with a small group of people.  We are part of a bigger team, but because we work overnight we tend to miss some of the fun things going on during the day.  So, I decided to be nice and bake some things.

The first thing I did was make my famous chocolate cookies.  I hate to sound egoistical, but they were a hit.  I wanted to try something new.  It needed to be easy to bring in and also easy to divide up.  I thought about it for a bit and realized that I haven't really made any muffins.  I knew that was the answer.  The decision was made Applesauce Muffins it was.  Here is the link to the recipe that I used http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mothers-applesauce-muffins/detail.aspx .

A co-worker also had a birthday recently.  I made him a chocolate two layer cake with chocolate fudge buttercream icing.  The icing came out a little pudding like, but worked very well.  I plan on making a black forest cake for another co-worker.  I think that will be fun since I have never made that before either. I promise I will have pictures of that.

I don't have any details yet for either of them, but I will have an order for my microphone cupcakes and some cookies.  I'll let you know when I know.  If nothing else the cupcakes will make me write another post about how to transport them.

Until next time...... Happy Baking!!

PS... Only 5 days until in is completely legal to sell baked goods made in your home in the state of Texas.