watching, reading

It's been a long while since I've posted this. Mostly because of baking school, all I was doing was baking and juggling the rest of life. No reading, no listening, little cooking, etc. It has now been a full month since graduation, I'm caught up on sleep, feel a little more settled, and I am trying to round out my life again. Balance, always fleeting, always the goal. Recently.... 
watching: movies again! Seven, Mudd, Nebraska, Top 5, Wild
reading: the Body Book by Cameron Diaz. Also just finished a de-cluttering book (very intriguing), and many, many cookbooks
listening: the Good Food Podcast, and just finished Serial
looking: mostly at my husbands fantastic photography
baking: mexican chocolate cookies, mexican chocolate (flourless) cake

This weekend - mini-holiday, out of town getaway as a surprise for the husband. Can't say what it is yet, but there will be delicious food involved (always), and future posts on it.

Delicious recipes in here!

Mexican chocolate cookies

Graduation

Now what am I going to do?

With baking pals Lauren and Kara

Wedding Cake

Gingerbread House

I had never made a gingerbread house before! I kind of became obsessed once I started making this one. I mean, it was fun, but dang! I really needed to give myself a time limit. NEXT YEAR (if indeed there is another gingerbread house in me) I will plan better, and collect fun candies for decoration weeks in advance! I think a modern house would be rad! Or a Flintstone's house, or a backyard pool or skate ramp or something! (see, how I get obsessed?!) Definitely will require a trip to a proper candy store.

Carrot Cake

Gingerbread and Sugar Cookies

wheat rolls

These are super easy and good! The only thing I'm not sure why it happened was after shaping the rolls and letting them sit for a second proof, I then applied an egg wash before baking them. After the wash, the surface started bubbling, as if the egg wash prompted air under the skin. I noticed it twice because I made 2 different batched in a week. Is there something I should know? I'll have to ask at school....

Butterscotch pudding!

This is my Final (plated dessert with all kinds of marks I had to hit: sugar work, custard needed to be involved, at least three textures, at least 2 temperatures, etc.). Here it is: Butterscotch pudding with pine nut rosemary shortbread cookies, caramel sauce and whipped topping.