Cupcakes are Everywhere

I know that the cupcake invasion has been coming...and staying for the last few years. Every town has a shop or four. I like to grab a cupcake now and then, without having to create them myself. So, I appreciate the trend. The most recent shop I found is in Livonia, Michigan on 6 Mile Road at Farmington Road. I took a walk with my sister Patti and my neice Laya and landed at the bakery.

They have so many flavors and it does smell sugary good as soon as you walk in. The sign outside declares it "Just Baked". I was secretly wishing that that were just baked because few things dry out quicker than a little cupcake. Well, they weren't all that small and they were super moist. I picked out a dozen and they included some vanilla and chocolate with buttercream. This is my favorite, being a purist for most things, and I found the cake just sweet enough and the frosting was the same. I just couldn't help but wonder why the frosting didn't harden up on the way home....I suspect shortening. Oh why, when we were off to such a great start? I call this American buttercream as opposed to the Italian buttercream that I use.

Two of the remaining cupcakes out of the dozen were a version of a bumpy cake. If you haven't had this delight, well, I can say that it is sweet and chocolatey. I grew up having this cake in full size portions in Detroit and never saw it anywhere else. I actually don't see it much even in Detroit anymore. This owner must have grown up around my part of town. In case you are wondering, the bumpy cake gets its name from the rows of buttercream atop the cake which are covered in a thin chocolate icing, thus making bumpy rows. Those rows called to me when my Mom would bring one home. It was pure torture for me to look at them and not be able to dig in. It could have been a little OCD in me as well. I didn't want that cake to be bumpy. I wanted to smooth it out. But that's just me.

The baker had given us quite a selection to choose from and from what I hear, she is a pretty decent person as well. We took home her pumpkin cupcake, a tropical, and a grasshopper (mint) for the others waiting at home. I didn't taste them so I can't attest. However, I can say that they didn't last and that I ate more than one of the buttercream. The word on the street is that she, who was too busy to talk to, hired back the staff from the previous, long time German bakery who occupied this space for as long as I can remember. Only now, the space is clean and inviting. Try it out and let me know what you think....

Just a Few Thoughts that Flowed Freely

Is that you, Spring?

Is that you, Spring?
The morning dove is cooing at the sun that wakes me early.
Silent soil’s moving at the plumping of the seeds.
My skin is warm at rising without blankets or arms wrapped right
Earthy tang wafting over porch, over me

Have you come to call on the buds, the blades, the nest builders?
I’ve been awash in expectation since I tucked the flora into bed
While I donned a coat and suffered still from shivers
Watching rain, then sleet, then snow cover my stepping stones
Soothed myself with the wisdom of your patience to see ahead

While the coolness tempered the ground
And the rest built strength in roots
Snow obscured nature’s fermentation
The earth is not lonely, but I am
I delight this morning to hear the soft announcement of the dove

And there she is calling to me
To dig, to nurture the roots, to feel the staleness leave on a breeze
Cobwebs wiped down and spirits hoisted up
The tiniest seed in my hand, some I cannot even see for the size
I say good morning to the rain, the dirt, the birth of a fresh start.

Written by Yours Truly

I Was Obsessed Even Then

I was looking through some old memorabilia with my Mom yesterday. It was snowy and we didn't want to think about it, so we were off to the basement to put our heads in the old boxes. We saw all sorts of things but the one that made me laugh out loud was a note I wrote to her. I was living in Japan and took a trip with my husband to Tokyo. I wrote that I had seen a very old place of worship and I even got to have a nice Japanese dinner with my then brother in law. Then I ended the note with this line, "The thing that impressed me most was the double chocolate mousse cake that I got from room service". I am certifiable.

I was not yet a pastry chef. Indeed, I was fourteen years from it. But this seems to be the running theme in my life. I remember the rum soaked cake in Paris, the fois gras that I ate every day the second time I went to Paris and the little sandwiches I had in London at the Ritz. I have as many pictures of food as I do people. I took pictures of the mignardise tray at Daniel in New York, of the ladies room (not food, but weird and I thought that they might slap me where I sat if I had tried to photograph the food) at Alinea and dozens at Le Francais where I worked. I had to stop in the park near the shops Laduree and then again near the patisserie Fauchon in France to take the petit fours out of the boxes so I could photograph them. I only took a bite of each. Eating them wasn't the whole point. They were beautiful little babies and I needed to really look at them. And so it goes that I count the moments of my vacations not by days but by meals. My husband will actually say to me, "You only have 4 meals left", because he knows they count with me. I don't like the "quick bite" here or there. I like to think about it, plan it and even check out the menu first. It's an event for God's sake. Respect it.

So, anyway, I admit I am single minded some times. I could be in a place that means a lot to you or that you think should mean a lot to me and I will most likely not be thinking about what you might expect. Even if I am not hungry, I am thinking about what to make you or for me when I AM hungry. I've done it in church, while I'm mowing the lawn or when I am at the doctor's. I cannot stop it. Who would want to stop it? I have been thinking food since I was very very small and I think I will be thinking it until I am very very big.

The Oreo Dilemma

This here is an Oreo cake. For the last two years my daughter has requested this cake for her birthday. It is a no-bake, layered cake. It is normally made in a big pan and you scoop it out with a big spoon. I layered it in a cake ring (actually two seeing as it made enough for an army) and topped it with chocolate covered oreos. I tried my damndest to make it pretty or to look like something special. Out of all the things I could have made for this girlie, she chose a cake that took me no time and no skill. And no smell. It doesn't even smell like anything at all. But she loves it, so there it is.

Really?

Okay, I was walking through a local grocery store and was meandering down the aisles. It is the type of store where I have found many unexpected items. My last favorite was the Abuelita Hot Cocoa. I bought it for my sister who just had a new grandbaby. Since this child was a millionth Mexican, I was calling my sister Patti "Abuelita", which is grandmother in Spanish. I know this from reading the highly esteemed http://www.dlisted.com/. The best part was that the grandmother on the front of the box looked more Polish than Mexican. We are also Polish, so I think the box was meant for me.

Yesterday, I went to this same store because they carry the european butter, Plugra, that I use in all of my baking. I also needed to shop the cookie/cracker aisle for a combination to use in a cheesecake crust. I always mix it up so it actually has some flavor and doesn't taste like a robotcouped cardboard box. I saw these cookies and passed them up for one, two, almost three steps before I realized their value. Morning sticks? Really? And they are in a new shape, shall we say? Who eats graham crackers for breakfast anyway? Well, I bought them so I could do a half and half mixture between them and some ginger cookies. I actually hid this box from my teenage daughter because I know her and this subtle humor would not be lost on her. I didn't show them to my husband because the endless "I'll give you a morning stick" would get old for me in half a second, however he would continue to enjoy it for far longer. Oh, and I love that they are honey flavor. Maybe I should call the dessert "The Honey Morning Stick Cheesecake".

These Cakes Are Awesome!!

I was looking around at pastry sites and ended up finding this gem. These are cake disasters, mistakes, and other assorted cake issues. I was laughing so hard that my Mom came in from the other room to see what had me in stitches. This fireman "design" was our favorite out of the bunch.

To see more cakes and to read the story behind this darling of a cake, go to http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2008/05/this-made-me-laugh-til-i-cried.html and enjoy a little cake without the calories. Oh, and I don't recommend ever eating a cake that is entirely colored with black frosting.

If This Tree Fell in the Woods, You'd Hear Me Crying

This is a wild cocao tree in the Amazon region of Bolivia. They do not all look like this and they are not all lucky enough to produce this top notch pod. This is rare stuff. It is picked by locals and they trek it through the jungle to where it can be processed. The beans inside need to ferment, then dry in the sun (real high tech) and then are transported during the rainy season in small boats out of the remote location. They travel in ships to Europe. they are then roasted and conched to bring out their individual flavors and nuances.

So, next time you are biting into a luscious bit of chocolate, consider the journey it took to get to your pearly whites. I order my chocolate from the company that goes through the trouble to get to this remote Bolivian forest. If your chocolate treat is from me, it has made a trek from somewhere wonderful like Bolivia, Venezuela or Ecuador.

For The Love of Chocolate 2009

To say it was fantastic would be an understatement. We were greeted with a bellini from Barefoot Bubbly and given our passport to collect our stamps from each area. The jazz was live and the bon bons and cookies were a delightful way to begin the evening.

We took the elevator to the second floor where we found the second area with the savory chefs. Another bar, like in every area and a row of tables with chefs and their assistants serving spanish mole, shortribs, breads, duck confit, and savory strudel. The next stop was a darkened room reached by going through a draped off hallway. The candles were lit and the dj was spinning a combination of old and new, which worked. The tables were filled with delectables. A fully constructed plated dessert from The Peninsula Hotel that included banana noodles, chocolate, tiny nut biegnet type pastry and a curry accent that worked. A woman offered us a selection of liqueurs, and I chose a B & B. I chose it again 2 more times. Wow. I've had it before, but the temperature was right on this occasion and was smooth. I also had a chocolate martini and am still surprised that I wasn't suffering the next day.

The next room was a surprise with the music of Chris Freeman who was playing for the belly dancers. The hookah pipes were busy and the bar was busy. We watched for a dance or two and then followed along the path to the cocoa sutra room which was again filled with chefs supplying samples of macarons, mousses, bon bons and cakes interspersed with sculptures and flowers.

Another room had plates of truffles sitting on the end tables, all shiny and perfect. I really couldn't fathom eating anything else. As it was, Christian and I were sharing tiny bites of things. I felt disrespectful of the effort of the chefs, however, I can only take so much. There was tea and it was a welcome palate cleanser. It was also chocolate, but light in flavor. This is where we saw a model in chocolate attire. I don't know how it wasn't melting, but I thought she had probably been asked so many times that I skipped inquiring.

We took to dancing around 930 when the dj played some old school rap we hadn't heard since we were dating. It was fantastic to dance and see everyone around enjoying the pastries and music. We finished up around 1030 and turned in our passport. In return, we were given a gift basket with brioche and a chocolate spread. In the brioche there was a chance of winning a prize. A trip to Paris! We didn't win it, but it was cool. We thought it was so well done and plan on returning next year.

Coupe de Monde de la Patisserie 2009

The team from France dominated this year. This is their entremet with delicate sugar cala lilies and flawless gloss. The Coupe de la Monde de la Patisserie is a pastry competition best described by Gabrielle Paisillion, the Father of the competition. "The World Pastry Cup was to be, to Pastry, what Formula One is to the Automobile: a reference not to be missed", explained Gabriel Paillasson. It was placed under the aegis of the International Pastry, Confectionery and Ice-cream Professionals, and of the Best Craftsman of France Association. For those of you who look at the art of pastry and dismiss the skills honed in the time honored tradition of master and apprentice, browse the recipe at the link provided and see what you think. The knowledge of ingredients, the skills to create and assemble, and the teamwork required to compete cleanly and professionally are admirable.

http://www.cmpatisserie.com/2009/en/

Here is team USA's submission for the same entremet competition. I am not a fan of kitschy things on a cake, so the depiction of kokopelli just bugs me. It automatically feels cartoonish and brings down the elegance of the whole cake. For me. It draws my eye right to it and I didn't even see the rest of the cake until my third view. I also would have liked a pulled sugar component behind him. Just my opinion, as someone who is nowhere near ready for a competition like this.

http://www.cmpatisserie.com/2009/en/concours/galerie_chocolat_2009/index.php#

***Even though I was sick with the flu this week, the knock at my door pulled me out of bed to a welcome surprise. My mini-bomb molds arrived! They are only 3" wide and aobut 2" tall. I cannot wait to experiment with ice creams, mousses and glazes. Keep in touch for those results!

I'm a purist

When it comes to baking or broiling or melting or fashioning food in any way, I will usually be drawn to the purest form and flavor. Whether it is bread, coffee, ice cream, candy, or well, anything I can experience, I enjoy it much more if it is in its simplest form. I like to experiment, but if I am planning on eating it, then it will probably be simple.

I had a request from a caramel lover to make her some of my caramels, but with the addition of an ingredient. I know, it seems like a no-brainer to add something to caramels. Most people like them, and some even enjoy the flavor of caramel to chocolate in desserts. So I get it when people add all sorts of stuff to their caramels just to jazz it up. I have seen most flavor under the sun, like pumpkin, bacon, and herbs. But I love my caramels just like they are. I have made many thousands of them and when I cut into them and they are so smooth and shiny and perfect, I am happy. So purposely adding a texture just bugged me. I could put all sorts of things next to it or under it, but I didn't want to put it in it. But she wanted it, so I made it. And they are absolutely delicious. But you will see if you look down the blog that the pure caramels are gorgeous and slick lookin'. With the toasted pecans, they just seem more ordinary. It just seems like you could be hiding anything in there. When it is all perfect right angles as in the plain caramels, you know it is done right. There is no guessing about what you are about to enjoy.

You da Bomb!

Every year for my husband's birthday, he requests the same dessert referred to as a bomb. It consists of layers of ice cream made in an inverted bowl. I add some type of cake or cookie layer for a base and coat it in one or two different icings/ganaches/whipping cream. If I don't sound too enthusiastic, it's cuz i am most certainly not. It takes very little time, minimal skill and because it is nearly the same every year I feel unchallenged. But it's HIS day and what he wants...well, he gets. And I have to admit, even after all this whining on my part, that it is delicious and satisfying. It even looks like the centerpiece for a celebration. This year, the flavors were that of a banana split, based on a banana bread soaked with simple syrup and banana liqueur (so as not to freeze solid making the cutting dificult). I coated it with a milk chocolate glaze and sweetened whipping cream and mixed nuts.

Christmas in Michigan

Duo of Mousses with Candied Hazelnuts

I brought a dessert to take to my sister, Margaret's luncheon. She made a beautiful lunch with soup, salad and delicious bread. She can dish out some lovely desserts herself, but she had her hands full with the lunch and all of us. My neice Julie was there and she was about to deliver her baby any day. She doesn't want chocolate or alcohol, so I made her a white chocolate raspberry version of a tiramisu. I used lady fingers soaked in a raspberry simple syrup, a mascarpone cheese mousse and plenty of raspberries for color and flavor. I decorated with white chocolate plaquettes and grated white chocolate, then raspberries. It was super light and everyone dug in.

Mini bouche de Noel filled with hazelnut cream and topped with hazelnut buttercream (not the same thing). I topped with chocolate cigarettes (extra thin) and cocoa powder.

Apple Tart on puff pastry. It is filled with frangipane, an almond cream (with a touch of dark rum). When plated, it had caramel sauce that melts in your mouth. It was supposed to have cinnamon ice cream, but somehow that was not the case. I ordered this particular dessert with my dinner and upon seeing a component missing, entered the kitchen and spent some time reillustrating the proper plating technique. Ugh. I hate that. It was so uncomfortable.

These are the flaky tarts filled with a vanilla pastry cream whipped with a little cream to lighten. I added the fruit (couldn't find a single raspberry up there...ugh again) and piped some whipping cream around the edges. Christian had this that night and said it was great. Bow here.

I worked for a few days at Forest Dunes Golf Club preparing for New Years Eve. They had 132 reservations so we wanted to prepare enough, of course. I made a duo of mousses, dark chocolate hazelnut and white chocolate, flaky tarts with vanilla cream and fruit, vanilla cheesecake with caramel sauce, mini bouch de noel with mini meringue mushrooms,and two types of creme brulee (Tia Maria and Grand Marnier with candied orange peel). The Chef was going to use the delicious resulting simple syrup, which was golden orange and rich in flavor, to candy his mandarin orange segments to accompany his Duck a L'Orange. I was tempted to make a martini out of it, so it was good he spoke up.

We plan on spending most Christmases up at the cottage. It was quiet and peaceful. I wish I could live there. But, alas, it is good to have something to dream about.



You just can't beat a blizzard in Northern Michigan. When you have the chance to get snowed in, do it. The snow just kept coming and we didn't mind a bit. The four wheel drive came in handy when we had to retrieve our camera from a party we were at the night before. This pic is from Stephan Bridge Road where apparently the plow hadn't visited. When you aren't in a rush, it is glorious to be out in it.