Kids gotta have the sugar

This has been a week of birthdays...for 6 year olds. I feel like a drug pusher grooming my future customers.














I think it's strange that 6 year olds ike "high School Musical" enough to make it their party theme. I mean, they're 6. You're a teenagers by the time you get to high school. then again, my ninth grader can't stand the movie.

Easter dessert

I should have just made a carrot cake . I made this dessert for Easter and while everyone liked it, they said it was their least favorite thing I had made recently. Now mind you, they have a lot to choose from. I bake a lot. Their Easter baskets were filled with chocolate bunnies, big & small, that I tempered and molded myself. But, still they tried this and didn't love it. I liked it, but didn't love it either.

It consisted of a lemon cake (very thin) topped with a white chocolate pyramid filled with white chocolate mousse and raspberry coulis. It had a drizzle of the coulis, whipped cream and a bit of peah champagne sorbet. I thought it was beautiful and was glad I played around with it. They just don't like the plated desserts, I have come to realize. Throw some ice cream in a bowl and they are happy.

Take your pick...dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or white chocolate coconut nests, topped with jelly beans. I have had these in my easter basket every year of my life. We started out getting them from Master's Chocolates in Detroit. They closed many years ago and we had to seek them out or attempt making them. My sister Patti made them for a few years, but I didn't always live near her. Some shops make little, teeny sad excuses for nests and charged too too much for them. After I went to The French Pastry School a few years ago, I decided to make them for myself.

I made them for the folks I worked with at Le Francais prior to leaving (it was the week of Easter) and they couldn't figure out what they were. I realized that many of them were not of the Christian faith and didn't ever have an easter basket. However, they loved them and I have been making them for customers for two years. They are a big seller. And I don't charge a fortune.

I also upgraded my chocolate this year. I used to use a real nice, high quality chocolate and it was fantastic. However, after taking a class with Norman Love, of Norman Love's Chocolates in Florida, I decided to use Felchlin chcocolate which is incredible and a definite step up in the world of chocolate. It is smoooooth and deep tasting. I am really happy with it.

I bake the coconut, not to toast it, only to dry it. Then I temper the chocolate and blend them together. I form the nests and add the jelly beans. I package them up and tie them with a bow. They are adorable and yummy.

In the Kitchen with my Girl

Emma made her first batch of chocolate chunk cookies. She started off by marveling at the giant bar of chocolate I was cutting chunks off of and proceeded to sneak many chunks. Quality control, I guess. She made some kick ass white chocolate/milk chocolate chunk cookies. Her she is giving a thumbs up to her first batch!

Congratulations! It's a Tart!

I had such a nice time making this tart. It was beautiful every step of the way. I love to roll the dough and fit it into the ring. I love to mix the filling, slice the apples, brush on the butter, sprinkle the vanilla sugar and then glaze with the cinnamon caramel when it's still hot. Here is summer and fall all in a tart. It smells fresh, rich, homey and inviting. This is the mama tart and below you will see the babies.


I fall in love with my baked goods. I really do. They are like a good secret, safe to share, doesn't hurt anyone, makes everyone smile.