Monday, March 31, 2008

Macaroon Madness On The Run

Photo From Serious Eats



My lastest interest is little desserts. Naturally the French macaroon came to mind, with them being such a worldwide craze right now. I am not over the cupcake craze, but am very interested in learning the exquisite intricacies of The Macaron (notice French spelling). Way too many bloggers have posts on them to list here. For fun's sake though I will list some of my favorites: Mad Baker, Chubby Hubby, Cake On The Brain and etc.


Why do I love The Macaroon, you ask? What is not to love? A petite cookie that makes you feel like a french lady in her designer clothes sitting by the Seine? The cookie itself is Beautiful and the thought that comes to mind just looking at their gorgeousness brings me back....back to a time when I was young(er), but that is too much story for today.


One of our activities right now is Girl's On The Run. Apparently my oldest daughters cannot run enough. Besides playing soccer they are also running on their days off. They are identical twins and I do wonder if they do it because deep down they just can't stand not to be competitive all of the time. This year they also wanted me to coach for them so one day a week I am right there with them. Unfortunately my running passion left me when I was up eight times a night with two baby girls. It never came back after eleven years. Thanks to my blogger friends I have discovered the Couch To 5K program and I am on my way to completing that 5K with my daughters. Due to our chaotic schedule I am forced to adjust it on my own, but it is very realistic for getting up to the 5K mark.


With all the running there is virtually no baking going on. I finally used up all of the cream from my previous whoopie pies...it lasts a long time refrigerated! Yes I still need to post pics and just when I found time and energy to get online my camera battery was dead. Funny, making a short stop into Walgreen's for a battery is low on priority when I have to tow in my four year old son to get it.


I have found a great website to share with you though. Vanilla Bake Shop has a beautiful web site and Hollywood-worthy cakes and cupcakes. Amy Berman left her day job on Will & Grace (yes, the show) and went to pastry school. But she says she is finally happy...even after being so successful in La La land. How inspiring!

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

World's Largest Bake Sale

Tempt your sweet-tooth and join us for a Mall of America sized version of Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale. Over 40, 000 mouth-watering treats baked from Food Network celebrity recipes by students from the Arts Institute International Minnesota will be available to tempt your palate. Sandra Lee star of Food Network's "Semi-Homemade" will be signing copies of her latest books. Duff Goldman from "Ace of Cakes" will be attempting to achieve a world's record for building the largest cupcake. A special cookie jar sale will round out the day's events. Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale is a national campaign that mobilizes Americans to end childhood hunger by holding bake sales in their communities.
Since 2003, more than 1 million people have participated in Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale, raising nearly $4 million to ensure that no child in America grows up hungry.Sunday, March 30, 200811 a.m Rotunda


If you are in Minneapolis this weekend, check it out! This reminds me that I have not uploaded my picks from the kids' bake sale. I am happy to report the whoopie pies went fabulously quickly. Amazingly I was quickly e-mailed with requests for the recipe which made me feel like I must be doing something right.


Yes, I have been too busy carting the kids to and fro to pay any attention to my sugar friends. As I drive I really do think about all of the lovely posts I could provide you all with once the spring sports rush dies down. For all of you soccer moms out there, I bow down to you!

Monday, March 17, 2008

Win Your Favorite Cake at Brides.com

Jan Kish-La Petite FleurColumbus, OH Kish based her stately mossgreen cake on an English boxwood garden. Fondant gold-edged cake with piped royal icing Fiji mums and fondant leaves and stems. $13.50 per slice, serves 155; jankishlapetitefleur.com.




Happy St. Paddy's Day everyone! I had to find a green cake for us all to drool over and Brides delivered for me! The above cake is a Jan Kish cake and I have been a fan of her since I saw her interesting website early last year.

And if you really love this cake, vote for it over at Brides in their Vote For-And Win-Your Favorite Cake. How exciting is that? The top wedding cake designers in this country have their gorgeous creations in this contest....so step your little leprechaun fingers over to Brides and vote for your favorite!