Crème Caramel

Brain farts.  We've all experienced them. Sometimes they're harmless little lapses in judgment, like forgetting to pick up milk at the grocery store.  Other times they can have a little more impact that completely throws off your day, like forgetting your cell phone at home.  Then, there are the big ones, like the one I had last week.  It was so bad it stank up my office for two days.  Yes, believe it or not, I'm still talking about brain farts, not the other kind.

My Happy Birthday Macaron Cake

My birthday was a couple of weeks ago, but I've been debating whether or not to post this recipe.  This cake turned out less than spectacular, but since it was the first birthday cake I made for myself, I thought I'd document it anyway.  Although the finished cake was quite tasty with the strawberry jam filling, the cake layers were very dense, almost like a pound cake.  The whipped vanilla frosting had so much air in it that it was difficult to smooth it out when frosting the cake.  And, the colors just didn't turn out right.  The best part of the cake wasn't the cake, but the matcha macarons that I made to crown the top of it.  However, that recipe will be in a later post.

Despite my birthday cake disaster, I had a lovely birthday celebration, thanks to MAC.  While we weren't lucky enough to get a call from Gary Danko telling us that a reservation had opened up (darn!), MAC took me to Kokkari Estiatoria, located in San Francisco's Financial District, for dinner.  He's promised to take me there ever since we started dating, about four years ago.  It's quite a popular restaurant, and difficult to get a reservation, especially on the weekend.  After dining there, I can understand why.

Mango Bubble Tea

Mmmm.....boba drinks!   They're one of my favorite weekend treats.  I just love slurping up those chewy tapioca pearls with my milk tea through fat, colorful straws.  They do look a little freaky at first, as if little black eyeballs sank to the bottom of your drink.  But, once you get past that image and try it, they're actually quite fun!  The tapioca pearls don't have any flavor.  They're like very chewy, unflavored gelatin.  So why would someone put them in a drink in the first place?  Beats me.  But, I think they add an interesting texture and novelty to the normal, boring drink.

Chocolate-Dipped Chocolate Shortbread Cookies

Okay, so I bought a heart-shaped cookie cutter this past weekend.  I tried really hard to resist its cuteness and just walk on by, but it really wanted to come home with me so, so badly.  Then, of course I just had to have the super adorable red and pink jumbo heart sprinkles to keep it company.  I don't know what it is about hearts that make me so giddy with excitement.  Even as a little girl, I'd draw them over and over again in a rainbow of colors.  But, then again, what little girl doesn't do that, right?