Lychee Compote with Raspberries and Champagne Gelée

Everyone knows the best way to kick off a NYE party is with a tall glass of sweet bubbly.  But, what if you could have your champagne and eat it too?  You can do exactly that with this yummy, boozy dessert.  It's got champagne and all its tiny bubbles in a jiggly-jello form.  It's like a jello shot, but with class.  OK, I'm sorry I said that.  I've had a few jello shots in my past, I admit.  But, once you taste the champagne gelée in this dessert, you'll never want to force those vodka laced jello cubes down your throat again. The sweetness of the lychees and slight tartness of the raspberries lend this dessert a refreshing finish, perfect for following that enormous last-meal-of-the-year you'll be having later tonight.  I feel stuffed just thinking about it.

Mint Chocolate Macarons

T'was the day before Christmas and all through the house, 

All the kitchen appliances were stirring, while lounging away was my spouse.  

Many cookies and cakes I've baked with much care, 

In hopes that the test tasters would send "Mmmm's" through the air.  

The baking ingredients were nestled all snug on their shelves, 

Wishing they'd be made into treats for Santa's elves.

And when I first saw the peppermint extract at the store, 

I've been wondering and thinking what recipe to use it for.  

When there from the fridge came an inspired and clear vision, 

I joyously jumped for my very good decision.         

Magic Custard Cake

With the magic of the holiday season in the air, I thought I'd finally share this magical recipe with you.  This cake is perfect for the winter season, especially if you want to avoid the chilly outdoors and just stay in.  I bet you probably have all the ingredients for this recipe sitting in your cupboards and fridge right now.  And if you don't, I'm sure your good neighbors will lend you some of theirs. Just be sure to give them a slice or two of this cake when it's done.....if you're willing to part with them, that is.

Christmas Devil's Food Cake

I know there's no such term as a "Christmas Devil," but it kinda has a nice ring to it, don't you think? It's what I'd call those moronic people who have the nerve to tackle others to the floor in the middle of the toy aisle, just to get their hands on the hottest toy of the year so that their kids will love them for a good 29 seconds on Christmas morning.  Luckily, I've never been a victim of one of these Christmas Devils or witnessed their terrorizing first-hand, but I do believe it happens.  Haven't you seen the movie "Jingle All The Way," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger?? Granted, I probably shouldn't base my beliefs around what happens in Schwarzenegger movies, but that one is somewhat tolerable and gives you that good ol' warm and fuzzy holiday feeling.

Eggnog Macarons

Don't you just love the holidays?  It's my most favorite time of the year!  If you haven't started listening to the Christmas station on the radio, you better get a move on.  You're really missing out on all the fun of singing along to Wham's "Last Christmas." Yes, it's one of my favorites.  I'm not ashamed to admit it.  But, don't worry.  If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, just tune into KOIT 96.5 FM.  You'll hear it within the next two hours, I guarantee it.  I have a theory that they intentionally refrain from updating their Christmas playlist so the lyrics become so ingrained in your head that you can't help but to sing-a-long.  Not that I mind.  I actually love singing along to the same songs year after year after year.  :)

Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

I was very lucky to receive some beautiful Meyer lemons from a colleague right before Thanksgiving.  Since I didn't have time to use them that week, I put them in the fridge so they wouldn't rot (heaven forbid!), and I've been thinking about them ever since.

I've never baked with Meyer lemons before, so I was really excited to search for the perfect recipe for them.  One that would let them flaunt their bright, citrus-y sweet flavor.  That's when I found this Meyer lemon pound cake recipe.  It has double the lemon flavor, both in the pound cake and lemon glaze......score!  But, I had just a little problem.  I didn't have enough Meyer lemons.  Of course, this kind of thing always happens to me.

Chocolate Pot de Creme

I am exhausted.  I had two very productive days of shopping the after-Thanksgiving sales in Oregon with zero percent sales tax (woo hoo!!).  Add onto that a 6:00 am flight back home today, which means I've been up and about since 3:30 this morning.  I'm bordering on being in a zombie-like state right now.  I told MAC earlier tonight, as he was laying very tiredly on the sofa, to start thinking about getting ready for bed.  Then I looked at the clock.  It said 6:22 pm. Ha ha!  We both had a good laugh, then perked up a little.  We refused to succumb to 72-year old behavior just yet.

Even though I am sitting here with my eyes drooping, I'm writing this post to help keep myself awake.  In fact, I could really use one of these chocolate packed desserts to give me a nice little caffeine buzz, but they're all gone.  Eaten.  And they were delicious.  Just as well, though.  Last week I had one of these for dessert after dinner and couldn't fall asleep until about 1:00 am. I'm a caffeine light-weight, or "cheap date" as some of you might say.  There's a lot of chocolate in this recipe, so if you are like me, heed this warning.

Chocolate Toffee Cookies

Back in August, I wanted to do something special for MAC's co-workers since they've been very supportive of him over the last several months, but I wasn't sure what it was. I knew, from MAC, that they all love the 4C's.  I'm talking about the sweeter, edible 4C's - candy, chocolate, cookies, and cupcakes.  I thought about having some gourmet cookies or cupcakes delivered to them.  But, somehow I didn't feel that charging something on my credit card was a suitable expression of my appreciation.  That seemed a little too easy and effortless.  So, I decided to employ one of my favorite beliefs.  I believe that one of the best ways to show your gratitude or affection to people is to make them something with your own hands.    

I was never an avid baker.  I baked once, maybe twice, a year, and it was mostly the stuff that comes in a box or a tube.  Don't judge me.  I really thought it was a good thing.  But, I had planned to bake more. I wanted to. I even registered for an electric hand mixer for our wedding.....and was lucky enough to get it.  So, now I had everything I needed to expand my baking repertoire, except for a few key ingredients, which I could easily pick up at the grocery store.  The hard part is actually doing it, but I did.  After that, I didn't have any excuses.  Now I had to bake something.  

Lemon and Chocolate Layered Rose Cake

Ever since I saw this rose cake on i am baker a few weeks ago, I have been dying to bake one myself.  I knew it was THE cake for my first attempt at cake making.  I had pictured it in my head - two layers of rich chocolate cake with a creamy vanilla buttercream filling, covered in stunning white roses......or maybe light pink roses?.....Or I could also make dark pink roses... Okay fine, so I had three versions of this cake in my head.  But, one thing was certain - I was ready to bake this cake.

There was just one problem...

I didn't really have a good reason to make a towering, 2-layer-high cake filled with a buttercream frosting layer, and covered in even more buttercream frosting roses.  I couldn't justify having to gorge myself on all that cakey goodness afterwards just because I simply wanted to bake this cake. Even though I outfitted my kitchen, in anticipation of my big cake day, with the basic cake making tools, like an offset spatula, a pretty cake stand, and the ultimate cake caddy fitted with a turntable, it didn't mean that I was obligated to put them to immediate use. So, I was stuck. Stuck without a good reason, but I really wanted needed one to bake that cake......STAT. So, I kinda, sorta made one up.

Rustic Pear Galette

I'm really lucky that MAC is so easy-going when it comes to the food I put in front of him. Before I started this blog, I had the same 7 or 8 dishes that I would rotate on a monthly basis. I didn't have to think about these recipes.  I would just be on auto-pilot while I chopped, stirred, sautéed, and simmered.  If I was feeling really lazy one week, I'd opt to make a big pan (or pot) of something that would last us for 4, maybe 5, nights at the most.  I bet even foie gras would get pretty tiring after eating it for 5 days in a row, no?  Now, imagine eating some average home cook's unimaginative meals for 5 nights straight.  You feel sorry for MAC, don't you?  But, as monotonous and dreary as it was for him to chow down on the same thing night after night, I have never heard a peep or whine out of MAC.  I know, he's the best.

But, yesterday when I served MAC this pear galette for our mid-day lunch (yes, lunch),  I completely expected him to blurt out something like, "Is this what we're having for lunch?" or make some sort of proclamation that would suggest that his wife has gone totally bonkers for thinking that this fruit pastry could pass for a meal.  But, I was wrong.  He didn't say anything.  In fact, he was quite excited about having a slice of this galette for a meal that wasn't breakfast.  And, I don't blame him.  This stuff is delicious!  And, it's a snap to make!  Of course, I say that because I already had some leftover pie dough in the freezer, so I saved a little bit of time on having to make the dough.  But, even if you have to make the dough first, you'll see this recipe is still pretty darn simple.   

Vanilla Bean Buttercream Macarons

I know, I know.  It's another macaron post.  Sorry, but I had to.  Thanksgiving is coming up and I promised my sister-in-law that I would teach her how to make them when we're visiting.  So..., I have to get some valuable practice sessions in before then.  (I'm so glad I get to use that as an excuse to make more macarons......woohoo!)  The inspiration for this vanilla bean flavor comes from a guy named, Joe.  Trader Joe, that is.  

I can't tell you how much I LOVE Trader Joe's.  Really, really love.  It is my go-to grocery sanctuary. You'll find me there every Sunday morning, toting around my red Trader Joe's canvas shopping bags while steering one of their candy apple red shopping carts.  MAC jokes that it's my weekly date with Joe.  But, I must admit, it wasn't love at first sight.  I used to think Trader Joe's was too expensive and thought it was just a supplemental grocery store that only carried a handful of my food necessities.  I would only step inside its doors if I was nearby and really needed a basic ingredient, like milk, eggs, or cheese, in a pinch.  But those feelings have long changed.  I love Trader Joe's for its simplicity.  I love them for the quality of their goods, and for selling only preservative-free foods and all-natural goods. I love them for selling items with ingredients that are recognizable and contain no more than five syllables.  I love Trader Joe's for their Vanilla Joe Joe's Sandwich Cookies.  Oh, and also for their Honey Nut O's Cereal.  And, let's not forget their Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies.....  Okay, I'll stop here because this list can go on for another ten minutes.

Rose Meringue Buttercream Macarons

Until you've made your own macarons, you will never understand why people become so crazy when it comes to baking them.  We spend every chance we get trying different recipes, different flavors, different mixing techniques, different ratios of ingredients, different baking temperatures, time after time, making them over and over until they are exactly perfect.  Then, we repeat the entire process over again because while we may have gotten them perfect once, doesn't mean we've finally mastered the macaron.  These cookies are notoriously finicky, and in fact, it will most likely take more than a few attempts to replicate that perfect cookie again, and we are ever so willing to subject ourselves to it with steadfast smiles and clean spatulas in hand.  No, it's not OCD.  It's just a normal, run-of-the-mill obsession.  Really.  We are perfectly sane and reasonable people, who have very good reasons for behaving this way.  Or, at least I do.  

Reason #1: These cookies are insanely delicious.  With rich buttercream or silky ganache sandwiched between almond meringue cookies, they're easily one of my favorite desserts.  And, the flavor possibilities are endless!

Reason #2: They are simply lovely to look at.  Sometimes I like to just stare at them in their beautiful array of colors, which always makes me giddy with happiness.  I know some of you like doing that, too.  Admit it.   

Reason #3: It was on my "honey-do" list.  My dear husband doesn't ask a lot from me, so when he does, I try my best to oblige.  Macarons were at the top of his list of things for me to bake as soon as I got my shiny, red KitchenAid stand mixer.  So, I can't very well serve him cracked, footless, or burnt macarons, agreed?

And, perhaps the most important.... 

Sweet Potato Buttermilk Pie

I had some ingredients that were hanging out and taking up some valuable space in my kitchen, like four good-sized sweet potatoes leftover from a 10-lb bag I bought at Costco, and half a carton of buttermilk, which I needed to make these.  So,  I thought, "Hmmmm....what can I make with sweet potato and buttermilk.......sweet potato, buttermilk........  Duh! PIE!"  I know you're rolling your eyes at me right now. Forgive me, I'm new at this baking thing.   

This was the very first pie I made....ever.  Sure, I've made a pumpkin pie once or twice for Thanksgiving before.  But, those don't count.  I made them with pre-made pie crusts and canned pumpkin.  See, I told you they don't count.  So, for this pie, my very first pie, I was a wee bit scared.  I knew pie crusts were difficult to make, but I've been able to pull off some difficult recipes on the first try.  So, I imagined my first pie looking beautiful - with a flaky, golden crust, and nice, even crimps perfectly framing the smooth delicious filling.  Unfortunately, as you can see, that wasn't the case.

Halloween Whoopie Pies

I needed something easy to make for a Halloween treat.  I've been baking French macarons almost every chance I get.  Why?  Because I have a macaron baking obsession.  Or maybe it's an addiction.  Whatever you call it, I wanted a little reprieve to try something new and simple.  Something that wouldn't make my head hurt from overthinking the process and techniques.  Something that I could pull off with one try. And something that wasn't pumpkin-flavor.  I LOVE pumpkin.  Pumpkin pie, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin bread, pumpkin curry, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin cheesecake, you name it.  But, MAC won't eat it.  He doesn't like the flavor.  Not even a little.  I still ask him every year if he'll share a piece of pumpkin pie with me, hoping that, by some miracle, his picky taste buds changed their minds.  I always get the same answer, "No, I don't like pumpkin." I will always be in denial of this very sad fact.  

So, in my search for a special Halloween treat we would both like, I came across this recipe for Halloween Whoopie Pies on Food and Wine.  It contains chocolate, check!  Cake, check!  Marshmallows, check!  I knew these babies would be perfect.

Sourdough Bread Bowls

I'm starting to feel the chill in the autumn air.....brrrrrr.  That means leggings during the day and long pajamas at night.  Yes, even in California.  We prefer it to be a steady 74 degrees.  When it gets even 1 degree below that, we all break out our winter coats.  Ok, maybe that's just me.  But, since I grew up in Hawaii, I think I have a legitimate excuse, right?

So, with the colder, 64 degree weather sending shockwaves through my body, I thought it was time for some warm soup to fill our bellies.  What better way to celebrate this wonderful San Francisco Bay Area with some clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls!  Just the thought of that takes me back to San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.  Sure, it's a huge tourist trap with herds of people no matter what time of day it is. But, MAC and I have an annual tradition of going to the crab stands at the wharf as soon as crab season starts.  Fisherman's Grotto is our go-to crab stand.  It's all the way at the end of the street, so we don't feel like we're fighting for elbow space when digging into our crab and chowder.  Also, we like that the white-haired man always cracks just the slightest of smiles when he sees us returning every year.  How cute is that?  We always get two dungeness crabs (extra large ones by request), a clam chowder in a bread bowl, and two beers.  Then, the fun begins.  This is the only time of year MAC and I are willing to subject ourselves to sitting out in the cold for more than 15 minutes.  In fact, it usually takes us a good 45 minutes to thoroughly enjoy that delicious meal, so you know it's gotta be darn good. We take turns scooping that chunky clam chowder from the bread bowl, in between the hacking and cracking of crab legs and long, thirsty swigs of beer.  Our favorite part is the crab body.  It's a labyrinth of lumps of sweet crab meat just waiting to be found. At the end of our smorgesborg, I'll usually find MAC picking crab pieces out of my hair and off my jacket. He's very sweet.

Number "1"

I have been having a really great October, like really great.  I'm starting to think it's my lucky month. Why?  Well, the first time I met my husband, MAC, was in October, four years ago.  The first time I won anything in my life was in October, two years ago.  What did I win?  An iPad.  MAC and I had the most lovely outdoor wedding in October last year.  What makes it lucky?  Well, besides the fact that I married the man that makes my heart whole, the rain that started falling the night before our big day had stopped early the next the morning. Yes, lucky.  Oh, and….. MAC and I swam with 8-foot sharks in the Pacific Ocean on our honeymoon that same month, and didn't get torn to shreds.  I'd say that's pretty darn lucky.  Granted, they were  lemon sharks….but still.

For this October, I'm considering it lucky because it's the "October for Firsts."  MAC and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary in a highly anticipated weekend getaway to Napa Valley, and I finally mustered up the courage to post my first entry of my new blog!  After months of ogling a number of beautiful blogs and wishing I could have my own, I finally decided to just do it.  So, here I am.  Now, onto my anniversary weekend with MAC.

I insisted that we have a slice of our wedding cake for breakfast before hitting the road.  How was it, you ask?  Delicious!  I'm not kidding.  We were pleasantly surprised at how moist and flavorful the chocolate ganache was.  The vanilla cake layers were just a tad dry, but still very tasty.  And the fondant tasted the same way it did a year ago.  It was so good, we couldn't resist having a second slice!

Our 1-year old wedding cake

Let's talk about the scrumptious goodies we had in Napa…

If you never had an english muffin from The Model Bakery, I feel for you.  If you're in the area, you should go. Don't think about it, just get up and go. But, go early!  Those things sell out like the latest iPhone on its release date.  I know what you're saying - "but it's just an english muffin," right?  WRONG!  These are heavenly little pillows of bread, so soft and chewy, surrounded by a crust with just the perfect amount of crunch.  I could devour ten of them in one sitting.  I probably would have, had I been one of those smart people carrying a six-pack of muffins out of the store.  Why didn't I think of that? Darn! Rookie mistake...

The Model Bakery's renowned english muffin