Find me on Amazon.com

I needed a way to sell my Culinary textbooks beside my bookstore at school since their hours are no where convient to anyone on campus. Then I got to thinking, I have so many things around my house that I do not use or barely have used that I could easily sell and put cash back in my pocket. So I jumped on Amazon.com and put my textbooks up for sale on Wedesnday afternoon before work. By the time I got home I already had sold 3 of them!!!It is so easy to sell your product and amazon pays you money to ship them yourself! Just today I put up 10 black outdoor lanterns that we used for the wedding for $5 each, $4 cheaper then anyone else online!So check me out for upcoming product and the best deal! CulinaryStudent85!!!

He Put A Ring on it!

Nathan and I were married Saturday August 20th on a gorgeous 80 degree day in front of our friends and family. The day was perfect and I could not have asked for more except for time. The day flew by so quickly, I wish weddings could be more then just a day!!

I am so excited to start our new life as a married couple and experience all the perks!

There are a ton of photos already posted on my facebook from all my friends but incase you are not on my facebook I will update my blog with all the wedding festivity photo's!

Thank you to everyone who came out and celebrated with us! We love you all!

New Job

I started working at Ivars as a chef back in June and have been loving every minute of it

I do not work that much right now becuase I have class Monday through Friday but that will hopefully change in September!

Check out our website for fun facts and coupons!

IVARS

2 weeks & Counting

Today marks the 2 week mark until Nathan and I

get MARRIED!!!

Everything is set and ready to go!

We cannot wait!!!

Just Because

I made this cake a while back just becuase and I never shared it with you all.

We all know how I love my simple vanilla cakes and simple vanilla buttercream!

I think it is cute!

I love Weddings

My Aunt Bridget got married on Saturday to my new Uncle Roy!

I wanted to contribute and offered to make cupcakes as favors for everyone to take home. I made 50 becuase she was having a really intimate wedding. I made chocolate, vanilla and lemon! These are the vanilla with chocolate buttercream frosting on them. Thursday night I rolled out fondant and cut out over a 150 flowers to go on all the cupcakes, they were really cute!

I packaged them in their own little bags so they could easily be grabbed and taken home.
Check out my next post for pictures from the wedding!



Everything is better with Coconut

For Fathers Day I made a 4 layer Coconut Dream Cake.This is a bit of a process but the end result is worth it. Below is the middle step showing you the first 3 layers of cake filled and stacked. Before you ice each layer you will lay down the Coconut glaze which is the picture below before the final product.

COCONUT CAKE

1 c. butter

2 c. sugar

4 eggs

3 c. flour

1/2 tsp salt

3 tsp baking powder

1 c. milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Blend butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add eggs one at a time, beating after each just until egg-color disappears. Sift flour once; add salt and baking powder and sift twice. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk. Stir in vanilla and pour into 3 layer cake pans and bake at 350 F until light brown about 25 min. Cool in pans for about 10 min. and turn out on rack to finish cooling.

Coconut Glaze

1 1/ 2 c. shredded coconut

1/3 c. water

1/4 c. Rum

In small sauce pan on low to medium heat, cook coconut with water and rum just long enough to get all the coconut wet. Spoon over each of the 3 layers of cake, allowing to soak into each layer. Do this as you stack the layers.

Coconut Frosting

5 egg whites

1 1/4 c. light corn syrup

1 1/4 c. sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 c. fresh grated coconut

1 tsp vanilla

Put egg whites, corn syrup and sugar in a large double boiler, and beat until mixed; place over boiling water and cook and beat until beaters make deep tracks in icing and icing peaks and turns glossy. This takes about 8 to 10 min. Be sure to cook long enough. Add vanilla and mix. Spread icing thick on the cake layers and on sides of cake and the top. This recipe makes lots of frosting so be generous.

I toasted my coconut at 350 for about 4 minutes!

Becuase I used my 6 inch cake pans I had enough to make 8 cupcakes for my Grandfather down in Centralia who we were seeing before dinner! Look how cute they look with the toasted coconut on top! Nomnom.

Triple Chocolate Cupcakes::Yes Please

Chocolate Cupcakes

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons butter, softened

1 1/2 cups white sugar

2 eggs

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup milk

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.

Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

 

Milk Chocolate Frosting

1 cup butter

1/2 cup Cocoa Powder

3 cups powdered sugar

2 to 4 tbsp  milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix together starting out on low speed the butter and the powdered sugar. Once blended add the cocoa powder and mix on medium speed. Once incoroporated add the vanilla and the milk one tbsp at a time until the consistentcy is to your liking.

I sprinlked mini chocolate chips and animal crackers on my cupcakes becuase it was what I had in the cupboard. Find something fun in your cupboard to put on top and Happy Baking!

New Job!

Last week I interviewed for a chef position in the locally based restuarant chain IVARS.

They just opened a new restuarant in Puyallup which is only 15 minutes from my house which is not that bad of a commute in the Tacoma and surrounding area.

While at school on Monday I got the phone call from the district manager I interviewed with and was offered the position.

I formally accepted yesterday during our lunch meeting!I start this coming Monday!!

New Hair

It was time for a change. I have never dyed my hair red before and thought I would  be adventerous! I love it, it is almost time for another round seeing as it has lightened up a bit since I took this picture the night I got it done!What do you think?

Cakes Cakes Cakes

The top cake was our very frist cake in advanced baking. The bottom cake is vanilla cake with a raspberry filling covered in simple buttercream, the middle layer is chocolate cake also with raspberry filling covered in Italian Buttercream and the top layer is a Genoise Cake filled with raspberry covered in French Buttercream.
The middle cake is a 3 Tiered Raspberry filled Vanilla cake covered in simple buttercream and fondant. We made the fondant ourselves and dyed the bottom layer blue to represent water, the middle layer is the sand and the top layer is the beach towel. We melted white chocolate into seashell and seacreature molds as the topper and border!
The bottom cake is our final,. It is a 3 Tiered Chocolate Fondant covered cake. The top layer is Strawberry Torte while the bottom two are simple vanilla with a raspberry filling. We got an A and my team kicked Assl
I had a blast making all these cakes and could really see my skills getting better and my word becoming more neat.!

Simple Cupcakes

Add caption

I made simple vanilla cupckes, some dyed hot pink, with a Chocolate Italian buttercream and a Vanilla simple buttercream for Audrey's Birthday party. They didn't last long and these were the only photos I took.

Spotlight: Tracey's Culinary Adventures

I love sharing blogs or people in general that I love or that I find inspiration from. I had been wanting to make Margarita Cupcakes for a while now since we had a discussion in class about them and until I found the recipe  on Tracey's Culinary Adventures I wasnt sure when it would happen.

Please check out Tracey's Culinary Adventures, she has so many great ideas and recipes that have yet to fail me.

CHECK HER OUT!

Margarita Cupcakes

I made these delicious babies for class on Wedensday. They came out great, everyone in my class loved them, it was a great way to get through Hump Day.

Lime Cupcakes

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs, at room temperature

2 limes, zested and juiced

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup buttermilk, at room temperature

1 tablespoon tequila (for brushing the tops, if desired)

Preheat oven to 325 F. Line muffins tins with paper liners.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Mix in the lime zest, juice and vanilla (it may look curdled at this point, don't worry it will come together). With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients (in three additions) alternately with the buttermilk, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Beat just until incorporated.

Divide the batter among the paper liners, filling each about 3/4-full. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the cupcakes spring back when pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and brush the warm cupcakes with tequila. Let rest for about 5 minutes, then remove the cupcakes from the pans and let cool completely before frosting.

Makes 12 cupcakes

Tequila-Lime Buttercream

adapted from Cook's Illustrated Easy Vanilla Buttercream and Brown Eyed Baker

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 3/4 - 3 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

1-2 tablespoons tequila

pinch salt

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. With the mixer on low, slowly add 2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar a little at a time until completely incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl then beat in the lime juice, 1 tablespoon of tequila and the salt. Increase the mixer to medium speed and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy, about 4 minutes, stopping once to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Taste the frosting and decide if you want to add the remaining tablespoon of tequila. If so, beat to incorporate. If you want a slightly firmer consistency for piping, add the remaining 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar to the frosting.

The frosting can be made a few days ahead and refrigerated. When you are ready to use it, let it come to room temperature and then beat briefly before piping.

Frost the cooled cupcakes with the buttercream. Garnish with lime zest or lime wedges, if desired. I rolled mine in Spanish Sea Salt like you would a Margarita glass!

Audrey turns 2!!!

P.S Have I ever mentioned that I have amazing girlfriends



And that our Daughter is possibly the most adorable child! I can't believe she is 2!



My wonderful Fiance cooked for almost 40 people!

Meet my Stepdaughter Hayley, she is awesome!



Christy and her 2 year old Penny



Audrey was not to keen on opening gifts so I gave her her little individual cake while I opened the rest. Overall the day was perfect and I am so thankful for our friends and family that helped celebrate Audreys Birthday!

May if for Birthdays!

My good friend Jamie's Son Christopher turned 1 on April 23rd but we celebrated early in May.! He is the cutest chubby cheeked boy.....ever.

Look how cute his little cake is

Audrey of coarse made a new friend!




Christopher's Grandma made him a little reading nook/stage out of his closet in his room at her house! It is the cutest idea.

 

Harry Potter Exhibit

Back in January as a birthday present to my Mom I bought us tickets to the Harry Potter Exhibit. My best friend Sam and my cousin Jennifer, who lives in Seattle joined us!The tour was filled with costumes and props from all the movies from beginning to end. It was amazing to see how tiny the clothes were in the first movie to how large some of the props were for example the jack in the box from one of the films is almost 10 feet tall just the box alone. I don't know if it is coming to your town but you should check it out if it does, it is worth the money. We also went out to lunch by the University of Washington and did some shopping at the University Village. It was the perfect day!

Gorgeous Weather in Washington!?!?!?

We took full advantage of the sunny skies and warm climate a few weekends ago and headed down to the Farmers Market on Proctor. It is small but has a lot to offer. Nathan had Indian Chicken with a Cilantro Sauce that was cooling and refreshing while Audrey and I had a packed lunch. We didn't buy anything becuase we didn't have any cash but trust us we will be back. Check out your local farmers markets for the best fresh product from local farmers!

He Drives Me Bonkers

but I adore him. I am talking about my best guy friend Justin Baker. We have been friends since the 6th grade, yes over ten years. He turned 25 at the end of April so we all got together in Seattle for a night of Sushi and dueling piano's! It was a fun night, after the little hiccup at Umi, the Sake house we went to for dinner! They don't split the bill for you so it took 7 of us 45 minutes to figure out how much each party had to pay, it was exhausting and annoying but we got through it! Sorry the photos are out of order, my blog is being tempermental today.



 




 





Mid-Reveal

Here is my before shot

After dropping 25 pounds, I am now down 28!!

New Book

I am currently reading Book 1 of The Hunger Game series. It is really good so far and I am looking forward to finishing it and starting the new book. They are currently shooting the movie version and it should be out sometime next year.

Weight Loss Journey

Well it is time for another update. It has been 3 months since I first weighed in and started this journey. I have lost a total of..........25 pounds!!! I have worked really hard to get to this point. A lot of sweat, hard workouts and a new way of eating. I have reached a new point in my journey and that is to keep the weight I have lost off. I am starting a new weight loss journey called the HCG drop regimen. I will start this Saturday and I am looking so forward to being even more healthy and at a healthier weight! If you want to know more about the HCG drops all the information is at Omnitrition.com!!

Happy Easter

I hope everyone has an amazing Easter filled with love and laughter!!

Book Review

A few weeks ago I finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. It is the 3rd book in the trilogy series along with The Davinci Code and Angels and Demons, which I have both read. Just like the first two books this book was filled with suspense and excitement. The novel takes yuo on a journey througout Washington D.C's most famous landmarks in search of a hidden secret that will save the life of a few different people. The ending was packed full of secrets and revelations answering many of my questions I had throughout the novel. Some of the facts in the book are true and some of coarse are fiction. I am not going to lie I did google some of the monuments listed in the book and did a little more research, I was that intrerested. So if you like excitement, suspense, thrill and interesting facts some true some false about our country I reccommend it.

TUTU

I think Tutu's are adorable on babies and little kids. I want to make one for Audrey and one for my cousins daughter who is 6 months younger then her. I know of a girl that make the most adorable ones out of her home that I will most likely use as a template. Here is my idea for Audrey's, I think it would be cute if she wore it for her 2nd birthday party next month!

Old Fashioned

We got the girls' photo taken in February. It was an old fashioned photo shoot with music from the early 1900's and the props and clothes were gorgeous. We only chose one pose becuase of how much they cost per shot but here it is. They are super adorable and are looking more and more alike everyday.

Shake That Money Maker

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you all to the amazing cardio high intensity workout known as ZUMBA!! Zumba essentially is a fast paced latin style dancing workout. My class sometimes incorporates hip hop and bollywood style dancing to fun music!I have been doing Zumba classes every Tuesday and Thursday for about a month now and it has been fun and given me so much energy. Not to mention help me lose 20 pounds!! You forget that you are even working out which I think is the best part. Enjoy the clip and find a class near you if not for the workout, for the fun time I know you will have!

Wedding Centerpeices

So ignore the color of the table runner and the flowers themselves since our colors are black and purple but you get the gist of my idea for the centerpieces. We are going to have several different types of vases tall and short filled with Farmers Market flowers filling up the middle of the tables. Surrounding the flowers will be candles and little trivia cards with famous quotes for our guests to enjoy while socializing. I love how the difference in heights adds drama to the tables without over doing it!

5 1/2 Months

Until I marry my Best Friend and love Nathan! Things are moving along so well with the Wedding planning. Early April we will be paying off the Photographer, DJ and we will also be placing our order for our Cupcakes! We decided to go with a bakery instead of homemade cupcakes because we wanted to be realistic about how busy we will be in the week leading up to the Wedding. I didn't want anyone especially myself being overwhelmed with making cupcakes and the time it would take along with everything else. We still have so much to do but I am excited to cross more items of my To Do list.

Weight Loss Update

Well it has almost been 2 months since I started my weight loss journey. I have now lost a total of 16 pounds and still going strong. I go to the gym at least 5 times a week and have Zumba every Tuesday and Thursday. If they offer Zumba in your area DO IT. It is the most intense full body workout and it is so fun, it hardly feels like a workout. My goal is still 30 pounds total if not more so we will see where I am in a month and go from there!

1 Cupcake 3 Frostings..O the possibilities

Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Chiffon Buttercream, Coconut Infused Buttercream topped with shaved Coconut and Classic Vanilla Buttercream. Nathans birthday was Friday the 18th and my best friend Sams birthday was this Tuesday the 22nd. I made them each a dozen of these babies! Sam had 2 in one night!

Lucky number 13

To date since the end of January I have lost 13 pounds. I have being eating lighter and working out at least3 to 4 times a week. My best friend Sam and I are starting our Zumba class this Thursday and have the class every Tuesday and Thursday. Every other day we plan on just working out with with a lot of cardio and some strength training. I have also been working on my core as well! I am so happy with the results and I even get to enjoy a lot of my favorites foods but with smaller portions. My goal as stated before is about 30 if not more! Wish me luck!

Cast Free

Audrey's cast came off yesterday afternoon after 3 weeks. We had x rays done and it showed that her tibia is back to being nice and straight. Although she did not appreciate the saw they use to cut off the cast or the x ray technician holding her down she was awesome. We were so proud of her that we took her out for some ice cream after wards. I am so proud of my little girl for being so brave. I have not even had to wear a cast, EVER in my life so for my daughter, only being 1, having to sport one no matter how cute it was broke my heart. She was pretty nervous about putting weight on these last 24 hours but for about the last 2 she has been walking all around the living room! She is so brave and growing up so fast!

UPDATE::Life

This is me at my heaviest, I wont disclose the number yet because I am on a mission to lose at least 30 if not more before my Wedding which is in 6 months from now. I am on a eating and workout routine that is really working for me!

This is after I lost 10 pounds! I have lost a total of 12 to date!

For my Mom's birthday I bought tickets to the Harry Potter Exhibition.It was amazing. Thousands of props, costumes and items from the movies!After the Exhibition we spent the rest of the day in Seattle having lunch then doing a little shopping.

Valentines Day I was laid up in bed with a nasty stomach bug so we didn't do anything special but Nathan did get me these gorgeous pink tulips and really cute card that brightened my day!

Nathan's birthday was Friday the 18th, so I surprised him with a trip to the top of the Space Needle for a picnic because he had never been! Then I took him to Jubilee, a antique candy and cupcake shop, I think I am going to apply to work there!