TWD: Mini Bundts

Or bundent cake as my honey would say... well we ain't got no mini bundts and we ain't got no milk chocolate either... but what I did have turned into some tasty little cakes regardless.

I replaced the milk chocolate with 1/2 white 1/2 dark (70%), scooped the batter into a cupcake pan and loaded them all up with a nugget of dark chocolate ganache before tossing them in the oven to bake. I was surprised that the ganache just sat there eying me the whole time the cakes were baking..... I was truly expecting them to bubble over into a chocolatey mess. I plated up the warm cakes with a dollop of whipped cream (or whoopcream as the honey would say) and a drizzle of chocolate caramel (he doesn't have any snazzy saying for that tho).

You can grab the recipe from the Queen herself... The Queen of Quite a Lot that is... over at I'm Right About Everything.

Dutch Oven Lovin'

I've been drooling over this Mario Batali Pesto Dutch Oven ever since we got the Pesto Risotto Pot as a wedding gift last year. It was one of those things you put on your registry with your fingers double crossed because it was just gorgeous and poised to be useful in the kitchen! My sister-in-law was good enough to indulge us and we use it all the time. As a matter of fact I will probably make some curry in it tonight. The only thing wrong with it...... is that its fricken HEAVY! Like we bribe each other to put it away kind of heavy. I know that the dutch oven will  be even heavier and may just end up in the back of my cupboard unused. Were only a family of two so this might be overkill for us and a total waste of money. So... if you have a dutch oven of any sort... how often do you use it?

Farmers Markets

I love going out to any Farmers Market...

From the big kahuna in LA The Original Farmers Market which can be more of a tourist attraction than anything else, but if you go, get me some Blueberry Honey please! To more local smaller variety where you elbow yourself into the mix of other patrons vying for the best pluot. My favorite is the Pasadena Victory Park Market which used to be a hop-skip & jump from our old house, I still drag my honey out there on bright and shiny Saturday mornings because they have an awesome egg vendor.

Were pretty lucky here in California, you can probably find one close to you on any given day. I stumbled upon this site (while looking at something completely unrelated/wonders of the internet) I thought it might help you find more markets if you so happen to live round here. http://www.farmernet.com/ 

TWD: Cocoa-Nana Bread

I had such high hopes for this weeks choice of Cocoa-Nana bread because I always have some old bananas laying around. It smelled delicious baking and looks delicious but this came out dry and not very good in my opinion (but the hubster likes it) maybe sitting overnight will help distribute the moisture a bit? Maybe I'm just stuck in my ways because my last few attempted banana recipes just couldn't cut it either. Black & White Banana Loaf, the combo of nutmeg, lemon & rum didn't agree with me, I couldn't even keep it in the house long enough for anyone else to try it. Banana Butterscotch Muffins, the butterscotch chips overpowered the faint banana flavor. Reining banana leftover champion still remains Banana Bread from an old Betty Crocker's cookbook.

You can find this weeks Tuesdays with Dorie recipe over at Obsessed with Baking by Steph.

TWD: Chocolate Oatmeal Almost-Candy Bars

Oh these are so good! I just cut them up and mistakenly ate 2. Reasoning that because I cut them in fairly smallish 2x2 pieces, eating 2 of them is like really eating 1 right? And they are choc full of oats, yeah oats are fiber and good for you right? Uh yeah bad idea.... I need to go lay down now.  You can grab the recipe from Lilliana over at Confectiona's Realm or page 114 & 115 in Baking from My Home to Yours.

TWD: Mrs. Vogel's Scherben

You could never tell by looking at me...but I don't fry allot of things. No really I don't! I promise! So just quit shaking your head and staring at my fat arse! So even with the very catchy name and the promise of tasty treats I had already decided to skip the Scherben. You can go check out Spork or Foon? for the recipe because they do look lovely. Not at all like the fried tortilla pictures I was expecting from everyone!

Morning Hookie

Its about 8:23am and I'm supposed to be at work. I'm feeling under the weather, so I'm waiting for a piece of toast to settle down a bit so I can take some Advil cold&sinus (my savior).

Anyhoo to pass the time I thought I would share a photo of this flower arrangement I saw at my in-laws 50th wedding anniversary. It was at the venue as an advertisement for the florist Im guessing because it has a stack of business cards nestled in there.

So here's my question.... Anyone know what those bulbous green things are? I'd love to know. They were kinda spongy and hallow.

Stay tuned for the cake I made for this particular party. I was so nervous to make it and it came out just lovely if I do say so myself.

TWD: Tarte Tatin

What! A Tuesdays with Dorie post... on an actual Tuesday! Its a Xmakwanzannukkah2k10 Miracle! Sorry for joking about our beloved holidays but it being January 5th and all... I am just burnt the hell out! I'm sure you've all noticed they started cracking out the candy hearts around the 16th of December... no joking. My sister in law thought I was full of it when I told her I was standing in front of Valentines Day stuff, I wish I had taken a picture for her and for you guys as proof!

This week we had 2 choices to celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of TWD Tarte Tatin or Cocoa Buttermilk Birthday cake. But don't tell my honey about that part (good thing he never reads this) because he will be mad I chose baked apples over chocolate.  You can find both recipes over on Laurie's blog Slush.

As for Tarte Tatin, back when I was in culinary school they told us this wicked story about two sisters, I don't know if its true but you can read it for yourself if you clickity click here. All in all this is just a lazy mans apple pie. I made mine using Honey Crisp Apples in a mini skillet, it was a little bland because I was being lazy and rushed with the crust by barely measuring the 1/3 of a recipe but nothing a little caramel ice cream can't cure! And besides I will feel far less guilty eating it for breakfast tomorrow (without the ice cream I promise) since its not too sweet ;)