Salted Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bars

Once a month, my dad and his friends get together to play a friendly game of poker, and I usually provide some sweets!  Recently, I was asked to make whatever I wanted - and I decided that this was a great opportunity to try out something new.

I have TONS of all sorts of recipes pinned on Pinterest - and these Salted Caramel Chocolate Shortbread Bars stood out.  Melt in your mouth shortbread, topped with a thick layer of rich, buttery, and perfectly chewy caramel, finished with a chocolate glaze and salt?  Delicious!  These bars got rave reviews; I'll certainly be making them again soon.  Enjoy!

Continued after the jump »

A Tribute to My Auntie

My Auntie (L) and my mom, September 2010

Three weeks ago today, the world lost an amazing woman - my Auntie - after a several year long battle with cancer.  It was absolutely heartbreaking and gut wrenching to see her in so much pain in the last several years, and excruciatingly sad to lose her.  She was much beloved by all us, and touched so many lives as a sister, aunt, friend, teacher ... she is truly missed.

My aunt lived her life in the healthiest way that she knew how, filled with vitamins and meditation, years of being a vegetarian, etc. I remember a conversation I had with her years ago, in which she exclaimed, "I wish I had eaten more cookies!!" Now, she meant this in the most literal sense possible, but it can also be translated as a statement to advise all of us to live life to the fullest.

Continued after the jump »

Caramel Apples

Fall is my favorite season here in New England.  The crisp, cool air, the changing leaves, and knowing that the holidays are just around the corner makes me one happy girl.  Last weekend, the Love Of My Life (LOML) and I went apple picking at a wonderful orchard in Amesbury, MA.  Though it was toward the end of apple picking season and many of the trees were bare, we still managed to harvest a whopping 14 pounds of apples!   Now, what to do with all of that fruit ... apple pie? Apple crisp? Eat them plain? Hmmmm....

Continued after the jump »

Brendan and Ilona's Wedding

My friends Brendan and Ilona recently tied the knot, and I was absolutely honored to make their wedding cake!  There were three different flavors offered: chocolate filled with chocolate ganache and fresh raspberries, carrot filled with cream cheese icing, and white cake filled with vanilla bean creme and fresh strawberries.  The cake was enrobed in white fondant, and embellished with cranberry ribbon and coordinating gumpaste flowers.

Congratulations to you both, and wishing you a long life of happiness, love, and health!

Treasure Chest Cake

After a short hiatus to take handle some things in my personal life - I'm back in caking action :)

I made this treasure chest cake for my friend George's daughter's 5th birthday party, and it was SO much fun to make.  It's pretty much the first 3-D, non-standard shaped cake I've made, and definitely challenged me a bit to think outside of the box.

The lid was made out of rice krispie treats; the box portion was yellow cake filled with chocolate buttercream.  I covered the whole thing with dark chocolate fondant, and created the pearl strands, coins, and chest embellishments out of fondant and gumpaste.  And of course - what's a treasure chest without a little beach element - the cake was surrounded by graham cracker crumb "sand".  I'm absolutely thrilled with the result!

Happy 5th birthday Zoe!!