Such as Life!

Here is the cake I decided to bake for myself this morning to share with my family tomorrow on my birthday!

It's called Magic Mocha Cake and I suppose it doesn't look too magical from here except to say that the new pan I bought has a special insert so that there is a thick layer of fresh whipped mocha cream all throughout the inside of the cake.

The cake itself is a two layer double chocolate. The frosting is a whipped butter cream with white chocolate.

Many times when I bake a cake it is for a cake order I am going to fill so someone else gets the pleasure of eating it! This time my kids were very happy to hear they are the recipients of this one.

The 'such as life' comes in when I remember to mention that just yesterday I wrote about how much I like to sit back and 'reflect' on the good times while baking. As usual a little bit of reality always creeps in.

As I was whipping the frosting, the kids were busy running around the house and my attention was unexpectedly called away for a minute--the setting was on pretty high, I'd just begun the whipping. As I looked back not even a half minute later lots of the frosting had escaped from the bowl and covered everything from the wall, the counter, the floor, my clothes, etc..I think you get the picture.

Anyway, I have managed to get it all cleaned up and the cake is ready to roll for the celebration tomorrow. As always, more good times to come.

Good Times!

I think one of the reasons I love baking so much is it allows me a bit of time to reflect on the good times.
So much of life seems so busy busy busy and rush rush rush! When I have something baking in my oven, for the most part, I simply allow myself the gift to wait for it to finish. Instead of trying my hardest to multi-task, I'll often take a minute to put my feet up and reflect.
My birthday is Sunday and I recently bought myself a very sweet cake pan that I have had my eye on for a while now. Sometime over the weekend I am going to bake myself a yummy cake and reflect on all of my 'good times'.
Last year, I had a very fun birthday party to celebrate my fortieth--I guess this particular year I am looking for something a little more low key. We are having lunch with my mom on Sunday at one of my favorite restaurants in the Worcester area--it's not my favorite so much because of the food--although it is pretty good--but rather because of all the good times I can remember from going there.

Blueberry Blogger Contest Results!

Click here: Recipes: Blueberry Walnut Empanadas US Highbush Blueberry Council

At the start of summer I noticed a blueberry blogger contest posted on of all places-Face book. I entered my recipe for blueberry walnut empanadas.
It's something I created on the spot during a baking demonstration I did last November. Why not enter? I had nothing to lose.
I won second place and the recipe is now posted on their website-the prize was $600!
That's a lot of blueberries!

Vacations, Cookies & Shelburne Falls!

I just delivered Dreamy Island Cookies to the farm. I thought I was about to 'bake' myself having to turn my oven on today in this heat but I am glad I did.
There was not a crumb left, so to speak, after returning from our little vacation. Lots of slices of lemon cake and cookies sold while we were away.
After Labor Day, I won't be baking for the farm again this season because my teaching schedule will start again not to mention the farm will be slowing down and then closing for the season.
As for our vacation we traveled all over MA in a very short period of time. We drove from Falmouth to North Adams then Williamstown to Charlemont then Shelburne Falls. From there we went across the Northern part of MA east into New Hampshire. I loved Historic Downtown Portsmouth-very cool! We ate dinner one night at the Portsmouth Brewing Company and our hotel room overlooked the water. The zipline was a blast and of course the kids loved water country.
As for Shelburne Falls, I hadn't been there in years. It's an adorable village in the Berkshires. There are great shops and food. But you can also check out the Galatial Potholes and the Garden walk. Going there brought back lots of memories. Bella turned thirteen this past July and I remember being pregnant with her the last time I was there.
Time Flies!
I hope you've had a chance to stop by Paper Tyger or the Farm to check out my recipe book.

Stay Cool and as always, Happy Baking!

Lemon Cake, Paper Tyger & Zipline!

I have lemon cakes ready to bring to the farm this morning. We leave on a mini family adventure early in the morning and I'd like to go knowing there are baked goods available.

Then I'll deliver copies of Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen to the Paper Tyger. It's a sweet stationary store at Queens Buyway in Falmouth. If you haven't been go check it out. There are some really cute things and you can take a look at my recipe book while there.

A woman wrote yesterday asking for my coconut pound cake recipe. It had recently been published in a local paper and she misplaced it. I hope she likes it as much as I do. I call it Incredible Coconut Pound Cake.

I don't make that particular cake for myself very often because I always slice myself the biggest piece. I love all things coconut.

As for the zipline-we've decided to pick a vacation this year even my teens might get excited about. We're also heading to Water Country. The zipline is in Western, MA. If curious about it go to http://www.zoaroutdoor.com/ and watch the little video.

In the meantime, Happy Baking!

Update on Cookbook, Cookies & Sandy Neck!

What an amazing beach day we spent with friends and family out on Sandy Neck this past weekend! On a scale of 1 to 10 it was an 11 kind of beach day!

I had a feeling my baking table was empty this morning after a busy weekend here on the Cape so first thing when I woke today I turned my oven on and baked some cookies.

When I brought them for delivery to the farm earlier I noticed my cookbooks had already been sold out and the store keeper mentioned that someone came in looking to buy one. I will bring more cookbooks by the end of the week. I hope whoever it was is able to get one.

In the meantime, although summer is coming to an end soon I hope we get a bunch more beautiful days out on Sandy Neck before every one heads back to school.

I want to go to Italy!

I am not sure if it's the recent hosting of the limoncello party or that in my creative writing time my thoughts keep wandering back to a story about three girls who embark on a journey to Italy together but lately all I can think about is how am I going to get myself there?

I mentioned my desire to someone the other day and he went on and on about a wonderful trip he took to Florence years back.

As a baker and someone who loves to cook I know I am drawn to the food there but it's also the pictures of the gorgeous land that I want to touch and feel up close.

I am also drawn to the strong sense of family and the art. Imagine actually walking around the Pitti Palace and Gardens?

I want to see the back streets. I want a restaurant owner to invite me into his cellar and let me try his limoncello. I want him and his wife to tell me about wonderful family stories. Even if I can only understand their tales through expressions and gestures because my Italian won't be very good --just a few phrases I'll have picked up here and there.

I suppose getting myself to Italy is as simple as setting a date and a goal for myself. I've done it before--with my baking business and the finishing of my recipe book!

In the meantime, I have Dreamy Island Cookies and Lemon Cake for sale at the farm alongside my recipe book. Do pick it up and take a look!

Ciao!

Blueberry & Walnut Empanada!

Here is a super scrumptious recipe for using the abundance of all those fresh plump blueberries.

Empanada's are so much easier to make than people realize and they freeze great for later use.

Empanada's are a Latin inspired puff pastry-you can use traditional empanada dough or just as easily substitute pre-made refrigerated pie crust. They are nice for an afternoon snack with tea or as a breakfast treat with a cup of coffee.

Rolled out refrigerated pie crust, cut into 5 in. circles
Cup fresh (or frozen) blueberries
3 Tbsp. cream cheese
1/4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
Tbsp (or more) brown sugar

1 egg, slightly beaten, to brush top

Place cut out circles of dough on clean work surface. Drop a few fresh blueberries, 1/2 tsp. of cream cheese, sprinkle of chopped walnuts and brown sugar in center of each circle. Fold over one edge to meet the other side of dough and crimp around edges with a fork to seal. Brush a bit of egg on top of pastry to glaze. Place empanada's on a greased cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for about fifteen minutes or until pastry starts to slightly brown. Let cool slightly. Enjoy!
Yield: 1/2 dozen or so

Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen

Meet Me in My Cape Cod Kitchen: Recipes from West Falmouth Baking Company is complete and ready for sale for $12.95. It includes (among other things) my recipes for Dreamy Island Cookies, Lemon Cake and Cranberry Biscotti.

A local food writer has planned to write a review of the book in the Falmouth paper in a couple of weeks. She sent a note earlier today to say she really liked the book.

I will also have copies of it for sale at the Coonamessett Farm store, include it as an option in my gift baskets and if people prefer they (for now) could send me an email to order a copy. You can probably pay by pay pal and I'd be happy to ship one out to you.

It's been fun to think up a creative project (like putting together a collection of my best recipes) then seeing it through to completion.

The Limoncello Girls!

On Sunday, my girlfriends and I hosted a sweet summer backyard barbecue by the water-a celebration of the summer of sorts!
We kicked the party off with a homemade Limoncello tasting. Guests took sips and were asked to come up with fancy names for our versions of the delightful Italian liqueur.
The names were read and guests voted on their favorites. A prize was offered to the best name.
The Limoncello girls first gathered last fall. We brewed up this idea to make our own Limoncello at my birthday party. We got together about a month later for evening lemon zesting and girl talk.
While making that first batch we gathered three times-each time became a mini party among friends. Then we shared homemade Limoncello with friends and family last Christmas.
In February, we met up again at one of the Limoncello Girls' book signings and chatted about our desire to get together and make some more. We did.
The party became a celebration of The Limoncello Girls and our desire to have fun and throw fabulous parties.
Lots of guests arrived in fancy yellow attire and we served them my lemon cakes and a friends delicious lemon squares for desert! One guest even arrived by boat and docked right at the house. Another guest offered her incredible home made fudge and the chocolate became the best accompaniment to the tart lemon treats.