I'm back!

After about a month hiatus, I'm back! And by hiatus I mean I had to pack up and go to France and Great Britain for this long awaited missions trip... the whole reason for London Baked.

I wouldn't be able to write about every single emotion I felt or everything my eyes saw or each moment I spent with my team and new friends on this blog. I tried my best to share the entire trip but I know it was nothing compared to actually living it out. I praise God for that.

But now that I'm back... its time to wrap up my last five projects. Thank you for being patient with me! What should you expect to see in the coming weeks? Chocolate cake, carrot cake, biscotti, cheesecake and florentine cookies! Stay tuned!

Rice Krispy Treats for the Big D

I've been a little behind with updating my latest sweet creations mainly due to this final month of scrambling before I'm off to France and London. But within this month itself was chaos; two trips and birthday festivities for the little ones.

One of these projects was the most trying, pressing and time consuming ever! But how can I resist? Its for this little guy! And if you've ever seen his smile before, you know it just makes everything all better. Here is the birthday boy a few weeks ago. My little,big man:



His momma, my 'client', requested rice krispy treats in the shape of his age, 1, and in theory this project appeared to be like cake! (No pun intended) However, it was much more difficult that it seems. No baking required but very hands on at all times! The pics will show you the step by step process. The biggest hurdle? A very, steamy, New York hot July day...

Summer and chocolate do not mix.



mix! mix! mix!



'1` cookie cutter



shapin' it



Dipped in the good stuff



outline and decorating



tray 1 of 5



packaged & praying it won't melt

The Big D turns the Big 1





yours truly



Classic cookies & my lil helper

I returned to the recipe I know best... chocolate chip cookies with pecans. Only this time, I had my little helper by my side. Apparently she thinks I bake chocolate chip cookies all the time and I eat them every day. Perhaps she's onto something.

 









ode to the good stuff





Almond Biscotti

Get your cup of coffee ready! I had a great time making the biscotti even though it didn't allow me to be too far from the oven. But mostly because my niece was in the kitchen with me as she worked on her own little project: rice krispy treats for her grand-daddys in celebration of Father's Day.

Almond biscotti, recipe from allrecipes.com:

Baked and ready to be cut

Milk glaze and sprinkled sugar





Special thanks to Jessica C. for her love and support! <3



Ghiradelli Chocolate Chip Cookies

I live on this recipe. Perhaps I'm just a creature of habit or I find it unnecessary to reinvent the wheel. In any case, I haven't baked in about two weeks mostly from birthday festivities and the long memorial day weekend which turned out to be more about lobsters, seafood and fish than about baked sweets. But its time to get back into the oven.

Along with this recipe, I decide to mash up some almond bits but it can be interchangable with walnuts or pecans. It didn't really work well with hazelnut or pine nuts. So again, I stick to what I know.
 





cookie dough on sheet



the real oven

 

trying a batch in the
confection oven

chocolate chip cookies

The next few projects will definitely be more trying for me... like my french. I won't know the recipes with my eyes closed or rely on my usual methods to get by. What can I say? Je suis un Americain! ;)



A Confused Cake

Think Carvel and Baskin Robbins... which comes to mind when you think of ice cream cake? One that is made with only ice cream (Carvel) or one that has two layers of cake and ice cream in the center (Baskin Robbins)?

When I first received this order I had in mind to bake a yellow cake with a vanilla ice cream center. After all, this is London 'Baked'. Little did I know the person who made this request had an all-ice cream cake in mind. Ah... the power of effective communication.

All in all, after a few good laughs, I hope the vanilla ice cream cake brought a smile to the owner's face. Thanks W&S for being good sports! Much love to W for your generous heart! <3

 

Required for baking

Getting the ice cream molded



Cake batter




Oven














Assembling

 



Voila ~



A very special birthday!

I had the privilege to be asked to bake for a very special 1 year old's birthday party which took place Saturday, May 5th. To be honest, I felt the pressure... not to please the birthday boy because he wouldn't be able to eat the sweets anyway, but that my baked goods would be on display and guests will be tasting it. I didn't want to disappoint.

I learned however, its not all about the outcome. I really enjoyed the peaceful 3 hours it took for me to get the raspberry thumbprint cookies and peanut butter bars together, brainstorming and figuring out how best to multi-task. The solitude was needed and uplifting to my soul. Granted, I'm sure I could have done a better job as with anything else but I guess I am my worst critic. 

Truly, sometimes the best things in life is to just allow the process to happen, no matter how difficult and painstakingly long it takes. I do not wish to get it over with just so I can see the outcome. Have no fear, the party in the end will still be great! ;)

The good stuff

Thumb print & dough



Filled with raspberry jam

melted dark chocolate

in the oven



chilled & ready to be cut



~~ Here's the outcome and the party ~~

 

Raspberry thumbprint cookies

 

 

Dark chocolate peanut butter bars



Display

Big brother



Happy 1st birthday, Xavier!