Holiday Baking – Round One

“Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it’s not because they enjoy solitude. It’s because they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them.”
― Jodi Picoult, My Sister’s Keeper

Holiday baking has never been a thing for me. I have never sat down to plan out a giant list of treats to be baked and doled out a various Christmas themed events. I just bake what I feel like eating when I feel like it.

I had a day off and found myself daydreaming of holiday treats. Visions of decadent chocolate and egg nog danced in my head. I wanted to be busy. I needed to disengage. I had to create.

The treat I make once a year only. Peanut butter balls. This one has always been a hit with the crowds. I love how excited people get when I bring these around.

My mistake truffle cupcakes. I had melted chocolate and butter to be used for dipping the peanut butter balls above. The chocolate seized and became very thick and not so good for dipping. Hating to waste anything, I decided to try to bake the melted chocolate in some form. This is where the truffle cupcake came to be. I mixed together two eggs, flour and sugar and then added the melted chocolate which was essentially a chocolate ganache. Baked for 20 minutes and ended up with a chocolate truffle cupcake.

One bite of this and I was in heaven. Delightfully decadent and fudgey. What a terrific mistake to make. =)

Ci Gusta

It was one of those weird days where people and things didn’t make sense to me but I was so checked out that I didn’t really care to find out what the issue was.

All I wanted was frozen yogurt. I remembered that there was a spot I had not tried in one of my fave neighborhoods so I made it my goal to go there.

Ci Gusta is a place I had never seen before until a few weeks ago. Small and operates very similar to those other fro-yo places were you get a cup, fill it up, top it off and then pay.

I went with the mascarpone gelato and chocolate fro-yo. Topped with my popping bubbles, brownies and strawberries.

I liked that they also had crepes and waffles. I am a fan and will be back…probably tomorrow. =)

Carrot Muffins, My Way

I like carrot muffins. I like carrot muffins made with just carrots and nuts. No pineapple, no raisins…blech. I have been finding it difficult to pick up a simple carrot muffin these days. When I can’t find what I want, I make it instead. So here goes…

A one bowl recipe, I like it already. Flour, pumpkin spice, baking power, baking soda, brown sugar all mixed up.

Then add some vegetable oil and 2 eggs.

In goes the shredded carrots and some walnuts.

Mix it up a bit more.

Into prepared muffin tins goes the batter. Then into the oven for about an hour.

I actually think I left these in the oven a few minutes too long. No harm done, they do just look a bit well done. Still soft in the middle, not dried out. A little crunch on top. Nothing a little cream cheese icing can’t fix.