Brownies? Blondies? Cookies?....Let's call them Bloonies

Okay I need to admit something....I am totally already wishing for the weekend.  I know, I know, its only Thursday, but the craziness around here is getting to me and I am screaming for a day to do nothing.  A day where I get to act like its a lazy summer day.  I mean half the time, weather wise, it feels like summer around here; then again the next day might feel like winter so who knows.  I am SO ready for the summer though...for lazy evenings, afternoon bike rides, laying by the pool, for Jazz in the Sculpture Garden, and Monday movie nights in Crystal City.  So let's all pretend for a moment that its summer...what do you wish you were doing on this bright summer day?

 

So...down to these were really supposed to be brownies.  Like I semi-sort of-kind of followed a recipe for fudgey brownies and ended up with these...which were delicious but can't really be called a brownie.  They really are a mix between a brownie, a blondie and a cookie.  They are chewy like a brownies, have chocolate in the batter like a brownie and are loaded with chocolate chips like a good chocolate chip cookies should be.  So, if you are up for trying something new, give these a whirl.  And if you want to take them over the top warm one up about 20 seconds and then top with vanilla bean ice cream.  Okay, I know I don't have a picture of the final product here, but I got a little distracted and forgot to take one...I will totally be remaking them a capturing such a shot.  Enjoy!

 

 

P.S. still checking out bakeries in Greensboro to find the perfect cake for the wedding.   This is how my mom and I do a little pre-tasting.  Buy two cupcakes, split down the middle and share...mind just fell into one another...I would like to call it a cupcake hug.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake

 

One week, two peanut butter-chocolate cakes.  Okay, okay they weren't actually made in the same week, but I am backed up on posting so its double peanut butter, double devil's food this week.  For the second go round, I made a two-layer cake instead of cupcakes and it has a chocolate chip cookie layer in the middle.  An idea I totally stole from a restaurant I ate at in Dallas in early April.  The cookie added great texture and flavor, although the peanut butter kind of took away from having full cookie flavor.  Next time I am going to try this in a more basic cake.  I went the "naked" route with this cake, since I knew that it was already going to be a very rich cake and the extra peanut butter frosting might just take it over the top and not in a good way.  But none the less the birthday guy was happy, and ultimately that was all I was really hoping for.  Really when it comes to birthdays that is really always my goal.  To make a cake that is exactly what someone wants, because for one day a year in the office they get to decide what I make...which lets be real is easy for me, because then I don't have to decide what to make without any direction.  Instead, I can take what someone else wants, maybe put a spin out it, and try to make it the very best I can.  So the question then is, what is your favorite birthday dessert?

 

Oh and earlier this week I got to spend sometime in Southern California...take a peek...

 

 

Wish I was still there with sunrises like this...

 

 

And a view like this...

Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

 

I keep having the problem where I don't feel like I know where start here in this blog.  I guess I could start by saying Hello! Welcome!  This is my little space in the internet world that doesn't have to deal with my everyday work, but it occasionally does.  It is my spot to share my adventures and mishaps in baking.  My corner to expound on what its like to be in my 20's living in DC, working to make a living and learn about life, and then getting to work on the fun stuff, like baking, too.  I haven't been writing much lately because real life, real work stuff has been crazy, but good too.  Real life has been a whirlwind...as in I finally moved in with the boy and we are starting to get settled.  Oh yeah and that whole planning for a wedding thing...good thing its not until June 2014.  Whew. 

 

But in all seriousness I am completely thankful for my life, friends, family, and work.  Lately I have been going with the idea that things will work out the way they are supposed to.  In the mean time, I will just keep plugging away, running around, and baking anytime I get the chance.  For me baking truly is an outlet.  It is that activity that completely takes my mind off of work, of the other stresses going on around me, because I know if I am not concentrating I might forget one ingredient and then my cake might fall, my cookies might turn out tasting like bricks, or the pie might just turn into a runny mess.  

Wedding Cupcakes...Champagne Cupcakes with Raspberry Filling and Champagne Frosting

 

Sometimes I am at a loss for words...or well just don't know where to start.  The weekend before last was crazy.  Granted, I knew when I agreed back in September what I was getting into when I said I would make cupcakes for a friends wedding.  It was tough, tiring and totally, 100% worth it.  It was my FIRST time baking the dessert for a wedding and I was completely honored to be doing it!

 
I started around 7:30am and was done around 10:30pm on Saturday...149 cupcakes (three different types) and a three layer 9-inch cake later, I was definitely ready for bed.  But it really was a lot of fun, and something that I was proud of...just me, myself and I had completed this task.  Well, plus Charles' help as my official tester. The cupcakes turned out great, and I am not sure why, but my frosting has ever turned out more fluffy.  After baking for the entire day, and then putting the finishing touches on the cake, it made me even more certain that this is what I want to do someday! 

 

It really did turnout to be an entire day of baking.