Cinnamon Chip Cookie Sandwiches

Do you ever feel like you have lost your voice, even for a minute?  That there is so much newness and oldness going on that you don't really know where to go or what steps to take?  When part of you still feels stuck in the past, while another part is trying its hardest to embrace the future and all that it holds.  That is not to say I don't want to bring back part of the past.  I want to get my voice back and start blogging again.  I want to find joy in baking again, in spending a couple hours in the kitchen instead of being lazy on the coach all day.

This year I just want to "do" more, achieve more, laugh a little more often, and focus even more on family and friends.  These are not resolutions, they are goals for 2018...I even have them typed up with a few other things so I won't forget them.  What are you planning for 2018, and I don't mean starting the year on a whole 30 diet.  Let's be real, cookies and all of the things I love don't fall into that so I won't be trying it myself anytime soon.  These cookies, well these cookies you should definitely give a try...the cream cheese filling is up to you.  The stack above was made for a friend's birthday (James), picked up by another friend who happened to be in Richmond (Mike), driven to my old office my another friend (Emily...Mike & Emily = husband & wife), and the birthday boy was 100% surprised.  Which I call a success, and I couldn't have done it without great friends!

Sweet Potato-Cranberry Orange Scones

There are all of these quotes about change out there…and recently it feels like I need a calendar with one each day as a friendly reminder.  Like today's could be…”The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but building the new.”  And then tomorrows’ could be, “It’s amazing how drastically your life can change when you stop accepting s*** you hate.” Or “Always go with the choice that scares you the most, because that’s the one that is going to help you grow.”

You see the thing is recently (well almost three months ago now...I am a bit behind) I made what feels like one of the hardest decisions I have ever made that was a BIG change.  After 9 years, at the same company, working with some of my closest friends, and with great colleagues, I decided to move on.  I decided to fully jump into life in Richmond with my husband and puppy, and take a new job that would allow me to actually be home more often.  The thing about it is that I don’t always love change in general.  I know, I know change is good; it is what challenges us, and helps us grow…but still it can be F*ing hard.  So, I am trying to jump feet first into my new roll.  To push back the tears that come when I miss my old team and work friends, and get excited about finally living in Richmond after 8 months of “living” here.  So cheers to new adventures, and more treats with new co-workers. 

This little lady is thoroughly enjoying her new home in Richmond.

12 Dozen Brownies, 3 types, but my favorite...Chocolate Chunk with Ganache Frosting and Salted Caramel

When we are kids we start to get asked the question, ”What do you want to do when you grow up?” The funny thing about that is we “adults” act like we all know what we want to do when we grow up.  I know there are those of us that do.  I have two guy friends who are doing what (at least I think) they knew they sort-of wanted to do since high school.  Which I think is pretty freaking awesome!  I hope to one day be doing my "dream" job; well hope I figure out what that is one day.  Maybe for me it’s opening a bakery where people want to come and eat yummy desserts, while getting to hang out with friends.  Or maybe its being wedding planner (which I do LOVE doing).  Or maybe it is something else entirely...who knows?

"Apple Pie" Cake

So it has been a while...I know.  But a lot has happen...after 8 1/2 years in D.C. my husband and I made the decision to move to Richmond for his job!  Which for me means...trying out this whole working from home thing (I am still up in the air on how I feel about it.); a much larger kitchen (OMG I finally have natural light streaming in through huge windows); and we are still working out how we feel about Richmond, but we are truly loving exploring it!  For now though, the baking continues, and I head to Alexandria every two weeks for sometime in the office.  Which means sometimes, like Monday, I end up with about three dozen cupcakes traveling via a two hour train ride. Change is good though right?  In all seriousness though, I was very excited for our new adventure.  I had been praying for direction and change, and clearly it was the right time.  Plus, the new adventure has provided a little inspiration I have been missing here.  I honestly had just gotten tired of baking and blogging in my old kitchen it was tiny, (see below) and I was just over it.  Don't get me wrong, I was still baking but not inspired to put anything down here.

Old Kitchen vs. 

New Kitchen here...can you see why I am happy?

So now with a new kitchen filled with light, a reason to bake and a little inspiration I broke in the oven with two new cakes and one old cake.  You may ask, why so many cakes at once, well it was for a wedding cake tasting...I didn't just need three cakes in the house for me to eat while I am at home all day working.  That would just be dangerous.

The perfect time of year for...smooth, creamy butternut squash soup

Hey guys and gals...it's been a while again...I know.  You see the thing about this year as I have been trying to figure some stuff out, trying to get a business off the ground, and still trying to concentrate on my family, though small it may be.  I have been feeling a bit lost recently, which leaves me with out words to write here too.  I think I am ready for some sort of change, even if its just buying a new sofa and keeping the house cleaner.   You see the thing about having a tiny kitchen and needing to bake or cook, is well...after cooking in it for three years, I am a little over it.  I just want a kitchen with a window that is bigger than the 10 feet it takes up currently. But cook I still do, and I was so ready after being in California and Phoenix for two and half weeks between October and November, to embrace fall.  This soup was me trying to do just that.  I know, I know this is a baking blog...but hey this soup is mostly about what goes on in the oven, and less about what happens on the stove top.  

This soup is simple, delicious and healthy.  It really is only roasted butternut squash, onions, apples and carrots, with curry powder, nutmeg, ginger, salt and pepper...plus some turkey stock.  It is a soup you can make in advance and freeze, or one you can make the night of and serve immediately.  It is creamy while having no cream in it and loaded with vitamin C!  Give it a try, it will not disappoint.  Enjoy!

Sometimes life gets in the way...

Okay you guys, I underestimated the amount of time in life that real work, and a side business would take.  Life has gotten real this year you guys...there was a 5 week stint where I was gone 3 out of 5 of them, and in 5 cities over those 5 weeks. There has been a marathon, a half marathon, a 56 mile bike ride and a 67.5 mile bike ride.  I did get to take a couple of days off and hangout with some good friends in Key West in the spring, and a fantastic summer vacation with my best friends in Seattle.  What more can I ask for?!? Oh and I turned 30! So to get back into this lets just start with a few photos of adventures and all of the food I have been baking since well you know March when I last posted.  Oops my bad!  Life just got in the way and lots of really yummy food.

One of the few springs when I was actually in DC to see the Cherry Blossoms blooming.

And for the first year at one of my favorite events of the year, my wedding planning company was able to help out with Taste of the Nation, by donating the Chef bags!