custom cookies

i've done a couple of custom cookie orders lately (oddly both have been with birds). i actually have a lot of fun decorating these cookies, and it's exciting planning out how to decorate them. the worst part is making the cookies. i hate cutting cookie dough. i have so little counter space, and rolling out dough is such a pain in the butt. and then using a cookie cutter and transfering the dough to the cookie sheet is super annoying - it takes forever to get it right. but once you get the cookies out of the oven, the fun can start!

ps. hi jess :)

key lime pie with pretzel crust

i made this pie for my friend's birthday. i've never actually had key lime pie, and i didn't get to eat this. so i hope it was good. looked delicious..

momofuku's crack pie

i was invited to a pizza party, and i offered to bring dessert. i was going to stay in the theme of "pie" (pizza PIE), so i decided to go with the momofuku crack pie. la times posted the recipe not too long ago, and i bookmarked it since everyone seems crazy about it. i can see why - it's pretty much a pound of sugar and a pound of butter, baked inside a cookie crust. oh my.

momofuku crack pie recipe can be found here

professional baking class - yeast baking I

carbs! my faaaaavorite. i love bread, it's no secret. so i was very excited to learn now to make my very own baguette. we also made challah bread, which made for awesome french toast the next morning.

you'll see that my baguette rolling can use a little work. but hey, at least i tried!

professional baking class - Pate a Choux

time to get fancy! pate à choux is a pastry dough used to make profiteroles, eclairs, and other fun and pretty things. it's made with only butter, water, flour and eggs. it rises because of all the steam! that's why these things hollow out, and then you fill them with delicious pastry cream.

my partner and i made chocolate mousse filled profiteroles, and then we built them into a croquembouche. i took it home with me but since it was warm outside it fell apart. but i ate most of the profiteroles anyway. heh. also notice the pretty swans that another group made!