Sunday, October 9, 2011

Witnessing Dreams Come Alive...

Where to start...Apparently I've neglected this blog for almost 3 months now, which is not OK by my standards at all. But, please know my absence is a good thing. I've been super busy working, schooling, enjoying life, and of course baking.

I know I've taken pictures along the way of my baking, but I can't seem to find them right now. So, while I dig around for them, please enjoy the photos of the most recent wedding I've done.


It is the most amazing feeling to witness your dreams coming true...

Red Velvet with Buttercream frosting
2 tiers, each 3 layers

Red Velvet cupcakes with Buttercream frosting
Wafer Paper Peacock feathers on top

Heart Shaped Whoopie Pies





Sunday, July 10, 2011

Trying my hand at bread making...

I like to think I've done pretty well with my dessert baking, but I haven't dabbled into my bread making yet. So, I bought a book. A bread making book. And I've read, and I've thought, and I've baked my very first loaf of bread...What do you think? It was very yummy! And I can not wait to go at it again!






YUMMYYYYY Challah Bread!


Hydrangea Cupcakes...


These were made for a surprise bridal shower a friend of mine was throwing. The idea originally came from this blog...it's great, check it out! But also came from a spin-off on another blog.


Another wedding for someone very special...

Friday, June 3, 2011

Just a preview...

Because every girl deserves pretty cupcakes on their birthday...




(Check out the box inserts I finally found!!!! :> )

Knock, knock...

The infamous question that night was "Do you want some cake?"...which followed the surprise knock on many people's doors. This was a test-trial cake that I made a few weeks ago. It's a 12 inch, 9 inch, 6 inch tiered cake....a.k.a. a lot of cake for a test trial. What do you do with all that cake, you might ask. You practice driving it around with your partner-in-crime sister and shower the ones you love with yummy cake! Duh! Of course! Let's just say my parents, the local P.D. and many friends had some very yummy cake surprised delivered that evening.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

40 great years deserves a great cake!


Congratulations to my "Uncle Bob" for 40 years at his job!

Life can shake and rattle you...but family's stronger than a brick house.

8 pizzas, 1 family, laughs, tears, and a good night for the books....Happy Birthday Dad! <3




...clearly my brother enjoys my pizza!

Because the Coast of Maine is gorgeous no matter what season...


We are official...



This post is big, no, it's huge! I am so excited to share this with everyone that I can't put my thoughts together enough to write this. Let's just start by saying my lawyer friend Pam (yes, that is what I call her) is AMAZING! For my birthday, she purchased the trademark "The Messy Kitchen" for me. It is officially my name. As of April 3, 2011, The Messy Kitchen is mine. This is one of the first steps towards store front.

In case you are wondering what these delectable cupcakes are, I'll tell you. They are vanilla almond cupcakes filled with lemon curd and topped with a whipped creamed frosting. They were a gift to Pam and her lawyer friend who helped with the trademarking. Thank you!!

Marathon posting...

So my lack of posting has brought me to a backlog of things to talk about...so, here we go! Let's start with my new love. I stumbled across this new Buttercream frosting, which, may just be a new staple in my baking-ness.

Here is what I tried the recipe out on...

...a birthday cake for Pam

...and some cupcakes

...because everyone loves cupcakes.


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Heart Day Whoopie Pies


Some people think of Valentine's day as the day to shower the one you love with flowers, candies, and a candle lit dinner. Other's think of it as a Hallmark holiday. Some may even think of it as a day to celebrate heart shaped items. How ever you choose to recognize February 14th, chocolate whoopie pies filled with a strawberry filling will surely top it off!

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Why yes, that is bacon in your cupcake!!

You wouldn't know it from the picture, but this is a 'Maple Frosted Bacon Cupcake". Yes, BACON! It started with facebook (I feel like that happens more and more theses days). A friend posted he was gifted with theses bacon cupcakes. Which, to me sounded...well...not worth baking, nor trying. And if you know me, thats a lot. I try to give everything at least one shot. As you know, anything that starts with facebook turns into a whirlwind, so when my brother-in-law asked if I had seen our friend's facebook status about bacon cupcakes, I was quickly informed there was bacon in his freezer.

Needless to say, I stuck to my "I'll give everything a shot once" moto and put his bacon to good use. They were surprisingly yummy! However, they are a very dense cupcake, more of scone like.


Maple Frosted Bacon Cupcakes:

1 Cup All-Purpose Flour
1 Cup Cake Flour
1 3.9-ounce Box Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Tablespoon Potato Starch (I used Corn Starch)
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Freshly Grated Nutmeg (I just used Nutmeg Spice)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 Cup Packed Light Brown Sugar
1/4 Cup Granulated Sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
4 Large Egg Whites, at room temperature
1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
1/2 Cup Half-and-Half, at room temperature
1/2 Cup Chopped Cooked Bacon (about 5 strips)

For the Frosting:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
2 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
2 Cups sifted Confectioners' Sugar
1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 Strips Bacon, Cooked and Chopped (optional)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place paper liners in a 12-cup muffin tin. Prepare the cupcakes: Combine the flours, pudding mix, baking powder, potato starch, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a bowl with a whisk.

In a separate bowl, cream the butter and sugars with a mixer on low speed until combined, 6 to 8 minutes. Gradually mix in the vanilla and egg whites. Scrape down the sides of the bowl; continue mixing until light and fluffy. Add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the maple syrup and half-and-half, mixing after each addition and ending with flour. Mix until the ingredients are just combined; do not overmix. Fold in the bacon.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tin, filling each cup about three-quarters of the way. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, prepare the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter with a mixer on medium speed until creamy. Add the confectioners' sugar, maple syrup and cinnamon; beat until combined. Spread on the cooled cupcakes; top with chopped bacon, if desired.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Chocolate Pudding Cake



Let me start by saying...I'm in love with HOW this recipe is made! I found the recipe here...and decided I had to try it! You mix all of the ingredients in the 8x8 pan that you bake it in...simple, easy, and best of all only 1 dish to clean!! It's very rich! Next time I would suggest smaller portions with maybe a little French Vanilla ice cream?? YUM!

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup white sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 1/4 cups hot water
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. In an 8x8 inch square pan, stir together the flour, white sugar, 1/4 cup of cocoa, baking powder and salt. Add milk and oil, mix well. Sprinkle brown sugar, remaining cocoa and chocolate chips over the mixture. Add the vanilla to the hot water, then pour the water over the top.
  3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the surface appears dry. Serve warm with a spoon or at room temperature.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Round 2...

As I promised, here is round two of the sugar cookies. Item number one I wanted to tackle was the thickness...DONE! And with ease. Item number two to tackle was stickiness/rolling of the dough....DONE! There is more I need to work on, they're not exactly where I want them to be, but they are almost there.

And if you are wondering why snowflakes? Well, it's probably due to the lack of snow around these neck of the woods. I thought it was winter!! Geez, oh well. If I can't have real snow I can at least have snow cookies.

Sugar Cookies

And because I needed a little bread making fix....here are some home-made pretzels. I really wanted to bake bagels, but decided I would try something new. I've been dying to try this recipe for a while now, and here they are! YUM YUM YUM! They are not the prettiest of pretzels, but they make up for their looks in tastes. It's what's inside that really matters, right?

Pretzels
Have a good week everyone, may it be better than the last!

Saturday, January 8, 2011

hello there sugar..


...Sugar Cookies that is. First off, I need to admit something. I've had a bit of an obsession this week with...a blog. A friend of mine sent me it, and I fell in love. This lady has a pure talent with decorating cookies. PURE TALENT! This inspired me to try THE SUGAR COOKIE. It's something I've tried a few times, but I've yet to make it happen. So I'm starting fresh. New recipe, new ideas, new determination. Here is the first round, the GNO cookies. That's short for Girl's Night Out. You know, the night that all the girls get together in their PJs, slippers, and their oversized sweatshirts. The night we all cuddle up on the couch together, chit chat, catch-up, and drool over Dr. McDreamy.

So stay tuned for more sugar cookies, because the next batch of dough is currently in the fridge chilling...I'm not giving up until I have the best sugar cookie recipe.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Bring it on 2011!

Well everyone, it is finally here. Another year has come and gone. Another year of laughter, smiles, heartache, and love has past. I can't help but think about everything that has happened in the past year. Everything that has changed. Everything I expected to happen that did, and all of the unexpected I was blessed with. If we time-traveled back exactly twelve months, I never could have expected to be here. But I am. So, going into this new year, I'm taking with me this: Live and learn. Love you life. Be thankful for the family that loves and supports you. Be thankful for the family you are born into, and the one you've grown into. Be thankful for every experience. Do not regret a single thing for you cannot change the past. Learn from your mistakes. Believe that if it is meant to be, it will find a way. And, be thankful for every day, every moment, every breathe.

Resolutions...this year, my resolution is to post at least once a week. My life one is to "Laugh more, smile more, eat more, drink more, and have fun more."

Here's to my first 2011 post:

Ladies' night is always a good night. Pizza night is also always a good night. So when we combine the two, it's a FABULOUS night! It was a night of laughter, fun, stories, and celebration. We proudly celebrated my sister closing on her first house! She recently got her realtor license and I couldn't be prouder! =)

Happy 2011 to everyone! This is going to be a BIG year...and I have a feeling a GREAT year! See you all next week...
Spinach and Prochuto Pizza

The infamous 'White Pizza'

Num Num Num!