Courtesan au Chocolat!

As the school year ended and summer began, I was obsessed with The Grand Budapest Hotel.  As summer is now ending and the school year is beginning, I still find myself infatuated with the film along with many others by Wes Anderson.  The Mendl’s Courtesan au Chocolat featured in the movie stole my heart and we had to give them a try.  I am “truly” grateful for this sweet DIY recipe, so everyone can enjoy making these darling treats.  

HCSD!

What does HCSD stand for you ask?  It's short for Happy Chocolate Souffle Day, which is celebrated on the 28th of February.  I stumbled upon a reminder from a friend about this important day and turned to our favorite baker, Dulce Delight.  We decided to open up the V-Day kit we got from her and, even though it was a rainy day, got to baking.  Surprisingly, souffles are not difficult to make at all and I think we just may be celebrating them more often. :)

Chocolate Tart with Hazelnut Crust Kit

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*Sigh*  I don’t even know where to begin…

This is simply the most delicious chocolate tart we have ever made!  It melts in your mouth, tastes amazing at room temperature, and just as amazing out of the freezer.  I did spare a few tiny slices for my coworkers to try and they loved it as well.  This was so unbelievably easy to make and it came out perfectly.  Another important aspect to note is how well this tart slices when it’s sitting out or straight from the refrigerator.  It was rich in flavor and texture, but not overpowering and it had just the right amount of sweetness.  The hint of raspberry in the honey was the perfect touch.  This will definitely be made many more times for others to enjoy.  It’s too good not to share.    

Hummus!

I was so so hungry after work today, so I decided to make some hummus.  If you are so so hungry, you can make some too thanks to SandCastleInc.  All the flavors are delish!!!

Christmas in September

Tuesday was our lucky day because three Dulce Delight baking kits were delivered to our doorstep.  We wanted to take pictures in natural light, so it was all we could do to wait until the next day to open our treasures.  It was definitely worth the wait because they were jam-packed with fun surprises.  Every item was perfectly labeled, jarred, bagged, and packaged with care.  I love the reusable muslin bags and weck jars that house some of the ingredients.  All the ingredients are premeasured, which saves so much time and the quality is outstanding.  The sweetest ingredient included was measured honey contained in a weck jar.  There was also a FULL jar of Fat Toad Farm’s Farmstead Goat’s Milk Caramel.  This will be utilized for our favorites… macarons!  I have tried to make these little macs in the past, but I failed at the filling.  I have lusted after Dulce Delight’s Chocolate French Macaron Kit and can’t wait to get baking.  We also had to grab the Chocolate Cups with Chocolate Mousse Kit and the Chocolate Tart with Hazelnut Crust Kit.  As if these kits weren’t awesome enough, gifts are also included in each package.  Our kitchen welcomed a mint ceramic milk bottle (I have also lusted after this item), a floral glass storage bowl (complete with resealable lid), and Tala wooden spoons and pastry brush set (with pastel painted handles).  We also received floral fabric that can be used to display the final products, step-by-step recipe guides with color photographs, helpful tips complete with music suggestions, and an ingredients list.  The only fresh items we need to provide are eggs and heavy whipping cream… check!!!  We are ready to go and are excited to celebrate Friday and the weekend with a little baking.  We’ll be posting our results within the next few weeks, along with a couple of surprises.  If these kits are anything like the Heart Patterned Cake Roll, we will be in dessert Heaven.       

Sweet Treats for Your Sweet

Candy Lip and Mustache Jars

When I walked into our craft room the other day I discovered that my mom had made all these super cute lip and mustache themed goodies.  I just feel in love with their cuteness and think you might as well.  She's sharing all her secrets, so you can create these fun gifts to give to others.  Here is the first of three projects.  Hope you enjoy this one and the others.  We are also going to try to upload a template with all the patterns.  

SUPPLIES:

scissors, wrapped candy, mason jar with lid and band, marking pen, Pellon (wonder-under), felt (black, read, natural), card stock, iron, and sewing machine

SEQUENCE:

1. Draw a lip and mustache shape on the card stock and cut them out to create a pattern of each.  

 

2. Iron Pellon to the black and red felt.  

 

 

3. Trace the lip and mustache patterns on the red and black felt respectively.

 

4. Cut the shapes out and iron them onto the natural felt.

 

5. Place the mason jar lid on the natural felt that has been backed with card stock for extra support and trace around the lid to frame the shapes.

6. Machine stitch around the circle and trim the excess.

 7. Glue the card stock to the mason jar lid to secure.

8. Add candy to the jar, seal the lid, and give these sweet treats to your sweet.