pop-practice

yay!  i'm so excited...one of my college roomies asked me if i could make favors for her son's first birthday luau (honu-themed).  the party is in october and in washington which gives me some time to practice and figure out how to get the favors to the mainland intact.

so here's my first practice run--little honu's and honu-balls (maybe i should think of a better way of wording this one!)

  self-evaluation:
cake consistency - good, i finally figured this one out so my cake doesn't crumble!
honu-pop coating - needs improvement...i have to figure out how to make it smooth.
honu-pop shape - needs improvement...anyone have ideas of how to construct a better looking turtle?
honu ball coating - smooth...woohoo!
honu ball shape - round...better than those in the past!

more pop-practice to come! :) :)

green tea for gma B! ---that rhymes!

my gma b is in town this weekend and we're getting together for dinner tomorrow night.  so, i decided i'd bake some cupcakes for her.  since she's diabetic and loves dessert but always gets scolded for having them, i decided to try a low sugar cupcake.

i started out with this book that joe got me:

it's really neat because it has the basic cupcake mixes (white cake, yellow cake, chocolate cake, pound cake, etc.) as well as more complex mixes.  in the past, i haven't had much success with mixes from scratch so i usually use box mix and tweak it to make it semi-homemade.  but i figured i'd try these new recipes in hopes that this time would be different.

so i used the white cake recipe and substituted splenda for the sugar.  i also added in some matcha green tea powder (i've been wanting to try a green tea cupcake again because my last one came out super dense and oily.)  Anyway, on the bag of splenda it says to substitute equal parts of spenda for sugar, so that's what i did.  it also says to check on the cake 7-10 mins. prior to expected finishing time because splenda tends to speed up the baking process.  usually i bake cupcakes for about 25 minutes, so i set the timer for 12 minutes, just to be safe...checked them and not done.  then i set the timer for another 5 minutes, not done...another 5 minutes, not done...5 more minutes...it seemed like it was done so i took it out.

i let the cupcakes cool and then i tried tasting one...ugh...not reeeaaally done, they were edible but still kinda mushy inside...so my bright idea was to try microwaving it (since i already turned off the oven.)  i put it in the micro for 2 minutes, i started to smell burntness so i went to check it.  well, the cupcake shrank! and the graham cracker crust that was on the bottom of the cupcake was black.  note-to-self, and note-to-you...don't microwave your cupcakes!

since my bright idea didn't work, i reheated the oven and put the cupcakes in for...yep, you guessed it, another five minutes...and this time, they were done!  hooray!

so in the end, these cupcakes came out better than last times green tea and they're healthier because they're low in sugar, but they're not as good as my tweaked box mixes...i need to find out how betty crocker does it!

low sugar green tea with green tea butter cream (l) and vanilla whipped cream (r)

hopefully gma B will enjoy her low sugar green tea cupcakes...baked with love! :)

i heart walmart & root beer cupcakes!

last night we went to our local walmart which they've been making some changes to.  the whole store is rearranged and they're bringing in new things.  it think it's turning into a semi-super wal mart...not a full blown one because sam's club is upstairs so it would not be good for business, but it's a step up from a basic wal mart.  anyway,  i was so excited when i visited the food section.  their baking supplies are now spread out into three different aisles (not the whole aisle) but there's definitely more of a selection of things.  some super buys that i found:  cake decorations (sugars, sprinkles, etc. for super cheap...some were less than a dollar), a variety of extracts (including root beer!), the big package of powdered sugar, huge blocks of chocolate/almond bark, and cake glazes (not sure what it tastes like but maybe i'll try it someday.) needless to say, i walked into wal mart with a list of things to buy (toilet paper and a spray bottle) and walked out with a whole lot more than expected.

but since i found root beer extract, i needed to try a root beer float cupcake.  i've been wanting to try it ever since i saw it in my "gourmet cupcake" book.  so, i started with a french vanilla box mix, added in some stuff to make it semi-homemade (including the extract and actual root beer) and here's how they turned out!

root beer cupcake topped with vanilla whipped cream frosting, white pearls, and a sugar heart

i think they were a success...in joe's words, "this is one of your better ones." :) :) 

cake popping

my adventures of spring break continued on tuesday in the kitchen.  i ended up using the bananas to make banana bread.  it was lots of fun...i baked with my 7 year old nephew (training him young: he learned to make banana bread, prep cake pops, and wash dishes all in one day!)  for the banana bread i followed emerill lagasee's recipe...here it is (bam!)

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/banana-bread-recipe2/index.html

it came out really moist! :) 

on to cake pops.  i was so excited because i was browsing through this super cute cake pop book called "pops!" and it has some amazing ideas for decorating cake pops.  i fell in love with these cake pops shaped like little people.  so i went to look for the mold; it's shaped like gingerbread men.  walking into a craft/baking supply store is always so much fun but so not a good idea all at the same time.  i walked in to get the mold and i walked out with the little-people-mold, icing dye, sticks, bags, and the most exciting part, a hello kitty mold!  the hello kitty mold is actually made for ice but i figured i'd try it with the cake pops.  so in the end i spent a little more than expected but it was worth it.

on wednesday i got together with my two cousins, christy and westy to make the cake pops (i've heard our great, great grandpa was a baker...maybe it runs in the family.)  it was tons of fun...sharing old stories, exchanging ideas, and planning for next time.  in the middle of all of this, we also created some pretty awesome cake pops!

here's how the magic happens (well how it's supposed to happen.  however, for me, it takes lots of trial and error.  this was my third attempt and i still need to make adjustments):

here's what the scene looked like!

1.  bake a cake

2.  cool the cake

3.  make 1/2 cup of frosting

4.  crumble the cooled cake and mix in frosting

5.  mold cake pops and refrigerate

molded people

molded hello kitty

6.  dip sticks in melted chocolate and insert into shaped cake

7.  after stick is set, dunk cake pop into chocolate and let excess drip off

8.  add desired decorations and let the chocolate harden

 9.  wrap

10.  enjoy!

hula girls

kauai baseball - waimea high, kauai high, kapaa high

hello kitty

a group of peeps

It wasn't all pretty though...here are the mess ups!

"frankenstein...rest in pieces" --christy

poor hello kitties fell of her sticks :(

do not over heat the chocolate...or else you get these big ol' clumps!  always heat on medium heat

spring break 2011 is coming to a close...sad to see it go.  sometimes i really wish i could just be a housewifey for my career!  but then i think of my little 1st grade kiddos, and know i'd miss them a lot too.

p.s.  these are the sugar cookies i made for our prayer night at church

housewifey

[before i begin, please remember japan and keep them in your prayers.]

this week i'm on spring break from school so i decided to come to kauai to spend some time with my family.  joe needed to work so he stayed home.  even though he's not here i've been brushing up on my housewifey skills.  i've been doing lots of baking and sewing.  i say housewifey because sometimes when i call myself a wife, i feel old.  wifey sounds a little younger to me, therefore i've come up with the term housewifey.  someday i'll graduate to becoming an actual housewife. 

so i'll start with the baking.  on sunday there was a prayer night at my church so i made cross shaped sugar cookies for refreshments.  here's the recipe i followed.  i was trying to make crispy sugar cookies but these were more chewy.  the taste was pretty good though.

2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter
1 egg
2 tespoons of vanilla

mix butter, eggs, and sugar.  add the flour and vanilla. divide into 4 balls and refrigerate over night or at least 3 hours.  roll out thin.  bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes.

then i decorated with royal icing.  i'll have to post a pic of these cookies later...i don't have one right now.

my second baking adventure was today.  in my family, there are several of us who are in love with cupcakes.  one is obviously me, and another is my cousin christy.  so christy and i got together and tried the cookie dough recipe from my new book (see previous blog.)  the cupcakes came out looking super cute...i guess the saying is true...two minds work better than one!  we do need to work on the recipe a bit though and tweek it from what the book says.



chocolate cupcakes filled with chocolate chip cookie dough, topped with whipped frosting, cookies, and chocolate sprinkles.



so i said there are 'several' of us in our family who are in love with cupcakes...another is my cousin westy.  she even has her own cupcake business...sugar mill cupcakes, you should check it out... http://www.sugarmillcupcakes.com/   my third baking adventure will come later this week when all three of us get together to bake.  our mission: cakepops!  i'm SO looking forward to this!

baking adventure number 4 will be when i use up some super ripe bananas...any ideas?

on to sewing.  my sewing project for the week was to make aprons out of cupcake fabric.  here they are:  dish towel aprons!

spring break so far has been filled with lotsa housewifey duties...can't wait to go back home and share them with my hubby!

food for thought...

so last week i was placing an order on amazon...i was ordering a lens pen to clean my camera lens and a car charger for my phone...well these two items totaled about $15 (i love amazon!)  and i was trying to get up to $25 so i could qualify for free shipping.  so i browsed around and found this book: 101 Gourmet Cupcakes in 10 minutes by Wendy Paul.  It arrived in the mail today, and i'm so excited!  the recipes look pretty quick and easy...they all start with a base of boxed cake (so convenient) and best of all, there are tons of photos...i'm definitely a visual learner!  some of the recipes include, orange creamsicle, pink lemonade, chocolate caramel surprise, chocolate cinnamon, and lemon blueberry.  i'm SO looking forward to spring break so i can try some of these out! [2 more days!]

some food for thought...

sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes: last week i lost our baking powder...i looked high and low, inside and out...but not good enough i guess because i couldn't find it anywhere.  i was so fed up!  well, saturday i was putting away some dishes and i opened the utensils drawer and what to my wondering eyes should appear?!?  no, not a miniature sleigh with 8 tiny reindeer...but my baking powder!  sometimes taking a break from things really help.

a full bowl of apples can hold no more:  this weekend my husband and i visited my uncle to "talk story."  he's trained in zen and massage and has lots to share about life.  well he started telling this story about a japanese monk who was super smart.  he knew every proverb and scripture in the books.  well one day someone showed him a bowl full of apples and asked him to place another apple in the bowl.  when he did, the apple just rolled off.  so life lesson:  you can only take in so much...whether it be tid bits of information, stress, or life's craziness, sometimes we just need to let go.

happy girl's day!

composed on 03-03-11

in japanese culture, girl's day is a day to honor the girl's in the family...boys get their chance in may.  as we were growing up, my parents made sure girl's day was special for my sister and me.  we started the day with donuts.  this was my dad's thing: on all special occasions he bought us donuts for breakfast...one chocolate and a stick of sugar glazed donut holes :)  we got little girlie gifts and then got to choose somewhere special to eat dinner at.  girl's day definitely made me happy to be a girl (i'd sometimes wish i was a boy because they seem to have lots of things easier in life...shorter bathroom lines, they don't have to shave their legs, less drama, etc.)

now that i'm older, i decided to carry on the tradition.  i don't have kids of my own (yet.  but i really hope when i do, i have at least one girl) so i do it for my students at school.  we do different things to learn about the japanese culture and make it a special day.  today we made mini-books about japan, folded japanese origami dolls, and ate senbei, arare, and tri-colored mochi.  this year was my first year making tri-colored mochi...it was the first year that i learned that that was the traditional mochi for girls day.  usually i just make pink chichi dango mochi.  so here's where my adventure begins.

i found a recipe online that explained how to make the mochi.  it's basically like making layered jello except instead of refrigerating it, you bake it.  the recipe says it needs to set overnight before cutting so i made my first batch on tuesday night.  this one turned out well...i cut it on wednesday and it looked good.  i decided to make a second batch for coworkers and for a potluck that my husband was going to.  this second batch was another story.  so first i somehow lost the baking powder between tuesday night and wednesday night.  i have no clue where it went.  i turned the kitchen upside down and even checked the trash.  it's still a mystery.  so i decided to leave baking powder of the recipe.  then i forgot to cover the tray with foil while it was in the oven...let's just say i added some texture to the recipe!  here is my final product:

so to all the girls out there...happy girls day! :)  

ps.  here's my first attempt at chicken curry (thai style).  i used carrots, eggplant, onions, bamboo shoots, and of course chicken! :)