Baking Sourhern Comfort Desserts

Just a small collection of my desserts. Southern Comfort Desserts

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

I had another tip for today...but I thought that I would share this one from Woodland Bakery...How to Properly Cut a Cake.

Every time I am at a party people ask me all the time; Can you cut the cake? Now here is a video to show each of you how to do it.

How to Cut a Cake?

#cake #cut #sweetandsavorytastings

Sweet & Savory Waffles Recipe Development

There is one thing that I absolutely love and that is waffles; but there is one thing that I love even more and that is dessert.  I decided to combine the two to have a nice breakfast dessert. Besides; we have brunch and even breakfast foods for dinner sometimes. I took my standard waffle batter and altered the recipe for each flavor of waffles that I made.

Pineapple Coconut Cake Waffles,

Sweet Potato Waffles with Orange Juice Syrup inspiration from Sweet Potatoes.

Peanut Butter & Jammin' Jam Waffles inspiration from Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwiches.

Carrot Cake Waffle 

Banana Walnut Waffle.

#waffles #sweetandsavorytastings #carrotcake #bananawalnut #sweetpotato #pineapplecoconut #pineapple #coconut #banana #walnut #carrot #creamcheese

Happy Valentine's Day

#valentine #love #sweetandsavorytastings

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

This week for the Tastings' tip I am going to talk about infusing your booze. You can infuse your booze with all types of fruits and even a vanilla bean.  You can use vodka, rum, tequila, bourbon and brandy. You can choose your own combination. Last week I infused mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries) with vodka. You can use fresh or frozen fruits. If you decide to use frozen fruit let it thaw some.

Instructions:

1. Choose your desired booze of choice.

2. Choose your fruit.

3. Prep your fruit. Wash, cut, peel and remove stems or anything else that you don't eat.

4. Take a clean mason jar and fill it half way with the fruit of your choice. Smash the fruit as much as possible.

5. Fill the mason jar up with your desired booze. Seal the mason jar with the lid. Then the waiting begins. Place the jar in a cool, dark place; possibly the refrigerator. Minimal waiting time is three days for an 8oz to pint mason jar but I suggest five days. The longer you wait the longer the infusion. Some infusions may take 2-3 weeks ex. apples.

6. Once ready, take a sifter to catch the fruit as you drain the booze into a clean glass or jar. The best part is; you can eat the fruit. Always remember to drink and in this case eat responsibly. Must be 21 years or older to enjoy.

For this batch I am going to mixing in lemonade and garnish it with fruit.

 Day 1

 Day 3.

#sweetandsavorytastings #infusion #vodka #berries #strawberries #blackberries #blueberries #raspberries #cocktail

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

Good Tuesday my Sweet & Savory Friends... My tip this week is about the Pasta vs. Stock

If you plan on making any type of chili, soups, stocks and broth that require noodles. Do not add all of your noodles to the stock as it may absorb all of your liquid. Keep it separate and serve together.

#pasta #noodles #stock #broth #soups #chili #sweetandsavorytastings

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

I know I am a day late...but better late than never.

I seen a post today from Jamie Oliver indicating how to properly cut an avocado. I thought that this may be a good post especially since I made guacamole this week for the first time. After I tasted it; I am pretty sure that I will no longer be buying it in the store.

How to Properly Cut an Avocado... from Jamie Oliver.

#avocado #guacamole #jamieoliver

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

My tip this Tuesday is meal planning. By the end of the week I am planning my next week meal. This helps out a lot when I go to the grocery store. I know which aisles I need to go down which eliminates having to walk up and down each and every aisle. Even though the majority of my groceries come from the outskirts of the store. I always start in the produce section to pick up my fruit and veggies and then off to the butcher. The butcher is where I primarily get all of my meat. I get everything there ranging from seafood to chicken to pork beef and lamb. I am not a big steak eater; I'll eat it maybe once a year if that. Also you can ask your butcher about the different cuts of meat and the variety of ways that you can cook the meat.  Finally I make my way to the dairy and bread section.
I notice when I meal plan that I don't over spend and just start buying stuff. Also I don't have to worry about trying to find something to cook. I try not to purchase any can goods so if you have to you can buy some foods froozen and then freeze it (ex. veggies, fruit). I even
 started making my own sauces.

Make out your grocery list to plan ahead. You will have a more successful trip. I have a note section on my phone. That is where I keep my lists.

#grocery #mealplan

Tasting Tip Tuesday

While going through my Facebook posts I ran across a great article. So, this Tuesday Tasting tip are for those who want to produce beautiful cakes. Baking is more like science. Every step has to be lined accordingly without skipping. If you forget just one step your cake may not rise to the occasion. The link is from the Huffington Post. Cake Baking Mistakes 

Have You Ever Considered Making a Trifle?

A trifle is a layered dessert with so many variations with cake, custards, fruits and etc. This dessert can be layered in a big bowl for everyone to enjoy or in individual dessert glasses displayed on a sweets table. Here is a link from Food 52 on how to make a trifle. How to Make a Trifle

 

This is a cake push pop in a dessert trifle form.

#trifle #food52 #dessert #cake #fruit #custard #pudding #sweetandsavorytastings

Tastings' Tuesday Tips

Starting today; I will try to give weekly Tuesday tips that I follow with my recipes and around my kitchen.

Today Tastings' Tuesday Tip; I add vodka to my pie crust recipe.  Yes, Vodka. I don't have to be the most expensive brand. By adding vodka; you're putting in a liquid that is going to evaporate quickly so you will end up with a very flaky crust. 

Here is a link to a recipe: Cooks Illustrated Vodka Pie Crust Recipe

This is my Apple Pie

#pie #crust #vodka #tastingtuesdaytip #tip 

Intoxicated Cupcakes Halloween Birthday Party

Happy Birthday Renee

For my sister birthday this year she wanted alcohol infused cupcakes. I made three different types; Pineapple Coconut Martini made with Patron, Purple Velvet Hennessy Twist (purple is her favorite color) and Lime Patron Margarita. I was asked for the recipe for the Lime Patron Margarita Cupcakes; I used Rachel Rays recipe Lime-Margarita-Cupcakes but instead of using gold tequila I utilized Patron Silver. I also used a classic cream cheese frosting recipe and added two tablespoons of Patron. For the additional alcohol flavor I brushed on additional tequila while the cupcakes were hot.

Lime-Margarita-Cupcakes

Homemade StrawBerry Jam

So, I finally found some time to make some strawberry jam. My son has been asking and therefore I made it possible. I wanted a recipe that didn't require pectin. Upon research I stumbled upon All Recipes: Strawberry Jam Recipe I chose this recipe because it allows you to change the serving amount. I only wanted to make one jar to give it a try. It turned out absolutely delicious. If it wasn't for my daughter I wouldn't buy anymore jelly. She is so picky and her taste buds are funny. Please give this recipe a try or any other jam flavors.

#jam #homemade #strawberry #sweetandsavorytastings #strawberryjam

My New Dutch Oven...

I have been wanting a Dutch Oven for some time now because I heard about its good uses. So I finally went out and bought one. A Dutch oven is designed to enhance slow cooking by even heating and locking in moisture for tender results. The enameled design on the inside requires no additional seasonings as the cast iron skillets that are used.

For my first meal I decided to make Chicken & Dumplings.  It turned out so good and delicious. This Dutch Oven is definitely worth it and I will be investing in different sizes.

#dutchoven #dutch #oven #chickenanddumplings #onions #carrots #celery #garlic #savory #dinner #sweetandsavorytastings #chicken

40th Birthday Celebration

I have debated so many times whether or not to throw myself a party. I was really tired and just wanted to relax. It has been an exhausting year mentally and physically and to top it off I was leaving to go out of town within two days. After much thought; I decided to throw myself a Moroccan Spa at My Place Party. I hired Make Up & Martinis to come out and give my guests and I makeup application along with manicures and pedicures. I even had my cousin come out to curl my hair. I even provided belly dancing hip scarfs for my guests. I had a blast and so glad that I decided to celebrate my life.

The color scheme for the room was fuscia, purple, teal, orange and metallic gold.

I had provided the guests with lite bites to eat while being serviced. We had a tricolor pasta salad, tuna, buffalo chicken dip, french and Caesar salad cups, veggie and fruit skewers with associated dips to accompany, candy jar, and alcoholic jello shots.

For dessert we had no bake key lime cheesecake and a banana pudding taster spoon.

My birthday cake was a Banana Pudding Cake.

#40thbirthdaycelebration #eventstylist #event #stylist