… and I couldn’t just leave it to waste. Therefore I decided it time to sharpen up my candy making skills and make some caramel. First things let me point out that I seem to only want to make chocolate during the warmer months.
When I found this subscription for bakers, I emailed all my pastry friends with the news. I already have one for beauty products that I adore, but now there’s another that encourages me to make desserts.
Created by three ladies with a passion for baking, each month My Bakers Box subscribers receives a parcel of unique baking supplies, recipes and instructions.
Originally I planned on creating a video blog about my experience. I unfortunately was hit with a bad seasonal cold and sound a bit congested. I did not want to hold up the creation of this video since Halloween is around the corner. I apologize if I sound congested … well …. I was congested.
My first impression of October’s Baker Box was fair. Not necessary for the beginner (the person who just discovered their kitchen), but you don’t need a culinary degree to use the items. If you are the occasional baker you will be enthralled with the monthly theme. The constant baker you hit the 50% sales after each holiday and should have an inventorial of cupcake wrappers and the like.
I think the turnout was especially cute especially the cake pops. My favorites were the Gingerdead Men. You can use your cake and cookie recipes or go to MBB’s blog for how-tos and recipes.
So I lost the Cookie Competition.
I did my absolute best and there isn’t anything I would have done differently. In the after interview that was my exact answer. Usually, I second guess everything, but this is the first time where I feel I nailed the challenge.
Then what happened? That answer I’ll never know. The judges gave me wonderful praise and decided to award the prize to my competitor. Does the answer really matter now? Will it change my life in one iota? Most likely not. Therefore I will file this adventure in my life in the “interesting moments of 2013” and move on.
Speaking of 2013, I have to say not only am I proud of going the distance in Food Rush, but I also opened my own dessert catering business. All in all, I really don’t think I could have gone as far as I have without my insane loving family and friends. They have to be special to suffer through my drama queen nonsense.
Last Sunday I held a business launch party at Zesty’s in Manayunk. Friends, friends of friends, and acquaintances came throughout the Delaware Valley to join me. I could not have asked for a better turnout. I definitely feel like a winner and could have drowned in the encouragement and love.
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| Gluten Free Chocolate & Carrot Cupcakes |
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| Vanilla Cupcakes |
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| Blondies With White Chocolate Chips |
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| Jamaica Rum Cookies |
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| Lemon Bars |
After the Food Rush Cookie episode, so many people are Tweeting and emailing about the recipes I used during the competitions. Without further adieu here are the recipes for both the Gingerbread and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Sweet and Christmas spicy gingerbread cookies. Perfect for decorative sugar, cookie sandwiches, and gingerbread people.
Divide the dough in half and wrap in plastic wrap.
Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days.
The fantastic taste of pumpkins made into a Christmas cookies
As I mentioned in a previous post I was asked to compete on Food Rush, a show on the Live Well Network. I applied mostly to quiet my friends. They had wanted me to apply to other reality shows, but I was frightened.
Plain in simple. I was afraid.
Of what? The judgment of people who I do not know or looking like a fool was just the usual paranoid thoughts.
So I applied.
The producers asked me to fill out an application and present of video of why I should be on the show.
I had an interview.
Congratulations to me … I was selected!
I was off to San Francisco. Yes, my four blog readers. My favorite city on the west coast.
There are three baking competitions: Candy, Cake, and Cookie. I competed in the Cookie Battle. I have to say this experience was the most exciting moment of my life. Never have I ever dreamed that I would be on a food cooking show.
Food Rush gave me the confidence to make The Pastry Prophet into a business. I know I talked about it for a long time. Once again that fear of failure and mockery held me back. I finally know what it feels like to take a chance and see something great come out of it.
I’ve told everyone and anyone who gives me the time of day about my time at Food Rush. I gained more than a free trip to San Francisco. I met lovely people – the crew of Food Rush and especially my producer who kept me sane and blogger of Home Beccanomics and her mother. Becca and her mom deserve their own travel show!
Surprised on how far I’ve come? Look at where I plan to go!
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| I have come here to chew bubblegum and bake cookies …and I’m all out of bubblegum. |
See what I can do Tuesday, November 26th at 8:30 EST
Until then here’s the Food Rush Holiday commercial.
Cronuts are the latest food trend that everyone is talking about. I hate trends.
Okay, that is not entirely true. I hate trends that beat nice items into … the… ground.
At one time pomegranates and blueberries could be purchased at reasonable, if not cheap prices. Then their anti-oxidant properties were discovered. Ah… supply and demand. Demand went up. Prices soared. I’m paying more for my Pom Juice and fresh blueberries on my Wheat Chex.
I’m sorry honey. No matter how much no amount of juice will not smooth out your age and weather-damaged skin.
Don’t *#$# with my blueberries.
Everything has a trend: clothing, movies, and of course, desserts.
Cupcakes and bacon-on-everything stand aside. Meet the new kid in town: Cronuts™.
So when I strolled into my local Paris Baguette, I noticed between the chocolate croissant and the red bean donut stood gleaming in the display case lights a Croissant Donut (a.k.a bootleg Cronut™).
Alright I know I said I hated trends, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.
For $3 I walked out with my own Croissant Donut. I could have eaten it there or in my car, but I wanted to try it undisturbed by fellow diners and Sunday morning after-church traffic.
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| Paris Baguette saved me from a 3-hour wait. |