Hello Dolly

Lately I've been enjoying baking things for people. I love this blueberry crumb bars recipe from Smitten Kitchen and have made a couple times now. They're super easy to make, and any fruit can be substituted. Also made some chocolate chip peanut butter cookies for my screen printing class with a version of this recipe. So good...I need better descriptors.

Looking for new baking recipes, I knew I wanted to make something that wasn't quite a cookie, maybe a bar, maybe contained no fruit, maybe some nuts... I stumbled upon Hello Dolly bars, or seven layer bars, which are apparently a sort of old classic that many people grew up with. (?? - not sure, first I'd heard of them) You can use whatever you like with these...almonds, walnuts, or pecans. Many people use a combination of chocolate chips and butterscotch or white chocolate chips. I used coconut, pecans, and white chocolate chips. The base is crumbled graham crackers, and sweetened condensed milk is poured over the top to keep everything together. Next time I'll pour the milk over each layer to bind them together a bit better and also layer some of the chocolate chips on the top. Many reviewers said these were way too rich and sweet, but I actually think they were just right.

These guys are now in transit.

P.S. New bamboo cutting board from the 99-cent store for $4.99. Fingers crossed it doesn't fall apart in a month. The pastry brush I got from there was practically disposable; the bristles came out completely after one use.

Buff Monster-Inspired Cupcakes

Ever since I read that Serious Eats article (mentioned in another entry), I've had cupcakes on the mind. In addition, since I've been home, I've actually been watching TV- DC Cupcakes, Cake Boss, Ace of Cakes...you name it. I've been watching Cake Boss, mainly, since the first season is on Netflix watch instantly. Plus, how can you not love Buddy - such a nice guy and good family values...which is apparently important to me in a TV show. From watching these shows, I feel like I've been taking classes or something, so I've been wanting to try a few decorating ideas. I'm definitely more interested in the decorating side; I don't have much of a sweet tooth. I wish I could just decorate a million things and not be stuck with them afterward.

Anyway, I deliberated all morning about what kind of cake I should create. I kind of want to play architect and create an all white/upside down/topsy turvy/ultramodern cake... I ventured out without deciding what I'd make and came across this cake pan with four dome-like shapes. They looked boob-ish, which, naturally, gave me the idea to inspire off of Buff Monster toys/art.

I'm 30% disappointed with the outcome... I didn't stick to the pictures I collected at all and got pretty sloppy and boring with the designs. The bottoms are gnarls. If I were to do this again, I would cover cookies with fondant for bases (more like actual BM) and crumb coat everything more carefully/with different frosting. I do like the colors, though.

This was my first time covering forms with fondant. The fondant was sweating/beading like crazy! It got really sticky... I couldn't seem to get the kitchen cool enough.

Edible silver spray paint kind of gave them a nice luster.

Lazy.

Just so I don't leave out the black-on-black one. I really liked him...poor guy is sweating to death.