Easter Eggs

• Happy Easter •

Berry Blue

"It happens all the time, they all become blueberries."

                                                                 - Willy Wonka

Fresh Blueberries

Blueberry Topping

New York Cheesecake

Cheesecake came out smooth.  No lumps.

Just enough tanginess; not too sweet.

(used 1 part cream cheese; 1 part sour cream)

Cooked perfectly.  No cracks.

(Recipe called for 1hr 15mins--I only baked it for 45mins coz of the size factor)

Petit Fours

Blueberry Mini-Cheesecake

Who Moved My Cheese?

Cheese Pie.
A favorite treat from a small but busy bakery on Tropical Avenue in my hometown, B.F. Homes (same bakery where I had my first Chocolate Crinkles).  Introduced to me by Elisa (whom I fondly call Mariel) and eventually shared with other friends like Louise (whom we fondly spell Loowey).    
Sad part of this story is I've been told that bakery doesn't make cheese pies anymore.

Teacakes

In support for

a friend who lost a sister,

a friend who lost a another friend,

a friend who lost a child.

May a cup of tea and teacakes

bring some comfort.

Love Bites

Strawberry Macaron Petit Fours

Tiramisu Macarons & Rose Macarons

Happy ♥ Month

Sweet Tidings

Even with the help of Martha Stewart, there is just no such thing as a stress-free holiday.  Trying to organize days ahead is stressful and that's only Step 1!  And you wonder how the hell she managed jail time.  
Holidays are one of those times when I find comfort watching reruns of The Golden Girls (gotta love Rose) or engaging with a chic lit while getting calloused cracking pistachios.   
Without much ado, may the holiday baking begin and hopefully be over with.  Or should I say, "Allez cuisine!"

This was originally a Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.  I revised a bit by taking out the star ingredient---the chocolate chip.  I substituted them with caramel bits that I've been dying to use.  Then I added pecan because.  They're my favorite nuts.  Next to pistachios.  And cashews.  Right.  I just happened to have pecans sitting in my freezer.  So, voila!  Caramel Pecan Cookies!  It sounds more festive, I think.  And they were so good.   So good that I can hear Jackie from That 70s Show say, "Exactly. Why share?"

I've been baking Chocolate Crinkles as long as my mother could remember.  If the 30s Maris is about macarons, the teen Maris was about Chocolate Crinkles.  It's also my brother's favorite.

Of course, French macarons.  I experimented a bit with a different flavor.  I added espresso and cocoa powder to make my mocha macaron shells.  Then, infused Andes Creme de Menthe with Bailey's Irish Cream for the ganache filling.  It was the perfect after dessert cup of latte in a cookie form.

And the 3 beneficiaries of my goodies are: (1) my mother for being my mother; (2) my cousin, Bess for accommodating us in NJ/NY; and (3) my kumu hula, Healani (did you say teacher's pet?).

My neighbors and Verde employees got their own baggies, too.  Even the US Postal Service workers---they looked like they could use some sugar with the holiday queue.  You have to understand that Kapaa is a small town.  You constantly see somebody you know at the bank, at Costco or simply while walking your dog (yep, they honk).   

Happy Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for all the blessings, disguised or otherwise, bestowed or yet to come.  This year, I've watched, observed and concluded that life can be as simple as a toe-may-toe : toe-mah-toe.  Same difference.  It's up to you to hate it or to enjoy it with, perhaps, a pinch of salt.  

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

A fellow bird, the rooster wanted to join us for some turkey.

    Pecan Petit Fours

made with pecan meal, bourbon, chocolate frosting

Homemade Pecan Brittle