Joy the Baker

What a week.  What a week.  Financial crisis. Bail out.  Katie Couric interviews.  Vice Presidential debates.  So much has gone on this week I literally feel exhausted by all of the news.  I do know one thing.  I need the phrase “Joe Six Pack” out of my life forever.  Seriously.  Out.  

I thought I’d treat you all to some blog love.  Why?  Because it’s free, and free is a long long way from 700 billion.  

Smoky Barbecue Sauce-  I know it’s not a dessert and I also know that summer is over but I could eat barbecue sauce by the spoonful.  Really?  Ok… maybe not.  But I love the idea of homemade barbecue sauce, especially if I get to use those darling flippy top jars.  Check out Cooking for Seven to figure out what they heck I’m talking about.  

Ginger and Chocolate Gingerbread-   Yes!  The perfect introduction into Fall.  I’m also thinking hard about pumpkin and chocolate combinations.  It’s not too early, right?

Double Chocolate Layer Cake-  Oh Amanda, you know just how to speak to my heart.  Yes.  My answer is Yes!  I’ll marry you.  Wait…. did you ask?

Sweet Cherry Pie-  Are there still cherries?  Is it not too late?  Maybe there’s something magical in Florida where Mike of Mike’s Table whipped up this pie.   Warm cherry pie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream- I could die a happy happy girl.  

Banana Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies-  Abby, what have you done?  Would these be a proper breakfast food, because I’m seriously considering these with a glass of milky coffee in the morning.  Please and thank you.

I’m so thrilled about strawberries season, I can barely contain myself!  It’s still early in the season and I’ve already had my way with many berries.  Oh the possibilities are limitless!  Summer produce offers so many possibilities, it’s my favorite food season.  And peaches!  Don’t even get me started on peach season.  That’s when I’ll get into some real trouble!  

It seems that strawberry fever is spreading across blog land.  Here are a few of my favorite strawberry entries this week.  

Miri of Room4Dessert made a Strawberry and Cheese Mousse Tart.  With the bright red beauty of the strawberries, the tart looks absolutely irresistible.  So much yum!  And beautiful photos too!

Pastry Studio experimented with Strawberry Balsamic Sherbet.  It seems to have to simplicity of strawberry sorbet with a touch of good balsamic and cream to accentuate the beauty of the fruit.  Brilliant!

And lastly, Helene of Tartelette always brings the goods.  She’s incredible.  This week she delighted with  Ice Cold Lemon Strawberry Fraisiers.  The dessert has three parts: Meyer lemon pound cake, Grand Marnier mousseline, and sliced strawberries.  Yea… it’s a serious time commitment, but just beautiful! 

There were some pretty incredible and edible things going on in blog world this week.  Here are a few of my favorite sweet treats!

Food Rocks Man made the most beautiful Blanc Manger with Strawberries and Sponge Cake.  It  looks light, delicate and flawless.  I love the way he took an great Dorie Greenspan recipe and made it his own.  He rocks.  I can’t lie.

Mevrouw Cupcake made rustic Buttermilk Biscuits.  The picture literally made my mouth water.  Throw in some butter and jam and I’d be set for life.  Seriously… for life.  Mari says it’s the only biscuit recipe I’ll ever need, and from the looks of the photo, I’m inclined to believe her. 

Holly at Phemomenon put together a dangerous combination-  Raspberry Spiked Brownies and Vanilla Frozen Custard.  The dark chocolate brownies are dotted with fresh raspberries and the vanilla ice cream is too rich to be called ice cream,  so Holly calls it a frozen custard.  Heaven!  My reason #78 to get out of bed in the morning- warm brownies and vanilla ice cream, so clearly this entry was one of my favorites.

Thanks for the great recipes and inspiration.  It’s a sweet life!

It’s been another sweet week folks!  It really has. Sweetest things that happened to me?  I was gifted a bag full of home grown blood oranges.  Pretty sweet.  Every night this week I read The Gourmet Cookbook before I fell asleep, using it as a pillow.  Rather Sweet.  And I bought these farm fresh, brown spotted organic eggs and they fed me all week.  Super Sweet!

Here are my favorite, foodie blog posts of the last week.  They make me smile.  They make me hungry.  They’ve done their job.

Bakerella has got some serious skillz with fondant.  And that’s skills with a ‘z’ so it must be serious.  Her fondant Care Bear is complete with a heart on the butt.  Yea, it’s no lie.  I hope her next fondant creation is a My Little Pony or maybe a Garbage Pail Kid… that would take her from skillz to skiz-illz.  (Sorry, I’m ridiculous). 

I heart Food Blogga  for her Honeyed Orange Ginger Muffins.  The citrus seems like a perfect way to brighten up a cold, unbearable winter.  Although you must forgive me, because both she and I live in Southern California and have no room to commiserate about winter.  Food Blogga also knows a lot about citrus and she’s full of good ideas.  Don’t take my word for it! Go see for yourself!

Tartelette… oh Tartelette.  She gets me every time.  This time it was her Strawberry Lime Tartelette creation.  And she has a new boyfriend…. he’s a hottie, but he’s no Pierre Herme.  Go for a visit.  You must.