Joy the Baker

I feel like there’s food everywhere.  Literally everywhere.  Let’s see… it all started when someone sent a fairly innocent fruit basket.  Then the neighbor dropped by with a pound of chocolate candy.  Then I somehow thought it a good idea to whip up some fudge.  Then there was the five course holiday party, and the debauchery at a bar after.  Milk Chocolate Chip Pancakes were thrown in the mix, and right now all I can think about is tacos.  

See, there’s food exactly EVERYWHERE.  

It’s not that I’m complaining.  Oooooh no.  I think I’m just looking forward to a little after holiday broccoli.  For the sake of my tummy.  That’s all.

It would seem that people in blog land are bringing out the big guns.  

Mike of Mike’s Table whips up some Hazelnut Brittle.  Um… yes please!

Peabody of Culinary Concoctions by Peabody sets the world ablaze with Butterscotch Banana Chocolate Swirl Cake.  She also admits to having a very sneaky way with Christmas presents.  I’m glad I’m not the only one.

Nicole of Baking Bites makes Mexican Hot Chocolate Linzer Cookies and I love her for it.  

When did Gingerbread Popcorn enter the world?  I’m glad it did!

Linda is obviously trying to get me to move to Australia for her Churros with Dulce de Leche Sauce.  Her plan might just work.

See?  Food everywhere!  Good food too!  

Enjoy the links.  I’m going to go find some tacos.  It feels like the right thing to do.

Oh and one more thing.  Yes, that’s a random picture of my morning coffee up top.

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.

These are super moist, giant Banana Cupcakes from Joy the Baker: the early years.  Of course, since I’ve only been rocking this blog for a few months, I suppose I should say Joy the Baker: the early months, but it sounds more romantic the other way.  How long do I have to wait to come out with a greatest hits album?

Enough about me.  Today I wanted to tell you about three beautiful blogs that I just discovered.  I spend a great deal of time working in the kitchen and on my blog and when I do venture out to other blogs, I hit up the same ones all the time.  I’ve found my comfort zone.  This week, though, I ventured out into deep cyberspace and came back with some really lovely blogs for you to check out.  Maybe you know these people.  Maybe I’m completely behind the times.  Whatever the case get to know and love these bloggers as I have.

Almost A Chef is a lovely blog with simple yet creative recipes.  Daniel is an untrained food lover, experimenting and really creating some fantastic dishes.  His Baked Pears with Fig in Vanilla Syrup caught my eye.  The photography is charming and he’s got a very readable voice.  He’s a new favorite.

Do you know about Sophie at Mostly Eating?  She’s an English nutritionist that focuses on both healthy and sustainable foods.  I love her photographs and her whole site is just warm and inviting.  I especially liked the article dedicatd solely to rhubard- which yes, makes me a complete dork.

Lastly, Ashley at Artisan Sweets is amazing.  She is my absolute favorite new find.  Ashley was a pastry kid at Spago and now lives in Washington with her husband, two darling sons and her garden.  The photos on her blog are outta sight.  And she has orange scented scones, so now you must go visit.  Her voice is very personal and warm, and I just completely love the work she’s doing.

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!

The Whopper.  The Red Velvet Whopper is a three layer red velvet cake with brown sugar cream cheese frosting.  The sides are decorated with dried red velvet cake crumbs and royal blue dots.  She’s a beauty.  But this post isn’ really about the Whopper, it’s about all of the beautiful cakes in blog land this week.  Here are a few of my favorites!

 Amanda of Slow Like Honey made a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Peanut Butter Cups on the inside and outside.  It’s outta control.  I think it might be criminal.  Amanda’s got a great site, fun pictures, and she loves Fionna Apple as much as I do.

Gigi of Gigi Cakes made a Banana Dunce De Leche Cake!  Think banana bread with deliciously sweet caramel and mascarpone icing.  It’s inspired!  Gigi’s is one of my favorite sites, her treats are always perfectly gorgeous! 

Deeba of Passionate About Baking created a Chocolate Orange Almond Gateau!  Her cake decoration style is very unique, and just a delight!  She posts everyday and always has great stories about her adventures in the kitchen feeding her kiddies. 

It’s been another sweet week!  Now get in that kitchen and make some cakes! 

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.

You, no doubt, didn’t miss a thing this week in the word of food and blogging.  But in case you blinked, here’s a synopsis of some of my favorite mouth watering edibles found in the foodie blogger’s world.  

Linda at ButterFlourSugar rocked the Casbah with Carmel Honey Pecan Slices.  The recipe is a breeze, besides the fact that it’s in grams and I’m a stupid American incapable of conversion.  Luckily, my baking scale is smarter than me, and can help me out.

Katy at SugarLaws showed off with a Apple, Honey, Goat Cheese Tart.  Now the question is:  do you eat this tart with a small side salad, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream?  After much thought and deliberation I’ve decided that the only decent option is to have a slice with a small salad and wash that down with another warmed slice topped with vanilla ice cream.  Delicious!

Deb at Smitten Kitchen is a master of all things delicious.  She didn’t disappoint with her Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Squares.  Ok- these left me with stars in my eyes.  If there were a bank filled with D de L Cheesecake squares, I would rob it, and I wouldn’t feel bad… at all.

Want to make Valentine sugar cookies?  The recipe is a hop, skip and a jump away.   

Thank you to all you talented and hungry people who make my life a whole lot sweeter!