Lemon Blackberry Pudding Cakes

It's such a beautiful day in St. Louis! 65 degrees outside and very sunny, breezy... I took my doggy for a long, long walk to Forest Park and it was pretty wonderful. Which really makes me wonder, is this the kind of winter we're gonna get this year?! When I moved to St Louis in January of 2010, it was the start of a crazy blizzard, followed by lots of snowy/icy days. I have horrible memories of chiseling ice off my car for 30-60 minutes of my day... But this year we only had about 1-2 snow days and it's been clear and 50s ever since. Of course, I'm not complaining... just curious. Either way, it's still sweater season and I love wearing sweaters and sipping on hot tea indoors.

Strawberry Chiffon Cake

This is the cake I made for Joe's 25th birthday this year. Not as fabulous or as exciting as his 24th birthday cake (which people still talk about) but still pretty darn delicious. He had requested a light cake with whipped cream, similar to Korean bakery-style cakes, and I think this hit the spot. 

Jack Daniels Marshmallows

Oh, marshmallows. I have had such a trying time with them. I am that weird person who hates plain marshmallows but loves making (and devouring) rice krispy treats from scratch. I had my first taste of   fresh marshmallows at a little bakery in Atlanta a long time back and had been obsessed with making homemade ones ever since. 

I made two different recipes over 2011 that both fell flat. I whipped and whipped and whipped with a hand mixer and they never came together anything more than a liquid mess. I decided to give up entirely for about five months, until my friend Lucy, of The Sweet Touch, invited me over to make some marshmallows at her place. I was apprehensive, but I figured it'd be fun to meet up and try again. She had a recipe printed out and we followed the instructions exactly and I realized where I had gone wrong. 

Brownie Cookies, Many Ways

In cold weather like this, I often turn to warm, delicious "comfort" foods. This was my first sentence this morning until I stepped outside. After 3 days of snow and then the subsequent, slow melting of the snow, it just happened to be 65 degrees outside today. So instead of finishing my blog post, I ran over to Forest Park with Mila and Joe and played in the sun, trying not to think too hard about the crazy (and scary) climate change. As for the cookies, although they are a new addition in my life, this recipe is quickly making its way into my comfort category. 

Peanut Butter Brownie Truffles

It's snowing in St Louis! Just the day before, I went running around with my dog, Mila, in 50 degree weather at Forest Park... So I was pretty surprised to wake up this morning to a snowy parking lot and I think Mila was too. It took her about 5 seconds to process before she spazzed out and jumped all over the snow, burying her face into it (she's been randomly coughing ever since). What a hilarious dog. 

I'm also still waiting for the photos of my dessert table at New Year's Eve from one HLi, who has yet to send them to me.To be fair, we were both sick all week, but then he did leave his camera at his girl's place 40 minutes away. So until then, this will have to suffice.
Edit: Here is a photo from NYE!

Black & White Cookies

My last week in Atlanta is shaping up to be quite a downer. I started off 2012 with a minor cold that turned into a 
cough, that turned into terrible dizziness/drowsiness and now, an ear infection! And I've had multiple people tell me that adults rarely get ear infections... either I'm one of the rare ones or I'm not an adult yet, I suppose. 

I've been floating in and out of sleep, feeling weak and tired, and barely eating. I'm glad an ear infection isn't contagious but since I still have a cold and cough, I have to stay far away from my dear mum, who has just finished her second round of chemo. In addition to all this, I don't have any energy to bake! But I guess it's nice to be home with  my grandmother at times like these, with lots of delicious home-cooked meals around, and not have to worry about any orders at the moment.

I'll be up and running soon, I hope, but in the meantime, enjoy these black and white cookies I recently posted on Sauce Magazine. And I hope you guys are enjoying the new year more than I am :)

A Look Back & Red Wine Chocolate Cake

2011 has really been the most bittersweet year for me, in so many ways. I started the year by moving to St Louis, and that was very sweet (despite the bitter winter). I rented my very own apartment (sans roommates) for the very first time and it was wonderful to be an adult and handle everything on my own. I also took the time to explore and really fall in love with the city. Food Truck Fridays, Taste, Brasserie, all the farmer's markets, Soulard, and of course, Forest Park, which never ceases to amaze me every time I venture upon it.