Women's Conference

For those who don't know, for the last two weeks  I have been busily making some sweet treats for the ladies at my church. In July one of our Women Ministry leaders came up to me to ask if I would be interested in such a project, and of course I took her up on the offer. After meeting up again in September to discuss the logistics of what they were looking for and what I could help with, I started planning out what I was going to make and the cost for the ingredients. I told them that I would charge them for my time as a gift to them and the church. So this is the list of what I made (recipes are sure to pop up on Wednesday Recipes):

Homemade Caramel Popcorn

Caramel Apple Puppy Chow

Turtle Pie

Apple and Pear Crisp

Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes with Almond Whipped Frosting (gluten free)

Spiced Apple Cider Cupcakes with Maple Frosting

English Toffee

Pomegranate Mousse 

Scones

Pumpkin Muffins

Tea Cookies

For time management purposes, I baked something every day, then I either freezed it or locked it an air tight container. This was my first job/ big project! It was so exciting and nerve racking, but all in all a great experience. Everyone kept on telling me how great everything tasted. It was such a blessing but also a humbling experience. 

I hope you enjoy all the pictures and I am egger to share my next big project once it comes my way.

Kirsten

My Husband's Pecan Pie

Hello everyone!

Nothing to worry about. I am still here. I haven't died, or given up on my dream. I just have been really sick lately. I've had a cold for the last three weeks, and I thought that I should give myself a well deserved break to rest and try to regain my health. But did you think a little thing like a cold would keep me from baking? No, sir. It was my husband's birthday and I surely didn't want to disappoint. I made him a pecan pie.

The funny thing about my husband and I is that we have completely different tastes when it comes to desserts. I love the classics such as chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, etc. He on the other hand loves the things I can't stand in baked goods, such as nuts and coconut. His favorite cake: German Chocolate, his favorite cookie: white chocolate macadamia nut, his favorite pie: pecan pie. It has really help me expand baking things that I don't like, but every October I know that whatever he wants, I probably won't eat.

As I was making the pecan pie, it didn't look like the classic ones I have seen. This could be the fact that I used crush pecans instead of whole. Even with this one little hiccup, my husband said it tasted like a pecan pie. He really loved it!

Being a baker, I have to try everything I make. So I tried my pecan pie and I actually liked it. I have been noticing that the things I use to dislike, such as pineapple, and nuts with sweets, I have been growing to like. Still I am not a big fan of coconut. The only thing with coconut I have tried and like are these hay stack cookies my mom makes. The other ingredients in the cookies masks the texture of the coconut.

As I continue on an other tangent, I just want to say that in my near future (starting today) I will be baking something everyday to prepare for my church's women's day event. I am making all the desserts. Please send my your encouraging thoughts, because I know I will be freaking out some days. This is my first big order and I want to make it perfect as possible. This means that I will not have any new blog post for Tuesday Tips or Wednesday Recipes until after the 2nd of November. I know it's a bummer, but not all hope is lost. I will be posting picture and possible small tidbits about the items I will be making, so stay tuned.

Kirsten

Pok-A-Dot Mixed Berry Pie

This week I made a mixed berry pie, homemade from crust to filling. 

My husband and I went to a local farm to pick the raspberries and blackberries that I used for this creation.

I decorated it using a small fondant cutter to make it have that pot-a-dot look. I saw this decoration online, and thought it would be an interesting design option for a pie. It had the ability to create air flow for the mixture to cook. while making the pie look more sophisticated then how pies are traditionally seen. 

The mixture did bubble over a little, because I wanted a soft brown color on the crust. Over all it look rustic and tasted great.

I made this pie for a dinner my husband and I had with our new friends, the Wastons. They said it was the best pie they have had, and I have to agree, even if is was my own pie. Freshly picked berries are the way to go. Needless to say, this Pok-A-Dot pie was gone within 24 hours of it being cut into. 

If you have any advice for me, or would like to comment please feel free to. 

Stay Sweet,

Kirsten