In the Holiday Spirit

Well it is safe to say I haven't posted in a while.. too long, but tonight I finally got back into the kitchen to bake and it felt GOOD. 

The hustle and bustle of the holidays mixed with an EXTREMELY busy time in the generator industry makes for one tired woman! But I have been finding the time to decorate and get our apartment into the holiday cheer!

I absolutely love Christmas decorations and making a home feel super cozy during the holiday season.  One of our favorite parts of this apartment is our fireplace, and last January when I moved in I already knew I'd need to put lit garland on the mantle while filling the brick space with tall ornamental decorations that would really make the fireplace the focal point of the room. 

 

Our tree was a gift from my Aunt Denise who works for Bethlehem Lights. She is a seriously talented decorator who has an eye coordination and design, and this tree is absolutely perfect! It is a slimline so it fits the small space and truly glows with soft white lights and pine cones. 

Luckily, my Mom, Grandma and Aunts have been putting away ornaments for me for years, so this year I finally got to display them all and they are truly beautiful. The tree certainly represents many things I love, like baking, Ariel, Dr. Seuss, and vintage charm. 

Well along with the holiday season comes holiday baking and treats!  I had actually been outta the baking loop for almost two months and I was afraid I'd be a bit rusty but come on.. look at these snowmen!

Nope, not rusty at all :)

Tomorrow is my company Christmas party accompanied with a yankee swap and I just couldn't bare buying some stupid gift when half of my coworkers absolutely love my cake pops.. What could be a better gift?

This mixed assortment will be accompanied by a bottle of wine, one for me to bring and one for Louis! I am sure people will be fighting over these gifts! 

The two large snowmen are for my owner and my boss at work as a thank you for the generosity this holiday season.  I think they are a perfect gift! Don't you just love the little ear muffs! 

 

Almost done my Christmas shopping.. Excited for my brother and Marissa to fly home next week, and to have Christmas at my parents with my entire huge, loud family!

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas with the ones you love! 

-Elena

Sunny Treats

It is hard to believe it is the end of October. With Halloween right around the corner, I find myself in awe at how fast time is flying by me.

A few weeks ago, my blog turned 1! I've been baking like this for over two years now.  My two year anniversary at my job is very soon.  Louis is almost done with another semester in school, and we've almost been in this cozy apartment for almost a whole year already. November also marks our 3 1/2 year anniversary (do people celebrate half anniversaries?) The time is literally flying.

In between all the craziness that's been going on this month, I've managed to get a few orders in!

First was another birch tree cake.

I was a bit more heavy handed on this one... Not sure if I like it more or less than my first, because it just is different. We added sunflowers and I definitely hand painted more onto the fondant.

This couple was eloping and having the ceremony in the woods aside a stream.. Very fall, and the cake was a perfect touch!

Second order was for 100 cake pops for a housewarming/engagement party!

These were chocolate and pumpkin spice, and the color scheme was yellow and gray with sunflowers. 

 

I wanted to add a fun, artsy element to these, so I decided to try stenciling on fondant with some oil based food coloring. I was so in love with the results!

 

Sunflowers are definitely a great fall theme that I hope to do again soon.  They are classic New England, and fit in with this gorgeous fall season we've been lucky to experience this year!

 Next up, some spooky treats to pack in my suitcase next week, as Lou and I fly out on Halloween to visit Nick and Marissa in Ft. Lauderdale!!! We DEFINITELY could use some days away in the sunshine!

-Elena

The Birch Tree Engagement Cake

In 6th grade, we became best friends.  Inseparable best friends.  Our teacher knew it, and she would let us "take a break" and go for walks around the school to get all of the chatter out of us so we'd stop talking in class... Middle school came around and it was all about planning school dances, watching the boys we liked play sports after school, and having sleepovers.. High school brought us the most fun, filled with parties, Chinese food nights blaring Paula Abdul, and tons of memories I'll never forget.. Growing up with Maureen was FUN.

Our 17 year old selves got in the way, and we didn't see or speak to each other for four years.  One fateful "sighting" prompted her to give me a call, and ever since that call Maureen has been the most important friend in my life.  All of my best memories of the later years of college, summers, birthdays and all of our milestones are with her. We sit for hours with each other, drinking wine and talking about life.  It's the best, and she truly is the sister I have never had.

The most important milestone thus far, is Maureen's engagement to Caleb, her boyfriend of 9 years. I met Caleb as soon as I reconnected with Maureen, and instantly I could see the connection the two shared.  Their love for each other radiates from them both... Even when he's outside doing his thing, and she is inside doing her thing, he pops in and gives her a quick kiss and you can tell just being around each other makes them happy.  I am so friggen happy for the both of them, and so excited to be a bridesmaid in their wedding!

Yesterday we celebrated their engagement with all of their families and friends, and I made a cake for the two that I think encompasses them as a couple.. Rustic, fall-themed, and sweet!

I am still new at covering cakes in fondant.. My fondant bubbled a bit which after researching I've found out what I did wrong.. but I think it actually worked for this cake as the birch isn't supposed to be perfect.  Distressing the fondant and painting it to give it a birch tree look was scary but I think it worked!  I also created the leaves using real leaves and pressing the fondant into the leaves to get the veins to show!   The cake was a spice cake with pumpkin spice butter cream, since those flavors are all the rage right now!

The initials were my favorite part.. carved into a tree for all of eternity.. so romantic!

The cake was a hit and they both loved it which melts my heart because that is why I do what I do! To make people happy :)

Many more to come!! Congratulations you two crazy kids!! It is going to be an exciting year!

-Elena

Let's Go Golfing!

Last weekend I took a page out of my brother's book and I grew grass. 

It was lusciously green and thick, perfectly manicured on a golf course. 

Butter cream grass!

My parents' neighbor asked me to make a golf themed birthday cake and cupcakes for their grandson's 3rd birthday, and this turned out to be the cutest cake ever! 

Thanks to my wilton 233 tip, I was able to grow sugary green grass along the nice smooth putting green, made of fondant!  Added some vanilla cake pop "shrubs," a pond and a sand trap to complete the theme! My favorite part was the little golf cart I found on Amazon! It was one of those that you pull back and it just goes! So adorable for the 3 year old boy to play with after the cake is eaten, as he is very interested in golf right now. 

The same principles went into creating the cupcakes too! Both the cake and cupcakes were vanilla bean flavored with french vanilla butter cream on top! To die for! 

This week I am working on a top secret project that I am a bit nervous to attempt but I think it's going to be great!!!

Enjoy this gorgeous fall weather everyone! 

-Elena

A Truly Healthy, Sweet and Satisfying Butternut Squash Bisque

Two weeks ago, Lou and I stopped by Panera for dinner before my fall basketball meeting.  The picture of the "Vegetarian Autumn Squash Soup" topped with pumpkin seeds over the register was so inviting, and it was cold that night so I was craving something that would warm my insides! I ordered it and shortly after, devoured it, sopping up all the leave behinds with a warm french roll. It was so delicious and extremely satisfying!

This week, I was craving it. It was chilly out every day, I was wearing plaid and pulled out my scarves and was just like "AHH IT IS FINALLY FALL!" and I wanted that friggen soup from Panera.  However, at something like $7 for 1 1/2 cups was crazy and Louis and I have a vacation coming up that we are putting money aside for so Panera just wasn't making the cut. So I started researching "butternut squash soups" and what I found was a wide variety of soups but so many were made with cream and cheese and butter and FAT! Not interested...

Then I though hmm.. Panera advertises that this soup is "vegetarian" and "healthy".. But is it?

One serving (appx 1 1/2 cups) of Panera's squash soup is 350 calories, with 18g of fat (7g of saturated fat) 1240 mg of sodium, 1g of protein and 31g of sugar! (sourced right from panera.com).

So I found a Paleo recipe, and tailored it to what I was looking for, and it basically came out to be the most delicious soup I have ever tasted. I was a little nervous about how it would taste.. Would it live up to the flavor I got at Panera?? 

Well, it did, and I recommend this to anyone looking for a warm dish with the flavors of fall but without all the fat and calories!  And if you have a crock pot, IT IS SO FRIGGEN EASY!

Here is the base recipe:

• 1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed.  You can use the precut stuff, just get two packages! You want 3lb (6 cups).
• 1 can of coconut milk 14oz
• 2 cups low sodium chicken stock
• 1 apple (any kind), peeled, cored and cubed
• 1 cup of carrots, chopped 
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg

This base will get you an amazing soup, but I decided to elevate it with these amazing options:

• 1 jalapeno pepper
• 6 oz crispy bacon 

Basically, chop everything up and put into your crock pot! 

Cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 5-6 hours (depends on how much time you have!).  You'll know when it is ready, it will be bubbling, the squash will be very tender and easily squished with a wooden spoon.  Every hour or so, I stirred everything around but I don't think that is totally necessary. 

Once you've determined your concoction is ready, open the lid of the crock pot and let it air out for about 10 minutes. You will be happy you did once you start blending! You don't want to burn yourself!

If you don't have an emulsion blender, let this mixture cool, then put into a blender and blend!!!
If you have an emulsion blender, have at it! I left a few chunks because Louis and I both like a little bit of texture. Yes it will look like baby food, but that's the point! It is a bisque! Not Campbell's chunky chicken noodle soup!  I actually sauteed chicken on the stovetop and chopped it up and put it on the bottom of each bowl and poured the soup on top. This added texture, and heightened the protein content which we both were looking for after working out hard a few hours earlier.

The macros for this soup are sooo much better than Panera's!!! 

 

Panera:  350 cal for 1.5 cups

Elena: 201 cal for 1.5 cups

Panera: 18g fat (7g saturated fat)

Elena: 6g fat (4g saturated fat)

Panera: 1240mg Sodium

Elena: 150mg Sodium

Panera: 1g Protein

Elena: 7g Protein

Panera: 31g Sugar

Elena: 9g Sugar 

(ALL NATURAL! from apples & squash)

 

So delicious! I added 1 strip of crispy bacon on top for garnish! Can we just revisit the thought that my macros INCLUDED BACON! Panera's did not, and they still lose!

I added some cinnamon on top too, because it is fall. And there is no limit on cinnamon.

My love thoroughly enjoyed his portion!

Yea.. GONE!

In short, Panera is no where near as healthy as it advertises.. And you can ALWAYS whip up something better for your body with just a little more effort! I threw this all together after yoga this morning, around 11am, and then forgot about it! That is the beauty of the crock pot.

So whip this up and let me know what you think! I promise you will not be disappointed, and to my friends who live far away and can't experience the actual season of fall (cough couch Nick and Marissa), make this and instantly feel transported back to the Northeast!

-Elena