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

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

A Spooky Throwback

Happy Thursday! I love Thursdays because all day long there is that excitement of tomorrow being Friday, and you’re that much closer to the weekend!

My week has been busy, filled with lots of cooking and baking.  I am finally ready to start my newest cookie projects and to get into the spirit of Halloween! I love Halloween.. who doesn’t? It is a day to celebrate candy and all of its sugary goodness!  As a kid, my brother and I would pick out our costumes and my mom always had to make sure it was something we could fit a turtle neck under, because it would be chilly and we would be out for hours with my dad filling up pillowcases worth of candy that would be frozen and keep reappearing throughout the following months.  I mean, we got a ton of it. I loved the excuse to be outside and up late with friends.  As you get older, the trick or treating ends but the dressing up gets more intense especially in college when you celebrate it Thursday, Friday and Saturday night and need three costumes to keep up! Ah.. those were the days.

Now, as a post-graduate, working adult, I enjoy Halloween the most because it gives me such a creative jump.  The possibilities are endless in terms of baking for Halloween… Skulls, blood, webs, creepy crawlers, monsters, witches.. it goes on and on. So I am gearing up for Halloween 2013, and in doing so I’d like to share some of the past Halloween goodies I’ve done! So happy to get into the spirit!

Now back to enjoying the fall with some October Red Sox baseball! 

-Elena