Cookies, Cupcakes, and Cardio

Frozen Buttercream Transfer

June 16, 2011 by Jenn

Here is the next instalment of our You Tube channel, and it’s a Caking Tutorial How To Video on frozen buttercream transfers.

A frozen buttercream transfer (FBCT . . . is how some people refer to it) is a way to do specific pictures or images, logos by hand with your piping bag.

This is a technique that I love to use because it is actually pretty easy! You don’t have to be a skilled artist to trace with your piping bag . . . you just need to be able to follow the lines! It’s kind of like a paint by number for a caked. How great is that?

To make your buttercream for the FBCT, use your favourite recipe for buttercream, or try mine here. You will need a baking sheet, icing in piping bags fitted with the necessary tips, a template for your image, and a piece of wax paper large enough to cover your template. When you’ve got that, you’re ready to watch the video, follow the steps and voila, you will have a perfect hand piped image. I guarantee* (* I don’t really), you might not be able to follow the lines . . . or colour within them 😉

Let me know what you think!

Do you have any go-to techniques that you always use when you’re caking or cookie decorating?

Filed Under: Cakes, Tutorials, Videos Tagged With: buttercream, frozen buttercream transfer, Icing

More Rhubarb Bread

June 16, 2011 by Jenn

Have I mentioned that I love rhubarb?

Last week, I told you about the Rhubarb Chocolate Chip Banana Bread that I made last week. Today, I’m going to tell you about the second loaf of Rhubarb bread that I made!

I found this Rhubarb Apple Bread recipe from Girl Versus Dough and I knew that I had to bookmark it AND make it!

It is definitely worth a look. I think that I found what I was looking for with this bread recipe. I made some alterations to make it a bit healthier, and it was delicious! The Rhubarb Chocolate Chip Banana Bread was great, but I think the chocolate chips sent it over the edge and into dessert bread category . . . it was almost like a coffee cake.

I’m still working on the second loaf . . . I ate one loaf right away, and froze the second one. It stood up quite well in the freezer, and it still delicious two days after I took it out.

You can check it out for yourself and go on over to her site. Let me know what you think. BUT come back to me. Here. I love you.

Filed Under: Other Baked Goodies Tagged With: apples, bread, rhubarb apple bread, rhubarb bread

Hiking at Premier Lake Provincial Park- Yankee Canuck Loop

June 8, 2011 by Jenn

A new cardio post . . . say wha????

Yes, I have officially recovered enough from my gallbladder surgery, that I am allowed to get my fat a$$ moving once again. I’m still not allowed to teach spinning for another couple of weeks, as it falls into the “high intensity” category, but thankfully, I have my friends: Paul has been walking me at night, and Gretchen has been walking me at lunch. I sound like a dog . . . I’m sure it’s a chore!

Yankee Canuck Loop @ Premier Lake Provincial Park

This weekend, I was ready to try something more than walking around the block . . . so with Paul’s encouragement (force . . . I’m not very motivated these days) we went up to one of our favourite spots . . . Premier Lake!

It is absolutely beautiful . . . the lake is a large, long, pristine piece of blue. As soon as I first got a glimpse of the lake, I immediately regretted not bringing my bathing suit with me! It honestly didn’t even occur to me, as we haven’t been anywhere near bathing suit weather.

Oh. No. Bathing suit season is upon us. Must. do. more. cardio!

Yankee Canuck Trail Hike is about a 6 kilometre loop. The first bit of elevation gain is torturous (if you’re out of shape like I am . . . but don’t be discouraged!), but after the initial steep bit (less than a kilometre) it levels out. The hike goes by three different lakes (Yankee, Canuck and Turtle), and the path is well marked and well worn. I would rate this an easy day hike that will take you a couple of hours. There are a couple of spots that you can stop to have lunch off the side of the trail if you’re so inclined.

Turtle Lake...third lake along the loop

We had some excitement at one point when some people we passed going the opposite way on the trail, warned us that they saw a sow and her cubs. That’s a black bear momma, people!

I, have been waiting for this moment. Paul, has been dreading this moment (as he has had many of these moments before).

No, I am not suicidal, nor do I really want to encounter a wild animal (maybe the cubs though . . . they would be so cute!), I function much better when I am prepared. Paul, functions much better when in the moment (how is that possible?), or even when he is surprised. His flight or fight must be pretty intense.

So, upon hearing this news, we took a quick break (so we would be rested if we had to run, or climb a tree or something, or fight it with my hiking poles), went to the bathroom (TMI, I know, but how bad would it have been to be eaten by a bear AND pee your pants?), and armed ourselves with our protection. Me, with the bear spray. Paul with the bear bangers.

We practiced what I would do (I told you I like to be prepared), and Paul pretended to be the bear. He ran at me, and didn’t stop! Hello! Wouldn’t a bear stop when it saw me? Apparently not. I failed the test, miserably, when I couldn’t get the guard off the spray. Good thing Paul wasn’t really a bear…good thing I had already gone to the bathroom.

We finally continued on, after my ” lessons”, yammering away, making as much noise as possible, blowing our whistles . . . all that good stuff . . . and never saw the sow and her cubs. Strangely, I was disappointed. I was so READY! I do realize that encountering a bear whether prepared or not, is probably not a good thing. Make sure you know what to do! (That was the teacher in me coming out). At least know how your bear spray works.

Turtle Lake. Paul doing what he loves...taking pictures!

Me, not so worried, but armed with Bear Spray!

Last year, when Paul took me out here for the first time, we actually filmed a video for this hike! Check it out . . . Ruby is the star. Paul has an outdoors channel called GoExploreOutdoors that you should check out!

Filed Under: Cardio Tagged With: hiking, premier lake, yankee canuck loop

Banana Rhubarb Chocolate Chip Bread

June 7, 2011 by Jenn

It’s officially spring when the rhubarb is ready! I know that I keep posting about spring, but for goodness sake it has taken us so long to GET spring. I think I’m trying to come to terms with the fact that is finally nice out. PLEASE DON’T LET ME JUST HAVE JINXED IT!

Not that I believe in that or anything.

Rhubarb Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
From: delishhh.com

2 cups rhubarb chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
1 cups sugar, divided
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
3/4 tsp salt
8 tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 large eggs, at room temperature
3 overripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Position the oven rack in the middle and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, stir together the rhubarb with 1/2 cup of sugar. . . oh boy, does the rhubarb need this sugar! Set aside while you prepare the bread batter.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt, until fluffy and well-combined.

Using a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment beat the butter and the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar together with an electric mixer on high speed until light and creamy, about 8 minutes.

On medium speed, with your electric mixer, beat in the eggs on at a time, using a rubber spatula to scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl between additions. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl between additions.

Add the flour mixture to the butter-sugar mixture in two parts, and, with the mixer on low speed, stir just until just combined. Gently fold in the rhubarb and chocolate chips until evenly distributed.

Scoop the batter out into the baking pan (make sure you used the proper size pan, NOT an 8×4 . . . it’s a large recipe, and I made this mistake!) and smooth out the top. Bake around 1 hour and 20 minutes and the top of the bread is a deep golden brown, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.

Allow the bread to cool on a baking rack for 15 minutes before running a knife around the perimeter of the bread to unstick it from the loaf pan. For best results, allow to cool overnight (or for the rest of the day) upside down, uncovered.

Truth be told, I really didn’t like the chocolate chips in this bread! I know, you’re shocked, so am I! What chocolate loving woman wouldn’t want chocolate chips in banana bread?? Next time (which there definitely will be), I think I will make it without the chocolate.

It must be some sort of spring fever I’m suffering from.

Whatever it is, I hope it comes back. Try it yourself . . . with chocolate chips . . . without . . . let me know what YOU think.

Filed Under: Other Baked Goodies Tagged With: banana bread, bread, rhubarb, rhubarb bread

Using Fondant and Gum Paste Silicon Molds and Impression Mats

June 6, 2011 by Jenn

Here is the latest “How To” video from CCC! Enjoy . . . and if you do, subscribe to our channel 🙂

Filed Under: Tutorials, Videos Tagged With: fondant mold, working with fondant

Random-Jenn-ness

June 1, 2011 by Jenn

Here are four things that you must do, that I have done lately . . . not related to baking . . . or cardio. What’s this blog about again?

1. Go and see the musical Wicked. It is incredibly fabulous, surprisingly deep and an overwhelmingly great production. It’s Wicked. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

2. Watch The Social Network. Tonight, I had the pleasure of finally watching a movie!! Yes, I know that I should have already watched it (like the other 99% of the world’s population) but I haven’t had time . . . or two consecutive hours in a row where I am not covered in flour, icing sugar, butter or cocoa. Having learned so much computer-speak in the last couple of years (that’s what happens when you’re dating a genius) I had a new vested interest in hearing about “codes” and “servers” and “hosts”. It’s really a good movie. I have to research how accurate it actually is, but if it is, man is Zuckerberg a true business man. Whether you like Facebook or not, it’s an interesting story in friendship, business, and entrepreneurialism. If I haven’t coerced you yet, Justin Timberlake is in it. Does hearing the word “Facebook” make you want to check your page? Perhaps I have a problem.

3. Read The Hunger Games. Young adult, science fiction, fantasy story . . . I’ve turned myself off with that description . . . but it is seriously worth it! I listened to it as an audio book this weekend on my twelve hour drive to and from Sylvan Lake for my cousin’s graduation. It made the drive(s) fly by . . . and helped me blank out the ugliness of the prairies, as I drove by fence post after fence post.

4. Go to The Donut Mill in Red Deer, Alberta!

How can you go wrong with Oreo, and Rolo flavoured donuts! I had to try them. For the sake of the blog. I HAD to. And boy, were they good. The Donut Mill donuts are filled with a whipping cream filling instead of a heavier creme middle. It was different (from ole Tim Horton’s) and absolutely worth every calorie. The Rolo was the best hand’s down. It had caramel flavoured whipping cream in the middle, and a chocolate caramel ganache topping. Thank god it’s six hours away.

Filed Under: Randomness, What I'm Reading

KitchenAid Classic Vs. KitchenAid Artisan Mixer Review

May 30, 2011 by Jenn

Here is my latest vlog! Check it out…and remember to subscribe to my channel.

If you’re a frequent reader…you know that I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE my KitchenAid. Single handedly it is my most effective and useful tool in my kitchen.

I couldn’t do what I do without it. Or Paul. But he’s not a tool.

No, I don’t work for KitchenAid. But, I wish I did!

Check out my face in the freeze frame starting image . . . ooooeeeeee, that’s not very pretty.

Filed Under: Videos Tagged With: kitchen aid mixer, reviews

Fondant Cakes: Princess, Pyramid, Ballet, Lighthouse, “Sex and the City!”

May 27, 2011 by Jenn

Princess Birthday Cake

Pyramid Cake

Ballet Cake, with a Fondant Hippo.

Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse Replica

Sex and the City 30th Birthday Cake

Filed Under: Cakes Tagged With: Ballet Cake, Peggy's Cove Lighthouse cake, Princess Birthday Cake, Pyramid Cake, sex and the city cake, with a Fondant Hippo.