Phew. Just one minute. Bumped by Obama talk.

At least i didnt spill chocolate on my dress until after the broadcast. thanks Channel 9. Next Food Network Star, here I come.

Im no food stylist but i think the set looks good.

Now if i could get lypo and botox in the next 20 minutes. or maybe just a manicure? see you on tv!!!

Gross or yummy? kitchen sink brownies.

Super chocolate brownies with heath bars, peppermint patties, walnuts, marshmallows and topped with potato chips. crazy good. might cure a hangover if i add a little bacon.

Boston Cream Pie Cake

My sister's friend asked me to make a cake for her family's summer birthday party - 12 people have birthday's this season, so they celebrate everyone's together.  We brainstormed about flavors that all the birthday boys and girls would like and she decided on Boston Cream Pie, which is really a cake, that was originally baked in a pie pan.  I think that is the story.  I made a Golden Cake (yellow cake) and cut it into three layers, covered each layer with Pastry Cream (Custard), frosted the cake with chocolate buttercream, and poured dark chocolate ganache over the whole thing and stuck cookies along the outside edge.  

I am not sure if other bakers feel this way, but it was weird to send a cake off knowing that I wouldn't even be able to take a bite of it.  I tasted all the pieces, and made a tiny cake from the scraps to be sure that everything was good, but it just wasn't the same as having a piece of the cake.  I guess I will just have to get myself invited to all events that my desserts are going to attend, so I don't feel so left out.

Magic Macarons

Plain macaron shells with dark chocolate ganache. Tiny but powerful, like Mary Lou Retton. These are much less likely to be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated or the Wheaties box.

U.S. Open Cupcakes.

Chocolate cupcakes with buttercream icing and white chocolate 'golf ball' covered with nonpareils. Grass technique needs a little work, but they are really cute. $2.50 each.

Homemade strawberry jam

I made jam! One jar is strawberry/raspberry. The other is straw/rasp with black pepper and balsamic vinegar. i am dying to taste them, but also want to save them like a depression-era housewife. Next I will be washing aluminium foil and reusing coffee grounds, if this trend continues.

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Chouquette mania!

Chouquettes (sugar puffs) for everyone! I have two tastings, and a meeting tomorrow so I made a LARGE recipe. i do think they look like little cabbages.

Ready for shrek 4 in 3D!!

Chocolate mousse cakes with caramel surprise.

Dessert for tonight. nice and light for a hot summer night. soft sponge cake, thin layer of caramel, cookie crisps, topped with airy chocolate mousse and tiny sugar sprinkles.

Parisienne macarons with caramelized white chocolate filling.

Look at those 'Feet'! ( Rise between bottom and top of cookie - sign of good macaron) Take that Laduree.

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It's official.

Chouquette is incorporated.

Regina's Peonies

i love these flowers. they greet me every morning as i run out for more dessert supplies. they are so showy and remind me of my senior prom dress - which might not be a good thing, but i dont hold it against the peonies.

Tasting room. rocking reston town center. woooo.

Newest chocolate concoction before enrobing

Dark chocolate covering caramelized white choc ganache, almond crisp, and popping sugar. i love the combo. once i have five recipes perfected, i will start offering them for sale. need packaging ideas.

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Pleated shorts are IN????

Bringing back memories of high school summers spent on a dock on the severn river listening to songs they play on oldies radio now. oh, 1988, i cant wait to revisit at my 20th reunion next month. now if i can just find my guess jeans with the ankle zipper and my units belt.

New birthday cake

Switched to chocolate buttercream.

My grandmother's 90th birthday cake

Sponge cake, bavarian cream, strawberries, buttercream, with homemade fondant rose and plaque. i hope she likes it. it is similar to a french 'fraisier' cake.

My first paying job - Cupcakes for first communion

All vanilla cake. half with vanilla buttercream. other half chocolate buttercream w blue dots.

New york post home delivery.

How steph stays informed about world events.

True love.

Miller lite night with steph. just need some drunk texts to make the night complete.

Strawberries and sauteed pineapples with my blt for lunch.

Working on my designs for 'Berry Plate' orders.

Jeannie's Rent Payment

Dark chocolate filled with lghtly salted caramel and crunchy cereal pieces. i have eaten all the rejects and left the pretty ones for jeannie and the boys. hopefully they dont like dark choc.

Hairstyles of the lowly pastry assistant.

This is how high and tight i have to style my hair to fit under my toque (kitchen hat). my only break from 3 pm to midnight is when i sneak to the ladies room to fix this do and happily rest my feet while i blog. almost 6. gotta put my smile on for the customers peering in like zoo visitors. miss all of you. day off tomorrow!!!!!!! please call.

Memories of my 'Hood

My favorite blogger - David Lebovitz - just wrote a post about my neighborhood market, Barbes.  I have to iron my uniform and get ready for work, but please read it, and think of me hunting down the cheapest fingerling potatoes and munching on a hot 'brique' after my shopping is done.  I miss Paris.


David Lebovitz's Blog


His recipes are great, I have been making the salted caramels lately, and they are highly appreciated by everyone at Meadow Lane.  His Paris memoir is worth a read, especially before a trip to France.