Bakers' Anonymous

I’ve been with holding this news for quite some time. It’s been so hard not to share it, and keeping it secret. But we so excited that we will be having our first born this coming June. We are having a boy!!! Words can not express how overwhelmed we both are with happiness. It’s been a long journey to say the least. We are here, and more excited then ever.

I made sure before I made this post that I know my audience that is subscribed to this blog, so a few may be finding out this way, and that’s okay. Normally I post my blog posts onto Facebook, but this one is private and only for readers who subscribe.

Given our past, and many losses, I have been very guarded with this pregnancy. I wish I could be more like others, and post things on Facebook, but I can’t for many reasons. One that is personal and I know others feel that same. It hurts when you trying and working so hard to get pregnant that it seems everyone is posting a picture of an ultrasound or a pregnancy test. Well I vowed that when the time did come for us that I would not do that to my friends who are still struggling. I know that pain and would not want to inflict that on my friends.

So this past weekend we had a huge celebration for the baby. One my greatest friends Camille threw us a shower, with some help from Kyra and Wendy. Along with my mom and Jonathan’s mom helping in the baking department with me guiding them. It was beyond to say the least . I can’t or we can’t tell you how amazing it was to be surrounded by those we loved. It was a special day to say the least and one I will never ever forget. I dreamed so much of this day and it came, and it was perfect. So here are some pics from the shower…enjoy!!!!

Is it me or is everyone having a baby right now. Pregnant bellies everywhere. Well one of my dearest friends Camille is due to have her baby girl this June. I’m so excited for her, but I’m also excited for other reasons that I will share sometime soon. Our friend Nikki put together the most gorgeous shower for her. It was without a doubt one of a kind. I loved it and so did all the guests. It was very casual, and laid back. Not your typical shower, which I think everyone loved. It was coed, no games, and delicious food and drinks!!

For the food, they brought in a food truck called Ludo Bites. Can you say yummy fried chicken. I could’ve eaten and eaten this all day, but I restrained myself. Fried chicken with crispy fries,and a biscuit dowsed in lavender honey. Perfect….just perfect!!!

I was in charge of the desserts. Nikki’s friend designed the dessert table, so all I had to bring were the treats. I made a two Meyer Lemon tarts, two Carmel with chocolate ganache tarts, a banana cream pie, and a strawberry pie. It seemed like everyone loved the sweets, so that made me happy.

Camille looked as beautiful as ever with her beautiful bump. I can’t wait to meet her baby girl this June. Some history will be made this June…..and I can’t wait!!!

Caramel tart is from saver magazine…… http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Chocolate-Caramel-Tart

Enjoy!!!!!

Last Sunday my friend Camille threw a sprinkle for our friend Nikki. Nikki will be having her daughter in a couple of weeks. Normally a sprinkle is a small celebration in honor of the mom to be with her second or third child. Normally the opposite sex of one the mom already has.

Camille of course put together a beautiful brunch. I did the sweets for the brunch. Both things I made with puff pastry. Anyone can use puff pastry and make anything taste great. I made dark chocolate turnovers, and candied lemon cheese tart. Very brunchy and rustic.

Look at Camille’s spread!!!

Nikki who we were honoring!!!!

You can see someone else really likes the chocolate turnovers!!!

Ingredients for the chocolate turnover:
- 1 package frozen puff pastry
- 1 block dark chocolate or semi sweet chocolate ( I used dark)
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream

Directions:
Thaw out puff pastry for about an hour. Once thawed, preheat oven to 375. Roll out one sheet at a time. Cut sheet into equal nine squares. Place a piece of chocolate a little over the center. Mix together egg and heavy cream. Brush wash around the edge and fold over pressing the ends together so you form a triangle. Place on a baking sheet, and place in freezer for 20 minutes. Once they have hardened brush over the top with egg wash. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Ingredients for candied lemon cheese tart:
- 1 package puff pastry
- 6 Meyer lemons, or normal lemons
- 1 package cream cheese
- 1 1/3 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:
First cut lemons into slices. Next in a large sauce pan boil 1 cup sugar and 2 cups water. Once the sugar is dissolved and it’s simmering, place all lemons in the pan. Place a piece of parchment paper ontop on the lemons, and simmer for 1 1/2 hours. Next place the lemon slices on a cooling rack and let them cool. While the lemons are cooking roll out your puff pastry and whisk one egg with some what. Brush about and inch to the edge of your tart, sprinkle with baking sugar. Place tart in freezer and let it harden. While the tart is in the freezer, start mixing your cheese mixture. Place a package of cream cheese in the mixer. Mix then add sugar. Next add one egg at a time. Next add vanilla and a dash of salt. Take tart out of the freezer, and pour cheese mixture onto it, leaving an inch of crust on the outside. Bake for 20 minutes. Let cool, and place on candied lemons. Enjoy!!!!

Saturday was the boys birthday.  He turned 37.  It was a fun filled weekend with other birthday celebrations.  We sang karaoke, ate Hawaiian food, and had a dinner with good friends.  I’ve been wanting to make this cake for Jonathan for a special occasion, and what better then his birthday.  He loves chocolate, bananas, and peanut butter and this cake has it all.  Yes it’s a banana cake with chocolate and peanut butter icing.  Oh yes and it was divine.

Ingredients:

For the banana cake:

3 cups cake flour

1 1/4 baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter

1 3/4 cups sugar plus 1 tablespoon

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 large ripe bananas

1/2 cup well shaken buttermilk

For milk chocolate ganache icing:

8 ounces dark chocolate

8 ounces milk chocolate

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

2 tablespoons golden syrup or corn syrup

3 sticks unsalted butter

For the peanut butter filling:

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

For the assembly:

8 ounces dark chocolate

1 1/2 sticks butter

1 tablespoon golden syrup

Directions:

Pre-heat oven 325.  Butter 3 8 inch cake pans and then flour.

In a medium bowl mix together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda,and salt.  Set aside.

Beat butter, then add eggs one at a time, then sugar. Next add mashed bananas and vanilla.  On low speed add buttermilk and dry ingredients, starting with the dry and ending with the dry.  Make sure everything is incorporated and mixed very well.  Add to cake pans.  Bake for 35-40 minutes.  Let cakes cool for 45 minutes and then flip them out of pans.

For the icing. Ina sauce pan bring the heavy cream and golden syrup until it is steeped.  Next pour it over the dark and milk chocolate.  Let it sit for a minute and then mix.  Once it is completely mixed then add butter.  Put aside and let this icing cool down before using.

For the peanut butter filling.  Beat butter and peanut butter together until creamy.  Next add vanilla.  Next add powdered sugar.

For ganache topping add all ingredients chocolate, butter and golden syrup to a double boiler.  Mix and put aside.

Assembly of the cake.  First layer of cake, then spread peanut butter layer, then chocolate layer.  Repeat with the next layer.  Top all of the cake with chocolate frosting.  Put in fridge and let it harden for 15 minutes.  Take out and drizzle ganache over the cake, and then top with peanuts!!!! Enjoy!!!!

Every year it always seems like…”wow that was quite a year.”  I have to say this year brought a lot of joy and some sadness.  Many ups and downs.  But the ups have outweighed the downs, so that’s good right?   It will be a year I will never ever forget.  Saying good bye to loved ones, saying hello to new friends, babies being born, graduations, and big birthdays!!   It has been a year of a lot of self realization, growing and knowing more about who I am.  With that I say goodbye to a good year and hello to a new one that will be a whole other journey itself.

Here are some of my favorite memories from this year….

 My sister is having her first baby!!!

 Mom and Dad reading over the new George Harrison book at my brother’s in the city.  Sharing their stories about him (not knowing him) but how much they liked him.

It’s the little things that make me happy.  My Valentine’s Day card from J

Baby Audrey is here born March 3rd 2012

La Super Rica in Santa Barbara, just a short drive up the coast

Jayme and Leslie…..besties for life!!

One of those early mornings where I caught the sunrise

Joseph and KK got married!!!!

Deviled egg contest at Chrisy and Oliver’s…we came in 2nd!!

Jonathan and I having a first of warm weather dinner outside

Dino getting soaked at Splash Mountain…..priceless

Summer is here…..cocktails are in order

Pop’s turns 90!!!!

All the family together to celebrate Pop’s life

Best friends for life

Gary and Gretchen at the famous “Beer Can House” in Houston TX

Love me some Texas queso

Mom and Dad out for a visit and road trip of the coast…here is Jonathan and my dad enjoying beers in Solvang

Saying good bye……Daisy Mae 10/1/12

Daisy at her cutest

A little healing at the Vicroy in Palm Springs

taking in the sunset in Ojai

The best birthday present from the hubs….and just the best birthday ever!!

Me and Jonathan at Eric and Shy’s wedding Point Reyes California

Election night….I’m so nervous I’m biting the remote……YES OBAMA 2012!!!!

Brian out for a visit for the New Year at Deep Creek Hot Springs

So sorry for the lack of posts this holiday…I’ve been lazy.   We are here in New Jersey with my family, and spending as much time as possible with my niece Audrey, so the video below will be more about Audrey then anyone…enjoy!!

Kenyon Chirstmas 2012 from Jonathan Miertschin on Vimeo.