I have something special on its way for baking/kindness for a few good people -- COMING SOON!

In the meantime, here are a few tart photos (I need to bake some tarts with no streusel and just gorgeous fruit ontop). I am so good at entertaining myself taking picture though. I am really excited about my new waffle maker to the left.. FYI. After extra cake cash, I bought myself the pretty machine. Also, my friend thanked me for cakes with this lovely stand. She knows me well. She has the kindest soul, I admire her so much. Love her.

Cakes for Kind Folks

So if you really knew me, you'd know that I am a woman of strength and dignity. We all carry a heavy load, but we keep going and hold our head high. I am so blessed to have great people in my life to keep me enjoying the good things in life.

So while I worked hard outside of my full time plus some job in order to make some more natural/from scratch/full of flavor and specialty cakes for an old AMAZING friend, (check out my small freezer and fridge).. 

 


While trying to focus on how amazing my friend is and how I was creating cakes just for her. I had something secretly pulling at my leg. I won't even mention. But lets just say, I am a trooper. A total trooper every day. And you better bet I am damn proud of it. I finished some great cakes, watched one of the best people I know marry a great guy, shed some tears as she walked down the isle in the dress I helped her pick, shed some tears as people gave speeches, shed some tears as I thought about the amazing person she has created herself to be, and then I had one FUN time with friends. Many compliments on the cake, and it was one beautiful evening full of friends, happiness, and laughter, even though I had to face something of the past at the exact time. It was good to know that I could actually have the courage and finally be able to just live my own life and not let another person control my happiness. As much as it is important to ignore the folks who do no good for us as individuals, or those who bring us down, I often think of how we must all have compassion for others and think of how others may be feeling daily. Sometimes it is hard to do - like when some random stranger snaps at you in your apartment laundry room, or when that cashier doesn't even shed a smile or even look at you and say a word. As a matter of fact, sometimes I am really bothered when people bring their anger out on me.. but then I have to try to remember "Maybe, this person isn't feeling well today. Maybe they are sick," "Maybe they are having a bad day," "Maybe.... a family member is sick or their home-life isn't well." We must stand up for ourselves and only allow good people into our lives, not let those who continuously hurt even be a part of our life. Maybe be polite to such people, and be graceful about not getting to close. We create our own happiness. We have the ability to walk away from those who are damaging to us. We have the possibility to choose good and make good out of the bad. Always. Aside from the people that really could hurt and hinder our capability of success, it is important to be kind to people on a daily basis. And for that..

"In life you can never be too kind or too fair; everyone you meet is carrying a heavy load. When you go through your day expressing kindness and courtesy to all you meet, you leave behind a feeling of warmth and good cheer, and you help alleviate the burdens everyone is struggling with."

So in the end, I was extremely proud of pulling through making great cakes, having the time of my life, and walking away with nothing but being proud of myself. But also, getting into the moment of each and every one of the cakes and thinking "THIS IS THE MOMENT." I was able to be 100 percent me and feel my work. Play with chocolate, move my hands, and mix, and use great ingredients. It was a huge compliment when the place that held the event asked if I'd be interested in working for them. We must take time for what we believe in and always keep to our roots.

We must also remember to be a person that we always thought we were, aside from what anyone else has maybe told us or pushed us to believe, remember who we want to be.. and stick to it. Of the crappy people I've encountered in the past.. I am really glad to have the good ones in my life. Glad to have the kind ones. Life is pretty great. Be the type of people you want to meet - Be kind, be caring, be knowledgeable, be honest, be courteous, be polite, be selfless, be motivated, be creative, be gentle, be good.

I am posting these cakes late, and now today is Father's Day and as I thought of my own father and my brothers which I am proud of, I thought of those maybe less fortunate who aren't as lucky as me who maybe didn't grow up with a father. Maybe their father died, or maybe they just didn't grow up in as healthy of a home as I -- I think of how we can better such situations. What can we do to make the world a better place? How can we create good out of bad and help any situation from the base of the issue? There are solutions. Maybe small, but anything can make a difference. How can we help children see that they have the possibility to create their own life and have a good attitude, to focus on the good, and to make better decisions to actually have the opportunity to create a better life for themselves. How can we help those see the good men and that they could also be that. To make another person happy, be kind to them. To make yourself happy, be kind to others. As I thought of those in worse situations, I also thought of how I really want to be able to depend on people. I like people who aren't selfish - But if I look for that in others.. am I ever selfish? This goes back to the fact that we must be the person we want to meet. And after cakes for my friends wedding and facing pain, I realize who I was before I met anyone damaging. I realize the person I want to be and the type of person that I look for in others. It is my duty to always be this person. No matter what. We have the possibility to create good.

As my friend who got married once said, "Be a person to Admire."

Also this is always important to remember and it makes me think of how I've gotten through hard times and how it's important to remind others of this in time of need, and maybe just maybe someone needs to be reminded of this now:

There are times in life
When you feel as if the earth
Has opened up
And swallowed you whole . . .
And you seriously doubt
If you'll ever stop hurting.
And it's then that you need
To realize you can't
“Make everything all right.”
All you can do is survive,
One hour at a time,
Then one day at a time.
But you are not alone.
There are many who care about you
And are ready to lend you their strength
When yours is all gone.

So hang on, because the sun
Will rise again . . .
And though you'll
Never forget,
You will survive this
And go on.

And here is a fun video of the wedding by Studio Blu Photography --

http://vimeo.com/67021306

Quinoa Flour in baking - A NOTE

Due to Quinoa's bitter/soapy, earthy, and grassy flavor, it easily overpowers other ingredients in a recipe. This is partially due to saponin, a toxic glycoside (a compound formed from a simple sugar and another compound by replacement of a hydroxyl group in the sugar molecule. Many drugs and poisons derived from plants are glycosides) that coats the outer layer of the quinoa seed. Saponin can be either washed off or removed by abrasion. It is usually rinsed before it is sold commercially, but not thorough enough. Some trace of saponin still remains. There's also phytic acid, which gets in the way of the absorption of minerals in the digestive tract - this is removed partially by heat treating but requires fermentation and sprouting to more thoroughly break it down.

The saponin isn't a problem if you are buying quinoa seeds to cook. You just rinse the quinoa well before cooking to get rid of soapy flavor. But milled as flour and included in a recipe, the saponin becomes a problem. The grains soapy/bitter flavor will spoil everything. It can be a gatecrasher and ruin the recipe.

There's a simple solution to this, a solution that not only takes care of the bitterness and grassy flavors, but also inactivates trypsin inhibitor, a compound that reduces the bio-availability of trypsin, an enzyme which helps hydrolyse proteins (this is especially important for lysine, an amino acid that is vital to human health and is most commonly found in beans and dairy but occurs in quinoa in high levels).

You're oven is the solution. 

* Toasting quinoa flour does away with its strong smell, saponin flavor and brings out its rich nutty flavor. To toast, place the flour on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread into a layer no more than 1/4 inch. Bake at 220 degrees for 90 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool before storing in the refrigerator or freezer. OR to bake quicker, this is a good test of results it seems - http://parttimehealthnut.com/2013/01/15/how-to-make-fast-and-good-quinoa-flour/

Quinoa is worth it. Its protein and fiber content is higher than wheat. It has fewer carbs than wheat and it is packed with vitamins and minerals. It works like pastry flour in baked goods and works well combined with other flours. Baking the quinoa may be an extra step, but it is easy and will make your baked goods better tasting and better for you. And it is that nutty flavor that is most loved anyway, so it must be brought out and complement a dessert!

I wonder if pairing Quinoa flour with Spelt flour would be good for an extra nutty flavored tart crust --- two better digestible forms of flour.

Using Quinoa flour for tarts sounds like a perfect fit. Especially pairing it with cream cheese or maybe even Mascarpone. Also... using the seeds for Quinoa Pudding with fruit is a healthy dessert!

SUMMER. HEALTHIER. ALLERGY FRIENDLY. DIGESTIBLE.

... bring May Cakes.

April showers/snow/boring-ness... brings May CAKES! Wedding, Graduation, Bachelorette and more! Kickoff start of May. More to come!

I am enjoying everyday work - which can often be seen as quick work, but these little things really can bring comfort. This simplicity brings a smile to my face. To feel your medium.. to feel the coziness of something as simple as a buttercream rose and putting together a whole. Enjoy simple pleasures everyday. I demand you to.

 

A Happy Life - 
 

To live with purpose.
To say the courageous thing.
To celebrate the simple gift.
To follow your dreams.

This is a happy life.

No use crying over spilt milk...

When you can always eat some Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Remember being a child and being able to sit down with a glass of milk and dip a fresh from the oven cookie, while being full of joy? I believe Cookies can do just that. Simple from scratch chewy cookies, tasting the gooey chocolate and letting the cookie fall apart as you take a bite. No matter how you were raised, I think most of us at some point had these moments. There is nothing like the combination of milk and cookies. PURE COMFORT. It is wonderful the comfort that such a simple thing can bring within ones day. So, why not endulge occasionally and let this simple pleasure bring us bliss and a peaceful, relaxed feeling.

"be present in the moment, quiet your mind, and stay grounded. allow your life to become uncomplicated. in simplicity you will find harmony, clarity, and joy." ... really cookies can help do just that. 

Joy, comfort and peace to the world... with cookies.

  
Stranger Than Fiction
written by Zach Helm  

Harold Crick: Well, goodnight.
Ana: Want a cookie?
Harold: Oh, no.
Ana: Oh c'mon. They're warm and gooey and fresh out of the oven.
Harold: No, I don't like cookies.
Ana: You don't like cookies. What's wrong with you?
Harold: I don't know.
Ana: Everybody likes cookies.
Harold: No, I know.
Ana: After a really awful no-good day, didn't your mama ever make you milk and cookies?
Harold: No. My mother didn't bake. The only cookies I ever had were store bought.
Ana: Hm. Okay. Sit down.
Harold: No, I'm --
Ana: No. Sit down. Now -- eat a cookie.
(She places a glass of milk and a plate with a cookie in front of Harold.)
Harold: I really can't...
Ana: Mr. Crick, it was a really awful day. I know, I made sure of it. So pick up the cookie, dip it in the milk and eat it.
(Harold does so.)
Harold: Mmm. Oh. That's a really really good cookie. Mm. ... When did you decide to become a baker?
Ana: Um, in college.
Harold: Oh, like a cooking college?
Ana: I went to Harvard Law actually.
Harold: Oh, oh, I'm sorry, I just assumed it was --
Ana: No. No. It's fine. I didn't finish.
Harold: Something happen?
Ana: No. I was barely accepted. I mean, barely. The only reason they let me come was because of my essay. How I was going to make the world a better place with my degree. And anyway, we would have to participate in these study sessions, my classmates and I, sometimes all night long. And so I baked so no one would go hungry while we worked. Sometimes I'd bake all afternoon in the kitchen, in the dorm, and then I'd bring my little treats to the study groups and people loved them. (puts more cookies on the table) Eat. I made oatmeal cookies... peanut butter bars...dark chocolate macadamia nut wedges, and everyone would eat and stay happy and study harder and do better on the test and more and more people started coming to the study groups and I'd bring more snacks and I was always looking for better and better recipes until soon it was ricotta cheese and apricot croissants and mocha bars with a almond glaze and lemon chiffon cake with zesty peach icing. And at the end of the semester I had twenty seven study partners, eight Mead journals filled with recipes and a D average. So I dropped out. I just figured if I was going to make the world a better place I would do it with cookies ....

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

 April is just around the corner, therefor this post and this Chocolate Caramel Coffee Mousse Cake is for all my ladies and those who are caring human beings. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM).

As Sexual Assault is often looked at as “How do we prevent this from happening?” We tend to focus on the women. Often women are taught that it is unsafe to go out in the dark late at night, that it is not safe to wander in the dark alone, that we should all carry a can of mace, or not wear clothing that is too revealing. We are taught that we should learn self-defense and know what one can do in such a situation.

But the term prevention is not really prevention. Instead, it is risk reduction. All of these things focus on how women can reduce chances of being assaulted. But if a woman has done everything in her power to avoid such a situation, then a man, who is prone to commit such abuse or has the need for power/control, will only move on to another woman or target. And the truth is, there are many of these men out there. This crime is all about the abuser and his/her needs to assert his power. So if you prevent yourself from being in the situation, it doesn’t mean it isn’t going to happen. Our culture produces violent men. We all need to step back and understand what really needs to be prevented and how all evil starts.

Of course I will continue to tell my lady friends or any woman, that you should not walk alone at night and carry pepper spray, but I think it is also important to take time to think about the fact that all people are the way they are because of things they have been through, where they were raised, and how they were raised. In my learning I have come to terms and my eyes have been opened up to a lot of bad things that happen in the world. From domestic abuse situations, random shootings, school shootings, and etcetera, a lot of it stems from how a child is raised. Or it seems that people have been hurt and they let anger and pain build up, they never get the help they need, so later they need to seek power that they have previously had taken away from them. It is a fact that often the abuser in a domestic violence situation also experienced abuse in their childhood. Or those who use violence or molestation towards children, they grew up also being violated or being abused by an alcoholic parent with anger, or another unhealthy living situations. Often in abuse situations, the abuser has to somehow in their head regain control, or they have so much built up, or maybe they don’t know what the difference between right and wrong is. But often abusers tend to come from unstable family situations, abusive pasts, having lacked attention, etc. So maybe instead of developing anger, or wondering how we cannot be abused, maybe we can develop an understanding. What is the root of the issue? How can we really prevent?

So instead of developing our own anger, maybe instead we can understand and do our best to care for others. Maybe to focus more on the children. The children who are not as fortunate as you and me. The children who do not have healthy families, good living situations, with good morals and an understanding of respect and what is right or wrong. Maybe to get to the root of the problem, it is important to understand others pain and care for others. To know that everyone is the way they are because of their own experiences. Everyone has pain and difficulties and we can all understand that sometimes things really hurt and have an effect on the way we are day to day or the way we continue with our lives. Sometimes we all need help. And some of us are more fortunate than others – having money to seek counseling or having a good stable family that is there for you. Maybe to get to the root and redirect things, we can all build an understanding of the importance of helping others. There are many children that are on a list for the Big Brother Big Sister Program, and having a mentor, a positive influence in their lives can really help redirect them and keep them out of being connected with crime. So maybe the real prevention is making sure the help is there, counseling is available to all of those who need it, and by us doing our part. We can help care for these children that are unfortunate, care for children that are already starting to build up anger, and give them hope and belief that the world is good and that people CAN be good. Because we cannot make anything better by having the same conscience as what started such evil. Prevention is stopping things from the beginning. Building a positive, respectful community. To help these children have a good understanding of right and wrong, to let them know people care about them, instead of letting the anger build up and the feeling of NEEDING power. We need to address the underlying causes of sexual violence. We need to create healthy norms and healthy communities. We need to teach people about respect and healthy relationships, as they are young. We need to not laugh at sexist jokes, to call out friends when they are treating their girlfriend or boyfriend inappropriately. We need to support and teach our children that men do not have more rights than women. We need to change the current idea that men do have more power into the belief that we are all equal.

“ Mary explained that Sex Offenders (SOs) are very angry young men who sexually assault those that are weaker than them, in order to dominate and control. These young men have learned to be sexually aggressive, either because they have been socialized to it or because they have been victims themselves.

The structure of our society breeds aggressiveness and dominance in males and silence and submissiveness in females. This is the perfect combination that makes rape possible. It is also very evident at this facility that it is our culture's allowance of aggressive tendencies in men that perpetuate sexual assault. If our society had no tolerance for violent behavior, young men would not be able to develop such traits.”

“What they learn as boys, they do as men. That's why we need to teach our sons and other boys in our lives that violence against women is wrong. Now, when they need to hear it most,” says a print ad, which shows boys in baseball uniforms.

Maybe we can all just again, remember to repeatedly tell our children if we have children, how to be respectful, treat others, and stand up for what is right.

It is also important to always remember that we all have the opportunity to choose the right attitude, in any given set of circumstances. When we face our own life troubles, or have bad things come our way, we can always create good out of the bad. Choosing the right attitude will either allow us to enjoy life to the fullest, or not. You can choose better decisions to live a happy life, or you can bring out hurt onto others. Lets remember to keep the circle positive. Create your own happiness. Choose good thoughts, choose the right thoughts. Treat others well, take time to understand people, and care for all.

This article is aimed at men, which is not always the case, but it raises some good points.  http://voices.yahoo.com/the-root-cause-rape-male-dominated-society-254626.html?cat=7