Kitchen Love an affair to enjoy!

I love gadgets of any type.  If they make cooking easier I want it!  For many years I only use a hand held electric beater. 

I desired a stand mixer.  I left little hints.  Well okay HUGE hints I wanted a stand mixer.  My eyes desired a Kitchen Aide Stand Mixer.  They looked like they could handle anything I desired to mix up.

I heard they are work horses of the mixers.  I grew jealous of those who own a stand mixer.

It seemed my guy's ears where full of wax when my hints became a daily adventure into the virtues of stand mixers.

My birthday came and went.  Christmas came and went.  Still no Kitchen Aide Mixer. 

Then one day out of the blue my mother called.  Now Mom retired at 65...but did not like being a home body so went back to work in the retail field for the last 15 years.  She loves working - what can I say.  

Anyhow the retail store that is a national chain was closing the store that she had worked part time at for the last 15 years.  All stock had to go.  The prices where unbelievable on many items.

My mother  bless her heart got me my dream machine!  Thank you so very much MOM!!  It arrived in June.  Carried by hand from St. Louis to Alaska by my younger sister on her first visit to Alaska.

OMG I now understand why they are the best!

My little beauty:

I have been enjoying my baking all the more!  Whip cream is a breeze!  My cake batters are amazing.  And I have joy in my heart!

Cheesecake Brownie Dessert when one slice is never enough

Today I met a handful of friends for lunch.  One dear friend was in town visiting from Washington and we rarely get to see her and her husband. So those of us who don't work in the corporate rat race all got to spent a short but most wonderful time.

For fun I baked Cheesecake Brownie as a surprise for all.  Tis one of my favorite desserts and only made for special occasions!  My recipe makes an 8 1/2" round  dessert.  Eight Slices of pure delight!

A bottom layer of Rich chocolate brownie topped with fluffy cheesecake and then drizzled with white chocolate gauche.  YUMMY!

Will be adding to the 1k shop for ordering!  A small 4 slice cake, an 8 slice cake and a 10 slice cake.  Available for hand delivery in the Anchorage area or mailed overnight express to all other US states. 
Great for those birthday parties for those who have exotic taste buds or just a simple family get together. 

Sun and Snow

The last two days have been crock full of sun! A wonderful treat indeed. Although when so sunny one must have dark sunglasses...that glare from the snow can blind you. Listen to me I sound like an ole mother hen "wear your sunglasses" LOL. Okay sometimes I forget not to preach. Did a little baking...tested out a recipe for Blue berry cake. Turned out rather good if I say so. I got a big bunch of fresh organic berries at the market - these berries where as big as my thumb. So in blue berry standards they are HUGE! And sooooooo tasty. So as the picture displays my lovely mini berry cake sliced and ready to eat. Makes you want some doesn't it! Just add your own whip cream. You could also try this: take 1/2 cup of the berries add two tablespoons sugar and 1/4 water heat over medium heat, bring to a boil, remove from heat, spoon over sliced mini cakes - totally awesome berry syrup.

Fur Rondy and Iditarod

The next two weeks are Fur Rondy which is a winter festival here in Anchorage ending with the kickoff of the world famous dog sled race the "Iditarod". If your in Anchorage for Fur Rondy...watch out I'll be visiting lots of the different activities myself, taking pictures & giving out freebies of my candies! Although these are mini bites of White chocolate Oreo cookies candies Yes two in a box to be giving out plus I'll be giving out Dark Chocolate Truffles, chocolate lollipops and also will be handing out the "Blonde Bombshell cookie". Totally awesome way for folks to get a taste of my gourmet desserts! Plus what a fun way to advertise my online shops! Low cost- high impact and I get to have fun too! I'm be the one with a huge bag of treats handing out small white boxes with truffles or bites in them, & clear bags with cookies. I be the one wearing a red jacket, black gloves, and black hat and plaid scarf! So come on over to Fur Rondy and all the activities and Make sure you get your freebie of a delightful gourmet dessert!

Just call me chicken...

Wings, thighs, breast. Roasted, fried, broiled, baked, and even B.B.Q Any the the above cooking methods are good. Some fix one way are healthier for you than others. We eat lots of chicken. I only like the white meat, although I will eat most chicken pieces except for maybe legs. Legs don't appeal to me. Legs are for kids not adults LOL. My mom made the best fried chicken when I was a kid. I never learn how to really do 'fried chicken'. Sorta fell into that same grouping as pie crusts. I can't make a homemade pie crust to save my soul. And I remember when I first was married and did the ole Shake & Bake chicken...omg that haunts me to think of that gross faked fried chicken. All other cooked items I excel at, so why not fried chicken or pie crusts? Guess everyone needs an item that just isn't for them to cook. I do an awesome BBQ chicken, my roasted chicken is next to heaven, and my crispy chicken broiled is also a favorite. My chicken dinner: Roasted Breasts with French Grey Salt and spices. Bone in, and with the skin left on chicken truly is the tastiest. But boneless and skinless is healthier. And we all know fried chicken is "death". Spices add so much to any cooking Be brave and try all kinds! I also love chicken with India spice theme!

Candy Making Day

Friday I worked with chocolate. I was in the candy making mood. It's one of my more fun things to play with. Melting the chocolate, pouring into molds, waiting for it to firm up and then releasing the candy from the molds to see how they turn out is well worth it all! White chocolate with oreo cookie bits was the major project winner of the day. The first picture is my 4 pack Candy Bars, which will really appeal to the adult in all of us. Then the really fun summer time 'Sea Shore Lollipops' which brings out the child in all of us. Tasting the sweets after dinner was wonderful. I'm a true white chocolate lover...I'll pass over milk or dark chocolates in a flash if white is anywhere near. After dinner I ate the seahorse lollipop. YUMMMMMMMMMYYYYY! Thats the great part of making your own - so fresh and even if this sounds like bragging and it is - Homemade is totally good. Dang Good! I will be selling both items in my shops. http://www.lollishops.com/CoveredinChocolate and of course http://www.CoveredinChocolate.etsy.com Blog followers get a 10% discount just mention you are on my blog as a follower in your note to seller, I'll check you name and revise the invoice for you! Simple and easy. I love things that have no fuss!

Cookie CONTEST- Cookie CONTEST - Cookie CONTEST

Name the Cookie! January 30th - February 8th Visit either of my shoppes: http://www.coveredinchocolate.etsy.com http://lollishops.com/CoveredinChocolate Read over the description of the “Unnamed Cookie” Then enter a comment on either of my blogs What YOU would name this cookie! Remember have fun, keep it “PG”, be creative, and this cookie is in the classification of monster size cookies so keep that in your mind as you type the winning name! On February 10th I will announce the winner! The lucky winner will win a box of Six (6) monster cookies sent with my thanks for naming the ‘unnamed cookie’. The winning cookie name will be selected by votes through Lollishops Merchant Group. Good Luck and get those names in now!

Amaretto Silk Orgasm Cookies

Visit me at either of my Gourmet Shoppes! http://www.CoveredinChocolate.etsy.com http://www.lollishops.com/CoveredinChocolate I'll be adding these cookies to my shop later today! OMG never in my life have I enjoyed baking a cookie more! My preferred nut is Pecan, but almonds grounded to tiny tiny gains add a whole new meaning to nuts in cookies. Then a big splash of Amaretto Liqueur (did I say big ... I mean huge) When you order your "Amaretto Silk Orgasm Cookies" mention my blog with blogspot or indiepublic in the message line and I will send along Two Chocolate Moose Lollipops as my gift to you!

A Day in Chocolate Heaven - Ohhhh so Sinful

Today I'll be working with various chocolates to test out several new candy molds I recently purchased for adding to my line of Gourmet Sweets. I'll be testing out new colorings, extracts, and different chocolates to see how each work together in the process of making Gourmet Candies! Testing day is exciting, fun, but also frusrating! But it is the one chance I get to become totally creative with all my kitchen gadgets. Then we get to sample what we made to see if and when it gets added to the growing list of sweets that go into my online shops. Pictures will be taken during the whole process so that I'll be able to share the fun I had while testing.