Baking and motivation

I have had a hard time getting motivated to write this blog the last few weeks.  I have had finding work on my mind, as well as oh just a few current world events...  I've also been kind of frustrated with my photo taking ability.  I've been submitting some of my "good" photos to such sites as Foodgawker.com and Tastespotting.com but nothing is getting published because of "composition" issues (way to be vague!). Compared to some of the better food blogs, my pictures are fine but not exceptional and this is because they are not taken by a SLR camera so... I get it.  But I am allowed to stew and bake goodies to cheer myself up, right?

So, I have been baking a lot and wanted to share some of my favorites.  Baking has gotten me motivated to eat really well, go running and hiking and to give away most of my baked goods to friends, family and even prospective employers. So, I am feeling great.

Here are some of the delicious treats I've come up with in the last couple of weeks:

William Sonoma overnight cinnamon rolls

Made these when I stayed over at my sister's place - we finished 6 of them between three of us.  They were darn good!

before icing....

...after icing.

Blueberry muffins

And finally, I will share a recipe I adapted from The Naptime Chef for Oatmeal chocolate chip coconut cookies.  I have made two versions of these in the last week - one to share with some friends who needed a "pick me up" (made with cranberries instead of chocolate chips) and one to wow a prospective employer (chocolate worked here)!  They are really good, on the healthy side (I played around with adding applesauce instead of LOADS of butter and limiting granulated sugar...also substituting some whole wheat flour for the all purpose.)  They are still really good and virtually guilt free.  So enjoy!

Oatmeal chocolate chip coconut cookies:
1 c all purpose flour
1 c whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

½ c room temperature unsalted butter

½ c unsweetened apple sauce

1 c light brown sugar, packed

¼ c granulated sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

2 large eggs

2 tsp vanilla

1 c mini chocolate chips (or dried cranberries or raisins or nuts)

1 c sweetened shredded coconut

1 c oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line two baking sheets w/parchment paper or a silpat.

Blend flours and baking soda in a small bowl, then set aside.

In a mixer, beat butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add salt.  With mixer on low, add eggs one at a time until each is blended.  Add vanilla.

Add flour in thirds until incorporated (scrape bowl as needed). Using a spatula, fold in chocolate chips, coconut and oats (separately).

Place rounded tablespoons full of batter 2 inches apart on cookie sheets.  Bake for 16-18 minutes until edges are golden brown (don’t overcook – they will firm up after cooking).

Makes 40-45 cookies.

What are some of your favorite sweet treats?  What gets YOU motivated - I'd love to hear your thoughts so feel free to share.

Chow for now!

Surfa's + decadent sweets = this chef's fantasy!

Last night my friend and fellow blogger, Ellen, and I attended a great tasting/book signing at Surfa's.  For those of you who don't know of it, it's in Culver City and is basically a warehouse filled with chef porn.  You laugh, but if you are someone who must have the coolest new kitchen gadget or needs just about anything related to cooking or baking, including gourmet sauces, cheeses, vinegars, spices, candy making supplies, tableware, catering items, pots, pans, you name it, they've probably got it.  They also hold food related events year round.

This event was free (such a nice thing to find in LA) and was held by the Bite Me sisters, Lisa Gnat and Julie Albert.  The cute, funny and talented chefs have a new cookbook out and if all the recipes in the book are anything like the delicious fare we sampled last night, it is SURE to be a hit.

We got to try their "go to" cookie, cranberry white chocolate.  It was so tasty!  Crispy on the bottom, chewy on the inside and bursting with tart cranberries and sweet, delicious white chocolate.   This recipe is definitely something I will attempt for the holidays.

Julie holding a platter of amazing cranberry white chocolate cookies!

Apple cake with (wait for it.....).  Butterscotch sauce!!!  OMG.  This cake was moist and sweet and smelled of autumn spices.  The butterscotch sauce added an other layer of good stuff.  Being a huge fan of quick breads myself, I will try and recreate this one at home for sure. Forgot to take a pic :(

We also tried a decadent chocolate pecan pie.  I am not typically a fan of pecan pie but the addition of chocolate really put up a notch in my book.  Simple and decadent at the same time.

Chocolate pecan pie

Next up were two cupcake recipes.  The pumpkin cupcake was perfect, sweet, but not too sweet, great cinnamon and nutmeg flavor, moist and pretty to look at.  Making them in a mini muffin pan was genius.  They were adorable to look at and maybe you won't feel so bad popping two or three of those little guys in your mouth.  They would be a perfect addition to the Thanksgiving dessert table.

The secret of the s'mores cupcake is to bake the graham cracker cupcakes, then cut a small hole in top, fill with marshmallow fluff (yum!) and top with chocolate icing.  What a nice surprise inside!  They looked amazing, but unfortunately by then my sugar level had hit dangerous heights so I didn't get to try it.

The chefs gave great stories and also gave away "Bite Me" swag... I didn't win an apron or a book (bummer!), but I everyone in attendance received a Bite Me shopping bag filled with Surfa's goodies, including a couple of great kitchen tools (each bag was different, but I got a pastry scraper and a silicone basting brush, which I totally needed.)

I hope to buy this book some day to add to my collection, but until then I will savor the recipes which were shared at the event. And I plan on going back to Surfa's again to shop, taste and take a class... very soon.  Check out their schedule for more info!

Chow for now!  :)