Still here...

Doesn't it look yummy!





No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I just have had a busy week and really, honestly, have not had any time to blog. Sounds crazy right? And when I look back at last week I can't remember why! How sad. :(



So I found the time to bake today's TWD recipe - The Cover Cake!! I was excited about this weeks cake. But the thought of having a WHOLE cake in the house for days was not that exciting. So I divided the cake recipe in thirds. I made a third of the cake recipe and baked it in two 4" springform pans. It was a new challenge for me to figure out how to divide the recipe but I did it! No, math was not my greatest subject. So I ended up with these lovely rich thin cakes. Not too much to level into layers, but I did it. I made four thin layers. I crumbled the top of one and then layered the others. I didn't think that dividing up the frosting would work too well, so I made a quick cream cheese buttercream and used that instead. I overfrosted inbetween the layers so that it would "ooze" out the sides and look nice since I couldn't see frosting this little cake. Then I put lots of frosting on the top and crumbled that fourth layer on top so it would look like the cover cake. I think it turned out great. Unfortunately we went out for dinner and forgot that there was cake at home and ordered dessert! OOPS! So we don't know what it tastes like! I will let you know tomorrow.



The finished product...



Be sure to stop by and check out all the other TWD bakers, here.

And check back here and I should be back in the swing of things again.

Take care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Dancing Princes!

OMG - you have to watch this video! These two little men of mine are hilarious! They just love to watch themselves boogie in their reflection in the television!

Cute, Eh?

Take Care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

You Want Pies With That?? Submission!

I haven't gotten the confirmation that I can actually compete in this months "You Want Pies With That" Literary Pie competition....but I am hoping I will. Therefore, I present to you...Charlie's Ultimate Chocolate Pie. I knew that I wanted to do something chocolate, and I knew it would be from a children's book. So I chose Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Mary, from The Food Librarian chose this months theme - check out her pie here.

My Chocolate "Pie" starts with a decadent chocolate crust, then a layer of rich super dark chocolate ganache, then a thin layer of white chocolate ganache, and topped off with a milk chocolate pastry cream. Chocolate OVERLOAD!!!

Here is the chocolate crust with its first layer of ganache....

And now the white chocolate ganache....

And the milk chocolate pastry cream (which was alot runnier than I expected...maybe missed something??)

Can you see the layers??



It ended up being quite messy to eat, but OMG was it ever delicious!!! Had a LARGE glass of milk to go along with it - perfect match!

Be sure to stop by the other bakers and see what they have created for this awesome theme.

Take care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

Fixation Friday

Ok...so the post for today is not actually going to be posted today. I am going to post it tomorrow, as part of the "You want pies with that?" round up. This will be my first time participating in this...and I am excited! The theme is "literary" pies. Think about one of your fav books and develop a pie from that. I have been looking at the boy's bookshelves to see what might tickle my fancy...and I think I came up with something fun and yummy to boot! Let me just say there will be alot of chocolate involved! Bring it on!

Check back tomorrow and see what we come up with!

Until then,
Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Wednesday's Question

I haven't been following every question for each day since I just haven't been able to sit at the computer for long periods of time, but today I am feeling better and checked out the question of the day. "My Favorite food is_______________"
Of course I have to say CHOCOLATE! I love it. All of it. Dark, Milk, White. But it has to be tasty good quality chocolate. I am learning that the treats I make are only as good as the ingredients I put in them. So I am trying to find the best quality ingredients. And if I could afford to I would be ordering the best chocolates online, but alas...I cannot afford to. But I am using the best I can find here....there is a great selection of chocolate at World Market.
One of the chocolates that I have been really wanting to try but haven't found (I will eventually crack and order it online) is Askinosie Chocolate. I hear it is the best of the best. But once I have it what shall I make with it???
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think I should make with it. I am going to go order some right now!

Take care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Peace anyone??

I think today's TWD has been chosen at a great time. With the outlook for hope and peace in the country and the greater world they sure made me feel hopeful. TWD's World Peace Cookies were on board for today! The dark chocolate cookie, the zip of the fleur de sel, and then the creaminess of the chocolate chunks.....I couldn't stay mad at anyone after eating one of these! They are divine. I can't believe I haven't baked these before now. I will admit that I think they will be the cookies I make as peace offerings for anyone I wrong in the future!!

Thank you to Jessica over at Cookbook Habit for choosing these great cookies! You can find the recipe at her blog. And be sure to check out the other TWD bakers nummies!

Take care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

PS - Yes, I did bake these cookies with a very sore neck and a little out of it due to heavy duty drugs!! Nothing can stop me from baking! Committed or should be? :)

Superbowl Treats....

Here are some pic of the treats I made for Superbowl. I will post recipes later. Can't spend too much time on the computer as it hurts my neck!! But I will say that everyone loved them and they tasted AWESOME!!

Chocolate Cupcakes with Dark Chocolate Ganache and a dollop of Strawberry Buttercream!





Strawberry Whoopie Pies





I came home with empty containers - left some with the hostess with the mostess Mary.

Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

One Saturday at the circus...

So Jakob decided on Friday that he wanted to go to the circus with his Daddy. I admit that I was a little hurt, but then I saw how happy Jason was at this news it made me happy. They had a blast. Jason went way overboard and pretty much bought whatever Jakob wanted...which was whatever came into his sight!! The boys came home with all kids of goodies....light toys, elephant cup from snow cone, a crazy hat, and a mama with baby elephant set for Aiden. Good deals. Here are so pictures that Jason took:

Take care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often