Sticky Buns! In every way.

For those of you who know me well, you know that I am a barista. I make coffee for those in need out of the goodness of my heart and a desire to spread joy throughout the world. But for those of you who know me really well, you know that there are downsides to my job. 

One of these downsides is that my job is very messy. Its cluttered, its fast paced, and just when you think you got yourself caught up, you spill a five gallon batch of coffee all over the floor and flood the place. 

For those of you who don't know me at all but have seen me, You know I have a butt that goes for miles. It has its own gravitational pull and actually does things all on its own without ever asking for my consent. It's constantly causing me problems and getting me into sticky situations. 

Today, I was walking in the back and someone had left an open jug of white chocolate on one of the shelves, barely covered with a thin piece of saran wrap. I, literally thirty seconds before I was about to clock out, walked passed this container, and felt a brush up against my bottom. I heard a splatter sound, and knew that my butt had gotten me into trouble yet again. I turned to look and the whole white chocolate can was sideways, its contents dripping thickly, all over the shelf, everything that was on the shelf, and the floor. 

So, you have to understand, that in the normal world, this makes no logical sense whatsoever, because the white chocolate was near my feet, and my bottom was much higher than that. (For now) So my only conclusion is that my bottom has magical gravitational powers. Like Harry Potter. Kinda. Anyway, to make matters worse, I had to clock off that second in order to not go over on my hours, and then sit on the floor in the back wiping up this white, mucas like substance and not even get paid for it! It was sad. To make matters even worse- as if that were possible!- I observed where I would sit in order to avoid getting the substance all over me, found a dry spot, and then sat and cleaned. But when I got up from my spot, somehow, I had white chocolate all over my pants on my butt and left thigh, which was literally making my pants stick to my skin in a crumply sort of fashion, making it look and feel like a camel had licked me. 

This story has a point. I promise. 

And here it is. 

In honor of this wonderful experience, I decided to commemorate the occasion of the discovery of my bottom's magical powers, and make a post on sticky buns. 

Get it? :P

Here it is, from Betty Crockers Christmas Cookbook. Enjoy. 

1/2	cup packed brown sugar
1/2	cup heavy whipping cream
1/4	cup chopped pecans
2	tablespoons granulated sugar
1	teaspoon ground cinnamon
1	can (11 oz) refrigerated soft breadsticks

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In ungreased 8-inch round pan, mix brown sugar and whipping cream. Sprinkle with pecans.
2. In small bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon. Unroll breadstick dough, but do not separate into breadsticks. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over dough. Roll up dough from short end; separate at perforations. Place coiled dough in pan.
3. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool 1 minute. Place heatproof serving plate upside down onto pan; turn plate and pan over. Let pan remain 1 minute so caramel can drizzle over rolls.

Harry Potter, Mild Sedatives and Almond Joy.

I am a Harry Potter fan. Unfortunately, I'm also a full time student, who usually starts her part time job at four am, I'm involved in church and still try to fit a social life in. This, does not leave a lot of room for the joy of cooking. Its very sad. Not to mention the drain all of that has on your funds. My intention for the midnight showing of Harry Potter was to make Butterbeer and Cauldron Cakes. The problem is, the only time I had to do it was two hours before I had to be at the theatre, and Cauldron cakes are time consuming. So I decided to make these amazing almond joy cupcakes instead. 

I've got to be honest... I'm glad i didn't make Cauldron Cakes. These are going on my list of faves. I brought them to the movie theatre, and shared them with my friends and other random Harry Potter fans. (I'm a naughty girl and snuck them in using Shannon's amazingly large purse) And since doubled the recipe and had extra, I brought them to work. All I heard was positives even from people who don't like coconut that much. They were very  moist and delicious. :P

In effort to experiment a bit, in honor of my dad, who really likes chocolate covered cherries, Instead of putting coconut in the center, I placed a cherry cordial in the center of a few of the cupcakes immediately after they were baked. It ends up melting and creating this lava cake effect when your eating it. Very good. 

I didn't tell the theatre I had administered a mild sedative into the cupcakes to keep all the loud talkers from ruining Harry Potter for me. 

The problem is, the cupcakes looked so good I had to try one. 

Anyway, here's the info... I got this recipe off of this blog: 

http://naturallyella.com, but I changed it up slightly. Its a bit more user friendly now. :P

•Prep Time:30 min

•Cook Time:20 min

•Ready In:50 min

         

Servings: 12 pieces

Ingredients

Cupcakes

• 1/2 cup butter softned

• 1 cup sugar

• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 1 cup unbleached all purpose flour

•      1/2 cup cocoa powder

•      2 cups Milk

Filling

• 1 cup Shredded Coconut sweetened

• 1/4 cup powdered sugar

• 1/2 cup Sweetend condensed milk

Ganache

• 2 cup chocolate chips

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350˚

• In a small bowl, sift dry ingredients for cupcakes and set aside.

•In a medium bowl (or a bowl of a stand mixer) combine butter and sugar, beat until light and fluffy- about 3 minutes.  Add in egg and vanilla, continue to beat until incorporated.  Add 1/3 of the dry ingredients followed by the milk.  Beat until just combined. Add remaining flour and mix until batter is combined- don't over mix.

•Divide batter into 12 cupcakes and bake for 16-18 minutes or until cupcake springs back when pressed.  Remove from pan and place on a cooling rack. 

•In another bowl, combine the powdered sugar and coconut.  Warm condensed milk and pour over coconut, stir to combine.   While cupcakes are still slightly warm, cut an "X" in the top of each cupcake, and using either a pastry bag, or your finger if your more hands on :), fill the X with about a teaspoon of coconut filling. 

Smear remaining filling on top of each cupcake that covers the entire surface. Place a few almonds of top of the filling.

•In a heat proof bowl combine chocolate and heavy cream.  Place over a pot of boiling water and continue to stir until chocolate is melted and the ganache is smooth. (Microwaves also work if you want a shortcut, but be sure to melt the chocolate only thirty seconds at a time, stirring very well in between to ensure you don't burn your chocolate) Take each cupcake and cover the coconut filling with the ganache, by either dipping the cupcake, or spooning the ganache on. 

I prefer spooning, personally. haha! (What girl doesn't)

Its not quite as messy. 

Once each cupcake has been covered once, go back and dip the cupcakes in the ganache for a second time.

•Top with toasted coconut and/or an almond for decoration, if desired.

Long Live Halloween

Yes, I know... Halloween is long gone. We have now moved from ghosts and goblins to Santa and tiny toy makers. And with all my party planning I got lost in the shuffle and forgot to post these. But... They are way to cute to not share. I quite enjoyed making them with my amazing friend Erika. They are simple... Vanilla Sandwich cookies and nutter butters covered with melted chocolate, (white chocolate, and mint chocolate). I used a small paintbrush and diluted black icing to create the faces. We made ghosts and Frankensteins. :P I took them to a halloween party with me and they were a big hit. Although they did get a little smooshed on the way there. :( I really have to find a better way for my baked goods to travel.



                          
                                        
                      
   
                      
                                This was my favorite Ghost because he looks like he belongs in a
                                                                 South Park episode. :P
                                                                  See? It's Uncanny!

   

 

                                         Well, hope you enjoyed this even though it was belated!