------------------ My First Cookie Swap was a Great Success -------------

I received some amazing treats and I sent a cookie i really loved and everyone of my swap-ees agreed they enjoyed them as well.

(From Top left: all cookies; pineapple, pistachio and hazelnut/chocolate. Top Right: Hazelnut/Chocolate. Bottom Left: Pistachio)

Thank you: Pineapple Cookies (Marcy Reynolds: justacrumb.com) Pistachio Shortbread (Melissa Beach: shootsandroots.wordpress.com) Hazelnut/Chocolate Shortbread (Elizabeth Darby)

------------------ Caramel Raisin/Pecan Oatmeal Cookies -------------

Caramel Raisin & Pecan Oatmeal Cookies 1 cup unsalted butter; soft/room-temp. 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed ---------------- 2 eggs 1-1/4 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 cup caramel (See Caramel Apple post) --------------- 2 c AP Flour 1-1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp salt -------------- 3 cups Oats 1 cup raisins 1 cup pecans, chopped I love these cookies!!!! Preheat oven to 375F 1. Cream butter and both sugars until smooth; beat in eggs, vanilla and caramel. 2. Combine and blend thoroughly flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Beat into creamed mixture. Fold in oats, raisins and nuts. 3. Scoop or drop teaspoon size portions on to silpat, parchment or greased baking sheet. 4. Bake for 8-10 minutes; Makes 6 dozen cookies.

Happy Holiday

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Rhianna - You Da One

This is just a quick post about my favorite foods for Thanksgiving.... I'm thankful for.... Friends and Family. Food has always been apart of the best memories created with friends and family. I am blessed to have the best Chefs in my family, the recipes and creations that have graced my plates in my youth; around the holidays are GENIUS!!! sadly I do not have pictures of ever food but just the names will blow your mind as they did my tastebuds....

So Lets Fix a Plate -N- Eat (in the words of my grandma Bailey) Dinner Tofu Mac 'n Cheese Sweet 'n Sour Green B-Beans Yeast Rolls Roasted Redskin potatoes Smashed Sweet potatoes Cornbread/Sausage Stuffing Oyster Stuffing Smothered Turkey Wings Garlic & Herb Butter Turkey Cranberry Sauce Turkey Gravy Potato Salad....etc ( There are at least 10 more) Drink Sparkling Apple Cider Dessert Sweet Potato Pie Pineapple Upside Down Cake Tipsy Cake Rum-Bread Pudding 7up pound cake Blueberry Cobbler Sweet potato pudding

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Mary J Blige - Share My World

YUMMMM!!! These turned out great!!! Easy recipe...

1# sweet potato (1 large or 2 small potatoes) 2T milk 1-1/2c AP flour 2T sugar 1T baking powder 1/2t salt 1 stick cold butter; cut into small pieces *Bake potato(es) until tender; cool completely, smash and stir in milk until smooth. **Whisk flour, salt, sugar and baking powder. Cut in butter until butter is evenly distributed or resembles a course corn meal. ***Add potato mix, combine until dough forms. flattend dough to about an 1 inch and cut into desired shapes on a lightly floured surface. Arrange onto a greased baking sheet, egg wash tops and sides and dust lightly with sugar. Bake in 425 oven for 18-22 minutes.

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Jimmy Hendrix - 51st Anniversary

I am participant in this cookie swap,

I'm so very excited it's my first swap... I have a number of cookie recipes, but I know just the one that will be a winner.

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Adele - Daydreamer

Since I was a kid, I always had the best lunch. So it only makes sense to feature my best lunch meals...Bon Appetite!!!

**Roasted Butternut Squash/Artichoke Penne

Butternut Squash 1 can Artichoke hearts 1/2 tub Philadelphia Cooking Creme: Italian Herb half brown onion salt + pepper chill pepper olive oil

Peel and cube squash, toss in olive oil, salt, pepper and chill powder, spread in a single layer on sheet pan and roast for 45-50mins until fork tender in 400 oven. Add sliced onion to pan during the last 5mins. Let squash and onions cool completely. Sautee Artichokes for a few minutes, add cooled squash mix. Heat until warmed through, add cooking creme and toss with your favorite pasta, until fully incorporated. Season to taste if need. Enjoy!!! **This recipes made 4 servings, I also used a small squash about 1-1/2lbs**

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Foster The People - Pumped Up Kicks

What should I do with this can of Pumpkin?, one may ask... Well long story short : I have been bitten by the bread bug again. I recently made the Honey Whole Wheat Bread and Pumpkin Pretzel Bread. Humpty Pumpkin Pretzel Bread was a glorious accident. I eyed the can-o-pumpkin and used about 1/3 c in the recipe then I started shaking and adding other sweet and savory ingredients into the recipe, it resulted in a nice orange hue of a dough.

Pumpkin Pretzel Bread

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Ring-a-Ling - BlackEyedPeas

Thanks to the little change in weather this past week, Fall has sparked a great deal of inspiration for new recipes and snack-ee-doos!!! Caramel Apples have always been my favorite fall treat. Its been a while since making these beauties... Now with my Culinary&Patisserie knowledge....I'm proud of the outcome. ENJOY! {Granny Smith Apples covered in homemade caramel, drizzled with white and milk chocolate... rolled in roasted Almonds and Macadamia Nuts.} { R.I.P. Apple #1 , Ha!}

Caramel (makes about 2 1/2 cups) 2c sugar 1/2c hvy cream 2 T unsalted butter Cook sugar until evenly melted, gradually stirring to prevent burning (**add a few drops of lemon juice to prevent crystallization) Once sugar is melted and has reached the color you desire (300 degrees), add cream (**carefully it will try to kiss you...lol) followed by butter and stir until you reach a smooth consistency. Tada!!! caramel is finished, I like to strain it to get any lumps out. Let caramel cool completely and set up overnight in an air tight container. It should last for a month.

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Busta Rhymes - Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See

.:: B R E A D ::.

Its my new favorite thing to do, when time permits... [Left: Olive sourdough bouille, Sourdough loaf, Rosemary Tomato Foccacia, Olive bread and Yogurt/Sourdough rolls] ------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Ring-a-Ling - BlackEyedPeas

Since I've been on a major hiatus. I have baked a few fan favorites..... Honey Whole Wheat Bread **A nice hearty bread he is. This will for be my go to whole wheat, from here on. A few ingredient adjustments have to be made. After learning the six-braid technique in school, I was so very excited and could not stop braiding every bread I made since that magic moment. ------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Maxwell - Lifetime

Guess Who's Back?! Its been a long time since posting on this here blog. I'm back with more goodies. Since the last post, I am now a graduate of LeCordon Bleu, and working as an Assistant Pastry Chef at __________ in Los Angeles, CA. The following are the last few projects from school Enjoy!{ Wedding cake, Sugar sculpture and Princess cake }

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Randy Newman - We belong together (ToyStory3 soundtrak)

Final Exams are in... 'A' Students unite Petit Four Glace Mini Dobos Tortes w/ Caramel planks Deconstructed Gateau St. Honore w/ spun sugar, sugared puff pastry, vanilla diplomat creme, caramel dipped profiteroles, finished with raspberry/mango coulis. ------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Lady GAGA - I was born this was

Chocolate 2.0MG !!! I am starting my final class in my Patisserie & Baking program at LCB. Centerpiece and Cake Decor....Yay! I am so excited about the cakes that will be featured. But for now lets get back to Valentine's Day!! From left: Raspberry Pate de Fruit, Port Truffles and Orange Champagne BonBons From top left: Vanilla Chai Carioca Truffles, Almond Rocher, PassionFruit/Armaretto BonBons and Salty chocolate dipped caramels ------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Black Eyed Peas - The Time ( Dirty Bit)

CHOCOLATE

So this past Friday wrapped up the end of three weeks of intense chocolate production.This will be a two part post, starting from the end results of box 1....

Box 2

Stay Tuned for second post; Chocolate candies made; Pate de fruit, caramel, passion fruit bon bons, port truffles, carioca, and rocher.

Check it Out!!!

mayganbee.carbonmade.com ------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Kool & The Gang - She's fresh

So, I have reached the end of plated desserts sections in this module...*sigh* I am really impressed with my skills in tempering chocolate... Taking a concept to sketch and then plate...

Jaconde Sponge, cappuccino mousse, chantilly creme, tempered chocolate tiles and tear drop. Fresh orange segments, chocolate sauce and orange gastrique round out this plated finale!!!

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Lil Wayne & Cory gunz - 6' - 7'

Team Plate Up Challenge #2 Components: Flourless Chocolate Cake, Cappuccino Mousse, Chocolate Garnish, 2 sauces and fresh fruit

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- The Donnas - Fall Behind Me

Challenge: 10 plated desserts, presented banquet style using Poached Pears, Mascarpone Mousse and Chocolate garnish as the staple items for the plate, sauces and additional garnishes determined by group member.

Pearscapone Delight Fanned poached pear halves, rossette of mascarpone mousse, chocolate flower, chocolate sauce and raspberry sauce complete the dish

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Shakira - Sheowlf

Chocolate vs Megan ROUND 2 (ding!!)

Chocolate is so soothing to work with, when you can get it tempered correctly...

Tempered Chocolate Balloon Cups| Cappuccino Mousse | Chantilly Cream Salty Orange Caramel Sauce | Fresh orange segments & blackberries

* Not my best plate design, but im proud i finished and it looked decent.

------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- N.E.R.D - Hot n Fun

Who know chocolate could be so cruel...

PlatedUp: Chocolate Cylinder, Chocolate Mousse, Raspberries, Chocolate Garnish, Chocolate Sauce & Straw/Raspberry Sauce ------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- KC & The Sunshine Band - Summer Madness

Spiced Pineapple on reduced pineapple caramel sauce Coconut and macadamian nut tuile cookie topped with coconut sorbet and a caramel nut spike

Spiced Pineapple on kiwi coulis, coconut sorbet, toasted shaved coconut and topped with fresh kiwi and pineapple ------------------ Soundtrak of the Day ------------- Minnie Riperton - Lovin' You