yum yum

More hostess cupcakes. Well, because...just look at them. Delectable.

Photo credit goes to B. 

happy birthday, B!

i take any excuse to bake chocolate sweets, and this one in particular, was a very special excuse..B's birthday!

i made hostess cupcakes from food & wine's recipe and stuffed chunks of marshmallow for the filling (i know, i cheated..i don't even really care for marshmallows). my favorite part was dunking each cake in a bath of ganache and then giving it a little twist at the end for a smooth, silky coat.  i also enjoyed decorating them with piped icing, which i added a little drop of vanilla to (well, because i love pure vanilla..almost as much as i do, chocolate), it made me feel as if i was a pastry chef, dressing each cupcake with skill and precision, all i needed was my toque blanche. and like magic, the cakes were something special. the baked mini chocolate cake, each with its fluffy marshmallow filling and warm chocolate icing, perfectly sized to fit in one bite, all just melting in your mouth. a pure pleasure.

babycakes, double chocolate chip cookies

I've been having a chocolate craving like no other, and thanks to Natalie who got me a recipebook from the most talked about bakery in NYC, Babycakes, I made these bad boys. It was also an excuse to take a trek to Rainbow Grocery and buy the best of ingredients in bulk--coconut oil, fair-trade semisweet chocolate chips, and pure cocoa powder and vanilla extract.  They're the ultimate guilt-free indulgence--I'm actually munching on some that I packed for lunch right now. I know, it's only 9:30 in the morning, but never too early for a sweet fix.

These cookies came out so well-- thin and crispy on the edges while moist and chewy in the center, and chocolatey all around. I'm including the recipe here along with an interview of Babycakes founder, Erin McKenna because I think it's very worth sharing.

Note: I cut the recipe in a half (because the full recipe yields close to 40 cookies) and still had plenty to bring into work. Oh, another note! Dennie got me the book, "The Artist in the Office: How to Creatively Survive and Thrive Seven Days a Week," which is as awesome as it is witty and inspiring, and in it, the author suggests to make a treat for your coworkers. What better excuse have you got now?

Enjoy!
con

p.s. I took this photo with B's fancy camera, and on the second click came out with this. I'm pretty impressed. Food photographer in the making? Perhaps..

life's uncertain, eat dessert first

i'm at yali's, my favorite place for coffee in berkeley and i just got a slice of their chocolate cake.
i think i'm in heaven.