TWD: Blueberry Crumb Muffins

First, let me start out by saying...BOO BOO THE BAKER!

You'd better be careful or she might eat your face like Hannibal! (OK gross)

Now onto the real reason I am posting this blog. Blueberries and procrastination. I didn't think I was going to be able to complete this challenge due to time constraints. Mondays and Tuesdays are Pilates days. Wednesday is wife and hubby day. Thursday is dance. That is how is goes. Every week. Hubby has to work tomorrow so I skipped Pilates to spend time at home with him. This gave me a chance to complete this weeks TWD challenge! Sihan of Befuddlement chose Blueberry Crumb Cake (Muffins). A sweet crispy topping and a moist blueberry bottom. Deliciousoso as Catie would say. Can't wait to have one for breakfast. And share one with the MIL!

Tuesdays with Dorie: Chocolate Armagnac Cake

This month's challenge is brought to us by Lyb of And then I do the dishes- Chocolate Armagnac Cake - The Cake That Got Me Fired.

Sunday was the first KVB Baking Day. Kacey, Victoria, and myself gathered in my kitchen to tackle Dorie's cake that got her fired. We each wore an apron. Kacey's was super cute with a ruffle at the bottom.

We had a great time and I think I did a great job not taking over (I have a tendency of doing that in my kitchen). I have to say I'm getting a bit sick of this folding of beaten egg whites in every one of her recipes. Yes, it is meant to lighten the cake. No, I don't like doing it.

We are in an economic crisis. I just had my hours cut back at work. I'm not about to go out and buy a bottle of booze that I may never use again. In my alcohol cabinet...Irish Whiskey. Perfect. I soaked my raisins (instead of prunes) in this and allowed them to sit for a few hours.


Overall we each enjoyed the cake. Quite chocolaty. The nuts add a nice crunch here and there. The raisins...hmm. Why? Kacey and I didn't mind them, they added something different. I don't think Toria was too impressed with them. I would have enjoyed a stronger taste of whiskey.


The next KVB Baking Day will be held at Victoria's house in a few weeks. Here and there we may host a guest baker. The hostess (with the mostest) is allowed to pick the project. I believe we are doing something with whiskey, stout, Baileys. What could it be??

TWD: World Peace Cookies

Thank you to Jessica of cookbookhabit who chose World Peace Cookies for the first challenge of February.

Now, they (who are "they" anyway) say that you shouldn't eat raw dough. Haha! We've tricked "them"! No eggs in this dough. Eat away and enjoy. I did, lots of it. I will explain later but upon cutting the logs the dough crumbled and made it's way to my mouth.

I wasn't going to do this challenge but decided last minute that I'd do it just in case I'm not able to do one later in the month. I'm glad I changed my mind. These cookies are not peaceful. My mouth is flipping out with excitement and crying for some milk (if only it wasn't dated 3 days ago). Satisfying my sweet tooth and my chocolate craving, these cookies need to leave my house immediately! MMSA you are in for a treat.

I'm warning you, when mixing this up according to instructions the dough is extremely crumbly. She says to pour the dough onto work surface and gather it up. Um. It was like course sand! After pressing and, like she said, gathering it did come together. I was a bit of a procrastinator so time wasn't on my side. I stuck the dough logs in the freezer for about an hour and half. This worked perfectly. The logs cut fairly well. A little crumbly on the ends but for the most part success.

In closing I could say, "peace be with you." Or maybe using my best Miss America/USA voice, "and world peace." Instead I will use a quote used by a co-worker, "peace, love, and hippy beads." Enjoy.

**EDIT** The next morning...not nearly as good as fresh out of the oven. Bummer.

Tuesdays with Dorie: Chocolate Gingerbread Cake

Wooohoo! I've made it through two TWD challenges. This recipe was picked by Heather at Sherry Trifle and you can view the recipe here. Thank goodness for staff meetings. We always have a potluck lunch for our monthly meetings and this provided me an opportunity to get the cake out of the house! (Believe me, I'd like to keep it in the house and eat cake for BLD but I don't know if my rear end would fit out the door.) I heard a lot of positive feedback from my coworkers regarding this cake. One girl asked for the recipe so she could make it for her husband for Valentine's Day!

I liked the taste of this cake. I enjoy ginger and I, of course, enjoy chocolate. I struggled a bit with the icing for this. It was extremely runny and when I poured it over the top of the cake it ran over the sides and pooled on the plate. I poured it back into the bowl to cool. Now, it is cold in my house, 49 degrees to be exact. You'd think that stuff would have thickened up a bit. No luck. I ended up leaving the messy, thin icing as it was.

I apologize for the messy picture for this post. It was a rough and cold morning at 179 and I didn't have the patience to take a decent picture.

Tuesdays with Dorie: Berry Suprise Cake

This is my very first Tuesdays with Dorie challenge as well as my very first recipe baked from her book, "Baking From My Home to Yours". This recipe was chosen by Mary Ann of Meet Me in the Kitchen blog. This isn't a cake I would normally make. I'm Belgian. I like chocolate. Sure I like berries. Sure I like fresh whipped cream. But put all of that on a rich chocolate cake and then I'm a happy girl. However, my husband isn't a fan of chocolate like I am so he really enjoyed this light cake. I am positive that the cake part of this was a flop. You are to beat the eggs to triple their volume and then fold in the dry ingredients. I'm quite sure I lost a great deal of my volume there. Despite that I think the cake was quite tasty!

**Edit**

My husband has brought to my attention recently that I have ADD. I have a hard time reading things online and my good frind K told me that in the TWD rules you aren't supposed to post the recipe. OOPS. Sorry Dorie.