Saturday, February 18, 2012

Sports Themed Baby Shower

Hola.
You know that feeling when you have so many great ideas and then PLAN on doing them all?
OH then reality hits and you realize you're only human?

Ya well, I suppose that happens to me whenever a huge project, or whenever I bake, ha, comes around and this was no exception. Even through the weeee hours of the morning-- I was still cursing myself and texting my gf/baking friend/reality show enthusiast (explain that later) about how crazy I am and all the things I SHOULD have done. SMH.

Bottome line, I survived, like always. I didn't sleep but hey.. it was worth it :)

Picture time. You know that's all you came here for :) hehe




Taken from Lourdes' Facebook: (Thanks Doll!)





Another project is coming up. London Joie's 2nd Birthday. Lourdes' first baby :) well she's growing up sooo fast!!! Theme: CARS the movie.

Stay tuned.

xoxo
noeybakes
Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Mini Post: Fresh and Easy

The store Fresh and Easy just opened near my new place. It's been hectic trying to find a good grocery store that doesn't take 20mins to drive to. So of course the first aisle I visit is the baking isle. A store is only as good as its produce and baking supplies.

Fortunate enough for me, and all of you, I got lucky :). They had everything from FONDANT to cutters to cheap espresso powder! It'll definitely be my go-to store for everything.

Promise. Real post. Soon :)
Sunday, January 29, 2012

Mini Post: 2012

Lots of change within the last month. Let's recap shall we?

7 year breakup.
Went to Long Beach.
Found a place in SF.
Niners clinch for the playoffs.
Christmas.
Car breaks down :(
Met new people :)
Packed up my life from the last 5 yrs in 4 days, like a maddd woman. I know.
New Year's.
Moved from Berkeley to SF.
Niners win the most AMAZING game of the 2011 post season against the Saints (which I was present to witness).
Dates <3.
Niners lose championship game. =*( (that was a hard week for me lol)
Getting back into baking :-)
Horseback riding in Pebble Beach plus great weekend in Carmel.
And yes yes most importantly I'm back to baking.

I think that sums up the last month. Although my beloved 49ers did not make it into the Superbowl, yes I can start talking about it now--it's been a week :). I will be making Superbowl-sort-of-themed cookies. A whopping 112 cookies. Plus Elmo cake pops for a kid's birthday on Saturday. My week will be packed, packed, packed. And I'm excited to show you my new baking area. It's still small but I have a newer oven. I'll miss my vintagey oven :-(. Anywho expect pictures soon.

Happy New Year!!

*raises glass* to new beginnings.....
Sunday, December 4, 2011

Mini Post: Pineapple Newton

The BF got this cake from a Pharmacist at work. Thought it was interesting. Didn't taste it because my taste buds are pretty much shot from being sick. He said it had a very good after taste. I'll take his word for it. He also mentioned that it's a popular cake in Taiwan.

Posts for the apple pie class soon :)
Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Mini Post: Hello Kitty Hawaiian Treats

MmM. These are the perfect Tuesday pick me ups from my coworker who just came back from Hawaii. The packaging is too cute to just toss. I'm sure I can recycle it as a gift box somehow :). Expect a Pumpkin Cream Cheese muffins & Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies posts soon.

It's been a bit hectic around the office not to mention my first Pie Class at Baking Arts, here in San Francisco's FiDi. This will be my first time EVER making a pie. So I'm super stoked.

My coworker Chelsea, who also enjoys baking, is taking it with me. :) So of course in anticpating the class tonight, despite the loads of work to be done, the day has been dragging. No worries though, the pie class will be a post all on its own.

xoOx Noeybakes
Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

You know when you're stuck on autopilot? Where you do your normal chores, make dinner, put dishes away, do some laundry, bake a whole batch of chocolate chip cookies without even knowing it?

And whilst you're unconsciously carrying out these tasks, the telly is on and the sound waves just hit you.
Then it happens.
The theme song becomes lodged in your brain like some record on repeat.
OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER again. YA. THAT.
You know what I'm talking about.

For example, Six Flag's Old Theme Song or Meow Mix.

Although there are some that just stick with you forever because, well, because you just like them, Oscar Meyer, Foldger's Commercial (my alarm ring tone >_< ) or I Am Stuck on Band Aid, Bologna or Captain Planet (wow I'm dating myself). Let's, just, stop. You get the picture.

Currently Stuck in my head: "Hey Girl-- whatcha doin? Hey Girl? Where ya goin?--Who's that girl? Who's that girl?-- it's Jess!!"

Please, Please, I insist you join me in this repeating melody of my new favorite show, New Girl.

So while baking-- Zooey Deschanel was all up in my head singing. At least she's cheery. Anywho-- cookies. Yes. Cookies.



I took this recipe from the Baking Illustrated Cookbook, my friend Vinny suggested I purchase. It's a pretty cool, sciency-ish book. They test different recipes with different settings. It's more behind what would actually happen as oppose to pretty dessert pictures. Although those are nice as well.

I think the texture was perfect but then again who am I to judge my baking better than all of you? Try it out... let me know your thoughts... reservations... the songs that get stuck in your head often...
I won't judge...

well... ....



ok..
I won't.

Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
my version because Noeybakes likes to give Zoe a break

2 C + 2T APF
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled until warm
1 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 C semisweet chocolate chips

1) Preheat oven 325 degrees, line cookie sheet with parchment paper.
2) In a medium bowl, use a wooden spoon to mix wet ingredients together then add dry until well incorporated.
3) Roll about 1/4C dough into balls, break in half, and put the two bases together w/ jagged edges facing up. (It gives it its "thick shape")
4) Place on sheet 2 1/2 inches apart.
5) Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown.

If you purchase the book, or currently have it, I took this recipe from page 434.

Enjoy. Tomorrow's Wednesday! You know what THAT means! 2 more days until the weekend!

Who's that girl.... .Who's that girl..... Who's that girl....?

It's Noeybakes.



ok, that didn't work. Better luck next time.
Sunday, November 6, 2011

Bake-a-thon Saturday

I had the baking itch today.

The feeling that I had all these goodies I wanted to bake but my little kitchen can't hold all the crazy desserts.

1) French Macarons
2) Madeleines JOY OF BAKING RECIPE
3) Turtle Brownies minus the nuts NESTLE RECIPE
4) Williams Sonoma Chocolate Cake WS RECIPE
5) Zucchini Bread COOK'S ILLUSTRATED RECIPE
6) Donuts w/royal icing glaze WHITEPINES RECIPE
7) Lemon Shortbread Cookies shaped into Buttons :) MIETTE RECIPE



My cousin Pola was generous enough to open her kitchen and her insane baking stash of gadgets and gizmos of plenty. I had to quote Ariel for the Little Mermaid :) Tons of counter space and freakin' insane oven to boot. I was in baking heaven! And boy did we crank out the desserts! We started around 2 and finished around 11. We were determined... seriously to make all the goodies.

We tried, well more-She tried, to record me bake but it got a little out of hand because of all the desserts. I started the desserts faster than she could get it on camera. Which was to my benefit mwAhah.

It was a perfect day of rainy weather and lotsa, lotsa, baking.

Now... pictures:



Madeleines & Turtle Brownies



Lemon Shortbread Button cookies



French Macarons



Zucchini Bread in stoneware pan



Donuts w/ pink royal icing



Williams Sonoma Chocolate Cake with Chocolate buttercream



So that was my Saturday :)


xoxo,
Noeybakes
 

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