Creamy Devils?

I'm not quite sure what to call these little guys. I think they are traditionally called black bottom cakes, but for some reason, I don't quite like that name. These tasty creations are cream cheese topped devil's food cakes.

There is usually some funny side story that goes along with each of my baking adventures. Lately, work has been really hectic since we're wrapping up a major project, and that has lead to a lot of late-night baking sessions. Lack of sleep and exhaustion do not typically make for a good combination in the kitchen. ;)

We had a friend coming to visit, and I really wanted to make something for his stay with us. I had been going on very little sleep and had just finished a 14-hour workday when I got home at 9:30 pm one evening. (Who knew software development was so intense?! =p) Well, I forged ahead with my plan to bake something and got these cakes in the oven, set my timer, and sat down for a bit. I remember checking on the cakes a couple of times, and all seemed to be going well. I checked in on them one more time and then realized my timer had been paused. I panicked because I couldn't remember when I had put them in the oven. I asked the hubby if he touched my timer, and he emphatically denied getting anywhere near it or near the kitchen for that matter. I guess my lack of sleep and the long workday made me a bit out of my mind, and I paused the timer unconsciously. I ended up over-baking the cakes just a bit, but everyone still seemed to enjoy them. Either that, or I have really nice friends. ;)

Giant Cupcake!

My sister came to visit, and we finally celebrated her birthday (3 months late). I decided to go big...literally. So, I made her a giant cupcake. These pictures are not the best, but I made this cake after a very, very long day at work. So once again, the pictures were taken late at night. I am still working on my photography skills...

Front of the cake:

Keeping with last year's theme when I made my sis a Domo cake, I had to sneak Domo in somewhere. Back of the cake:

Simple and Sweet

I wanted to make some goodies for a friend we were visiting last weekend, and with work being so hectic lately, I didn't have much time. So, I chose two relatively simple sweets: blueberry muffins and m&m cookies. Always trying to make the best use of my time, I took this opportunity to do some recipe tweaking/experimenting. The cookies ended up coming out just about perfect, but I want to tweak the muffins just a little bit more.

After wrapping up a 12-hour workday, these were the result of another late-night baking session.

What am I going to do with all this cream?!?

I went to the grocery store to get some things for dinner, and I just couldn't remember if I had any cream at home. I decided to play it safe and bought another carton, only to find out I did have some at home after all! Naturally, I started thinking about what sorts of desserts I could make to use up all the cream crowding up the fridge. Creme brulee crossed my mind, but I make that often enough that I wanted to try something different. We also had a friend coming to visit, so I wanted to make something special for her and ended up deciding to make mini chocolate mousse cakes.

I created my recipe for mini chocolate mousse cakes a few years ago and had only made it a few times since then, tweaking it here and there each time. I'm getting closer to perfecting it...perhaps one more attempt and I'll have it where I want it...

Chocolate cake layered with chocolate mousse and topped with chocolate ganache. Chocolate overload!

Easter Surprises

...in more ways than one.

I decided to surprise some very good friends by making a big batch of Easter goodies...and it sort of turned out to be a disaster. First, as a disclaimer, I want to say that I wish I had the time to make treats for all my friends and family, but since I can only bake at night after work or on the weekends, my time is sooo very limited.

When I make big batches of ConfectChinhs, such as my annual Christmas holiday baking tradition, I always tell myself I'm not going to do it again next year. Somehow, though, I always end up putting myself through it. I was thinking about why that is while I was frantically rushing to finish making everything I had planned to send to my friends the other night. I obviously love to bake, and I think I am somewhat decent at it? Most of all, I think the joy it brings people makes me happy, and that makes it all worth it.

Getting back to my story...on Saturday, I made a batch of cut-out sugar cookies and got them all done and packaged that night. So, all I had left to do was some cake pops and I thought I was on track to finish stress free on Sunday. Well, on Sunday after church I began making the cake pops. Things were going well, and the hubby decided to go on a long run. He asked if I needed anything before he left and I said I'd be fine. Sure enough, two minutes after he left, I heard someone knocking pounding on our front door. It was our neighbor who owns the condo below us coming to yell inform us that our water heater was leaking into his unit. I was home by myself and had no idea what to do. Further, I had just started to melt a batch of chocolate when the neighbor came, and while I was talking to him, my chocolate burned. I threw it all out. :( This made me sad for a number of reasons...I only use high quality chocolate and it was a huge mess to clean.

I ended up calling my dad who instructed me to turn off the main water line, but wasn't able to give me exact directions since he lives hundreds of miles away. Long story short, the hubby finally came home and things are under control now. I am super glad I am renting and am not a homeowner yet.

That whole debacle set me back several hours. Having already made the cookies, I didn't want to delay the cake pops so I could send everything out Monday morning. So, let's just say it was another late and stressful night. =p I have to say these ConfectChinhs were not my best looking ones (that is the perfectionist in me talking), but given the situation and time constraints, I am just happy I got them done. I hope my friends will enjoy them...

Also, I have to thank my hubby. It's amazing we're still married after everything I put him through during these late night baking sessions. I tend to get stressed and he always stays up to encourage me even though there often isn't much he can help me with. This time, since I was mailing these goodies, he helped me fill and tape up all the boxes. :)

Easter egg cut-out sugar cookies: "bling bling" style. =p

All packaged up in little baggies and ready to mail.

Chicky cake pops.

Chocolate amaretto cake pops.

I found these cute chicky eggs and couldn't resist buying them to fill with jelly beans.

All the boxes ready to mail!