Love and the City

My love for New York City goes WAY beyond the incredible desserts and pastries available. You know the old cliche, love is in the air? Well, love is in the air here. There are young couples everywhere, pregnant women holding their bellies as they jog at a slow pace and older couples holding hands as they cross the street. Yesterday, on the way home from my usual jog, there was an elegant table set up on the sidewalk outside of a stone-walled apartment complex. You must understand, there were no restaurants on this particular street. There was only a man and a woman sitting at this table enjoying a wonderful meal, the comfortable evening, and each other. Today at the store, the woman behind the counter told a co-worker her account number, so that he could log in. She said soon after, "That's my husband's birthday," with a huge smile on her face. You see, everywhere I go (and I'm sure it would be the same for you, if you were here) I'm surrounded by this giant bubble of love. No wonder there are endless amounts of cupcakeries and ice cream shoppes—sweet confections are the perfect food to share with a loved one.
Naturally, being the intense romantic that I am, when I heard the story of how one of my fellow interns fell in love with her boyfriend, a tear came streaming down my face. Tamar met her man (who was a friend of a friend), while she was studying in Spain. He was in Belgium and insisted upon paying Spain a visit (he really wanted to see her), after communicating through email—only. It took less than two weeks for them to fall in love. Two years later, they are still together.
When Tamar told us (the girls at work) she would be out for a few days, helping with her mother's wedding, we were all ecstatic to hear the details. Since Tamar has her heart set on pastry school, I asked if she'd be making the wedding cake. Although the wedding cake was provided by the lodge, where the reception took place, Tamar did not hold back from adding a hint of sweetness.
Tamar, or T-Muffin, made lovely party favors which were filled with heart-shaped sugar cookies, a chocolate brownie, and (my favorite) chocolate chip cookie with dried cranberries. The confections were wrapped in cellophane with a ribbon and placed in a box labeled "Compliments of T-Muffin."

Tamar said her favorite part of the process was, "decorating the cookies" and "testing the recipes" to make the perfect treats for her mom's wedding.
Today, Tamar brought us party favors from the wedding. With each bite I was more and more impressed. The sugar cookies looked like they were professionally decorated. They had the most wonderful consistency—not too soft and not too crunchy. The brownie was chocolate(y) with little chocolate chunks, yet they were smooth at the same time. The chocolate chip cookie had an incredible surprise—dried cranberries.
So it is true, love just makes people do crazy things...baking is definitely at the top of my list.

Sugar Cookies and Fall Days

The sweet smell of fresh sugar cookies reminds me of the first day of fall. With each whiff, of the warm vanilla-sugar aroma, my sensory glands are transcended— feeling a gust of crisp cold wind sweeping past my body. Opening my eyes brings me back to reality with warm air resting peacefully in the atmosphere.
Well if colorful leaves are yet to come, at least Ilya and I have discovered that we can recreate a sense of comfort through one little cookie (or a batch of 50).
Actually, this food frenzy we have goes beyond the powerful taste-buds in our mouths and the empty pits in our stomachs when we are hungry. Cookies for me (these at least), are a time machine, a memory, and even a dream. At first bite a subtle smile takes over my face, and as the warm flavors begin to take their place in my mouth my mind is at ease; I feel like the world is at peace and everyone is enjoying their evening as much as I am. I remember the when baking with pre-made dough and boxed mixes felt like an enormous accomplishment. As I appreciate the joie de vivre, I remember the last time I curled up on the couch with a warm cookie and a glass of milk.
Ahh... I love many other sweet luxuries, but cookies in its purest form— fresh, warm, sprinkle-free— are, without a doubt, the most mesmerizing of all sugary pleasures.

If you still don't understand how I feel, just try this recipe.

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tspn baking soda
1/2 tspn baking powder
1 cup (softened) butter
1 1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tspn vanilla extract
1 tspn cinnamon (optional...my favorite)

Oven 375 degrees F.

1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
2. Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks

[recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com... altered sugar and cinnamon]

bon appétit!

~ the confectionist ~

note: don't forget to close your eyes as you take your first bite

"Clouds in my coffee"

The lyrics to Carly Simon's "Your So Vain" rang in my ears when I was on my family vacation to South Dakota last week. I had an enjoyable trip, hiking, bicycling, inhaling cool crisp air and looking out at the breathtaking scenery of  the rolling black hills and mountainous rock formations. The skies were perfect with clouds resembling dollops of whipped cream, scoops of softened vanilla ice cream, and "clouds in my coffee." 

Please don't judge me for associating nature (and just about every commodity in the world) with dessert— you're just as guilty for splurging in this read! 

I know there is a deeper and darker meaning for the term "clouds in my coffee." These words do not simply refer to the cream slowly changing the dark color of a freshly brewed cup, nor to the blanket of froth comfortably resting on top of the hot liquid ready to leave a mark above your upper lip (milk mustache). As I pondered the meaning of Carly's words I tried coming up with a more positive interpretation, separate from this classic song. Looking out at the picturesque clouds in the sky brought images of my favorite treats like vanilla bean ice cream and light and fluffy whipped cream to my mind. This moment of truth is analogous to my thoughts when coming across across those four words in Carly's song; I can't get myself to think of anything but a creamy gourmet luxury. It is very frustrating since my interpretation of these words do not fit with the rest of her song, but maybe Carly was trying to teach the world a lesson that amongst conceited people and bad tasting food, lies clouds of cream and sugar. Clouds in coffee can be good— especially if you like milk in yours. Clouds in the sky are imperative, for they provide moisture for cocoa beans to grow properly and your cakes to turn out perfectly. 

So you may be wondering, how the bitter words of "You're So Vain" remind me of the great delicacies in this world. Let's just say that I look for the sweet aspects in life. After all if life is like a box of chocolates, there must be at least one truffle inside that will satiate your soul (if not your sweet tooth).