CAKE! Tips and Tricks

Hey everyone, I hope you all are having a healthy and safe winter. It has been super chilly here in Southern Ohio. I can't complain because I just got back from Florida;however, while I was there I caught the bug...the flu bug. For the past week I have been stuck inside, glued to my couch. During that time, I had to entertain myself somehow, so I did a lot of research... baking research that is. I don't know what it is, but ever since I got my kitchen aid I have been a baking fool. It's a lot of work, but it's almost like therapy for me. I discovered a lot of baking tricks to improve my cake game. As soon as my fever broke, I was in the kitchen testing away. By no means am I a professional, so take these tips for what they are worth; however, I found them very helpful. I feel like my cake baking game has improved, and I want to share with you all these tricks. If you know them already, great...if not let's get started!

I definitely think the most difficult park of making a cake is the baking. It is so crucial to follow every step and quirky direction. Before I learned cooking was different than baking, I tried to get by with adding my own flare and doing what I wanted when it came to baking. You just can't do that. FOLLOW THE RECIPE WORD FOR WORD, and usually your cake will turn out alright.

TIP 1: Unsalted butter VS. Salted butter

Some cake recipes don't clarify if you should use unsalted or salted butter. Others usually say unsalted. For this particular cake recipe (I made Devil's Food Cake) it called for unsalted. Oh shoot, guess what, darn. I didn't have unsalted but I did, however, have salted. So I asked myself, "Do I risk using salted butter, or make a 25 minute trip to the store?" I took the lazy way out and just used the dang salted butter. I did some research and was advised to skip adding the salt in my cake because the salted butter will add enough. The cake turned out just as moist and yummy as it usually does. If you're unable to go to the store for unsalted butter, just use salted. It works. 

Tip 2: Get Rid of Those Tough Edges

I have a pretty old oven, so my cake doesn't always bake evenly. Usually I am left with a moist center and tough edges. If you have this problem, I have the answer. Begin with lowering the heat of the oven by 25 degrees. This will allow the cake to bake longer and more even. Now, I don't exactly know how this works, but it totally does. If you are making a light colored cake take 1/4 cup of flour and sift it onto your prepared baking pan. If you are making a dark cake just take 1/4 cup of cocoa and do the same. I think it's magic. My Devil's Food Cake turned out moist and was evenly baked.

Assembling is also pretty tricky, well, I guess every park of baking is pretty tricky. I have a few obvious tips that will hopefully help.

Tip 3: Cool that Cake

Do not mess with your cake right out of the oven. If you do, you are doomed. At least wait 20-25 minutes before removing your cake from the pan. From there wait, a couple of hours before going any further. Dealing with a warm cake will leave you with a crumbly mess. Trust me, I have been there.

Tip 4: Cut that Cake, baby 

Once your cake is cooled you can begin carving it. Take a serrated knife and gently cut the top dome of of your cake. This will make things even and easier to assemble. When it comes to layers, I am not a pro. If you want a layered cake just take your knife and in the middle of one cake, rotate and outline the carving line. Then go in and make the final cut. Be very gentle, especially if your cake is thin. 

Now, let's make the cake look pretty. This is the hardest part for me because you have to have patients...something I wasn't exactly blessed with. 

Tip 5: Crumb Coating

Crumb coating is something I recently discovered that has really been helpful. Basically what Crumb coating does is it makes a good base for the rest of your icing. Take your first layer of cake and about 1/4 cup of your icing. Use a cake spatula to evenly smooth out the icing. It doesn't have to be perfect, and you don't have to cover the edges. Then take your next cake layer, for me it is the final layer but you can use however many layers you want, and do the same thing going over the edges. Once your have has a thin layer of icing, pop it in the fridge for 15-20 minutes. 

As you can see, it doesn't look the best, but it really gives a good base for your final icing and decorating.

Tip 6: Use the Right Tools

I use to think you didn't need the fancy scrapers and spatulas for baking a simple cake, but I was wrong. If you want to make your cake look halfway decent, do your research and find some good cake tools.

Recently I purchased an Angled Icing Spatula from Amazon for like 8 bucks. IT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE. It was so easy to smooth out my icing with this baby. I recommend investing in more than one of these suckers.

Tip 7: Use a Toothpick

I always have to sketch out an idea before I make the final product. Whenever I decorate a cake I usually get frustrated because things aren't lined up correctly. It's an easy fix. Just take a toothpick and lightly outline or draw any design you want.

  Then, go in a fill in your outlined designs with icing.

There you have it! Just a few basic tips I discovered recently. They really helped me and made my cake baking experience more enjoyable. If you have any baking tips please share them with me, and if you found these helpful let me know. Enjoy your yummy cake!
-AbbeyShae

Links:

Devil's Food Cake recipe: Luara Vitale Recipe  

Cake Spatula: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F0A6FYU/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687542&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000FUM8F0&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1CR13JYXGB5THH35Q0C1

Watch my latest cover with my sister: Music Video (:

Perfect V-Day Treats: Heart Vanilla Meringues

    

Hey all, it's almost Valentines Day, and that means tons and tons of special treats. I want to share with you a recipe I found on Darling Magazine's blog for Vanilla Meringue Cookies. These cookies are so light and crisp, they just melt in your mouth. I made these for my cousin's 21st birthday party, and I am excited to take them tonight. Follow along if you want my version, and tips, on how to make these lovely, yummy, and festive cookies. 

Let's begin with what you will need, but first, why don't we take a second to admire this Tiffany blue mixer my boyfriend got me for Christmas. Shout out to you Benny, you're the best. I have wanted one for years, and my dream finally came true. You don't need a Kitchen Aid for this recipe, but it certainly helps. 

Ingredients:

-3 Egg Whites

-1/4 Tsp Cream of Tartar

-1/4 Tsp Vanilla Extract

-3/4 Cup of White Sugar

-Red or Pink Sprinkles(Optional but if you want to get festive...do it)!

Start off by cracking your eggs and separating the whites from the yolk. This is a very important step. If you get any shell or yolk in  your whites, start over. It won't turn out. 

You want this: 

NOT THIS:

Once you have gotten your whites, begin to mix, on a medium speed, with your cream of Tartar. Your mixture will begin to form light peaks. At this point add your vanilla extract and turn up the speed to medium/high. Then, gradually add your sugar. Mix until a glossy peak is formed.

You can use parchment paper or foil to place on a baking sheet. You'll need this because the cookies will stick to your pan without it. Use a piping bag to make little heart shapes on your baking sheet. Make sure the cookies aren't too close together. At this point, you can add your sprinkles. Note: You can also add espresso or coffee beans if you like the combination of sweet and bitter.

From here, take your meringues and pop them in the oven at 200F for about 1 1/2 hours. I know, that seems like forever, but these cookies aren't very hands on or high maintenance. The taste is also worth the wait. Your cookies should come out with a little golden color on the top. Make sure you keep an eye on them, they could burn and that would be no good. Also, let them cool before you remove them, and be very careful when you do. They're very delicate. 

Ta-da, you have perfectly heart shaped baby meringues. They taste as good as they look. I hope you try this recipe, and share it with the people you love (:

-AbbeyShae 

 

Guide to a Last Minute Christmas Dinner

  Hey everyone, it's that time of year again! I'm always so surprised of how fast the holiday season creeps up on me. Also, with school and other activities I find myself really busy, and it's sometimes difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. I am sure you all are running to the store for last minute gifts, trying to get everything wrapped and looking festive;it can be really difficult to balance everything.
  My boyfriend and I always have a Christmas dinner together, and I'm usually the one who prepares all of the food (which I love). I don't always have the time I would like to get ready for the dinner;however, I did my best this year and I think it was a success. I want to share with you all my last minute tips and trick to prepare a wonderful Christmas dinner! Everything I made was from Bon Appetit magazine/website. If you would like to try any of these recipes I will post a link. They were all so divine!http://www.bonappetit.com/ Let's get into it!

Red -Wine Braised Short Ribs

  The main entree was a mouth watering, fall off the bone, red-wine braised short rib. I know, it sounds so complex but it was very simple to prepare. What I like about this dish is that you pop it in the over for 3 hours and the magic begins. You don't have to sit around constantly watching your food, just put it in and take it out after a few hours. This recipe is also great because most of the ingredients you probably already have...minus the red-wine. If you don't have the wine, just add more stock;however, the wine really makes the meat juicy and tender. This is a simple recipe that will make your guests super impressed. It's also great comfort food for this winter weather. Again, you can find this recipe on the website above so you can try it for yourself.

My little Gnocchi 

 One of the sides I made was Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage Sauce. Gnocchi is one of my favorite foods ever, and I think it's a creative spin that pairs well with the braised short ribs. For those of you who haven't had gnocchi before, you need to try this wonderful potato noodle. It's kind of like an Italian chicken and dumpling...which is ironic because I hate chicken and dumplings! haha. This recipe took a little longer than the ribs, but it was worth it. Now, I made the noodles from scratch which is something you don't need to do. You can search for gnocchi at the store then follow the recipe if you don't have extra time. After you cook the gnocchi you can whip up the sauce in about 10 minutes! That's it and you have a gourmet side. So rich! This recipe is also on the website.

Butternut Squash Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Sage Sauce 

  
    

Raspberry Ice Cream

  For dessert I made Raspberry Ice Cream; I wanted to do something light for dessert since everything else was so heavy. All you do is mix your ingredients, put them in your Ice Cream machine, and wait. Make sure your bowl is chilled the night before or your Ice Cream won't set. That's it, so simple and festive. 

  Benjamin and I had such a fun time trying all of these new recipes. They are all so holiday friendly and easy to prepare. One of my favorite things about this season is that I get to eat all of the wonderful homemade treats. It's something I remember doing when I was a kid and I want to share that with others. I hope you try these recipes out and have as much fun as I did. Have a great Christmas and spend time with the ones you love. Thanks for reading and I will talk to you soon.

-Abbey Shae p.s- check out this short video of our Christmas dinner!

Lovely November Favorites

Hey Ya'll! I apologize for not posting for awhile. I have been super busy with school. SO MUCH FUN. No, I am really thankful I can go to school. Speaking of thankfulness; this post is just in time for Thanksgiving. I want to share with you what I have been enjoying this month, and hopefully you will enjoy it too.

 












Let's begin with fashion/beauty. I have been loving this circle black/gold/green necklace from Madewell. It is such a simple piece, but that is what I love about it. This necklace can be paired with almost any outfit. What's really cool about this is the circle. It's reversible so you could wear the green side or the black side. The link is below if you'd like one of your own. 

https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/JEWELRY/necklaces/PRD~B7464/B7464.jsp?Nbrd=M&Nloc=en_US&Nrpp=48&Npge=1&Ntrm=necklace&isSaleItem=false&color_name=CHESTNUT&isFromSearch=true&isNewSearch=true&hash=row9

The next beauty/fashion item is "Angel Red" lipstick from Clinique. I always look for a good red lipstick, especially for the Holiday season, and this shade is one of my favorites. It's long lasting too which is always a plus. 

This next favorite may be my favorite favorite. Hah! Bath&Body candles pile up in my room because I buy WAY TOO MUCH; however, this "Marshmallow Fireside" candle is the exception. I haven't had it for very long and it is almost gone. I can't even describe to you how it smells because it's so AMAZING, you'll have to buy one to experience it for yourself. p.s- Bath&Body isn't a sponsor...I wish. 

I think I have mentioned this next favorite in a previous post. Darling Magazine is such a good read. I highly recommend this magazine to any girl/teen/woman. This magazine is inspiring, creative, and truly a piece of art. All the images in the magazine aren't retouched or photoshoped. I just find myself really inspired after I read an article or two. Check their website out: 

http://darlingmagazine.org/

We need to transition into the sweet treat favorite.

In one of my previous post I did a tutorial on how to make Maple Ice Cream with Salty Nuts. Since Thanksgiving is a few days away, I will be making this for my family. They love it and so do I. Check out the recipe on this blog to make it for your family and friends this Thanksgiving.

My last favorite is a music favorite. I always look for Holiday music to get me in the spirit. Lately I have been listening to Anthropologie's Thanksgiving playlist and it is so fun and festive. Check it out and listen to it while your cleaning, cooking, or lounging. 

https://open.spotify.com/user/1234072509/playlist/6U37hOyzvPisboeIwtDWpo

    

I hope this was an entertaining and fun post. Let me know what you think! Thank you all for being patient with the posts. I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. Have fun with your family and friends. 

-AbbeyShae

 

Question Of The Day: Do You Measure Your Self Worth In A Healthy Way?

 

  When I had the original idea for this blog I really didn't know what it would turn into. To me it was just going to be something fun and it has been. I have really enjoyed it so far. I have gotten some feedback as well, and I am thankful for the support of my friends and family. After a few posts people actually started reading my blog and taking interest,(at first I thought only my mom and boyfriend were reading). My purpose then started to change a little.

  I truly love helping people. We all need help at a certain point in our lives, and I have the desire to "pay it forward." Some of my blog post will hopefully educate, inspire, and help people that I wouldn't be able to reach otherwise. This post today is a little different than what I had first intended to do. I want to talk about a certain thing that has been in my life lately, and hopefully it will help those with similar problems.

  I am a female, as many of you probably figured out, and I love to do girly things. I love fashion, makeup, clothes, things that some people may think are superficial. A lot of women, like myself, like to look nice and pretty as well. Even men can be into their appearance. It is always nice to get a compliment from  someone on the way you look. It often boosts our confidence. This is all fine until we start letting these superficial things validate our worth. The pressure to look a certain way can then get out of control. 

  Like I mentioned before, we are all human. It is normal to seek validation and feel like you are good and wonderful. We want to feel important, unique, and well liked among our peers. Appearance can sometimes taint the way we think about ourselves and our importance. This is where things get unhealthy.

Validation Through Social Media:

     When this blog took off I went from a few views to a few hundred views. At first it wasn't a problem, but I began to get a bit obsessed with looking at the stats and how many views I received that day. I would get a little bummed if I didn't have a certain head count. Now I know that sounds silly and childish, but have you ever been bummed when you didn't receive the feedback you thought you would on social media. I know this doesn't apply to everyone, but I once had a friend tell me they would delete a picture from Instagram if it didn't receive a certain amount of likes in a certain amount of time. I'm not trying to call out this person. As a human being we seek to be liked, whether it is on Facebook or in reality. However, it can get very unhealthy and in today's time it's even more dangerous due to social media. A lot of post on Instagram involve the infamous "selfie." This gives people the freedom to determine if they're going to like something based on our appearance. I'm not "selfie shaming," I have been known to post a selfie or two in my day, but when we start seeking comments from others to build us up is when it gets out of control. Why should others have a say in your appearance? Social media can be a great thing, but when you let others validate your worth through one picture, it is probably time to put the phone down. 

Comparing Ourselves To Others: 

  With all of the social media and instant communication we can see what anyone is doing majority of the time. A lot of people can start to compare themselves to others more easily because of this. Comparing ourselves to others happens a lot, especially with appearance. When I was younger I hated the birthmark on my face. Others girls didn't have birthmarks on their faces and I was confused by this. I use to ask my mom if I could get it removed because I wanted to look like everyone else. No matter how much you want to change the way you look...sometimes it just isn't possible. I will never be able to grow super long legs like Taylor Swift because I am not Taylor Swift...I am me. It is pointless to compare your body and looks to others because it will never happen. Now, if I just crushed your dreams, remember that your features are unique. They are what makes you you. You should embrace them and learn to love them. Stop measuring your self worth by comparing your looks to others. I am so glad I never got my birthmark removed. 

The Expectation:

  We live in a society that is constantly telling us to look our best and try to "out pretty" everyone else. We have certain social ideas and concepts that if we don't look a certain way we won't be accepted. We put physical labels on each other. There is an idea of what is "beautiful" and what we think isn't beautiful. This makes me sad. It is our job,as a society, to stop creating the expectation and standard of what beauty is. There is no limit. There is no one right answer in what is beautiful. Beauty can be found in everything and that begins with finding confidence within yourself. 

  I sometimes struggle with letting social media, society, and others affect the way I view myself. Sometimes it is difficult to even follow my own advice. The  important thing is to be aware. When you start feeling down and your confidence is on low, take a step back and evaluate what is causing that. Maybe it has to do with the things I listed above...if so it may be time to take a break from social media, comparing yourself to others, or letting certain comments get to you. Always remember that you are definitely not alone. We all struggle to find our place, and I hope that maybe I helped with something you are going through. If you have any questions or comments please feel free to reach out to me. I just want to help. We are all in this big ol world lovely world together..why not try to make it lovelier. 

-Abbey Shae

  

Ice Cream Social "Maple Ice Cream with Salty Buttered Nuts"

FALL IS HERE! To welcome in this wonderful season I have to post an Ice Cream recipe, but not just any recipe, a seasonal recipe. Pumpkin, cinnamon, warm buttered nuts, and maple syrup are all the things I want in my fall treats. This Jeni's Ice Cream recipe takes some of those flavors and combines them into, "Maple Ice Cream w/ Salty Buttered Nuts." Maple Ice Cream is great paired with pumpkin pie, on top of pancake, or even with a warm cup of coffee. My parents went nuts for this Ice Cream and if you are a Maple Syrup lover you will too!

To begin you will need a few ingredients:

-2 cups whole milk

-1 tablespoon plus one teaspoon cornstarch

-3 tablespoons cream cheese

-1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

-1 1/4 cup heavy cream

-2 tablespoons light corn syrup

-1 1/2 cups grade B or C pure maple syrup *VERY IMPORTANT* make sure you get good quality syrup. This could make or break your Ice Cream. This recipe makes about one quart of Ice Cream.  

Later you will need more ingredients to make your nuts, but let's get the Ice Cream part first.

Get out your bowls ya'll. Things are about to get serious(:

First take the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of the milk and combine until you get a slurry mixture. Set that aside. In a seperate, medium bowl whisk your soft cream cheese and sea salt then set aside. Finally mix the cream, milk, and corn syrup in a large bowl and set aside. 

In a large saucepan bring the maple syrup to a boil over medium to high heat. After it begins to boil reduce heat and continue to boil until the syrup begins to darken around the edges. Be careful not to leave on the burner too long because it could possibly burn. Remove from heat and slowly add the cream mixture stirring constantly. Place back on burner and boil for about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and add the cornstarch slurry you prepared earlier. Bring back to a boil, once again, and stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Take the cream mixture and whisk with the cream cheese mixture until smooth.

   

The next step is very important. Your mixture is still going to be warm. You'll have to chill the mixture in order for it to become solid. Take a large ziplock bag and pour the mixture in making sure it is fastened tight. Then take a large bowl and put an immense amount of ice in it. Dump the bag containing the Ice Cream base in the ice and let it chill for at least 30 MINUTES! 

While you wait for the base to chill get started on the nuts. You will need:

-3/4 cup of almonds or pecans

-1 tablespoon unsalted butter

-1/2 teaspoon sea salt 

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Melt your butter and mix the nuts in the butter till fully coated. Next add the salt and mix. 

Place the nuts on a baking sheet and pop in the oven for about 10-15 minutes. This is my favorite part because it makes your house smell divine!

Now let's get back to the Ice Cream. Once the base is chilled get your Ice Cream machine out. Pour your base into the machine and let the magic begin for about 20-30 minutes. About 5 minutes before the Ice Cream is finished add in your salty nuts. Then, ta-da, you have a fall-tastic Ice Cream. You can eat it right away ,if you like soft serve, or set in the freezer if you want it a little more firm. 

Try this Jeni's Ice Cream recipe... I promise you won't regret it. This will be wonderful for cold weekends in. I know that's a little ironic considering it's Ice Cream, but the flavors scream fall. Cuddle up, put on a movie, and enjoy your homemade Ice Cream. If you tried this out,and found it helpful,let me know. Happy Ice Cream eating!

-AbbeyShae 

Ways To Make Your Day A Little Sweeter

So, this was me yesterday...happily smiling with my Pumpkin Ice Cream to kick off fall. Things quickly took a turn for the worst later that night. I had a fever, on top of a headache and muscle pains. Today has been a bit of a downer being sick and all, but I know we all have those days wether we are sick,lonely,stressed,or just not having a great day. To turn my day around, I thought I would share with you what I do to make my day a little sweeter. 

1.GRAB A SWEET TREAT
This first tip goes with the picture above. Whenever I am down I like to grab a sweet treat I normally wouldn't eat unless it is a special occasion or the weekend. Now, I am not saying eating will solve all of your problems...or over eating...this will add to your problems. Everything in moderation. However, splurging on a treat every now and then won't hurt. It will brighten your day a bit and make you feel like it's a special occasion. Since fall is here there are lots of sweet treats to choose from...check out my Ice Cream recipe for a chocolatey sweet treat. 

2.EAT HEALTHY AND EXERCISE
Now,I know this doesn't really go with #1, but I can't stress enough; everything in moderation! Eating healthy and exercising is something you should try to incorporate into your everyday lifestyle,but I think it's especially important when you are feeling down,sick,or tired. I understand if you are feeling super sick that it's probably not a good idea to go run a marathon. However, you can get your body moving somehow wether it's by doing yoga or just walking around the house. Even though you may not be motivated to do it...make yourself! You will feel so much better afterwords. The same thing goes with eating healthy. It's such a cliche, but it's true; when you put good in you will get good out. Healthy is happy.

3.KEEP THE TUNES ON REPEAT
When I listen to music it can really change my mood. Music can  get your emotions flowing. When you aren't having the best day play music whenever it gets too quiet. Feel in the silence with a happy song playlist...you could even add extra happiness by dancing. Make sure you are listening to happy songs rather than breakup songs or any other type of depressing genre. That could be bad and have the opposite affect! Here are a few of my happy songs you may like:

-"I Fell It All"-Feist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-1Gb2rxzlk

-"Divisionary(Do The Right Thing)"-Ages and Ages https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDQOC48md4Y

-"Shake"-The Head and the Heart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89JdR-SQjB0

.....and of course T.Swift's "Shake it Off." (:

4.STAY AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA
Okay, so I guess this isn't something to-do rather than something to avoid. Social media, in my opinion, can be a wonderful thing, however, it can be really negative at times. When you take a look into what others are doing you can sometimes start to compare your life to theirs. This isn't a good thing, especially when you're already feeling down. On days you aren't feeling the best put down you phone and computer. Instead of looking at what others are doing, go out and do something, make something, experiences something yourself. It will make you happier in the end. 

5.READ
I understand that not everyone is a avid reader.
You don't have to read a novel or encyclopedia or whatever you find boring to follow this tip. You could sit down with your favorite magazine (mine is Darling Magazine pictured of the right). Whatever you read though, make sure it is something positive. Reading something spiritual, encouraging, humorous, or positive could really take your mind off of negative things. I like to read my Bible, Darling Magazine, or anything with a good message. Reading can help you focus on happier things and give you a better outlook on your day. 

6.CHALLENGE YOURSELF
My last tip, to make your day a little sweeter, is to challenge yourself. Get outside of your comfort zone and do something you wouldn't normally do. Whenever I try something I have been a little hesitant about, when it's done I feel really accomplished. Do something you've always wanted to do, but have been too shy to try. This could range from making a dinner you've never tried before to running an extra mile. You know your personal goals. Try to accomplish one. In the long run you will be glad you did, and it could really turn your day around!

I hope you can try some of these tips and find that they are helpful. We all have "those days" but you have to be the one to turn things around. If you have any tips you would like to share, that I left out, please let me know. Have a happy day. 
-AbbeyShae

 
p.s.- This picture made me laugh. Happy Fall!