On Hiatus

With a heavy heart, I must tell you all that "Bake Me Blush" is now on hiatus. 

Yes, Risotto Can Be Easy to Make

        I've been doing a tremendous amount of reading lately. It's tremendous to me, anyway, because I haven't read this many books in a row in a long, long while. To name a few... "Before I Go to Sleep", a debut novel by S. J. Watson about a woman with an unusual type of amnesia, was (in my humble opinion) incredible. Definitely makes my All-Time Favorites list -- I couldn't put the darned thing down. Then, after a recommendation from my Zia Nadia, I finally finished reading "Sarah's Key" by Tatiana de Rosnay, a work of historical fiction about the Holocaust. It was very good but incredibly sad, which is to be expected. I was almost in tears toward the ending of the book. Why did you tell me to read this, Zia, WHY?! Why couldn't I read a book about sunshine and rainbows?!  

        I have some great news. I bought a new camera -- the Canon Rebel T2i. I've had my eyes on this baby for a while, and I'm so happy to call it my own. From now on, all the photographs on my blog will be taken with my new camera, including the photos of the delicious and easy-to-make risotto I have to share with you today. 

Easy Buttery Risotto

It's Good to be Back

        So, I fell off the face of the earth for a while there. I definitely missed my happy days of baking and posting, the care-free days when everything's fine and dandy and I can totally handle all the curveballs life throws at me, when I can tackle all the work and the stress and the pressure and come out of all of it okay. Things can build up over time if you don't deal with them when you should. At least, that's how it is for me. When things get really tough, not even chocolate can put a smile on my face. Not even chocolate. That's saying a lot. 

     I have wonderful news. This " :( " is now this " :) ". That's a frowney face becoming a smiley face, in case you've been living under a rock (or in case you're my mom). My passion for food, life, and everything in between has returned... with improvements. After giving it a lot of thought, I have decided to make a few changes around here. You see, I love food, you love food, we all love food -- but I want to add more of a personal element to this blog, as well. You know, more of the "...life, and everything in between".

     Of course, there will still be plenty of food, sweets, and deliciousness. You can count on that.

Don't Forget the Chicken

        I've never been the best person to remember things. Lately, my memory has been especially terrible. Either that or someone's pulling a practical joke on me, in which case he or she is probably laughing it up somewhere. 
        See, I'll walk around with something important in my hand (i.e. my cell phone, which I lose on an almost daily basis) and then it just disappears. Vanishes. Out of thin air. I'll go to use my phone and realize my hands are empty, yet I can never remember having put the darned thing down. I would call it and listen for the ringtone, except it's always turned off somehow. A few days or even weeks later my phone will turn up in some bizarre place, like in my sock drawer, or in the little bag where I keep my toothbrush. How does this happen? I have no idea.

Oven-Fried Chicken

Calling All Chocoholics...

Chocolate Lava Cakes

        I can barely contain my excitement. Thoughts are rushing through my head, all jumbled together and confusing… things like "oh my goodness - HOW can this BE?!"  and "chocolate heaven does exist"! Seriously. The following recipe is a real keeper, and I say this with complete conviction.

When "Easy as Pie" Makes Sense

        Sometimes I wonder who coined the phrase, "easy as pie." I've mulled those three words over in my mind countless times when working with pastry. Pastry, like pie crust for example, isn't too hard once you get the hang of it, but it's far from easy when you're just starting out. At least, it was for me. It took a long time before I knew what I was doing, but I loved homemade pie crust too much to simply purchase it store-bought.
        Then came puff pastry. Making your own puff pastry is supposed to be very time-consuming -- it can take over five hours of prep-time. There are some days when I'm perfectly willing to spend that amount of time in the kitchen. There are other days when I want to pop into the kitchen for only a few minutes, throw a few ingredients together and into the oven, be on my way, and pop back in half an hour later to find… magic. I love to find a meal that seems to defy logic -- so little time and effort is needed to produce it, yet the meal itself manages to be incredibly delicious.

Chicken Pie with Puff Pastry

Your Favorite Recipes of 2011

        Not too long ago, I realized something -- I realized that I have never before posted a recipe countdown. I'm talking about a countdown of the top 10 most popular recipes I have ever shared with you. Your favorite recipes, readers. There is no time more fitting for counting down the best of 2011, as chosen by you, than now -- just after the year's conclusion. So, erm... prepare for a lot of scrolling. Just click on the name above the picture for the recipe. Here we go…

#10.  Peanut Caramel Brownies

The Holidays and the Aftermath

       It was sad to see the holidays pass. I do look back at them with a smile when I remember the highlights -- the family get-togethers, the parties, the fun, the laughs, and the food. Holiday baking always comes to mind because it promises an entirely new range of seasonal baked creations. Think Christmas cookies, for example.
       I am now living in the aftermath of Christmas and New Year's. This part is not so fun, for me, at least. All that heavy eating never sits well with me, and it can take a while to fall back into healthier eating habits once again. Even so, I can look back on a wonderful year and welcome a new one.

        Of your holiday highlights, which do you remember most? Did you eat anything especially delicious? I know I did. Many times. Many cookies.

Snickerdoodle Cookies