Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Because I like baking...

But I also like fruit for dessert... I baked these apricots yesterday... OMG! So good... So, here is the recipe...

Baked Apricots

1 cup of large dried apricots
1 pot freshly made Earl Grey tea
3/4 cup ground almonds
1/3 cup icing sugar
1/4 cup melted butter
1 tb lemon juice
18 blanched almonds
2 ts sweet sherry
Cream, if desired

*You need to soak apricots overnight.
1. Put apricots into a bowl. Strain hot tea over them, and soak overnight.

Next Day:
2. Preheat oven to 400F
3. In a bowl, mix ground almonds, icing sugar, all but 2 teaspoons of butter, and lemon juice. Knead to a smooth paste.
4. Drain apricots (you can drink the tea left, it's great!). Pat apricots dry with paper towels.
5. Divide almond paste in 18 pieces. Press each piece around an almond and use to stuff apricots.
6. Brush a baking dish with remaining butter. Put apricots into dish and sprinkle with sherry. Cover with butter wax paper and bake in oven for 10 minutes.
7. Serve hot with cream, if desired.

Makes 6 servings

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Matrioshka with snowflake...


I fell in love with this little Matrioshka... It was a very sweet image I had to copy for a cake... A single snowflake was all she needed to look gorgeous! And she did!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Apple Pie!


Pie Dough

3 and 1/2 cups cake flour

1/3 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of water

1 and 1/2 cups of Crisco

Pinch of salt

1. Mix flour, sugar, water, Crisco, and salt on low speed until the ingredients are well combined and dough seems smooth.

2. Divide dough into 2 pieces and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before using. It gives you enough for any 9" filled pie.

Happy New Year!


May this new year bring happy and wonderful blessings to each and every one of you! Just think of this... 365 days to have lots of fun, celebrate, and eat lots of cake...!!!