Mango-Creamsicle Paleta

Bar Mitzvah- Mini Cupcakes & Sugar Cookies

Recently a co-worker of mine let me know that she was planning a bar-mitzvah for her son, she wanted it to be simple, elegant, but budget friendly. 

She had been coming to work for weeks stressed about the details and finally asked if I could give her a little help in creating something for her dessert table.

I didn't think twice before I agreed to lend her a hand.  So last week on the hottest day of the summer here  so far( temperatures reached almost 105 degrees that day)

I went to her home.  Because I love to bake and create I was eager to just jump in and get started. While my co-worker was on a phone call I took it upon myself to go ahead and start pulling out spoons and filling cups of water to heat up to start preparing the icing.

 I was scurring from one end of the kitchen to other, when I felt her reach out and grab a spoon from my hands. I was a little stunned!, was there something wrong? What had I done? 

She stopped me and said "don't worry I will teach you all you need to know about cooking in a Jewish kitchen". First she said, " there is a dairy side and a meat side" she then pointed out that although her kitchen was huge it wasn't just for luxury.

 I hadn't noticed before but there was two of everything: dishwashers, sinks, ovens and one was used for all the dairy items and the other for the meat.

The two must never be mixed or exchanged,........ahhh, I thought it was pretty cool to have two of everything.....multitasking at it's finest and I love to multitask.  Okay back to the desserts, well after my lesson we got back on track and created some mighty fine looking desserts in the three hours we were together! 

We managed to decorate 45 cookies and almost 100 mini cupcakes in that span of time, in the end everything turned out muy, muy bonito.  I hope that my help with these desserts will help ease a little of her stress and she will be able to enjoy her son's special day! 

Mazel tov! ♥

El Rey- Rich Chocolate Cake

El Rey in Spanish means King and for me that's exactly what chocolate is  " El Rey". Out of all sweets on this fair land, chocolate is the ruler of my taste buds. 

So you may understand why this innocent yet luscious looking cake has been dominating my thoughts and desires every since it came out of the oven.  This cake is filled to the pan with melted chocolate, chocolate chips and rich cocoa powder.

 As if that wasn't chocolatte enough, I melted some chocolate into a hot chocolate pool of rico deliciousness, drizzled it all over the cake.

Then sprinkled it with a shower of chocolate sprinkles and a handful of Guittard milk chocolate chips.   Plain and simple, Me voy a cielo, This cake takes me right to heaven!

 I ♥ chocolate!

Rolo Rum Pancakes

I have always been mesmerized by the taste of chocolate and carmel
together,
and since I can remember I have eaten anything with a mix of the two.

Caramellos, Snicker Bars, Twix are just some of the caramely, chocolaty; treats that I would beg my mother for while checking out at the grocery store. 

Most of the time she would agree and I would happily go home eager to get to my cotton candy pink bedroom and rip open the package and enjoy the sugar rush with chocolate all over my face and caramel dripping from my little fingers.

But Rolos have always been my absolute favorite, I loved that they came in a individual roll so that I

could savor each bite one by one, and if I had the willpower I could even save some for later ( OK so

none were ever saved......but it's the thought that counts). As the years have gone by my tastes have

become.....cough.....cough.....  a little more refined and I realized that there are things that can enhance

the taste of both chocolate and caramel oh and a Coca Cola too!........RUM ♥ Oh Rum, Como Te Amo!  So that's how the idea for these Rolo Rum Pancakes came to me, it's a mix of my young amor with my new amor all in one single plate.

The Rolos and the rum where mixed into the pancake batter which gave them a chocolate, caramel taste with a grown up twist, the addition of chocolate sauce and a homemade dulce de leche rum drizzle sent these pancakes into a whole new atmosphere. 

For those who may not be into mixing their breakfast with their liquor or if you prefer a kid friendly version, all you have to due is substitute the rum for an all natural rum extract! Enjoy ♥

Watermelon Agua Fresca

This has been one of the hottest starts to summer that I can remember in many years. This week alone temperatures have not dropped below 90 degrees, well at least until the night. When I found out the forecast for the weekend was going to reach  temperatures over 101 degrees I had no plans to go anywhere!


I have been wanting to make my own Agua Fresca for a while, and figured that this weekend would be the perfect time. With a predicted forecast as hot as "melting" this would be a wonderful way to keep my chicas hydrated and happy in a healthier way then a sugary soda or juice box. Agua Fresca is a popular drink in Latin America, it is a mix of fresh fruit, agua (water) and a small amount of sweetener such as sugar but I used agave in mine.

Agua Frescas can be made using an array of fruits such as guavas, strawberries, mangoes even cucumber, I decided to make Watermelon Agua Fresca because I knew that was a flavor that my chicas would agree upon. I was a little disappointed about the taste of the first pitcher, I think I used a little too much salt and lime.

Also the agave is something I love to use in baking, but for me in a drink it didn't give the touch of sweetness I was looking for.  I have a feeling though that this is going to be a long, hot summer so I will have plenty of time to refine my skills in making an Agua Fresca Perfecta! Stay Cool and enjoy the rest of your weekend! ♥

American as Apple Pie- Strawberry Cookie Dough Empanadas

Well not exactly American.......but they were pies and were the perfect addition to this year's Fourth of July fiesta.  It figures since I am a last minute person the idea to make these wouldn't strike me until when?........Well the last minute of course!

I was exploring ideas that would not only be quick but easy as well.  I came up with the idea mainly because for the past week I have been craving strawberries and chocolate chip cookie dough somehow the two , in my mind at least sounded like a irresistible pair.

So I decided that I must fulfill my dreams and create a yummy dessert with just those two! Once I made the cookie dough everything else was a zip, I just chopped the strawberries into slices and mixed them together with the cookie dough, while on vacation in Atlantic City a couple of weeks ago I found the cutest little pie mold.

Instead of folding the empanada in its basic half moon shape, I placed the empanada dough on either sides of the mold, I stuffed the mold with cookie dough and strawberries then  tightly clamped the two empanada crusts together. Once they were formed I placed them in oil two at a time until they were golden brown on each side. I was just a pinch apprehensive about how it would all turn out. But in the end it was like a golden cookie dough filled slice of Heaven!  They definitely were a Fourth of July hit!   With that I hope everyone enjoys their Fourth of July!

Chocolate Chip Cookie & Oreo Pancakes

Well, what do you know? I'm seriously, SERIOUSLY NOT a morning breakfast person, I promise this is highly unlike me to keep making these unique breakfasts' for my chicas. Don't get me wrong I

totally believe in the whole " breakfast is the most important meal of the day idea", but I do feel that a nice cold bowl of cereal, a piece of fruit and yogurt is not a horrible start. Most of the time they are

practically begging me to make them apples and cinnamon oatmeal because they say " I make it the best EVER and most people don't like oatmeal because they haven't had mine" True Story! I do take

pride in my oatmeal making skills and fell that most people add way to much water until it is the consistency of a watery soup.....ick!  My oatmeal is more like a buttery and creamy rich mound of

warm oatmeal cookie, with a plum sprinkle of raisins. Ahhhh, just thinking of it makes me want to make myself a bowl, but I will resist the temptation.......well.......at least long enough to finish the post. 

So this time I decided to use my stint as the " Morning Mami Gourmet" to make something completely chica and chico friendly.  Like many little one's my chicas love chocolate chip cookies

and oreo cookies and I thought what if I surprised them and mixed their favorite treat into their
favorite breakfast food?

To say it was a hit is an understament, as they were chomping breakfast/dessert/deliciousness they continued to reassure me that I continued to hold my spot as the "Best Mom Ever"! LOL! I let them know that it was because I had the "Best Kids Ever"! Yea we're sickening sweet like that to each other :).

So this is by no means a meal that I would serve each day for breakfast, it is a sugar rich, chocolatey, belly filler. But it will go on the list as an occasional special morning goodie.