Thursday, March 31, 2011

Six Flavor Pound Cake

Six Flavor Pound Cake and Tahitian Vanilla infused Strawberries




This sweet delicious cake is a variation of five flavor pound cake.  I gild the lily a bit by adding an extra flavor.  I am going to let you in on a little secret….

This is between me and you.  The  flavor that takes this cake from good to …DAMN! is a flavor you will not find in the grocery store. Are you ready? It is called: Crème Bouquet. You can find this in cake decorating or chefs supply stores. I can almost guarantee that you will want to use this in your other treats too. It'll be our little secret. When I baked this cake the scent seduced, teased, and begged me to sink my teeth into it like a starving person at a last chance buffet. The cake on its own could take center stage, but I couldn’t stop there. Oh no…there is a co-star in this production. Tahitian Vanilla infused strawberries.

Sweet, juicy, succulent. This  cake is like a classic piece of clothing with the perfect accessory.  The strawberries are the perfect accent for a delicious cake that has a sweet sticky glaze that tastes like a cornucopia of flavors from a lifesavers pack.  Go ahead savor this delicious treat and I won’t tell anyone if you lick the spoon…





Cake Ingredients



1 cup butter
1/2 cup Crisco
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups cake flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon lemon flavoring
1 teaspoon butter flavoring
1 teaspoon coconut flavoring
1 teaspoon rum flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon crème bouquet flavoring

Glaze

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon lemon flavoring
1 teaspoon butter flavoring
1 teaspoon coconut flavoring
1 teaspoon rum flavoring
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon crème bouquet flavoring

1 Cream butter and Crisco.
2 Add 3 cups sugar and cream again (cream for 5-7 minutes).
Beat eggs until lemon color and add to mixture.
3 Sift together: flour, baking powder and salt.
4 Alternate milk and 1 tsp all flavorings w/sifted dry ingredients. Pour into a greased and floured bundt or 10 inch tube pan.
5 Bake 325° for 1 ½ hours or until cake tests done or depending on oven. Cool cake for 10 minutes and flip onto cake plate. Take a toothpick and poke holes all over cake
6 Dissolve glaze ingredients over low heat in a saucepan. Spoon glaze over cake in 
while hot. Let cool in pan.

Note: make sure ingredients are at room temperature before preparing cake.


Yes, I am tempting you with a close up of the cake with warm glaze dripping down the side and a puddle of sumptious glaze resting underneath the cake.  This is no ordinary pound cake...

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 This is the Tahitian vanilla infused strawberries resting on the cake. . Am I tempting you? Is it working?


Tahitian Vanilla infused strawberries


You will need:

Syringe Flavor Injector
1 cup Sugar
1-cup water
2 Tahitian Vanilla Beans

slice vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds and stir into the water. Add  sugar and then put the whole vanilla beans  and sugar water  into the saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat and cook stirring until sugar has dissolved. Let cool completely then use injector to inject 2 teaspoons into each strawberry. If you make this a few days in advance the flavor will be more intense because the flavor from the vanilla beans becomes more pronounced the longer it rests in the liquid.
Add some panache by serving with a 14K gold fork!

 Note: this works beautifully with liquors. I would highly recommend sweet liquors such as Grand Marnier, Moscato D Asti, Riesling or Ice /wine. 

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Monday, March 28, 2011

Blue Velvet

Although I have worked in corporate America for many years, I have never been a suit person. I prefer to find unique pieces and mix them together. I love a great blazer and eye popping accessories. My style always includes lots of bold colorful accessories. When I saw these  cobalt blue pumps, they had just the right amount of she-lectricity!  I had to have them! They add the right amount of punch to any outfit and can take a classic business look or a very simple pair of jeans to the next level. I paired them with a classic tailored black and white blazer, black cigarette pants and an over sized satchel. These are my perfect transition into spring, although I don't follow fashion rules, color is meant to be explored winter, spring summer and fall!

Blazer: Macys, Tank: Lux Clothing, Cobalt Pumps: Urban OG, Satchel: Spiegel, Cigarette Pants: Charlotte Russe, Ring: F-21, Earrings: Los Angeles Fashion District
I really have a thing for handbags, especially BIG ones!
I guess you can say I have a thing for shoes too...





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Thursday, March 24, 2011

Trenched


I am feeling rather uninspired today. Ever had a day like that? It has been raining and raining and raining, so I dug out this cute little trench jacket.  My favorite part of this outfit is this colorful scarf and this gorgeous handbag by one of my favorite new handbag designers (Junior Drake).  I love trench jackets and the way they look effortlessly chic.  It's about time to swap this black trench for a bright colorful spring hue. Here is to sunny days, and beautiful color!

Handbag: Junior Drake,
Scarf: Steinmart, Trench Jacket: Vintage, Jeans: 7 for all Mankind




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Monday, March 21, 2011

Colorful Monday

It is a semi rainy day in sunny southern California, but I am bringing the sunshine with me! This black tunic has bright pops of color that are perfect for the beginning of spring and paired with leggings and boots, it is perfect for rain or any other kind of weather. Happy Monday!

Tunic: F-21, Leggings: Lord and Taylor, Purse: Aldo, Boots: Steve Madden

I purchased this beautiful bracelet from a street vendor in the fashion district of downtown LA. A beautiful accessory can completely change the look of an outfit and it doesn't have to be expensive to look fabulous.



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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Baileys Irish Cream Milkshake

Irish Eyes are sure to be smiling with this sweet, creamy, grown up milk shake. This is cold, rich, and decadent.  If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, you can achieve the same effect by using an Irish Cream flavored syrup. You can purchase it here: http://www.torani.com/products/irish-cream-syrup



 This Irish Cream milk shake is perfect for your St. Patrick's day celebrations, or for just kicking your feet up and having a sweet escape...


Ingredients

2 large scoops vanilla ice cream
1/2 cup milk (you can add more if shake is too thick)
4 tablespoons Baileys Irish Cream (if making the non-alcoholic version, simply add a shot of Irish Cream Syrup)

Combine all ingredients in blender. Add more liquid as needed.



Go Make this right now...you know you want to


If you want to put obscene amounts of Baileys in this shake, I promise I won't tell anybody:-)


Indulge!!!!!! You are so worth it!
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Monday, March 14, 2011

Green Pop!

There is something I love about the color green. It is the color of balance, renewal and growth. The color of fertility and life! I paired bright Kelly green with black and a hint of leopard animal print. Bright pops of color always work with black and it adds an unexpected element with different types of animal prints.

Black Turtle neck: Bergdof Goodman, Skirt, Saks Fifth Avenue, Tank: F-21, Purse and Shoes: Metro Style
Animal print never goes out of style. I love Mary Janes, they are a shoe that is classic and timeless, the leopard print gives these a funky edge.
A layered necklace is a great statement piece for this simple tank and turtleneck
It's easy being green...
Go Green!

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