Mini Donuts! Candy Bar Fun!

Wow it's been a long while since I updated this blog! Life.. is what happened. I've been so busy after the move, settling the house, dating ;), weddings of friends and family that I've completely deserted baking, cooking and of course... updating this blog! Nevertheless, I still love making food, I still love taking pictures, and of course eating!

My most recent project that I worked on was a candy bar for a friend's wedding. I don't have pictures from the actual end result.. waiting on the fantastic Ethan Yang to finish working on those wedding photos. But here are some pictures of the work in progress shots!

Lacey Candy Signs

Personalized Candy Bags

Bling! 

Of course, just putting candies in those beautiful apothecary jars wasn't going to be enough for a candy bar that I had to sign off with my name on it! I decided to dress it up with some cute dessert displays. Mini cupcakes, cakepops and mini donuts! It was the first time making the mini cake donuts but I must say  that it was fun, super cute and surprisingly they were still tasty after 1 whole day of sitting out in room temp! Impressed and definitely will have more to come! I'm thinking bacon maple mini donuts! Savoy + Sweet combo! 

Purple Mini test runs! Just for the Ravens! 

Strawberry Glazed Baked Cake Donuts

Anyway... happy that I'm back after a long while. Admittedly, I'm writing this post during the weather game delay during the Ravens Bears game! Go Ravens!! Until the next post~ tata!

Center Cut Lamb Loin Chop

After trying the center cut lamb loin chops at Seasons 52 twice, I decided to make my own version. It was the first time eating that cut of lamb, and I was blown away. Not only was it not so gamy, the tenderness of the meat left me craving for more. After all, those were tiny little cuts... D would know since we had to split three chops last time (I'm on this god awful diet..)!

Made this for a post Valentine dinner. I seasoned the chops generously with salt and pepper and seared it high heat then moved it to the oven. I made a balsamic, wine with shallot reduction to go with the chops. The vinegar helped cut down the slight gaminess from the lamb. It was truly scrumptious and easy for a date night meal. A nice change from your usual beef tenderloin.

Happy Year of the Dragon!

It was a very good new years eve being able to spend it with friends and family! And, once again.. I felt honored to be bustin' my ass all day for a good new years eve meal with the people I love! One of the new dishes that I tried out was Drunken Chicken. I had a lot of fun de-boning the chicken drum/thigh and rolling it into these circular tubes! They are soooo cute! =] I will definitely be making these again.. and possibly using some stronger liquor for the marinade! The other dishes that I made..

Dried Scallop & Chicken Soup

Cantonese Cured Meats w/ Rice in Clay Pot

Creamy Baked Cabbage w/ Dried Scallop

Abalone w/ Taiwanese Squash

Mom's Cooking

It's really good to have mom here! All the eating, and none of the cooking! These are just some of the things that I've had in the last couple of days! Had to force myself to go to spin class today to burn off the calories! Thanks mom for being so awesome and hosting some of my friends! NOM!

Happy Turkey Day!

Happy Thanksgiving! Thankfully all the food turned out great! The turkey skin was crispy and the meat super juicy! The truffle butter smelled sooo good and made some great tasting pan juice for the gravy! I also made roasted brussels sprouts, pumpkin risotto and stuffed mushrooms as sides and sweet potato souffle to finish!

Truffle Butter Turkey

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Sausage Stuffed Mushroom

My Thanksgiving Meal

Sweet Potato Souffle

Finally, just wanted to say that I'm so thankful to have my family here with me this year!! Also, I'm super thankful to have such great friends! Without y'all, my life would be so boring and miserable! Love y'all!

Guinea Pigs!

I invited a few of my girl friends over tonight to be guinea pigs and test out a different flavor risotto! I chose pumpkin since.. 'tis the season for pumpkin everything! (I still haven't had a piece of pumpkin pie yet!) I steamed half of the pumpkin in the microwave, pureed it and pan fried the other diced half in butter. Made the basic risotto with onions, garlic, white wine, chicken broth and some Parmesan cheese. Added the pumpkin puree and cubes... 30 min of standing in front of the risotto, babysitting the pan.. voila! The sweetness from the pumpkin, nuttiness of the arborio rice made an interesting combination with the butter seared scallops. I think I might have to swap this dish from the butternut squash salad i planned on making for Thanksgiving.

Photo courtesy of G!

Cooking with Friends!

Had another cooking date.. this time with D! D made Vietnamese spring rolls and I made mushroom risotto and baked lobsters with garlic and butter! I wanted to make risotto cause I impulsively bought the Le Creuset risotto pot I've been wanting for years! The risotto turned out perfect! The rice was perfectly cooked with a bite! The mushrooms were nutty with a faintest hint of cognac! Yum! As for the lobster.... I am proud to say that I've perfected the skills of killing and breaking them down! I won't say how I kill them on here, since my friends usually give me the yuck face when I tell them! Let's just say... I do it the way my mom does it! Oh, and of course... as always, lobster congee (not shown) so I don't waste any bits of it!

Baked Lobster with Garlic and Butter

Mushroom Risotto

D's Vietnamese Spring Rolls with Ground Pork and Shrimp

The Pot I Bought!!!

Lastly, one more week till Turkey Day!! Got my menu all sorted out! Hopefully the pictures will turn out okay so I can post them! Can't wait to spend the holiday with the fam!... minus Jen =(