~Weekend Baking~

Welcome back!!

How was your weekend?

Mine went by FAR too fast!!!!

I spent the whole weekend trying (and failing) to make macarons. I did succeed on some strawberry ones (see below!!) and some black sesame ones (which are still waiting to be finished!!).

I've also decided  to share my super yummy vanilla baked doughnut recipe that I made a couple weeks ago (but was evil and only shared the pictures but not the recipe!!).

Ready??

Aren't they adorable???!!!!

Baked Vanilla Doughnuts

Makes ~ 6 large and 12 mini baked doughnuts

Ingredients:

Doughnuts

2cups all-purpose flour 

3/4cup white sugar

2tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1tsp vanilla extract

3/4cup buttermilk

2 eggs 

2tbsp butter, melted

Glaze

1cup powdered sugar

1tsp vanilla extract

milk

Directions:

Doughnuts

• In a mixing bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients. 
• In a 2 cup measuring cup (your favourite pyrex!) melt the butter. Wisk in the remsining wet ingredients.
• Add wet ingredients to dry and mix to combine (don't over mix!!).
• Spray your doughnut pans with non stick cooking spray.
• Pipe batter into prepared pans and bake at 325F for about 10 - 14 minutes for the large doughnuts and about 5 - 8 minutes for the mini doughnuts.

Glaze:

• While the doughnuts are baking, combine the ingredients for the glaze. Add just enough milk for the glaze to be fluid (honestly, go for your favourite consistency. Thicker if you want more glaze, thinner if you want less!!).
• After doughnuts are baked and cooled so you can handle them, dip them in the icing and decorate to your heart's content

Stay tuned for the Strawberry Macarons!!
Cheers!xoxo
-Shelly

Wish Wednesday!! ~ #6

Hey hey!! It's another #wishwednesday and I hope you're surviving the week! 

This week's going to be a short(er... ish) week for me... I get to go to the dentist on Friday!! (Ok, I'm not usually so excited about dentists... in fact, I hate them. But I lost a filling -- before Christmas... yeah, I know, long time ago -- and it's starting to bug me and I'm SO looking forward to that being over!)

And did I mention that next week I'm going on holiday? Well, technically it's the week after, but I leave on Thursday next week! More details to come!! But for now.... On to the pretties!!!

All things UK belong in my room. Might have to do with that little trip I took last year...  Just a guess!

Sorta reminds me of my iPhone case which I LOVE! And TOTALLY reflects my love for adventure!!

Another ModCloth? Of course!! There were also plates and utensils... but I need the bowls!!

I am in LOVE with the whole "food table" idea. Look! It's brunch!! Could this get any better??

I want a head board. As someone who moves around a lot, I feel like having a head board says "This is my home". I want that.

aaannnnd as I mentioned.... there it is!! I guess I can't really "want" this... since I have it!! But I love it!!

I know everyone (like the page I got these from) says that these are "faux pas"... but I loved mine! I want them back. Perfect weekend pants. I Don't care what you say, I loved my Gauchos!

See you Friday!!!!!
Cheers!xoxo,
-Shelly

links: Rug - UrbanOutfitters, Bowls - ModCloth, Phone Case - Society6, Brunch Table - Celebrations at Home, Pillow - ModCloth, Headboard - tatertots&jello, Gaucho Pants - ANDPOP

Saturday Macarons

So remember last week how I told yo I failed miserably at macarons?

I might have left something else out...

I've never actually had or even seen a real live macaron.

I know, I know... but hear me out! I live in a tiny town with the nearest city being over 300km away! I've practically missed out on the whole fad, but hopefully some day soon I'll get to try a real one.

Until then I decided to try my hand at my own.

Now I know these didn't turn out perfectly, not too sure where I messed up, but I will be trying again and again and again until I get there!

Now even though these didn't turn out right, they're still super yummy!! So I'll still pass on the recipe and hopefully someone out there can make them properly and tell me what I did wrong and how to fix it!

... is there anyone out there?

See the holes by the "feet"? I think I messed up somewhere there...

Orange Creamsicle Macarons
Makes: ~ 40

Ingredients:
Macarons
2/3cup ground almonds
1-1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1tsp orange zest powder
3 large egg whites
3-1/2tbsp granulated sugar
orange food colouring gel

Vanilla Butter Cream
1/4cup butter
3/4cup icing sugar (or more depending on your desired consistincy and local humidity!)
Vanilla (to taste! I like mine VERY vanilla!)
1/2 an egg white

To make Macarons:

• In a food processor blend the first 3 ingredients then sift into a mixing bowl.
• In a clean, grease free bowl, whip egg whites with granulated sugar to form firm peaks.
• Add colour whip into whites until just combined.
• Add half the egg whites to the almond mixture and carefully incorporate until all the almond mixture is wet.
• Gently fold in the remaining egg whites.
• Pipe ~1inch macarons about an inch apart on parchment lined baking sheets (I ended up using 2 industrial half sheets).
• Leave sheets to dry for about an hour (or until the tops are dry to the touch).
• Bake at 300F for ~7 minutes. Rotate and bake again for another ~7.
• Allow the macarons to cool on the baking sheet.

To make Butter Cream:

• Cream butter and vanilla.
• Add icing sugar and beat well.
• Add in egg white and whip until desired consistency.

To assemble:

• Pipe ~ a teaspoon of butter cream on on macaron shell and sandwich with another.
• Try very hard to not eat them all.

Enjoy! And if there is actually anyone out there, please tell me why I didn't get gorgeous macarons like I see all over the internet!

Cheers!xoxo
-Shelly