Blogspot - Recipe Scratch Rusia

Homemade Eclairs Yesterday I went down to The School House and made lunch and eclairs for the girls.  It is fun for me to get out to the country once every couple of weeks to pop-in and enjoy the fun work environment.  It is also fun for me to put the blue kitchen to work.   Emma and I first attempted the eclairs a couple of weeks ago before she went back to school after Christmas break in preparation for the Valentine's Collection.  We'd been watching The Great British Baking Show and been drooling over the eclairs they'd made.  We whipped these up and they were some of the best things I've had in months.  The luscious pastry cream filling, the chocolate glaze, the overall gooey-ness.  Just so yummy and not as heavy as our typical treats - brownies and cookies.   They hug the line between breakfast and dessert, so would be a great choice on Valentine's Day as a special treat in the morning.  Make the shells and custard the day before (shell...

Mike doesn't like frosting - isn't that the most annoying thing ever?  He's always telling me to only put a little bit on cakes and cupcakes.  For those of us who have coveted the "corner" pieces of birthday cakes, this request is hard to comprehend (or obey).  When I find an icing or frosting that Mike loves, I know I have struck gold - as I have with this chocolate buttercream.  It is not too sweet, not too chocolately and gloriously creamy. I shared some of my Cake Baking Tips & Resources below, too.    The Best Homemade Chocolate Buttercream 1 stick of butter, melted 1 1/2 cups of cocoa 1/2 cup of milk (plus more) 2 sticks of butter, softened 5-6 cups of powdered sugar (plus maybe more) 1 teaspoon vanilla In a glass bowl, melt 1 stick of butter in the microwave.  Add cocoa and milk and microwave for 1 more minute, stir to mix.  In a mixer, cream 2 sticks of butter and powdered sugar.  Add cocoa mixture slowly.  Add vanilla. ...

I love the idea of taking basic, simple ingredients or supplies and transforming them into something special.  These cupcakes are the perfect example.  Chocolate Cupcakes (recipe link below) with. simple chocolate glaze are transformed with a little white icing.   (I found this idea from MarthaStewart.com, of course.) When those "love" script cupcakes are put in a pink bakery box, lined with fun floral print napkins, they're beyond.  So special and cute, from the most humble ingredients. I practiced writing the script on the parchment paper before I tried it on the cupcakes.  Of course, you can do names of your loves, also. Products used :  Pink Bakery Boxes Heart Tags Pastry Bags Ribbon Shop the entire Valentine's Collection, here > I used the Barefoot Contessa's Chocolate Ganache Cupcake Recipe along with my Milk Chocolate Glaze Recipe.  Both recipes are included in the post below. Chocolate Ganache Cupcakes with Milk Chocolate Glaze Recipe Ina's ...

Of course giving a box of chocolates is classic Valentine's Day.  Have you ever heard the Barefoot Contessa talk about how she used to send Jeffery boxes of brownies when they were dating?  I would much rather receive a box of brownies than a box of chocolates.  I would also much rather give a box of brownies than a box of chocolates. Pink Gold Embossed Boxes, 2 for $10 This idea is a Hi/Lo spin on the classic box of chocolates.  It is a beautiful pink gift box embossed with gold filled with good, old fashioned brownies.  I am obsessed with these boxes.  I had them custom made this year for my Valentines Collection.  They are a high quality, rigid 2-piece gift box.  I looked everywhere for the perfect color of pink.   The measure 5" tall x 7" wide x 1.25" high - perfect for cookies, brownies or a small gift like jewelry, or a gift card.  I cut my brownies into heart shapes using these Heart Cookie Cutters.   Pink Gold Embossed Boxe...