that's what she baked.

Maybe I am having a chocolate chip cookie with chocolate milk...

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:42:36 -0400

Maybe I am having a chocolate chip cookie with chocolate milk (it’s really Ovaltine)

Cinco De Mayo Murder Mystery Party

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:44:00 -0400

I know, it’s the Veinte de Mayo and I’m currently listening to Beyonce and baking a Strawberry Rhubarb Pie, but I couldn’t skip sharing…

I actually just wrote a bunch of stuff and then the internet froze and I lost it and I don’t want to write it again so I’ll try my best to summarize, and share some links. I would totally be cranky about it, but my apartment smells so lovely now and I’ve been so productive today, so I’m not going to let internet loss/tumblr fudge bring me down.

My dear dear friend Shannon and I purchased a kit from this website and put on a Murder Mystery Dinner Party in my apartment.

There were 15 people seated around 2 tables in my kitchen, a tight squeeze, but everybody was friendly about it. There were chips and salsa, plantains, tacos, empanadas, beer, margaritas, and things I probably don’t even remember. Everybody was so committed to their character that people who didn’t know each other before the party, still didn’t know real first names by the end of the party. It was all “Zangelina Jolie this” and “Barry Drewmore did that.” I didn’t make this stuff up, but it was legit.

Shannon provided a majority of the food, Tyler helped too, and I covered desserts. I made a flan which wasn’t super pretty but tasted totally great. I also made a Tres Leches cake, following a recipe from The Pioneer Woman.

That cake wasn’t looking too promising, either, but one of the best things about cake is, you cover the mistakes with frosting. Which I did. And all was well.

Now I want to use sweetened condensed milk all the time.

The end.

“When life hands you extra challah dough, make doughnuts!!”...

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:53:23 -0400

“When life hands you extra challah dough, make doughnuts!!” Disclaimer: this is not a thing people actually say.

Happy accident

Mon, 13 May 2013 14:06:00 -0400

Happy accident

I could do the math to see if all of this is going to fit in my...

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:09:00 -0400

I could do the math to see if all of this is going to fit in my stand mixer, but I think I’m going to take my chances. Sometimes I like to live on the wild side.

I’m a little bit all over the place. I know. I was in...

Mon, 13 May 2013 10:14:18 -0400

I’m a little bit all over the place. I know.

I was in Saratoga, NY over the weekend at my aunts wedding. She made cookies for people to take home. Lot’s and lot’s of fantastic Italian cookies, for her own wedding. She’s nuts. I also ate some wonderful baked goods, had a lot of great family time, dressed fancy, danced my butt off, etc.

I’ve been meaning to share this book with you, that I received in such a happy little package from the lovely Meghan, from Stir and Scribble. A while back she was giving away the book and I won (crazy, right?). For those of you who don’t know. Breakfast is my favorite, making breakfast for dinner, pretty much the best idea ever. I remember when I was little, having waffles or pancakes for dinner at a sleepover party and just not understanding why people don’t do it more. Chocolate chip banana pancakes were a dinner staple, not to mention a mood-picker-upper, in my apartment my last year of college.

I’ve only tried out one recipe, thus far, (Strawberry and Basil Shortcakes, minus the basil) but the book is so pretty and has lots of neat ideas in it. Maybe it will even get me to cook more?! Also included in the package from Meghan was a homemade vanilla extract, a reusable bag, KitchenAid whisk, kitchen towels, and paper straws! If you haven’t checked out Stir and Scribble, you should. I hope to some day turn my tumblr into a more refined blog/site, like hers. Thanks Meghan!

Typical (at Mrs. London’s Bakery and Cafe)

Sat, 11 May 2013 13:23:00 -0400

Typical

(at Mrs. London’s Bakery and Cafe)

Guys, it’s almost berry season ‘round here. Get...

Tue, 07 May 2013 19:07:38 -0400

mixin'

I'm so glad I got circle cutters! they make biscuits a piece of cake!

flakey sweet biscuits

if you think you've seen this picture before, you probably have. I've probably taken the same picture before.

simple strawberry shortcake to go!

Guys, it’s almost berry season ‘round here. Get excited.

A couple weeks back (I’m really behind) strawberries were on sale so we bought a bunch and it was wonderful. I had a lady lunch coming up, so I figured I’d provide dessert with simple strawberry shortcake fixin’s. (The bottom right picture included the whipped cream, sliced strawberries and biscuits. All ready to go!) That same day, we had some people over for dinner, and since I already had a bunch of stuff for it, I decided to make a fun take on strawberry shortcake (pictured top, right), inspired by a new cookbook I have which I will tell you about, but not right now. The recipe was for Strawberry and Basil shortcakes, but we didn’t have any basil around so I skipped it. I served the build-your-own dessert with both fresh strawberries and the balsamic-strawberry concoction. It was a great way to mix it up! I can’t wait to go strawberry picking in 2013.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! (trying to make a tres leches cake)

Sun, 05 May 2013 10:41:00 -0400

Feliz Cinco de Mayo! (trying to make a tres leches cake)

Hello friends. I’m turning to the computer, because for...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:36:51 -0400

Hello friends.

I’m turning to the computer, because for the first time in quite some time, I’m in the apartment, alone. Kyle (pictured above, and occasionally in frames of baking pictures when he’s not supposed to be) is getting surgery and will be away overnight and I’m anxious as any kitty mamma would be. I’m feeling weird. Maybe it’s because I’m super-aware of the lack of movement by anything other than myself. Maybe because it’s my bedtime and I don’t have a bedtime pal. I’m writing because I’m trying to distract myself.

A lot’s gone on since we last spoke. That’s an understatement. I can’t say anything else without acknowledging the terrible-aweful that occurred in the city I call home. I don’t think my baking blog is the right forum for me to talk about it, though. I am thankful for the way the internet has helped inform, connect and share last week, and I’ve done a lot of thinking about it, and I am not going to process here. Patton Oswalt did a good job talking about it. So did my friend, Patty.

I do hope to share some more Cora, lately and baking things and such soon. I’m looking forward to making jam, subscribing to a CSA, getting back into running, and reading. There are more changes-a-coming. Also, Spring is here, which is awesome.

I hope you are well, and are doing things that make you happy. Or enjoying a great meal. Or spending time with loved ones. Or moving forward. Or taking risks. Or just smiling. Or all of the above. Don’t forget your sunblock! I did, and this olive-toned gal got her first sunburn of the year.

I promise I have actual things to blog about.

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:56:18 -0400

I promise I have actual things to blog about.

Hot Cross Buns. Hot Cross Buns. One a penny.. Today is Good...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:59:43 -0400

that shadow is my body... i think

bun prints

Hot Cross Buns. Hot Cross Buns. One a penny..

Today is Good Friday. Here are some hot cross buns. I’m not very religious, but I assure you the two are related. I followed this recipe I’ve never had them before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, or what they’re supposed to taste like, but I enjoyed them. The recipe calls for a sugar glaze cross, instead of the traditional “filled” cross. The bun itself, isn’t super sweet, but includes orange zest in the recipe, which I liked a lot. Wondering where to find currants? Check your Whole Foods. Now what do I do with the rest of my currants? (ps: I really like currants)

Happy Friday. Be Good.

I just made a dozen chai cupcakes and I’m not going to eat any...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 14:56:34 -0400

I just made a dozen chai cupcakes and I’m not going to eat any of them. Not one.

Makin’ Dough, Week whatever, or something I’m...

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 18:10:00 -0400

Makin’ Dough, Week whatever, or something I’m calling, breadstagram

Last year in early fall, I interviewed at the bakery I currently work at. After I staged they gave me a loaf of bread (left picture). I didn’t get hired at the time, they actually didn’t hire anybody, but told me to keep in touch, which of course I did. I thought that loaf of bread was beautiful (obviously, I ‘gramed it). I knew very little about bread back then. I still know such a small fraction of what there is to know… but 3 and a half months after I started working there, I am eating the same bread (covered in peanut butter and bananas) that I mixed and baked myself. I just started training on the oven and it’s overwhelming and exciting and tiring. There are so many variables in place and so many ways to do things right and so many ways to mess things up. It’s hard not to get discouraged, but it’s very new, and I have to remind myself that.

Banana Cupcakes: A Recipe Banana Cupcakes are maybe my...

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:22:35 -0400

all ready! yes, I wrote on the bananas so they wouldn't get eaten by mistake

these cupcakes were for a birthday party in a daycare, so they needed a list of ingredients, in case there were any allergies

because these were a coracakes order, I bought bananas specifically for these cupcakes. I also didn't have any in the freezer at the time.

Banana Cupcakes: A Recipe

Banana Cupcakes are maybe my favorite. At least they’re in the top five, maybe even three. I make them a lot, so they get enjoyed a lot. In the Bouchon Bakery book, they talk about how it’s important to make the same recipes over an over again. That way you know them well, and you can do it well. I would like to make this more of a practice in my life, trying to make the same thing many times, aiming for consistency and a better understanding of what is working and why it’s working. I often like to try new recipes, and usually when something doesn’t turn out right, I’m reluctant to try it again. I do have some new things I want to work on, as far as baking in 2013 (mentioned in my post about the Bouchon Book, linked above), but I also want to solidify some of my go-to’s. This recipe for Banana cupcakes is in pretty good shape, and I want to share it with you all.

This recipe yields 12 regular sized cupcakes. It’s adapted from banana butterscotch cupcakes in cupcakes! by Elinor Klivans. The book automatically opens to that page because the binding has a permanent crease.

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups AP flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar
2 medium bananas
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup buttermilk

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a medium bowl and set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars on medium speed until blended and creamy, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of your bowl with a rubber spatula, if needed. Add your bananas (if they are frozen, let them thaw completely and add as banana mush; if they are fresh, cut up into 1 inch pieces) and mix until mostly combined (you will still see banana bits. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until each is blended. Add the vanilla and beat for 1 minute. On a low speed, add half the flour mixture, mixing until it is just incorporated. Mix in the buttermilk and then finish with the remaining half of the flour mixture. If you want to add chocolate chips (which I often do) add them in at this point, either folding them in by hand (with a spatula) or using the mixer on a low speed.

Scoop batter into prepped muffin pans, leaving about 1/4 inch below the top of the cupcake liner. I’ve found that my yellow scoop is the perfect amount.

Bake for about 25 minutes. Once cupcakes have completely cooled, top with your preferred frosting. My favorites are cream cheese and peanut butter cream cheese.

Some of the results of said speed baking

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:06:00 -0400

Some of the results of said speed baking

My kitchen right now.

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:05:00 -0400

My kitchen right now.

My oops from Vanilla (welcome Spring!) on Vanilla. While in the...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:28:22 -0400

My oops from Vanilla (welcome Spring!) on Vanilla.

While in the oven, I knew something wasn’t right, they were rising too much and the texture seemed kind of weird. I double checked the recipe and found my mistake. Now I know… this is what happens when you use baking soda (left cupcake.. oopsie) when the recipe calls for baking powder (right cupcake.. the right cupcake). Because this was a paid cupcake order, I made the cupcakes a second time, without the boo boo. The mistake cupcakes tasted totally fine so I was able to enjoy them and share some with friends (don’t worry, no wasted cupcakes in this house). I very rarely make the same recipe immediately after making a mistake, but I’m glad this happened.

Vanilla Confetti Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting A...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:07:39 -0400

Vanilla Confetti Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

A friend from my old school messaged me on Facebook asking if I had checked my email. I forget I have a second email address because nobody has used it to contact me (well, except Brittany, but that’s just silly, because she lives upstairs). Sure enough, my coracakes email had something in the inbox… a request for cupcakes! I was super excited about it. It made me feel like what I’m doing is a real thing. I was given the request for half a dozen of one flavor (above) and another dozen (of a different flavor).. the only restrictions were no nuts, and one of them with cream cheese frosting. I kept it simple for these vanilla on vanilla cupcakes but amped up the fun of the cupcakes by adding sprinkles and the green dye. This was my first time using vanilla beans in a recipe, and I could taste the difference. I did make a mishap during the process, but figured out what went wrong and everything turned out alright. (Both recipes were from Joy the Baker.)

What up, girl? Just hanging out with Michelle and making...

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:39:00 -0500

What up, girl? Just hanging out with Michelle and making cupcakes.