http://www.toughmuffin.com Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:30:09 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Guys, these cookies by Dorie Greenspan were the bomb.  Me and Jen made these with Sharffen Berger and Valrhona Cocoa and that made all the difference.  You can really taste the cocao in these - they're chewy and not too sweet, and they've already become one of my favorites.  We ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=127 I baked with my pastry chef friend (Jen Chao)  to prepare for a soiree for Alex Smith. For those who don't know him, he's the quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers! I was only there to help with the final assembly today, but soon I'll join her on a nitty-gritty-baking ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=54 I thought I'd kick off my blog with a post I've long-promised - Documenting my 10-hour baking adventures with local pastry chef and friend, Jen Chao. We didn't make 'The Cake', but we did cater the rest of the desserts for a very posh wedding in the hills of Los ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=9 This Thanksgiving, I discovered my FAVORITE RECIPE TO DATE!  This Nutmeg Maple Tart. It almost tastes like pumpkin pie, only it is MUCH MUCH better.  It blends the beautiful, subtle sweet-nutty flavor of Maple Syrup with Nutmeg and Cinnamon to make a beautifully browned tart.  Those who have followed my baking ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=229 Everyone has their own ways of de-stressing.  For some, its reading - for others, blogging.  For me, its running, journaling, and (you guessed it) baking.  There's just something therapeutic about kneading flour, measuring sugar, chopping nuts, and assembling an altogether sweet treat for everyone to enjoy. Today I made these BLUEBERRY ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=213 Oldarmstrong did something INGENIOUS with my site.  He set it up with my flickr account so I can put my pictures into slideshows!  This should make my posts a little more manageable.  Instead of scrolling down to see all the pictures, you can click on them individually below.  As you ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=228 I have one thing to say: IT IS INDEED POSSIBLE TO MAKE ICE CREAM WITHOUT AN ICE CREAM MAKER!!  Sure, it will take more work on your part, but it is not too difficult to make perfectly churned, soft ice cream with just a hand-held blender.  I'll explain how! YOU CAN ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=211 I couldn't ask for a better end to my 3-month LSAT study stint.  Not only did OldArmstrong throw me the best suprise dinner @ Burma Superstar that I could have asked for, I finally returned to baking!   I made these cookies with Mike and they were a hit - especially ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=198 I've always been intrigued by moist, crumbly, melt-in-your mouth cakes. And this recipe from SmittenKitchen really grabbed my attention. . . . . . . . . . . . . A yogurt cake - how genius! Using yogurt to butter up your cake, instead of extra oil or cheese, seemed so healthy and delicious - I had to give it a try. ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=155 I love excuses to bake and today's had me donning my apron and breaking my 2-month baking hiatus.  I made these for Old Armstrong (the designer of Tough Muffin).  Feel free to give his site a gander - its sweet and he recently revamped it  :) Today's Nilla Wafer Cheesecakes were adopted ... http://www.toughmuffin.com/?p=144