Baking 101

Hello my beautiful friends! Today my post is going to be a little bit different than my usual structure. Let's talk baking. In my opinion, baking is like an art form, it includes many different aspects such a skill, style, and creativity. In retrospect, baking is very easy to learn, but quite difficult to master. The average Joe can buy a package of Betty Crocker's cake mix, set the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and stick the 9inch cake pan in the oven. However, it takes a true artist to make the perfect Lemon Raspberry Meringue Pie. For those of you who are virgins to baking, here are a few tips to get you started.

yummm!

TIPS:

- Refrain from using pre-mixed cake/cookie products

- Make sure to differentiate between teaspoon (tsp and tablespoon (tbsp) 

- Use appropriate measuring cups for the different chemical states of the ingredients: for liquids use a glass measuring cup, for solids use plastic measuring cups

- Weighing ingredients with a digital kitchen scale is the most accurate method of baking

- Incorporate dry ingredients together with whisk before adding to wet ingredients

- Beat egg yolks with a fork before adding them to the batter

- Always wait for the oven to reach the necessary temperature before putting cakes in the oven and always place them on the middle rack

- Always allow what you baked to cool completely before cutting or applying icing 

Here are some necessary utensils that one will need for baking!

Good-luck with all your adventures in baking!

Stay beautiful, xox 

Under the Sea

Hello my beautiful friends!

I have recently become obsessed with Lobster Bisque because its earthy flavours and that little dash of spice make my tastebuds feel alive. For those of you who do not know what a bisque is, it is a rich, creamy soup usually made with shellfish. If you enjoy lobster, you will love this recipe from food.com!

Ingredients:
1/2 lb lobster meat, cut into small chunks
2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 tablespoons chopped green onions
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1/4 cup white wine
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon dried thyme
6 tablespoons dry sherry
1 teaspoon paprika
1 cup hot water
1 teaspoon lobster base (better than boulion)
4 ounces tomato paste
2 bay leaves
2 cups heavy whipping cream
4 tablespoons butter

Directions:
1. In a saute pan heat a little oil over med-high heat and saute shallots, onions, and garlic for one minute.
2. Deglaze the pan with the white wine.
3.Add the worcestershire, tabasco, and thyme and saute for another minute.
4. Deglaze the pan with the sherry.
5. Add the paprika, hot water and lobster base and combine well.
6. Stir in tomato paste and add the bay leaves.
7. Simmer for 10 minutes.
8. Whisk in heavy cream and the butter and bring to a boil.
9. Add the lobster and simmer until cooked through.
10. Serve with crusty garlic bread.

This recipe works great for an appetizer for that "girl's only night" you've been planning for months. So what dress would compliment this delicious recipe? My pick would definitely be this Sea Blue and Coral colour block dress from Nasty Gal! (www.nastygal.com/clothes%2Ddresses/hot%2Dblock%2Ddress). The colours compliment the recipe because the blue colour defines "under the sea" while the coral colour represents that of the lobster.

I hope you enjoy this recipe and dress!

Stay Beautiful, xo

Sunny Lemon

Hello friends!

Last night I had a couple of friends over to watch a "chick flick" marathon, including A Walk to Remember, Bridesmaids, and The Notebook. I decided to try out these lemon bars from my favourite website A Beautiful Mess (www.abeautifulmess.com), and they were AMAZING. The squares were so sweet yet left a subtle bitter after-taste due to the lemon zest, and the balance of tartness was exquisite. I definitely recommend this recipe! 

For the crust: 

-1/2 cup butter (one stick)

-1/4 cup sugar 

- 1 cup flour  

- a pinch of sea salt 

Combine all ingredients until you get a crumbly texture (I would recommend using an electronic mixer), then press dough into a greased baking pan. Poke a few holes in the bottom with a fork. Bake at 350 F for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool while you prepare the filling.

For the filling: 

- 3 eggs

- 1 1/2 cups sugar 

- 1 tablespoon citrus zest 

- 1/2 cup fresh squeezed citrus juice

- 1/2 cup flour and powder sugar 

Whisk together all ingredients except for the flour and powder sugar until combined, then pour into prepared baking pan with crust. Bake at 350 F for 30-35 minutes, until the bars have set. Remove them from the oven and dust with powdered sugar. 

TIPS: 1. These bars can be made with lemon, lime or grapefruit zest

        2. I would recommend letting the bars cool for at least 10 minutes before adding flour/sugar, because the particles tend to seep through the filling

Now, what would be the perfect dress to match this recipe you ask? Well, since these lemon bars are very sunny, yellow, and happy, I would pair this recipe with an amazing yellow sundress, like this ruffled one from Mod Cloth.

Thanks for reading! 

Stay beautiful, xo 

Mess or Dress?

I've always been a person who admires cuisine and fashion, so why not combine the two? On this blog I will be dabbling into the art of fine dinning and haute couture to combine the perfect recipe with the perfect dress. I hope you enjoy!

Stay beautiful, xo.