Website Issues....

Hi Everyone –

Just a heads up our website is currently going through some construction changes, so access will be denied if you try to pull it up. With culinary school starting in a few weeks Dollface Delights will be taking a hiatus from doing business. When it comes to my business I want to ensure I can give it all the attention it deserves.

Once my program is over, Dollface Delights will be back, Bigger, Badder and Sassier!! I still plan to blog (hopefully on more or a regular basis) my new adventure.

XOXO

Erica B.

Baking List!

With culinary school looming in a few weeks, I’ve actually done less baking than normal. Baking is always on my brain and now after seeing these recipes I am getting the urge to break out my mixing bowls.

Pumpkin Doughnuts

Recipe Source

Banana Bread w/ Nutella Spread

Recipe Source

Mini Apple Pies

Recipe Source

Now my next issue....which to make first?

BIG CHANGES!

So, a few months back I made a decision to make a change in my life…..

I made an appointment ….

Talked to some people…..

Went home and thought long and hard…..

Cried a few times…..

Went into major anxiety thinking about the changes this decision would cause, with my future, my bank account and my free time….

Cried a few more times…..

Got lots of hugs and reassurance from my loved ones (and a few fur baby kisses from Loco)….

Put a brave face on and decided to sign the paperwork….

Got the call today that things were all in order and I was good to go…..

Today I am a fully enrolled student at the Le Cordon Blue Culinary School…

On November 8, 2010, I will start my journey to be more educated in Pâtisserie and Baking…and my life will change FOREVER!!!

Tru Blood Cupcakes

Last weekend was my sisters birthday so I made her Tru Blood Cupcakes.

She wanted vanilla bean cupcakes, so I dyed them Blood Red and topped them with Chocolate Buttercream. They were a ton of fun!!

I also made a fun beverage to go along with it!! I created a label with a picture I found online and used cranberry juice as the drink!! My sister LOVED it!!

Cake Doughnuts and Fruit Ganache

Over the weekend I got a new Dutch oven and knew it was time to fry something up. When I was younger one of my favorites things to make was a homemade cake doughnuts. I loved that dense cakey doughnut bursting with cinnamon and nutmeg, plus their FRIED!!! I used my old stand by recipe from the Better Homes and Garden Cookbook and set off.

Making these doughnuts is not hard at all, but I love a challenge and wanted to make some type of fruit glaze to top the doughnuts. My first attempt started with some blueberries, milk and powdered sugar. It was looking good until I grabbed the wrong box and dumped almost a cup of cornstarch into it and it tasted like YUCK!!!

So, I moved on to trying a white chocolate strawberry ganache glaze. Now, I understand the basics of ganache and have made it many times. I went searching online for recipes for fruit ganache and pretty much came to a dead end. It seems when it comes to ganache people stick to what they know regular chocolate. I still was curious so I pureed my strawberries, dumped it into my hot cream and then poured it all over my white chocolate.

I think it came out perfect!! It started out very liquidy but after cooling down it started to thicken up. I think I will play around with it a bit more and see if I can make it even thicker, or try other fruit flavors.

White Chocolate Strawberry Ganache

Powder Sugar

The trickiest part of the whole process was making the whole in the middle. I didn't have an actual doughnut cutter, so after cutting them with my biscuit cutter I had to try and find something to poke the hole with. The dough was very sticky and made it way more complicated than necessary. Next on my kitchen gadget shopping list is this!!

Cupcake Wars Audition Tape.

I filmed my audtion tape last week for Cupcake Wars and wanted to share!! Hope you enjoy!.

Cupcake Wars Season 2

So, I am still freaking out a little bit but wanted to share my exciting news. Yesterday I came across a blog posts about casting for Season 2 Cupcake Wars. I’ve watched the show, and talked much trash about how AWESOME I would be on this show. So I took caution to the wind and sent in my information.

Literally about an hour later, I see some strange number on my cell phone and a voice message. It was the FREAKING casting director from Cupcake Wars. She liked my email and liked the pictures I sent (I mean who could resist this face…LOL) and wanted to chat more about the process. So, I literally almost run off the road and start screaming in the car. (Imagine this scene from onlookers driving by)

I called her back and we talked for about 20 mins, she asked me a ton of questions about Dollface and why I started baking and my business. She said she really liked me, thought I was absolutely adorable and had a great personality. (I’m not making this stuff up people) The next step is to film a short video for the producers of the show so they can see why I should be picked for the show.

Yes…I am still Freaking out!!! So, right now I am in stage 2 of casting and will keep you updated. I have to film my video over the weekend and will posts it on Youtube. I will share the link so you can get a good laugh…LOL!!

I would appreciate your blessings, wishes, magical fairy dust, rain dances…this would be more than a dream come true for me!!