It's the simple things...

Having to make decisions, it’s all a part of life right? Sometimes it’s hard enough for me to choose between my closed toe pumps or peek toe flats. And to make it even harder, there's Gwyneth missing her sliding doors by a split second completely altering the course of her life! But at least we all go through it together. We all have decisions to make and unfortunately for me often the bad out number the good. I often find myself thinking how I got here. Not in this coffee shop typing this post so much or even here in San Diego, but to this point in my life, where every day is a new adventure and filled with numerous decisions that may or may not alter the course of my life. Talk about stress! Okay maybe a little over dramatic but do you ever wonder how your life would be different had you choose not to take that job or date that boy or even go that party or for me, quit your job to start a cookie company? Maybe that’s why I chose to stuff truffles inside of cookies. It just got too hard to decide between the two! If only everything in life were that simple...or maybe it really is.

Here’s a decision that isn’t a hard one to make. Do spicy and chocolate go together? Oh I think so! Cayenne dark chocolate truffle stuffed cookie. The newest addition to the truffie collection!

(The picture kinda sucks cause it's from my phone but you get the point)

AND since it was kickstarter that's inspired me to start baking, blogging and pursuing again, as a special thank you, every backer will also get this new flavor to try with your pledge! Thanks again!

Check out the project here

Maple Bacon Cupcakes

I think Homer Simpson said it best when he said, "mmmm....move over eggs. Bacon just got a new best friend....fudge." Bacon has got to be one of the most underutilized, under-appreciated amazing delicious ingredients in desserts. It may be going a little against the grain with the low fat, low carb, gluten-free, vegan craze our culture's experiencing but where would we be if we never stepped outside the norm every now and then.

Ingredients

CUPCAKES:

1/2 cup granulated sugar

5 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon imitation maple flavoring

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup 1% low-fat milk

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup cooked bacon chopped into bits

FROSTING:

3 tablespoons maple syrup

4 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened

1 3/4 cups powdered sugar

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare cupcakes, beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 5 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Combine milk and 1/4 cup maple syrup. Add flour mixture to sugar mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix after each addition. Mix in bacon.

Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups lined with paper liners. Bake at 350° for 17-22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

To prepare the frosting, beat 3 tablespoons maple syrup and butter at medium speed of a mixer 1 minute. Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating just until blended (do not overbeat). Spread the frosting over cupcakes.

The Sweetest Surprise of All

I think there's a hopeless romantic in all of us and for some reason on Valentine's Day it seems to come out just a little more, especially when you're getting to propose! CONGRATS to my dear friend Warren who used the truffies this Valentine's Day to offer a little more than their already pretty sweet chocolate stuffed surprise. What a sweet surprise!



















I'm so happy to have been a part of such an awesome proposal!!

Making Dumplings

Somehow when I go home I suddenly become a little more Asian. Besides the fact that my mom's always yelling at me to speak Chinese, we have a karaoke machine with over 1,000 songs and use on a regular basis, and we have mis-matched furniture with pieces that are over 30 years old, I think it's largely due to all the awesome food I get to eat when I'm home. This time my mom and I made dumplings from scratch, chive and ground turkey and Chinese cabbage and ground turkey - diverging a little from the more traditional pork but still incredibly delicious and really so simple.

Chive and Ground Turkey Dumplings:
Chives - chopped really really small
2 green onions - chopped small
Ground turkey - use very little
Soy Sauce
Sesame Oil

Cabbage and Ground Turkey Dumplins
Chinese cabbage - chopped really small
5 green onions - chopped small
Ground Turkey - you can increase the ratio for this one
Soy Sauce
Sesame Oil

Dumpling Wrappers

Start by creating your fillings. Once your fillings are complete - begin wrapping. Quick note on making dumplings with cabbage you must salt the cabbage after chopping to draw all the water out and then you have to squeeze all the excess water out into a bowl or you'll end up with very soggy dumplings. Okay, to begin wrapping simply take a wrapper, use your finger to put water around the edges, add a small amount of filing in the middle, fold in half and then begin curling up the sides. Once you've wrapped all your dumplings thoroughly freeze them before storing them.

When you're ready to eat them, you can either boil, steam or pan fry them. I like boiling the best. All you have to do is bring water to boil, place the dumplings in the water, bring back up to a boil, add cold water and bring back to a boil - you do this three times and after the third time you know you have perfect dumplings!!

So simple right?!!

Always more special with cookies :)

Pictures of the Special Event. Props to Janette Schoelz of Hidden Door Designs www.thehiddendoordesign.com (don't forget the "design" in the address) for the awesome cookie display and table set-up. You rock girl!!

Meaningful Meeting

There's many things I've come to love in starting this business but one thing I love love love is all the cool people I've met that just love the idea that I make cookies and love trying to connect me with other people who might be of help...and you ll know I need help :) Like Lucinda who I met at the Trader Joes on Monday who got the hunch from the 15 packs of mint chocolate creams I had to purchase that I may have a slight sweet tooth but certainly not one that was that bad. Anyway, we got to talking and she ended up hooking me up with her sister that owns a restaraunt in DC. Considering that I haven't been home since September of 2007, I thought it was too much a coincidence that I met Lucinda on the Monday before I was getting ready to hop on a plane to head home for a week! Too much of a coincidence to not agree to meet up with her sister Melissa, who owns Mia's Pizzas in Bethesda, MD. Unbiased by the yumminess of her pizzas our meeting was awesome. We chatted for about two hours, learning about each other's stories and getting some great guidance for The Cookie Chew. One thing she suggested was for me to maybe change the logo - to represent me a little more - maybe simplify it a little and square it off. She stressed that people need to not only buy the cookies becuase they taste great but that they need to feel an obligation to me. I get what she's saying in that I should personalize every buying experience. Besides it's all about the little things right that really make you stand out from the rest and you never know where that tipping point will occur.

If you're ever in DC - for sure check out Mia's Pizza on 4926 Cordell Avenue in Bethesda. For sure try the margherita pizza and the mozzarella, tomato, and basil salad - classic dishes very well made.