Saint Patrick's Day celebration alternative

With age, beer chugging on St. Paddy's has lost its appeal.... 

At least for me. 

Maybe it's time to do something else - like a St. Paddy's tea party with these adorable sweets?

You can find the recipes for these goodies at marthastewart.com.

(photography from marthastewart.com)

Berthillon ice cream

I had an overwhelming craving for ice cream today as we were running errands. 

So we stopped by DQ and got a small ice cream cone. But it didn't quite quench the craving......

I think what I really want is something from Berthillon in Paris.

(pics from pomelohome.wordpress.com)

Eating ice cream/sorbet from Berthillon, for me, was unlike any other ice cream experience. Yes it was cold and soft like ice cream/sorbet, but the taste was like eating the essence of whatever flavor ice cream we had. Eating peach sorbet was like eating a ripe peach. Eating pear was like eating a ripe pear. In other words, just simply incredibly intense taste in yummy goodness.

I don't think there is any place like that in Chicago, or anywhere else in the world for that matter. So I think my next culinary endeavor will be to try making pear or peach sorbet in the new ice cream maker that we received as a wedding gift!  Wish me luck!

Berthillon

31, Rue Saint Louis-en-l'Ile

75004 Paris

Craving cupcakes

(image from Southportgrocery.com)

Staying at home today. 

Don't get me wrong. It's actually one of those days that I am so busy that I can't even spare the time to go into the office (or the lab in my case). Funny though that I can find time to blog...

Sitting at home, I've been craving cupcakes. Not just any cupcakes, but cupcakes from Southport grocery and cafe - proclaimed as having "the best cupcakes in Chicago" by many - including Chicago magazine and myself. It's quite easy to get these cravings at home since Southport Grocery is only a couple blocks away. 

The pic looks good doesn't it? I can tell you that these cupcakes taste even better than they look, especially the vanilla. They stick with the basics at Southport Grocery, only making chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. But sometimes simplicity allows you to really appreciate the flavors and textures. The cake itself is soft, moist and light. And the buttercream is rich and sugary yet surprisingly light. 

The best cupcake I've ever had! And the one I'm craving.

PS. Yes. I have had Magnolia's cupcakes in NY and they don't even come close!  

Southport grocery and cafe

3552 N Southport

Chicago, IL

(773)665-0100

Cupcakes from America's Test Kitchen

I lied when I said I'll be using a Betty Crocker mix to make my husband's birthday cake. Well, it was unintentional, since I fully expected to do so. But I decided I'll give baking another try since I have yet to try one of the cake recipes from my favorite cookbook:

 

If you ever need a cookbook. This is THE cookbook to have. The folks of America's Test Kitchen (also behind Cook's Illustrated)  have put together family-friendly recipes. You're not gonna get a Michelin three star worthy recipe from this cookbook - all the recipes are rather simple and easy to make. And if you know America's Test Kitchen, you will know that they have tried multiple versions and are giving you the best. And I have to say that all the recipes I have tried so far have been winners. The best part about the cookbook for me, however, is not the recipes. What makes this cookbook invaluable are the tips, how-to illustrations, the ingredient & equipment evaluations, the explanation of the science of some of the choices. 

I love this cookbook so much that despite my inability to bake, I nevertheless wanted to give it a try. My choice was the carrot cake since my husband loves carrot cake. And I decided to go with cupcakes since they are a little easier for the novice baker. A hour of prep and baking-----and voila!

Should I bake a cake?

Tomorrow is my dear husband's birthday. As it is the first birthday celebration after our wedding, I thought I would actually bake a birthday cake for him. How cute would it be to be waiting at home with a cute little cake that I have baked? 

But, alas...... I have been given the cooking genes, but have been passed over as far as the baking genes go. My past baking fiascos have taught me not to even try anything unless it involves a Betty Crocker box and pre-made icing, which is probably what I'll end up doing. Funny that I can cook, but can't bake for the life of me. 

But I do know someone here in Chicago that can bake cakes wonderfully. Actually, there are quite a few great bakeries, but this particular one stood out when I was doing research for our wedding. We ended up getting married in Mexico so couldn't get our cakes from them.....

They are The Cake Girls. Take a look at their beautiful cakes!

Beautiful, no? 

The Cake Girls

2207 W Belmont Avenue Chicago, IL

(773) 404-3147