Birthday Baking Disaster and Double C's Cupcakes

To keep the things in shape i must say that i'm trully in love with my blog. It is so pretty i cant stop looking, working, changing things and thinking about what i'm going to cook, what i'm going to read and how i'm going to mix those things on one. At this point if you read the other older posts you should know about my bubbly and loving Co-worker and Delightful Friend Rux. She is one of the most interesting, fun and Ennoying persons that i ever met in my whole life but in the short time that i been working on the Accounting Office the ONLY thing that makes my Working Life bearable because without her i would be misserable (Actually she makes my life a little misserable) 

A brand new year, a brand new blog

I know, I know... it's not the beggining of the year but it is the beggining of my year, 2014 starts today for me. I been quite disconected from the blog and that seems to be an issue (at least for me, dont have a loyal Audience yet) but is because i live on Venezuela and we have a certain situation with the food and is that you CAN'T find it anywhere. Basic Pastry ingredients like Butter, Sugar and Flour are out of the stock on ALL supermarkets and stores and when ou find it you need to wait for hours on a line in order to buy a pair of flour package This year i been counting with some luck in the Ingredients departament so it's time to bake and cook again.

You also can probably note that i have change the entire layout, if you follow me on my Instagram you should know that i got inspired by one of my favorite ties. The blog got a certain British Vintage look that i love because looks manly and fresh and that's domething that i was looking for.

For this Second Season i'm willing to fill pages and pages of great sweet treats, good wishes, tons of music, books and of course let's raise our champagne glasses and drink up!

Welcome back and let's Swing this shit out!

Wannabe Macaroons

If you wanna be my lover, you gotta love to eat...

Isn't how goes that pop song?, well it is true. If you dont love eating you cant be with me. I mean, food for me is important but dessert is even important for me. Dessert can make that 2 persons falls in love, can make kids smile, makes someone feel special. It is the reason that i love to cook sweet dishes. Create instant happiness for others. Except for me! This bring instant unhappiness to me. Well at least my latest dessert project  Macaroons does.

The very first time i saw those little cookies called "Macaroons" was on a cookbook 3 years ago. In that book i saw those adorable mini cookies, with different flavours and fillings and an endless posibilities to add flavours on it. I though "Javi, You really needs to learn how to make Macaroons"

Later, when i start to writte on this blog i said to myself "What a great way to start my blog by doing macaroons, dont you think?" So i spend half of my salary on ingredients to make distintic macaroons like, french vanilla, chocolate with Limoncello, Brandy, Cardamom, Brazilians nuts, and other very expensive things. I study like a mad man looking recipes from all the web to make the "Perfect Macaroons" and well the result wasn't how i expected. It is SO FREAKING HARD!!!

My first batch, Burned! Problem? Oven too high. The second Batch went Dry, WAY dry. Sahara desert Dry. The third batch it looked good at sight but the i realize that all of them were hollow on the inside and that's how i decides to quit on them. Until yesterday when i try to get back to the horse and see what i can do.

I try to make it simple, so i choose a classic chocolate macaroon. I measure, follow exactly the recipe until my worst fear "the macaronage" in that step is when i try to be the most methodic person on the planet! Well as you can see i failed again. It doesn't form that little distintic "foot" on the macaroon it also they are flat. as you can see but the taste went perfect (at least) that's why i named "Wannabe Macaroons" (Also because i was listening the Spice girls)

Hope the next time i can actually bake some Perfect Macaroons...Tell me, have you done macaroons before? what is your secret?

Vampire Truffles Chronicles VI: Marius Truffles

Last but not Least Marius, The last Vampire on my "Vampire Chronicles Truffles Challenge". Marius was one of the oldest vampires on the book (until now) The keeper of the most important secrets on the Vampire world, It's also Armand's Maker. On his human life he was a 40 years old Italian man, book lover, Amazing Artist, very methodic, Sweet...

For the Truffle i choose some Italian Flavours, almost like a Mockaccino Truffle. a Creammy filling that combines perfectly with the Chocolate.

Vampire Truffles Chronicles V: Armand Truffles

Armand was a Tricky one, On "Interview with the vampire" Book was a Renaissance Young man who was enchanted with Louis, the New World Vampire, and they were happy for a couple of centuries. On the second book "The Vampire Lestat" Armand was an old vampire who couldn't get adaptted to the new era until Lestat show him the way, also was a jealous and vengeful Vampire. A dark soul with a sweet charm, i think this is a dangerous mix.

For this character i decide to use really dark chocolate, 70% Cocoa chocolate. A way to celebrate his real dark side and combine with something sweet, bit sour and Spicy. It's a Complicated mix? Yes, it is however the flavour is so simple, a Culinary Orgasm just like my friend Rux said.

Vampire Truffles Chronicles IV: Nicolas Truffles

Nicolas, The lover, The mad Violinist, The dark soul. Nicolas Plays vital importance on the book. I mean, it was the first love of our Protagonist Lestat, It make a HUGE impact on Lestat life so Nicolas need his own Truffle. For this Truffle i choose Milk chocolate. It can be real overwhelming if you dont know how to combine it, My friend and co-worker Rux thinks that Milk chocolate is the cheapest of the chocolates, she is a Black Chocolate lover just like me.. Darker, Richer, Better.

I made a Simple Truffle, something classic, versatile and not so invasive that you can eats one by one on your soirees. It's a Milk chocolate and Cinnamon Truffle. I think that Cinnamon goes so well with the Milk chocolate dont you think? it like Nicolas and Lestat, Soft, creamy, divine. Somethimes, in my head i can picture them playing Mozart Sonatas, Lestat in his clavichord and Nicolas on his violin together, apart.

Vampire Truffles Chronicles III: Gabrielle Truffles

Now is the Turn of Madame Gabrielle Du Lioncurt, Lestat's Mother. This is a Beautiful Woman who was a little unsatisfied with her life. The Marquese Du Lioncurt is a woman with pale skin and long blond hair like her son, Cobalt Blue eyes and a very intriguin personality. Gabrielle was the first Vampire that Lestat made, saving her mother pain from her illness and gaining an strong partner on his wild life. She was his Mother, His friend, his partner and his lover.