Do I need this cookbook?

I think I do need this book! What about my New Year's Resolution?
I first heard about it on the TODAY show yesterday - the cakes and fillings and everything look absolutely FABULOUS!!!

(Click on the picture to watch the video or read the article!)

Pain au Chocolat

Pain Au Chocolat (French) or just chocolate filled croissants(English). Either way: ~flaky deliciousness with a chocolate filling~

These were my lazy Sunday activity. But considering how many I ate, I probably shouldn't have been quite so lazy. They have quite a bit of butter in them, but I didn't need to tell you that, did I?

2008 Resolution: Eat MORE Cake!

Lemon Layer Cake

Classic White Cake with Raspberry Filling

Yep, that's it. I need to eat more cake. Well, I really just need to perfect the art of baking and decorating them, but in order to do that you must eat some so you know if you were successful or not! I have had so many people request me to make cakes for them but I have turned them down because I just haven't really done it before. But that has all ended. No longer will I say - "I don't make or eat cake", but will say "YES, I am very confident in my cake baking and eating skills!" Those 2 cakes up there are my(sad) 1st attempts that I baked for a long time friend of the family. I hope they were good!?? Why can't people just ask me to make cheescake or cream puffs or pie or creme' brulee or something SIMPLE?
P.S. Check back in the future to see how my resolution turns out!

Christmas Time!

Here are some of the FABULOUS gifts I received!


From totally sporty and fun...


to totally GLAM!

Oh, and I also was given enough money to go buy one of these! And I even get to go on a shopping trip with my older sister to pick it out!

I felt the LOVE this Christmas( oh, and every Christmas always!) from all my dear family.

God has truly blessed my life with so many wonderful people that I love and that love me in return. That is the greatest gift of all! It just shows up more at Christmas when people go out of their way to bestow such unexpected presents... Thanks everybody!!!!

In case you were wondering what was on the dessert menu, here you are:

-Peppermint Crunch Ice Cream Cake

-Vanilla Cheesecake with Chocolate Sauce

-Pumpkin and Apple Pie

Assorted Mini Cheesecake for my Friends

Stressful fun! Ask my Mom if she thought I was having fun, and I am not sure that she would say yes, but it WAS fun! My biggest problem today was that I didn't really wake up until 3 p.m. so that kinda made the day not as fun as it could have been, but oh well. And here I am posting at 10:45 p.m. so that I should have the same problem tomorrow! Good thing it's Christmas Vacation( whoever came up with Christmas "vacation" was of their rocker! I mean, who doesn't work at least twice as hard as any other time of the year?).

The boxes awaiting their goodies...

Chocolate, Vanilla and Pumpkin Spice Cheesecakes!

Hopefully all my Basketball teamates are enjoying them this very moment - oh wait, they SHOULD be in bed, but I guess since I am not in bed they won't be either!

Yes, I have been baking plenty, but I just have not had the time to take pictures and post and all that fun stuff! I hope to post some of the many Christmas goodies soon!

Monkey Bread

OOEY, GOOEY, STICKY,CINNAMONEY, MONKEY BREAD

Even with the stomach flu I managed to make monkey bread yesterday - what a sacrifice right? Actually, I ate one piece and couldn't even enjoy it! But I made up for that this morning and ate some for breakfast since I am feeling a little better. The only problem is that I have such a small appetite that I filled my stomach on fluff instead of something of substance - Oh well, I'll have something of substance later!


Monkey Bread:
This is a bread lovers perfect dessert! In our family it's gone in about 5 minutes!
1 cup warm milk
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup warm water
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
2 teaspoons salt
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

8 Tablespoons melted butter
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup packed brown sugar

In a medium bowl, combine the milk, butter, sugar, water, and yeast. In a mixing bowl fitted with dough hook, combine 3 cups flour and salt. Once combined, slowly add the liquid ingredients while mixer is running. Knead at low speed until dough is smooth and elastic about 10 minutes, adding more flour if needed. The dough should be very sticky but should pull away from sides of bowl. When done kneading, place in a greased bowl and let rise until double. Dump out onto floured surface, punch down or fold like a trifold wallet 3 times. Form dough into a rough square and cut into about 1 inch pieces. Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Grease a large bundt cake pan very well with nonstick spray. Dip a piece of dough into butter then roll in brown sugar mixture and place in bundt cake pan. Repeat with remaining pieces. Cover with saran and let rise until double. ( At this point you can cover it with saran and let it rise in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Bring to room temp. then continue with regular directions.) Bake at 350 degrees for 30 -35 minutes . Let cool in pan for 5 minutes then invert onto plate.

P.S. My family and friends should be happy to know I have this recipe memorized, so you all know what that means! Anytime, Anywhere, MONKEY BREAD!