Petit Gâteau

Chocominty Stripes

2009-01-12T18:15:00.000-08:00

For the holidays I was completely broke...So instead of getting gifts for people I made cookies! It's a bit late, but I'll be sending them off to New York tomorrow. I wanted to make something that sorta reminded you of Christmas, so I decided on chocolate mint. These cookies are so yummy!

Chocominty Stripes:
1/2 Cup Softened Unsalted Butter
2/3 Cup Sugar
1 tsp Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 Egg
1 tbsp Milk
1 tbsp Vanilla
2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/3 Cup Chocolate Mint Baking Pieces
1/3 Cup White Baking Pieces

In a mixing bowl beat butter for 30 seconds. Then add the sugar, baking powder, and salt. Once that is combined mix in the egg, milk, and vanilla. Mix in the flour a little at a time until all of it is mixed in. Once everything is mixed together divide the dough in half. Melt both the chocolate mint pieces and the white baking pieces in separate bowls. When both are completely melted then add one to one half of dough, and the other to the other half of the dough. When both halves are mixed with their chocolates set them aside. Take out a 8x4x2 inch loaf pan and line the inside with plastic wrap. Once you've done that then take one third of the chocolate mint dough and spread it in the loaf pan. Then take one half of the white chocolate dough and spread it on top of the first layer. Then another third of the chocolate mint dough. Then the last half of white chocolate dough. Then the last third of the chocolate mint dough. The final product should look like stripes. Once the dough is in the pan cover it with plastic wrap and chill. Once it's chilled then take it out of the loaf pan and cut it into pieces. Bake the cookies at 350° F for about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Once they're cooked, place them on a wire rack to cool. Enjoy!

Lavender Orange Cookies

2009-01-12T18:01:00.000-08:00

Sooo I've never worked with lavender...in baking anyways. My sister has worked with it before and she says that she looooves it. So I decided to give it a shot! I found a recipe for lavender cookies, and then I decided to tweak it a little bit. The cookies turned out really yummy! I didn't think I was going to like 'em, but they're good! They're not really the type of cookie that you can constantly eat though.

Lavender Orange Cookies:
5/8 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
1 tbsp Lavender Flowers
1 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 to 1 tsp of Orange Zest

Preheat over to 350° F. While that's preheating cream together the butter and sugar. Once that's combined beat in the egg. When that's all combined mix in the lavender flowers, orange zest, and flours. When all of that is mixed together drop it by the teaspoon on a greased cookie sheet. Cook the cookies for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden on the tip. Remove the cookies and place them on a cooling rack. Eat 'em warm, or room temperature!

Chocolate Moose!!

2009-01-12T16:42:00.001-08:00

Yes, I know it's not really moose...it's really mousse. I decided for Christmas that I wanted something really yummy, and also something that I've never tried before. So, I made a chocolate mousse pie, and dang it was good!! I brought it up to my grandparents on Christmas, and of course as soon as they heard that it was chocolate mousse they began to joke about it!! My grandpa, being 'highly intelligent', started giving me the whole background on it and then proceeded to tell me that he was once a moose!!

What is it with these veterans? Moose, elk, VFW...Gosh... What's with that?

Anywhoo...the chocolate MOUSSE pie was delicious!!

Chocolate Mousse Pie

Crust:
1 Package of Graham Crackers Crushed Up
1/2 Cup Butter
1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels

Mousse:
2 Cups Whipping Cream
2 Cups Semi-Sweet Morsels
2 tsp Powdered Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine the graham cracker crumbs and the melted butter until all of the graham crackers are coated in butter. Press the graham crackers into the bottom and sides of the pie dish. After you've pressed the graham crackers into the dish, bake it for 8 to 10 minutes. As soon as it comes out of the oven sprinkle on the 1/2 cup of morsels. Let it stand for a couple minutes or until the morsels start to get shiny. Once they're shiny use a spatula to smooth the chocolate over the bottom of the crust. When that's all done place the pie crust in the fridge to cool.

While the crust is chilling place 2 cups of morsels and 3/4 cup of cream in a large bowl and micowave on high for 1 minute. Take it out and mix it. If the morsels are not completely melted then place them in the microwave for an additional 10 to 15 seconds. After each interval take it out and stir. Do this until they're completely melted. Once they are then place them aside to cool to room temperature. In another bowl beat the remaining cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract in a chilled bowl until soft peaks form. When they've finally formed soft peaks then slowly start to fold 2 cups of the whipped mixture into the chocolate mixture. When it's all combined then spoon it into the crust. Pop it in the refrigerator and let it cool until firm.

Nice to Meet You!!

2009-01-12T14:57:00.000-08:00

Hi there! My name is Kelly Carroll. I'm 18 and live in a very very small town in Texas. So much for 'everything's bigger in Texas,' eh? I recently moved here from Long Island, New York. I have to say, the one thing I miss about New York is the food. Honestly, I can't find one freshly made bagel in all of the Austin area!! And man, I love bagels! And I truly think that my sister and I are the only Italians in all of Texas. So, what do you do when you can't find good food? You make it yourself!!

My interest in baking has always been in me. I can't give a specific date on when my my love for it started. From a young age I've always been baking, whether it be helping my mom, or making snickerdoodles on a snow day.

My sisters also share my love for baking. My sister Robin, who's blog can be seen here, came up with the brilliant idea months ago that she was going to research pastry schools. It so turns out that the second best culinary school in all of America is located just 40 miles away from where we live. So, she moved to Texas, and started at the Texas Culinary Academy! Me, being the stupid sister, sat around thinking that everything was just going to happen on its own. I've changed my mind about college once, and now I'm doing it again...

Last year I had every intention of starting school at the Massachusetts College of Art in September of '08. By July of '08 I had already moved to Texas. MassArt kept sending things adding more and more onto my bill, and I honestly didn't want to travel 2000 miles away from home. So, I withdrew from MassArt and decided that I was going to apply at the University of Texas. Ya know, the longhorns...That annoying burnt orange longhorn mascot...I wasn't too thrilled, but they had a major in Astronomy, which is also another one of my interests. In a way I kept on doubting myself when it came to UT. I wouldn't get in, and I would fail at Astronomy even though I loved it.

I finally decided about two weeks ago that I wanted to start culinary school also. So, I called the school, I had an interview, and I was in!!! Of course, I don't start until next month, but I'm in!! Yaaay!!! School has finally arrived!! And I'll be doing something that I've always loved!!

So...I'm here to post my recipes that I've made. I'll share recipes, pictures, and what I'm thinking. I hope you like it!!

See ya soon!!

<3kelly