Honey Sage Cornbread

With fall approaching in Los Angeles [I say approaching because although its technically fall, LA weather has been teeter-tottering between somewhat cold and disgustingly hot the past few weeks], its nice to have something warm and comforting on those chilly nights. I was making turkey chilli for dinner and what better to go with chilli, than cornbread? They are pretty much a match made in heaven.

Cornbread can be a little boring though, but some simple ways to jazz it up are by adding some honey, some fresh herbs, cheese or a mild onion. Many things can turn plain old cornbread into a delicious masterpiece. I went with a honey-sage combo because my mom found sage flavored honey at a farmers market and I had fresh sage at home, so it seemed perfect.

I just used this recipe on the back of the cornmeal box, with a few of my own touches and it is one of the quickest one-bowl wonders ever.

Chocolate Cake Trifles

I made this cake in my last post, and everyone should take note that when you make a cake and you have left over trimmings, you should always make a trifle! Forget the cake balls, and go with something a little more sophisticated. They are delicious, so versatile, making them individual sizes is all the better.

 

Every since I first made a french pastry cream in my first baking class its been one of my favorites because its basically pudding, and who doesn't love pudding? Also, the flavor combinations you can add this simple vanilla-based custard are endless. I decided to go with a salted caramel and a spiced Mexican hot chocolate flavored pastry creams.

Giraffe Birthday Cake

Last week was my best friend's birthday and she asked for a giraffe cake, because she is a giraffe :)

I haven't worked with fondant too much and this was my first time molding it and I was pretty happy with the results. I used this picture and used it as a guide for molding my giraffes and put them on top of a milk chocolate cake, filled with cherry Italian buttercream, and iced with Italian buttercream.

A few roses, and some grass and voilà! its now a giraffe in a rose garden cake.

Happy Birthday Yoohoo! <3