Chicken Little Came Knocking.

Just a simple post today on some lovely clouds I shot this evening before the sunset beckoned the clouds to bed and they all lost the color in their cheeks.

Vanilla Bean Marshmallows

I was in no mood to create a carrot cake today. Too much grating...too many small ingredients. I decided to turn my attention to homemade marshmallows! Vanilla bean marshmallows to be exact.

To my delight homemade marshmallows do not contain many ingredients. It's all in how you

prepare it. It reminded me of creating divinity.

First, I mix 1/3c corn starch and 1/3c powdered sugar. This mixture is then sprinkled over a greased and foil tinned pan. I recommend a 9x9.

After, I gathered three envelopes of unflavored gelatin (.75 oz total) and 1/2c cold water. Do not mix just yet. Wait a bit. I decided to mix these ingredients now before heating the sugar mixture, and the gelatin was of a hard and uneasy consistency with which to work.

I used two vanilla beans in this recipe. I split the bean with a sharp

knife and then used a citrus peeler to gather all the seeds. If you have not used a vanilla bean in recipes, I suggest giving them a whirl. They are so fun to work with. Plus, after you gather all the little seeds from the bean, you can cut up the bean and throw it in with your sugar. It will give the sugar a nice vanilla flavor! Waste not want not!

Mix 2c sugar, 1/4c water, and 2/3c corn syrup in a large pot. Turn heat to medium high. Stir occasionally while heating to 235F. (Use a candy thermometer!) As this mixture is heating, I recommend mixing the gelatin and water in a stand mixer. Watch the pot of sugar.

Once the desired temperature is reached, remove from heat. Pour the syrup in a slow steady stream into the gelatin mixture while

beating on medium speed in a stand mixer. As you

finish pouring all the syrup, turn up the speed to high and whip until shiny, thick, and fluffy. This process took me about eight-ten minutes.

Watch out-- the mixture grew larger and thicker while rising up on the mixing hands. Keep an eye so it doesn't rise up into the mixer!

After it has grown fluffy and thick, pour into the greased pan. Smooth

flat and let it set up at room temperature overnight or equivalent hours.

I don't think my creation was fully cooked to soft ball stage, as it had a few sugar granules in it. Better luck next time!

Still, they taste grand. The vanilla beans are a wonderful addition. I think next time I'll add a bit of flavor--perhaps almond, mint, or even banana!

Maybe today I'll give my carrot cake a whirl.

Mandarin Orange and Strawburrrrrrries

My husband requested a strawberry cheesecake. I own a fewTorani syrups, mandarin orange and strawberry being two of them. Since we live out of town a few miles and I didn't have fresh strawberries on hand, I decided to use my syrups in my cheesecake. We shall see how it turns out tomorrow after it cools down in the fridge.

It's a finalized yes on the restaurant-- I'll be meeting with the owner and another person who will be in charge of catering and marketing to discuss the upcoming opening and things we need to get in order. I anticipate it!

I shared my cheesecake (vanilla bean and my reeses cup) with my neighbor who in turn shared it with her friends who raved about it. I also gave some vanilla bean cheesecake to Dave, the owner of the restaurant, who in turn gave some to his wife's coworkers. They also thought it was amazing.

Confession: I don't really like cheesecake. THERE. I said it. I really love to bake them! I just don't enjoy eating them. I'm so thankful people love them! I appreciate the opportunity to bake them for others.

My gracious! Went on a run today with Sam, my husband, and our dog Pax. It was so lovely outside! Since my husband got back from deployment, working out has not been a huge priority for me. I can feel it in my bones--- I'm growing weak! We ran hard and walked a bit too. Pax was eager to explore as far as we'd let her.

I must admit that Colorado skies are so lovely. Almost as lovely as Kansas skies. So open and big...when the stars shine it's as if you could count all the millions of them and reach up and grab them.

I particularly enjoyed this afternoon's clouds. The colors were so lovely and beautiful (of course, this is altered).

This week's agenda- carrot cake and chocolate mousse cake!

Macaroni and Cheese.

I collect pasta. Sadly, my collections constantly dwindle due to use in tasty dishes.

Macaroni and Cheese ranks high on my favorite food list. Contenders include pizza, egg rolls, and fresh fruit. Mac & Cheese from a box is... mediocre at best. Amazingly enough, I never even thought about adding spices to such a bland concoction until just recently. I prefer red pepper flakes with a dash of garlic.

All the same each and every time I gather the ingredients for such a delightful mix of cheese and pasta I get that same ol' voice in my head telling me it will flop. The horrible thing is that my mac and cheese seems to always flop. I create a rue and slowly add my cream and milk, spices and cheese. I hover over the stove as if I were protecting it from a nuclear attack. I stir. I wait. I stir. I add more cheese. At the end of it all, my sauce is too grainy or too thin and bland. It's all in the execution, I know. The more I try, the more I want to give up creating such a wonderful dish. Through all that trouble and heartache of a bland cheese sauce or a grainy texture, I won't give up.

Failure is an option. Sometimes a valid one. The problem is when someone fails and they do not get back up to try again. Lately, I've been reading a few blogs: http://notsohumblepie.blogspot.com/ as well as http://sugarshop.blogspot.com/ . Both of these women's blogs have been extremely uplifting and helpful in both the baking arena as well as the business side of baking.

Ya know, I'd love to open my own shop someday. My mother, after being forced out of her job due to the company being shut down, decided to take a leap and open her own business: a clothing alteration shop. She is so successful, even more so than in her previous position and company. She loves being her own boss and she understands all aspects of owning and operating a successful and customer driven business. I'm so proud of her. I also see, on the other side of the sunny flower patch, that she works longer and harder than she ever has. She feels like the world needs her, so she can't take a day off for fear of someone needing an item on which she has worked. She has had to deal with mad customers, late customers, overly talkative customers, and disabled customers. She is a people person. It helps when you work with what you've got, what you're skilled in, and where you are comfortable.

I can learn from my mother's success. Someday all of the wisdom I have been storing up will be used when I seek out a kitchen from which to cook and a storefront from which to sell.

Being asked to bake my cheesecakes for The Setting Sun Food Company was a huge honor. I hope I'm up for the challenge. People always tend to talk big but act little. I intend to be the opposite. I certainly will have to get used to getting up early to bake, dealing with disgruntled ovens, and producing consistent results each time I bake. I am trying to walk near the owner of the restaurant as he gets all his ducks in a row concerning marketing, ordering produce, and setting up his restaurant. I want to learn!

We still have not been able to get into the restaurant to start cleaning and setting things up the way we want. The current occupants will vacate soon and we'll be able to set up more detailed procedures and I will get a closer look at my weapons and tools. I'll be happy with what I can get. Hopefully, we will be able to get in there within the next two weeks. We will need to, as the target grand opening will be late February.

I am at a loss for what cakes I should provide. Cheesecakes are a given. What types? Other cakes? A majority of people enjoy chocolate but should I take a risk and offer more unique flavors of cakes or pies?

So many details to sort out. I have a lot on my plate. Classes start in two days. I'm neglecting my photography and my laundry. I suppose not everything can be placed in priority above baking cheesecakes.