What Happens when You Watch the FOOD NETWORK...

The other night, we were all watching Bobby Flay's Throwdown on Food Network, and what was he making? Pumpkin pie and Carrot Cake!!!
It led to a conversation about carrot cake, and Thanksgiving desserts (like pumpkin dumpcake) and the cream cheese frosting.  The conversation moved on, but as my dad got up to head to bed, I asked: "So what are we making to put cream cheese frosting on?"
They all laughed at me, but this was serious business.
My husband suggested Red Velvet Cupcakes, but I was not really feeling like making a cake from scratch at close to midnight... so what was the substitute? Fondant!!

The fondant that my family makes is not like the fondant used in bakeries as icing for cakes. That fondant icing is normally just confectioner's sugar and water, what I made was fondant candy: a package of cream cheese, a load of powdered sugar, and a pinch of salt and a splash of vanilla extract.


 This type of candy has a huge nostalgic factor for me,  my grandmother (now suffering from dimensia) made it every year at Christmas time.

This time around I used a mixing bowl, although I would sincerely recommend putting it in a bag and kneading it together.

Fondant actually improves with refrigeration and age, so over the next few weeks (if it lasts past its pure stage!) I will be rolling it in almonds and pecans.
Adding coconut, and chocolate to portions- to roll and slice to create pinwheels.

 My puppy Prudence wanting in on some of the action!

Lately, I have been focusing on broadening my knowledge and skills in the kitchen. I have been working mostly with desserts so far, because I can truly appreciate them. :) 

A friend of mine and I met several times a week over the summer and created a gateau: a cake filled with fruit and a whipped topping:

Then I decided to raise the challenge in difficulty. My husband has always wanted a Boston Creme Pie, so I decided to try it!

I made it all from scratch: the pound cake, the custard filling, and chocolate drizzle.

What led to this whole endeavor? After being married for almost two years, I have fallen into a rut of dinners to make. I have my meals that we enjoy, and are easy...but they sure do get boring.  My husband and I became Goodwill and Garage sale frequenters, and I picked up this book:

This book is like a text book you would have in a normal class, it has sections and chapters: working its way up from the very basics to the difficult portions of cooking.  So I have the book, and the urge: now I just need to go for it and start the sucker!!!