Movin' On Up... To a Deluxe Kitchen Nearbyyy

Thanks to the researching skills of my dear husband we found a commercial kitchen rental in the Tampa Bay area via Craigslist! This has been the biggest obstacle to starting our business: finding somewhere to bake. Months ago we found a certified kitchen in Largo which is almost an hour away. We really clicked with the owner; she offered us plenty of industry knowledge. Yet, we were hung up on the distance; we couldn't wrap our brains around baking in Largo and servicing our Wesley Chapel following.

So, now we are awaiting the completion of this kitchen; we were given a 30-day ETA. Now we have a time frame to get all of our ducks in a row.

This post also serves as a plug/testimonial for Craigslist. It may take a lot of time, patience and a keen eye but you may find just what you're looking for.

Joi @ SFC

Where Have You Been?!

Well, brainstorming and more brainstorming. Trying to really figure this thing out. Going over each scenario as to how to best run the business with the least overhead. We're gonna get it right one of these days. Keep hope alive!

Sugar Flower... Cookies?

I felt like making cookies last week. My chocolate chip came out well before so I thought I'd offer a batch to one of my sugar addict friends. To my surprise she had a a special request for Oreos. I had never made them before but I remembered seeing a recipe in Martha Stewart's Everyday Food (April 2009). Find it online: Chocolate 'n' Cream Sandwich Cookies.

My two cents: I would suggest reading the comments after the recipe. I didn't have any problems with the batter being dry or crumbly; it was fine. I used a rubber spatula to mix the dough and a KitchenAid mixer (wire whisk attachment) for the filling. The rolling part could require two people yet putting a towel under the parchment kept it from sliding. Also, if you prefer the crisp nature of an Oreo I would make sure that the dough is rolled out thinner than 1/4 inch as instructed. Otherwise the cookie remains soft after baking.

Here's what resulted:

Yes, I do know "O"reos to be round but the only cookie cutter I had close to the size was square. They're Faux-reos anyway...

I used extra-fine granulated sugar yet it still remained a tad bit gritty. I wonder if the sugar dissolved first in a little water then added to the butter would work...

I stamped baby feet in some just to see how it would work.

The biggest issue was that they kinda came out tasting coffee-ish. I'm sure it had to do with the vanilla extract that I used. I ran out of my usual: Sonoma Syrup Co.'s No. 4. All in all, I'd say the trial was successful. My friend gave me an "A" for effort. We ate them. Nothing goes to waste 'round these parts.

Vegan Vanilla Cupcakes with Chocolate Icing

Here are the results of having to satisfy a sweet tooth at 10pm when you have no eggs. My dad, the vegetarian, claimed them as his own. We all loved them. The icing was rich and smooth-- very good. I could've eaten it without the cake. Now I understand frosting shots!

I found the cake recipe on RecipeZaar.com. I used organic cane sugar and apple cider vinegar. The icing recipe is from Crazy About Cupcakes.

Making the icing...

This was my first time making this type of icing. I wasn't sure I would either do it correctly or if it would taste edible so I halved the recipe and two cupcakes missed out...

Sittin' pretty...

He Actually Won Something!

As some of you may know, during the opening weeks and thereafter of Coraline the movie there was quite a buzz about a special Coraline edition of the Nike Dunk. "Those in the know" stuck around until after the credits where a secret code was given to enter on the Coraline website. Thus you were entered into a drawing to win a pair of Coraline Dunks... Long story short, my husband won a pair! Check 'em out:

Oh, snap! They glow in the dark on the bottom!

Cupcakes Take the Cake featured some awesome Coraline cupcakes from death by cupcake on Flickr. How this was her first attempt at fondant? I have no idea. But alas, some people just got it like that.