Climbing cupcake!

I went climbing today! I learned how to tie an 8 knot, a fisherman’s knot and belay another person. It was so scary being 30ft in the air and trusting someone to keep you safe. I think that I got more comfortable as I climbed and it got much less scary each time. I did a total of 6 climbs ranging from level 5.3-5.7!!! I bought a 5 pack day pass, so expect to see me at Planet Granite in the Presidio!! Thanks to my awesome belay instructor Arsalan and my awesome climbing partner Russel!

Gym Minnie Mouse (aka gym rat) maybe Gym Cupcake!

Starting today in addition to my baking I will also talk about health in general. Looking back 8 years I see a huge transformation in how I look. I can honestly say that it was all due to exercise, healthy eating, and portion control that I gained the stronger and healthier boy. My trainer calls herself a Gym Minnie Mouse instead of gym rat. I thought that was super cute and so I decided to call myself a Gym Cupcake. This is how a Gym Cupcake is born. I am a Gym Cupcake! I go to the gym frequently and health and nutrition are super important to me. I also think that its OK to eat sweets, but in moderation. So I shall continue to make sweet treats in miniature and go to the gym and treat my body well.

2012, 2009, 2007, 2004! My Motivation!

Business Cards!

I have many people ask me if I am in business and sell my bake goods, and my answer was always "no, I do it just for fun." Recently I decided to take the plunge and sell my baked goods. If you know anyone looking for some sweet treats please refer me.

Finally Posting

I admit I have been very negligent in posting. This is not because I haven't been baking, crafting, and doing other blog worthy things because I have. In an effort to get caught up on my blogging I will post pictures of things I have done and baked since my last post. Enjoy!

BCA Cupcakes, 2 Flavors: Strawberry and Chocolate Chip

Chocolate Chip Whole Wheat Scones

Cake Pops: 2 flavors Strawberry Shortcake and Red Velvet

Chocolate covered Mini Bundt Cake

Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

I DO Salt and Pepper Shaker

Madeleines

Mini pound cake

Red Velvet Cookies

Snickerdoodles

Jam Today, Jam Tomorrow, Jam Everyday!!!

If you have read my previous post, you'll know making jam is on my list of 25 before 25.
This is my Strawberry and Nectarine Jam!
It was delicious and I am so proud of myself.
It also eliminates 1 off the 100 new recipes I want to try. <3

First I cut up about 5 cups of fruit. Strawberries and Nectarines! This made about 3 eight ounce mason jars of Strawberry and Nectarine Jam!

I blended the fruit in my magic bullet. I added about 1/4 cups of lemon juice (the juice from 1 large lemon). I added my fruit, lemon juice and about 1 cup of sugar. I stirred the mixture on low heat till the sugar was dissolved and then increased the heat to high and let the mixture com to a roiling boil.

As the fruit mixture was heating, I washed my jars and lids with soap and water and then boiled my jars and lid in the boiling water. This is really important because it sanitizes the jars, make sure not to touch the jars or lids with your hands as the jam will grow mold if you do. Make sure to keep the jars hot so the glass doesn't crack as you pour hot jam mixture into it.

After the fruit had been boiling for about 10 minutes it looked done cooking, so I added it into the jars. I used tongs to take the jars out of the hot water.

 I immediately put the lids on and then put the jars of fruit mixture into boiling water for 7 minutes. This process will seal the jars and ensure freshness.

  After boiling I let the jam rest for 12 hours in a cool place and then I put it in the refrigerator.

Delicious Jam! w/Crackers!

 I ate it at Summerthing in Golden Gate Park. It was sweet and tart and overall very yummy for my first jam experience.

25!!!

As I begin to realize I am hitting the milestone of 25 I begin to think of all the things I have always wanted to do, but still haven't. So when I decided to create this list I had about 6 months till my 25th birthday. I am down to a little less than 5 months. Here's my list and what I have done so far. Wish me luck!

25 before 25:

1. Learn to bake bread (done! July 10, Sour Flour)


2. Visit 15 Bay area/Norcal/CA attractions/cities that I haven't been to

3. Make 100 new recipes

4. Lose 10-15lbs

5. SF Flash mob-participate in at least 1

6. 25 new restaurants/eating places

7. Go camping/Hiking (Done! Thanks to my Sister Nancy and her BF Keith! at Lake Casitas)

8. Learn to cook 3 korean dishes, including kimchi

9. Perfect 5 baking recipes

10. Attempt a Croquembouche

11. Learn to crochet

12. Knit something

13. Learn speak some french

14. Read 50 new books

15. Pay Off my credit cards

16. Make a college scrapbook

17. Make emergency kits for those I love

18. Go to a Nude Beach

19. Perfect macaroons

20. Read the top 10 classic novels
   1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger*
   2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen*
   3. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald*
   4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
   5. 1984 by George Orwell
   6. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
   7. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
   8. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
   9. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
   10. Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

21. Bike to work

22. Make my family tree

23. Crochet animal amigurumi

24. Help Build a house for Habitat for humanity

25. Make Jam-slow cooked (Done, Strawberry Nectarine and Blueberry Peach!)

End of the School Year means the Beginning of Baking

 I know I haven't uploaded in while so now that I have some down time I shall combine all my projects for the past month. Schools out, and although I am sad I am also extremely relieved. I made it through my first year at Dianne Feinstein Elementary School. Now that my full time day job is on hiatus, its time for my other passion to be explored further. I have decided after numerous requests and suggestions to launch a small side business and sell the things I make. The last weeks up to the end of the school year, we had teacher appreciation week, volunteer appreciation day, birthday parties, field trips, and the culminating event of graduation. Because I was so attached and they were my first class I went all out. I made them cupcakes, both with eggs and without eggs for the one kid who had an egg allergy, cake pops in their likeness (made me question my own sanity in deciding to create,) and graduation sashes which included their names, grade, and room number (also another sanity questioning moment.) Although it was a lot of added work and stress it made me so happy to see the kids and parents's faces. Everyone was so complimentary and made me feel really appreciated. I teaching. :) Here are some of the things I made in the last month.

Mini vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting.

 Mini funfetti cupcakes with chocolate butterflies and flowers.

Chocolate covered strawberries as appreciation gifts to parents.

Ms Annie pop cake.

Room 103 pop cakes!

Room 103 pop cakes!

Graduation Sash!

Mrs. Schroff and Scout!

Happy end of the school year!