RWood

I’ve had a Breville Barista Express since about 2015. Grinder has always been iffy. It was a struggle with some coffee to get a decent pull. So, I took the plunge and got a Niche Duo and an Ascaso Steel Duo. It’s been a learning curve, but I pulled a really nice shot today with Verve’s 1950 blend. Still got some more experimenting and adjustments I think, but an overall really happy with the upgrade.

I have a couple things I use it for as well. But, Dulcey won't be the same. I'll have to eek out the 1/2 bag I have left.

Thanks! Well, that sucks. I love that stuff 😕

Thanks! I colored some white chocolate with Colour Mill Raspberry oil color and pipped them on.

Finished up Valentine's (early! Yay!) Flavors: Tiramisu, Raspberry Pinot, Strawberry, Orelys, Raspberry Caramels, Dulcey with Hazelnut Crunch, Passion Fruit

Yeah, me either. No, the room was probably 68-70F. They sat for a couple of hours, then I went to check on them and they have those fine cracks. Only this mold. I have another two of this mold that I did a few days before, and I don’t see any cracks.

My thought is too thin this time. I used Valrhona Satilia, and it’s very fluid. I tried leaving the chocolate in a little longer so it would be thicker. Still seem thinner than I’m used to.

So, any ideas what would cause these fine cracks in only this particular mold? I had it happen the last time I used them, and I thought I maybe flexed the mold or something, but I know I didn’t in this last batch. Not all of them break like the other photo, but no other shape I have does this.

As long as you get it crunchy, I like it.

Crispy tofu sandwich with cilantro slaw and avo. Trying for more veg options for my mother. Wasn’t bad, might need a little more spicy in it next time.

Had enough left ☺️

Orange Olive Oil Cake with cranberry curd. Came out better than I thought. Was gonna gripe at America’s Test Kitchen because the layers seemed wonky.

Finally got all the chocolates done. I have 15-12 piece boxes filled, plus extra if I forgot anyone. Espresso Pecan Dark Hazelnut Salted Caramel Passion Fruit Peanut Butter Peppermint

Sorry ☺️

Quick birthday cake for my moms friend. Shooting for a winter, snow drift theme since it’s December.

This year it will be lasagne, salad, garlic bread and tiramisu or a yule log. I put my foot down for Thanksgiving and made other people do some of the work. I'll have to make the lasagne and dessert, but the rest is up for grabs. We decided to have a nice quiet Christmas Eve dinner for just me, my mom, my cousin and my dad. I'm looking at a ribeye roast, my aunt's au gratin potatoes and not sure what else yet. This way the chaos of my prima Donna cousin and the out of control grandkids of my other cousin can be whatever it is. We can be civilized the night before. I'm trying to get chocolates done, along with a few other gifts. Cocoa Bomb shells are done, just need the cocoa mix and marshmallows made. I need to get two boxes in the mail to CA in the next week. The decorations are almost all up, and we have one trip to Orlando to see Mark Tremonti sing Christmas, then three days later to Birmingham to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra. I'll be glad when it's over 😵‍💫, I'm already tired.

At our house as usual. But I made other people do some of the work. Turkey, cornbread dressing, Hasselback sweet potatoes, my grandmothers cranberry relish, my aunt’s fried okra/squash combo, Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes. I made gravy from ATK no drippings gravy. Was really tasty. Dessert was almond torte with cherry compote and crispy almonds. No one really likes pumpkin here 🤷‍♀️.

Rigatoni with pancetta, asparagus, garlic, browned butter, chili and pine nuts. Was so good!

Arugula, gold beet and burrata salad. I got a new bottle of Clementine olive oil I used for the dressing. Red onions and walnuts too.

Our last hurrah for the summer. Supposed to drop to 28F in a couple of nights. Got the Ooni out and made pizza with pesto, castelvetrano olives, artichoke hearts. Topped with burrata and arugula and basil with lemony dressing. So good!

Halloween Chocolates Skull-Coconut Zombie Eye-Pistachio Pumpkin-Salted Caramel Frank-“Cookie Dough”

Got a few Halloween cookies done.

Spanakopita, didn’t get a photo before diving in 🤷‍♀️. Had a lot of spinach to use up.

Breast Cancer Awareness Cookies. My mom wanted me to make them so she could give them to the people at the cancer center here.

Rye Chocolate Chip Cookies. Part rye flour, rye whiskey, lots of vanilla, toasted pecans and some sea salt. Tried Aldi chocolate chunks. Tasty!