Coffee Hearts and Heartfelt Cakes

Hi Guys!!!

And welcome back!!! It's Monday again and despite the busy weekend, I finally had a Sunday off!!! It's no surprise that I woke up well rested and even managed to make it to my dance class. As usual, coffee is my lovable companion on this sunny day, and while I'm stuck with the odious duty of revising bills and fixing costs, it's just one of those days that nothing can bring you down! Today, I feel on top of the world and I live for days like this. 

My Valentine's Day coffee run was heartfelt and warm

Before I continue with the busy baking week I had, I want to say thank you to a dear friend all the way in India who sent me a beautiful Christmas Card and I received it last week!!! Thank you Kanika!!! You made my week! The shining star is sure to decorate my mini tree this coming Christmas!!!

I was over-the-top excited!!! This was such a sweet gesture!!!

And guess what? Copa Cafe got a makeover!!! Unfortunately for my partners, I wasn't able to stay to the very end of it, but it was a great job!!! 

If you know any great coffee or wine quotes, let me know!

The bar was also given an amazing boost with a beautiful ivy and vine decor. It gives life to our board and makes it far more attractive than it was. What do you think?

For some reason, I find it romantic.

But let us get back to the kitchen. I keep on mentioning that I lack equipment, and more importantly, an oven. While the oven we have works perfectly fine, I need an industrialized convection oven. I often lose precious time waiting for something to be done in order to bake something right after. Not only do I use more energy and electricity, but the time that could be saved baking several things at the same time would be extraordinary! I'd be able to bake more, or use the time to research and even give my fascinating (:p) blog the attention it deserves. SO, as Valentine's Day approached, orders poured in. I was a bit stressed with them, as I needed to have a detailed time plan. I managed to complete them all, in 11 hours. I was dead tired, but very happy with all the results. The menu in general was not the least varied and I took as long as I did, because I kept "recycling" my pans. Again...I need more equipment. I made Red Velvet Cupcakes, Red Velvet Brownies, Mocha Fudge Brownies, Banana Bread, Sugar Cookies and Tres Leches. 

Some of the goodies ready to be delivered

By 11 on Friday, all the baked goods were delivered and I returned home promptly to continue baking. I had orders to fill in for the cafe. I finished them quickly and by 4 in the afternoon, I was back at the coffee shop, enjoying a well deserved caffeine boost. But time was short and in no time, I was back home...again....facing my oven...again. I managed, only God knows how, to complete 3 cake orders in 2 hours. By then, I was running late for a wine night with the girls. Alas, for me, the night ended quicker than I anticipated. I was much too tired to carry on and I had to rise early (yes...on Saturday) to finish off yet another batch of cake orders. It has been the longest and shortest day of my life. There is absolutely no logical way to explain the contradiction I felt on Saturday. My body was running on auto-pilot. At 8 in the evening, I finally got to relax. 

I had loads of fun decorating these beauties

I didn't realize how tired I really was. I slept a little over 12 hours and woke up groggy but rested on a sunny Sunday morning. Unlike the past weekends, Sunday was quiet and no baking took place. I enjoyed my daily morning coffee with Sherlock re-runs (I LOVE Benedict Cumberbatch), ate a lovely Curry chicken for lunch and visited grandma in the late afternoon. Dinner included savory and sweet crepes and back to bed it was for me. 

Aren't they beautiful?

And it's close to being Tuesday now. I finished my baking duties about an hour ago and new on the menu you'll find a Chai Cheesecake, a spongy Apple Spice Cake, more Red Velvet Brownies and hopefully later on this week an Orange Blackberry Cheesecake. I hope you all had a tranquil Monday and I wish you the best for the rest of the week!!!

Until next time.

xxx

Think Back Tuesdays...

Hi Guys!!!

And welcome back!!! It's been gloriously, sunny Tuesday. On retrospect, I imagine I could have accomplished more during the beautiful, shining hours (don't get me wrong, my baking duties didn't disappear). But I did have an epiphany, a life's realization, that I have not been living in the moment. Life feels dulls in those precious seconds, when you realize that perhaps you haven't been living up to your potential. Thankfully, they last only that...seconds. I guess there's still tomorrow to start. How mediocre...hahaha 

My daily fuel :)

Apart from the insightful thoughts of my life so far, I have yet to understand why on Earth it takes me close to two weeks to update my blog. Lately that is. I used to live for my Mondays, on which I would recount the adventures in my kitchen, travels and food discoveries. These days, all I look forward is to my coffee, some shuteye and a little quiet. When did I become the old lady I always feared I would become... I suppose I've always been. Try as I may, my "in-a-minute's" went from "later!" to "I'll try again tomorrow".  Except that THAT specific tomorrow never comes. 

But alas, I digress, for here we are again.

The Heavenly Raspberry Roulade about to be rolled

Trying to mix things up a little in the kitchen, I tried out two different raspberry flavored desserts: a lovely Cheesecake Brownie with a Raspberry Topping and A Heavenly Raspberry Meringue Roulade. With Valentine's Day coming up, and people freaking out with red and pink and white motifs, I decided to join in the craziness and added a little more pink into the fridge. It's not that big of a change, but they have received positive reviews; a little something, for which I am thankful for. I also broke all records, I believe, for putting off making school related desserts since I graduated. Last week, I made, for the first time since 2012, a FRAISIER. I know! I know! I am utterly embarrassed! Having said that, I am even more embarrassed to admit that I will never, EVER, get the hang of proper folding. I hate it. My genoise brought shame to every sponge cake ever made. Why? Well, apart from the evident lumps of flour and over beating, I, of course, let it dry out; which resulted in a flat bread. Still tasted yummy...Mortifying, but yummy. And, it looked pretty. Sort of...from the sides.  I'll have to go through crates of eggs before I even come close to correcting my folding. I guess practice does make perfect.

I feel guilty posting the horrible genoise

It was a grey sky kinda Thursday last week, the day I should have blogged about stupid stuff like now...just my kind of day...and while my baking duties were not required at the time, I enjoyed a rare moment of peace and solitude with a warm cup of my favorite drink (yes, you guessed it: coffee), watching what has become one of my favorite movies in the past years: One Fine Day. When I have those "I hate the world!" kind of days, this movie cheers me right up...because God knows I would never have survived a day like Michelle Pfieffer's in that movie. HAHAHAHAHA.

Returning to my culinary chronicles, I've been overly analytical on deciphering a way to transfer my mental dessert projects into concrete ones. I already have enough of a hard time dealing with procrastination in order to actually move my butt and get to the baking works. (Answer these out to kill some time!!!) My motivation is running at its all-time low and I bake because I have to. It's my job ... So how do I get back on track? Any bright ideas out there? If you have any...I'd truly appreciate the input. Step one: Quit StumbleUpon addiction.

I do wish to bring something different to the table, so I'm hoping my free periods of the day   pay off this week. I can't promise anything. Except a picture of the Heavenly Raspberry Roulade and the Cheesecake Brownies...for next week that is! I'll post recipes again soon!!!

Good night and have a great week!!!

Until next time!!!
xx