Sweet Escapes by Jenn

Archive for November, 2010

Fire & Ice

Saturday, November 27th, 2010

Saturday morning, 4:13am… and I’m wide awake!

Just finished wrapping my order for tomorrow and packaging cookies for Sunday’s order. And preparing some items for a quickie photoshoot tomorrow morning.

I got some discounted gift certificates to Fire & Ice and we went there for dinner tonight. It was delicious! It was an interesting concept: you order your protein with the server and receive a ticket, then you get your noodles, vegetables and sauce, hand your ticket and food to the chef and they grill it right before your eyes! TA-DA!

Me, being the Asian that I am, wanted to get my bang for my buck… so I piled… PILED my plate with noodles and vegetables. I was pretty sure I left a trail of vegetables while I walked to the grill! (in my defense, they should make the plates bigger) I had Atlantic salmon and the filet mignon combo – $17.99! Their protein portions were generous and I took home 2/3s of my dinner cause I was so full.

I highly recommend it… because you will be set for lunch for the next 2 days!

Posted in Restaurants | 1 Comment »

Happy Friday Cupcake Teaser

Friday, November 26th, 2010

These are cupcakes I made for an engineering(?)/software developing(?)/computer(?) firm last Friday. The lighting’s not that great but it was way too late to care. I should really stop pulling these late nights. Anywhos, pictured here are chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting and vanilla/red velvet cupcakes with vanilla frosting.

I still can’t believe I carried the BF helped me carry (by “helped”, I mean “he did it all himself while I played Word Mole on my BlackBerry”) it all the way downtown on the subway and bus. He’s so good to me

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Wednesday, November 24th, 2010

I’m putting together a special cake that has a thousand and one details in it and… I love it!

It’s for a little boy’s one-month celebration which in the Chinese culture is a big deal. Traditionally, relatives and friends lavish the baby with gifts and money tucked in red envelopes. The parents invite everyone to a rich feast of the finest foods to celebrate the first big milestone, 4 weeks of life, or 28 days of sleep-deprivation (however you would like to look at it!). Eggs are dyed red and handed out to guests symbolizing “change” and a “happy and harmonious life”. Did I mention there will be cake?

That’s where I come in

I’m using fondant to put various details together, air-drying it and the BEST BEST PART EVER… painting it

I absolutely love painting fondant. I have different colours from red to pixie dust (that’s what it’s called) and I love how they bring an element of realism to my characters (that’s your first clue, there’s “characters” :p). Cake decorators would recommend mixing the coloured powders with vodka or a liquid with a strong alcohol base but I like to use water. I find that it works just as well

Painting my cake is the most relaxing part of my work because a) the cake is assmbled and I can relax b) if I make a mistake, it can be easily fixed and c) they make my characters come to life!

Ok, I have to get back to baking… cookies don’t bake themselves!

Posted in A Few of My Favourite Things | No Comments »

Good Life

Friday, November 19th, 2010

My kitchen table is covered with cookies, colourful boxes, spools of ribbon of every type (satin, organza, wired, 1.5″, 5/8″), scissors, tape, cookie cutters, labels, cellphane bags, business cards… you name it!

I love this time of year

I have a delivery downtown tomorrow for my biggest corporate order to date. I’m surprised I got everything done so quickly. HIGH FIVE for time management skills! *high5!*… it only took 20something years to acquire those skills but hey–some people never get it. I’m one of the lucky few.

I’m excited for tomorrow… my first day off this week. There will be no baking allowed. Maybe I’ll stop by the Distillery District or St Lawrence Market to scout out rare/interesting ingredients.

I hear it’s going to be a beautiful day

Happy Friday, everyone!

Posted in Every Day Tidbits | No Comments »

Buried in a Mountain of Cookies!

Thursday, November 18th, 2010

It’s 3:26am and I just finished baking my 12th batch of cookies and awaiting my last batch in the oven. My back aches from standing all day, I have flour all over my apron and if I were to have a cartoon thought bubble over my head, it’d have a picture of my bed!

I’m listening to a song by One Republic called “Good Life” on YouTube and it’s quickly becoming one of my favourite songs. Originally, I found the song on a wedding slideshow and fell in love with the lyrics.

The chorus goes…

“This has gotta be the good life
This has gotta be the good life
This could really be a good life
Good life”

So simple and true.

I listen to this song when I’m baking because it motivates me and reminds me that I chose this life. I chose to pursue my passion of baking. When I listen to this song in the daytime, it energizes me. But at this hour, I just want to finish up as quickly as I can.

People often ask me if I will be doing this for the rest of my life and without hesitation, I tell them “YES!” I love the creativity and the science behind baking. I love how simple ingredients and a big imagination can come together to make a beautiful cake. Above all, I love having the feeling I get when I present the finished product to the recipient. To me, it’s a passion. To them, a source of joy.

This is my good life. I chose to walk this path of fondant and buttercream. Of burnt cookies and baking late because electricity is cheaper (heh). I chose this life of making people happy and sharing my passion with them. I chose having back pains from standing so long and powdery flour all over my pink cupcake apron.

But now I’m going to pop my thought bubble and go to bed!

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Posted in Best Things in Life | No Comments »

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

It’s been a busy few days for me, baking up a storm and handing out samples to virtually everyone I meet. But that’s nothing from the ordinary. I decided to bake every other day to give myself a little break. Tonight, I took a mix latin dance class and it was exhausting but loads of fun. It was the only hour out of this month that I did not think of cookies or packaging or orders and it felt good to clear my mind so I can approach my next batch of baking rejuvenated and refreshed. Although the class was “latin”, I’m not sure if what I was doing was remotely latin… I felt like I was auditioning for a spot in the Lion King musical and failing miserably! :p

Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies
$6/box (dozen)

Perfect for oatmeal lovers. Do I really need to describe this cookie? It’s my all-time favourite cookie

Packaging
Wrapped in a clear box with a ribbon and a bow with a mini Sweet Escapes holiday card.
OR… if ordering 2 dozen, it is wrapped in a chocolate brown box with Sweet Escapes’ signature pink ribbon and white organza ribbon.

Posted in Christmas Cookies 2010 | No Comments »

Christmas Cookies II

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Hi Everyone!
Welcome to the second edition of Christmas Cookies

Peppermint Chocolate Bark
$6/box (dozen)

A creamy white chocolate and candy cane topping perfectly contrasts its milky counterpart. Inspired by President’s Choice’s chocolate-overed frozen cheesecake truffles with a crushed candy cane topping.

Packaging
Wrapped in a glossy white box with ribbon and a bow with a mini Sweet Escapes holiday card

***

Cranberry Pistachio Shortbread
$6/box (dozen)

This citrus-scented shortbread is the poster cookie of the holiday season with its festive specks of red cranberry and green pistachios. The sugar crystals give these cookies a twinkle and a big crunch. If anything this season screams, “Happy Holidays!”… it’s this one here!

Packaging
Wrapped in a clear box with ribbon and a bow with a mini Sweet Escapes holiday card

***

Lemon Cognac Shortbread
$6/box (two dozen)

This crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth shortbread is true to its name. With a hint of lemon and Cognac, there is two dozen in every box because it is that addictive!

Packaging
Wrapped in a clear box with ribbon and a bow with a mini Sweet Escapes holiday card

***

HOW TO ORDER:
1. Click the “CONTACT” tab at the top.
2. Fill out your name, e-mail address and your order in the following format…

___ Cookie Name
___ # of boxes
___ Total Cost
___ Date needed
___ Delivery/Pick-up

A $10 delivery fee is added to orders under $50
Orders $50+ are FREE.
Pick-up location is in Markham.

A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you within 24 hours.

For easy reference, click the ”Christmas Cookies 2010” link under “Past Sweets” on the sidebar.

Posted in Christmas Cookies 2010 | No Comments »

Christmas Cookies I

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Happpppy Friday!

I’d like to introduce to you the first edition of “Christmas Cookies 2010″… Toffee Nut Bars!

I had no intention to include BARS in this year’s cookie line-up but when I took my first bite of this deceptively indulgent little number, my heart melted. And I was sold.

Name: Toffee Nut Bar
Price: $6/box (dozen)
Packaging: Wrapped in a red box with ribbon and a bow with a mini Sweet Escapes holiday card attached.
Description: This buttery graham crumb crust is embraced by a thin layer of toffee, topped with Belgian dark chocolate and finished with toasted nuts (which includes: almonds, pecans, walnuts and cashews).

***

HOW TO ORDER:
1. Click the “CONTACT” tab at the top.
2. Fill out your name, e-mail address and your order in the following format…

___ Cookie Name
___ # of boxes
___ Total Cost
___ Date needed
___ Delivery/Pick-up

A $10 delivery fee is added to orders under $50
Orders $50+ are FREE.
Pick-up location is in Markham.

A confirmation e-mail will be sent to you within 24 hours.

For easy reference, click the ”Christmas Cookies 2010” link under “Past Sweets” on the sidebar.

Posted in Christmas Cookies 2010 | No Comments »

Excitement is brewing… :)

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

My heart beats faster when I think about how wonderful my house will be this holiday season with batches of cookies being baked, decorated and wrapped.

The best things in life… cupcakes and bacon strips at a cocktail party. It doesn’t get cuter than that! (image from Cakespy)

Posted in Best Things in Life | No Comments »

My Culinary Quest for Inspiration…

Monday, November 8th, 2010

… in downtown Toronto!

It was a gorgeous weekend and I took advantage of the clear skies and a lazy Sunday afternoon by browsing gourmet and organic grocery shops. On the agenda? Pusateri’s (@ Bay/Yorkville) and Whole Foods Market (@ Hazelton Lanes).

Pusateri’s has an amazing pastry display that will render anyone speechless and indecisive. All of their pastries are outsourced to local bakeries that deliver every day, keeping their display complete and fresh. If there is a specialty cake or flavour you’re looking for, chances are that you will find it there! When I used to work for Dufflet as a marketing consultant, the strategy we used of filling the display case with a wide selection of colourful pastries was not only for visual appeal but to overwhelm the customer, influencing their psychological side. When customers experience that “WOW” feeling, studies show that they are likely to purchase more than they had intended to.

DID YOU KNOW… that I used to work for Pusateri’s? I made dulce de leche cheesecakes and flourless chocolate cakes for them back in 2005. There was no greater feeling of accomplishment than after working a long shift and seeing your masterpiece in the display–like a little kid’s parents posting their artwork on the refrigerator door.

Fun times.

Posted in City Sweets, Inspiration | No Comments »