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Last month, I was invited to visit Hershey's Headquarters and Linda Stahl, and to hang out with some pretty fabulous bloggers, called by Hershey's as the Baker's Dozen.
Part of the of the visit was to create our own recipes using Hershey's products, when I returned home. Kelly and I put our heads together and thought about what would be a lot of fun and festive; we always like to create recipes and tutorials that are original and creative, of course!
One of my favorite recipes we at baking911.com created was our Candy Cane Fairy Cookies!
During my visit, I became inspired about working with candy and chocolate to decorate with, after watching volunteers from China put together an entire Christmas house made from Hershey's brand products. So, I thought it would be fun to develop a baking recipe using candy to share with you!
The Hershey's holiday candy house.
Chinese students working on the house.
The chocolate candy walkway leading to the house.
Chocolate and candy ornaments hung in the trees with the house!HAPPY HOLIDAYS! From all of us to you!
P.S. Some tips about working with chocolate!Disclaimer: Compensation and products for review were provided by Hershey's. I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review and to facilitate a giveaway. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hershey's.
Photos and baking911.com recipes Copyright © 2012 Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips, Inc. All rights reserved. -
Last month, I was invited to visit Hershey's Headquarters with Linda Stahl, and to hang out with some pretty fabulous bloggers, called by Hershey's as the Baker's Dozen: Naomi from Baker's Royale, Karly from Buns in My Oven, Julie from The Little Kitchen, Bridget from Bake at 350, Lindsay and Taylor from Love and Olive Oil, Shelly from Cookies & Cups, Susan from Doughmesstic, Jessica from The Novice Chef, Meaghan from The Decorated Cookie, Liz from Hoosier Homemade, and Courtney from Pizzazzerie!
On my way to Hershey's Headquarters
We stayed at the Hershey Hotel, made our own Hershey's chocolate candy bar, went chocolate shopping, chocolate tasting from around the world, filmed and photographed our projects at Hershey's Test Kitchens, and had a fun cookie exchange party!
Hershey's Hotel
Making my own Hershey's chocolate candy bar!
Hershey's chocolate shopping!
Chocolate tasting from around the world!
Filmed and photographed my project at Hershey's Test Kitchens!
Filmed and photographed my project at Hershey's Test Kitchens!
Fun cookie baking exchange party!
And, of course, what do you do when you go the Hershey's? Of course, you eat and drink chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate - in everything possible.
Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Hershey's Baking Melts Fudgey Brownies Recipe
Part of the of the visit was to create our own recipes using Hershey's products, when I returned home. Kelly and I put our heads together and thought about what would be a lot of fun and festive; we always like to create recipes and tutorials that are original and creative, of course!
We at baking911.com decided to create:
Spritz Cookie Trees Recipe
Chocolate Chip and Heath Bar Biscotti Recipe
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! From all of us to you!P.S. Some tips about working with chocolate!
Disclaimer: Compensation and products for review were provided by Hershey's. I received a free sample of the product for the purpose of this review and to facilitate a giveaway. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hershey's. The recipe is copyright 2012 baking911.com, Sarah Phillips, Inc.Photos and baking911.com recipes Copyright © 2012 Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips, Inc. All rights reserved.
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I had the opportunity to attend an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony featured by illy Coffee as part of their free Welcome Park at the New York Food and Wine Festival in New York City, and take photos for my Instagram account, @food. The event was hosted by one of my favorite chefs, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, a true innovator in the culinary world.
Sarah Phillips, CEO, baking911.com (left) with Chef Marcus Samuelsson (right)
Chef Marcus Samuelsson (right) discovering Monoarabica illy Coffee blends at their Welcome Park at The New York Food and Wine Festival.
The illy Monoarabica blended coffee beans hail from Guatemala, Brazil and Ethiopia.
Photo by Sarah Phillips © 2012 Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips, Inc. Taken with an iphone.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson's mixed culinary history is rooted in his parents and relatives in Ethiopia, and his adopted family in Sweden. Although he was primarily raised in Sweden, Chef Samuelsson explained that the coffee ceremony is an integral part of the social and cultural life in Ethiopia; that an invitation to attend a coffee ceremony is considered a mark of friendship or respect and is an excellent example of Ethiopian hospitality.
Photo by Sarah Phillips © 2012 Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips, Inc. Taken with an iphone.
One young woman, dressed in the traditional Ethiopian costume of a white dress with colored woven borders, usually conducts the ceremony. The washed coffee beans are then roasted in a flat pan over a tiny charcoal stove or open fire (left, background). That, and the pungent smell scent of incense (foreground) that is always burned during the ceremony, fills the air. The ceremonial tools used are laid out on a thick bed of long scented grasses. More.
Photo by Sarah Phillips © 2012 Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips, Inc. Taken with an iphone.
Chef Samuelsson serving Ethiopian flatbread.At baking911.com, we are fond of using coffee in baking and cooking, both sweet and savory. Coffee, a liquid ingredient, or instant espresso powder and instant coffee granules, are an acidic ingredient and have a unique flavor of their own. Coffee is often used to enhance chocolate and other flavors.
Did you know? The U.S. is the world’s biggest coffee consuming nation in terms of absolute volume (Brazil, for the record, is the biggest producer). But, coffee is popular around the world, and during its journey, there are remarkable differences in its preparation and consumption habits.
Our Italian Sponge Cake or Pan di Spagna Espresso Tiramisu Recipe is an example of using espresso coffee to flavor a traditional Italian dessert.
We use espresso coffee to flavor the Italian Meringue Buttercream in our French Hazelnut Almond Mocha Dacquoise Meringue Cake Recipe. Chocolate covered espresso beans help decorate the top of the cake.
Again, espresso intensely flavors our American Whole Wheat Angel Food Cake Recipe, with its soft nutty texture.
A New Orleans favorite, Cafe Brulot is a flamed, spiced, and brandy-spiked coffee beverage served in the best restaurants (and homes) of New Orleans. The flavors remind me of the holiday season, and they are transformed into our luscious Cafe Brulot Chiffon Pie Recipe.
Enjoy our other baking recipes using "coffee" or "espresso", by searching baking911.com using those keywords.
Photos Copyright © 2012 Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Labor Day is coming Monday, September 3, and we will partake in lots of potluck events during the weekend before.
I am starting to plan what I will bake.
The best and most delicious dessert recipe I have made so far this summer is our newest one - the Nectarine and Peach Cobbler Potluck Pie Recipe. It feeds a crowd, can stay at room temperature and is sure to please. The cream cheese in the crust makes it tender and tangy, and when coupled with the generous sweet filling, makes a perfect ending to any meal. It cuts beautifully and can be eaten out of hand! You can make it with any fruit filling or even a crumb topping, so recipe variations are no problem if you want to bake a few.
The Frosted Fresh Cherry Cake Recipe is always welcomed. It, too, can be baked with any type of fruit if you don't have cherries, and is moist and pleasing with a cup of iced coffee or tea. The Tami's Perfect Buttercream Frosting - Not as Sweet Variation I have paired it with goes perfectly; it is slightly tangy, creamy and fluffy, and not as heavy as cream cheese icing, and can stay at room temperature, so you need not worry about refrigeration. Plus, it always looks so pretty on a Potluck table.
The Neapolitan Cakes in Jars Recipe contributes whimsy to any tablescape! Kids love the white, chocolate and strawberry cakes that are baked together. The tri-colored frosting swirls are so playful and especially scrumptious!
Freshly baked pound cake is always well received at any event. I have two recipes I am especially fond of the Cream Cheese Pound Cake Recipe and the Toasted Pound Cake with Grapefruit and Vanilla Curd Recipe. Either one goes so well with any meal.
And, who doesn't love cookies, pies and more recipes of all sorts?
I think there's a lot to think (and dream) about.
What will you be baking for the holiday weekend?
Copyright © 2012 Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips, Inc. All rights reserved. -
Lots of chefs buy fresh produce from farmers but at Riverpark Restaurant, in New York City, Chef Sisha Ortuzar employs one to tend to 165 kinds of vegetables and herbs just outside this Tom Colicchio restaurant.
Photos taken with my iphone by Sarah Phillips © 2012 Sarah Phillips, baking911.com
Note the famed Empire State Building in the background.Growing amid the skyscrapers and noisy streets of New York City, the lush Riverpark Farm at Alexandria Center™, a large office complex, is New York City’s 15,000-square-foot “most urban farm.”
Located at the end of East 29th Street in Kip’s Bay, overlooking the East River, plants are grown on recycled milk crates.
The food is innovative and delicious - and, of course, the produce is very fresh! It's truly "farm to table" because the produce is picked and eaten on the same day.
Watermelon with merken and lime
Pulled Pork Chilaquiles, Nixtamal tortillas, guajillo, fried egg, and pickled onions
Smoked trout cake, grilled peaches, watercress, cipollini onions, balsamic vinaigrette
And, last but not least, Beignets with Fresh Berry Sauce!Copyright © 2012 Sarah Phillips Sarah Phillips, Inc. All rights reserved.
