December | Presents

I was going to write a post about my thoughts on this Christmas,

but I can't find the words. 

This year's Christmas was different somehow,

but I can't figure out how to explain it.

Maybe I'll do a post on it later.

This year our presents weren't all that big,

since we mostly wished for money so we could buy new furniture

for our livingroom. 

I searched high and low for pictures of how our livingroom looked before,

but I couldn't find any.

I know I have some somewhere, 

but they're hiding from me somewhere clever.

Of course we were too eager to take a 'before' picture

when putting up the new furniture, 

so now you have to settle for the 'after' pictures.

We love how our livingroom looks now.

Normally our table isn't that fancy, 

but I had my brother, parents, in-laws, uncle+wife, and grandparents

over for coffee yesterday, since it's my birthday tomorrow.

I made lots of little cakes, and they turned out great,

although I was really worried about my gingerbread house.

It was a bit too soft, so it was slowly caving in when we put it together,

but it held!

Today is all about cleaning up and taking down the Christmas decorations,
and getting ready to celebrate New Year's Eve with good friends.

/Lea Binta

Christmas | Baking so far..

Time for a Christmas-y post after yesterday's depressing rainbow-bruise post.

Although, I do want to give you an update on the rainbow-bruise. 

It's now not nearly as rainbow-y, just very black and blue.

And it's spread,

which sort of creeps me out.

The thought of the blood continuing to seep through my arm's tissue.

Maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and my entire arm has gone black,

and then it might just suddenly give up and fall off.

Scary thought.

I'll let you know if it happens.

Now,

lovely, cheery pictures of cake! 

Yay, cake.

Maple syrup cookies:

Chocolate cupcakes with lemon frosting:

I haven't baked nearly as much as I'd like yet, 

but this week has just been crazy and it's not letting up.

Hopefully next week will have more opportunities for making Christmas goodies.

- Lea Binta

Baking | S'mores - without the mess

Okay, so obviously the weather is horrible.

Rainy.

Windy.

Cold.

Not summer-y at all.

But forget about the weather for a moment.

If I say summer. Bonfire. Late nights.

What comes to mind?

S'mores!

I love s'mores, but I always end up with marshmallow in my hair.

Not so yummy. 

I found this idea on Pinterest to make s'mores without the mess,

and it was soooo good. 

And incredibly easy.

Place marshmallows and a few chocolate chips on separate crackers.

Put them in the oven for a few minutes, until the marshmallows puff up, 

and turn light brown. 

Or dark brown, if you prefer.

WATCH THEM! It only takes a few minutes,

and when they start to get brown they really get brown FAST!

Place crackers together and gently squeeze. 

Place them in the freezer for about 5 minutes.

While they're in the freezer melt some chocolate for coating them.

Coat your crackers halfway. I had some extra chocolate and some leftover

cherries - extra snack.

Enjoy!

/Lea Binta

Baking | Soccer Cupcakes

I am so proud of the way my Denmark vs Holland cupcakes turned out,

that I decided they deserved a post of their own!

Obviously, no baking happens without my favorite

(and well, only) apron.

A couple of days ago I bought this tip in order to make grass with my icing.

And it worked like a charm! 

At least for the first cupcake.

Then, after the first cupcake, things starting going badly. 

The tip I'd bought didn't fit my piping bag, and I thought I could fix it,

but it was really complicated.

It ended up requiring tools from hubby's toolbox and several hours

of hard work.

But in the end, we managed to make it cooperate,

and this is the result:

I made the flags from fondant yesterday, and let them dry overnight.

I cheated a bit and bought the soccer balls.

I think they turned out pretty neat, and it was such a great night.

And oh, Denmark won (YAY!) in case you didn't know.. 

Who are you rooting for in this year's Euro Cup?

/Lea Binta

Baking | Chocolate cupcakes

The other night I was craving chocolate, but we didn't have any. Instead, I baked the easiest and tastiest cupcakes. 

Recipe:

100 g flour

25 g cocoa powder

150 g sugar

1½ tsp baking powder

50 g soft salted butter

125 ml milk

1 egg

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl. Add the butter and stir it until it looks like grated cheese. Add half the milk and mix until smooth. Whisk together the rest of the milk with the egg and add to the batter. Mix well. 

Bake at 175 C for 20-25 minutes. 

Icing:
250 g icing sugar
25 g cocoa powder
75 g butter
2 Tsp milk

Enjoy!

/Lea Binta

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Baking | Doughnuts

Now, I realize there have been a lot of posts about cake recently, but let me just clarify this: cake is very important part of my life. I love cake. I would eat cake all day, every day, if I could. But I wont, since I can't afford to buy new and bigger clothes all the time. Still, I eat cake regularly. Like, several times a week. And no, I wont stop. 

My brother celebrated his birthday saturday, and since he's a huge Simpsons fan we attempted to make some doughnuts. Ovenbaked. I think that was a mistake.

Some of them were quite pathetic. Another mistake.

Didn't have a cutter in the right size, so used my dad's glass - a pint is about the right size.

At this point I'm very excited and has no idea what is lying ahead of me.

Action-packed picture!

So, after decorating them they looked quite nice, but they didn't really rise in the oven at all, which is quite essential.

So yeah, nice looking, but tasted like biscuits. Next time there'll definately be some hot oil involved.

Have you made doughnuts before? And how did they turn out?

/Lea Binta

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Valentine's Day | Cake

I'm a dane, and since Valentine's Day is an American tradition, it's not something me and hubby celebrate, BUT just because we don't buy chocolate, roses and gifts for each other today doesn't mean we can't enjoy each other a bit and munch on some delicious cake.

Happy Valentine's Day!

/Lea Binta