Cakesicles?

If you've been following my blog, you probably read about the Oreo Truffles I made about a month ago, after discovering the recipe from Bakerella...one of my favorite food blogs! One of her other confectionary wonders is cake pops, or basically cake balls on a stick! It's a cute one-serving finger-food alternative to a cupcake, and will help that sweet tooth craving without all of the regret you might have after surrendering to the oh-that-slice-of-birthday-cake-is-too-big-but-I'll-take-it-anyway scenario, which usually ends with an empty plate! (I've been there...many, many times). According to Dallasnews.com on September 10, 2008, cake balls have jumped on the trend train along with cupcakes.

Julie was ambitious enough to make them this weekend for her niece's birthday party...one of the many tots that loves Dora the Explorer these days..thus the wrapping on the base! According to Julie, "They were a hit! The longest part of the process was waiting for the cake balls to solidify [in the refrigerator before I could dip them]." Basically, the recipe is similar to the Oreo Truffles (with crushed cookies and cream cheese to hold the "batter" together), but here you actually bake a box-mix cake, and once it cools, crumble it, mix in frosting, spoon the "batter" into round balls, refrigerate, insert sticks to create the pops, then dip in chocolate or candy coating. Julie even bought a piece of foam that she covered in party-themed wrapping, then stuck the sticks in the base for display! (also easy for transport). Take a look at the Bakerella-inspired recipe here. *Photo courtesy of Julie

Local cake ball baker: Cakes by Bridges! Her cake balls are absolutely beautiful, and when I received an email about them, I wanted to bite into one immediately! Support a local baker and order these as an alternative to a box of chocolates next time you need a hospitality gift or are entertaining a classy crowd! Please comment if you have tasted them...I personally have not, but it's on my list!

*photo from cakesbybridges.com

Thank you, Denver...Oreo Truffles and Free Tours!

*Check out my food fotography by clicking on this picture. Photo by Rebecca Otis

I decided to knock another city off of my "To-Go" list, and went to visit my cousin, Dana, in late January. I, of course, chose to go in the winter, despite the usual cold weather. I was lucky, and was able to explore Denver and Boulder with 60-degree and sunny days! While I was there, Dana and I discovered the many shared qualities we have, which proves that we're related, although we only see eachother about once a year! One of these qualities, is the desire to entertain, and our love for being creative in the kitchen. Dana introduced me to one of my favorite food recipe blogs, Bakerella, where she found a recipe for Oreo Truffles that I helped make for her Super Bowl party on the day I was leaving. They looked so fabulous, I decided to try them for a Potluck Shabbat that I attend once a month. They were a hit! The Potluck organizer and Tasty Touring food blogger, Jodi, was kind enough to feature them on her blog!

Recipe Recommended for: a fun, easy, and looks-fancy-but-is-not dessert recipe, try this:

Oreo Truffles, Adapted from bakerella.blogspot.com (January 2008)

Ingredients
1 package oreo cookies (divided....Use cookie including the cream center)
1 8oz. package cream cheese (softened)

White chocolate and milk chocolate bark (it is often called "coating chocolate" for candy making)

Directions
1. Finely crush 7 cookies in a food processor or place them in a ziploc bag and crush into a fine consistency. Reserve for later.
2. Crush remaining cookies and stir in softened cream cheese. Use the back of a large spoon to help mash the two together.
3. Roll the mixture into 1" balls and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet. (if you stick these in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes, they are easier to dip)
4. Melt chocolate as directed on the package or double boil chocolate and remove to a bowl that is deep enough for dipping to avoid burnt chocolate.
5. Dip balls into chocolate (using a toothpick or metal skewer would work best to get the balls fully coated), tap off extra and set aside on wax paper covered cookie sheet to dry. You can sprinkle the tops with the 7 crushed cookies for decoration or use the opposite color of the dipping chocolate to drizzle on the top for decoration.
6. Once dry, refrigerate and enjoy!Makes about 36 truffles.

Challenge: Try making these as mint oreo truffles using the same recipe with mint oreos!

Denver Recommendations: While in Denver, we made a stop at the Coor's Brewery in Golden, CO, for a free tour that ended in 3 complimentary tasting beers of your choice. One of our favorites was the refreshing Blue Moon with an orange slice in it that we toasted with in the tasting room. Also, we had a fabulous brunch at Lucille's Creole Cafe, with a "Creole menu and the restaurant's goals of becoming the nation's premier brunch restaurant."

Boulder Recommendations. If you know me, you know that I love tea, and even have my own teapot collection (yes, another hobby) from my travel adventures, even though I don't have enough room to display them all in my apartment! One of the highlights of my trip was the Celestial Seasonings tea factory tour, which is also a free tour and a fabuous tourist attraction, complete with tea tastings, and a few minutes in the all-consuming mint room that definitely cleared my sinuses :) Of course, at the end of the tour, I made a stop at the gift shop to add to my teapot collection with a souvenir that will always remind me of my first trip to Colorado!

Why "The Rebeccammendations"?

Since collecting hobbies is my ultimate hobby, I was just uploading pictures of my latest kitchen creation (hamantashen) to Flickr, a photo-sharing website, where I post my photography, and realized I didn't have another avenue through which to share these pictures. I decided to combine all of my interests into this blog, with a focus on the art of entertaining others and yourself! I had some friends in town this weekend, and often have family coming to visit me and my younger sis, Allyson, who also lives in Austin, and am usually the restaurant reservation maker and adjuster (I always make dinner reservations for 7:30 PM to avoid crabby and hungry family members, and never fails, we always push them to 8 PM because no one is ready in time)! So, I will try to use this blog to provide my "Rebeccammendations" on restaurants, Austin sites to see, even top spots from my travel adventures, music, crafty ideas, and of course, recipes for all occasions! And, I'll try to incorporate my photography to give you a visual of these ideas as I go along. I hope these "Rebeccammendations" help you plan and entertain for any event!

Also, feel free to comment and ask for "Rebeccammendations" when you're in a bind, and I'll try to help!

Purimtashen!

This year I decided to make Hamantashen for Purim this year, even though this was all I did to celebrate! Julie, my resourceful and giving older sister, sent me an easy recipe just in time for the holiday! It had only 4 ingredients, so I was ready to bake disaster-free! If you feel like replicating these delicious treats for Purim, or just for fun, see the recipe below! *Photos by Rebecca Otis-click on pictures to link to Flickr.

Ingredients (for 6-8 hamantaschen - but we made way more!)
1. 1 package (3 oz) Philly Cream Cheese, softened
2. 1 cube (1/4 lb) unsalted butter, softened
3. 1 cup flour, sifted (*NOTE: I needed to use lots of flour to make the dough less sticky, and added extra before rolling out on the parchment paper after refrigerating)
4. 1/3 cup sugar
5. Filling of your choice (apricot's the best, really)
6. Parchment paper

Directions
1. Cream the above ingredients
2. Chill in the fridge for at least an hour, overnight is fine too!
3. Roll 1/4 in thick on lightly floured waxed paper
4. Use a 3 or 4 in circle cookie cutter
5. 1 teaspoon of filling on each circle
6. Pinch into triangles!
7. Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper
8. Bake in preheated over 350 - top rack 15-20 minutes
9. Bite into and enjoy!