New Blog

Hey everyone, I've moved my blog to BettyesOven.wordpress.com
For everyone who reads this , whether they follow or not, I appreciate it
and I appreciate the support.!

Twitter!

So I know that everyone has been obsessed with Twitter & "Tweeting" lately. 
So I decided to make one and see what all the fuss was.  Day 1 of Twitter  and I'm already following 19 .lol



Twitter.com/BettyesOven
Follow Me ;)

Wishlist :)

There are a lot of things that I have been wanting to try , but didn't have the materials or supplies =/


1. Kitchen Aid Mixer
***2. A 3 tier cupcake tin


*3. Pastry Tongs


4.Cake Turntable


***5.Cupcake & Cake Courier
6.Cake Stand With Cover
**7.Gumpaste Molds (Flowers,Babies,Roses,etc)


**8.Fancy Cupcake Liners


9.Cake Boxes

**10.Cupcake Boxes


*11. Cupcake Molds


12.Edible transfer Images for cakes


13. Different Flavorings





GOOOOSH SO MANY THINGS ,  I'll leave it at that for now .  Hopefully I'll be able to check some of those off soon!!

Chocolate Chip Cookie (Cupcake) dipped in Ganache.

This is a chocolate chip cookie that I just put in a cupcake tin.  After I let it cool I heated the melt away chocolates in a double broiler and I dipped the top in it.   I put a scoop of double vanilla ice cream and macaroon crumbs on top.  Very yummy! ;)

After Party Cupcakes!?! Chocolate Cupcakes w/ courvoisier chocolate frosting, n courvoisier ganache filling

I DID NOT DRINK THE ALCOHOL. (pinky promise) .

Art Institute Mishap :(

So I just recently got off the phone with my financial aid adviser at the Art Institute of California-Los Angeles.  After my mom talking to them, I realize that by the time I am done with my 3rd year there, even if I get full financial aid (which I'm sure I wont)  I will be ATLEAST 75,000 in the hole.  I feel sooooo discouraged. I don't even know where to begin looking for a new school but no worries, I'll figure something out.

When I grow up , I want to be a 50's housewife!

Decided to take a different approach with the cherries. :)..   This is a Cherry cheesecake Tart, I made them in a cupcake Tin ,Very fast & easy to do.  Before I poured the cheesecake mixture in the cups , I lined the bottom of the cup with mashed up vanilla wafers to form a crust.  Then Baked it.

The end..

Back to the cooking.!

So I'm FINALLY back from LA,  a much needed vacation :).

As soon as I woke up I had the urge to cook something but I just couldn't figure out what.
I decided I was going to make a cherry pie , using betty crockers pie crust recipe & a can of cherries.  I would like to ,someday, do a challenge for myself, just to add a little excitement!,   where once a week someone tells me what their favorite food is and I make it.  No shortcuts , & then I'll post whether it was a success or failure.  I need more followers first though . lol   ( :  .

SO TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT ME!   :) ..
but until then ,  Cherry Pie it is . ..

xoxo.

Cha's Senior Prom

Lately I haven't been doing any serious baking.  My Sisters prom was last Saturday so I was helping out with that.  I made cupcakes for my best friends champagne party which was the same day. ( champagne party is a party some people have, mostly in LA and they help the people get ready for prom and everything).  For my best friend I made chocolate mint cupcakes, which were a hit! , unfortunately I didn't get any pictures.  I made a cake for my sister but due to my moms crazy driving the whole top layer of the cake slid off.  So it ended up being a snack while waiting for my sisters hair to be done.  Overall GREAT weekend.  My sister looked soo gorgeous!
p.s ( we're twins )

my attempt at basketball cupcakes

Apple Cupcakes

Flaky Apple Pie

This I made really quick.  The apples are cooked in butter, brown sugar, lemon juice & a little all spice (couldnt find my nutmeg & cinnamon).  I cooked it until it all melted and soft then I added flour to thicken it.  Not a good idea. My nana says that if you're going to add flour for a thickener, do it while everythings cold so there are no lumps.  I did manage to get all the lumps out & covered it so the apples could soften.  I layed a few sheets of phyllo dough on the bottow of the pan (butter between each layer)and then tucked a few on top and tried to ruffle them as best as I could.  It tasted great. The lemon in it just gave it a different taste to apple pie that I wasn't used to.  I would definitely try this again!

Long Journey to Food 4 less :)

So yesterday I told my Nana that I wanted to learn how to make greens. So after our trip to Michaels ,we stopped at Food 4 Less and picked up some Collards,turkey neck/wings & ham hocks & fresh Tilapia.  I grabbed a few apples & peaches as well so I could make a fresh apple pie and peach cobbler.  When we get home I felt like I was a little kid ..watching her every mood and asking a million questions.  So now I would say I am a certified greens expert! (not really) but I will be :)  .. We coated the fish in corn meal and seasoning , and fried them.  When everything was done we cooked us a sweet potato and made our plates.  EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! Might of been the best I've ever had?   hmmm  , (sorry mom, have to give credit to the original) 

Trip to Michaels

Heres Everything I got :

1. Cake comb
2. Bucket (yes bucket) of Wilton's white decorating frosting
3. measuring cups & spoons 
4. paint brushes  (small size)
5. chocolate cup mold
6. Wilton's butter cream frosting mix
7. Candy Melts (white and milk chocolate)
8. Wilton Practice Board (for icing)
9. cake leveler
10. Stickers that say "Home Made"
11. Wilton's Designer pattern press set
12. Edible Markers

phewww!  and food 4 less was right next door.  :)

Mixed Berry Tart

This was very easy to do.
I saw it on the Pillsbury website.
All you need is a can of crescent roll biscuits , some vanilla pudding mix & pie filling & some fresh or frozen mixed berries.


I took chunks of the dough rolled it in a ball then rolled it out with a glass jar (cant find rolling pin) and put them in my Texas sized cupcake tin. I flattened the dough on the bottom, then smushed it up the sides to form a cup.  I cooked it for 8 minutes when I took it out it was all puffed up & looked nothing like a cup, so I got a small measuring spoon flattened the bottom and sides to reform the cups and cooked it for 5 more mintues. Let it cool then added the pudding & put it in the fridge.  After that I got my frozen mixed berries . sprinkled them with sugar put them in the microwave for like 10 seconds added more sugar then put them on top of the pudding.

Double Vanilla Cupcakes With Lavender Buttercream Frosting

Cupcakes:
3 cups of flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
12 tbs (3/4) cup of unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 lg eggs
1 1/4 cups milk
2 tsp vanilla ( I didn't measure)

Preheat oven to 350.   In a medium bowl mix dry ingredients throughly.  In a mixing bowl beat sugar and butter until fluffy. Then add eggs 1 at a time.  Then beat in vanilla.  (I did about 1/4 cup of double strength vanilla , you'd do better eye balling it) .  after you've done that beat in dry ingredients slowly.  (a little at a time).  Until thoroughly mixed.  Make sure to scrape the sides in between mixing.  Fill cups half full (batter will be somewhat thick). & Bake for 12 minutes.



Frosting:
I started out making a regular buttercream frosting

you need 1 cup of butter, softened
1 cup of granulated sugar
4 tbs of all purpose flour
1 cup of milk
1 tsp vanilla extract (once again , I used more)
1 tbs crushed lavender
red food coloring
blue food coloring
purple sugar crystals

The first thing I did was, with a mortar and pestle crush the lavender, to be sure all the flavor is released when you put it in the milk.  I poured the milk and then the crushed lavender in a sauce pan and cooked on low for about 15 minutes. until the lavender scent became somewhat strong. (do not overdo the lavender, it will overpower the frosting & the oils will effect how the frosting comes out)  When it is done strain out the lavender, put milk back in the pan and add the flour. keep it on LOW.  It takes a while to thicken, but make sure to keep stiring.While you are waiting on that, in a mixing bowl mix together the sugar and butter until fluffy , then add vanilla mix well , then add the lavender flour mixture.  blend well. (it should be sort of thick & creamy)  I added 3 drops of blue food coloring and 2 red.  I wanted it to be a real faint purple .  Then I sprinkled the top with sugar crystals



DO NOT REFRIGERATE FROSTING! 
I refrigerated the frosting to use the next morning and in the pictures you can see , it made my frosting all discombobulated.   When I first made the frosting it was perfect.  so I dont suggest refrigerating the frosting for more than 5 minutes, depending on how cold the fridge is.  I think once the cupcakes are frosted , n put in the fridge itll be okay but dont refrigerate the frosting by itself, The oils from the butter & lavenders changed the consistency

Vacation In The Valley

I've been keeping my Nana company in Pomona since sunday. My Aunt Liz & Aunt Barbara are helping me :).  We've been having a great time! anywho I didnt get to do any actual cooking until today.  I made a White Chocolate Cake with lemon cream filling.  Using my new baking utensils!!  It tasted great but I did have a little trouble.  The cake release that I've heard so much about didn't work as good as I thought it would (I used too little) . the sides of my cake stuck to the pan.  I covered up the mess with Mascarpone frosting.  It was all yummy. The cake came out like a poundcake and the frosting with the fresh lemon & everything was just "mmm".   I would definitely make this cake again.

Saturday Mornings are the best!

When I used to live with my dad I would wake up early and cook the whole family breakfast EVERY Saturday.  But I don't really do that anymore. Mainly because I'm not hungry in the morning and because I'm the only one who's up around that time but this morning I'm babysitting my nephew so I decided to make us hash browns and strawberry shortcakes!!!    I sliced up strawberries and put them in this sour cream, sugar and cream cheese mixture then spooned it in the biscuit. yum.

One Day = Sooo much!

I have decided to give up on the fondant until.. A) I buy the store bought one or B) I have been properly trained.
I had some cake drama yesterday with laying the fondant over the cake. First it was too little of an amount, then it was too dry (kept cracking).  It was just a big mess & I couldn't even bare to look at it . .so now it is sitting in my sisters fridge til' further notice!! :). I did however, take a trip to Michaels and see a bunch of  cake decorating things,  fondant included so I might give that a shot some time in the future.  Later that day I made monkey bread, which is just like a sticky bun?  but a bunch of balls covered in sugary yummy goodness and you pull it apart.My nephew Kaleb's taste testing for me   & after that I covered some cake balls my sister had made, in white chocolate.   Those came out good and helped me get my mind of the fondant :)  .

:)

I'm sitting here at my sisters house waiting for the cakes to come out the oven and I'm thinking about how supportive my family is.  I am such an indecisive person, I'm constantly changing my mind on what I want to do , who I want to be and when I made the decision to go to culinary school and to plan for a career in baking my family was behind me 100%  My oldest sister is always helping me , giving me new ideas , giving me different blogs to look at and picks up a few supplies here and there when I need them.  , my mom helps me network ,advertises me to her friends and she buys whatever I need so that I never have an issue with being able to make something. My other sister Alyssa, my Aunt and nana . . . theyre all so helpful .  I always get positive and constructive criticism from everyones and I appreciate them soooo much!


Thanks a lot guysss!

Spring CUPCAKESS!

Today I thought I'd use the leftover cupcakes from yesterday.  Originally I was going to make a Daisy and just a yellow & white striped cake but in the middle of striping the cupcake I thought It would be a good idea to make it a basket.  I went on youtube and looked up fondant flowers and found a video on rosebuds.  to go in the basket... I crumbled up some of the leftover chocolate cake and made it the "soil"

yummmm   , I rushed it a little and didnt do the best  I could.  but I was happy to try something new :)

Burgerrrrs :)

I saw this done and I thought I'd give it a shot.  for the hamburger "meat" I used chocolate cake mix (bad idea).  It didnt come out horrible ,but if I would've used a brownie mix like shown on http://www.bakerella.com/ it would have been less curmbs and mess.  For the buns , I just used a simple yellow cake mix and for the (mustard,lettuce,and ketchup)  I used vanilla frosting and added food coloring.  The ketchup took ALL of my red food coloring so maybe gel would be better than liquid?  I'm not sure.  But yea , I'm overall proud of it. !  got to try something newww. :)

Fondant Horror

Okay so today I decided to try and use the Marshmallow Fondant (MMF) that I had made a couple of days prior on a cake. At first everything started out great with help from my little cousin (both first timers),The cakes were cooling and I'm thinking okay so the most time consuming part is over. (naive me) . We let the cakes cool then put the crumb coat on (first layer) sit in the fridge to harden. We figure out that we're running low on frosting and instead of taking things slow as beginners should we decided to do a 2 tier cake! So the frosting barely made it. I was all excited that we had enough to cover the cake. So we get the fondant its a little dry we kneed it and try to get the cracks sort of out the way everything was working out smooth UNTIL we used tooo much powdered sugar as a non-stick. The dough became harder to deal with and it kept crumbling. WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!. Well after all that, its 2:55 am, my cousin is sleep and I'm still up. We had been working on this cake since 4 pm. I finally finished the cake!! & I guess you're wondering how it turned out? It turned out like my first fondant cake that I did exhauted , at 3am. But this will not make me quit! I am determined to get it right. I will post pictures tomorrow ,(or later today) but right now im an inch away from passing out lol . . GOODNIGHT!

Okay , So I was up until around 2:30 last night making 50 of my SPECIAL Red Velvet Cupcakes. I was constantly adding different ingredients and trying different techniques to make them come out jusssst right. I finally found a couple of ingredients that made the cake more rich and moist and the taste just POP!

I passed them out to several students and teachers and I was completely suprised with the feedback I got. EVERYONE LOVED THEM! I also made my Smothered Apple Pie and two miniature ones. Those were a hit as well.

Now that Ive gotten the R.V recipe down I am thinking about branching off into a German Chocolate cupcake or cake.

I have a great idea for the frosting ;)

Here is my Smothered Apple Pie. :) mm yyummy.

Here are some more of my Special Red Velvets, that is lemon peel you see scattered on the tray. The ones with the orange cream frosting has a light citrus taste. not enough to overpower the small dessert, just enough to add some "oomph!"

A housewifes job is NEVER done!

During the last week I have been working on starting my own catering business :).

Bettye's Oven is a spin off, of the term given to women around the 1950s (Bettys) and Bettye is also my Nana's name. It is themed after a 1950s housewife. I chose this because I love how the women were during that era. Cooking ,cleaning, they all had a sense of regal elegance that I admire. My specialty is, what I call, "SPECIAL Red Velvet cupcakes". Everyone has had red velvet with the typical cream cheese frosting, with a lot of trials and experimenting I have come up with a few extra ingredients that gives my cupcake a little more"OOMPH" :).

Task #1 Bake 50 of my "SPECIAL Red Velvet Cupcakes"