All Cakes Considered

Lately I have been having some major craving for cakes. I don't know if it's because it's cold outside or because of hormones. But today when I went with hubby to the market and I quickly picked up a pound cake. I know that a pound cake doesn't sound that exciting. Though for me it's like a big treat!

There are several reasons why we are keeping sweets away from our home. The first reason is because of health reason. For almost over 10 years I pretty much stopped eating cakes. But it didn't mean that I couldn't try other alternatives. Though over time I also had to stopped eating sweets.

My hubby on the other hand could eat everything he wanted. And he still can. Though he is reaching that age where if he eats too much sweets he feels it the next day.

Like the other day he had bought a chocolate chip cookie at his favorite book store. And the next day he had a tummy ache. I had asked him what he had eaten the night before. After he listed all the things he ate he then added, "Oh, and I ate a chocolate chip cookie." Then I asked him, "how big was the cookie?" He said that it was a big cookie. I said, "That is probably why you are not feeling good today. Perhaps the cookie gave you a stomach ache."

What was hubby response? "Oh no I don't think it was the chocolate chip cookie, perhaps it was something else that I ate. But it wasn't the cookie." All of the sudden I felt that I was trying to reason with cookie monster. Yum, yum cookie! At the end I couldn't reason with him.

The story didn't end there. Just last week hubby again had the chocolate chip cookie from the bookstore. And guess what happened the next day. Yes, cookie monster had a tummy ache. And he wasn't happy about it. So I reminded him what had happened before. And do you think that he remembered? Not only did he forgot the incident with the cookie, but he defended it. Yes, sugar can do that to you sometimes.

That is why we refrain from buying certain sweets. It's true that once in awhile we do bring some ice cream for hubby and some Dove chocolates for me. For us it is a sweet-luxury to bring
these items into our home.

This book All Cakes Considered, is a great book for those who love to try different cake recipes. Doesn't these cakes look delicious? Although I don't bake cakes, I wouldn't mind having this book in my kitchen. Perhaps I could substitute the flour and yeast with other alternative ingredients.

Today after dinner we are having several slices of the pound cake. I will have mine with a sugar free strawberry jello. And hubby is going to have his with a sugar free pudding.

I believe in once in awhile having a sweet treat after a meal. And a lot of love in the family!




Chao,


Carmen

Friday Sweetness!

After a busy crazy week it was time for me to kick back and relax. And what more than enjoying a sweet treat to start the weekend off! I told my hubby that I was craving for a sweet soft cake. The first thing that came to mind was my favorite Spanish cake called " Tres Leches".





I usually buy this cake from one of my favorite Cuban restaurant "Pollo Tropical". I have made Tres leches before, which is not that difficult to make. I usually first bake a plain vanilla cake. After the cake is ready and out of the oven, I start adding three ingredients: milk, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. Is like giving the cake a milk bath. Tip: You want the cake to be soaked enough, though keeping some of the cakes consistency.





The Tres Leches that I buy comes with a layer of wipe cream and a cherry. If you have a sweet tooth this cake will be one of your favorites. Mind you, sometimes the cake comes a bit too sweet. It all depends where you buy it. Here I am displaying my cake on a white and black design plates that I bought from Target several years ago. Doesn't this setting look delicious?

This Friday I ate my Tres Leches while watching my favorite t.v. show Monk.

It was so nice to spend time with my hubby and enjoying a Friday full of sweetness!



Chao,


Carmen

Lots of Chocolate for Me to Eat!

This is one of the ladies by my favorite artist Alphonse Mucha! This Salmagundi tin box was filled many years ago with delicious chocolates. It is now a keepsake that I keep in my Paris room.

Whenever I think about chocolates, the scene of My Fair Lady comes to mind when Eliza Dolittle sings "Lot's of Chocolate For Me to Eat."This movie is one of my favorite classics of all time! Audrey Hepburn was terrifically funny and witty in this film. Whenever I have tried to imitate her Cockney accent, my husband would laugh at me. But then I will start singing, " Lots of Chocolate for me to eat, Wouldn't It Be Loverly?"


Milk Chocolate Covered Macadamias Tin from Hersheygifts.com

What is the Hershey Process?

The Hershey process milk chocolate, was invented by Milton S. Hershey, founder of The Hershey Company , is able to be produced more economically, by being less sensitive to freshness of the milk. Although the process is still a trade secret, experts speculate that the milk is partially lipolyzed, producing butyric acid, which stabilizes the milk from further fermentation. This compound gives the product a particular sour, "tangy" taste, to which the American public has become accustomed, to the point that other manufacturers now simply add butyric acid to their milk chocolates.


Can you tell that I love Chocolates?


Chao,


Carmen



Information: Wikipedia