Chocolate Indulge: Joe Black Coffee Bar

 I went to Joe Black Coffee Bar two times and both times they were out of their Indulge dessert. The second time I even called ahead and they gave me a time (between 10-6) that the desserts would be delivered and I went after 6pm and still nothing.

I was frustrated and thought maybe I'll just skip this one on my list of places to go but I was in the area on another day and went by and they had it but not only did they have one but they had two different kinds. 

 This is the chocolate one

And of course this is the peanut butter one (this one is way better!)

(Did you notice I didn't get any strawberries or whip cream? I didn't realize until afterward that I was supposed to get some. But to be honest it was perfect just like this!)

Baking Goal: Lemon Pound Cake

Every day for morning tea when I lived in Australia we had a lemon cake like this! It brings back such good memories! 

Check out the recipe at Goddess of Baking

Baking Goal: Vanilla Cupcakes with Vanilla-Marshmallow Buttercream

Seriously? Two of my fav things! Check out the yummy recipe here!

Baking My Way: Supreme Chocolate Mint Chip Cookies

These cookies are very chocolatey! I decided that this recipe was a bit much for me so when I made it I cut the below recipe in half. And I just didn't want all mint cookies so I made half of the dough with peanut butter chips and the other half with broken up mint wafers I had left over from making the Starlight Mint Surprise Cookies awhile back.



I decided also that these cookies were already really sweet on their own so I didn't make the glaze but adding that would just make them that much more decadent and chocolatey so if that's what you want go for it! If not, without the glaze is a nice substitute for the simple chocolate chip cookie.

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cups unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoons Salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup brown sugar; firmly packed
1 1/2 cup butter; soft
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup mint chocolate chips (10-oz.)

Glaze:
2 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla


Heat oven to 350~F. Lightly grease cookie sheets. In large bowl, combine
flour, 1 cup cocoa, baking soda and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat
sugar, brown sugar and margarine until light and fluffy. Add eggs; blend
well.

Stir in flour mixture; mix well. Stir in mint chips. Drop by
tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets; flatten
slightly.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minutes; remove from
cookie sheets. Cool completely.

In medium saucepan, combine all glaze
ingredients except vanilla. Bring to a boil; boil 1 minutes. Stir in
vanilla; cool. Beat until smooth and of glaze consistency. Glaze cooled
cookies; allow glaze to set.

Baking Goal: Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Don't these look wonderful? Oh man, I want peanut butter cookies right now!

Chocolate Cream Cheese Cupcakes

I spent a good hour eating one of these decadent cupcakes.

Health Tip of the Week: Home Made Facials

As a follow up to my many make up posts here are some healthy, chemical free alternative for facials!

Homemade Facial Scrub Instead of Soap

This is for the lady who wanted a homemade facial mask. First, clean your face with water only. Never use soap. You can open your pores with hot compresses (washcloth) for a facial scrub, moisten oatmeal to a “goo", use it to scrub your face (not around your eyes). Wash off with cool water. You may also make a paste of the oatmeal and allow it to dry. Remove with cool water. Sliced fresh cucumber placed on your closed eyes will reduce bagginess and dark circles.

Honey for Best Facial

The best facial mask that I have found is honey. Use warm cloth to open pores, smear on honey, leave on 15 to 30 minutes, rinse off with warm water, and then use cold water to close pores. Use for 3 days in a row and then once a week. Sometimes I mix a little ground oatmeal with the honey, which makes a great mask.

Exfoliating Mask

For an easy exfoliating mask, mix three tablespoons olive oil or any good oil and one tablespoon kosher salt mix and gently rub into dry skin. Do not use around eye area. This works great on elbows and feet, but it can also be used on cheeks and forehead

Egg Whites

I use egg whites. Just beat one egg white until it is frothy. Spread it all over your face. Wait until it dries. Rinse it off. My face feels very clean and "tight" after this application. And then I use the yolk for cooking.( I have yet to have found a use for the shell)

Egg Yolk

The best homemade facial mask that I have used is a raw egg yolk. Just apply the raw yolk to your face and neck for 30 minutes and rinse with cool water. Egg yolks are high in vitamin A. The mask is very effective in healing blemishes.

For dry skin, try:

· An egg yolk mixed with olive oil and warmed honey

· Sour cream

· Avocado

For oily skin:

· Dissolve a teaspoon of baking yeast in a small amount of warm milk, wait until foamy, then apply (best done in the bath tub);

· Puree flesh of a tomato and mix with some potato flour to make a paste;

· Cucumber (it will whiten your skin);

· Beaten egg whites with a few drops of lemon juice (great for getting rid of blackheads);

· Carrots (but don't use this one more than about every other week because it can over dry your skin). This one will make you look tanned.

General refreshing masks:

· Grapes (just cut a berry in half and rub lightly)

· Strawberries (test behind your ear first, because many people are allergic to strawberries used this way even though they can eat them just fine)

· Honey and ricotta cheese