If you haven’t decided what to serve after Thanksgiving dinner, allow me to lend a hand.

Easy would be ordering a pie. But, if you like to torture yourself and make every aspect of the meal, here you go:

John is in charge of making our dessert, so we are covered. And it’s a surprise. I love a surprise.

I love this adorable idea. You can make just enough of these turkeys as you have guests and you don’t have to worry about hiding the leftovers from yourself (oh, you don’t hide the leftovers? never mind, then.)

How cute is this?

Another individual dessert. Aren’t these little handpies precious?

Apple Cheddar Handpies

Feeling traditional with a twist? How about pumpkin cheesecake? I don’t even like cheesecake and this sounds fabulous.

Mmm, pumpkin cheesecake.

For all you glamour types, this is the dessert for you.

Glam fruit and dark chocolate tart

That should do you for now. And if you feel stressed, don’t. Pop over to the bakery!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Beyonce – Sweet Dreams

The nice folks from Beater Blade sent me this fab new bowl to try for mixing.

They sent me the sassy red model – to match the ribbons on my kitchen curtains. Red makes everything feel happier!

So, how does it work? Its curved sides keep batter (or icing, or meringue – you get the idea) from flying all over your just-cleaned kitchen.  Remember Uncle Matt making birthday cupcakes for Eric’s birthday in the mountains? This could have been avoided if he had the Mixer Mate. Although we did get a great laugh out of the chocolate covered kitchen.

It takes just a smidge of getting used to. I had to find the right configuration for my mixer. But that could just because I am left-handed and everything seems a little backwards to me. But once you get the hang of it, you will be hooked. It even has grippy material underneath the handles for easy gripping and sides with spouts for simple pouring. Oh, I just love it.

And I have been giving it a workout lately. I made a cake yesterday for sweet Shane’s birthday last night and another cake today for dear friend Kerry’s birthday – lemon curd layer cake with a fluffy 7 minute frosting. Mmmmm. I will post photos and details from both parties next week. Today I am grappling with a bit of a head cold. And it’s Friday? Why not get a cold on Monday so I could be better for the weekend? Ah, it’s okay. I needed to slow down, lay on the couch, read and cuddle the dogs anyway.

Enjoy the weekend my darlings!
xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Bob Marley – Stir It Up

You would think that after my fiasco of trying to bake two failed cakes for Holly’s birthday that I might just give up. Oh no. I have not learned my lesson yet. Plus, I am hosting a tiny dinner party for my beloved friend Kerry (check out his gorgeous new website here) on Friday night for his belated birthday.

I needed something sassy, sweet and chic, just like Kerry. Lemon layer cake seems to fit the bill. America’s Test Kitchen made it and if they can do it, I should be able to as well, yes? Isn’t it pretty?

Photo courtesy of America's Test Kitchen

Stay tuned. And please cross your fingers for me and say a little prayer to the kitchen goddesses that I can get this one right.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces

One more day until Valentine’s Day, if you are counting.  If you need something sweet, but also adorable and delectable, I have a wonderful suggestion for you.

Yesterday, Miss Diane and I drove in the beginnings of the snow storm to Chef Layne’s bakery, Sweet N’ Sinful, over at Avondale Estates. Super close to the city, but in the cutest little string of shops.  Chef Layne is up to her elbows in sugar and spice and making everything nice for this holiday of hearts.

Would you like to see what we picked up?

Oh How I Love This Pink Confection

Okay, you got me….we didn’t pick up this amazingly swoony wedding cake that has sugar plaques that read “To Have”, “And”, “To Hold”. Isn’t it just the epitome of the girliest wedding cake ever? A dream, I tell you!

Here’s some pictures of what we took home. Really, truly.

Cupcake Love

These cupcakes are so, so good. The one on the left is red velvet (with pink icing for Valentines’ Day!) and the other, Eric’s favorite, the french toast cupcake with maple frosting. Yup, those are gone.  Miss Diane got herself a strawberry cupcake – with real strawberries baked in…none of this fake stuff in Chef Layne’s kitchen.

There were three brownies – milk chocolate and dark chocolate. In my opinion, Sweet N’ Sinful’s brownies are the very best I have ever had. Not too sweet, but gooey enough, I mean….they are perfect. Ahhhhhhhh……

We also got this adorable kiss cookie – yeah, we ate this one already, too. It was so good. And how cute is this?

Kiss Me!

But I’ve saved the best for last. And yes, I am saving this one until tomorrow.

Nothing But Love

It is the most adorable mini chocolate layer cake. That’s a cookie attached to it, a big cookie, but it gives you an idea of the size.  We are going to save this for tomorrow night when we cook with Diane and Taruan.  More on that later.

Go see Chef Layne before all of this is all gone.  Go on, I’ll wait til you get back.

Sweet N’ Sinful
114 North Avondale Road
Avondale Estates, GA 30002
404-298-9100

xoxo, Patti