Gluten-free, No Bake, Chocolate Cake Bites

cake bite

My oven has been broken for over a month. I live in a gorgeous building, but when something breaks, there is no hurry to fix it.

Which means my cake cravings are out of control. You know what I mean. You always want something more when it is practically impossible to acquire. So, I searched around the Internet, did what a good librarian does, and found THE BEST, gluten-free, no bake chocolate cake. EVER. I mean it.

You can find the original recipe at 101 Cookbooks. I’ve adapted it just a tad to make cake bites since the cake is so rich.

Supplies

  • cupcake pan
  • cupcake liners
  • plastic wrap
  • whisk
  • double boiler or the bowl- over-pan method described below
  • medium pan

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces of 70% dark chocolate, well chopped
  • 8 ounces of heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon allspice
  • 2 teaspoons finely ground espresso
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine grain salt
  • cinnamon, to serve
  • whipped creme, to serve

Step 1. Line cupcake pan with cupcake liners. You may want to try spraying the liners with a little nonstick spray. I didn’t try it, but I wish I did since the bites were a bit ugly.

 

improvised double boiler

improvised double boiler

Step 2: Melt the chocolate in a double boiler over gentle heat. If you don’t have double boiler, don’t worry. I don’t have one either. Just put a larger bowl on top of a smaller saucepan and fill with about an inch of water and heat the water to simmering.

Step 3: As the chocolate is melting, in a separate pan, heat the cream over gentle heat. Stir in the allspice and the espresso.

Step 4: When the cream is hot to the touch, remove from heat and stir in the salt.

Step 5: After the chocolate has melted, pour it into the cream slowly and whisk slowly. At this point, you are probably going to think, this isn’t working! But I promise, if you are patient and keep whisking, it will come together.

Step 6: Pour mixture into the cupcake pan.

Step 7:  Cover with plastic wrap.

Step 8: Refrigerate until solid. I let mine refrigerate overnight.

Step 9:  Let the cake bites come up to room temperature.

cake bites

Step 10: Peel off the wrapper and finish them off with a little whipped creme and a dusting of cinnamon.

Hope your day is scrumptious!

love,
melanie

How to Make Giant Tissue Paper Flowers

field of flowers

I have very little patience for craft projects. If a craft project takes more than 15 minutes, I have no interest in it. So, when I decided I wanted a little decoration to spice up our Spring brunch table, I knew just the project. Seriously you guys, my elementary Spanish teacher taught us uncoordinated elementary schoolers to make these. You can make these too. DIY your face off.

Supplies

  • Tissue paper (6 sheets per flower)
  • Floral wire
  • Tape (floral tape looks best, but I used regular ‘ol masking tape)
  • Scissors (optional)
  • Watercolor paint & a brush (optional)

folded tissue paper

Step 1: Lay out 6 pieces of tissue paper on top of one another and face the short end of the paper towards you.

Step 2: Fold tissue paper accordion style, back and forth, as if you were folding a paper fan. Folds should be about 2-3 inches wide.

Step 3: Optional: Round the edges of the tissue paper with scissors. I didn’t round my edges because I’m a rebel.

tissue paper flower wire detail

Step 4: Gather tissue paper together in the middle with one hand.

Step 5: Take wire and wrap around middle tightly, but not too tight. It will make it difficult to pull the petals out if it is too tight.paper flower petals

Step 6: The hardest part! GENTLY pull the pieces of tissue paper apart to form the flower petals. Do not man-handle the tissue paper! It will tear. I know from experience 😉

Step 7: Wrap tape around the bottom base of your petals to ensure the wire is tightly secured to the flowers.

Step 7: Blammo! You’re done. Continue to Step 8 if you want to color your flowers. If you’re not a fancy man, stop here.

painting flowers

Step 8: If you want a bit more detail to your flowers, you can paint the edges with watercolor paint. This technique is really hard to mess up. Just grab a brush, dip it into some watercolor paint and lightly brush the paint onto the petal edges and in between the petals. Optional: Feel like you are under the Queen of Heart’s orders to paint the roses red!

Step 9: Let dry.

tissue paper flowersStep 10: Not optional: Frolic in a field of flowers.

Got any questions? Leave ’em in the comments.
love,
melanie

Strawberry Grapefruit Mimosas

Strawberry Grapefruit Mimosas

I love a classic mimosa, but for brunch on Sunday I wanted to try something a bit different. So, somehow I got the zany idea to substitute grapefruit juice for orange juice. Here’s what you’ll need to recreate this bright, delicious drink.

strawberry grapefruit mimosas

Ingredients:

  • 1 bottle of (cheap) champagne
  • 1 bottle of grapefruit juice
  • 1/2 cup of sugar (You could use less sugar if you like a tart drink)
  • approximately 1 dozen strawberries
  1. Cut up the strawberries.
  2. Add the sugar to the strawberries and mix.
  3. Transfer strawberries to a pitcher or a glass and meddle with a spoon.
  4. Fill the pitcher 1/2 way full of grapefruit juice.
  5. Top the pitcher off with champagne. Stir. Enjoy. It’s too easy!

Mondays call for a cocktail, don’t you agree?
love,
melanie

Happy Spring!

Last night George and I painted eggs. We didn’t feel like spending money on dye, so we painted them with some cheap, non-toxic watercolors we had around the house. George did an amazing job, of course. He painted our faces on the eggs!

Supplies:

  • Paintbrushes
  • Watercolor paints
  • Water
  • Hard-boiled eggs

I kept my eggs more abstract since realism isn’t my talent.

I don’t condone eating the eggs after painting, since the watercolors aren’t technically edible, but it was nice to do something other than just sticking the eggs in some dye.

Hope you all have a relaxing holiday,
love,
melanie

Thank you, thank you!

I can’t believe I made it to Freshly Pressed– the front page of WordPress. MY FACE is on the front page! I’m just starting to find my voice and I get this amazing opportunity. I am so, so thankful to all of you all who saw my little ‘ol blog, commented, and/or started following me. I’ve read each and every one of your comments. And I appreciate anyone who even just took a few seconds to check out it out.

So, how did I do it? I have no idea. I think my photography helped. My fiancée, George, took the pictures and as an artist, he has a good eye for composition. But rather than that, I’m chocking it up to pure luck. WordPress has tips here if you want to strategize. Good things have definitely been coming my way lately. Thanks universe, thanks WordPress, thanks ya’ll.

love,
melanie

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Love Stripes

I’m constantly trying to improve and grow. This year, I’m trying to make a conscious effort to improve my self-confidence in all aspects of my life. In the past six months or so, I’ve improved my culinary skills and I’m currently working on trying to improve my style. I love fashion, but I often feel that because I’m short in height and short on cash, I can’t wear cute clothes. But I’m out to prove myself wrong. I also want to prove that librarians can and do have good style.

I wore this outfit to brunch in Asheville. I love Asheville so much. You could literally wear a paper bag and no one would judge you.

Pants: Vintage Pendleton 
Sweater: Can’t remember! eep! Edit: I remembered! United Colors of Benetton.
Shoes: Target
Bag: Gift from my sister

How do you improve your self-confidence?

love,
melanie

Thankfulness

The view from a block from my house.
Picture by muah!

I have to admit, I’m not always the most thankful person. I always want more. It’s the perfectionist in me. Or consumer, if you want to be political. 😛

I want to live in a bigger city with more opportunities and exciting food. I want a better wardrobe. I want to travel. I want more free time. Want. Want. Want. Want. Want.

And although I think it is good to keep my eye on the prize and all those clichés, I also need to remember what I have. I live in a beautiful, historic town. I have a closet full of clothes. I’ve been all over the country. And I’m apparently making enough time to blog.

ANDDDDD something really exciting happened to me today. I won a grant! When I found out I literally skipped around the library. So that means I will be traveling to a conference in one of my favorite towns, Asheville, NC this weekend! I’m more excited and grateful than I have been in a long time.

How do you stay thankful?

love,
melanie

Love Notes: Anchorman

This love note goes out to one of my favorite movies, Anchorman. Because, you know what? It’s still funny.

Happy Tuesday!
xoxo,

melanie