Just a little something.

I am working on another blog topic but haven't finished it yet so,

here's the intermission.

Enjoy.

A set of birthday cakes my pastry chef recently made.

Hmm, I don't see any Easter Eggs nearby.

Adorableness

I kept wanting to pick up the cow & pet it.

Done galloping about for the day.

And completely unrelated but I had to show someone

 my gorgeous Dutch Baby before it deflated.

It's for our Saturday Breakfast club.

(Have I mentioned lately how much I love using cast iron skillets?)

Chocolate Fantasy 2012

Every year and always on the

Friday before Valentine's Day.

It's Chocolate Fantasy 

at the Jenkins Estate.

The grounds and building are gorgeous

and...

There's Chocolate!!!

 (Also, it's a handy way to get your Valentine's shopping done)

(It works well for me)

Here's the main house.

The Stables (our home away from home)

 The Dessert Tray has been participating 

in this event for many years now

and we always enjoy being there.

Steampunk Baker and Pastry Chef are working hard. http://www.thedesserttray.com/

The main room of the Stables

Some of our friendly competition. http://www.finalesdesserts.com

*Hi Erica, Eve, and Emily*

Our neighbors across the hall. http://shop.willamettevalleyconfectionery.com/

Our favorite next door neighbors. http://www.ladybugchocolates.com/

 *Hi Ken (from across the hall), Sheryl, John, and Jasmine*

 

An orchid from Floral Creations. http://floralcreationsbykelly.net/

 

 And a big Thank You! goes out to

 the Jenkins Estate Staff.

 *Hi Gail*

http://www.thprd.org/facilities/jenkins/home.cfm 

You all do a phenomenal job 

making this event run smoothly every year 

and we, the vendors, appreciate everything you do.

Chocolate Fest 2012

Chocolate Fest 2012

Lots of chocolate, lots of vino,

and lots & lots of chocolate.

Here's a few pictures from the event and

a couple of my favorites.

A few of our cakes.

I think our Pastry chef could be the girl.

These caramels are excellent!

Close up view of the varieties.

The Jalepeno & Dulce de Leche and Fig were my favorites.

 http://snakeandbutterfly.com/

Ruby Port. Very nice way to finish off a long day.

Hi Beth! Nice decoration on the cake.

Everywhere you look, chocolate as far as the eye can see.

Our next door neighbor.

Bertony Faustin

The wines Bertony brought were all very tasty and

go very well with chocolate cake...and fudge brownie...

and chocolate chip cookies. 

(Sometimes you have to sample for the greater good)

 Well, you get the idea.

His unfiltered Pinot Noir and Syrah were my favorites.

http://www.abbeycreekvineyard.com/our_wines.html

Making sure that everything is ready to go.

More chocolate & wine. Happiness.

Steampunk Baker in attendance.

Calling all Chocoholics

It's that time of year again. 

 

Chocolate Fest at the Convention Center, January 20-22nd &

Chocolate Fantasy at the Jenkins Estate, February 10th 

are almost here. 

Satisfy most, if not all, 

of your serious chocolate cravings and then some.

*Mmmmmm, chocolate*

 

And who knows, you might even catch a glimpse of

Steampunk Baker wandering about in a chocolate induced daze.

http://chocolatefest.org/
http://www.thprd.org/facilities/jenkins/events.cfm

Holiday cookies

The Holidays are done.

Time to pack up all of the ornaments, the tinsel, 

and the festive lights.

 For us in the baking profession, 

the holiday season also means 

crazier than usual work hours...

and lots and lots and lots of cookies.

Lots.

After decorating several hundred holiday cookies

sometimes they start to seem a little different somehow...

Can't quite put my finger on it but 

there is definitely something different.

 

Randomly, odd ones start popping up

right next to the normal ones.

Then, kind of like zombies, 

they start to take over.

"Ohhhh NOOOOOO!"

"Snowwwwwww"

And then there were the alien abductions.

With the holidays over, 

things are starting to return to normal.

"Whew"

The aliens and zombies began contemplating a takeover

and really, that's just not going to end well for anyone.

 

Happy snowmen return.

Enjoying the "wrap" party.

Festival of Trees 2011

Short and sweet this time.

(I actually got it done before Christmas.)

*whew*

Enjoy.

My favorite character of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"

Smooth, very smooth tree topper.

I am pretty sure this was everyone's favorite display.

A little xmas bling.

This tree looks perfectly edible.

Remember always, Safety first when setting up Holiday decorations.

Now on to the Gingerbread action.

"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"
by Helen Bernhard Bakery.

"Dream house Galore"
by Saint Cupcake

Steampunk Santa & Sleigh
by Pastrygirl

"Wish, Hope, & Dream"
by The Dessert Tray
(Hey, that's my bakery)
*smile*

Next year I really want to make a Gingerbread house 

for All Hallow's eve. 

Sooooo many possibilities. 

Taste of Zupan's 2011

This event signals the start of the Holiday season for us at the bakery.

The half crazed dashing around (on my part) 

to make sure every thing is gathered and ready to go.

The baking off of oodles of samples because 

one oodle is simply never enough.

Pies, gingerbread, shortbread cookies, and anything pumpkin 

(though pumpkin is good any time of the year as far as I'm concerned)

are winding their ways through the bakery ovens. 

The air is heavily scented with cinnamon, nutmeg, and peppermint.

Therefore-Bring forth the Holidays!

Although you can hold off on the Xmas music until after Thanksgiving...

At the Heathman Hotel

We get there, get everything set up, arrange things around just so 

which is usually when I realize that I've forgotten 

the two or three things that would 

have been extremely useful to have.

*C'est la vie*

Maria prepping samples.

Anyhow, the Taste is a lot of fun to do and all of the proceeds are donated to a good cause.

The Sunshine Division

http://www.sunshinedivision.org/ 

Plus, any leftover food from the event is picked up 

by the Urban Gleaners for donation.

http://urbangleaners.org/

So nothing is wasted and I like that part a lot.

 (slight warm & fuzzy feeling taking hold)

Now, on to the pictures!

This is Maria-one of the reasons that I'm not completely crazy 

People are queuing up out front.

Some of the "actual size" versions of our samples.

Set up and waiting for the event to begin.

Zupan's has many of their vendors participate.

Here's our friendly rival Kim

of Portland Style Cheesecake & Dessert Co.

She seriously has that bright smile every time I see her and is 

a very nice person to boot.

"Hi Kim and friend!"

I am officially hooked on this.

It's similar to the Skurdahl Farm cider that I get

because it tastes like the actual fruit rather than 

just a sparkling sugar bomb.

The pear is really tasty too.

 Zupan's has a lot of their staff help out at the event and I always see a few faces that I know.


"Hi Matt!"
"I warned you, you might be in the blog."
*wink*

These two were across the room from us sampling out some of the items that you can order for the holiday season.

Our table: set & ready to sample.

The girls next door.

 More of the gang across the room from us. 

"Hi Everyone!"

(I am craving more of those Brussel Sprouts right now.)

 And to finish, a little dessert.

 

Pumpkin Torte, Caramel Apple Cupcakes, 

and Red Velvet Cupcakes.