Sweet Muse

Baking from Inspiration

[sweetmuse]

Only One Pie Per Holiday

"My Oh My!" Pecan Pie

Inspiration: Christmas

The holidays are here and what better way to enjoy it than to whip up a nice and toasty warm pecan pie. Christmas is the time of year to spend time with those you love, and what better way to gather everyone than food! Ever since Thanksgiving, my boyfriend has been begging me to make my pecan pie. However, I believe that pumpkin pie is the designated pie for Thanksgiving. On Christmas, pecan pie is the star. Why designate pies you ask? Well, to me, pecan pie is both delicious during Thanksgiving and Christmas, while the pumpkin pie is traditionally served only on Thanksgiving. Since I adore both pumpkin and pecan, I decided to evenly share the two. Pumpkin pie is best served on Thanksgiving, after a thankful meal of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and corn. Pecan pie is wonderful when you're cozying up to the fireplace while watching the snow fall outside.  I love pies. I love eating them and I love sharing the joy it brings. The only trouble pie has ever caused me is their crust. How does one make the ideal crust flaky yet tender? You could say their opposites, are they not? When it comes to baking pies, it will take me about an hour and a half to make rather than the average 20 to 30 minutes to make the pie crust. To make a pie crust is just another science experiment. I still have yet to master the pie crust making skill.

[sweetmuse]

To the Man of the House

"Just For Dad" Cheesecake Cupcake

Inspiration: Daddy Lo

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime"                            -Lao Tzu 

The first time I ever heard that quote was from my father. He raised me by that quote. He made me the person I am today and I am proud of who I am. He is my friend, my role model, my teacher, and an inspiration. He supports the family and does what he can to make us happy. He dedicates his life helping others and doing the right thing. He lives every 24 hours with a purpose and a meaning.  One Father's Day, I decided to make a cheesecake to show my appreciation for him. However, I wanted my cheesecake to be unique, from all the other cheesecakes my dad had ever tasted. Now, my father is the type of person who knows what he wants. When it comes to cheesecakes, my father would prefer eating only the cream cheese part. He says he doesn't like the graham crust that most cheesecakes have. He prefers his cream cheese to be not too sweet, but light and airy with a small hint of lemon. So, I decided to create a sugar-free cheesecake. He took his first bite and smiled. He called me over and told me that this was the best cheesecake he ever had, but I knew he was just being nice. Didn't matter what he said though because seeing him smile was the best reaction I can ever get from him. I was happy that I was able to make him smile. It made me smile.  Ever since that day, I was determined to make the perfect cheesecake for my father. The result? A light and airy cream cheese with a sprinkle of lemon zest on a spongecake in cupcake form. The secret ingredient? The love of a daughter to her father. 

[sweetmuse]

How A Dream Came to Be

"Fruity" Red Velvet Cake

Inspiration: Mama Lo

A mother's love is instinctual, unconditional, and forever.                                                                                         - Unknown Author

It all began 4 days before my mother's birthday. My sister and I locked ourselves in our room and began to brainstorm the perfect gift for our mother. After an hour of brainstorming, the answer was obvious. What does every birthday need? A BIRTHDAY CAKE! More specifically, a homemade birthday cake catered to my mother's taste. Q:What is my mother's favorite cake flavor?  A: Red Velvet. Q:What is my mother's favorite cake topping?  A: Fruits. Q:What would make our present more unique than the iPad our father was going to give to our mother?  A: A homemade birthday cake. As my sister and I went about the cake, we decided to put a twist on it. We put a "Black Forest" spin to it. Therefore, the cake would be red velvet with a fresh whipped cream and black cherry filling topped with a thin layer of cream cheese. Baking the cake and putting the cake together was a breeze, it was the decorating the cake that was trouble. On our first attempt, our cake looked like a complete disaster. The cream cheese icing was all over the place, the whipped cream in the middle was oozing out and the red velvet cake was crumbling, leaving pieces of red cake everywhere. That was when my sister and I looked at each other and called it an "ugly cake." However, we didn't give up. We continued to do our best to  decorate and make it look pretty. So, what do you think? Not too shabby, eh?

After doing this project with my sister, I realized that I enjoy baking. I enjoy seeing the people that I love eat the food I make to their heart's content. It made me so happy to see everyone coming back to the cake for a second slice. It truly warmed my heart. When the last slice of cake was eaten, one of my mother's friends approached me and offered me $25 dollars to make a chocolate cake that was not too sweet. I was ecstatic! Was my cake that good? Perhaps I have a knack for this?  As I got paid to bake more goods over the years, I realized that I was making almost 50 dollars every month. Then, I remembered the moment when my sister and I both called our first attempt to decorate our mother's cake an "ugly cake." Inspired by the people who support me and my passion for baking, I finally knew what I want to do in my life. I want to thank everyone who supports me and enjoy my treats. I want to make "ugly cakes."  

Dream and give yourself permission to envision a you that you choose to be.                                                                                                            - Joy Page