Baking for a Cause

When Hazel of Tasty Pursuits first asked me to participate in the upcoming Sweet Sensations dessert benefit, I jumped at the opportunity. With a new website in the works and a new job on the horizon, I thought it would be the perfect time do something out of my comfort zone. Then, after a few days, it really sunk in — how was I, a reporter and amateur cook at best, going to fare baking alongside a group of talented food bloggers and dessert aficionados?

Jitters aside, it's a great event for a wonderful cause and one I'm truly proud to be a part of. As someone who has covered how the culinary arts can make a difference in the lives of New York City school kids, it's exciting to see an organization like C-CAP (Careers through Culinary Arts Program) support their culinary endeavors.

So, come out to The Old Bowery Station on April 21st to sample some of our desserts and catch demos by the pros: Colicchio & Sons pastry chef  Stephen Colluci (check out the cake he made for his own wedding) and master chocolatier Mehdi Challaoui.

I'm still playing around with some recipes — including the grasshopper bars from over — but whatever I end up baking, I'll try my best to make them delicious.

For a sneak peek at what everyone else is making, head on over to their blogs.

UPDATE: Check out photos from the event here!

Snapshots: Food and Drink Awards

I joined the TONY team just in time to attend the 2013 Food & Drink Awards on Monday. The room was filled with a who's who of the culinary world, everyone from Daniel Humm (The NoMad) to Noah and Rae Bernamoff (Mile End Deli) to the fashionably late Danny Bowien (Mission Chinese Food). Check out the winners — and the rest of the hilarious chefs-meet-internet-memes — here.

Grasshopper Bars

Grasshopper bars

This week, I'm recipe testing grasshopper bars from the "Baked Explorations" cookbook for an event (more on that in another post). It's one that requires some patience, but the result — a gooey brownie topped with creamy mint buttercream and chocolate glaze — is the perfect sweet reward.

Macaron Cafe

Macarons at Macaron Cafe

These tiny French cookies have become somewhat of a guilty pleasure at my house ever since I introduced them to the family during the holidays. So when a friend gave us this box from Macaron Cafe, everyone was excited to dig in. They're not the best we've had — a tad too chewy and light on flavor — and my favorite remains the Earl Grey from Macaron Parlour. (the boyfriend, on the other hand, still craves the Cherry Cordial from Dana's Bakery, a Valentine's Day special that's sadly no longer available.)

Of course, most people turn to the king of macarons — Ladurée — for their fix, but there's something about buying from and getting to know Christina and Simon (the adorable couple behind Macaron Parlour), and Dana (a photo editor-turned-baker), that makes their not-so-typical macs extra addictive.

Macaron Cafe, 625 Madison Ave. at E. 58th St. (212) 486-2470.