How to Revive and Use Dried Vanilla Beans

Let’s talk about Vanilla Beans.  Do you use whole vanilla beans in your recipes?  I personally love and adore vanilla beans.  They have this unique, sweet, floral, and earthy (depending on the regions) aromas that you don’t get from any other ingredient.  They certainly make any baked goods and desserts tasted gourmet.  Ever since the shortage of vanilla beans a few year ago, the price of them had been sky-rocketed.  (That is totally a different topic so I’m not going to go in-depth today).

My point is, since vanilla beans are so expensive, you do want to utilize them the best you could so that nothing goes to waste.  If you live in an area that has a dry climate (such as Southern California), you might have experienced that your vanilla bean dried out before you use it.  No need to panic!  I’m here for the rescue today.  Watch my video below on how to revive a dried vanilla bean and many different ways you can use them. 



If you’ve missed my previous video, click below to watch the tutorial on how to split and seed a vanilla bean and other usage ideas.




If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave me a comment below.  

For more product information and vanilla recipes, please visit www://SingingDogVanilla.com



Vanilla Simple Syrup

Ingredients:
1 vanilla bean
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

1) Place all ingredient in a medium pot.  Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes, stir occasionally.  Let cool completely before use.

2) The simple syrup is wonderful to mix into teas, cocktails, and fruit punches.

Vanilla Spice Poached Pears

Ingredients:
2 Semi-Ripe Pears, peeled
3 Cups water
1 cup Sugar
1 lemon, peel off rind and juiced
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 star anise
1 vanilla bean

1) Place all ingredient, except the pears, in a medium pot. Heat mixture over high heat until it comes to a boil.

2) Lower the heat to a simmer and add in the pears.  Simmer for 20 minutes or until fork tender.

3) Let pears cool slightly and enjoy them warm or at room temperature!  Accompany poached pears with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate sauce, or fresh berries.

Vanilla Lavender Bath Salt

Ingredients:

1 cup of lavender Epsom Salt
1/2 cup sea salt
1 tablespoon dried lavender buds
A few drops of purple soap colorant (Optional)
1 dried vanilla bean, break into thirds

Stir all ingredients together until well incorporated.  Transfer to an air tight container until ready to use (preferably after a week to let the vanilla bean infused into the bath salt). 

To Use:
Scoop 1/2 a cup of the bath salt mixture and add into a tub of bath water.  Soak, relax, and enjoy!  















Thank you Singing Dog Vanilla for sponsoring these videos.

How to Make Vanilla Dream Mille Crêpe Cake (香草千層可麗餅蛋糕)

Holidays are fast approaching!  How do you celebrate?  I truly enjoy spending time with friends and family around the dinner table to create more memories. 




This gorgeous and scrumptious Vanilla Dream Mille Crêpe Cake would be the perfect sweet ending to your holiday meals!  It consists layers and layers of French Crêpes, alternate with a layer of Vanilla Mascarpone Cream Filling.  It’s decadent, yet not too sweet. 




The cake itself is truly delicious.  This recipe featured Singing Dog Vanilla’s Organic Vanilla Extract in both the Crêpe batter and the Raspberry Sauce.  I used Singing Dog Vanilla’s Vanilla Bean Paste in the Mascarpone Cream fillings in between the Crêpe layers.  This cake is packed with floral and sweet vanilla aromas and you can see the vanilla specks throughout the cream fillings.  The texture is silky soft and tender.  I like to drizzle a little bit of homemade raspberry sauce on top for a festive and refreshing taste.



If you’re still searching for a dessert to share with your loved ones, look no further!  I’m sure your friends and family will love this cake!







Click here for the recipe: https://goo.gl/ww9PYa


Tools and Ingredients Used:
Singing Dog Vanilla's Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)Singing Dog Vanilla's Vanilla Bean Paste (Click here for more information)
Crêpe Pan (Click here for more information)
Crêpe Spreader (Click here for more information)
Electric Crêpe Maker (with spreader) (Click here for more information)
Lazy Susan (Click here for more information)
Ninja Blender (Click here for more information)
Irish Salted Butter (Click here for more information)
Pastry Bag and Star Tip set (Click here for more information)
Offset Spatula (Click here for more information)
Heat Proof Egg Turner (Click here for more information)








Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Disclaimer: This video is brought to you by Singing Dog Vanilla.  All messages and opinions are 100% my own. 

Unicorn Frappuccino – With All-Natural Coloring

Last week, Starbucks introduced a special drink that was only available for a limited time.  Yes, it was offer to the general public for less than a week only!   Many of my friends and family rushed to their nearest Starbucks locations and lined up for this specialty drink: The infamous Unicorn Frappuccino! Were you one of them who tried?



Unfortunately, the review and feedback of this drink was not as positive as the enthusiasm of the Starbucks fans!  It was quite a mixed review, I must say.  Some described it as a refreshing sour mango-flavored drink.  Some said it was a waste of money and tasted too artificial, etc.  I guess, the artificial came from the coloring of the drink?



Hence today, I’m sharing my sort of copycat version of the Starbucks’ Unicorn Frappuccino with you!  Why “sort of”? Because my version would probably taste nothing closed to the original version of this drink.  But the look and color is definitely a replica!  Only, I’m using all-natural coloring in my recipe!



Yes, all natural color in my recipe, including this gorgeous hue of blue!  If you haven’t watch my video tutorial above, what are you still waiting for?  You’ll discover the secret ingredient that I used to create this gorgeous blue color!  It was truly magical to see the transformation of the color! 



My homemade version of the Unicorn Frappuccino is a Blue Vanilla Frappuccino, layered with Purple Blackberry Frappuccino, topped with cotton candy and edible gold stars!  It’s whimsical, magical, refreshing and oh so delicious!  The sweetness from the Vanilla Frappuccino balanced really well with the tangy Blackberry Frappuccino layer!  Of course, you can top these with whipped cream instead of cotton candy.  But I think the cotton candy adds a layer of dreaminess to this special drink!  If you’re hosting a Unicorn themed party, this drink will definitely be the star of the show! 



Thank you so much for stopping by!  Leave me a comment below and tell me if you’ve tried the Starbucks’ Unicorn Frappuccino and what did you think about it?  If you tried my homemade version, be sure to let me know as well!  I would love to hear from you!  Stay tuned for more fun and magical recipe next week!


Tools and Ingredients used:
Star-shaped jars (Click here for more information)
Rainbow Cotton Candy (Click here for more information)
Edible Gold Stars (Click here for more information)
Blue Paper Straws (Click here for more information)
Gold Stirring Spoon (Click here for more information)
Baking Soda (Click here for more information)
Ninja Blender (Click here for more information)
Agave (Click here for more information)
Ice Cream Scoop (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)
Strainer Set (Click here for more information)

Easter Bunny Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

We’ve been enjoying the warmer weather of Spring here in Southern California.  Well, it’s actually more like Summer temperatures!  It’s nice to see some sunshine rather than rain storms for sure.  Today, I have a fun and adorable recipe to share with you to welcome Spring!  Check out these Easter Bunny Vanilla Bean Cupcakes!  Yes, they sure are perfect for the Easter celebrations as well.



Check out my video tutorial above if you haven’t done so.  I’ll walk you through, step-by-step, on how to make these cuties, including the Bunny Butt White Chocolate decorations on top of these cupcakes.   They are filled with Oreo cookie crumbs inside!  Just the white chocolate alone makes a delicious treat.



The base is a Vanilla Bean Cupcake that I made from scratch.  These cupcakes are surprisingly easy to prepare and they turned out fluffy, light, and moist!  Best of all, this recipe makes exactly 12 cupcakes!  You can easily double or triple the recipe if you’re making them for a party. 



These cupcakes are topped with a Sweet Vanilla Bean Frosting.  I piped the frosting with a Wilton Grass piping tip to mimic the fluffy fur of the bunnies.  I’ll list the tools that I used at the end of the post for your reference.  If you have a sweet tooth, this is a wonderful smooth and sweet frosting that you’re going to love.  But if you prefer a not-too-sweet frosting, you can actually use my Swiss Meringue Vanilla Bean Buttercream recipe instead.  Click here to check out that recipe if you’re interested.



See how light and fluffy the cupcakes and frosting turned out!?  Each bite is packed with vanilla goodness.  You’ll be amazed by how combining a few simple ingredients can turn out to be something so scrumptious!



Here’s the inside look of the Oreo filled white chocolate bunny (see picture above).  As I said, it’s super cute and delicious on its own.  But they sure make the most adorable topper for these cupcakes.



I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and tutorial!  Stay tuned for more fun and festive recipe next week!

How to temper chocolate
http://goo.gl/xLE6kn

Ingredients and Tools Used:

Vanilla Bean Paste (Click here for more information)
Oreo Cookies (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
White Chocolate Chips (Click here for more information)
Cake Flour (Click here for more information)

Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)

Pink Pearl Dust (Click here for more information)

Lemon Extract (Click here for more information)

Wilton Cupcake Pan (Click here for more information)

Bunny Butt Candy Mold (Click here for more information)

Easter Cupcake Liners and Picks Combo Kit (Click here for more information)

Baking Powder (Click here for more information)

Baking Soda (Click here for more information)

Stand Mixer (Click here for more information)

Heat Proof Measuring Cups (Click here for more information)

Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)

Rolling Pin (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)





Easter Bunny Vanilla Bean Cupcakes:
Makes 12 cupcakes

Ingredients for the Oreo Filled Bunny Butt White Chocolate:
6 ounces of white chocolate
6 Oreo Cookies, finely crushed
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
1/2 teaspoon pink luster dust

To Prepare the Bunny Butt Chocolate:
Temper and melt the white chocolate (https://goo.gl/Tevin2). Fill the bunny candy mold with a teaspoon of melted chocolate. With the back of a spoon, spread the melted chocolate to coat the mold.

You only want a thin layer of chocolate, carefully spoon out any excess. Let it set at room temperature for a few minutes. Apply a second coating of chocolate into the cavities of the mold.

When chocolate is completely set. Fill each cavity with half a teaspoon of crusted Oreo. Top the Oreo with remaining white chocolate and let chocolate set completely. Invert the mold and the chocolate should come out easily.

In a small dish, mix the lemon extract and luster dust with a small cake decorating brush. Paint the paws of the bunny chocolate with the pink luster dust mixture. Store in air tight container until ready to use.

Ingredients for the Vanilla Cupcakes:
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
a pinch of kosher salt
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

To Prepare the Vanilla Cupcakes:Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a cupcake tin with cupcake liners.

In a large measuring cup, add milk, oil, butter, yogurt, egg, and vanilla bean paste. Whisk until well combined. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Turn mixer on low speed and mix for a minute to combine.

Add the milk mixture into the stand mixer in a slow and steady stream. Scrape the sides and bottle of the bowl and mix for another 20 seconds.

With a large ice cream scoop, fill each cupcake liner 3/4 of the way. Bake for 20-25 min or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cupcakes on a wire rack completely before frosting.

Ingredients for the Fluffy Vanilla Bean Frosting:12 tablespoons softened unsalted butter (room temperature)
3 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

To Prepare the Fluffy Vanilla Bean Frosting:In a large bowl, sift powdered sugar and set aside.

In the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter for 5 minutes until fluffy and pale.

Add half of the powdered sugar and whisk well. Scrape the sides of the bowl and add in the remaining half of the powdered sugar. Add milk and vanilla bean paste. Continue beating the frosting for another 5 minutes or until light, smooth, and fluffy.

To Assemble:
Place frosting into a large piping bag fitted with the Wilton #233 grass icing tip. Fill the pastry bag with frosting and pipe frosting onto the cooled cupcakes. Top with decorated bunny chocolate and bunny ears tooth picks. Enjoy!

Coffee Jelly 咖啡啫喱

Have you ever tried Coffee (flavored) Jelly?  It’s a popular treat in Asia Countries, especially during the warmer seasons of Spring and Summer.  The very first time I had it was years ago when I traveled to Japan.  By following my video tutorial and recipe, you can easily make it at home now!  Much easier than flaying across the globe, isn’t it?  Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy travelling!



This Coffee Jelly is a light and refreshing treat to prepare for parties and/or everyday enjoyment.  I like my homemade version because I can control the sweetness in my dessert and use the coffee beans that I love.  I usually like my coffee dark, strong, and with low acidity level.  After all these years of drinking coffee in the morning (probably the only way to really wake my mind up), I realized grinding the coffee beans right before brewing yields the best earthy and rich aroma from the beans.  If you’re not doing that yet, I really encourage you to invest in a coffee grinder and grind up the beans right before brewing!  It’s totally worth the time and efforts!



 As always, I don’t like my dessert overly sweet.  Therefore, the sweetness in this Coffee Jelly recipe is only minimal.  If you prefer a sweeter taste, you can add a little bit more sugar to adjust it to your own preference.  Or even add a splash of agave before serving. 



In today’s video tutorial (see the link above), I demonstrated 2 ways of serving this Coffee Jelly treat.  One is in the small individual serving glass, topped with freshly whipped cream, a coffee bean, and a spring of mint for garnish.  It’s gorgeous enough to serve for parties and gatherings, but extremely easy to prepare.  It’s such a delightful dessert that serves the duty of both after meal coffee and dessert at the same time!



The second way to serve this Coffee Jelly is to chill the mixture in a container, cut it up into small cubes, and add a splash of evaporated milk to serve.  I personally prefer the later version because I always love a little creaminess in my coffee.  Notice the pinch of salt that I added in this recipe?  This will help balance the flavor and to offset the acidity in your coffee.  I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and tutorial.  Stay tuned for more fun a delicious recipe next week!





Tools and Ingredients Used:
Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Unflavored Gelatin (Click here for more information)
Pastry Decorating Tip Set (Click here for more information)
Pyrex 2 Quart Measuring Cup (Click here for more information)
Vanilla Bean Paste (Click here for more information)
Powdered Sugar (Click here for more information)
Glass Dish Set with Lids (Click here for more information)
Libbey Mini Glare Glass Set (Click here for more information)

Individual Skillet Brownies with Vanilla Ice Cream – Valentine’s Day Dessert Recipe Idea

Valentine’s Day is only a few days away!  If you’re still searching for a dessert recipe for to celebrate this special day, you’ve come to the right place!  This quick and easy Individual Skillet Brownies with Vanilla Ice Cream recipe is all you ever needed!  It’s so decadent yet so easy to prepare that I make them all year round for my family! 



Have you ever came across the situation of everyone in your family fighting over the crispy edges of your fresh baked brownies?  I am just as guilty in leaving the soft center of the brownie all lonely!  Well, with this Individual Skillet Brownies recipe, your family will finally get to enjoy dessert in harmony, once again!



This individual cast iron skillet will produce the kind of crispy brownie edge that everyone loves!  The ratio of crispy edges to soft and tender center is just right.  Best of all, it’s a perfect size to share with your sweetheart, but I’m not going to judge if you decided to enjoy it all by yourself!  My kids can easily finish one whole skillet all on their own!  Trust me, when dessert this delicious, you might not want to share either!  I got these individual cast iron skillets online, and I’ve also seen them in specialty baking stores as well.  But they’re actually cheaper online.  I’ll share the link at the end of this post for your convenience.  



Imagine this, crispy and slight warm chocolate brownie topped with a scoop of cold and silky vanilla bean ice cream….each bite is heavenly!  It’s a delicious contrast of textures and temperatures!  It’s a feast for the eyes, as well as your palates!  I prepared this homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream the day before, but you can also use store bought premium quality vanilla bean ice cream as well.  I'll post the link to my vanilla ice cream video tutorial below, just in case you feel like making a batch from scratch!  



Thank you for stopping by and I hope you enjoy today’s tutorial and recipe.  I hope you’ll head to the kitchen soon to bake up a batch of brownie for your family and loved ones!  Wish you and yours a Happy Valentine’s Day!  Stay sweet!




Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Tutorial:
https://goo.gl/vnViTc

Ingredients and Tools Used:
 
3.5-inch Lodge Cast Iron Skillet (Click here for more information)
Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips (Click here for more information)
Trader Joe’s Colombian Instant Coffee (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Kitchen Whisk Set (Click here for more information)
Mixing Bowl Set (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup Set (Click here for more information)
OXO 4-Piece Mini Measuring Beaker Set (Click here for more information)
OXO Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)
Silicone Spatula for Folding Ingredients (Click here for more information)
Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream (Click here for more information)
Pastry Decorating Tip Set (Click here for more information)

Autumn Leaf Tuile Cookies

Are you in the mood for Autumn, or Fall as that’s how we call it in the States?  My mind is definitely ready for it, but the Southern California temperature certainly didn’t think so!  Seems like we’re having an extended summer this year, again.  Seriously, I’m so ready to take out my coats and jackets already!




So, before any of the coats, boots, or down filled jackets can get out of the closet, I’m at least filling up my belly with food that are fitted for the season!  Let me present to you, Autumn Leaf Tuile Cookies!  These cookies are quite easy and fun to make.  I love that they are light and crispy, that truly resemble the Autumn falling leaves, except tastier, I assumed (cos I never tasted a real leaf, of course)!   



These cookies are delightful on their own.  They are crispy, light, buttery, and sweet, along with a hint of vanilla aroma.  I can easily enjoy a whole dozen in one sitting.



However, they are even better if you use them on your Fall desserts!  They make the most beautiful topping for my Pumpkin Roll cake and add a nice crunch for contrast in texture.  I’ll share the video tutorial on how to make the pumpkin roll next week.  So stay tuned!  For now, let’s enjoy these gorgeous Autumn Leaf Tuile Cookies!  Have a Fall Fantasy Friday!

**Update:  Click here to check out the Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe!***





Tools and ingredients used:
Leaf Shaped Stencil (Click here for more information)
(Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Silicone Cookie Spatula (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Offset Spatula (Click here for more information)

Classic Chocolate Glazed Éclair

Do you love pastries?  My family is definitely a huge fan of pastries!  We love all sorts of pastries, ranging from doughnuts, cupcakes, to scones and cookies.  However, among all these pastries, éclairs is probably on top of our list of favorite pastries. 



This classic éclair recipe consists of the basic Choux Pastry, which is similar to the cream puff shells.  I filled them with the decadent classic vanilla bean pastry cream.  The pastry cream is slightly sweetened so that you can truly taste the sweet aroma of the vanilla bean.  I then top these éclairs with a simple dark chocolate glaze that brings a hint of bitterness to compliment the pastry cream beautifully.   You can also use milk chocolate for the glaze as well if that’s what you prefer.  My kids love dark chocolate (I guess that runs in the family), so that’s pretty much my default preference. 




I love that you can see all the little specks of vanilla bean seeds throughout the pastry cream inside (see picture below).  Isn’t it gorgeous?  I’m telling you, they tasted even more amazing than their look!  If you haven’t done so, please check out the video tutorial at the top of the post.  It’s definitely easier to prepare than they look!  I’ll list the ingredients and tools used in this recipe at the end of the post for your convenience.


 
I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and tutorial.  Stay tuned for more fun and scrumptious recipe next week!


Ingredients and Tools used:
Vanilla Bean Paste (Click here for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Corn Starch (Click here for more information)
Pastry Bag  (Click here for more information)
Ateco Large Round Pastry Tip (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Silpat (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup (Click here for more information) 

Mini Bunny Vanilla Bean Doughnuts 小兔子雲呢拿甜甜圈

Looking for after school snack recipes that are cute and easy?  You’re going to love today’s recipe and video tutorial!  Check out these Mini Bunny Vanilla Bean Doughnuts (小兔子雲呢拿甜甜圈)!  They are packed with cuteness and awesome vanilla bean aromas.



Instead of the traditional deep-fried method, these mini doughnuts are baked in a mini doughnut pan (I’ll list the tools at the end of this post for your reference).  Therefore, they are a little bit healthier and easier to prepare.  You don’t have to deal with kneading a yeasty dough nor deep frying in a big pot of hot oil.  Phew…. 



Since these doughnuts are baked rather than fried, the texture is more comparable to cakes or cupcakes, which is quite different than a traditional doughnut.  Nevertheless, these doughnuts are still light and fluffy.  Thanks to the vanilla bean paste that is added to the batter, you can definitely taste the vanilla bean flavor.  I love that these doughnuts are in mini sizes too.  Not only they are cuter that way, they are perfect for portion control too!  



As you can see from my video tutorial above, these bunny doughnuts are quite easy to prepare  Because there’s no machine nor mixer needed.  Plus, it’s super fun to decorate them into bunnies as well.  Just a quick dip in the icing, then draw out the facial expressions that fits your mood. 

These Mini Bunny Doughnuts were a big hit at home!  My kids loved them so much and they requested to have them as breakfast the next day.  What are your kid’s favorite after school snacks?  Tell me in the comment below.  I would love to hear from you.




Tools and ingredients used:
Nonstick Mini Donut Pan (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Vanilla Bean Paste (Click here for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Click here for more information)
Measuring Cup (Click here for more information)


Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel here.  That way, you won’t miss out on any video and you’ll be the first to know when I have a new tutorial published.

Double Chocolate Sandwich Cookies 黑白朱古力夾心曲奇餅:

One of our favorite summer activities is cooking and baking at home.  However, My Baby Girl is obviously way more interested in the cooking and baking, way more than my Little Handsome does.  Quite often, she got to select our baking projects.  And you probably know by now, bunny is one of her favorite animals.  Click here, here, and here for other bunny treats that we’ve made so far!  Here comes the BIG question!  How will you eat these cookies?  Will you start from the ears?  Or will you bite on the little cutie pink cheek first?  Either way, these are super fun to eat and super fun to make as well!  Not to mention, they are so adorable and almost too kawaii (cute) to eat, almost!  How about we do a little bunny cookie eating personality test?



Bunny Cookie Personality Test:  Where will you start first?

Ears First:
If you nibble on the ears first, you’re a practical, organized, and traditional person.  You value security and you’re extremely loyal.  You might be a little impatient at times but everyone loves you!

Cheek First:
If you start with the cheek first, you’re the type of person that tends to take the roads that are less traveled.   It's not necessarily means that you’re an innovator.  It’s probably due to the fact that you don’t want to be predictable.  A bit cautious, perhaps, or even a little...sneaky!?

Eating the whole cookie all in one bite:
You’re restless, independent, and always on the go.  People can count on you to get the job done.  You also have a delightful personality and make friends easily.  You're definitely a fun person to be around.

Smelling It First:
If you would smell the cookie first before taking a bite, you’re a bit cautious. Isn't that obvious?  You always think twice before you act.  You have high standards and detail oriented.  You’re polite and very well mannered.

Chin First:
If you eat the bunny’s chin first, you are a very caring and nurturing person.  You also need assurance that you are loved.   A little insecure, perhaps?  You’re afraid that people might take advantage of you or take you for granted.  But if you found that right person, you’ll love them unconditionally.  

Breaking the cookie In Half:
Breaking the cookie in half is pretty much a reflection of how you live your life. “Half full” being a bit skeptical or pessimistic about things.  You do have a great sense of humor and you are a great friend to others.



Okay, now you know what kind of a person I am!  LOL….. Anyway, this test is just for a little fun.  Please don’t take it too seriously!  However, I would appreciate that you leave a comment below and tell me your "choice of body part" to bite into, and if the test results are accurate!  



So, head to the kitchen and bake these bunny cookies!  These are very easy to make with no mixer and/or machine needed at all!  However, please use good quality Dutch-process cocoa powder for this recipe.  It’ll give you the deep, dark, and rich chocolate flavor that you can’t get from other cocoa powder.  After trying so many different brands of cocoa powder, Valrhona is my personal favorite.  I’ll list the ingredients and tools below for your reference!  Stay tuned for more fun recipe next week.  Thanks for stopping by and take care.   




Tools and Ingredients Used:
Valrhona Cocoa Powder (Clickhere for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Clickhere for more information)
Wilton Pink Pearl Sprinkles (Clickhere for more information)
Wilton Daisy Flower Sprinkles (Clickhere for more information)
Dark Chocolate Chips (Clickhere for more information)
White Chocolate Chips (Clickhere for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Click here for more information)
Large Flower Cookie Cutter (Click here for more information)
Small Bunny Cookie Cutter (Click here for more information)
Measuring Spoons Set (Click here for more information)
Cooling Racks (Click here for more information)
Baking Sheets (Click here for more information)
Rolling Pin  (Clickhere for more information)
Silpat (Clickhere for more information)

Neapolitan Ice Cream Pops 自家製三色雪糕磚

My Kids are having a great summer vacation so far.  From visiting the beach, the park, the library, and meeting up with friends, to playing board games and cooking together at home, we’re having a very balanced schedule.  I like it because the kids are engaged, but yet, still have time to rest and relax.  Best of all, we all love it when there’s no homework involved!  This is what summer is all about, isn’t it?  Having fun and enjoying each other’s company!  As you can see from my recent videos, my Baby Girl had been helping me out in the kitchen whenever I cook.  I really enjoy the time we spent together.



Summer time also reminds me of this nostalgic dessert that I enjoyed when I was young.  It’s the classic Neapolitan ice cream sandwich!  I’m sure you know which one I’m referring to!  The rectangular one wrapped inside a piece of white paper.  It has chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry ice cream sandwiched in between two soft chocolate cookies/cake; more like cake with that soft texture, I guess.  I recently had one, but honestly, it didn’t taste as great as I remembered it to be.  I guess it’s all the fun memories that were associated with it that made me loved this ice cream sandwich so much!  Today, I’m updating this nostalgic dessert with my own homemade version!  Let me present it to you: Neapolitan Ice Cream Pops 自家製三色雪糕磚!  



This homemade version gets all the components of the classic ice cream sandwich, but presented differently.  A much more fun and pretty way, in my opinion!  Instead of a soft sandwich, I started it with an Oreo cookie crust!  Yes, you can’t really go wrong when you start anything with Oreo….okay, dinner item would be an exception, I guess.  Then, I layered on with the chocolate, vanilla bean, and strawberry ice cream on top of one another.  You’ll see in my video on how layered the ice cream.  It is super quick and easy to do.  You can use store bought ice cream to make this dessert in a cinch.  It’s perfect to take to parties for sharing.  You’ll need half a tub (1.5 quart size) of each flavor.  But of course, you can take it to the next level by making your homemade ice creams like I did.  I’ll list my homemade ice cream recipes for all three flavors for your reference below.  The ice cream spreads easily right after churning.  If you are using the store bought ones, take the tub out of the freezer 15 minutes before layering.  Lastly, I inserted popsicle sticks on top and turn them into ice cream pops!  Very portable and fun to eat.  After cutting them into individual squares, you can see all the gorgeous layers!  



I hope you enjoy today’s recipe and video tutorial.  Stay tuned for more fun and easy summer recipes!  What are some of your summer favorite recipes?  Feel free to share them with me in the commend below. 






Tools and Ingredients used:

8x8x2 Baking Pan (Clickhere for more information)
Wooden Popsicle Sticks (Clickhere for more information)
Washi Tape (Clickhere for more information)
Ninja Food Processor (Clickhere for more information)
Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker (Clickhere for more information)
Valrhona Cocoa Powder (Clickhere for more information)
Organic Vanilla Bean (Clickhere for more information)
Organic Vanilla Extract (Clickhere for more information)
Horizon Organic Heavy Whipping Cream (Clickhere for more information)
Oreo Cookies (Clickhere for more information)
Kerrygold Butter (Clickhere for more information)
Parchment Paper (Clickhere for more information) 
4 Cups Measuring Cup (Clickhere for more information)


Recipe for Homemade Dark Chocolate Ice Cream:
http://goo.gl/z47CXd

Recipe for Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream:
https://goo.gl/lcpfPc

Recipe for Homemade Roasted Strawberry Ice Cream:
http://goo.gl/2Sd5h4