Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Yesterday was a much better day than Sunday was for me. I know that my weight loss battle will be a long one but i'm ready for a new journey and a new direction in my life. I know that doing the BC 3 Day will also create big changes for me.

So I am the dessert diva and i feel that it's my duty to post tasty desserts that i create. This past weekend was my SIL (sis-n-law's) birthday. She is a huge red velvet cake fan, but her favorite cake that i make is a super moist Chocolate Cake with my original recipe of Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting. I decided to add Chocolate Covered Strawberries to the cake because... well they just go perfectly with chocolate cake.





I'm going to brag on myself for a minute. I may not be the best at everything in the baking world, but creating frostings and icings is my thing. I know that lots of blogs share recipes but since mine is a 2nd business adventure i'm not sure i'll be posting all my recipes.

I did recieve a recipe from a fellow caterer on how to make chocolate covered strawberries. Her ingredient that she adds is half & half or heavy cream. I have attempted to make these 3 times and well they are still a work in progress for sure. They look great on the front, but the bottoms look awful and fall apart. I'll keep working on this and hopefully it will come out perfect soon. (I'm a bit of a perfectionist for sure) Here's the recipe and instructions. Let me know if you've tried these and how they worked out for you. Or any other tips i could try.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

large strawberries (washed and dried)
1 bag chocolate chips
3 TBSP half and half or heavy cream

Melt the chocolate chips in a pyrex measure all and add the half & half/cream. Mix until smooth. Put toothpicks into the strawberries and dip them in chocolate. Place them on wax paper or take the strawberries and place the toothpick into styrofoam and refrigerate at least 1 hour for them to set up. Then remove toothpick and place on wax paper. Drizzle white chocolate over strawberries at this point.

Another option is to add sprinkles to the strawberries for some additional color. If you do this method add sprinkles while the chocolate is still wet.



Here is how mine turned out. They look fine, but when we picked them up the bottoms fell off. I'll keep working on it and let you know how they turn out.

Thanks for joining me on my fabulous life as the Dessert Diva!

ROCK BOTTOM

Well i'm back to blogland and i'm feeling blah today. As the title reads, "ROCK BOTTOM" i have officially hit it. No, despite what some might say i'm not an alcoholic. No, i'm not addicted to drugs either. I am 100% addicted to food. Desserts to be more specific. I bake, therefore i eat. Should be my slogan.

So rock bottom came after seeing myself nude in a whole new way and realizing that i have packed on the pounds, yet again. I have done weight watchers several times. The first time i was on weight watchers i lost 50 lbs. Yes, 50 and i looked good, but i didn't think i did or something happened. Oh that's right, LIFE HAPPENED! And now 3 years after losing said 50 lbs i've officially packed all 50 lbs back on. Oh it makes me so sad just thinking about it. Anyway, enough of the pity party. I'm done. Rock Bottom came and went and now it's the 1st day of the rest of my life.

Some questions that keep popping in my head:
How does a food addict get over there addiction and still eat?
Why would i let this happen to myself again?
When i was thinner i thought i was so happy, but turns out i wasn't. Why is this?

All of this will be revealed in due time. I am going to start looking for a therapist. Yes, i said it. I have bigger problems than bloggers can handle/help me with.

All of this comes at the perfect time. Today begins my 24 week training program for the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk in November. I'm so excited to be committing myself to this walk. I only hope that the money that we raise really does make a difference in the lives of women and men all over this world who deal with this horrible disease. I'm still fundraising and have a ways to go, but i have total faith and confidence that i will reach my $2300 goal by November. I've already raised $880 so far.

So the training period begins. Last weekend i bought a new pair of New Balance Shoes and i will rack up about 660 miles in those shoes. Today on my training schedule it says to rest, but with my crazy Memorial day weekend i am going to walk tonight after work.

I'll leave you with a picture of my dear friend who encouraged me to join this BC 3Day Walk. She and I have been friends since we met as co-workers when I was only 16 years old. Let's just say that we are coming up on a 14 year friendship. WOW. I love you B! Divas for a Cure is our team. Check out my website




This picture was taken after our first 3 miles walked. We are sporting our new BC t-shirts.

Still adjusting to the new bloggosphere!

Well I'm still trying to figure out what all I'm doing on this thing they call BLOG!!! I'll get it together eventually.  I'm always needing to organize and rearrange pictures on my computer and maybe this will be an opportunity for me to do so.  We all know that I have the time during the day for sure.  Gotta love the Day job.

Anyway, so that you know what it's like for me, FDD (fabulous dessert diva), I'll fill you in on what I've been up to this week. 

Monday- I was still at home recouperating from my allergic reaction to make-up (will post later in detail). 

Tuesday- Work, then went to my neice's ballet recital.  She was adorable, but she is more like me and dances to her own beat.  As my friends all know, I don't do choregraphed dancing because...well, because i'd look like an idiot.  My niece however looked beautiful and i'm proud of her always for trying something new. Next semester she is moving on to piano though, which will probably suit her better.

Wednesday - Work, went to Sam's Club at lunch.  (a weekly activity for a baker).  Then after work i went to Barnes and Noble where Hungry Girl was there signing books.  I stayed and got the books signed and even recieved some free prizes and a t-shirt.  I then went home and started baking at oh 9:30 pm.  I made 5 dozen cupcakes and 2 batches of White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting and was done by 11:00 pm.  Pretty good time if you ask me.  I did clean the Kitchen so that took a little extra time as well.  

Thursday - Worked, then went home for lunch and decorated said cupcakes for an order to be picked up that evening.  I only had to make 4 dozen, but i saved an extra dozen for my SIL cause they are her favorite.  I also made the batter for my Mother's Day Dessert.  I'm making Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake.  It should be HEAVEN, but i'll let you know next week.

Here's how the cupcakes turned out.  I like the idea of mixing mini chocolate chips and the red sugar together for a topper for these lovely RED VELVET CUPCAKES!!!

Lots to do this weekend. I am attending my first training walk for the Breast Cancer 3-Day tomorrow at 8 am so that should be fun. Mother's day stuff on Saturday and Sunday. It'll probably turn out to be a pretty busy weekend.

Well, until next time... I hope everyone has a Wonderful Mother's Day!

Fabulous Dessert Diva

I finally did it

Well i finally did it.  This is the beginning to my journey about my life as the one, the only (well probably not the only) Dessert Diva.  I'm so excited that I will finally have an outlet for all things happening in my day to day life.  I'm going to starting looking for someone to design this blog of mine so that it will look pretty.  I'll also be adding and organizing my photos so that people can see what all fabulous dessert's that the diva, herself has been making.

Excited about where this new road will lead, hope you will join me.