The Pink Life

Happy 19th Birthday to me!

2012-01-22T13:22:00.002-06:00

I didn't make the cake, however I believe it was a sponge cake topped with creme. It was decorated with blueberries, kiwis, strawberries, and candles. Very cute!

誕生日おめでとう

RECIPE: MITARASHI DANGO 団子

2012-01-10T15:38:00.004-06:00

Dango (団子), or dumplings, are a traditional Japanese sweet. They are soft, a tad chewy, and come in a variety of flavors. Today's recipe is for Mitarashi Dango. This flavor is currently very popular in Japanese. It's a dango covered in a sweet/salty syrup made of soy sauce and sugar.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Pack of Dango Flour (Dango-ko)
200 ml Hot Water

MITARASHI SAUCE:
1/3 Cup of Sugar
2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
100 ml Water
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch

In a medium sized bowl, start of by mixing your dango flour and hot water together. Keep your hands wet for this, otherwise the dango dough will stick to your fingers. Knead it firmly until it becomes thick and as hard as your earlobe.

Next, bring a pot of water to a boil. Bubbles form at the top of the water when it is boiling. Pinch off small pieces of dough and roll them in your hands until they become round. Carefully place the dango balls in the boiling water.

At first your dango will be heavy and sink to the bottom of the pot. Eventually, they will rise to the top. After they rise to the surface, let them boil for another 4 minutes. Use a spoon to take them out and immediately place them in cold water.

Transfer your dango to a towel or plate. At this point, you would stick about 3 or 4 dango onto a skewer, but I didn't have any today!

For the Mitarashi sauce, mix all of the ingredients together in a pot and bring to a boil. Next, simmer it on medium/low-medium heat, then let it cool so it can thicken. Drizzle the sauce over your dumplings, or cover them completely.

In the near future I want to try different flavors. Maybe a green tea dumpling?

SWEET BUY: ふんわり焼 FUNWARIYAKI

2012-01-10T02:30:00.005-06:00

Funwariyaki (ふんわり焼) is a red bean cake from Japan. I decided to purchase this product since I haven't really taken much time to research and explore Japanese sweets!

This cake is "matcha" or green tea flavored, hence the green outside.

The exterior is soft and fluffy, exactly like a pancake!

Inside is "azuki (小豆)", or red bean paste. It's exactly like it sounds. The beans are mashed up and lightly sweetened.

The combination of flavors is foreign but truly wonderful, as is the differing textures. I'm also pleased with the fact that these cakes are extremely low in fat (about 4 grams each at 200 calories). Because of the azuki paste, you also get a bit of protein. This sweet snack leaves you feeling full yet not overwhelmed.

Purchase Marukyo ふんわり焼 at VeryAsia.com for $6.35! !

SWEET SHOP: Magnolia Bakery in Chicago

2012-01-07T15:29:00.003-06:00

Magnolia Bakery is a pleasantly pastel sweet shop in the heart of downtown Chicago. Originating in New York, this franchise has expanded to six locations across the globe.

Everything looks delicious! They serve pies, cupcakes, cookies, and more.

A selection of tiny cakes are put in display in the front of the store.

Magnolia Bakery seems to be prepared for every occasion, as they sell cake stands, tea, and other baking related merchandise.

A cute apron sits in the window. This is actually what convinced me to come in!

Now for the important part! I buy a single cupcake for a taste-test.

A lemon cupcake with lemon custard inside and a coconut meringue topping. It was very sweet and I'm certainly not used to meringue and cake together. Nevertheless, it tasted quite good. I'm a huge coconut fan, so this was perfect.

108 N. State St.
Chicago, IL 60602

312-346-7777
http://www.magnoliabakery.com

Merry Sweet Pink Christmas!

2011-12-19T18:23:00.003-06:00

Icecream bath-bomb and Strawberry Shortcake body wash from World Market!

Stawberry and Chocolate candy-cane.

Cupcake Nails

2011-09-16T18:58:00.003-05:00

Made these nails for tomorrow's ShibuyaLA Grand Opening Party!
I can't wait to show them off.

SWEET BUY: ハートのSWEETS、KRACIEカップケーキ、いちご大好き

2011-07-14T13:47:00.004-05:00

Purin's Sweet Adventures in Little Tokyo

2011-07-14T13:38:00.003-05:00

A beautiful set of pastries from Yamazaki Bakery!

A crepe with matcha icecream, red bean paste, and blueberries from Four Leaf!

Mocha and Red Velvet Cupcakes. (It's western, but I had to post this photo!)

Plum wine icecream from Yakitori Koshiji!

From now on I'd like to try more Japanese and Japanese inspired sweets. I wasn't used to the flavors used in these dishes, but curiousity got the best of me and I absolutely loved it.

SWEET BUY: ハートのSWEETS

2011-06-26T21:27:00.002-05:00

I bought a set of heart shaped minature desserts from Sugoi Life yesterday. I love these doughnuts! The box even comes with a set of instructions on how to bake them. Now if only I could actually eat one...

Lil Rae Cakes 1 Year Anniversary Review

2011-05-30T14:37:00.004-05:00

Jenny Rae looking absolutely fabulous!

Me and my ChubbyBunny Hello Kitty Bow!

Brownies, cakes, and delicious whoopie pies. Who could resist sinking their teeth into this selection of sweets?

The frosting to cake ratio is amazing. Just the way I like it.

Cake pops in a variety of flavors.

The Create-A-Cupcake bar. There are tons of sprinkles and candies to chose from.

Chubby Bunny's booth.

More Hello Kitty Bows.

The frozen yogurt bar.

Please visit Lil Rae Cakes website for menu items and more!

Lil Rae Cakes 1 Year Anniversary

2011-05-25T11:21:00.002-05:00

Lil Rae Cakes is celebrating it's 1 year anniversary with Jenny Rae! This is a free event so everyone can come on by.

The first 25 guests get free soda and pizza, and the first 50 guests get a free cake ball.

-Meet n greet with Traci Hines as Ariel 7pm-9pm

-Buy Onch Movement jewelry, Locketship jewelry, and Chubby Bunny bows

-See the debut of the Lil Rae Cakes apron line

-Costume contest for the SWEETEST outfit

Special guests...

ONCH MOVEMENT will be selling jewelry
http://onchmovement.bigcartel.com/
http://www.facebook.com/onchmovement
http://www.twitter.com/onchmovement

MICHELLE OF CHUBBY BUNNY will be selling bows
http://www.iamchubbybunny.com/
http://www.facebook.com/ChubbyBunnyAccessories
http://www.twitter.com/iamchubbybunny

TRACI HINES will be appearing as ARIEL from The Little Mermaid
http://www.facebook.com/TraciHinesMusic
http://www.twitter.com/TraciHines
http://www.youtube.com/TraciJHines
http://www.youtube.com/TraciHines

LOCKETSHIP will be selling jewelry
http://www.locketship.com/
http://twitter.com/locketship

Sweet Stuff in Los Angeles

2011-03-24T11:57:00.004-05:00

Over in my Ameblo, I blogged about a short trip to Topanga Canyon Mall. I wanted to get better pictures of what I bought at Sugoi Life.

Chocolate Bar Pencil Case

Ichigo Sweets Keychain

I got the icecream one (number 4).

SWEET READ: The Sweet Little Book of Cupcakes

2011-02-15T15:41:00.002-06:00

Sweet Cupcakes, a bakery located in the heart of Boston, have released this book to share 45 big cupcake recipes. The book covers each flavor with attention to detail, sharing information on how to make your own frosting even different fruit preserves!

The Sweet Little Book of Cupcakes is perfect for anybody interested in taking cupcake making to the next level.

The Sweet Little Book of Cupcakes -- via Amazon

Going to Los Angeles

2011-01-17T21:43:00.002-06:00

Hey everyone!
I'll be going to LA tomorrow for about a week or two. It seems I'll be moving there in the immediate future.

I probably wont be able to post any recipes within the time that I'm gone, but if I run across any bakeries in the area, I'll definitely update!

Thanks for your support. I'll be back soon.

RECIPE: Midnight Mud Pie

2011-01-16T16:51:00.002-06:00

INGREDIENTS:
6 (1 ounce) Squares Baking Chocolate
1 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup Dark Corn Syrup
4 Eggs
1 (9 inch) Oreo Pie Crust

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt the baking chocolate, corn syrup, and butter in a saucepan for 5 minutes on low heat. Let cool. Stir in beaten eggs and pour mixture into the pie crust. Bake for 30 minutes and let cool for 1 hour.

DESSERT DECO

2011-01-13T23:40:00.003-06:00

SWEET BUY: Donut Cutter, 101 Cookie Cutters, Baking Cups

2011-01-12T12:23:00.002-06:00

101 Cookie Cutters from our friends at Wilton. This set is perfect for anyone looking for generic shapes, holiday shapes, letters, and numbers.

Wilton 101 Cookie Cutters -- via Amazon

I can't tell you how excited I am to have this. Norpro introduces it's stainless steel donut and cookie cutter, perfect for popping out flawless donut shapes.

Norpro Donut Cutter -- via Amazon

Last but not least, Fox Run's silver baking cups. I realized that I had every color but standard foil!

Fox Run Silver Foil Baking Cups -- via Amazon

Dessert Soaps

2011-01-06T21:44:00.004-06:00

What's sweeter than bath bombs and soaps shaped like candy? I found these at World Market today along with a huge assortment of other colors.

For more delicious looking sundries, check out the following links

Soap Cafe
Soap Cafe features a wide variety of pastry shaped soaps. Imagine bathing with a scoop of banana cream pie. Or washing up with an iced cinnamon roll!

soapylove
Soapylove is most famous for its Soapy Pops, Popsicle shaped soaps that look and smell extremely realistic. Remember folks, don't try to eat these!

Toaster Pastry Soap -- via Etsy

RECIPE: RASPBERRY-CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES

2011-01-05T20:21:00.003-06:00

INGREDIENTS:
Cake-
2 Cups Sugar
1 3/4 Cups Flour
1/2 Cup Cocoa
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
1 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Eggs
1 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Oil
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 Cup Water

Frosting-
1/2 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup (1 Stick) Butter (Softened)
4 Cups (1 lb) Confectioners Sugar
1/3 Cup Seedless Raspberry Preserves
Pink/Red Food Coloring

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Mix dry ingredients first, then add wet. Fill baking cups 2/3 full, then place them into your cupcake pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes. Let cool before frosting.

Christmas Choco-Mint Cupcakes

2010-12-25T22:54:00.003-06:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS! クリスマスクリスマス

Ingredients:
Cake--
1 1/2 Cups Flour
3/4 Cups Cocoa Powder
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
3/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
2 Eggs
3/4 Cup Milk
3 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
3/4 Cup Warm Water
1 Teaspoon Mint Extract

Frosting--
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Sugar
2/3 Cup Milk
1/3 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
4 Sticks Unsalted Butter
1 Teaspoon Mint Extract
Green Food Coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients first, then add wet. Pour batter into baking cups. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool before topping with frosting.

Pure Berry

2010-12-22T22:38:00.005-06:00

Pure Berry is a popular Japanese frozen yogurt shop on the 7th floor of Shibuya 109. This resteraunt is a popular hotspot for gyaru looking for a refreshing treat.

You can add fresh fruit, sprinkles, and even cereal to make your own unique creation. With a cute and delicious assortment of toppings, even magazines like Popteen are crazy for Pure Berry.

10:00～21:00
TEL: 03-3477-5163
http://www.pureberry.co.jp/

SWEET SHOP: Fraiche Bakery and Cafe

2010-12-05T16:05:00.003-06:00

Fraiche is a scratch bakery and cafe located in Evanston, Illinois. Their menu includes a wide range of homemade sandwiches and pastries, and once I got inside, I immediately requested a pumpkin whoopie pie!

You can follow Fraiche on Twitter here.

RECIPE: FLUFFY YELLOW CAKE

2010-12-02T16:16:00.003-06:00

Featured in the photos is a basic yellow cake recipe I use for cupcakes and such.

INGREDIENTS:
3 Cups Flour
2 1/2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 3/4 Cups Sugar
2/3 Cup Butter
2 Eggs
1 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla
1 1/4 cups Milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients and then add wet ingredients. Pour mixture into baking cups. Place baking cups into cupcake pan. Bake for 20-22 minutes.

RECIPE: PUMPKIN PIE DELIGHT

2010-12-01T12:32:00.003-06:00

INGREDIENTS:
1 (14 Ounce) Can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 1/4 Cups Canned Pureed Pumpkin
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix ingredients and pour into baking cups. Place baking cups into cupcake pan. Bake for 25 minutes or until pie filling is set.

Pink Dark-Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-11-20T21:42:00.003-06:00

I just had to share these with everyone! I used a simple sugar cookie box mix, added some neon pink food coloring, and finally threw in some dark chocolate chips!

RECIPE: CHOCO MACARON WITH PINK VANILLA FROSTING

2010-11-18T13:16:00.004-06:00

I finally got around to playing with my はじめてマカロンFirst Macaron kit I wrote about a couple months ago here. The instructions inside were very easy to follow since they're written for kids.

INGREDIENTS:
1 Cup Powder Sugar
1/2 Cup Powdered Almonds
3 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
2 Egg Whites
5 Tablespoons Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients except for granulated sugar in a bowl. In another bowl, use an electric mixer to beat your egg whites. Gradually add the granulated sugar to your eggs, and continue to beat until the mixture holds stiff peaks.

Next, using a spatula, fold in the rest of your dry ingredients carefully until the mixture is smooth and there are no white streaks. Fill your pastry bag.

Pipe shapes onto nonstick parchment paper. Make sure to gently shake the baking sheet to flatten your shapes.

Bake for 15-18 minutes. Watch your macarons carefully while they're in the oven.

RECIPE: CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM DREAM

2010-11-15T18:33:00.002-06:00

INGREDIENTS:
Cake:
2 Cups Sugar
1 3/4 Cups Flour
2/4 Cups Cocoa
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
2 Eggs
1 Cup Milk
1/2 Cup Oil
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
1 Cup Water

Chocolate Buttercream
1/2 Cup Shortening
1/2 Cup (1 Stick) Butter
3/4 Cup Cocoa or 1 oz Unsweetened Chocolate Squares (Melted)
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
4 Cups Powder Sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients first, and then add wet. Pour into 2 nonstick 8-inch square pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

For the frosting, mix ingredients and slowly add milk after for desired thickness.

RECIPE: MICKEY MOUSE YEAST DONUTS

2010-11-11T20:25:00.003-06:00

INGREDIENTS:
Donut:
2 Cups Milk
½ Cup (1 Stick) Unsalted Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Tablespoon Salt
1 Package Dry Yeast
1 Teaspoon Sugar
¼ cup Warm Water
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
½ Teaspoon Baking Soda
1 Cup Mashed Potatoes
3 Egg Yolks
8 Cups Flour

Glaze:
1 Cup Powder Sugar
1/2 Cup Water
Food Coloring

Mix the above donut ingredients. Roll dough ½ inch thick onto surface and cut with donut or cookie cutter. Cover and let rise for 1 hour. Fry in oil at 370 degrees until both sides are golden brown.

Let the donuts cool for about 10 minutes. For the glaze, slowly add water and food coloring to confectioners sugar for desired thickness. Dip your donuts into the glaze and add sprinkles.

빼빼로 Pepero Day

2010-11-11T16:10:00.004-06:00

Happy 빼빼로 Day! ♥
Today is Pepero (빼빼로) Day, a holiday on November 11th dedicated to the Korean snack inspired by Japanese Pocky. The date 11/11 resembles sticks of Pepero. Similar to Valentines Day, couples exchange Pepero sticks and there are many gift promotions going on.

The above are decorating tutorials in Korean!

Purin's Baker DONTS

2010-11-08T20:28:00.005-06:00

NO GOOD わるいーーー！
I've compiled a list of things that, in my personal opinion, baking and pastry chefs should not do. (＞＜) This list is built from experience and research.

1. Do not skimp on measuring ingredients accurately! Small changes in the amount of sugar or whatever you're using can make a big difference in the recipe.

2. Do not frost your cake while it is still hot! Your icing will melt and create a big mess all over your cake. This is especially important if you intend on decorating.

3. Do not leave the oven without setting a timer! If you're not closely monitoring your desserts, they can become overcooked.

4. Do not undercook your desserts either. Insert a tooth-pick into the center of your cake. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. The same goes for cookies.

5. Do not use a baking pan different than the one indicated in your recipe without using this conversion chart by Wilton. Measure how many cups of batter you're using and refer to the "Cups of Batter" column to switch pans and baking time.

6. Do not forget to add flour to your rolling pin and the surface you're rolling on. The dough will stick to everything!

7. Do not use self-rising flour in place of all-purpose flour when the recipe doesn't call for it. Your desserts will turn into a gooey mess!

8. Do not forget to organize and clean! Make sure you gather all your ingredients and read the instructions before you start. Afterward, clean all surfaces and bakeware you used previously.

That's all for now. I'll add more to this list if I can think of any, but these are the ones that mainly stood out to me.

RECIPE: MAPLE KISSED CUPCAKES

2010-11-01T15:53:00.004-05:00

INGREDIENTS:
2 1/2 Cups Flour
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Stick Unsalted Butter
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
3 Large Eggs
1 1/4 Cup Maple Syrup
2 Teaspoons Vanilla
2 Teaspoons Maple Flavor
1/2 Cup Milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients first, and then add wet. Pour into nonstick cupcake pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.

Frosting:
1 Cup Butter
3 Ounces Cream Cheese
2/3 Cup Brown Sugar
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
3/4 Cup Maple Syrup
3/4 Teaspoon Vanilla
3/4 Teaspoon Maple Flavor
1 Cup Powder Sugar

RECIPE: HALLOWEEN TREATS

2010-10-31T22:04:00.013-05:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! ハロウィーンおめでとう

BLACK CAT SUGAR COOKIES

Ingredients:
1 1/2 Cups Butter
5 Cups Flour
2 Cups Sugar
4 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
Orange Food Coloring

Frosting:
1 Cup Powder Sugar
4 Teaspoon Light Corn Syrup
1 Tablespoon Milk
Black Food Coloring

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Knead the ingredients together and spread across a baking sheet about 1/4 of an inch thick. Use a cat shaped cookie cutter (or any Halloween shape you desire) to cut out the cookies. Bake for 6-8 minutes. Let cool.

For the frosting, mix the ingredients above thoroughly. Add more or less milk for desired thickness.

Goofy-Ghost Meringues

Ingrediants:
2 Egg Whites
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Cream of Tarter
3/4 Cup Powder Sugar

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Blend your egg whites, salt, and cream of tarter until the mixture becomes frothy. Slowly pour in the sugar and beat for 15-20 minutes until it holds stiff peaks. Pour this mixture into a piping bag and create your ghosts on a sheet of parchment paper. Use chocolate sprinkles for the eyes.

Cook your meringues for 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Big Puri-Pumpkin Cake Donut

Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter
1 1/4 Cup Light Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Cup Pureed/Canned Pumpkin
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Cups Cake Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon All-Spice
1 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/2 Cup Milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients before adding the wet. Pour this mixture into non-stick donut shaped pan (or cake pan of your choice). Bake for 25-30 minutes. You can either frost this or use fondant and sprinkles like I did.

SWEET BUY: Giant Donut, Cookie Cutter, and Cooling Rack

2010-10-28T20:05:00.003-05:00

I went to Bed Bath and Beyond today hunting for bakeware. I wanted to buy a lot more, but I need to save my money for the holidays. Luckily, the Bed Bath and Beyond is inexpensive.

My first splurge was this giant donut cake pan. It even has a non-stick finish.

Giant Donut Cake Pan-- via Bed Bath and Beyond

A Micky Mouse cookie cutter with icing! I'm going to have too much fun with this on Halloween.

Wilton cooling racks for my cookies. I had never bought one before, and this was on sale.

Wilton Indulgence Cooling Racks-- via Bed Bath and Beyond

Pastry Chicago: Fourth Annual Amateur Haunted Cupcake Competition

2010-10-23T21:24:00.006-05:00

Today my boyfriend and I visited Pastry Chicago's Haunted Cupcake Competition at Westfield Mall (Old Orchard). We got there just in time to speak with The French Pastry School's students while the judges announced the winners.

Contestants had to submit a total of 12 cupcakes to compete and were required to use Nielsen-Massey Vanilla, Plugra European-Style Butter, and King Arthur Flour.

Cupcakes were judged by taste, decoration, texture, punctuality, and professionalism.

Winners received a number of kitchenware items and gift bags! It was an all around fun and spooky competition. The next event will be a gingerbread house competition. I plan on entering since I missed out this time.

RECIPE: Dunkin Donut's Berries n' Kreme Replica

2010-10-19T08:11:00.012-05:00

On March 18th, 2009, Dunkin Donuts, a popular donut franchise in the U.S., released the Berries n' Kream donut. It was a glazed donut similar to the Bavarian Cream, except for the berry flavored icing and candy on top.

I fell in love with Berries n' Kreme the moment I tried it! Sadly, the donut was only available for a limited time. I experienced this unique brand of flavors only once, but now I'm determined to recreate it.

Donut:
1/2 Cup Shortening
1 Cup Boiling Water
1 Cup Canned Milk
3 Packages Dry Yeast
1/2 Cup Warm Water
2 Eggs
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/2 Cup Sugar
2 Teaspoons Salt
1/2 Cup Flour

Add 1/2 cup shortening in 1 cup boiling water. Cool this mixture to lukewarm and add canned milk. Mix 3 packages dry yeast in 1/2 cup warm water. Add eggs, nutmeg, sugar, salt, and flour. Knead for 5 minutes or so. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Roll to about 1/4 inch thick. Create "donut shape" with your dough. Let rise until they double in bulk. Fry like doughnuts.

Bavarian Cream:
4 Cup Milk
1/4 Cup + 1 Tablespoon Sugar
3 Tablespoons Geletin
1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla
4 Eggs

In a large sauce pan, dissolve gelatin in cold milk. Place your pan over medium heat and heat until simmering, stirring it frequently. While the milk is warming up, mix together egg yolks and 1/4 cup sugar until pale yellow in color. Slowly add mixture to simmering milk, whisking constantly. Let this cook for 3 minutes, stirring constantly, until smooth and thickened. Remove from heat transfer to a large bowl and set aside, stirring occasionally. Keep doing this until it is warm and not hot. Beat the egg whites until foamy, then add 1 tablespoon sugar and vanilla. Continue beating until soft peaks form. Fold in beaten whites. Chill until thickened.

After frying the doughnuts allow them to cool. Fill the doughnuts with the chilled Bavarian Cream either by splitting the doughnut and filling or by filling a hole you have made with a long wooden handle.

Frosting:
1 1/2 Cups Powder Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2-3 Tablespoons Milk
4 Tablespoons Raspberry/Strawberry Preserves
Starburst Berries and Cream candy Chopped Up

There you have it! A duplicate of Dunkin Donuts Berries n' Kreme dessert. It's not perfect, but until Dunkin Donuts releases the recipe, these will do just fine.

Tumblrs You Should Follow

2010-10-12T18:56:00.007-05:00

As most of you know, I'm an avid fan of the social blogging site, Tumblr. I spend a good portion of my free-time refreshing my dashboard, re-blogging posts, and finding images to share with the rest of the Tumblr community.

A lot of folks ask me where I find all the desserts featured on my own account. To make things easier for my readers, I've put together a list of some blogs I frequently roam. Maybe you can follow them too!

Om Nom Nom Japanese Food
A blog dedicated to Japanese dishes. You'll find treats like Pocky and Yanyan, along with some unfamiliar cuisine scattered about the website.

Hello Sugar
Hello Sugar is full of bright, colorful photography featuring cupcakes, icecream, cookies, and more.

Pretty Foods
Eye-candy for the culinary chef. Most of the treats on Pretty Foods are too beautiful to eat!

F*** Yeah Cute Food
The perfect place to find girly and adorable desserts. This blog features mostly cupcakes!

You can find more Tumblr's like this by checking out my account, or by using the searchbar on your dashboard. There are tons of sweet finds, so just take a look around.

SWEET READ: PINK PRINCESS TEA PARTIES

2010-10-05T14:30:00.003-05:00

In "Pink Princess Tea Parties", Barbara Beery shares a collection of recipes perfect for a gathering of giggly girls. From "Jeweled Crown Biscuits" to "Fairy Princess Fruity Toast", this book is sure to tickle your fancy with an assortment of colorful and adorable party treats.

Dreamy Dipped Strawberries

Princess Candy Crunch

Victorian Princess Ice Cream

You can also find a variety savory snacks like sandwiches and refreshing drinks! Each recipe is simple, and the majority of the book is finger food since it is aimed toward younger girls. So don't be afraid to pick up a copy of "Pink Princess Tea Parties".

New Tumblr Layout!

2010-10-04T15:46:00.002-05:00

Purin's Tumblr
http://purinpastry.tumblr.com/

I've recently changed the layout of my Tumblr. It feels a lot cleaner than the old one.
So far, there are over 430 vibrant pictures, so please take a look!

SWEET READ: フェイクスイーツバイベル　(FAKE SWEETS BIBLE)

2010-09-21T13:13:00.003-05:00

This book will have your mouth watering with a bright collection of fake desserts. From jewelry to household trinkets, Fake Sweets Bible turns even the smallest items into fancy treats. The book even includes molds to create your own cookies and candies.

FAKE SWEETS BIBLE SCANS-- via No Techno Stuff Allowed

SWEET BUY: TEACUPCAKES

2010-09-05T14:30:00.005-05:00

TEACUPCAKE presents a new and innovative way to eat a cupcake! Just pour your batter into the silicone molds and pop them into the oven.

TEACUPCAKE-- via perpetual kid

RECIPE: SIMPLY GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

2010-08-17T18:28:00.006-05:00

成分 [INGREDIANTS]:

1 1/4 つのカップ: グラハムクラッカー [1 1/4 CUP GRAHAM CRACKERS]
2つの大さじ: 砂糖 [2 TABLESPOON SUGAR]
2つの大さじ: バター [2 TABLESPOON BUTTER]

--オーブンを予熱してください。300F [Preheat oven to 300F]
--10分の間混合物を焼いてください。[Bake this mixture for 10 minutes.]

SWEET SHOP: : Chiu Quon Bakery

2010-08-16T20:35:00.002-05:00

Chiu Quon Bakery lies in the heart of Chicago's Chinatown. These decedent pastries are all handcrafted within the store, and the best part is, you can buy most of them for under a dollar.

If you're not up for cakes or cookies, Chiu Quon offers savory pork buns and fresh fruit smoothies to feed hungry tummies.

2242 S Wentworth Ave
(between 22nd Pl & Alexander St)
Chicago, IL 60616
Neighborhood: Chinatown

(312) 225-6608

SWEET SHOP: Whole Food's Bakery (2)

2010-07-26T08:19:00.007-05:00

Yesterday, my family came home with a box of Double Chocolate icecream. Sharing a photo I took of my half-eaten desert.

Purin's Baking Essentials List

2010-06-12T11:13:00.003-05:00

If you're new to the world of baking, you're probably wondering what to stock your pantry with. I've compiled a list of simple ingredients and tools that will get you started. You'll be pulling cakes and cookies out of the oven in no time!

Ingrediants
1. Flour
2. Sugar
3. Salt
4. Powdered Sugar
5. Baking Soda
6. Baking Powder
7. Yeast
8. Cocoa Powder
9. Vanilla/Lemon/Coconut Flavoring
10. Milk
11. Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
12. Heavy Whipping Cream
13. Cream of Tarter
14. Eggs
15. Sprinkles
16. Chopped Nuts/Fruit

Tools
1. Spatula
2. 9" Round Cake Pan
3. Cupcake Pan
4. Cupcake Liners
5. Cooking Spray
6. Rolling Pin
7. Wax Paper
8. Piping Bag/Piping Tips
9. Cookie Cutters
10. Cookie Tray
11.Whisk
12. Toothpicks
13. Timer
14. Measuring Cups/Measuring Spoons
15. Oven Mitts
16. Apron

SWEET BUY: Dessert Miniatures

2010-05-12T23:23:00.003-05:00

Miniatures have been a popular item in Japan for many years, but there's been a recent boom in "food miniatures". From tiny tarts to adorable little donuts, food miniatures satisfy the eye without expanding your waistline!

Mini Donuts-- via minibarbiehome.com
Mini Macarons-- via cutestfood.com

SWEET READ: Joanne Chen, Elinor Klivans, Betty Crocker

2010-03-30T11:09:00.004-05:00

Just Cupcakes by Betty Crocker Editors

The Taste of Sweet by Joanne Chen

The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook by Elinor Klivans

SWEET SHOP: Whole Food's Bakery

2010-03-20T15:20:00.003-05:00

Whole Food's bakery features a selection of colorful desserts made from only the finest, most natural ingredients. "Eye-candy" is an understatement, as each tart and cake is unique in color and design.

Pink, Cute Kitchenware

2010-03-16T15:40:00.005-05:00

Here's a list of websites where you can purchase adorable kitchenware and cookware.

Ebay's Hello Kitty Kitchen, Dining, and Bar Listings
Target's Pink Kitchen Listings
DreamKitty's Hello Kitty Kitchenware
Japanese Gift Market - Homeware
From Japan with Love - Kitchen Items

和菓子 Wa-gashi (Japanese Sweets)

2010-03-11T14:52:00.005-06:00

Wa-gashi (Japanese sweets) are very different from yo-gashi (Western sweets). Common ingredient in most recipes include rice flour and azuki (red beans), so wa-gashi are naturally lower in fat than western desserts.

One dessert is dorayaki, a popular light pancake with sweetened red beans inside. There is also mochi, a rice cake that is commonly coupled with icecream. But my personal favorite would be yokan, a geletin like dessert eaten in the summer.

There is an art to making Japanese sweets. Wa-gashi are colorful, bright, and often shaped like certain fruits or flowers. It is a feast for the eyes as well as the mouth.

Yokan Recipe -via About.com
Dorayaki Recipe - via Recipezaar.com
Mochi Recipe - via Chow.com

POCKY X POPTEEN PRODUCE

2010-03-05T09:25:00.004-06:00

DecoPocky

Pocky, Japan's world-famous sweet snack, is now promoting their product with the help of Popteen Magazine. Models Yui Kanno, Wei Son, Kumiko Funayama, and other cute idols are decorating Pocky with sprinkles and candy pearls. These cute creations can viewed on the above website along with tutorials on how to make your own glam Pocky.

Hershey's Pot of Gold: Premium

2010-03-02T13:34:00.005-06:00

We got about 8 boxes of these at the grocery store for free! (I guess they were clearing out all the Valentines goodies.) I'm giving out most of them to friends and family.

My favorite flavor is the Dark Chocolate Truffle. How about you?

SWEET READ: Barbara Berry, Christia Matheson, Fergal Connolly

2010-02-27T23:03:00.006-06:00

Pink Princess CookBook by Barbara Berry

Confetti Cakes by Christie Matheson

500 Cupcakes by Fergal Connolly

SWEET BUY: はじめてマカロン (First Macaron) Continued...

2010-02-25T12:51:00.006-06:00

It came! I'll post pictures of me playing with it when I pick up almond powder at the market.

Purin (The Pink Life Author) Q&A

2010-02-21T14:06:00.004-06:00

Q: Name?
A: My name Purin, or at least, that's my web handle. It means "pudding" in Japanese, so if you call me Pudding, that's acceptable as well!

Q: Date of birth and birthplace?
A: I was born on January 18th in the suburbs Chicago, Illinois. So you can say I'm pretty close to "the windy city".

Q: How did you begin baking?
A: To be honest, I've never really thought I was good at anything else! *laugh* At first I got into cooking for my family, and then my interest moved to desserts. I have a huge sweet tooth, so it was love from the start.

Q: What inspires you when it comes to baking?
A: Mostly the color pink and the cute things I stumble into when searching the web. Ever since I was little, I had an obsession with being a "princess". So things like that make me really happy. *laugh* I try to incorporate those themes into my creations, as well as this blog.

Q: What's your favorite thing to bake?
A: I love making cupcakes! I collect miniatures, and when you think about it, the cupcake is a petite version of a cake. Plus, it's always fun to lick the icing off before eating the actual cake. *laugh*

Q: What is your favorite baking tool?
A: Ruffle Tip 403. It makes the most prettiest designs when piping frosting!

Q: What kinds of flavoring do you prefer to use in your desserts?
A: I'm partial to dark chocolate and coconut at the moment. It goes well together in almost anything. I wonder if I could find ice-cream like that...

Q: Which baking or pastry chef inspires you the most?
A: Christine and Beth of The Pink Cupcake Bakery . Their creations are absolutely bold and adorable. I recommend everyone take a peak at their blog.

Q: What are your dreams as a pastry chef?
A: I first want to graduate from Kendall College with my culinary degree. After that, who knows. My ideal plan would be to open up my own little cafe somewhere in Tokyo, but I would be perfectly fine working for somebody else here in my hometown.

Q: Do you remember the first dessert you ever made from scratch?
A: The first thing I ever created from scratch was a batch of low-fat chocolate chip cookies. They were shaped funny because of the lack of oil and such. But they tasted great. I was on a diet at the time, so I was so happy I could enjoy them without gaining weight.

Q: Who do you enjoy baking for?
A: Well I don't really own a business or anything, so I give out everything I made to friends and family. But it really makes me happy to see my boyfriend try something of mine. Even if it taste bad, he smiles and eats it. *laugh*

Q: What's the best part about baking?
A: I think decorating is a big deal. After you pull everything out of the oven, don't just leave it as is. Take frosting, sprinkles, cookie cutters, whatever, and just go at it. Make it your own, and make it cute.

Q: What's the worst part about baking?
A: When your burn something. *laugh* Nothing spells defeat like burnt chocolate chip cookies.

SWEET SHOP: Dominick's Bakery- Pink Donuts and Pretty Cakes

2010-02-20T15:13:00.002-06:00

SWEET BUY: Pink Heart Shaped Measuring Cups

2010-02-20T13:39:00.003-06:00

SWEET SHOP: Bennison's Bakery

2010-02-17T11:39:00.004-06:00

Bennison's Bakery is a cozy shop located in the heart Evanston, Illinois. I decided to take a visit since the place is located only one town away from me.

Bennison's has been around since the 1930's, so it's history is deeply rooted into Evanston culture. Being a friendly, family owned business, there's a very personal feeling to the bakery. A little window outside gives you a clear view of what the staff is up to, and they've even set up a live feed on their website for your viewing pleasure!

Make sure to check out their blog on in the link above. Bennison's old fashion cookies and cakes will certainly make you feel at home.

SWEET BUY: はじめてマカロン (First Macaron)

2010-02-17T01:16:00.006-06:00

First Macaron is a fun and cute macaron kit for those who wish to bake and decorate their own unique creations.

Includes: Macaron mixing bowl, templates, spoon scoop, and piping bags.
Ingredients: 1 egg white, 35 grams of almond powder/meal, 8 grams cake flour, 96 grams confectioners sugar, a touch of vanilla extract.
Makes 10 macarons.

"Whip the egg white in the pink mixer until soft peaks form. Take off the lid (which has the beaters attached). Add the extract and the powders (almond flour, cake flour, and confectioners sugar) and mix carefully. Cut a piece of wax paper to the size of your baking tray. On the table put the template of choice UNDER the waxed paper. Fill the bag with the dough. Cut a little hole and fill the template with the dough. Take the wax paper and put it on your baking tray. Leave out for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes on the counter, put in the oven for 12 minutes at 160 degrees celsius. Take out and let cool. Fill with cream and enjoy!"

Healthy Baking Ingredient Substitutes

2010-02-15T18:59:00.001-06:00

Dieting is tough, especially when you have a really big sweet-tooth. But who can blame anyone for wanting to enjoy a tasty treat every once and a while? With these simple and easy substitutes, you can enjoy that slice of cake without an ounce of guilt.

1 Egg: Substitute with two egg whites or "Egg Beaters Mix". This will reduce the fat content and give your baked goods a light and fluffy texture.

Butter/Oil: Substitute with an equal amount of unsweetened applesauce. Unsweetened applesauce does not alter the taste of the food item. You may also use banana puree.

White Flour: Substitute with an equal amount of wheat flour. Wheat flour contains "good carbohydrates" and gives you a boost in fiber.

Sour Cream: Substitute with nonfat Sour Cream or plain, nonfat yogurt. Again, this will lower the fat content.

Sugar: Replace with "Equal" brand sugar substitute. I do not advise anyone to consume this in large quantities though, as it is not natural.

Whole Milk: Replace with an equal amount of skim milk.

Milk Chocolate: Replace with an equal amount of dark chocolate. The recipe may call for more of the sugar substitute.

バレンタインカード日 VALENTINES DAY

2010-02-14T14:54:00.001-06:00

This Valentines Day we made a cherry cheese-cake from "JELL-O No Bake Cheesecake", cherry pie filling, and pre-made graham cracker pie crust. Quick and easy!

Cute Baking cups I got about a year ago. They also come in pink.

I hope everyone enjoys this romantic holiday!

ミツワマーケットプレイス Mitsuwa Marketplace Chicago

2010-02-11T12:12:00.000-06:00

Mitsuwa Marketplace is an Asian grocery store and mini-mall located in Arlington Heights, Illinois. They sell everything from fashion magazines to beauty products, but the most eye catching feature of Mitsuwa is all the wonderful Japanese sweets and confections.

The grocery aisle sells these rolls for a cheap price everyday. Some of them are cream filled, while others contain red bean paste or chocolate.

These are My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ) baked goods. Aren't they cute? Though Totoro looks frightened.

Pastry House Hippo, Mitsuwa's famous bakery, is full of cute and delicately designed sweets. You can find custard puddings, cakes, tarts, and much more.

This bright display of cakes always catches the attention of customers in the check-out line. You can choose whatever you'd like, and the friendly staff with carefully wrap and box your purchase.

Purin's Tumblr

2010-02-10T07:56:00.001-06:00

PURINPASTRY@TUMBLR.COM

Tumblr.com is a unique blogging service that allows you to effortlessly share images, text, video, and audio. In addition to posting your own original content, you can "re-blog" other people's entries if you like them.

On my page, I tend to share photos by other people I have found throughout the Tumblr network. These are usually based around the concept of "cute", "pink", and "sweets".

I hope everyone enjoys my posts. I usually update daily to give me viewers tons of eye-candy.

SWEET BUY: Decotti Sweet Accesory Kit

2010-02-09T01:55:00.001-06:00

Decorating your own pretend sweets is quite popular among Japanese girls. Using plastic fruit, chocolate spray, and white paste, you can create your own totally cute desserts. From macarons to tarts, one will easily add these decorations to a number of items. Decorating cellphones is most popular at the moment.

Currently, StrapyaWorld is selling serveral Decotti Sweet Accesory Kit .

Tsuji Nozomi 辻希美: Baking Queen?

2010-02-08T22:48:00.000-06:00

Young mother and former Hello!Project idol Tsuji Nozomi (辻希美) seems to have truly gotten into cooking recently.

After the birth of her daughter, charming Non-chan has been posting photos of her kitchen creations in her blog. She is even featured cooking in her latest photobook "のんピース".

Pastry Resources

2010-02-08T14:41:00.001-06:00

Here are a couple of websites I recommend my readers visit. There will be more added in the future.

PastryScoop.com is a "pastry resource connection". This website is full of interesting articles, pastry courses, conversion charts, and a handy glossary. PastryScoop is partnered The French Culinary Institute of New York, so there's even a list of culinary associations located on the site.

Bake It Pretty provides shoppers with adorable decorative tools for baking. Their products range from stylish cupcake wrappers to piping bag tips.

Wilton has made a name for itself in the industry of decorating cakes and cookies. They have a large variety of supplies available and a variety of recipes located on the site.

The Pink Cake Box Blog provides a number of cake making tutorials and videos. Each entry is full of mouth-watering photos of Anne Heap's cake designs. Please give this blog a visit!

Curious Cupcakes is a Livejournal community dedicated to baking and decorating cupcakes. Members can post photos of their creations and even share recipes. This site is perfect for networking with other cupcake lovers.

Old Photos

2010-02-08T02:22:00.002-06:00

Scrapbooking

2010-02-08T01:47:00.001-06:00

SWEET SHOP:: Le Patiserrie Chicago

2010-02-08T01:34:00.002-06:00

La Patiserrie Chicago is a cozy little European bakery located only a few blocks away from my home.

They sell anything from oatmeal cookies to the Tiramisu you see above. All of their sweets are delicious and beautiful to the eye, and they even deliver for events.

My boyfriend's college happens to get their desserts from this family owned shop. We plan on visiting often!

Chocolate Hazulnut and Strawberry Cream Lipgloss

2010-01-11T13:18:00.003-06:00

RECIPE: BANANA-NANA BREAD

2009-10-06T14:40:00.002-05:00

成分 [INGREDIANTS]:
1 つのカップ: 小麦粉 [1 CUP FLOUR]
1/4つのカップ: 砂糖 [1/4 CUP SUGAR]
1つの卵 [1 EGG]
1つのバナナ[1 BANANA]
1つの茶さじ: バニラ [1 TEASPOON VANILLA]
1/2つの茶さじ重曹[1/2 TEASPOON BAKING SODA]

--オーブンを予熱してください。375F [Preheat oven to 375F]
--10-15分の間混合物を焼いてください。[Bake this mixture for 10-15 minutes.]

RECIPE: CHOCOLATE BURST COOKIES

2009-10-02T14:50:00.003-05:00

Ingredients:

2 Cups Flour
3/4 Cup Cocoa
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup (2 Sticks) Butter
2/3 Cup Sugar
2/3 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 Eggs
1 3/4 Cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix dry ingredients first, then add wet. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto nonstick baking sheets.

Bake for 9 to 11 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes.

RECIPE: GOOD MORNING APPLE PASTRY

2009-10-02T14:37:00.002-05:00

成分 [INGREDIANTS]:
1 1/3つのカップ: 小麦粉 [1 1/3 CUP FLOUR]
1/3つのカップ: バター [1/3 CUP BUTTER]
1/3つのカップ: 砂糖 [1/3 CUP SUGAR]
1つの卵 [1 EGG]
1つのリンゴ [1 APPLE]
シナモン [CINNAMON]

--オーブンを予熱してください。450F [Preheat oven to 450F]
--リンゴを切ってください。 [Cut up apple.]
--小麦粉、バター、砂糖、卵、リンゴを混ぜてください。[Mix flour, sugar, butter, egg, and apple.]
--10分の間混合物を焼いてください。[Bake this mixture for 10 minutes.]
--シナモンと砂糖をトップに置いてください。 [Put cinnamon and sugar on top.]

私は蜂蜜を私のペーストリーに付けました。(・∀・)

RECIPE: LOVELY VALENTINES CUPCAKES

2009-10-02T14:36:00.003-05:00

成分 [INGREDIANTS]:
カップケーキ:
ピルスベリーバニラケーキミックス [PILLSBURY VANILLA CAKE MIX]
1つのカップ: 水 [1 CUP WATER]
1/3つのカップ: 植物油 [1/3 CUP VEGETABLE OIL]
3つの卵 [3 EGGS]
糖衣:
クリームチーズ糖衣 [CREAMCHEESE FROSTING]
赤い食物染料 [RED FOOD COLORING]

--オーブンを予熱してください。350F [Preheat oven to 350F]
--卵、水、油、ピルスベリーバニラケーキミックスを混ぜてください。[Mix oil, water, eggs, and cake mix.]
--18分の間混合物を焼いてください。[Bake this mixture for 18 minutes.]
--4滴の食物染料と糖衣混ぜ合わせてください。[Mix four drops of food coloring with frosting.]