45

Thursday I have a lunch for 45 people!! How exciting! I mean, I am fired up and ready to rock that kitchen! I am going to be making a lovely pasta with chicken meatballs, Roasted Tomato Basil soup, caesar salad, and tons of crusty bread. OH...OH....I can't forget my chocolate tarts!! Drooling yet? I made the soup last week to perfect the dish, it was very yummy if I do say so myself.

Thank goodness for referrals also known as word o' mouth. I really feel so blessed and I can't wait to feel the pressure and stress. It makes me feel alive, what can I say.

Talk soon,

Cecilia

Fruit Trays

Last Wednesday I had an order for 30 fruit trays! I recieved the call while at lunch and my client needed 30 trays for a promo by Noon the next day. I love a challenge and got right to work.

I really love doing these trays. These are really fun and I was able to throw them together in just a few hours!

I also did these very cute bags for a client a few weeks ago. I filled them with wonderful chocolate treats and chocolate-pecan popcorn. YUM!

What a fun job I have!

Have a wonderful week,

Cecilia :)

So......SLOW

I like to think I work better on chaos. I like to be busy and sometimes I complain about it but on the inside I thrive on it. These last 2 weeks have been excruciatingly S-L-O-W. I mean don't get me wrong, I have been busy being a Mom and now I have a sick kid so that has taken up some of my time but I haven't been able to cook...for people! I haven't been stressed about being on time with hot food and it has been very sad. I was hoping by now I would be halfway to New York shooting my own TV show. Kidding but really I was hoping I would be doing more. I have even been thinking of applying for jobs with an active caterer to get experience and have some fun. We'll see.


So, yes, my blog has been slow because I haven't had any great inspiration in a little while. BUT....that won't stop me! I will prevail. :) I will keep watching Giada at Home and old episodes of The Barefoot Contessa and cooking odd dinners for my family. I will be perfecting dishes for my future restaurant and getting ready for the baby shower I am throwing in May. I also have Brayden's birthday coming up too! Those are going to be fun to cater.

Hopefully I will have a lot to say soon. If not, you will still hear my ramble about recipes I would like to try or the ones I make up. I'm hoping for more inspiration so if you have any ideas, let em' rip.

Thanks for reading,

Cecilia

Better Homes and Gardens Strawberry Bars

I decided to make this scrumptious looking dessert for my lovely In-Laws on Easter. I usually always bring something that everyone is scared to eat so I decided to go with something they can't resist, fresh Strawberry Bars. I got the recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens magazine and by the picture alone this dessert just screams spring and happiness. Definitely not something you can pass up on, right? I look forward to massive amounts of delicious treats sitting on Meme's table (that's Jason's Grandmother) but I hope this one can stand up to the challenge. It looks relatively easy and if you have baked anything before you should have all if not a majority of the ingredients on hand. I just grabbed a 1lb. clamshell of fresh strawberries at the grocery store and I plan to get wrist deep in some flour tomorrow night. Here is to a wonderful day with family and remembering what Easter is truly about. Have a great weekend and Happy Easter!

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

3/4 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup strawberry jam

4 cups small whole strawberries, halved or quartered

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 13x9x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending foil beyond the edges. Set aside.

2. In large mixing bowl beat butter and peanut butter on medium to high for 30 seconds. Beat in sugars, baking powder, and salt until combined. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with mixer. Stir in remaining flour.

3. Spread dough in prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes or until top is lightly browned and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.

4. Cool completely on rack. Remove from pan by lifting foil. Spread jam and top with berries. Cut into bars. Serve at once or refrigerate up to 6 hours. Makes 24 bars