Wondering...

where I've been?  It's been 3 months since my last post on here, and 5 since I've posted a new recipe. Well I've been a bit busy getting something new up and running…

In May, after multiple people started asking me if I could make them cookies, cupcakes, etc., I decided to start a home bakery business. It's still a work in progress, but check out the website: www.sweet-treats-bakery.com!

And in all this time I've been gone, I've had plenty of opportunities to try out some new recipes, so stay tuned for those (I promise they're coming soon).

Relay for Life - I need your help

This year I am helping save lives from cancer by taking part in the American Cancer Society Relay For Life. Our team, Bleacher Bums, has raised over $128,000 since the team started in 2006. Last year, we set the goal at $50,000 and came just short, raising about $46,000. This year we once again set the goal at $50,000. Can we do it? Of course we can!

I'm participating in celebration of my grandmother and aunt, both of whom have the amazing fortune of being able to say they're survivors. My grandma will be celebrating 5 years cancer free this June and I'd really love to be able to show her my support by meeting my fundraising goal.

So, I need your help! In order for us to reach our goal I need to personally raise $500 in the next 52 days. Will you help saves lives and donate to me now?

Remember that every dollar counts. Please consider giving up that coffee run one morning and donating that $5 to Relay instead. If each person on this email was able to give just $10, I be over halfway to my goal. As a special incentive, if you donate $50 or more, I'll send you a tasty batch of anti-cancer sugar cookies.

Just click here to make a secure online donation to my personal fundraising page. It only takes a minute to donate and every dollar counts! Or feel free to mail a check to me, made out to American Cancer Society. Contact me at bakesweettreats@gmail.com and I'll give you my address, or the address for the local ACS branch.

Thank you in advance for helping me do my part in this fundraising challenge!

Blood Orange Trifles

If you've never checked out Food Network Magazine, I highly suggest you do it. Every month without fail I find myself ripping out multiple pages of recipes I want to try, and they have a great table of contents in the front that has a picture index of all the recipes included in the issue. Don't want to spend the $15? All of their recipes are listed online, you just don't get the extra little articles.

This recipe was one of the ones I ripped out of that magazine, anticipating the day when blood oranges would be in season.

Even after I found some at the store, though, I put off making this. Why? One word - custard. The stuff scares me so much. I am not a very talented whisk-er, and the constant whisking requirement just doesn't work for me (see below for my trick to get around this).

Once I saw the recipe for the chocolate blood orange cupcakes, I took it as a sign that it was time. And it was SO worth the wait. The cookies are sweet, but not overly sweet, and the custard mixture gives it a light and smooth texture.

Blood Orange Trifles

(makes 4)

6 blood oranges

2/3 cup sugar

3T orange liqueur

3 large egg yolks

1t lemon juice

1/2c heavy cream

ladyfinger cookies

Squeeze the juice from 4 blood oranges. Reserve 1T of the juice.

Combine the remaining juice with 1/3c sugar, 1T orange liqueur, and 1/4c water in a saucepan. Boil and cook for 2-3 minutes, until a syrupy consistency. Set aside to cool.

Beat the cream until stiff.

In a double boiler over medium-low, whisk together egg yolks, lemon juice, the remaining 1T orange juice, 1/3c sugar, and 2T liqueur.

Whisk constantly until the custard is thick, about 10 minutes.

(See the trick? Yep, I'm using the whisking attachment on my hand mixer!)

Remove the bowl from the double boiler and continue whisking until cool.

Fold the whipped cream into the custard.

Peel 2 oranges and separate the segments.

Dip ladyfinger halves into the syrup mixture, then layer in each glass (4). Top with custard and orange segments. Repeat to form another layer, until all ingredients are used.

(Can't find ladyfingers? Me either. Just use another similarly shaped/textured cookie.)

Cover and chill 2 hours.

To serve, drizzle syrup mixture on top and sprinkle with crushed ladyfingers.