Test Kitchen: Low Cal Oatmeal, Lemon Chiffon, Strawberry Whipped

I had challenge for an upcoming Tulip Party (When you have lunch in the garden as the tulips have blossomed, cute huh?) The hostess wanted a low cal oatmeal cookie. First off, what makes a low calorie cookie? Apparently the flour and the BUTTER accounts for most of the calories. I found a great substitute for buter: apple sauce and tbsps of oil instead. Interesting, right? However, the oatmeal I was using is called Irish Steel Cut Oats = meaning they had to be cooked prior to using it ... I did not find this out until AFTER i made the cookies, and they were on the tad stiffer side. As for taste, they were fantastic!!!

Then my second challenge was requested by Arlene, for a lemon cupcake. I had a great recipe that I have known all my life, my grandma's lemon chiffon recipes. Once I made it, I couldn't stop myself from devouring 5 in one sitting, reminiscing how grandma use to make this for me :] Though it turns out I had under baked the cupcakes, therefore they sunk. IT WAS SO DEPRESSING!  they were the most spongiest, softest, best tasting cupcakes of ALL TIME!!!! I will work on the baking time little more ...

My recipe for a strawberry whipped cream is also fantastic! I cant wait until strawberries are in season, and i can puree fresh strawberries!!!

I have been trying to stay far away from butter cream as much as possible due to the fact that I hate the taste of buttercream used at places like Kara's or Sprinkles. I will continue to look for lighter, less sweetening alternatives for topping. I am still searching for the best asian wedding cake whipped cream recipe ... They always have the most fantastic creams!


Note: Did you notice I have a domain name? Lavishberry.com!! I already created my webpages, and I am in search of a webhosting server to take care of my needs. Any recommendations? Should I stick with blogger or wordpress?

strawberry mascarpone whip cream macaron

one of my customers told me she had checked this blog, and had not seen anything new!

i was sad to say, i had nothing new to report :/ only because i get the usual requests for my red velvet cupcakes, and they look the same ... every single time.

BUT a girlfriend told me: "tonight i wish for linda to make ugly macaroons." Only because i told her no one had any orders for it and that unless she paid for the order, she would get free ugly ones HAHA ... luckily for her, i felt nice and wanted a challenge~

I love pink, and honestly, i don't know why i haven't done a strawberry cupcake yet. I guess macarons just make it that much cuter with pink and strawberries :]

I have to admit, i messed up my first batch for the mascarpone cream, so i had to go back to the store to get another. I over whipped and it curdled, it looked really gross! So i had to add heavy whipping cream, mascarpone cheese, and strawberry extract ... then at the end i had chopped up strawberries folded into the cream! YUMMY!

BONUS: boyfriend left his nikon d40 in my trunk, so i made good use to take some awesome pictures my cute macarons deserves :]

whipping my 3 day aged egg whites (yes, i had to age them!)

piping the rounds, and leaving it out for an hour to dry, so it forms a shell

its a miracle! they have little feet - success!

this makes me think of love. it is adorable!

yummy!