Outdoor Picnic (Vanilla Banana) Cupcakes September 9, 2009
Posted by Dorothy in cake, cupcakes.Tags: banana cupcakes, squirrels, ucla squirrels, vanilla frosting
12 comments
Fall is my favorite season for picnics and outdoor eating, even though most people tend to prefer summer or spring for picnicking. But I just like sitting under golden leaves and breathing crisp air while enjoying a Vanilla Banana Cupcake.
Vanilla Banana Cupcakes
Here is a supermoist cupcake recipe which makes me happy to have way overripe bananas lying around the kitchen. And I’ve reduced the amount of sugar and fat here (since I used so many bananas) so enjoy without guilt! Delightful topped with Vanilla Frosting or unfrosted as a warm muffin with some butter.
Vanilla Banana Cupcakes (makes 12)
1 1/2 c all purpose flour
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c butter (1/2 of a stick of butter)
1/4 c applesauce
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 3/4 c mashed bananas (about 5 medium sized bananas)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with liners. In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. In a large bowl, mix together butter, applesauce, eggs, and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients. Mix in mashed bananas. Fill muffin cups until 2/3 full. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean, about 20-24 minutes.
Vanilla Frosting
1 1/2 c confectioner’s sugar, sifted
1/2 c butter (1 stick)
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 – 2 Tbsp milk
Beat butter with mixer until very soft and fluffy. Add sugar and combine. Mix in vanilla and milk until the frosting is light and fluffy.
By the way, these cupcakes are quite the hit, with both humans and squirrels:
Squirrel skulking towards the remains of our picnic
Enjoying our picnic...
Squirrel devouring Vanilla Banana Cupcake
Los Angeles Dessert Tour: (I strongly strongly recommend) Porto’s Bakery August 25, 2009
Posted by Dorothy in bread, cake, chocolate, cookies, cupcakes, dessert tour, information, sweet eats.Tags: burbank desserts, cheap bakeries, cuban cuisine, cuban desserts, glendale desserts, los angeles bakery, los angeles dessert tour, los angeles desserts, porto's bakery
17 comments
- Dulche de Leche Napoleon
Porto’s Bakery is my newest love and obsession! This place is so super wonderful; I have no idea why it took me so long to find it! Located in the heart of Burbank or Glendale (there are two locations), Porto’s is just a quick (and very worthy) drive away from L.A., and a definite dessert stop in Los Angeles. I recently visited the location in Burbank, and had the time of my life. The place is almost as big as a Whole Foods store, and packed to the max with cakes, pastries, desserts, and customers! This dessert heaven is completely family-owned and operated, and all the goods are made fresh at the premises.
Exotic Red Velvet Cupcakes
Surprisingly, Porto’s is actually a Cuban restaurant and features a wide variety of (delicious) Cuban sandwiches, snacks, and drinks along with traditional Cuban desserts and exotic pastries. Even though they are a Cuban bakery, they still have a great selection of the regular cakes/pastries/desserts we are used to. There is also a huge selection of fresh baked breads and rolls, too. I’ve never had real Cuban cuisine myself, but a customer standing in front of me in line told me Porto’s had the most authentic Cuban cuisine she had ever had in California – and yes, she was Cuban.
Delicious Banana Chips
Now, I never write about real food because I don’t really eat it, as I just live off dessert, but the real food at Porto’s was SO good that I am going to mention it. I had a vegetable sandwhich which was perfectly cheesy and delicious, but the thing I really want to talk about are the banana chips that came with the sandwhich. These are supersuperthin slices of banana that are freshly fried into crispy banana chips – also know as plantain chips. Soooooogood! They are the perfect thinness and perfect crispiness and they even come with a delicious dipping sauce. I suggest you order a large side and enjoy!
On to the best part now – the desserts! Porto’s is super fun because it has two extremely long glass display cases that stretch the entire length of the store completely filled with all the sweets you are craving. A lot of the sweets feature the exotic flavors of guava, mango, pineapple, apricot, and coconut which you don’t usually see in desserts at traditional bakeries. Here’s a small sample of what they have to offer in those wonderful display cases: Opera Cake, Apricot Empanada, Cheese Roll (sweet cream cheese filled pastry; their best-seller), Tiramisu, Guava Pie, Napoleons, Mariner Cake, Red Velvet Cupcakes, Tres Leches Cake, Raspberry Pudding…
Mango Turnover
admist all this wonder, I finally settled on six sweets to try:
Coconut Strudel: my favorite item from Porto’s! This was so coconutty and sweet, I ate half of my strudel and ran inside to buy more 
Dulche de Leche Pound Cake: good, like caramel pound cake from anywhere else. The only average-tasting item I had at Porto’s all day.
Dulche de Leche Napoleon (I was having a caramely day): soooo good! The layers were flaky perfection, the buttercream filling was delicious, and the dulche de leche definitely filled my caramel cravings.
Chocolate Eclair: this was pretty average as far as eclairs go.
Mango Turnover: delicious! Mango in a turnover is genius.
Refugiado (guava and cheese pastry): omg so good! I have never had guava in a pastry before, but I have totally been missing out! Similar to a raspberry and cheese strudel, but more tangy. The tang compliments the sweet cheese perfectly.
Refugiado (guava and cheese strudel)
Next time I go, I am definitely going to stock up on Coconut Strudels and Refugiados. I also want to try their Cinnamon Rolls, which are bigger than my head, their best-selling Cheese Pastry, and the Tres Leches Cake.
Doesn’t Porto’s sound amazing?! Well, I didn’t even tell you the best part yet – the PRICES! I have never been to a dessert place with prices this good. My favorite Coconut Strudels are only 85 cents each, and $7.40 for a dozen. The delicious Refugiadosare only 65 cents each! Most cheesecakes/sliced cakes/Napoleons are only $2.50. The cheapest I’ve ever had for a Napoleon outside of Porto’s was $6.50! The cinnamon rolls that are bigger than my head are $1.50! Everything is super worth it.
After that life altering dessert trip, I have added a new life goal to my list of life goals: to try every sweet at Porto’s Bakery! Yay, this is going to be so much fun! If you’re planning on going, be prepared to park far away and wait in long lines as the place is ridiculously popular and always packed and there is no such thing as big parking lots in or around LA. Porto’s Bakery has two locations to satisfy your sweet tooth:
Glendale Location
315 North Brand Blvd.
Glendale, CA 91203
tel. (818) 956-5996
fax (818) 956-0696
Map it
Burbank Location
3614 W Magnolia Blvd.
Burbank, CA 91505
(818) 846-9100
Map it
So if you live near LA, go! Now!! I’ll see you there
Dessert Obsessed Recipe Index is Up! August 18, 2009
Posted by Dorothy in bread, cake, chocolate, cookies, cupcakes, vegan.Tags: banana cookies, brownies, chocolate chip cheesecake, dessert recipes, lemon pound cake
10 comments
I went through the entire blog and indexed all the recipes featured on the blog so far for your convience. Just click the ‘recipe index’ tab on top or click here. I’ve got everything from cupcakes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies, frostings, and even vegan dessert recipes there. I only post tried and true recipes here, so check them out!
Here are some of my personal favorites:
Coconut, Banana, and Chocolate - Tropical Brownies
Kahlua Cheesecake Swirled Brownies
Best Ever Banana Butterscotch Cookies
Lemon Sunday Pound Cake
Cinnamon Hazelnut Rolls
Super Chocolate Chippery Cheesecake
One Life Goal Fulfilled: Hello Kitty Sweets May 27, 2009
Posted by Dorothy in cake, information, sweet eats.Tags: cute restaurants, edible hello kitty, hello kitty, hello kitty cake, hello kitty chocolate, hello kitty dessert, hello kitty gourmet, hello kitty meal, hello kitty mmorpg, hello kitty online, hello kitty pasta, hello kitty roller rescue, hello kitty sweets, hello kitty taipei, hello kitty taiwan, hello kitty themed restaurant, hello kitty video game, momoberry, sanrio restaurant, taipei restaurants
37 comments
One of the things that the readers of this blog do not know about me is that I am a Huge Hello Kitty Fanatic. I can’t believe I have managed to blog for this long and not mention my Hello Kitty obsession! Hello Kitty is not just an adorable character to me, she is a friend and source of inspiration (do I sound crazy? I hope not). I wrote my college admissions essay on Hello Kitty (she got me into UCLA and every other school I applied to), wrote two term papers in college about Hello Kitty, flew across the country to get my hands on a Hello Kitty Tokidoki, obsessively play Hello Kitty Online (if you’re into gaming, I recommend Hello Kitty Roller Rescue; its superfun), collect everything Hello Kitty; I will buy and overpay for ANYthing with Hello Kitty on it, my bedroom looks like a 4-year-old lives in it… yea, you get the idea. I love Hello Kitty!
And so, ever since it opened its doors January 2008, it has been one of my life goals to go to Hello Kitty Sweets, the official Hello Kitty themed restaurant and bakery in Taipei, Taiwan. I believe this is the only official Hello Kitty themed restaurant in the world! A fantasyland of Hello Kitty AND dessert?! My idea of heaven! And lucky me, I was able to go and now I get to share the fantasy with you!
fantasy decor
Hello Kitty Sweets is AmazinG, even for non-Hello Kitty aficionados. The décor is pure fantasy, and the food has all been “Hello Kitty-ized”, and everything is so adorable you’re afraid to eat it and destroy the fantasy. The entire building is pink, and done up with ribbon trimmings and sparkling chandeliers. The walls are quilted (think faux-Chanel), and even the staff are part of the fantasy, with cute pink aprons and kitty ears. Everything is fit for a princess!
Hello Kitty Puff Pastry
The food is extremely fusion, but very tasty. Everything on the menu is a set meal, aside from the cakes and pastries available in the bakery. We had a baked rice dish with cheese (Taiwanese attempt at risotto), and rice and seafood puff pastry in the shape of Hello Kitty’s head. Each entrée comes with a side of potato salad, an appetizer of sweet corn chowder, and a drink of your choice (we had the mint frappacino and the kiwi smoothie). Every entrée is gorgeously plated with a pretty salad and hello kitty designs made by condiments and spices. Each meal also finishes with a tiny piece of cake and fruit. The dessert was probably my least favorite, as it was light fluffy asian cake that looked like chocolate, but tasted more like vanilla. But the entrees and sides were all delicious!
Hello Kitty "risotto"
kiwi smoothie
The Menu is another source of fun at Hello Kitty Sweets. It comes in the form of a giant book, with full page color photos of Kitty in various outfits and settings, as well as pictures of every entrée and pretty desserts. Everything has detailed complete description so you can make an informed choice. One of my favorite parts of Hello Kitty Sweets is the window where you can watch the bakers making Hello Kitty desserts. All of the desserts are either Hello Kitty shaped, or have impressions of Hello Kitty somewhere, and are just completely Hello Kitty-ed out!
the making of Hello Kitty sweets
Momoberry-esque Dessert Kitty
Hello Kitty Sweets also has its own line of specific Hello Kitty Sweets merchandise. The Hello Kitty Sweets Kitty has eyelashes (somewhat like the Momoberry Kitty), wears stripes, and is always seen holding a cappuccino or slice of cake. Supercute!
If you plan on going to Hello Kitty Sweets, make sure you plan ahead! It is always crowded and there are always multiple groups celebrating their birthdays/baby showers/etc there. The place is usually packed, so make reservations if you can! Also, I was amazed by the amount of men at a Hello Kitty restaurant! There were a lot of couples, husbands and wives, but also bigger parties with quite a few teenage boys. I even saw one party of 10 where 9 women were celebrating the only male at the table’s birthday (I felt kind of embarrassed for him; they brought out a giant Hello Kitty cake with candles and everyone sang to him).
Hello Kitty seating
But everyone is happy at Hello Kitty Sweets! How can you not be, when surrounded by so much happiness, yumminess, sparkliness, prettiness, and sugar?!
hello kitty dessert
If you are lucky enough to visit, the address is: 90, Da-an Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市大安路一段90號)
And I’ve been getting questions on how to subscribe to my blog; if you would like to subscribe by email go here. Or add www.dessertobsessed.wordpress.com to your RSS feed!
If you like reading about other sweet eats, check out my Dessert Tour of New York City!
Miss Muffet and Chai Spiced Crumb Cake April 29, 2009
Posted by Dorothy in cake, information.Tags: baking mix review, boxed baking mix, chai spiced crumb cake, cinnamon, coffee cake, gourmet baking mix, miss muffetts baking mixes, streusel, sugar glaze
8 comments
I know a lot of people can’t stand boxed baking mixes, but I have always had a (very small) soft spot in my heart for baking mixes, as that’s what we all grew up eating. It tastes like childhood! But boxed baking mixes always tend to bore me a little bit, because they’re usually just yellow, white, chocolate, lemon, or strawberry mixes with an artificial boxed taste. I’m always adding a ton of mix-ins to boxed mixes to try and muffle that artificial taste. And then after you bake the cake from the mix, you still need to frost it. Of course, you could buy an accompanying canned frosting and frost your cake mix cake with that. OR… you could try a gourmet cake mix from Miss Muffet! I was so excited when I stumbled across this site, because they have all sorts of fabulous mixes you only dream about! They have everything from Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes, to Graham Streusel Cake with Glaze, to Nutrageous Blondie Brownies, and even Chocolate Red Wine Cake! All of the mixes come with all the components (cake mix, frosting/glaze mix, streusel/add-ins, etc) to make your fancy dessert.
I was superdelighted to receive my Chai Spiced Crumb Cake with Sugar Glaze in the mail. All the mixes are packaged supercute, in brown paper bags with a mouthwatering picture of the dessert gracing the front of the bag. My Chai Spiced Crumb Cake mix had six components: cake mix, powdered sugar, streusel, crumb topping, walnuts, and honey. All I had to do was add butter and water and then mix it all together! Very easy, unfussy, and didn’t even require eggs like most boxed mixes do. The crumb cake was composed of chai spiced cake, with a cinnamon streusel middle, a crumb walnut streusel topping, and sugar glaze.
This mix made a nice, big, crumb cake – 13×9x2″ all for $8.25, which is a pretty good deal to me. That’s just a little more than how much it would cost me to buy an artificial tasting plain jane boxed mix and artificial tasting canned frosting, any way.
And how did it taste? This cake was SO delicious! This did not taste like a cake mix at all; to me, it tasted like those fresh baked coffee cakes you get at cutesy cafes and corner shops. Especially warm, with that yummy sugar glaze dripping down the sides… I actually gave a piece to a little 9-year old and he told me it was the best cake he had ever eaten! The cake was supermoist, and stayed that way for 3 days (that’s how long it lasted).
This is a great mix, especially if you want to make a more complicated dessert but don’t want to do it from scratch. I definitely recommend these mixes for everyone!
