Dulce de Leche Goes With Everything

Me and dulce, dulce and me.

You see, we're one and the same.

Dulce is temperamental, sticky, and deceptively sweet. I'm temperamental, occasionally needy, and most oftentimes, really evil.

See, one and the same.

Dulce de leche requires patience, time, and an intense love for the sweet and sticky. And yesterday was the day: I had patience, I had time (enough to throw on a pair of heels), and an immense, immense love for all things sweet.

There are a few ways to make dulce de leche - primarily, submerging a can of condensed milk in hot water using either a pressure cooker or a slow cooker and letting the milk cook for a couple of hours. The downside is that if the water level gets too low and does not cover the can for the whole cook time, it is possible that the can may explode.

Death will not be darkening my doorsteps any time soon.

So, I had to find an alternative method of creating dulce de leche.

Enter: the oven.

Hi oven. I know you. We're friends right?

Here's what I did:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400 F.
2. Open a 14 oz. can of condensed milk.
3. Pour the milk into a shallow pie dish.
4. Tightly cover the pie dish with aluminum foil.
5. Place the pie dish into a roasting pan.
6. Fill the roasting pan with boiling water until the water reaches halfway up the side of the pie dish.
7. Place the pan in the oven and bake for about an hour and a half.
8. Remove the pan from the oven when it is done baking.
9. Remove the pie dish from the pan and remove the aluminum foil. Let it cool for about an hour. Once the dulce de leche has cooled, whisk it until it is fluffy and smooth.

Refrigerate your dulce de leche until you're ready to use it, but honestly, why wait?

I used mine to top off a banana pudding pie.

Cheers!

I Love Cats and Cookies

Surprise, Surprise

Let's face it: we don't really know each other that well.

This is officially Blog #6 and we've only covered:

- Our online shop
- Badgley Mischka
- Twitter
- And local health departments

So, let's get to know each other a little better, shall we?

There's really no better way to know someone than by knowing the things that many other people don't know about them.

So, I'll let you in on a secret: I like surprises, GOOD surprises - not the crappy ones like, "Surprise! I ate the last bit of ice cream! There's none left for you, hahahaha!" Seriously, I hate when that happens.

But good surprises - like:

The time I woke up and thought it was Monday, but it was really only Sunday. How amazing was that?

Or the time I dreamt my boss was giving me the stink eye and chanting "Finish it now! Finish it now!", but then I woke up and realized that I was my own boss and I made my own deadlines. Seriously, now THAT is freaking fantastic!

I like how surprises - even small ones - can bring cheer to the minutest of moments.

That's why I like to bake. I like how familiar smells, sounds, and textures can still create new memories. I like the feeling of creating something that is all mine: a doughy manifestation of me.

And mostly, I like the surprises I discover in the kitchen:

- Ryan Adams helps me bake the best cookies
- A little salt goes a long way
- Chocolate and bacon don't always go together like cookies and milk
- Mexican vanilla is the shit!
- Some desserts CAN be too sweet (who knew???)

Okay, I've shared a bit about me, now YOU go!

Online Retail Therapy

Don't buy shoes this season, buy cookies!

Our online shop is up and running.

Hoorah for cookies!

Hurrah for technology!

Can anyone tell me the difference between "hurrah" and "hoorah"?

Anyway, visit our online shop between Dec. 10-21 to place your orders!

http://www.crazygoodcookies.com

eCommerce Trumps Trees

There's a 60 year old lady trapped inside my body.

Seriously.

During the process of planning my business, one of the most common questions I've gotten has been: Can I order cookies online?

Initially, my response was no.

One, because let's face it: I'm lazy. Setting up an online shop and dealing with online transactions seemed very intimidating and scary to me.

And two, I had these notions that I could just have people fax in their orders.

Yes, FAX.

Yes, with PAPER. Like I said, there's a 60 year old woman inside of me.

However, over the last few days, I've had a change of heart.

Soon, you will be able to order cookies for the holiday season - ONLINE!

Keep up with my Twitter to find out when the official launch date is.

Cheers!

An Oldie, but Goodie!

Recently, I read an article on one of my favorite food blogs that talked about the ever-growing, vernacular-revolutionizing Twitter. Apparently, mobile food vendors are using Twitter as a way to update customers on their specials, where they're located for the day, and basically, what's going on (yo, half-off hotdogs!).

Even though I've been a huge skeptic of tweeting, and a staunch opponent of overexposing my life, I can't deny that I've got to keep pace with technology in order to "keep in the loop". Hopefully, this huge moral sacrifice on my part helps me in the long run.

So, here we go.

http://twitter.com/crazygoodcookie

a letter to the health department from a little gal

Dearest Government Worker:

Do you remember class picture day in elementary school? The teachers would make you line up, from tallest to smallest: talls in the back; smalls in the front.

I was always in the front row. In fact, I was always the last one to line up: I was shorty #1.

So, I preface this letter by saying, I get it: I am small, very small.

The other day, I called your offices for some help.

You see, I'm trying to start a business - a very yummy business specializing in ridiculously sweet treats.

I'm new at all this business stuff, you know, the paperwork, the red tape, the fees, the rules...

So, as a little guy, I thought I'd reach out to you (being the giantest giant) for help with some of your forms.

Let me refresh your memory. Here is our conversation (transcribed and slightly embellished by me):

--------------------

ME: Hi, I'm trying to complete my application for x permit.

YOU: What don't you understand? Just fill out the blanks.

ME(thinks): No shit.

ME(says): I understand how to fill out an application. I'm wondering what if number 3, 4, 5, and 6 on the application are calling for the same information? Also, I don't know where I'm supposed to put my commercial kitchen space information, since there's not a space for it on the form.

YOU: Where is your kitchen space?

ME: Cedar Park?

YOU: Well, you need to call Williamson County and ask them what kind of permits and paperwork they need. Then you need to call the State.

ME(thinks): The entire state of Texas??

ME(says): Oh, okay.

YOU: What are you selling anyway? Jams and jellies?

ME: No, cookies.

YOU: Cookies. You're going to have to sell a lot of cookies to pay for all of this.

ME: I think I know how much I need to sell...

YOU: You know, you can't be baking cookies in your home kitchen and selling them right? That's illegal.

--------------------

Let's stop right there.

First, were we not previously talking about my commercial kitchen space location?

Second, since when did the Health Department start providing business consultations?

And finally, where in this conversation did I ask for your opinion on what constitutes a profitable business?

I came to you for help. Instead, you decide to condescendingly rain on my parade and make me feel infinitesimally small. On top of that, you provided me with inaccurate information AND gave me incorrect telephone numbers.

I get it.

You're in a dead end job. You've peaked in your career, and this is it. This is all you've got for the rest of your life: a crappy desk job answering questions about food sanitation, hand washing, and refrigerator temperatures.

I get it.

Your job sucks, and you're taking it out on the world.

And on me.

So, let me make your job a little easier:

Questions 3-6 CAN be the same information.
The correct telephone number for the Williamson County Health Department is (512) 943-3600.

So you see, YOU'RE completely expendable.

But cookies, they'll always be around.

And you won't!

Cheers!