1/1/11

best of the best

Never been one to have a long list of new year's resolutions since they become hard to keep because the list is too long thus overwhelming. This year, like last, my list will be small, but powerful.
Want to work on: my recipe creations (do more, make more), my health and getting back to california. My baking has grown, orders are coming in; so I hope to keep focused and grow that even more. Health is always top priority as I get older and being a baker/chef/recipe creator the weight is very easy to put on since food is everywhere, and everything gets tasted, retasted, devoured--and fast. Sugar is a hard lil guy to keep at a minimum isn't he?
Happy New Year everyone. And thank you for being here, in my lil corner of the world. Oh how I love it when you come for a sit and chat. Enjoy a few collages of years past of my favorite creations AND some of my favorites things in life. Oh there are movies, beach maps, and some shiny things. Nifty stuff, kind of long but worth the ride. Come on!

My other 'job' is critter care. Wouldn't give that up for the world. Here are a few of the lil critters I care for & love. Clockwise: Denny & Leo 'almost human' maine coons. My tater tot Tiki. Neighbors crazy badass rooster (how I love that fascinating creature, if you want to see a video of him busting a move click here). Dexter & dixie who make sure I get enough exercise. Anderson the cutest puppy that ever lived. Tomo the gentle giant Akita. Penny (rest in peace baby). Banshee the cat who loves to pose for the camera each & every time (rest in peace lil man). And my tiki is quite possibly the worlds cutest napper.

Some of the food finds that I dig. Clockwise: crazy dragon roll at sushi joy in plymouth, ma. Giant cupcakes perfectly decorated by the talented/fabulous people in the bakery at Whole Foods in Hingham, MA. Infamous Kelly's Roast Beef, Revere, MA--if you ever come to Boston please make sure you go here, you will remember the food, forever I promise. Cupcake Charlies on Cape Cod, MA: I am thankful they are on cape cod, hostess with the mostess cupcake is top winner. More cupcake charlies. My local Starbuck's who always remember who I am. Dim Sum at Golden Dragon at Foxwoods Casino, CT. Whoopie pies the size of your head at Dennis Market, Dennis, MA. Fried shrimp at Lindsey's Restaurant, Cape Cod, MA, family owned for decades and the recipes and portion sizes never ever change, thank goodness for that.

Betsey Johnson is a place where I spend way too much money and time. That bench is just fabulous--must have that.

Some of my favorite creations. Clockwise: general 'dawn' tso's chicken. Dark & white chocolate pb cups. Greek nachos (you must make these at least once in your life). Devils food cake w/ cream cheese peanut butter filling & ganache.

These are what my blog stats say you like best. Left to right: Creamsicle cheesecake. Devils food cupcakes with salty mascarpone frosting. Pumpkin and white Oreo ice cream.

More fan fav's: left to right: Pumpkin pop tarts with buttermilk glaze. Asian beef shortribs with warm balsamic potato salad. And the infamous levain bakery clone-like cookies--the most famous recipe of ALL time here on vanilla sugar.

More of my favorite creations. left to right: Espresso bars with cinnamon glaze. Pimento cheeseburger with tomato-balsamic reduction. Banana shortbread. Pumpkin cheesecake w/ nutella ganache.

Winter on cape cod. Clockwise: East sandwich marshlands at high tide. East dennis ghost town: Chapin Beach area. Ice on the ocean, it was that cold to freeze the ocean waters. Sandy Neck Beach in east sandwich where I love to walk. But during the winter its hard to walk there as the wind is so strong, so cold it literally slaps your face.

Summer is coming! I can't wait. Clockwise: Dennis beach, a "secret" lil area on the map in between corporation and howe st. My pool/my toes--I miss chilling in the hot sun. My hydrangeas which I did not kill. Here is a lil movie I did on cape cod traffic. Dig it!

More summer fun, hard to be patient for summer when it's 20 degrees outside and snowing.

I totally got published in this wild, fun, addictive ebook by a bunch of some the great top bloggers. I have two chapters, yep, two. Neat huh? It's a great read. It has recipes, photos and the best part stories from the chefs on how and why their recipes came to be. Click here if you want to buy one. And if you did buy one already. THANK you. I mean that :-)

33 comments:

  1. SO glad to hear the baking is going well!! Your two jobs are my ideals! Anderson is super cute. I still want to make your pop tarts. And I am TOTALLY a summer baby and can't wait for it to come back. Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dawn - what a great review! I hope you get everything you want in 2011. I am totally with you on the sugar thing, i need to make less sugar :). Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  3. i could spend hours drooling over your food! i already spent 10 minutes! lol :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I am so happy to have met you through the blogosphere this year because your baking/cooking speaks to all of those wants and desires that I try to suppress on a daily basis. Like my love of bacon. Sigh. Happy new year!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm hungry now. I can't wait to make those Greek nachos...or maybe you should move back now and make them for me!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. those chocolate chip cookies look perfectly cakey and glorious!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I can't wait to check out the cape places you featured! I used to live on the cape. Wish I would have known sooner that you were in MA:) now I have to wait till summer!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great photos my Dawn. Love all the animals! Adorbs!
    Can you care for my cat Archie...he is a bastard and he will be sure to wake you up at 4:30 am every morning without fail.

    ReplyDelete
  9. i love seeing a peek more into your life! one day abe and i gotta get out to the cape again. we love it there!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are the one blog site I visit religiously...your food photos are to die for!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. And now I'm hungry again, what a fantastic round up - Happy New Year!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love your food choices! Those cupcake imitation pies are amazing.

    ReplyDelete
  13. This was an excellent post....Banshee died?? :-(

    ReplyDelete
  14. what a great "best of the best" happy and prosperous new year to you - maybe I can get out to a frew more bakeries based on your suggestions.....

    ReplyDelete
  15. This was certainly a great year for Vanilla Sugar this year Dawn! Happy New Year - all the best for you in 2011!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Now this is a re-cap post! Love it. Those critters that your care for are precious. Your recipe creations are amazing. Looking forward to following your blog in 2011 & beyond :) XO

    ReplyDelete
  17. oh wow, i had no idea you baked as a job, you are my idol. and all those critters? totally jealous. i'm with you on the no sugar... or at least for today :) i'm sure my cravings will be back soon! happy new year dawn :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am making the chicken, orange creme cake, and the cookies. YUMMY.

    They will be made after I get these 8 lbs. off:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I know Dennis Beach! Used to go to the Cape every summer and would rent a house right around there. Oh, take me back...

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hands down, this is the best 'best of' out there! Your pictorial recap is so wonderful, I am totally jealous of your past year. The critters are too cute and the treats are so sweet. May you have an equally fantastic 2011! 8-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for sharing all these great recipes! I've started a new cooking blog myself and would love any feedback or comments you can give, so please be sure to check out The Savvy Kitchen at www.savvykitchen.blogspot.com. I look forward to continuing reading your blog in 2011!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow you had a great year! I loved the retrospective (and you were right, I do love the rooster!)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Loved looking back over those photos. Your blog always makes me hungry. I wish I had put two and two together and gotten a chance to meet you when we were in Boston/P-town last spring. If you make it to CA, consider a trip north and a visit to Seattle! Happy new year to you!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy New Year!

    Here's to another year filled with amazing creations.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great review of the favs! Also, that puppy is SO cute!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Dawn so happy t have found your blog. Thank you for all your posting and I am so glad your passion has bared fruit for all!
    i wish you a Happy and delicious 2011!
    Gratefully, Judy

    ReplyDelete
  27. Happy new year, Sugar Mama! Yours is one of my favorite food blogs. Thanks for posting such crazy delicious recipes (I've made your cheesy chicken soup twice in the last month) and the fab food photography. Style and execution are excellent! Looking forward to 2011.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Girl that is so awesome that you have two chapters in the cookbook! So happy for you and all of your success so far! It's funny, before I started blogging with Erica, I was a stalker of a few cooking blogs - namely Joy the Baker, Aggie's Kitchen, and yours mainly...I just love your recipes and your photos are beautiful! BTW, I am so all about those Asian short ribs =) P.S. super stoked that you like my citrus tart =) The orange curd is seriously addicting!

    ReplyDelete
  29. You do have some amazing creations! I love them not just because the recipes actually taste amazing, but because they are soo original! and that's all people look for now! thanks a lot!

    -Amalia http://buttersweetmelody.wordpress.cpom

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great review Dawn. The animal photos are so cute and your baking talents always leave me drooling.

    ReplyDelete
  31. This is a classic and awesome post. Definitely got a glimpse into your real life, and it looks fun. All those critters!

    ReplyDelete
  32. I don't know which has me staring more -- the cute puppy photos or that awesome Devil's food cake. I guess I'll call it a draw and just say, "woof'' and "yum.'' ;)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh my Dawn. Beautiful pictures- critters, food, the Cape, shopping! We are very close to getting a dog that is an akita mix. We were very interested in Akita's. I will let you know. Which one of these is the stray that adopted you? We still have our visitor cat, almost daily. He goes in stints.

    Looking forward to a year filled with your goodies. You have the best creations!

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments!

Share

Get This