MOMMY MONDAY: Comic Relief

When you’re Mommy to a newborn baby, have barely been outside in the past 2 months, can count the hours of sleep you’ve gotten in the past week on your 2 hands, AND, instead of “sleeping while she sleeps” like everyone has told you to do, you’re tweaking your business plan to include her in the vision making certain that your personal and professional goals come to fruition…well, with all of that, sometimes you just need a good laugh! 

I’ve never gone on Youtube specifically searching for a laugh.  But, hey, I’m sure my journey as a Mompreneur will now be filled with firsts!!!  🙂

I came across this video that had me laughing out loud.  Now, mind you, it took me HOURS to watch because as I watched, I also had to break to feed, change and cuddle….and I do it with pleasure.

To all of those Mommies, Daddies, and anyone who just needs a laugh this Monday…here ya go…By the way, what do you do for a break or when you just need a good laugh?  Please give me your recipe!

Chef Wolfgang Puck’s Favorite Chocolate Cake

Hope you are able to join me in trying out the first recipe from Chef Wolfgang Puck’s LIVE, LOVE, EAT! cookbook.  I’m going to go through all of his dessert recipes and hope to one day bake for him personally!  Maaaaybe I’ll get the opportunity to make this cake for him, a flourless chocolate cake.  I also think it’s a fun way that I can connect with all of you!  And our friends and family can benefit 😉

It’s not a very difficult recipe, and takes very few ingredients.  If you decide to give it a try, post your questions, comments and pictures up on www.Facebook.com/SweetDreamsLA and/or www.Twitter.com/SweetDreamsLA

You can make it for your loved ones, or bring into the office on Monday and surprise your co-workers!

Here’s the recipe:

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, broken into small pieces

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

5 large eggs, separated

2/3 cup sugar

Pinch of salt

Confectioners’ sugar, for garnish

Unsweetened whipped cream, for garnish

Fresh berries, for garnish

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Butter and flour a 10-inch round cake pan and line its bottom with a piece of parchment paper, using the pan as a guide to cut out the paper.

2. Bring a pan of water or the bottom of a double broiler to a boil.  Reduce the heat to maintain a bare simmer.  In the top half of the double boiler, or in a heatproof bowl set over but not touching the water, melt the chocolate and butter together, stirring occasionally.  Set the chocolate-butter mixture aside.

3. In a mixing bowl, put the egg yolks and all but 3 tablespoons of the sugar.  Whisk them until the sugar has dissolved and the yolks are smooth.  Whisking continuously, slowly pour in the melted chocolate until thoroughly combined.

4. Put the egg whites and salt in a clean bowl.  With an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form when the beater are lifted out.  Gradually sprinkle and beat in the remaining sugar and continue to beat until the egg whites form stiff but not dry-looking peaks when beater are lifted out.

5. Stir a dollop of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it.  Then, a third at a time, gently fold the chocolate mixture into the egg whites just until thoroughly combined.  Pour mixture into the prepared cake pan.

6. Bake the cake until it looks firm and set but a wooden toothpick inserted into the center still comes out slightly moist, about 45 minutes.  Immediately turn the cake out onto a cooling rack by using potholders or oven gloves to hold the rack securely on top of the pan and then inverting them together and lifting off the pan.  Peel off the parchment paper.  As the cake cools, its center will sink and crack, but do not worry.

7. Before serving, put some confectioners’ sugar in a fine-meshed sieve held over the cake, and tap the sieve to dust the cake with sugar.  Cut the cake into wedges and serve with unsweetened whipped cream and berries.

Here we go!!!  HAPPY BAKING!

 

Mommy Monday

 

As a new Mommy, I am now taking on the honor of caring for an angel (my miracle baby that I’ll blog more about in forthcoming Mommy Mondays), nurturing a healthy marriage AND making sure that my SWEET DREAMS continue to soar!  I want to encourage Mommies that it IS possible to pursue dreams, accomplish professional and personal goals AND be a brilliant Mommy!

I’ll dedicate Mommy Mondays to providing resources, encouragement, networking and a good LAUGH for those times when comic relief is just what you need!

Today, I wanted to share a video from a YouTube channel called THE MODERN MOMPRENEUR.

The Next Course: LIVE, LOVE, EAT!

Helloooooooo SWEET DREAMS LA subscribers and sweet greetings to those stopping by….I am so happy to announce the latest!  I am starting a challenge and I’d love for you to join the fun journey with me….

We’ve all heard of “book clubs” but I wanted to start a new concept: A COOK BOOK CLUB!  We can try out new recipes together and socialize online…The recipes you prepare can either be those that I’ll post, or you can make dishes from a cookbook that’s been sitting on your shelf, or even recipes you get from online.  And it would be great if you have a cookbook that has been passed down to you from your Mother or Grandmother that has recipes you can try out and share with your family and friends).  We can share how well (or not so well, lol) our time in the kitchen went. 

You can feel free to ask me and others in “the club” questions regarding your recipes, and also post pictures of your final dish. 

I’ll be going through recipes from a cookbook called: LIVE, LOVE, EAT!  written by one of my favorite LA-based Chefs, Wolfgang Puck.  On Fridays, I’ll post the recipes here on the blog.  The following Friday I’ll post pictures and commentary on how it went….

Please post your recipes, cooking tips, pictures, questions and comments on www.Facebook.com/SweetDreamsLA and/or www.Twitter.com/SweetDreamsLA and use the hashtag #LiveLoveEat

THIS WILL BE FUN!!!  It’s basically one big online party!!!  Who’s with me?  If so, what’s your first recipe?  Maybe you have plans to make a special dinner or sweet treat for your Valentine……

My first recipe is a flourless chocolate cake.  I’ve never made one before, so it should be interesting.  It’s on Page 181 of LIVE, LOVE, EAT!  Chef Wolfgang describes this as his favorite cake.  Who knows, maybe one day, I’ll be able to prepare it for him and make his Sweet Dreams come true!  That would be amazing…..I’m going to work on that  😉

Ready?  Set.  LIVE, LOVE, EAT!

SWEET DREAMS DO COME TRUE…..

I’m BaaAAAAAAaaaaAAAck!!!!

Hi everybody!!!  I hope your Summer rolled out nicely for you……mine has been PACKED to say the least.  I’m excited to finally get back to blogging!!!!  I miss keeping in touch with you this way….I’m ready to share more inspiration, encouragement and resources to help make your Sweet Dreams come true!!!

My last post mentioned that I’d have to take a break due to a special media project, and although I was tied to a confidentiality agreement about what the project was, now I’m able to start spreading the word!!!

The secret is out: I was cast in Jamie Oliver’s new show called CHEF RACE!  I am a featured chef racing across the country.  The show starts in Los Angeles and we cook our way to New York City!  It’s a travel, culinary, reality adventure that will be your new favorite show!  The show premieres on Tuesday, October 2nd at 10pm on BBC America and there is a sneak preview on Saturday, September 29th at 10pm

I poured my heart and soul into the competion and can’t wait for you to see what is certain to be a respected, unique, creative and exciting piece of television history!!!

Below is a clip of what’s to come and I’ll be sure to post my personal experiences on the journey!  Sweet Dreams DO Come True….

CHEF RACE (Jamie Oliver, Executive Producer)

Be Right Back!

THANK YOU to all of those that have allowed me to make your Sweet Dreams come true!  Since the launch of http://www.SweetDreamsLACatering.com I have been honored to serve family and friends (old and new).  It wasn’t easy getting this baby born (believe me) but through the blood, sweat and tears, and even when the labor pains got to be un bearable I kept on pushing…and the baby is here!

Now that Sweet Dreams is alive and kicking, I’ve got to care and grow it up to be a strong force in the market place, giving it all it needs to be a huge success….which brings me to some good and bad news…

The good news is: I’ve been given an opportunity to pursue a fantastic media project.   The bad news is that I’ll have to temporarily freeze Sweet Dreams catering and delivery business.  I can’t go into details at this time, but I can say that it was a gift from God and I’m walking through this open door with humility and gratitude beyond words!    I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL YOU MORE!!!!!  Until then, please feel free to visit the site: www.SweetDreamsLACatering.com and keep us in mind for your future special events, gifting needs and personal sweet tooth “fixes”!

Again, thank you kindly for your support through this journey, I am truly grateful.  I hope that in some way you’ve been inspired.  SWEET DREAMS  is ultimately not just desserts, it’s a movement…one to encourage people around the world and to provide resources to help bring personal and professional goals to fruition for you, your family, friends, your local local community and beyond.

If you’ve just stumbled upon the blog or just discovering SWEET DREAMS…please peruse the blog.  I’ve shared my intimate journey of being a dream catcher!  Please join me on the ride!!!  It suuuuure is SWEET!

CHEERS!  Sweet Dreams DO Come True….

xoxoBianca

It’s Spring Time!

It's time to enjoy the fruits of our labor.....

With every new season, there is an opportunity for change.  In nature, Spring is the time for growth after times of being dormant and seasonal storms.  I’m personally grateful for the rain because it has caused blossoms to begin blooming out of the Sweet Dreams branches….take a look at your “tree” and if you’ve diligently planted seeds, cultivated the ground and were patient enough to (don’t you dread this word…?) WAIT for the due time, then it’s your season to enjoy the fruits of your labor as well!

I also want to encourage you to continue to STAY PREPARED.  Even if that door hasn’t quite opened yet, it will!  And when it does you must be ready…in and out of season.  We must do the work.  If you are realizing that you might not have put in the work necessary, and there’s no fruit on your tree, IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!  Take your seeds (visions, dreams, goals) and start planting.  Don’t be afraid, have no doubt, your harvest will come.

We’re farming our dreams together!!!

A SWEET DREAMS RECIPE: No dish is made just by staring at the cook book……

xoxoB.

 

Time To Roll Out The Red Carpet………

Introducing you to: SweetDreamsLACatering.com

Hey everybody!!!  I know I haven’t posted in quite sometime and I do apologize BUT it was for a really good reason!  I was in my “Candy Cave” preparing for the official launch of the catering entity of Sweet Dreams!!!

If we’re connected on Facebook or Twitter (@SweetDreamsLA) then you probably know that I recently provided desserts for the Oprah Winfrey Network AAAAAAND (drum roll please!) Sweet Dreams was also hired by Empire CLS Chauffeur Services to provide dessert gift boxes for this year’s Academy Awards!!!!  So with the success of doing a “soft opening” for Valentine’s Day, the rave reviews from the producers at the Oprah Winfrey Network and The Academy Awards, (and the removal of any excuses, doubt or fear) I am ready to (finally) roll out the red carpet to the online site: www.SweetDreamsLACatering.com

If you’ve been a subscriber to this blog, you’ve been apart of my journey of literal blood, sweat and tears to make SWEET DREAMS come true. If you’re new to the blog, please please please peruse through the posts as I’ve intimately shared my story as an entrepreneur, a dreamer and a faithful doer.

I am truly looking forward to serving you/your family/friends/co-workers at your special events, in your homes, offices, gift stores, hotels, retail outlets…and wherever else you’d like me to bring sweet decadence to life!  And even more, I am still committed to bringing the entire SWEET DREAMS vision to fruition.  Its constant pulse is to encourage others and provide resources to bring professional and personal goals to life!  Certainly, SWEET DREAMS is more than just desserts…it’s a movement!  I humbly thank you for your support and encouragement through the development of this venture.

I’ll be back to posting more reguarly SOONER rather than later.  I have SO MUCH TO SHARE WITH YOU!!! 🙂

The next phases of SWEET DREAMS that will be launching in the future are: “Sweets & Beats” where Sweet Dreams provides free desserts at the hottest night life venues in and around Los Angeles, “Dessert First” Professional and Personal Networking events, Sweet Dreams Recipes, speaking engagements, a talk radio show, a television show….and the sugar on top of it all with be: SWEET DREAMS DESSERT BAR & LOUNGE….can’t wait to see you all there!

With sincere humility and gratitude,

Bianca

SWEET DREAMS Television Pilot!

Check out the SWEET DREAMS Television Pilot!

Sweet Dreams are coming true Valentine’s Day 2012!

SWEET DREAMS GOURMET DESSERTS

Bringing your decadent fantasies to life on Valentine’s Day…

 

Sweet Dreams is offering a special Valentine’s menu available for shipping and delivery on Monday, February 13^th and Tuesday, February 14^th

 

Be put into an epicurean trance with the finest, all natural ingredients, skilled culinary technique and unique Sweet Dreams Recipes.

 

Each artisan hand-made dessert that Sweet Dreams produces is artistically hand packaged making the perfect Valentine’s Day gift!

COOKIES ($20/1 dozen)

Salted Swiss Chocolate Chip: the signature Sweet Dreams cookie everyone is talking about on Twitter and Facebook.

Oatmeal Raisin: this old fashioned recipe has been decked out with golden raisins, toasted almond slivers, and a couple other secret ingredients…certainly not your average oatmeal cookie

Snickerdoodle Whoopie Pie:  vanilla bean filling making whoppie between two chewy cinnamon sugar cookies…a Sweet Dream come true

Banana Split: a banana cookie with chunks of semi sweet chocolate and pecans, drizzled with buttery caramel and topped with a dry cherry.  A must try…but be warned that you’ll be coming back for more

Heart and Circle-Shaped Sugar Cookies: classic sugar cookies decorated with personalized messages: I LOVE YOU, WILL YOU BE MY VALENTINE, BE MINE,……you tell us, and we’ll get it done!

BROWNIES ($30/1 dozen)

Triple Chocolate Brownie: rich chocolate brownie with chocolate chunks, topped with a layer of divine chocolate ganache.  A chocolate lover’s Sweet Dream come true

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Brownie: chocolate fudge brownies with a layer of Sweet Dreams house-made organic peanut butter.  The combination of sweet and salty, fudgey and crunchy is to die for.

Green Eyed Blondie: sounds like a Hollywood actress, but this is a Sweet Dreams signature dessert that’s a sweet, no-chocolate-brownie with salted pistachios.  Our tip is to heat these up and serve with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.  BE PREPARED TO ENTER DESSERT HEAVEN.

DAY DREAM PACKAGE*♥

Why not have something delivered to your special someone throughout the day?!  Whether it’s at the office, on set, at school or at home, let Sweet Dreams keep your Valentine’s sweet surprises coming…we’ll make it easy and do the delivering!  Here’s what we’ll surprise your special someone with, along with your personalized notes…they’ll love you for it!

9am Delivery: an assortment of morning pastries, fresh fruit, fresh granola, yogurt and fresh squeezed juice of your choice.

2pm Delivery: Give them a sweet pick-me up after lunch with a dozen cookies or brownies along with milk or fresh brewed coffee or hot tea

5pm Delivery: A bottle of wine or apple cider and a beautiful bouquet of one dozen roses

THE SWEET DREAMS CONCIERGE PACKAGE*♥

This is the ULTIMATE way to make your Valentine happy and YOUR JOB EASY!  It includes the “Day Dream Package” along with Sweet Dreams Concierge Services handling all of your other morning/afternoon/evening.  This includes, but not limited to arranging dinner reservations to LA’s most exclusive restaurants, entry into lounges/clubs, car service, helicopter tour, concert tickets, or anything that would make your Valentine’s Sweet Dreams Come True….just call us your Personal Cupid Assistant for the Day!

*These packages are limited, please contact us for a quote and arrange your package today! 

♥ This package is restricted to the Los Angeles (and surrounding) areas

**Above prices do not include delivery/shipping costs

***All orders must be received no later than Sunday, February 12^th at 8pm

Please email SweetDreamsLACatering@gmail.com with any questions and to place your orders…thank you!  We look forward to making your SWEET DREAMS COME TRUE!