No, they are not paper weight!

Rosa Rodriquez was once a hopeless single mom without a job and now she is a successful business owner based in San Francisco, CA - Mexican-American jello artist, Rosa Rodriguez lose her job in 2009.  She was struggling to pay the bills and support her own kids.  She always knew art is something she was passionate about.  After losing her job, she started considering using her creative and artistic side of her brain to create an unique business (a combination of art and food) she always wanted and support the family.  She creates amazing jello arts by using syringes filled with colored gelatin, an artist's eye and a steady hand, she injects the colored gelatin into the clear, forming a design as she works (click here for video).   Now Rosa is a proud owner of Sweet Collection Catering company (check out her official websites for pictures, classes and ordering and catering information), a genius jello artist and a successful role model for her two kids. 

(Photo courtesy of Sweet Collection)

Gelatinas are a Mexican standard, often served at quinceañeras and weddings, made in all shapes and sizes. Flowers are the most common designs, but Rodriguez takes custom requests, recently doing a special order of gelatinas for Google that bore the company logo.  And while they're usually fruit-flavored, Rodriguez also makes spiked versions--that is to say, fancy Jell-O shots--with tequila, rum and vodka. When seasonally appropriate, she has been known to bust out an eggnog version  (Source from Taste Table).

The story of Rosa is another inspiring and touching story for those once lose hope.  At that one particular moment, you might thought you lose everything, sit back and let your mind remind yourself "the best is yet to come!". 

More amazing jello arts will be posted soon...

Whiskey White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies Recipe

I made some cookies for the family during Christmas time.  Sound strange but I got to admit that I don't like to drink any kinds of alcohol beverages.  However, I do like to use alcohols to cook and bake.  I think the alcohols take the food or the baked goodies to a deeper level of flavor.

Whiskey White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies Recipe (Make about 24 cookies)

Ingredients

You could ignore the oatmeal in the picture. 
I was thinking of putting some oatmeal inside the batter, but I though it will be too much texture for one little cookie.

• 1/2 cup of Whiskey and 1/2 of Gold Rum (to soak the cranberries in, then saving 2 teaspoons of it for later), if you don't have rum, just use 1 cup of Whiskey.
• 1 cup of dried cranberries
• 1 cup (two sticks) of butter, room temperature
• 3/4 cup of granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup of lightly packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 2 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of white chocolate chips

Instruction

1. Put the cranberries in a measuring cup and then pour whiskey and/or rum.  Put the cup in a microwave and heat it for 30 seconds.  And let the cranberries soak in the alcohol for about 15 to 30 minutes. 

2. Preheat oven to 375°F. Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugars and beat again until light, fluffy and well incorporated.

3. Add the eggs, vanilla extract, and add 2 teaspoons of the Whiskey that the cranberries soaked in. Beat well until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl midway through to ensure even mixing.

4. Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt, then add to the mixture a bit at a time, beating until just mixed. Fold in the brandy soaked cranberries (get rid of the liquid by squeezing the cranberries) and white chocolate chips. Let chill for 15 minutes in the fridge.

5.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Flour your hands (to prevent the dough sticking on your hands), and grab about a spoonful of dough and make it about a size of ping-pong ball.

6. Bake at 375°F for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for a minute, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

I made some little vintage inspired tags to dress up the cookies.

“Odd Couples”

Donut + Coffee = Perfect Couple

PB (Peanut Butter) + J (Jelly) = Perfect Couple

Straw berry + Chocolate = Perfect Couple

In our baking world, not all the ingridents are made for each other; however, there are some chemistry has been created between two very odd ingridents.  There are few famous odd couples I am going to present on this post. 

Two very odd ingredients come together create some incredible and unforgettable favors.  Here are some strange combinations ideas for your cupcakes:

Sea Salt + Caramel

(Picture from:  http://www.recipestap.com/martha-stewarts-chocolate-salted-caramel-cupcakes-13)

Bacon + Chocolate

(Picture from:  www. ingridcakes.blogspot.com)

Bacon + Maple Syrup

(Picture from:  http://www.hotpinkapron.com/2011/03/bacon-and-maple-syrup-cupcake-with-maple-icing/)

Guinness + Bailey’s Irish Cream Frosting

(Picture from:  http://dulcedoblog.blogspot.com/)

Grapefruit + Chai Icing

 (Picture from:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugardragon/)

Fried Chicken Topping + Waffle Favor Cupcake

(Picture from:  http://www.citysweettooth.com/?p=1190)

So do you have any odd combinations you would love to share with us?