Sex and the City + Cupcakes= The Happy Baker by Erin Bolger

        My last Amazon haul included The Happy Baker: A Girl's Guide to Emotional Baking by Erin Bolger.  Erin is a Canadian make-up artist turned foodie. Throughout the book she alternates between funny stories about her dating life, and yummy baking recipes.  Erin does not discriminate when it comes to baked goods.  Her recipes include bars, cakes, cupcakes, bakes, and even biscotti! I enjoy the recipes with simple direction, and less than ten ingredients.  I feel like it will be a good quick guide when I need to whip something together with only items already in my pantry.  The stories in The Happy Baker are cute, but not  racy.  (I am sorry, but i think Chelsea Handler has ruined me for tales of female misadventures.)  Five stars are given for some of the recipe names.

Here are my favorites:

1. My Mom Didn't Like You Anyway, Cupcake
2. I Forgot to Mention I Was married, Blueberry Cheesecake
3. Tall, Dark and Caramel Cookies

      Last night I tested the recipe "Maybe It's Destiny Dream Bars" from page 98.   The result was tasty with a nice crumbly brownie.  However, I think I may have put too much condensed milk on top because it sank straight to the bottom of the pan and caramelized a little too much.  Here are a few pics.

*My grandmother would've been so proud with the condensed milk, peanut butter, and chocolate chip topping*

*Yummy destiny bar*

Baking Book Wish List!

         In the spirit of my baking crazed weekend, I am including a list of awesome looking books.  Some of these I have had my hands on, and others look like a lot of fun on their Amazon previews.  Even though most of them are cupcake books, I am down for any fantastic baking guides.  

1,000 Ideas for Decorating Cupcakes, Cakes, and Cookies by Sandra Salamony

Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes

Vegan Cupcakes Takeover the World by Isa Chandra Moskowitz

Hello, Cupcake! by Karen Track and Alan Richarson

The Happy Baker: A Girl’s Guide to Emotional Baking by Erin Bolger

How to be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking by Nigella Lawson

Cupcakes from Primrose Bakery by Martha Swift and Lisa Thomas

Mini Cupcakes by Leslie Fiet

All Cakes Considered by Melissa Gray