Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles

Its truffle time! Today I whipped up some super easy chocolate and peanut butter truffles with graham cracker crumbs. They are really rich and I only managed to finish half of mine.  My husband polished off three.  I love how he likes sweets now.  Its so much more fun baking, knowing that he'll help me eat whatever I make.  Chocolate and peanut butter are true classics together and the graham cracker crumbs help to shape the peanut butter into balls.  Then they are dipped in melted chocolate.  You can leave them plain or you can dip them in chocolate chips, toffee chips, graham cracker crumbs or coconut.  The sky's the limit.  If you're having a bad day these are sure to perk you up. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Truffles

1 1/2 c. graham cracker crumbs
1 c. peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted
3/4 c. mini chocolate chips, coconut, toffee bits or any topping you desire

Take the graham crackers and blend to crumbs in a food processor until you get 1 ½ cups. Add graham crackers crumbs to the 1 cup of peanut butter. Mix together. You want the mixture to be dry enough to be able to form balls. Add a little bit more peanut butter or cracker crumbs to achieve this consistency if need be.

Form 24 even sized balls with your hands and place on a wax paper covered baking sheet. Freeze for 30-60 minutes.

Melt the chocolate in the microwave until just melted (do not overcook!). Place chocolate chips or crushed Heath bits in a small bowl. Note: You can use whatever topping that you would like including nuts, crushed Oreo…etc.  Using a toothpick or fork dip the peanut butter balls in the melted chocolate, one at a time, and then toss in the topping until covered. Refrigerate or freeze until firm.

 

 

 



Seattle Food Via Instagram

What's one to do when you see a photo opp but your trusted and true camera is sitting at home?  Pull out your smartphone, snap a photo, upload it in Instagram, choose a filter of your choice and add  descriptions and tags.  Ah, instant gratification and your memories are captured.  Definitely not the same quality as a nice camera but with so many filters to choose in Instagram, it looks cool anyway.   On that note, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Seattle food shots from when I went out to eat sans DSLR and really wanted to snap pics anyway. 

Drinks and Dessert at Capital Hill's Pettirosso.

Last night my husband and I ate dinner at home but he wanted to go out for a cocktail and I wanted to go out for dessert.  Where should we go?  We just couldn't make up our minds but we headed for Capital Hill where you can find anything.  It was Friday night and busy.  Everyone was out having a good time dining, bar hopping, singing Karaoke or shopping.  We drove around for what seemed like forever, trying to find a place to park.  We finally parked the car, then headed to the Pike/Pine Corridor.  We just happened upon this cute cafe, Pettirosso.  We looked at the menu and yes, they had a full bar plus a pasty case full of delicious looking desserts.  We found a table and my hubby got his drink, an Old Fashioned, and I got my dessert, Strawberry Cheesecake.  Everybody was happy and we even discovered a new place. 

 Dilettante Mocha Cafe on Broadway

Dilettante is a Mocha Cafe and Martini Bar on the end of Broadway.  I've been there a handful of times and always have an enjoyable experience.  How could I not?  They have a huge display and menu of all sorts of chocolate confections.  What's your poison?  They have hot chocolate, tons of cake to choose from, plus a long list of chocolate cocktails.  They have a bunch of other locations now, too. 

 My favorite cake from Dilettante- the Mocha Praline.  Its so good!

A glass of Red Wine from Dilettante Mocha Cafe. 
 

My husband's Chocolate Covered Cherry Martini he ordered on one of our visits.  This Chocolate Martini has Ephemere Truffle Saurce, disaronno Amaretto, Black Cherry Vodka & Chambord.  He loved it and it really hit the spot on a cold evening last December. 

Giannoni's Pizzeria in West Seattle

Giannoni's is pretty much our favorite spot to grab slices.  My husband and I always get a slice of cheese pizza with a side of ranch to dip it in.  The slices are beyond huge and they're so big you have to fold them in half.  Its New York Style pizza and we love it.  We've gone in time and time again for slices.  The place isn't fancy but it have character.  One whole wall is painted with graffiti style artwork.  We've been to some pizza joints in New York and it has the same feel.  We always leave this place happy and satisfied. 

A couple slices of Giannoni's cheese slices.  We love the thin crust and the hot cheese.  But you gotta fold it just like the New Yorker's do! They have outdoor seating also, which is awesome in the warmer months. 

Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in Columbia City

I've been to Tutta Bella a couple of times.  They are known for their very athentic Neapolitan pizza.  Its pretty much what you'll eat in Italy.  Last fall, my hubby and I drank some dry Gin Martini's and ate some really spicy pizza.  It was my first Gin Martini and sadly my last.  Those things are strong and I didn't care for the taste at all.  To read about my other visit to Tutta Bella, you can click here. 

I can't recall what kind of pizza this was expect that it was super spicy from the Mama Lil's Peppers.  I can't recommend spicy pizza with a Gin Martini though.  Try their Parini Sidecars, they are amazing!

Cupcake Royale on Capital Hill

I love cupcakes and if you read my blog, you'll find plenty of cupcake shots.  Seattle is full of cupcake shops and Cupcake Royale is a favorite.  Last summer they even started offering ice cream.  Cupcakes and Ice Cream go together like magic. 

They even have ice cream sandwiches.  This one is the Pumpkin Cardamon.  Good stuff. 

Capital Hill's Cupcake Royale is a pretty big store with a lot of look at while eating your cupcakes.  These cupcake flavors are listed in an artsy way on one of the walls.  I like how Salted Caramel, my fav cupcake, is the biggest font. 

Yum, cupcakes! 

Follow me on Instagram!  My name is Kelliwongphoto. 

A Baby Shower for Carol

Today I attended a baby shower for one of my relatives.  She is having a girl, so everything was pink, pink, pink!  She is due next month and seemed very excited to become a mom.  The first thing all the ladies did was eat!  The table of food was filled with finger sandwiches, pasta, shrimp tapanade, cookies with pink icing, various mini cupcakes, pink Hershey Kisses and shot glasses filled with whipped cream and fruit. 

After having some finger foods and getting a slight sugar rush from the cupcakes, we played two games.  For the first one, they passed around a jar of Q-tips and each guest had to guess how many were in the jar.  I was only off by 75!  For the second game, someone walked around with a tray of fifteen different baby items such as shampoo, teething rings, washcloths and so on.  Then we had to memorize everything we saw and write them down.  I did terrible and only remembered a few things. 

Then the mommy-to be unwrapped all her presents.  She passed around each item and we all oohed and awed over all the precious girl outfits and the super soft blankets.  Then it was time for everyone to head home. 

We wish Carol and her family well as they will soon welcome their daughter into the world. 

A Senior Portrait Session- Lane



A couple weekends ago, on a sunny Sunday in April, I did some Senior Portraits.  I had been watching the weather forecast all week and the Sunday I was planning on taking the pictures said nothing but rain and thunder.   So imagine how happy I was to wake up to a bedroom filled with sunlight.  It turned out to be a beautiful, spring day and the portraits turned out well.  I shoot mainly on location and rely on the natural light to carry me through a shoot.  Check out the Senior Session of Lane below. 



 

Check out my website to see more Senior portraits.  If you are a Senior or know someone needing Senior pictures taken, see my contact info.  

Nutella Blondies

These blondies are amazing.  If you like Nutella, chocolate chips and brownies then you'll love the taste of these.  The recipe I used called for a 9x13 pan and I used a 9x9.  So guess what?  My Nutella Blondies turned out extra thick and gooey.  Imagine a cake size brownie with a super crackly top, then a soft, moist and chocolatey center, almost like a souffle.  The difference between blondies and brownies is blondies use brown sugar and usually chocolate chips and brownies us cocoa powder for that rich dark flavor.  This was my first time baking blondies and I've always wondered what made them different. 

Nutella Blondies

Ingredients: 

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups (packed) light brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup Nutella
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a 9-by-9-inch baking pan.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugars on medium speed until fluffy and creamy. Beat in the vanilla and eggs. Add in the Nutella.
4. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips. Spread batter into prepared pan and use a spatula to smooth the top.
5. Bake for about 50 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.  The original recipe said to bake for 40 minutes but since my blondies were in a smaller pan and therefore thicker, I added about ten minutes to the total baking time.  Let cool and cut into squares to serve.  I found this recipe on the blog, Kirbie's Cravings.

Nothing beats a warm, gooey blondie with Nutella, especially with a glass of milk and if you're feeling wild, a touch of ice cream. 

Streusel-Filled Coffee Cake for Easter Morning

This delicious and memorable coffee cake recipe is my mom's who originally discovered it from Betty Crocker. My mom baked this coffee cake for special Sunday mornings like Mother's Day and Father's Day when I was growing up. I always loved eating it for breakfast and I'd never make it myself until today. Darn, it wasn't too hard-I could have been making it all these years! I cut myself two pieces and ate them warm out of the oven. Tomorrow is Easter and this coffee cake will be the perfect breakfast along with hard boiled eggs and sausages. My mom will also be making this for her Easter breakfast. How did you think I got the idea to make it? I love the streusel topping. I love the moistness of the cake part. Its the perfect combination of flavors!

Streusel-Filled Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1/4 c. shortening
1 egg
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 t. salt
3/4 c. milk
1/2 c. brown sugar
2 t. cinnamon
1/2 c. chopped nuts, we use pecans and walnuts
2 T. melted butter

Directions:

Blend all ingredients. Beat vigorously 1/2 minute. Spread half the batter in greased square baking pan. Mix brown sugar, cinnamon, chopped nuts and melted butter; sprinkle half the mixture over batter in pan. Top with remaining batter, then remaining brown sugar mixture. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Now just try not to eat the whole pan! Remember that its for breakfast the next day!

 

In Black and White

When I first started learning about photography I shot only black and white. At the Art Institute we used all film and I depended on my trusty Nikon FM 2 to carry me through. And carry me through it did. I learned about exposures, tones and zones for black and white and would spend hours developing all my film. I loved the feeling of satisfaction as I presented my prints to the class.

Today in 2013, things are pretty easy when it comes to black and white processing. Just shoot your photos on your digital camera and turn them into black and white in photoshop. You still get beautiful photography with even tones and shadows. The art form's still there, we just spend more time on our computers instead of the photo lab. All in all, its still all about the composition of your images. And that part will never change.

Below are ten of my favorite digital black and white photographs. My wish for you is that you're inspired to get out and compose some of your own. Whether you go old school and shoot some film or break that new camera out of the box and experiment. Black and white photography is a classic and will never go out of style.

The Mukilteo Lighthouse in Mukilteo, Washington.

 

 

 

A snow covered bike in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

 

 

The famous sculpture, The Thinker, at the Rodin Museum in Paris.

 

The many bridges and gorgeous buildings make Paris an awesome place to have a camera.  Two years ago today I was there and spent about one week walking around and photographing Paris through my eyes.