My Cream Cheese chocolate fudge cookie

It was one of those nights where I was tossing and turning in bed unable to fall asleep. When that happens, I usually think of food and end up making myself a vegemite cheese sandwich, or a vegemite banana cheese toast sandwich… I know… it’s a bit odd but I love it.However, that night I thought best to skip a late night supper. Unfortunately, that just made me think of food all night long. But then again, I am always thinking about food. I’m greedy like that :OPSome people read novels in bed, some read magazines, I read recipe books or surf online for recipes, and imagine cooking or baking them and what they taste like. I want to make everything I read, especially when there are pictures that just make me drool. Needless to say, I always end up getting even hungrier in the middle of the night and end up going down to have my sandwich anyway.

My mum makes a pretty wicked chocolate marbled cheesecake and that was on my mind that night, simply because I was craving chocolate. Then I thought to myself, “ that would be a pretty good cookie too”. I got all excited and surfed the net, and sure enough, there are lots of chocolate cream cheese cookie recipes out there. Yum yum!

The following days, I tried a couple of recipes out. All of them mixed the cream cheese into the dough, and I didn’t find that the cream cheese flavour stood out enough. If it was going to be a cream cheese cookie, I would like the see the cream cheese and taste it, just like my mum’s marbled cheese cake.

So instead of mixing the cream cheese into the dough, I marbled it in. I was so happy with it, because it sure looked pretty and mum would be proud. Heh heh...

Still, I really wanted the cream cheese to be more profound. The trial went on and on, until I thought of the ‘thumb print’ cookies. Why not just stick a dollop of cream cheese in the middle? Well, the end product ended up becoming my Signature and best selling cookie, and my very own favourite cookie. Never do I fail to make some extra ones for myself when I have an order for it. It taste just like a rich creamy chocolate truffle that has a little crunch but still melts in your mouth.... mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm yum!

After writing about it, I have to go and make myself some right now when I log off *wink*

Super artistic & friendly people at the Blim market

I met 3 fabulous and creative people at the Blim market whom I wish to tell you about.

One of them is Christi, from Bueno Style, is one of the happiest person I had ever had the privilege to meet, she just oozed positive energy. Love it!

I was completely exhausted and sleepy from 2 weeks of continuous baking and icing. I was zoned out when it came to being at the Blim market, but her energy gave me a total boost which I desperately needed.

Oh, at this stage I better thank my man for totally helping me out on that day too :O*

Christi makes some pretty awesome jewellery out of unique vintage finds which I had to refrain

myself from buying. I had bought a whole bunch of jewellery a short while back, and trust me when I say... 'I have a lot of costume jewellery'. Well, in my defence, who doesn't like pretty stuff right? And if it blings, its mine!!! ... & it didn't help that my man was standing beside me :OP

I'll just have to find Christi one day w/o my man so I won't feel so guilty. She has a new line of design specially for the Olympics so do check her out, she has great stuff! I particularly love her 'Oak' series. http://buenostyle.blogspot.com/

Some of my 'stuff'... I'm too shy to show you the rest... heh heh

I was stationed next to another baker at the Blim market. Delainy specialized in gluten free baked goods. We loved the gluten free cheese buns, they were so good, we bought a whole bunch and had them all as our dinner that night. YUM!

What is even more impressive about Delainy besides her baking is that she is a a brilliant photographer. I tried to pull some photos off her website to show you but I couldn't copy it (hehheh... opps!) but you honestly have to check out her work at Living Image

She has a great eye for things and I just love love love her style. She even makes me want to get married or have a kid just so I can hire her to be my photographer! She has recently been chosen to receive the Bride's Choice Award 2010 too.

And then there's Trudy from Trudy Ann's Bombay Masala Chai..... she is a total ray of sunshine, she reminds me of a Double Orange Champagne Punch! Yeap!

Here's the recipe, and I'll tell you why...

• 2 bottles (750 mL each) champagne, chilled
• 1 bottle (1 Liter each) club soda, chilled
• 6 oz. Sunkist® frozen concentrated orange juice, thawed
• ½ cup Curacao or other orange-flavored liqueur
• ½ cup brandy (optional)
• 6 ice cubes
• 5 orange and lemon cartwheel slices

Trudy is triple bubbly, a refreshing experience with a kick!

She makes her own chai tea mix. I personally never liked Chai tea, but when this woman with the biggest smile walked over to me with a sample of her tea, who was I to say no. I'm telling you, you cannot resist this woman! She glows!!!!

So I tried her Chai tea and just like her, it was awesome! And remember people... I do not like Chai tea, but hers was YUMMY!!!!! It was fresh and tasty, not like the others that I have tried that were made from a powder form, you know.... like those big franchise coffee places...ahem!

So for Chai lovers, I fully recommend you hunt her down and buy some of Truddy Ann's Bombay Masala Chai tea.