Cute Japanese Pastries

Bake and Break is a super cute Japanese baking blog with the most adorable, little homemade pastries! The creator, Sakura, is a young Japanese lady making anything from swan shaped cream puffs, green tea caramel and fresh cream scones to name a few. I’ve included a bunch of pictures below, but be sure to check out her full blog because it’s pure awesomeness!  You’ll get tons great ideas for your upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s parties.

What bakery might these lovely buns be from?

It’s no bakery; it’s Sakura’s home!  Amazing!

Drool for choco scones…

Love Muffin tops!

Cutie bear cookie

More scones…with fresh cream!

Homemade caramel?  Green tea flavor?! Want want want!

I’ll only eat cream puffs if they’re shaped like swans from now on.

Source: Bake and Break

What?! That’s a CAKE??

About a month ago, Mari came to me and said I MUST see these cakes made by her friend, Laurie. It was really cute because Mari said her words would do no justice to just how amazing the cakes were. She tried earnestly to describe it and got really flustered because I guess she saw I wasn’t getting it.

That is until I actually saw the cakes myself. Holy crap, UNBELIEVABLE!! When I saw that purse cake, I was completely baffled. How can that be a cake?!?!?! I mean, look at it. It looks like real leather to me. And the detail!!  Then I saw the next picture – the purse was cut, and yes, that is definitely a cake.

From that point on, I could not stop talking about these amazing desserts. I made everyone look at the cakes and forced them to guess what they were. I loved everyone’s reaction upon realizing that it was a cake (try playing the guessing game with your friends – you’ll love their reaction too).  So I finally decided it’s something that really needs to be shared with the masses.

The talented individual behind these masterpieces is Laurie, a super cute artist and a self-employed cake designer, making custom cakes (among other things) from scratch. I absolutely love how she incorporates items all girls love  – designer purses and even the coveted light blue box from Tiffany, with a lovely white ribbon turned perfectly into a cute bow. These cakes are every girl’s dream.

I’d like to say more, but Mari’s right – Laurie’s cakes are too cute for words.

Please check out her profile and more custom cake pictures on her Facebook Page.  If you have any inquiries or would like to order, email her at laurie.sanae@gmail.com.  Mention you saw it at LIVINGcute!

Beautiful, Colorful Pasta

Jazz up your summer pasta entrees with this unbelievably beautiful pasta by Pastificio Pozzo del Re. The rainbow colors will simply astound you. Each color is actually indicative of different all natural ingredients like spinach, tumeric, red beet, tomato, carrot and red peppers. How clever! The pasta is also very flavorful.

La Table de Nana, one of Alisa’s favorite bloggers, prepares this pasta with shrimp just perfectly. The below description is taken directly from her blog:

We baked the shrimp in the oven while I was cooking the pasta. In a saucepan, I warmed some EVOO and butter..added fresh garlic,red chili peppers from Italy….some lemon juice and white wine.. ..Reduced it all .. then quickly added the cooked shrimp..loads of chopped fresh parsley from my little herb pots..and lots of grated lemon zest..tossed w/ the pasta.

The scrumptiously delicious looking pasta below is the result:

Omg, drool…

Click Here to Buy  – a bit pricey

How to Make Super Cute Piggy Pancakes

Mari is pretty much a genius when it comes to finding adorable treats that are fairly simple to whip up…or at least she makes it seem that way. Her item of choice today is a splendidly charming piggy pancake, no doubt inspired by our piglet friend, Bao.

The recipe below is direct from Betty Crocker and makes 10 delightful pancakes. Only 25 minutes to prepare. Click the play button below the instructions to watch the how-to video.

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 cups Original Bisquick® mix
1 cup milk
2 eggs
Fresh blueberries, chocolate chips or raisins

Step by Step Instructions:

1. Heat griddle or skillet over medium-high heat or to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir Bisquick mix, milk and eggs until blended.
2. Lightly oil griddle. For each pig face, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter onto hot oiled griddle. Pour scant tablespoonful batter onto griddle for snout and another scant tablespoonful for ears.
3. Cook pancakes until edges are dry. Turn; cook until golden.
4. To serve, place large pancakes on individual serving plates. Place 1 small pancake in center of each face for snout; poke 2 holes for nostrils with end of handle of wooden spoon. Cut second small pancake in half for ears; place at top of face.
5. Use blueberries for eyes. Or like the video, use blueberries for snout and chocolate chips for eyes. (LIVINGcute prefers the former over the latter)

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

Success Tip:
Flip pancakes only once! Repeated flipping will toughen the pancakes. Pancakes are ready to flip when they’re puffed, covered with bubbles and slightly dry around the edges. Cook the other side until it is golden brown.

Nutrition Information:
1 Piggy Pancake: Calories 120 (Calories from Fat 35); Total Fat 4g (Saturated Fat 1 1/2g, Trans Fat 1g); Cholesterol 25mg; Sodium 310mg; Total Carbohydrate 17g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 2g); Protein 3g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 6%; Iron 4% Exchanges: 1 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More info at Betty Crocker’s Website