Currently loving: Vintage Bakeshop

Here are some things that I'm loving right now (in a purely platonic but highly enraptured way):

1. Alfred Hitchcock films, namely Notorious, my favorite of his flicks which I watched last night. The film is gripping, romantic, tragic, twisted. It pulls at about every emotion the psyche has to offer. Ingrid Bergman shines in the film as a woman torn between victim and heroine. She practically outshines the handsome Cary Grant who plays alongside her in the film. Fun fact about the film and Hitchcock's hobby of pushing social boundaries: The legendary kiss between Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman in Notorious, an on-again off-again necking that lasts for the duration of practically a whole scene, was designed to skirt the Hayes Code that restricted kisses to no more than three seconds each in film productions. Below is the old trailer for the movie.

2. Meat Pies. My doctor's office is located in Los Alamitos right next to a gem of a dining destination called The Pasty Kitchen. Don't judge the concept of meat pies before tasting; Or at least call to the stand a British witness before passing judgment. These pies are delicious flaky croissant-like rolls filled with either chicken or beef, and potatoes and veggies. It's as authentically English as The Queen of England. My favorite description of the Kitchen's meat pies is by an OC Weekly reviewer: "a dish riddled with mystery meat and wrapped in a tasty enigma." The Pasty Kicthen: 3641 Katella Ave, Los Alamitos, CA 90720. (562) 431-9747

3. Vintage Bakeshop! Tawnya Zebrowski of Rancho Santa Margarita is a baking enthusiast and devotee to the mastery of the perfect cupcake. "Vintage Bakeshop is my little company that evolved from a long line of baking enthusiasts," says Tawnya. "Some of my fondest childhood memories are in the kitchen watching intently while my grandmother turned flour and sugar into a masterpiece." Talk about legit. All natural baking really is a lost art in an age of Little Debbie Cakes (I'm the first sucker for the delicious Sugar, Corn Syrup and Enriched Bleached Flour that make up this heavenly morsel, but my body is saying, "please no more!").

Vintage Bakeshop specializes in gourmet cupcake mix favors. Tawnya's mixes are individually handmade with the finest ingredients available. You can choose from delicious flavors like Red Velvet (made with Nielsen-Massey Pure Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla and just a hint of cocoa), champagne, chocolate mint, ginger spice and the classic vanilla and chocolate.

The best part, you can get the mixes presented as custom gift favors for any occasion. Gift Favors include Gift Boxes, Baking Mix and a custom designed label! They're such a cute and delicious idea for birthday favors, wedding or show favors, or corporate gifts.

Tawnya has sent us a gift basket of handmade rice crispy treats before. They were so delicious I had to have three 5"x5" sweet and savory mallow squares. In one hour. I'm warning you from experience, proceed toward these desserts with caution.

Tawnya shares recipes with The Gazette readers each month. This month, unfortunately a typo mixed up her delicious recipe into something that would be very buttery. So below you'll find the CORRECT recipe for Super Easy Low Fat Fruit Cobbler.

Super Easy Low Fat Fruit Cobbler
The holidays may be over, but you can still have dessert!

Ingredients:
½ Cup Flour
½ Cup Sugar
1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ Teaspoon Salt
½ Cup Skim Milk
1 Tablespoon Butter or Butter Substitute (cut into small pieces)
2 Cups Fruit (fresh, frozen or canned)

Preheat oven to 350°. Pour fruit into a 9 inch pie plate. Combine remaining ingredients (except butter) in a small bowl and pour over fruit. Dot with butter or butter substitute (optional). Bake for 30 – 35 minutes or until golden brown. Enjoy!

Visit Tawnya online at www.VintageBakeshop.com or check out her blog www.StylishGiving.com.

-Jen

On my iPod: "Love" from Disney's Robin Hood (did you hear this song playing in the background at one point in Fantastic Mr. Fox? What a delightful throwback).