This isn't TOTALLY pastry/baking related...

...but I'm attending the #140conf in Los Angeles this week on behalf of my company, Ask.com, and I had this terrific video made by the brains behind Mashcat. Since it features a doughnut, I thought it kind of fit on Puff and Choux. Enjoy!

If you want the chips in chocolate chip cookies to retain their shape better, freeze them before adding to batter.

Courtesy of Foodimentary.

Fun fact about flour (and a little good luck to the Kansas Jayhawks!)

Puff and Choux wants to wish the Kansas Jayhawks good luck in tonight's NCAA basketball game vs.Michigan State. As a Jayhawk alum, you can never spread enough ROCK! CHALK! JAYHAWK! in the world.

So, to cheer on this blog's favorite team, we wanted to dedicate this fun fact to them today:

Kansas is the largest producer of flour in America. Enough annually to make over 15 billion bread loaves.

Courtesy of Foodimentary.

For the more tech savvy foodies out there...

I've mentioned Twitter on this blog before (see the post here), so for those of you other Twitterers or foodies who have just joined Twitter, I wanted to share the names of some of the best foodie Twitterers out there. I love hearing about all their cooking tips and advice, funny quotes and just their general conversation. Some of these are baking/dessert focused, but some are just general food experts.

If you're on Twitter, you should definitely be following:

@Foodimentary
@LIfeByChocolate
@FoodBizDaily
@eaterny
@TheGourmetGirl
@GlittleCupcakes
@FoodimentaryGuy
@imafoodblog
@fonduejunkie
@Eat_Real
@TheBestCupcake
@JavaCupcake
@WhatsGabyCookin
@kalynskitchen
@spoonmovement
@cupcakeblog
@CupcakeCamp
@CandyUSA
@FoodStories

This is by no means a complete list - there are loads more I follow who are super smart in the food space. You can see all the people I follow by visiting my Twitter page.

Food quote from my idol, Julia Child

"The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude."~ Julia Child

Courtesy of Foodimentary.

Follow Puff and Choux i.e. the author of this blog on Twitter!

Some of you may have noticed the sidebar of this blog, and amongst other things, I have my Twitter feed posted. If you are a Twitterer, let's be friends! I follow quite a few foodies- not just dessert folks, but wine enthusiasts and culinary geniuses in general one of my favorites is @Foodimentary, a site you'll see credited quite a bit around these parts.

If you'd like to follow me, click here.

Baking tip from Foodimentary

An angel food cake will slice neatly without crumbling if you freeze it first, then thaw it.

Courtesy of Foodimentary.

Great Dessert Quote

"Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes,Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes" ~Simon and Garfunkel

Courtesy of Foodimentary.

Baking tip from Foodimentary

Tastier Cakes: When cake mix calls for water use buttermilk instead. It will make the lightest and best cakes.

Courtesy of Foodimentary.

Favorite Dessert Quote of the Week

“The most dangerous food is wedding cake.” ~ James Thurber

(Courtesy of Foodimentary)

Great dessert quote...

"Ice-cream is exquisite. What a pity it isn't illegal." ~Voltaire

(Courtesy of Foodimentary)

Today is National Kahlua Day!

Today, February 27, is National Kahlua Day (according to Foodimentary)!

Now I know Kahlua isn't a pastry, but it is dessert-like. Pour some over your favorite vanilla or chocolate ice cream, make your coffee a bit more fun or have one on the rocks - Happy Kahlua Day!

Hilarious Cupcake Dog

If you're not already, you should all be following Fair Cake London on Twitter. They always have a great cupcake-related posts, such as this one:



That dog is classic! And depending on your perspective, it's either sad OR amazing that I get the same look on my face as that dog when a plate of cupcakes is put in front of me.