Chocolatey Goodness! (Not that I'm eating any...)

I love to bake.

I find great happiness in being creative and making something that I'm positive people will like. (Thanks mostly to chocolate, sugar, and other yumminess.) My relationship with making tasty treats is wonderful, because I don't ordinarily have to sample the finished product to enjoy the process... which is especially helpful right now as I'm resolved to be healthier in my eating habits.

Baking = Bliss.

It was nearly a year ago, that the clouds parted, the light came on, the angels began singing, and I discovered Bakerella.

(Above: Bakerella creations)

Oh Bakerella, how I love thee! Let me count the ways!... 1.) cake pops 2.) cake 3.) cupcakes 4.) candies 5.) creative awesomeness! Her website is choc full of amazing creations, recipes, and ideas.

(Above: Bakerella ice cream cone cake pops)

Just looking at all her ideas makes me smile. How can something so beautiful, creative, and DELICIOUS make anyone feel anything other than sheer delight?

(Above: Bakerella cupcake pops)

Today, I decided to make cake pops again and bring them to some of the women I go to church with. They weren't fancy like those pictured above. They were pink, simple, and lacked embellishment. I made a chocolate cake from scratch since I was out of box mixes, added the frosting, rolled the mixture into balls, inserted lollipop sticks, and froze them. After they reached sufficient hardness, I dipped them in the melted pink white chocolate and allowed them to set. Something about this process was so thoroughly enjoyable that I found myself grinning as I carefully packaged them to be given away.

The best part was seeing the light come into the eyes and the smiles spread across the faces of the women I gave them to.

(Above: Bakerella's pink pops. My pops are the same... my camera's capacity for photo quality is not.)

If ever there is ever a need for more happiness/creativity/chocolate in life, cake pops are the perfect remedy!