My very first book signing!

I had my very first book signing last week at Spoonbill & Sugartown in my hood, Williamsburg...and it was so fun! We had treats, wine, and even some puppies. Oh, and I signed books! You'll see from the pic below that I had a little trouble figuring out what to write in people's books but I figured it out in my own way. Check it out.

xo

Cristina

Neon letters=cool place to be.

Books books books! (they mine)

Treats going fast.

Happy times.

mmmm how do approach this...

I know!

With something awkward!

TREATS. They tasty.

Book or clutch. You choose.

:)

Photo cred: LeeAnna Woodcock

Today is the (PUB!) day! The book is officially born.

In celebration of the book being on sale today, I decided we should play No Bake Mad Libs. Now, this is a contest so there are many extra points given to funny answers and people who share this like crazy. Post your answers on the comment section of the blog, facebook, twitter or all three. Here's what is at stake:

-A copy of No Bake Makery (again, it's on sale today! #noshame)
-The recipe for your dream dessert featured on my blog and social media (with your lovely face included #selfiesencouraged)
-A box of your creation! (#nomnom)

Here are a couple examples of answers:

I may or may not have written this one...

Pantry Raid Fudge

Last night I decided to use a bunch of my half used sweets and turn them into a crazy sweet, kitchen-sinky type fudge. I was eating this while making it/clearly not measuring anything but here is what I THINK I did :)

1 can sweetened condensed milk
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup vanilla oreo cookie crumbs
A handful of mini marshmallows
A handful of coconut flakes


Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and very lightly grease it.

In a medium non-stick sauce pan, heat the condensed milk over medium heat until it comes to a slow bowl, stirring continuously. Throw in the butter and chocolate chips and stir in until totally melted and combined. Continue to stir at a low boil for 2-3 minutes. The mixture will start to get "fudgey"and thick.

Remove from heat and stir in the cookie crumbs, marshmallows and coconut flakes until totally combined. Pour the whole mixture into the pan and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Remove from pan and place on cutting board, cut into mini pieces, pop one in your mouth and lick your fingers.

The end.

P.S. T minus 6 days until No Bake Makery is on sale. Woot woot.

Cookbook sneak peek: Marshmallow Pretzel Bars!

Marshmallow Pretzel Bars-Another sneak peek from the No Bake Makery Cookbook! On sale in T minus 2 weeks! Ahhhhhhh! Click here to watch me and Rachael Ray make em!

Ingredients
2 teaspoons unsalted butter
3 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
2 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
2 tablespoons peanut butter chips
6 cups roughly chopped or broken salted pretzels
1 teaspoon salt

Yields: 20 servings

Line an 8x8” baking pan with aluminum foil and spray it with nonstick spray. Set aside.

In a large, nonstick saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted, 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips, peanut butter chips and pretzel pieces, stirring until the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Using a spatula, press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the salt. Allow to cool for about 20 minutes at room temperature.

Transfer to a cutting board. Peel off the foil and cut into two-bite squares using a sharp knife.

Cookbook sneak peek: PB & Banilla Icebox Cake!

Cookbook recipe sneak peek: here is the recipe for the PB & Banilla Icebox Cake that I made with Rachael Ray! Click here to watch the demo. Enjoy!

Ingredients

40 vanilla wafers (I like Nilla Wafers)

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoons banana extract

1/4 cup salted, creamy, organic peanut butter 

2 tablespoons peanut butter chips 

2 large bananas

1 teaspoons ground cinnamon (optional)

Yields: 20 servings

Line an 8x8” baking pan with aluminum foil. Set aside.

Create vanilla wafer layer along the bottom of the pan with about 20 wafers,. You may need to break some up to get them to fit just right.

In a large bowl, beat the cream with the sugar and banana extract using an electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form, 2-3 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a clean bowl and gently fold in the peanut butter and peanut butter chips. Be careful not to deflate your cream.

Spread about half of the peanut butter-banana whipped cream over the wafer layer in the pan using a small rubber spatula.

Very thinly slice 1 banana and layer the slices on top of the cream. Repeat the layering process with the remaining wafers and cream. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Very thinly slice the second banana and spread the slices over the top. Sprinkle with cinnamon, if using. Cut into 1-inch squares.

*For an extra-yummy and classy-looking cake caramelize your top layer of banana. To do this, heat 1 teaspoon butter and 1 teaspoon honey in a sauté pan over medium-high heat until barely melted. Add 1/2-inch-thick banana slices and cook until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels before adding them to the top layer of your cake.

 

The Rachael Ray Show . . . omygoodness

So, today I did the coolest thing ever ever ever. I taped a segment for the Rachael Ray Show for No Bake Makery. It was the scariest/most wonderful experience I could have ever imagined. Every single person I met that works on the show, from Rachael Ray and the producers to the hair/makeup people and food stylists, are the sweetest. I am insanely honored to have even stepped foot onto Rachael Ray's set and the whole thing was just bananas. The show will air on Tuesday, April 9! Here is a play by play:

Here we go...

My first time in the Hamptons!

Green Room > My apartment

Temporarily locked out. Normal.

Say what?

Hair and Makeup!

Awkward thumbs up is all I could manage at this point

Right before going on

Copies for the audience!

Just No Bake Makin with Rach!

Dear in headlights

YAY

The finished book!

After a year of hard work and anticipation, my editor just sent over a finished copy of No Bake Makery. It was the most exciting package I think I have ever received. I've been carrying it around with me like a clutch for the past couple days. While it's existence has my stomach in knots, I am just so proud of this little baby. The count down to May 7 begins!

Basically, I'm so thrilled that I am even talking to my mac about it...