Baking in a 6X8 kitchen

Berry Upside Down Coffee Cake with Brown Sugar Glaze

2012-01-20T15:09:00.001-08:00

I adapted a recipe from this blog: http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/blueberry-buttermilk-upside-down-cake/

I did almost exactly what she said.... Except I just HAD to change something. I used mixed berries instead of blue & I made a nice brown sugar coffee glaze for the top.

Aaron, I promise there will be some when you get home!! ;)

Apple Cinnamon Scone from a bag

2012-01-19T09:54:00.001-08:00

Since I unfortunately never mastered a scone I wanted to eat from scratch, I have resorted to a mix.
Once when galavanting around MI I spotted this brand of scone mix & they were delicious.

But, since I can't make something fro a mix without some doctoring I did the following:
Instead of water I used half & half
I added 1 tsp of butter flavoring (since real scones have butter)
And 1 tsp of vanilla (because everything needs vanilla)..
Then I added a nice vanilla cinnamon glaze to the tops. Yummy.

Best Macaroni & Cheese :D

2012-01-16T15:38:00.001-08:00

Yummy yummy in my tummy.
My friend Elsa made me this Mac & Cheese when I had just came home from the hospital with Penelope.
Aaron & I really liked it so I knabbed the recipe from her.

Here is the link: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/cheeses-baked-macaroni-and-cheese/detail.aspx

So tonight I tried it w/ Penelope in tow.
The only thing I did differently was parmesan cheese rather than breadcrumbs & I accidentally dropped 10 pieces of macaroni on the floor... And left it there.
It looked like this....

October = Pumpkins and Apples

2011-10-26T08:31:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of things I made last weekend:

1. Apple Oatmeal Muffins (made from Apple Ridge Orchard's apples) with this recipe, with slight alterations:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/_mobile/recipefinder/apple-oat-muffins-ghk1007

I used 1/4 cup extra of brown sugar, added 1 TB vanilla, added about 2 tsp extra cinnamon, and increased the shredded apple amount to 2 cups. No walnuts for me.

They were pretty... and delicious actually.

2. Pumpkin Aebelskivers

Recipe:

2 1/4 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 T Sugar

4 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

2 egg yolks

2 egg whites

4T butter, melted

2 cups buttermilk

Then you make them like regular Aebleskivers- mix dry ingredients, mix wet ingredients separately (excluding egg whites),

then mix both together... beat egg whites until peak appears, then fold in. butter Aebleskiver pan and cook. Roll in cinnamon sugar mixture.

Results:

Yummy yummy in my tummy- (Sorry Penelope, it's crowded these days).

Delicious Lazy Man's Cream Cheese Apple Danish

2011-10-11T06:19:00.000-07:00

I adapted a version of this http://annies-eats.net/2010/11/16/spiced-apple-cream-cheese-danish-braid/ danish from that lovely website and made it 'easier'.

It is delicious I must say.

What you'll need (I made 2 because I wanted to have some to share):

1 box (2 sheets)Puff Pastry from the freezer section (unless you want to make your own)

4 Apples thinly sliced. I don't peel them becasue I think it's wrong.

4 TB brown sugar

4 TB butter

2 tsp Cinnamon

shake shake shake (three shakes) of nutmeg

8 oz cream cheese

2 tsp lemon juice

3 TB of sugar

cinnamon sugar (for sprinkling)

********************************************
Preheat oven to 400 degrees

First- lay out the pastry dough because it has to thaw.

Second- add apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and nutmeg to a sauce pan and cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes. Then let it cool for about 10 minutes.

Then, Mix the cream cheese, lemon juice & sugar and spread down the middle of the pastry (it will be divided in 3rds. I sprinkled some cinnamon sugar over it.

Layer the apple mixture over the cream cheese and cut strips into the pastry and fold over (in a braiding fashion if you so please.

Brush with butter.

Put in the oven- for 13 minutes, then rotate the pan for another 13 minutes.

Mix 2 cups of powdered sugar with 2-3 TB of milk (Add milk slowly until the consistency is right) Then drizzle glaze over the top.

The finished product - YUMMY

YUMMMY.
YUM.

Pork Chops

2011-09-18T18:14:00.001-07:00

I also made some pork chops and stewed apples for dinner.

Pork chops were pretty basic, Pork chop- flour- egg mixture- bread crumb mix.

The bread crumb mix was 1/2 cup Bread Crumbs, 3 TB Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp of Bombay Blend flavor mix (Daniel Boulid brand).

Then I put sea salt over the top and baked for 45 minutes at 375º... that was a little too long, probably should have stuck to 35 minutes but since I'm preggers I wanted to make sure it got to temperature.

Here's Anne, my favorite food tester- eating pork chop and stewed apples, only thing missing is the corn on the cob. It came next.

Pumpkin Coffee Cake - Take 1

2011-09-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to make an easy pumpkin coffee cake...

I came up with these ingredients to try to make it quick:

1 Can of pureed pumpkin

2 3/4 cups of bisquick (next time will reduce to 2 1/4 cups)

1 tsp cinnamon

4 TB sugar

1/3 cup milk

Topping 1:

1/3 cup bisquick

1/3 brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

4 TB butter - I melted it to make the mixture more of a swirl and not a crumb topping

Topping 2: crumb topping

1/3 cup bisquick

1/3 brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

2 TB butter- slightly softened - cut in to make crumb topping.

Here is the result:

This is the pumpkin mix--- it was quite dense, and I thought about this but couldn't change it then! A little too much bisquick.

This is the crumb topping

Before baking 30 minutes at 375º

After

After 2:

Best enjoyed on your grandmother's china- with decaf coffee.. (or regular if you are 1. not pregnant and 2. living on the edge)

Next time I'll be sure to use less bisquick because it was too dense. The flavor was good, but it needed to be more 'fluffy'.

I'm Back! Apple Pie that will make your mouth water

2011-03-01T18:03:00.000-08:00

Hi people, after a long hiatus I have returned.

Tomorrow I will post a series of pictures of what the heck I have been doing since my last post.

I decided to get back in the swing of things with a pie.... the most classic, and the almost best.... the Apple Pie. I'm calling this the 'Kennedy Pie', it's that classic.

For the Crust:

It's your average pie crust, except I can't follow directions and use shortening, I believe in butter.

2 1/4 cups flour

3/4 tsp salt

2/3 cup butter

8-10 TB cold water

When I roll out the dough, I sprinkle sugar instead of flour and use a paper towel to roll it out (prevents stickiness and prevents toughness of dough that flour brings). Then I sprinkle vanilla on and rub it onto the dough. It makes it special. I promise.

For the Insides- oh the insides!!

I used a bag of apples that I got at the store for $1.50.. they were variety- reddish.

I don't skin my apples. I think it's inhumane.

6 cups of thinly sliced apples

3/4 cups of sugar (I suggest 1/2 cup white, 1/4 cup brown)

1 TB Lemon Juice

2 TB flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

If you want detailed directions- email me- the rest is photo only...

After putting all the pie together, I brushed on some 1/2 and 1/2, then sprinkled sugar over the top. I cut out a heart in the middle... it's symbolic.

Then I wrapped my symbolic alien baby in some foil. My alien baby pie is afraid of signals being transmitted...Not really. The foil prevents excess browning on the crust (don't tell anyone, it's not like everyone knows that).

Now the alien is in the oven, for 1 hour on 375º. check back tomorrow for mas details.

*** Edit***

the alien baby has emerged, to show the world its' true beauty!

Zucchini Bread! Yum.

2010-08-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

This time, I decided to do a video instead of a 'written blog'.

If you want the recipe, just ask! It's an adaptation of the Zucchini Bread recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens cookbook that everyone has!

One big difference: Brown Sugar baby.

Soccer Bday Cake

2010-07-09T20:19:00.001-07:00

For 4th of July weekend, I had a lot of baking on my hands. First, I made star sugar cookies to use for Ice cream Sandwiches-- *Strawberry Ice cream filled*..

Then, I made this soccer cake for a friend's bday (that weekend as well).

The interesting part-- is I actually baked the ball shape in my kitchen aid mixing bowl. It's stainless steel and once it had baked long enough, I tilted it on its side to make sure it cooked all the way through.
Fun times on First Ave!

Summa Time Bakin'

2010-07-02T15:47:00.001-07:00

LEMON CREME PIE

BEGIN RAISIN BRAN MUFFINS

Aaron Makes Pad Kee Mao

2010-07-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

I love Pad Kee Mao *Otherwise known as drunken Noodles*. I want to eat it every day. That could get kind of expensive.

Aaron loves me sooooooooooooooo much (conceited often?), that he ventured down to Chinatown and explored the markets and noodle shops until he found all the required ingredients to make this splendid dish. It was a.m.a.z.i.n.g.l.y accurate.

I want to eat it all day, every day.

Here are the pictures; I'll let Aaron add the recipe he used.

Beef Stew & Cheddar Biscuits-- Not for the lazy

2010-01-03T14:25:00.001-08:00

Beef Stew is time consuming. This took me literally 4.5 hours.

I do believe it was worth it.

You can find the recipe in Martha Stewarts Real Simple Magazine-- or here:

http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/classic-beef-stew-10000001122826/index.html

I like to show my messes-- it's satisfying.

I did get a little panicked when I poured an entire bottle of red wine in. Made me nervous, but my faith in Real Simple pulled me through.

After the stew was in the oven.. I started my famous- Red lobster- knock off cheddar biscuits. I made these once (a from scratch version) for the 4-H fair and won a blue ribbon! These things are awesome. If you haven't made them, you have to. They are so easy.. and I found a really easy recipe online that I used last night:

Cheddar Biscuits-Red Lobster Knock Off

The gist is:

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups Bisquick baking mix

¾ cup cold half and half

4 tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick)

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

1 heaping cup grated cheddar cheese

Brush on--- after baking.

3 tablespoons butter, melted

¼ teaspoon dried parsley flakes

½ teaspoon garlic powder

400 degrees.

Combine Bisquick with cold butter in a medium bowl using a pastry cutter or a large fork. Don't mix too thoroughly. Leave small chunks of butter that are size of peas. Add cheese, milk, and ¼ teaspoon garlic. Mix by hand until combined, don't over mix. Drop ¼-cup portions of the dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the tops of the biscuits begin to turn light brown.

Use a brush to spread this garlic butter over the tops of all the biscuits. Use up all of the butter. Makes one dozen biscuits.

They are just sooo pretty!
It was a hit with my food critic team.

Aaron makes delicious Hummus.

2010-01-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-roasted-red-pepper-hummus/detail.aspx

that's where you can find the recipe.

Here is where you can find the pictures.

He hopes he isn't forgetting anything..

Pumpkin Pie & Cinnamon Rolls

2009-11-24T20:58:00.000-08:00

Since I'm nice... (And better than Megan Fox), I decided to make cinnamon rolls & pumpkin pie for Aaron and I's respective offices in celebration of Thanksgiving.

For the pie recipe I used a Pumpkin Streusel recipe which I will list later on...

and for the Cinnamon Rolls I used my Grandma Lucreta's recipe (they are the bomb).

For now I will just do photos of the process. I began at 7pm and finished at 11:45p.

Good times.

EDIT***
here is the recipe:
* 1 pie crust, unbaked
* 1 can (16 ounces) pumpkin, or 2 cups puree
* 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
* 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* .
* Streusel Topping
* 3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
* 1/2 cup flour
* 1/4 cup firm butter
* 1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional) I DID NOT USE.

Preparation:
Heat oven to 400°, or 375 for glass pie pan

In a large mixing bowl, combine pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, eggs, spices, and salt; blend well.

Streusel topping: Combine brown sugar and flour; cut in the butter until crumbly. Set aside.

Pour pumpkin mixture into the unbaked pastry shell. Bake for 15 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 350°. Bake for 25 minutes longer. Sprinkle streusel topping over pie. Continue baking at 350° for about 15 to 20 minutes longer, or until golden brown and the filling is set.

I'm going in reverse. These are the cinnamon rolls.
drizzling the icing.
cinnamon rolls are so pretty!

Aaron is always eating.
Buttering the dough.. heh.
Finished Pumpkin Streusel..

my kitchen cart in it's glory.

strawberry cream filled birthday cake.

2009-09-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

This is my first time making gumpaste flowers for a cake. quite fun really. Next I'm moving on to Orchids.

Here are pureed strawberries, for the strawberry cream filling

Icing colors: I would have liked the red to be a bit deeper, and the aqua a bit more aqua, less teal.. But life goes on.

I can't say I'm proud about the shape of this bottom layer. Something's gotta give with my cake pans. Or, my cake leveling abilities.
Here I added some of the gumpaste daisies.

Basically, you roll out the gumpaste, and use the little cut outs to make the shape and then shape it with thin foam pieces and wooden shaping tools. I could do this all day. It's a blast.
I really like the color scheme, the ease of the gumpaste daisies. Lopsided-ness aside, It was a nice cake.

the scone has eluded me again

2009-09-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

Last night, after days and days of studying the scone in the cafeteria, I tried to replicate it.

The backstory is that the cafeteria at work has a delicious, to-die-for blueberry scone, among a long list of mediocre items. Those cafeteria workers are such wenches, that they won't give me the name of the bakery they purchase them from.

So, not being a scone know it all, I first just tried a basic scone. Too dry. Not nearly as delicious as the elusive cafeteria scone. It hit me that the texture of this scone was not the same as these dry tasteless things I'd had before. It seemed a bit more cakey, a bit more blueberry muffiney, but dense. So, I compared a blueberry muffin recipe to a cake recipe and a scone recipe and came up with this:

cake mix

6 TB of flour

2 teaspoons of baking powder

3/4 milk

1 egg

1/2 bag of chopped frozen blueberries (thank you food processor)

Upon further analysis, this was the dumbest idea I've had in a while. But they didn't taste too bad. The consistency still isn't right.

My tasters (Rowena & Steph) have come to the conclusion that the scone I am trying to acheive is more like a biscuit than a muffin, and I do agree.

Blueberry biscuits in the shape of a scone to follow.

Labor Day Special: Cinnamon Chocolate Struesel Coffee Cake

2009-09-07T15:57:00.000-07:00

I'm back! It's my first baking post as a married blogger. Hehe.
Being married is cool.

Anyway, I decided to embark on a recipe from a cookbook from my bridal shower.
It was pretty sweet.
Here are the details:

The ingredients
Bowl 1: Brown sugar, cocoa, cinnamon ( i had really good natural lighting for this one)
Bowl 2: Flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt
Bowl 3: Sugar & Butter
Bowl 4: Eggs

Mix Bowl 3 with Bowl 4. ( My good lighting is now gone)Before 65 minutes of baking... 1 for Lung Screening, 1 for Aaron, 1 for Matt K.
After 65 minutes of baking:

YUM

P.S. the recipe is lengthy and time consuming to type, so I won't....
BUT, if someone really wants it, email me and I'll gladly type it out for you.

I feel like chicken tonight.

2009-07-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Aaron and I decided to make 'at home' Indian food. Although this is technically not baking... We did bake some pitas in the oven for approximately 8 minutes... does that count?
Above is our rice maker filled with Aaron's rice and seasoning that he likes.
Raw chicken doesn't really look appetizing. The point of the picture is the Patak's Doriaza Curry Sauce. Yum!

YUM.
Aaron found this, we seasoned the pita with it. Almost as good as Naan bread. Daniel Boulud has a wonderful restaurant DB Bistro I think it's called. Best Burger Ever.

The finished product. It was really good. I recommend that sauce. It's the best one out of all of them we've tried. I don't really like the chicken korma one.

The End. Flourless Chocolate Cake tomorrow!!!

I made Banana bread just to wear my new apron.

2009-07-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

I got this sweet apron for a gift at my bridal shower.
It's fab.
I love it. So I made banana bread, just so I could wear it and have Aaron photograph it.

Banana Bread is-- Banana Bread- It's pretty self explanatory, so I'm not going to post the recipe..
Especially because I just got mine off of Allrecipes..
Yum..
this is how it started-- mashed bananas, cinnamon, eggs, brown sugar, butter, flour, soda, salt.

Aaron thought he'd get a better pic by having me touch my tongue to my nose, then catching the spontaneous part after.. but all he got was....
that. haha.

PORK

2009-07-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

This is a baked pork recipe from Real Simple:

What you need:

1 2-pound piece boneless pork loin
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
black pepper
1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped (I Used Cranberries because I couldn't find dried cherries in the store)
1/2 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon whole-grain mustard
6 slices bacon
1 tablespoon currant jelly
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar

Heat oven to 350° F. Season the pork with the allspice and 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper and place on a rimmed baking sheet.
In a small bowl, combine the cherries, parsley, and mustard. Spread evenly over the pork. Lay the bacon slices crosswise over the pork, overlapping them slightly and tucking the ends underneath.

Roast for 45 minutes.

3In a small bowl, combine the jelly and vinegar. Brush over the bacon and continue roasting until an instant-read thermometer registers 150°; F, 10 to 15 minutes more.
Let it rest for about 10 min before slicing.
Enjoy!

I think it turned out well! Anne & Aaron approve.
That's risotto in the background.

Cass' Not-so-Noodley Lasagna

2009-07-07T16:28:00.000-07:00

Who could have known.. that this....

this...
and this...
could lead to.... THIS

I don't know if you're like me, but if you are.. you'll like this lasagna.
I always feel that there is too much noodle and not enough 'guts' in lasagna.

So, after a few stabs at lasagna that were less than satisfying, I decided to make my own recipe.
Here are the things I think make this experiment delicious:

1. Fresh Mozzarella
2. Zucchini
3. Sweet Onions
4. Sauce & guts: pasta

Here's what I used:

1 1/2 jars Fire Roasted Tomato (Newman's Own) Sauce
1 can of diced tomatoes w/ garlic
1/2 a sweet white onion
3/4 lb of fresh mozzarella cheese
8 oven ready-no boil lasagna noodles
5/6 lb of ground beef
Small container of Part-skim ricotta
Oregano
Basil
Pepper
Salt
Parmesan cheese

Mix Meat & 1 jar of sauce this will be referred to as meat&sauce.

First thing I did was put a bit of the meat&sauce into the bottom, followed by a bit of zucchini & onion, then the can of diced tomatoes (no juice).

Second thing, was add 4 noodles crossways.
I put some ricotta down on there... then most of the zucchini, some onion, some seasoning here & there.
Then I added all the meat sauce I had.
Then a few slices of mozzarella..

Next, 4 more pieces of lasagna crosswise.
Then use the 1/2 jar of sauce, 4 more dollops of ricotta, rest of zucchini, some onion..

and top it off with TONS of mozzarella.

Finish with some parmesan, pepper, oregano, basil, salt.

Bake at 375º for 40-50 minutes.
This will be your result. I did have to drain it a bit, but I think that the flavor was just right, so I wouldn't change the recipe I would just drain a bit out.

This was definitely the best lasagna I have had. Perfect combo.

She's my Cherry Pie and pesto pizza

2009-06-14T07:52:00.000-07:00

Hi again.
I've been off here for a while. Mainly because I can't think of anything I want to bake that is.. remotely healthy.
I think summer is pie season. I love pies. I love making pies. I was nicknamed 'the pie lady' at both of my former bakery jobs and one of them didn't even make pies!

Today I made a pie which will be forever named 'Annie's my Cherry Pie'.
It's gluten free/ dairy free crust, with sweet cherries, a little cinnamon (because it goes in everything I make) and a little sugar.
I was feeling funny so instead of a typical top crust I made it shaped out of trees. Funny? Well it is to me.
I will say this isn't the prettiest pie I have ever made, but give me a break, I'm down a pastry brush and I have never worked with Rice Flour before!

Then I had a little crust mix left over and some random items around the house so I decided to experiment. YOU SHOULD TRY THIS, because it's actually delicious.
I used this Cilantro Pesto Rub in place of tomato sauce.

Then I put a couple of diced tomato pieces on, and topped it with Muenster cheese.
I made it thin-crust crispy..and it was GOOOD. The only thing I might add to a full size pizza is chicken.
This is just a funny wedding picture I found.
You see, the groom is fake-making out with the maid of honor. HAHA. Don't worry Sarah, I won't request this at Aaron & I's wedding ;). I go between thinking it's HILARIOUS and kind of weird anyway.

I LOVE BREAD MAKERS!

2009-03-28T10:18:00.001-07:00

you can see the dough in there! How cute!!!

Seriously, why has no one notified me of this phenomenal product before??!
WHY!? WHY??!!!!

I have just made cinnamon rolls.
In my new bread maker.
I didn't have to mess with yeast, just put the ingredients in the order it says and..
Then roll it out, add filling, cut & bake.
PERFECT.
For those of you who don't know.. I have a major issue with getting water to the right temperature and getting yeast to work properly. So bread machine is ... God send.

So the recipe I used is only for Bread Makers-- if you want it, email me.
I attached pics of the process though.

I'm going in reverse, since I never get to do that:

Here's the (almost) finished product. I'm out of powdered sugar to make the glaze, so update later.
Prebaking:
I just think Cinnamon Rolls are pretty.
filling on dough! The dough was perfect. good elasticity, perfect!

This is what it looked like when I shut the lid.

Lemon Scones!!!

2009-03-22T15:06:00.001-07:00

So I got another recipe from Eat Better America which you all know from last time is a website, for which a couple of nutritionists change ingredients in recipes to make them healthified.
I LOVE SCONES.
I have quite a bit of guilt associated with eating them however. So when I found this, I thought why not give it a try?!

Step 1:
Preheat oven to 400º. Combine dry ingredients, Then drizzle with 1 TB of oil and mix in so it's evenly distributed.

Step 2: add in lemon yogurt * I USED 6 oz*, egg whites (all except 1 TB), and Lemon peel. (use a grater, not a knife like me!).

Step 3: mix that in, until almagamated.. (I had to use my hands a little)

Step 4: move dough to lightly floured surface and knead a time or two, then shape into an 8 in round.

Step 5: cut into 8 even pieces, brush with remaining 1 TB of egg white and sprinkle with 1 TB of sugar.

Step 6: Oven at 400º for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Suggestions for the future: underbake 1-2 minutes
add a lemon flavored icing drizzle
use a grater for lemon peel.

=) woo hoo.

Lemon Scones are next on the docket!

2009-03-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

Maybe this weekend!

The LONG AWAITED Raspberry Bars!!!!!

2009-03-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

So, as you know I found the recipe here:
http://www.eatbetteramerica.com/recipes/whole-grains/healthified-raspberry-bars.aspx

I did edit it a little. Because of my deep belief that many baking recipes could use a little lemon juice & cinnamon, I added a little of that.
I used low-sugar jam.
I used an additional 2 TB of melted butter because I was concerned about the dryness of the 'crumb' mixture.
I used almonds instead of walnuts.
I used a round pan instead of a square pan. Why? because I don't have a square pan.

I'll tell you where I added these things, with pics.

I must say these were very easy... One of the easiest... and possibly THE healthiest thing I have ever baked. hm..... yes.. I think so.

1. Put all the ingredients--- not including rasp jam & nuts in a bowl.

Mix-- on low until crumby.
Then press all except for 1/2 cup of crumbery into pan-- (This is where I added 2 TB of butter... because I thought it would help amalgamate the crumbery.. it did.. I also thought it might help me spread the jam without mixing it into the crumbery.... indeed it did). I think it only added like.... 4 calories each serving.

After pressing & drizzling butter if you so please....
add the jam and... spread it until it's about 1/2 an inch from the edge of the crumbery.

pretty you see? (actually this would probably be really good with any jam flavor you wish)
Then, add the remainder of the crumb topping.. the nuts of your choice.... and... If you, like me... think everything needs some lemon juice & cinnamon... drizzle that on top.

I'll post a beauty shot of the finished product later on tonight!

That's all for now.
OH YEAH...
have you seen my new kitchen???

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TA DA! it's not 6X8 but i can't change my blog name !

Okay----
edit
So the beauty shot isn't that .. beautiful, but these things are excellently yummy.

Next Up.. Possibly a Healthy Dessert.. Is that Sacreligous?

2009-01-20T19:53:00.000-08:00

I have been looking at the eatbetteramerica website, and I found a few things I'd like to try.. specifically the Raspberry Bars.

If I do it, I'll be doing it this weekend, so keep your eyes peeled. Lol.. Does anyone even read this anymore?!

<3

Christmas for Two

2008-12-25T13:22:00.000-08:00

So our Christmas Lunch/Dinner was stuffing, green beans, and Cheesey Potatoes. Yummy. We decided on no meat because we don't care if we have it, and we would be full off the other stuff anyway.

So, I have two recipes to share for today's blog.
1. Rhubarb Peach Pie
2. Jean's Cheesey Potato Dish (with a Cassandra spin)

Rhubarb Peach Pie
Make or Buy a Pie Crust, Pillsbury has a good one where you just add water.
For the Filling you need:

3-4 Rhubarb Stalks cut into 1/2 in pieces
6-7 Peaches sliced
3 TBS fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup flour

In separate bowl 1 egg and beaten with 1 tsp water
I squeezed 2 lemons over the chopped rhubarb

Then I added flour, nutmeg, cinnamon
Then peaches, 1 tsp of vanilla, sugars and peaches (just my own thing)
Mix and add to pie crust
Cover with 2nd part of crust, then brush the egg/water mix over top of the crust.
Slice vents into pie top.
Bake for 10 min at 450º, then 35 min at 350º
Aaron eating delicious pie.
Closeup, beauty shot.

Now onto Jean's cheesey potato recipe

Preheat Oven to 350º
One 32 oz bag of hashbrowns (frozen): Place in a greased 13X9 in pan

1 stick of margarine
1 can cream of chicken soup
12 oz of cheddar cheese (I used 8 oz of this, and 3 small swiss laughing cow packages)
8 oz sour cream (i used 4 oz this and 2 oz ranch dressing)
1/2 small chopped onion
Crumbled Bacon (optional-I didn't do this)

For topping (I didn't do this, couldn't find corn flakes)
1 stick margarine

Mix all of those together and then spread over hashbrowns and bake for 1 hour, I had to bake for 1 hour and ten min, because i wanted it a little more crusty.

Chocolate Espresso Cake with Espresso Icing

2008-12-16T06:18:00.000-08:00

Basically, go buy a chocolate cake mix.

When you're making it, substitute softened/melted butter for oil and heat the water (for the cake mix instructions) up and dissolve 2 TB of espresso in it.

Then bake for normal time and ice with:

1/2 cup shortening
3-ish cups of powdered sugar
3 TBS of warmed water with 2 TB of espresso (cool down before adding to powdered sugar)
and 1 teasp of vanilla.

Once it's iced, sprinkle some powdered sugar on top and some chocolate chips...
or if you have them, chocolate covered espresso beans.

I'll post pics when I get home!

I'll post again soon!!!!

2008-12-12T10:08:00.001-08:00

I'm just having a blogging about baking hiatus!

Perfect Pumpkin Struesel Muffins

2008-11-20T16:54:00.000-08:00

Thank you Motherload Blog for showing me this LOVELY, LOVELY, perfect, perfect Pumpkin Streusel Muffins.
Please make them.
Get the recipe from the link above, make them, eat them.... love them.

Mix all ingredients for batter together

Put them in greased muffin tins... or in muffin cups..

Make the crumb topping
Put it on top.

Bake them at 350º for 23 minutes...

and ENJOY
ENJOY
ENJOY

can you tell I liked them?

18th Bday Cake

2008-11-17T14:57:00.000-08:00

here is the photo progression of the 18th bday cake I posted about earlier....

BEST OATMEAL COOKIES EVER

2008-11-11T16:17:00.001-08:00

Okay, so to be honest I didn't document this Oatmeal cookie adventure for one reason. I was afraid they'd turn out crappy like past attempts and I'd be embarrassed.
Of course, the time that I don't document they are perfect.

Thanks to the Cooking Sisters and Friends I have had a horrible recurring love affair with Crisco. I thought that after my teenage years of putting it in icing and all cookies I made, I'd never go there again, but i just can't stop. What can I do.. it makes the best cookies!

So here's the recipe.. and Aaron can attest these are the BEST Oatmeal COOKIES EVER! they are perfect, soft but chewy, cinnamony, oatmealy.. YUMMMMM.

3/4 cup Crisco Butter Shortening
1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup All Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups oats (not instant)
1 cup raisins (optional) (not optional in my opinion).

COMBINE shortening, brown sugar, egg, milk and vanilla in large bowl; beat at medium speed until well blended.

COMBINE flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in small bowl; mix into shortening mixture at low speed until blended. Stir in oats with spoon; stir in raisins and nuts, if desired.

DROP rounded tablespoonfuls of dough 2 inches apart onto baking sheets.

BAKE 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet; transfer to cooling rack to cool completely.

My brother's 18th Bday party

2008-11-09T18:46:00.000-08:00

Here is a Mock up of the cupcake tower my mom, sister and I will be making for my brother's 18th birthday.
I'm excited about it... we're having a surprise party for him and I think it will be a hit.
Anyway, I'll post pics later.. =)

red velvet cake

2008-10-25T14:06:00.000-07:00

Here's a recipe from a cookbook (thanks sally for that correction) my mom bought me for my birthday ... well I picked it out, she gave me the $$. ;)
There are some really excellent recipes in here that I want to try.
Here's what you need: ( I made a 1/2 recipe because I just needed a small cake)
1/2 cup softened unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
4 egg yolks
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
3TB red food coloring
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp salt
2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp white vinegar

Preheat oven to 350º, prepare pans with butter or baking spray OR parchment paper

First Cream butter and sugar in bowl using mixer for about 5 minutes.
then add egg yolks and beat again for 1 min
in another bowl stir cocoa, food coloring and vanilla extract..

add both flour and cocoa to butter mixture.. alternating with small amounts of the flour mixture, then cocoa mix.
in a third bowl combine buttermilk and salt and add this to the mix, mix well
Last in a 4th bowl, combine vinegar and soda, then slowly add to mix and blend until creamy. When fully mixed, pour into pan (if using full recipe, use 2 9 in rounds)
Bake for about 30 minutes, until insert toothpick and comes out clean.

Let cool.
If you are using full recipe slice both cake rounds into layers as shown below.

After cake is completely cool, you can Ice it. The icing recipe I used is one container of cool whip, one package of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of powdered sugar. Mix together and ice between the layers.

Then cover the whole cake. Once I find some raspberries I'll put them on top! Yummy??! we shall see!

Very good Cut Out Sugar cookie recipe

2008-10-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

I got this from the butter crisco package.... =)

It worked really well for me when I made these pumpkin cut outs on Thurs!
PREHEAT oven to 375º

Here's the recipe:
1 stick crisco butter flavored (1 cup)
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 TB milk
1 TB vanilla
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking POWDER
1/2 tsp salt

beat crisco and sugar in bowl
beat in egg, milk and vanilla extract until well blended.
IN separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt, then add flour mixture to cream mixture until well blended ( at a low speed is best as to not cover yourself in flour mixture) ;)

Can refrigerate for easier handling or take it like a champ as I did.. heh.

I just put the ball of dough between two layers of LIGHTLY floured wax paper and rolled it out to about 1/8 in thick.
then I cut it out, pulled the excess away and lifted each little pumpkin from the lightly floured wax paper, put it on the baking sheet, again covered with wax paper.. and baked for 7-ish minutes. The recipe card says 375º for 5-9 min, until edges brown.

Then I pull them off the sheet onto a cooling rack. I don't have a finished product without icing over it.. but here's what they looked like when I was done cooling icing and sprinkling:

Here's some other goodies I made:
AND here's the whole sweets spread. By the way we did have other things so as not to cause diabetic shock: pretzels, apples, cheese dip, peanut mix.

=)

BEST.... CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES.... EVER!!!!!!

2008-10-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from my friend from high school's blog!
You can find it here: http://barefoot-in-the-kitchen.blogspot.com/2008/10/ultimate-chocolate-chip-cookie.html

Let me just preface this by saying I have searched high and low for a good chocolate chip cookie recipe. I have just found one, thanks to the cooking sisters. I needed to find one with the perfect balance of chewy and crunchy... ad this is it!

Go to their site for the recipe and look below for pics!

brown sugar and butter flavored crisco..
cream together then add the rest of the stuff.
add chocolate chips and add by BIG spoonfuls 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
MAKE SURE THEY ARE TWO inches apart!!! Otherwise you'll be in trouble.

look how delicious!

Blueberry Scones

2008-10-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from the "Baking in America" book Steph got me for Christmas last year.

Here's what you need:

2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
8 TB butter
1 1/2 cups frozen or fresh (NOT THAWED) blueberries
1 1/4 cups buttermilk

Here's what you do:

preheat oven 350º
line baking sheet with parchment paper
cut butter into 1 TB size slices (HAVE TO DO THIS!!!)

Then put flour, baking soda, salt and 4 TB of sugar in a bowl.

Add the butter pieces and use a pastry blender or 2 knives (pastry blender is MUCH MUCH easier).. Then with your hands it says to work the butter into Large Flakes (make sure the dough is cold.. if you have to put it in the fridge for a while, do so)...
This is the best I could do.

Then add Blueberries and toss to coat evenly.

Then pour everything but 1 TB buttermilk in and FOLD GENTLY with a rubber spatula until the dry stuff is moist stuff. You will have a thick dough.

Scrape it out onto a lightly floured surface and dust with flour.

Then form it into an 8-in circle

Spread the remaining buttermilk over the top.

Sprinkle 4 TB sugar over the top. YUM.

Then take a knife and cut into quarters, then in half again to have 8 wedges.

Then transfer to baking sheet and bake 25 minutes until golden-ish.

Then move them to a cooling rack..

YUMMY YUMMY in my Tummy!
****EDIT*****
After eating one of these post warmth, I'd say that they need to be baked a little longer... or for the same amount of time at a higher temperature. I like my scones to be drier than these are.
I'll try them again sometime and then repost.

I made impromptu biscotti! Oh no...... OH YES!!!!!!

2008-10-15T18:29:00.001-07:00

So I got a wild hair and decided to make biscotti. Since I was busy I decided to go a less traditional route and it was fantastically easy and yum yum.
Here's what you need:

1/4 caramel or chocolate sauce
1/2 cup butter melted
1 cup flour
1 chocolate cake mix
1 TB Vanilla extract
1-2TB milk (to make proper consistency
2 eggs
IGNORE THE HAZELNUTS unless you want to put them in.. (I didn't, since it was my first shot at Biscot!!)

THEN: add dry ingredients... then wet ones. ya know.. the usual.
CARAMEL!! yum

MIX IT
Flatten it! (specifically into a 12x1x3 inch log)

bake it! 350º 30-35 minutesTHEN turn the oven down to 300, take it out and slice it (with a serrated knife) into 3/4 inch portions.. you can go smaller if you choose... like 1/2 inch
see!
oooooh yummm
then flip em on their side, bake 10 more minutes, flip em on the other sides and bake em 10 more!
let them cool a little
Drizzle with melted chocolate (I used Hershey's special dark)
Dip them in coffee, tea or milk. Delectable!

Thursday night: Apple CinnaCream Bars

2008-10-04T09:50:00.000-07:00

Up on the docket: Apple CinnaCream bars
It's a mix of two recipes and I think it will be delectable!

Ingredients you'll need to bake with me:

10 apples (golden delicious will work best)
1 stick of butter (you can use light)
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 yellow or spice cake mix
3 TB milk
1 package cream cheese (fat free)
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup flour
3 TB brown sugar

SET ASIDE (in addition too above):
1 tsp cinnamon
1 TB brown sugar

Instructions and Photos to Follow!

next up:

2008-09-15T17:40:00.001-07:00

Something with Apples. YUM!

not technically baking: but it's good

2008-09-09T09:53:00.001-07:00

Upon Steph's request:

Amalgamated Potato Salad Recipe

5 Medium Sized Red Potatoes (Diced Boiled and Cooled)
3 Boiled Eggs (Cooled and Diced)
3 Green Onions (the green part only, finely chopped)
1 Red Onion (diced finely) ** I only used 1/2 because I didn't want it to be overpowering)
1/4 cup Dijon Mustard **Can use more to taste**
1/4 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 1/2 cups Mayonnaise
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Basically Boil the Eggs and Potatoes, let them cool

In Bowl, mix the other ingredients in together
Add in eggs, mix
Add in Potatoes mix..
add chives to the top for a garnish =)

********
ways to lighten this recipe: Light Mayonnaise, 2% Shredded Cheddar, 1 cup Mayo and 1/2 cup mustard, as opposed to what is listed above.

Simple Everything Cookies

2008-09-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Here's what you need:
3 eggs, 1 1/2 cups oatmeal
2 sticks of butter

1 Peanut butter Cookie Mix Betty Crocker
1 Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix Betty Crocker
1 medium size bag of M&M's your choice: dark chocolate, milk chocolate

Mix together dry ingredients.
Add eggs and softened butter, stir

Then add M&M's and stir!

PUT IN REFRIGERATOR FOR 1 hour.
preheat oven to 375º

Drop a couple of inches apart on a cookie sheet...
and bake for 10-12 minutes.. DISCLAIMER (I personally don't enjoy these cookies unless they are underbaked: about 8-9 minutes taken out and let to cool for a few seconds)

EAT!
note the cute snoopy bandaid =).

Next on the Docket: Easy Everything Cookies

2008-08-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

My next project will be Everything Cookies (not like everything bagel).. think peanut butter, chocolate, oatmeal and m&m's.
Tasty!!!!

Peach Cobbler, because it's Peach Month

2008-08-25T06:19:00.000-07:00

YUMMM doesn't this look good?

Read on friends, Read on!!!!!

Bowl 1
combine peaches (8 sliced fresh, or about 40 frozen peices, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1 tsp lemon juice, and 2 tsp cornstarch.
Toss with hands until coated.

Pour this into a 2 qt baking dish, and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Bowl 2
combine 1 Cup flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt.
Then cut in butter (6 Tablespoons, diced and chilled).
Using a pastry cutter or your fingers, blend it in until the texture of the mixture is coarse grit like...
Then stir in small amount of boiling water (total 1/4 cup) until mixture is barely combined into a 'doughy' texture.

Next Step
Take Peaches from oven and drop spoonfuls of dough mixture over top of the peaches in small dollops (preferably a small distance apart).

Final Step
Sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture (made from 3 tablespoons White Sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon) over top of entire cobbler.

Place back in oven and bake until golden brown, about 30-35 minutes.

Here's the finished product! Delicious!

and Now for a beauty shot!

Caramel Apple Delight

2008-07-04T15:16:00.000-07:00

I just made that up..
but here's what you need:

3 or 4 small apples sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup water
dash of cinnamon

cool whip
caramel sauce

Here's what you do

1. slice the apples

2. melt butter and add apples, sautee the apples for about 3 minutes

3. add a dash of cinnamon, the sugar, the water and 1 TB of caramel sauce, then set to low and simmer for 15 minutes until the apples are soft.

4. Add warm apples to bowl, add dolop of whipped cream, then drizzle caramel sauce to top.

then you get this:

YUM!

as of today

2008-06-29T09:11:00.001-07:00

I haven't been baking anything entirely exciting.
I'm going to make a cheesecake this week for a going away party for someone at work.
and last night I made this:
It was a chocolate cake with Shaw Buttercream Icing.

I'll get back in the game soon, I've just been busy!

in between my baking

2008-06-04T11:28:00.000-07:00

check it out!
recipe manager

=P

betty needs an intern what?

2008-06-03T18:55:00.001-07:00

at my sister's request I am perusing the dairy free recipe databases for a delicious dairy free dessert, which I will hopefully show you pictures of this weekend.
any other special requests?

I am trying to think of some healthy baking excursions.

do you want to see pics of cakes I have made? just for fun? http://picasaweb.google.com/cassandra.shaw/Cakes

COMMENT ON MY BLOG!

2008-05-08T17:34:00.000-07:00

you don't have to have an account.

Peanut Butter Smores: Betty's version

2008-05-08T16:31:00.001-07:00

Here's the easiest recipe ever for delicious goodness.
Get 1 bag Peanut butter cookie (betty crocker please) and follow the directions on the back of that bag..

mix 1 egg, 3 TB oil and 1 TB water in bowl.
Then.. stop following the directions.. and follow mine.

Press the cookie dough into the bottom of an ungreased pan and bake them at 350º for 16 ish minutes...

Then get your 2 cups marshmallows, betty crocker chocolate icing and Golden Grahams (2 cups)
put the marshmallows and golden grahams together..

Melt the icing.. in a pan or in the microwave..
Pull out the cookies, pour on the icing and spread...

Dump the marshmallows and golden grahams on top (sprinkle...)and then put a little drizzle of icing on top of that...

Throw it back in the oven for a little 'puffage' of the marshmallows.. and you have yourself a delicious treat, that you didn't have to go camping for.

=D

I have another way to do these, but I'll save that for another time.

and I've tried, I've tried so many times

2008-05-08T09:53:00.000-07:00

Hello all.
I'm giving in to Betty Crocker and using her mixes, her recipes and anything that lady suggests, because she is the god of baking.

AND her recipes are easy.
I think it's more fun to blog about non-healthy, easy recipes than... hard recipes with too many ingredients.

Processed food... here we come!

http://chnm.gmu.edu/features/sidelights/crocker.html

All Bran Fibery Muffins

2008-05-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

First Step is to pour 1 1/2 cups of fiber cereal (I used All bran with extra fiber) into a bowl and mash it up as best you can *if you have a food processor you'll probably be in better shape than I am*..

Then, add 1 cup buttermilk to that and let it sit for 10 minutes to soften up the cereal.
Get one egg, 1/3 cup oil, 2/3 cup brown sugar. In a different bowl get 1 cup flour, 1 tsp soda, 1 tsp, baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt.

Mix together the mixtures in each bowl

Then mix it all together and pour into muffin cups.

Bake for 20 minutes at 375º.

These are 'good' for being pretty healthy. IF you want to make them super healthy you could use molasses instead of brown sugar and soy milk instead of buttermilk, as well as adding raisins. If I were going to do it again, I would add raisins, for some flavor and probaby some cinnamon as well.

banana bread!

2008-05-04T13:10:00.001-07:00

I used the Betty Crocker Recipe for Banana Bread, here are the pics, i'll type up the recipe soon.

monkey bread... the cassandra version

2008-04-11T16:22:00.001-07:00

What you need:

Sugar, Cinnamon, Brown Sugar, 1 stick butter, 1 can of buttermilk biscuits.

Step 1: Make Cinnamon Sugar Mixture, to taste.. (pretty much put 2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a 1/2 cup of sugar and then stir it and keep adding one or the other until it tastes good to you).

Step 2: take biscuits out of can and cut each one into 4 pieces.

Step 3: melt butter in pan and add 3/4 cup brown sugar, blend, and let boil for 5 minutes and let cool a little.
Step 4: Shake cut up biscuits around in a little bag or a little tupperware container until they are covered in cinnamon sugar.
Step 5: put the biscuits layered on top of each other in a greased pan

Step 6:
Pour brown sugar mixture over the biscuit pieces...

Then bake at 350º for 35-40 minutes.

after that, pull them out and turn pan upside down onto plate/platter/serving tray.. dump the monkey bread out.. pull apart to eat.

Aaron says, it's sinful.
I agree, as I have eaten about 1/2 of the pan now. hah.

chocolate cream pie in the easiest fashion

2008-04-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

after my recent cinnamon roll flop i have decide to start making things my younger brother could make they are so easy.. (no offense Micah)..

This is a delicious, summery cream pie and it's also low in calories.. and did I say, it's delicious?

okay..

You need 1 and 3/4 cup Milk, 2 boxes of chocolate pudding, 1 oreo cookie, 1 graham cracker crust from store (I got the chocolate kind), and a thing of cool whip.

1. Put pudding mix in bowl with milk and mix (this is easier with hand mixer, than with wire whisk.. as you might imagine)..

Mix until it looks like this:

2. add 1/2 container of cool whip and mix

3. pour into crust, and smooth out..

4. then add the rest of the cool whip topping

5. and crumble the oreo around the edges for artistic affect. =D hah.

no bake deliciousness

2008-04-02T17:27:00.000-07:00

EASIEST....

COOKIES.....

EVER....

and one of my all time favorites..
Here I have step by step No Bake Choco-Peanut Butter Cookies.... just for you!

First put 1 3/4 cups sugar, 1 stick butter, 1/2 cup milk and 4 TB of cocoa in a pan.. stir it around a little and LEAVE IT THERE, until you have measured out..

3 cups of oatmeal and 1/2 cup of peanut butter..You'll see why later.
Set these aside.

Bring chocolate mixture to a boil, ensuring that ingredients are mixed in. When it gets to a full boil.. Time 1 minute (exactly... and don't start before it boils.. Start WHEN it's at a full boil), and then..
turn off heat and remove pan... quickly (rapidly... this is where having pre measured ingredients means the world).. add peanut butter and oatmeal.

Stir it around... mix it in.. it should be wet.. but not super drippy... Moldable.. seeming

then drop Tablespoon full heaps of this deliciousness onto wax paper, plates, foil... or your countertop, so you can lick it off later.

let them cool for a few..
then enjoy with MILLLLLK. =D

My It's Spring, so Where's the good weather.. dinner

2008-04-01T16:05:00.000-07:00

This really has nothing to do with baking, but as of late this typeractive compunicator has become rather obsessive about putting up every food item cooked. hah.
And I sit around thinking of what my next thing will be.
I'm thinking.. a EASY chocolate cream pie... heh..
anyway.. here's my dinner.. Garlic Butter pasta, grilled zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, and yellow peppers.... with a side of strawberries..
I was so happy to get fresh fruit and veggies on the street. It's the first sign that spring is really here.
chopping the veggies...
the beginning of the grilling
pouring the garlic butter on

the finished plate. I guess the noodles weren't as done as I had originally thought.. but I still ate some.

Tomato Soup: Easy and yummy

2008-03-30T20:09:00.000-07:00

This is what you need:

3 cups milk
1 stick of butter
1/2 of an onion
3 TB of garlic powder
pepper
salt
tomato paste
2 cans stewed tomatoes
1 TB sugar
1/4 cup red wine

Put wine, onions and butter into pan, and simmer for 10 minutes ish.. while you do other things

Like gather ingredients
Dice up real or stewed tomatoes, or if you have diced.. then use those
add them into the mix

Then add milk, all spices and an inky bit of flour

lastly, add the tomato paste

Stir it, let is simmer for a few more minutes and serve =D
I made grilled cheese and it was perfecto!

Jean's Famous Oatmeal Cookies 1 & 2

2008-03-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Recipe 1 Soft Cakey Oatmeal Cookies:

BOWL 1
3 eggs
1 stick butter/margarine/shortening
1 cup sugar

BOWL 2
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda, baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp all spice

Waiting backstage: 2 cups Oatmeal, 1/2 cup milk and Raisins

STEP 1
Mix ingredients in Bowl 1

Then mix ingredients in Bowl 2 and gradually add, alternating with milk

After this is mixed, add oatmeal

Then add raisins (or other ingredients of choice) and drop onto cookie sheet.
Then bakc 8-10 minutes at 350º or 10-12 at 325º

and you get:
Aaron gives these cookies the thumbs up, and I think I know many people who would like them.

After making these cookies, I asked Jean and google what I could do to make these cookies less soft, and more chewy and thin. The consensus brought me to the altered version below. KEY: less soda and baking powder, substitute white sugar for brown, press down cookies after dropping on sheet and bake less time.

Recipe 2: :
BOWL 1

Melted Butter 1 stick
3/4 cups Brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

BOWL 2
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cup oatmeal

STEPS
Melt Butter and mix in first bowl with brown sugar and eggs (like above, but you get a darker looking mixture.

Mix Flour, Baking soda, salt, cinnamon in another bowl

Then add to wet mixture

Add oatmeal, then raisins

and put on cookie sheet, flattened down after dropping
I baked mine at 300º for 10 minutes. and they were almost exactly what I was looking for, and yummy none the less
Somewhere, sometime I had an oatmeal cookie that changed my life. I can't recreate it, and for that reason, I'm quitting the oatmeal cookie search/fiasco, I'm going to leave the oatmeal cookies to other people.

next week: Monkey Bread

commenting and future baking

2008-03-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. Just so you know, anyone can post a comment on my blog postings. You don't have to have an account, so don't be scared.

Later today I think I'll take a stab at oatmeal cookies, since I have spent much time using multiple recipes and never had any that i thought were 'the best' oatmeal cookies ever.
So, I'm working on it.

Also, later this week I think I'm going to try Monkey Bread.
ta ta.

cinnamon rolls

2008-03-26T19:48:00.000-07:00

Well, I"m rather upset with my first stab at homemade cinnamon rolls. It's harder than you might think. I also think I got kind of a bad recipe.. it just started off weird, and then it never felt like everything got fully mixed in.
Additionally, the recipe didn't really leave enough time for 'rising' of the yeast. anyway, wah wah.. I think i'll try a new recipe.

But I'll put up the pics and a review of the taste later on.

****edit***
Now I will loathfully add the pictures and explain where I think this recipe went wrong.

First the recipe said to heat the milk and oil and then add the yeast. This went against everything I know about baking, but I did it anyway, just so I could follow the directions.

Then the recipe said to add 8 cups, yes.. 8 cups of flour... this seemed wrong, i thought I should add it gradually, but it said to add it all at once and mix around. WEIRD.

Then I was to mix that together add 1 more cup of flour with other dry ingredients like.. baking soda, powder and salt.

then let rise, then roll out on counter.
At this point I knew it was all wrong, because the rolling out was just TOO difficult. But i pushed through.

I baked them, made the icing and then poured it over. Needless to say, these weren't very delicious, actually they weren't good at all, truthfully.

Apple Dumplings

2008-03-23T13:50:00.001-07:00

These are delicious apple dumplings, and so easy I"m pretty sure a kid could make them.

Here's the original recipe:
2 sticks of butter
2 cans of Pillsbury crescent rolls (don't judge me until you've tried this)
1 small can of Mountain dew
2 apples (best if granny smith, fuji, or golden delicious) cored and sliced into 8 peices
cinnamon
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
some vanilla

Step 1. core apples and slice

Step 2: roll apples into crescent rolls

(see my fatty fingers? hehe)

Step 3: Melt butter in pan, add a little vanilla, and 1 1/2 cups sugar.
**** I altered this here by adding a little cinnamon and a little nutmeg to this mixture, it just gives it better flavor****

Stir it a little then pour over rolled apples..

Then sprinkle with cinnamon and pour Mountain Dew over the top. =D

And then bake at 350º until golden brown and crispy on top.. about 30-40 minutes.

YUM.

as you can see, my oven is.. about as wide as a 13X9 in pan is long. nice huh?

Thanks Nicole, for finding this recipe.

nyc baking

2008-03-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

Hello all, typeractive compunicator here, I am beginning this blog to document my baking experiences in the fine city of New York. Moving here from the midwest has been a switch for sure, but the thing I have noticed that is most difficult is baking like you do in the suburbs. It's just not as easy to find confectioner's sugar, or lemon zest, or baking pans and sprinkles.

Even working part time in a bakery hasn't changed this, the accessibility to baking supplies is.. well.. bleak.

So, today for my first blog post, I'm making a recipe I found through a friend on pioneer woman's site for easy Apple Dumplings, with some alterations to the recipe. Pics and recipe to follow.