sprinkles {love} cupcakes

White Bean Dip with Pita Chips.

2010-04-06T11:02:00.000-07:00

Recipe courtesy of Giada De Laurentis "Everyday Italian".

Ingredients:

4 pita breads, split horizontally in half.
[I buy any kind of pita bread and I cut it into triangles]
2 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste.
[I use course sea salt..It's better for you]
1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper, plus more to taste
1 [15 ounce] can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/4 cup [loosely packed] fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice [from about 1/2 lemon]
1 garlic clove

Serves 6

Method:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut each PITA half into 8 wedges. Arrange over a large baking sheet. Brush the pita with 2 tablespoons of OLIVE OIL, then sprinkle with the OREGANO and 1 teaspoon of SEA SALT and PEPPER. Bake for 8 minutes, then turn the pita wedges over and bake until they are crisp and golden, about 8 minutes longer.
Meanwhile, in a bowl of a food processor, combine the BEANS, PARSLEY,LEMON JUICE, GARLIC, and the remaining SALT and PEPPER. Pulse on and off until the mixture is coarsely chopped. With machine running, gradually mix in the remaining 1/3 cup of OIL until the mixture is creamy. Season the puree with more SALT and PEPPER to taste.
Transfer the puree into a a small bowl and serve with the PITA toasts warm or at room temperature alongside.

Chicken Pot Pie!

2010-02-25T08:33:00.001-08:00

On bleak days like the one's we've been having here in New England recently call for some good old fashioned home comfort food.
I tried out the Pioneer Woman's Chicken Pot Pie.
D E L I C I O U S.

Pie Crust Recipe and step by step pictures are here.

Here's the ingredients for the Pot Pie filling :-
3 Celery Sticks
3 medium carrots
1 large yellow onion
4 tablespoons [1/2 stick] butter
1/2 cup frozen peas
2 cups of cooked chicken
1 cup all purpose flour
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/4 cup white wine
1 cup heavy cream
i teaspoon thyme
salt and pepper to taste.

As far as the cooking goes it's pretty simple.
Chop all your vegetables. Melt your butter in a skillet. PW used a dutch oven.. I can't afford one of those so trusty skillet stepped in. Saute the veggies till they are translucent. Add the chicken and stir to combine all the ingredients.. Then add your flour by sprinkling evenly over the vegetables and chicken. Cook again for a couple minutes on low heat.
Next step is to pour in the chicken broth, stirring continuously. Then stir in bouillon cube and white wine.. The flour creates a wonderful gravy.
Pour in your cream and stir. Allow this mixture o cook on low heat for about 4 minutes until it starts to thicken. Season with thyme, salt and pepper.
Remove from heat. Taste and add more seasoning if needed.
Then pouryour mixture into a pie/casserole dish.
Roll out your crust and then layer it on top of your mixture.
Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until your crust is golden.
That's it.. One awesome, wholesome meal for the whole family to enjoy.
Thanks PW. I loved this meal!

PoP OvErS.

2009-09-27T13:33:00.001-07:00

Whenever I think of Pop Overs I think of my friends Neil and Tracy and the little cafe they used to take us to whenever we visited them in NYC. This was the first time I'd ever tried a pop over and that was 5 years ago. This is my first attempt at making them myself using a Martha Stewart recipe.
Try these out..It's so simple to put together and make.

Try putting cinnamon butter or butter with jam. These can be sweet or savoury.

Add 1 egg in at a time.

Ingredients:
Unsalted butter, room temperature, for pan.
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 scant teaspoons of salt
3 large eggs.

* I also added a dash of orange essence.Which the recipe didn't call for, and you can add whatever flavour takes your fancy.

Directions:
* Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Generously butter 6 pop over tin; set aside.
* In a medium bowl, stir together flour milk and salt. Add eggs, one at a time, and stir to combine [some small lumps may remain[; do not over mix.
* Using a 1/2 cup measure, gently pour batter into center of each prepared pop over cup. Transfer tin to oven and bake for 20 minutes. REDUCE heat to 350 degees and continue baking until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes more. Immediatley invert pan to remove pop overs, and serve.
Makes 6

Waffles.

2009-09-24T16:18:00.001-07:00

Homemade waffles.. You can't beat that.
I found this waffle recipe in a book called waffles/crepes and pancakes.
I just tweaked the recipe a bit by adding a rich creamy beer to the batter to make it taste malty. You can omit the beer if you want though.

Ingredients:
2 cups plain flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp extra fine sugar
1 egg separated [keep the yolk and the egg white]
1 1/4 cups milk
1/4 stick unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup of creamy beer/stout optional

Method:
Prepare and preheat your waffle irons or machine as directed. Combine the flour with the baking soda, salt and sugar, in a bowl and make a well in the center. Add the egg yolk and milk, and gradually work into the flour using a whisk. Beat gently until smooth {you can add the beer here if you wish}. Carefully stir in the melted butter.
In a grease-free bowl, whisk the egg white until stiff and carefully fold into the batter using a large metal spoon.
Pour over enough batter, to ensure that the moulded surface to the lower plates are covered sufficiently. Lower the waffle lid and cook until golden brown...or about 3 mins.
Makes 12.

Lobster.

2009-09-12T13:56:00.001-07:00

Where have you been??? You ask yourselves!!
Here there and everywhere I say.
So sorry for the hiatus. But I am trying to get back on board with the cooking/baking/blogging thing.
"Lobsta" anyone.??
You have not completely visited New England until you have savored lobster.

We boil our lobsters in beer {Sam Adams}. You can pick whatever beer you like. The lobster tastes amazing in beer.
Boil the lobster for 15 minutes and it's done.
Serve with whatever screams "summertime" to you.
We had sweetcorn and baked potatoes with garlic bread and we dipped the lobster in melted sea salt butter. Add a couple of slices of lemon and lime!
Cold ice tea to drink.
This was an awesome meal.

Strawberry Cupcakes.

2009-06-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

This i a Martha Stewart Cupcake recipe. Here's the recipe.

I thoroughly enjoyed making this. The icing was a little time consuming ..But so worth making.

Smoothie.

2009-06-11T13:19:00.001-07:00

When you need a healthy pic me up.. Smoothies are the way to go.
These are great energy boosters, plus they're good for you.

The kids love them too.

This is a Blueberry~Banana smoothie.
Try making one.

Rhubarb Crumble.

2009-06-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

I am so behind on getting my recipes up here.. Story of my life..But better late than never as they say.
On Memorial Day I made Rhubarb Crumble.
This has to be one of my all time favourite comfort foods that take me back to sitting in my nana's lounge on a Sunday afternoon waiting to see what "pudding"{my nana was a full blood Londoner} she was going to serve.
Rhubarb Crumble with hot custard could not be passed up and I always wanted seconds!!
Here's the recipe.
Enjoy!

Gather your ingredients.

Make your crumble by mixing the nuts, oats sugar and butter.

Wash and chop your rhubarb.

Mix your rhubarb with the sugar in your baking dish.

Throw your crumbles on top.. I used oats and pecans instead of hazelnuts.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.

This is such a simple recipe and you will have a scrumptious dessert to devour at the end.
Serve with fresh whipping cream.

Crostini Alla Romano & Ricotta Cappuccino

2009-05-26T17:10:00.001-07:00

Hello...
I'm still here...Still baking my {{heart}} out.
Just a tadd behind in posting because of the demands of motherhood etc. etc. etc..
I have become a "Giada" fiend..
Have to admit and these are 2 of her yummy dishes.. that were so simple to make and were tasty beyond belief.
Here is the Crostini recipe.

Here is the Ricotta Cappuccino recipe.

You have to try these out.
It makes for a very delightful brunch with your family & friends.
Thank you Giada!
Tanya
x0x

Quote for thought!

2009-05-21T09:40:00.000-07:00

"Being happy doesn't mean
that everything is perfect.
It means that you've decided
to look beyond the imperfections".

Unknown.

What a perfect quote.
I will especially use this when it comes to my baking.
I wasn't born a natural cook.
Childhood memories don't evoke time spent in the kitchen or homemade meals..Although my grandmother.. for the short time that we lived with her did conjure up memories of blackberry and apple crumble and eccles cakes. Mmmmmm...I can smell the freshly baked crumble and hot custard that we'd enjoy after eating a Sunday Roast Dinner.
Now that's a memory that should live on.

My new found passion for baking has really ignited me to do something about it. So I am on a quest. My time has come.. and it's never too late to find your calling in life.. So what if it's taken me 39 going on 40 years of my life.
I have finally woken up.

Hooray
Hooray
Hooray!

I love my camera too and I love taking pictures of the baking I've been doing.
I feel so relieved to have my camera in one hand and a rolling pin in the other.
This is the start of my life..It may not be perfect..I sure am not perfect.. But I'm looking past the imperfections.. I'm believing in myself for once in my life and I'm going for it.
Bon Appetito!!!

Throwdown #3

2009-05-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

Souffle Souffle Souffle.
Now this is a challenge. If you don't get it right it can be a complete flop.. Literally.
But I'm going to give it a go and see how I do.
If all else fails ..As Paula Dean says " Give it to the dog"!!
I have no dog so the chipmunks will be happy :0P....!

Hot Mocha Rum Souffle.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted.
generous 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder.
generous 1/3 cup sugar.
4 tablespoons strong black coffee.
2 tablespoons dark rum.
6 egg whites.
confectioner's sugar, for dusting.

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Grease six 1 cup souffle dishes with melted butter.

2. Mix 1 tablespoon of the cocoa with 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a bowl. Put the mixture in each of the dishes in turn, rotating then so that they are evenly coated.

3. Mix the remaining cocoa powder with coffee and rum.

4. Whisk the egg whites in a clean, grease-free bowl until they form firm peaks. Whisk in the remaining sugar. Stir a generous spoonful of the whites into the cocoa mixture to lighten it, then gently fold in remaining whites.

5. Spoon the mixture into prepared dishes, smoothing the tops. Place on the hot baking sheet, and bake for 12-15 minutes or until well risen.
Serve the souffle's immediately, lightly dusted with confectioner's sugar.
Recipe courtesy of Martha Day and The Complete Book of Desserts.
Happy Baking!!

pAncAkes.

2009-05-12T05:53:00.001-07:00

I found this recipe here.
It's just a simple pancake recipe and I added orange essence to the recipe for a tangy taste.
I heated some syrup on the burner and added almond essence and butterscotch schnapps.
This was YU UM..!
Try it out!

Biscotti.

2009-05-03T20:45:00.001-07:00

So here's my Biscotti. I'm so glad I tried an easy recipe to do. Now that I now how it's supposed to turn out and also how to deal with the dough. I will be more adventurous with the next batch I try.

Mix your wet ingredients well.

I added in my dry ingredients a cup at a time. This made it easier to mix with the wet ingredients. It gets really tough to mix towards the end and I did it all by hand.

You really have to have wet hands in order to handle this type of dough. It's impossible to work with otherwise.

I baked the loaves and let then cool and then used a serrated knife to cut them.. Then lay them back on your cookie sheet and bake for about 6-10 minutes on both sides.

The hardest part of making the Biscotti is definitely working the dough.. But once you know the tricks to getting it to work you've got it made. I'm so glad I read through the reviews on this recipe. I got a lot of tips from other people who had made this before.
Hope your Biscotti comes out well.
Let me know how you did!!
Tanya
x0x

Throwdown #2

2009-04-30T05:46:00.000-07:00

BISCOTTI

Recipe courtesy Rocco DiSpirito

Prep Time:
20 min
Inactive Prep Time:
0 min
Cook Time:
45 min

Level:
0

Serves:
3 to 4 dozen

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 3 eggs
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 tablespoon anise extract, or 3 drops anise oil
* 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 tablespoon baking powder

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, sugar and anise flavoring until well blended. Combine the flour and baking powder, stir into the egg mixture to form a heavy dough. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Form each piece into a roll as long as your cookie sheet. Place roll onto the prepared cookie sheet, and press down to 1/2-inch thickness.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When the cookies are cool enough to handle, slice each 1 crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Cookie slices should be lightly toasted.

I copy and pasted this recipe off the Food Network site. The reviews say it's easy and delish. Since this is my first attempt I wanted to try something simple and authentically Italian.
Try this with me and let me know how it turned out.
Tanya

Lemon Cornmeal Cake with Lemon Glaze and Blueberry Crush Sauce.

2009-04-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

I was asked by my friend Stefanie to make this cake.
It turned out so dreamy.
Smells heavenly, and it's a cake I would probably make for a summer or early fall get together.
You have to try it out!

Make your glaze first and set aside.

Mix your dry ingredients with a whisk.

Whisk your vanilla, buttermilk and lemon zest. This smells amazing!

Pour your melted butter into the bowl with your other ingredients.

Don't whisk your ingredients together. Just lightly fold it in till mixed.

The batter kind of looks like semolina/tapioca.

Pour your cake batter into your cake tin.

Add your light brown sugar to your frozen blueberries and simmer.

Once cake is golden brown and your cake pick or toothpick comes out clean.. It's done.

You can spoon or pour the glaze on your cake.. All depends on what look you're trying to create.

The sauce is done..set aside.

Let the glaze run over the sides.. It looks really pretty.

Pour your crushed blue berry sauce into a bowl and your guests can serve themselves. It can be served warm or chilled.

P.S Keep yourself posted here.. I will be revealing this months throw down sometime this week..It's an italian favourite.

Cow Cookies.

2009-04-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

These were actually not called "Cow Cookies". My little Tommy named them "Cow Cookies".
They're actually called "Surprise Cookies", and I found this recipe in one of the old Martha Stewart "KIDS" magazine's.
My kids loved these cookies. So give them a try.

Ingredients and Method below~

Get your ingredients together.

Sift your flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.

Add your flour mixture to your wet ingredients {butter, egg, milk, and vanilla} half a cup at a time till it is well mixed.

Use an ice cream scoop to place your cookie batter on your cookie sheet.

Place cookies in the oven @375 degrees. For 8-10 minutes or until firm.

Melt butter with cocoa over medium heat. Stirring occasionally.

Pour your cocoa/butter mixture into the bowl of confectioners' sugar add the milk and vanilla and then whisk.

Take your cookies out of the oven after baking for about 10 minutes. Put your marshmallows in the middle of the cookie and then put back in the oven for a further 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Until marshmallow melts.

Spread your frosting on top of the marshmallow and cover it completely.

Truly Scrumptious.

Ingredients:
for cookies
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder { I used Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate}
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons [1 stick] unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
15 marshmallows

Ingredients for frosting
3 cups confectioners' sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
4 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder { I used Cadbury's Drinking Chocolate}
6 tablespoons milk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract.

You can use sprinkles for the topping

Method:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, using and electric mixer: beat egg, milk, and vanilla. Add flour mixture 1/2 a cup at a time; mix well after each.
Drop batter onto ungreased cookie/baking sheet. 2 inches apart, using an ice ~ cream scoop. It holds about 2 tablespoons. Bake until firm.. about 8 - 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cut marshmallows in half crosswise. Make frosting: Place confectioners' sugar in medium bowl. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter with the cocoa, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon. Pour mixture into the sugar and then add milk and vanilla, and whisk.
Remove the cookies from oven and press your marshmallow halves onto each cookie. Bake for further 2 to 2 1/2 minutes, until marshmallows begin to melt.
Transfer the cookies to a wire rack; let cool completely.
Spread about a tablespoon of frosting on top of each marshmallow until it's hidden.
Before icing sets, decorate with your sprinkles.
Enjoy!

My Sweet Escape.

2009-04-07T14:38:00.001-07:00

I'm so excited. My sister Danielle has gone one step further and has created her own foodie blog called My Sweet Escape so she can follow along with my throw downs and post her results as well as show off and share her cooking talents. May be the rest of you would like to do this.. We can all be a circle of friends sharing. Let me know if any of you set up your own blogs!!!

Cheese Danish ala Barefoot Contessa.

2009-04-05T12:47:00.000-07:00

I am a huge fan of the Barefoot Contessa. I find her recipes to be very clean and simple and oh so flavourful. On her show she made these wonderful Cheese Danishes.
The recipe is here. I thought I would just post her link instead of writing the recipe out because you can go there to the recipe and print it out which probably makes it easier for you all.
Bon Appetite.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Roll out your puff pastry and then cut into 4 even squares. {I had 2 sheets so I made 8 danishes}. I used Pepperidge Farm puff pastry sheets.

Get your mixers out!

Mix the cheeses and the wonderful lemon zest.. This smells amazing.

Put a dollop of your cheese mixture into the center of your pastry square. Then egg wash the edges.

Fold one corner over and egg wash and then fold over the opposite side.

Brush pastry with egg wash then let it sit in the fridge for another 15 minutes and then put them in the oven.

These taste amazing.. Very quick and easy to do. Perfect for a Sunday brunch.

Brownies.

2009-04-02T09:20:00.000-07:00

Homemade brownies. These are so yummy you'll never buy store mixes again.
I found this recipe in the Everyday Food magazine that Martha Stewart publishes.
If you don't get this little magazine of wonders.. You should. It's worth every penny of it's subscription. So many yummy foods to make at home.
Ingredients and Method are at the end of this segment.

In the microwave melt your chocolate, sugar and 2 sticks of butter.

Pour your wet ingredients into a mixing bowl.

Mix your wet ingredients with your dry ingredients.

Mmmmmmm.. Smells so good.

Pour your mixture into a baking dish lined with waxed paper.

The brownies are done.

Ingredients :

1/2 pound [2 sticks] of unsalted butter
2 1/2 cups packed light~brown sugar
6 ounces unsweetened chocolate
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups flour [plain]
1/2 teaspoon salt
confectioners sugar to dust brownies after wards.

Method:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter bottom of your baking pan 9x13 inch.
Cut a piece of waxed paper to fit into the bottom of the baking pan.
In a large microwave safe bowl, combine butter, brown sugar and chocolate. Microwave on high for 1 minute. If the chocolate has not softened, continue to microwave at 10 second intervals, removing before it's completely melted.

Beat eggs and the vanilla into the melted chocolate with a wooden spoon. Beat in the flour and the salt. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and smooth the top.
Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool, then cut into brownie slices and dust with confectioners sugar.
Enjoy!!

Hey MaMa!!!

2009-03-28T10:38:00.001-07:00

I was meandering through one of my old magazines {I hoard everything}, and I came across an old Martha Stewart "KIDS" magazine..{I wish she'd bring this magazine back}.
One of the articles featured was of kids making their own home made pizza's. So I decided .."Hey.. If a kid can do this surely I can too.
I've never made any kind of dough.... ever... so I was kind of nervous when it started asking for live yeast etc. But I dove in and the outcome was great.
Give this recipe a try...It is so worth it!!
Ingredients are at the bottom of this segment.
Kudos to Martha and her staff for making this so easy to do.

Get your dry ingredients together.

Wait for your active yeast to start bubbling before you add it your dry mixture.

Add your active yeast mixture to your dry ingredients and then get stuck in there using your hands to mix all the dough in to a big ball.

Knead your dough on a floured surface.

This is how your dough should look like once you've kneaded it.

Rub some olive oil around a clean bowl and after kneading your dough place it in the bowl then using your fist make a dent in the middle of the dough to let the air out of it. Then place plastic wrap over the top and let it sit in a warm place for about and hour or so. The dough should double in size.

Cook your homemade sauce in a skillet and let simmer for 30 minutes.

Take your dough out of the bowl and divide it into 3 parts.

Let your pizza dough rest for a further 5 mins wrapped in damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap.

Run your homemade sauce through a sieve just to get all the seeds and skin parts out so the sauce is smooth in texture {if you have fussy eaters they'll love you for this}.

Roll out your dough and then just dent around the edges for decoration and to keep the sauce and cheese etc. from rolling off.

Put your tomato sauce on and other ingredients you want to make your own signature pizza. My boys like cheese and pepperoni but you can have whatever you like.

Make sure to brush some olive oil around the crust part of your pizza dough so it bakes nicely.
Pop in the oven @ 475 degrees.

The recipe says to cook for 15 minutes but it only took 10 minutes in my oven so just pay attention to how your oven works with this dough..so it doesn't come out burnt.
Bonne Appetito!!!

Pizza is done!

Makes 3 12 inch pizzas.
Dough Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 envelope active dry yeast
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Method:
Pour 1 cup of warm water into small bowl, and sprinkle in yeast and sugar. Stir with a fork. Set aside..{in a few minutes, mixture will bubble}.
In a large bowl mix flour and salt. Add yeast mixture and olive oil. Mix all the dough together. Have extra flour near by and add in bit by bit if the dough is too wet or too soft.
Then knead the dough on a floured surface.
Rub a clean bowl with olive oil. Place dough in bowl and punch a dent in the middle to let the air out. Cove with plastic wrap and let sit for at least an hour.
After it has been sitting for an hour or so put dough on floured surface and divide into 3 part and then wrap in damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it rest again for a further 5 minutes.
Then roll your dough out into whatever shape you want your pizza to be and dent around the edges for decoration and so the sauce doesn't run off then add your ingredients.
Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
Remember to brush the edges of your pizza with olive oil so it doesn't burn.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes.

Sauce Ingredients:
Makes about 1 1/3 cups, enough for 6 pizzas.

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 can [28 oz] crushed tomatoes in puree [I pureed my own with a blender]
2 tablespoons of course salt {I would do this to taste rather than throwing all the salt in at once}
1 tablespoon of sugar
1/4 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper.

Method:
Place tomatoes in a food processor, and pulse for 1 sec 5 times.
Heat oil in skillet on medium heat. Add tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thick, 20 to 30 minutes. Let sauce cool completely before using. { I sieved my sauce also to get all the seeds out..I have fussy eaters who don't like bits}.

Coconut Macaroons.

2009-03-23T12:20:00.001-07:00

Chocolate Dipped Coconut Macaroons.

This was such an easy recipe to do and I found it here. It is from a Holiday book but I think cookies like this can be enjoyed all year round.

Ingredients:
2 2/3c. flake coconut, firmly packed
2/3c. sugar
1/4c.unbleached flour
4 egg whites,unbeaten
1c. sliced almonds
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. almond extract

8 oz. semi sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Method:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine coconut, sugar & flour. Stir in egg whites, almonds, vanilla & almond extract. Form balls from rounded tablespoonfulls & place 2" apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 mins. until golden.
Remove from pans while hot & allow to cool.
Chocolate Edge:
Melt chocolate in a double boiler, stirring until 2/3 melted; remove from heat & continue stirring until completely melted. Dip one edge of each cookie into the chocolate & set on wax paper to allow the cookie to set.

Makes about 30.

Ready to start.

Mix all your ingredients as directed.

Scooping out the mixture.

I used an icecream scoop to scoop out the mixed ingredients onto the baking sheet.
Baking sheet should be lightly greased. I used the Pam with flour spray. Worked well for me.

Ready for baking.

Oven should be on at 325 degrees.

I broke up the chocolate into pieces so that it would melt a little quicker. Believe me this works even though it sounds nuts!

I melted the chocolate in a bowl over a saucepan of boiling water.

After 25 minutes take out of the oven and allow them to cool.

Yummy melted chocolate.

Dip your cooled down Macaroon into your melted chocolate.

Set the Macaroons on the side and let the chocolate cool down.

Voila your Macaroon is done.
So simple to make and they taste divine!
This recipe reminds me of my days working with my sweet friend Corey at the Quill & Press. Corey made these for our holiday cookie treats. Remember Corey? These were my favourite!!

Ta Da!!

2009-03-20T15:57:00.000-07:00

I did it!!
Managed to make a pie for the first time.
It didn't turn out too bad. I need to practice my pastry skills more. But it was actually ok.

I used the beans when baking the pie crust to just weigh it down so it didn't shrink too much when in the oven.

Making the fresh cream.. This wasn't too difficult.

The final result.

Did you all manage to find any time to make your pies.
This was delicious..well the kids thought so. I even shared it with my neighbours.
Hopefully they enjoyed it too.
I had a lot of fun making this and I hope you do to.
I'm off to find the next recipe.
Love
T
x0x

My Kitchen!

2009-03-19T17:51:00.001-07:00

Here's my kitchen!!

Did you all manage to take a picture of your kitchens this week?
My kitchen is pretty open and has a lot of light which is nice. I love it when the late afternoon comes around and the sun shines through the kitchen windows. Makes everything glow and feel really homey!!
Can't wait to see your kitchens.
Tomorrow I will be doing my Banana Cream Pie. Can't wait to see how it comes out. I've never made one before.
The kids will be my guinea pigs.. ha ha!!
I will post my pictures of my step by step progress.
Have you all started your pies yet??
See you soon
Tanya
x0x

What does your kitchen look like?

2009-03-17T11:59:00.000-07:00

Here's my treasured mixer and one of my favourite cupcake recipe books.
My dear hubby bought this for me on Mother's Day 3 years ago and she..yes she has helped me create all kinds of cakes and cookies and of course my favourite cupcakes.

So do you all have your mixers out and are you ready to shake and bake.
I thought we should all take a picture of our kitchens and put the pictures up on FB so we can all see where we create and where we get inspired.
So work on that this week and let me know here at my blog when you have your pics up.
love
T
x0x

Banana Cream Pie.

2009-03-15T06:51:00.000-07:00

From:
Martha Stewart Show

This recipe for delicious banana cream pie is adapted from "Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook."
Ingredients

Makes one 9-inch pie

* All-purpose flour, for dusting
* 1/2 recipe Pate Brisee (recipe for pate brisee is featured below)
* 1 large whole egg, lightly beaten, plus 4 large egg yolks
* 6 to 8 medium-ripe bananas
* 3 cups whole milk
* 2/3 cup granulated sugar
* 5 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup heavy cream
* 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 12-inch round, a bit less than 1/4 inch thick. Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Using kitchen shears or a sharp knife, trim crust so there's a 1/2-inch overhang all around. Fold under overhang so it extends slightly beyond edge of pie plate. Crimp edge as desired. Prick dough all over with a fork. Brush rim of dough with beaten egg. Chill pie shell until firm, about 30 minutes.
2. Line chilled pie shell with a round of parchment paper, leaving a 1-inch overhang. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until edges of crust just turn golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove pie weights and parchment. Return crust to oven, and continue baking until golden all over, 20 to 25 minutes more. Place pie shell on a wire rack to cool completely.
3. Prepare an ice bath; set aside. In a bowl, lightly whisk egg yolks; set aside. In a saucepan, whisk together milk, granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Bring to a simmer (do not boil), and cook, whisking constantly, 3 to 4 minutes.
4. Whisk a quarter of hot-milk mixture into egg yolks; whisk in remaining milk mixture. Strain into a clean saucepan, and cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until custard is thick and bubbles appear in center, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl, and cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto surface to prevent a skin from forming. Set in ice bath until completely chilled, 30 to 35 minutes. (Filling can be kept in refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap, up to 1 day.)
5. Cut 3 or 4 bananas into 1/4-inch slices, slightly on the bias. Beginning at the edge of the piecrust, arrange the slices in slightly overlapping rows. Cover with custard, using an offset spatula to smooth it into an even layer. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, combine cream and confectioners' sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Using a small offset spatula, spread the whipped cream on top of the custard. Refrigerate pie, loosely covered with plastic wrap, for at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
6. Just before serving, cut 3 or 4 bananas into 1/4-inch slices, slightly on the bias. Beginning at the edge of the piecrust, arrange the slices in slightly overlapping rows on top of the whipped cream.

Pate Brisee.

Ingredients

Makes enough for 1 double-crust or 2 single-crust 9-inch pies

* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces
* 1/4 cup ice water, plus more if needed

Directions

1. In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour and salt; pulse to combine. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some larger pieces remaining, about 10 seconds. (To mix by hand, combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, then cut in butter with a pastry blender.)
2. With the machine running, add ice water through the feed tube in a slow, steady stream, just until dough holds together without being wet or sticky. Do not process more than 30 seconds. Test by squeezing a small amount of the dough together; if it is still too crumbly, add a bit more water, 1 tablespoon at a time.
3. Turn out dough onto a clean work surface. Divide in half, and place each half on a piece of plastic wrap. Shape into flattened disks. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. The dough can be frozen up to 1 month; thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.

So try this recipe out.
This looked so yummy when Martha was doing it.
Absolutely mouth watering.
Take a picture of it when you're done and post it on your facebook wall so we can all look and see how each other did.
Can everyone who is participating leave me a comment so I know who's joining in or not.
love
T
x0x

I'm going Bananas for Bananas.

2009-03-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

This is a little teaser as to the first recipe we're going to try to do.

I'm thinking that we'll do the recipe thing once a month..that's probably all that everyone can handle right now. But if others think differently let me know in the comments and I'll take it from there.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It's going to be a "THROW DOWN".. Yep just like the "throw down" with Bobby Flay on The Food Network Show. We're going to do the same.
So if it's a Martha recipe we'll "throw down" with Martha etc.

Is everyone following my concept.. hee hee.
I will be back with the recipe..so get your spatulas ready girls and boys.
We're about to embark on some "FIERCE" baking.
love
Tanya.

Eggy Toast.

2009-03-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh.. Eggy Toast.
This will definitely be on the menu in my bakery.

I do this for my boys.
Trying to make eggs a little more fun and slipping the odd tomato in there for colour and a hope that they might actually eat it.

I've been trying to think of what I can do as far as getting you all involved with me here on my blog.
A fun thing to do.
So I thought that we could have some challenges and we'll see how good all our cooking skills are and maybe try things that we normally wouldn't think to do.
The idea is still in the works a bit for me..
But I'm leaning towards doing something whereby I put up a recipe and then we all have to give it a go and come back with our results.
Let me think on it more.. and also tell me if this is something you'd find fun to do.
Until next time.
Happy Baking.
Love
T
x0x

Mad Hatters.

2009-03-07T10:17:00.000-08:00

This is a vanilla cupcake with vanilla butter~cream icing and milk chocolate shavings.

I love Alice in Wonderland and especially The Mad Hatters Tea Party.
I have dreams of opening my own little bakery {even though I'm not a cook by any standards}.
But I know a good cup of tea and a delicious cupcake when I see it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I endeavour to one day succeed in fulfilling my dream.
It won't be too big or too small.
It will be pretty but not too much fluff..except the frothy milk.
Toast with dripping butter and golden honey will warm everyone's {{hearts}} and bellies and good conversation will be all round.

So here's a toast to my dreams and where they may take me.