tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57077384092445488522024-03-14T03:15:03.510-04:00And then I do the dishesLyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-75378214544315738252014-02-09T13:43:00.000-05:002014-02-09T13:43:26.916-05:00Pita Bread for #ElleaPalooza<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">This is by far
one of the toughest posts I’ve had to write. Just trying to put my thoughts
coherently into words is not an easy task. I know I’m not the only one trying
very hard this weekend to write about what Elle (Lee Ann) of <a href="http://www.ellesnewenglandkitchen.com/" target="_blank">Elle’s New England Kitchen</a> meant to me. I’m still shocked that she is gone. It just doesn’t seem
possible to me that she could be there one day and gone the next. I can’t even
imagine what her family is going through. One thing is for sure, it’s times
like these we realize that life is indeed short and very fragile. </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">If other stay
at home moms are reading this, you know, like me, that the years are short but
some days seem very long. On those days I would log on to Facebook, browse for
a while and then stumble onto a funny video or article Elle would have shared.
We would comment back and forth (she was so incredibly funny and witty) and
that interaction would put just a little bit of much needed sunshine in my day.
I will miss that so much.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I loved
reading her blog posts, she really had a way with words, and one post that
stuck with me was “<a href="http://www.ellesnewenglandkitchen.com/blog/2008/8/22/its-not-a-pita-to-make-pita-bread.html" target="_blank">It’s not a P.I.T.A. to make pita bread!</a>”; she had me giggling at the title and once I'd read the entire post, I wanted
to make pita bread right away! And she was right, these are perfectly fluffy,
delicious pockets of freshly baked goodness. And yes, I ate one strait out of
the oven, with butter, as is the law.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">I will miss you, Elle. Your spunk, your wit, your talent; you were an inspiration. Your thoughtfulness touched so many people and hopefully, you knew how much we all loved you. Rest in peace, friend.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="640" mozallowfullscreen="" msallowfullscreen="" oallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.flickr.com/photos/lybouchard/12414391223/player/d9de2155a4" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The pita bread recipe is from <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/" target="_blank">Brown Eyed Baker</a> and can be found <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2008/05/21/homemade-pita-bread/" target="_blank">here</a>. Many other bloggers are posting recipes from Elle's blog as well as tributes, they can be found on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/227675614082639/230857210431146/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity" target="_blank">Facebook #ElleAPalooza page</a>. More information about how you can donate to Elle's family or participate in an auction can be found on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfElle" target="_blank">Friends of Elle</a>. </span></div>
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LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com190tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-31112503863421105202013-03-28T20:36:00.000-04:002013-03-30T10:26:55.433-04:00Decorating Eggs - A fun Easter craft!We've been a crafty little bunch around here lately. I have a five (almost 6!) year old, who thinks a day without a craft is a day wasted. So I've been trying to be a creative mommy and find new ideas for us to have fun with. Since Easter is upon us, I thought it would be a good time to introduce my kiddos to egg decorating.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lybouchard/8598956860/" title="Easter Egg Garland by Bougi, on Flickr"><img alt="Easter Egg Garland" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8385/8598956860_ac08c69cf1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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I must confess, this year is the first year we decorate eggs for Easter... I know, my kids have been missing out and it's all my fault. I hate the mess of dying or painting eggs. But this year I had an idea that would save me the mess: permanent markers! We found some in so many vibrant colors, plus, my three kids are all old enough this year to understand what "permanent" means so I didn't have to worry about them permanently "marking" their faces, hands, my kitchen table...<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lybouchard/8598957542/" title="Easter Eggs by Bougi, on Flickr"><img alt="Easter Eggs" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8380/8598957542_232759a328_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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First off, I needed to empty a few eggs. I'm not sure the permanent marker technique would work for hard boiled eggs as the markers aren't food safe. And I wanted our eggs to last a little while so I went the empty shell route.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lybouchard/8597856755/" title="Emptying Eggsfor Decorating by Bougi, on Flickr"><img alt="Emptying Eggsfor Decorating" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8091/8597856755_f5ac2aab50_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Here's what you do: use a thumbtack to make holes at each end of the egg, then use the pin to pry the little piece of eggshell off the egg. The holes don't need to be perfect and round. Once the holes are made, place a bowl under the egg and blow into one end. If your holes are big enough you shouldn't have any trouble getting the egg out of its shell. Then place the empty shell in some warm, soapy water (I used dish soap) and use a syringe to fill the shells with water. Shake it around a bit and let the egg shells soak for a few minutes. Then blow the water out, rinse the shells and place them on a clean towel to dry completely. Once they're dry, you're ready to decorate!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lybouchard/8597856673/" title="Decorating Easter eggs by Bougi, on Flickr"><img alt="Decorating Easter eggs" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8597856673_20424f0c89_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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Now, I have 2 girls and a boy, and we all know Easter rhymes with Spring and pastel colors and cutesy, girly stuff. I wasn't about to tell my 9 year old son he had to draw flowers and hearts and pink bows on his eggs, but I never expected him to make a zombie egg! Or an alien spaceship Easter egg, but, boys will be boys and I love that he has enough imagination to think of that stuff.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See what I mean? A 9 year old boy's idea of Easter eggs!</td></tr>
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We had a blast decorating all our eggs and when we were done I made a simple garland out of yarn and hung the eggs onto it. It makes a really cute decoration for the kitchen. I like it so much I think it'll be there way past Easter. I might not wait until next Easter to do this again. I'm thinking Birthday Eggs, Halloween Eggs, Christmas... The possibilities are endless!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lybouchard/8597856145/" title="Easter Egg Garland by Bougi, on Flickr"><img alt="Easter Egg Garland" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8597856145_5fc9fa3d8a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
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As to what you can do with the eggs, the possibilities are endless here too. I usually make french toast, a frittata, a quiche or just simply scrambled eggs. We are big fans of breakfast for dinner so I never have any trouble with using up some eggs. So go on, grab a few eggs and get your craft on! Happy Easter!!!
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lybouchard/8598957488/" title="Easter Eggs by Bougi, on Flickr"><img alt="Easter Eggs" height="427" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8598957488_7a6592e9d4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/2001716/?claim=6dnvxrywdaj">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-45204092241753858142012-03-16T11:03:00.000-04:002012-03-16T11:03:34.852-04:00Walnut and Tart Cherry No-Knead BreadI've mentioned before that when I was younger, my parents owned a restaurant and at the beginning, they weren't very experienced at cooking and baking for large groups of people. So, they asked for help from family members for any tips and tricks that they might have had. Some of my aunts, uncles and grandparents even came to the restaurant to cook and bake all sorts of things: big batches of spaghetti sauce, sweet and savory pies and of course, homemade bread. I remember that day my uncle came over to bake bread for the first time. I think he was real happy to have a restaurant kitchen to work in, I mean how often is it that you have a huge kitchen with counter space galore and multiple ovens at your disposal? And I think he didn't mind that my brother and I looked on in awe of his bread baking skills. At the time, for me anyways, bread was one of those things you only could get at the store; seeing someone make it by hand was totally impressive. The precise measuring of the ingredients, waiting for the first rise, shaping the loaves, waiting for the second rise and then, my favorite part, the aroma that filled the whole restaurant while the bread was baking! The entire process fascinated me, it was almost magical. Taking raw ingredients, doing a little mixing and ending up with something completely different! Just fascinating.<br />
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Fast forward to today and although I know some people find working with yeast intimidating, for me, it's very therapeutic. I find the measuring and mixing and kneading quite relaxing. Which is why I think it's a bit ironic that I like baking <b><a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2008/02/au-naturel.html" target="_blank">no-knead bread</a></b> so much. It feels almost like cheating! Very little measuring, very little mixing, very little work at all, renders a loaf worthy of any bakery I've ever visited.<br />
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<b>Walnut and Tart Cherry No-Knead Bread</b><br />
Adapted from <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/08/dining/081mrex.html?_r=1" target="_blank">Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery</a><br />
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This particular variation on the famous no-knead bread is delicious paired with different cheeses as part of a cheese platter or simply eaten as is, toasted and spread with a bit of salted butter.<br />
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1 3/4 cup all purpose flour<br />
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour<br />
1/4 tsp instant yeast<br />
1 1/2 tsp salt<br />
1 5/8 cup water <br />
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1/2 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped<br />
1/2 cup tart dried cherries, plumped up in warm water for a few minutes and roughly chopped<br />
Flour and oats, for dusting, as needed<br />
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In a large bowl, combine flours, yeast and salt. Add water and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.<br />
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Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes.<br />
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Flatten dough out lightly and add the walnuts and cherries. Adding just enough flour so the dough doesn't stick to your fingers or your work surface, fold the dough over the add-ins and knead a few times to mix them in. Some of the walnuts and cherries will fall out and the dough will be a bit tough to work with but form it into a ball as best you can. Generously sprinkle some oats on a large sheet of parchment paper and place your ball of dough onto it. Sprinkle the dough with more oats and cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, the dough will be more than doubled in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.<br />
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At least a half hour before the dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees F. Put a 4- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron,enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in the oven, as it heats. When the dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under the parchment paper and turn dough over into the pot; it may look like a mess but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake for 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake for another 30 to 40 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool completely on a wire rack.LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-44164287794935374472012-01-27T14:05:00.000-05:002012-01-27T14:06:07.139-05:00Veggie Pâté RecipeThe first time I had veggie pâté, I was still at University, visiting one of my aunts. Come to think of it, that's almost 20 years ago... Man, time does fly, doesn't it?! Anywho, my aunt was on a health kick at the time and she was experimenting with all sorts of vegetarian dishes such as seitan pie, quinoa soup, all sorts of millet recipes and of course, veggie pâté. She didn't make the pâté herself though, she bought a brand that originated in the restaurants <a href="http://www.commensal.com/" target="_blank">Commensal</a>. I mention this because, it is the only brand I actually like but it is quite expensive. At the time, I didn't even think making veggie pâté at home was possible, so I just kept buying the pre-made kind. But once I found recipes for it, I decided to try making some myself. Of course, my <a href="http://www.andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2011/12/maple-almond-butter-homemade.html" target="_blank">recently acquired food processor</a> made the experience a whole lot easier.<br />
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The recipe I'm posting here today, is the one that comes closest to the Commensal recipe, in my opinion. The texture, when blended in the food processor, is almost as smooth and the taste is very similar. I think that's because of the sunflower seeds and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutritional_yeast" target="_blank">nutritional yeast</a>. The other recipes I tried didn't contain those ingredients and I always felt like they were missing <i>something</i>. This one... This one is perfect! It's even better than the store bought kind because, really, it's fresher and endlessly adaptable. You can use whatever blend of spices you like, add more or less nutritional yeast, try different veggie combinations, etc. My kids love it with crackers or even in sandwiches. Seriously, my oldest daughter and my son love the stuff! And, I know this makes a large amount of pâté but it keeps in the refrigerator for a week or so and you can freeze some for those times when you just don't feel like taking out the food processor.<br />
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<b>Veggie Pâté</b><br />
Adapted from <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/V%C3%A9g%C3%A9tariens-mais-l%C3%A9gumes-Patricia-Tulasne/dp/2895620679/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327681624&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><i>Végétariens... mais pas légumes!</i></a><br />
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This recipe is a lot quicker to make if you have a food processor, all that grating and grinding, but you can still make it if you don't have one. The texture of the pâté will be a bit chunkier but the taste will be pretty much the same.<br />
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1 large onion, grated*<br />
2 potatoes, grated*<br />
1 large carrot, grated*<br />
1 branch of celery, grated*<br />
2 garlic cloves, grated*<br />
1/2 cup (70g) unsalted sunflower seeds, ground<br />
3/4 cup (100g) whole wheat flour<br />
1/2 cup (25g) nutritional yeast<br />
2 tbsp of olive or canola oil (I used avocado oil)<br />
2 tbsp lemon juice<br />
1/4 cup tamari<br />
1 tsp herbes de Provence (you can also use a blend of your favorite herbs - such as basil, oregano, celery seeds, sage, thyme, etc)<br />
Salt and pepper, to taste<br />
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*Once grated, you should have about 560g of veggies, total. A little bit more or less won't matter though.<br />
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Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly oil an 8 x 11.5 inch baking dish and set aside.<br />
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At this point, you can just mix all the ingredients together and you will get a chunky pâté, which is fine. But I like it to have a smoother texture, so what I do is, once I've grated all my veggies in the food processor, I place the veggies in a bowl, remove the grating disc and put the all-purpose blade in its place. Then, I put all the ingredients back into the food processor and I let it whir for a good 5 minutes. I like the texture better and I think the flavors all meld together perfectly. It's a question of taste, really.<br />
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Once your mixture is ready, pour it into the prepared dish and bake in the center of the oven for about 1 hour. The pâté will be golden and completely set in the middle. Let the pâté cool in the dish before unmolding it; it will be fragile while still warm.<br />
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The pâté is best served at room temperature, with crackers and veggies or used as a sandwich base with lettuce, tomatoes, avocados, etc. <br />
<br />LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-260772580157276622012-01-20T13:03:00.001-05:002012-01-20T13:06:19.326-05:00Craving Cinnamon (Recipe: Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Muffins)I have been on a huge cinnamon kick lately and I don't usually over think these things, but I wonder if this craving means anything in particular. Is my diet lacking in some way? Perhaps I'm just missing the warmth of the holiday season and the tastes that go with it? Or maybe I'm feeling cold because of all this snow we've been getting and cinnamon is just my way of getting a little warmth and comfort?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassia Sticks</td></tr>
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In any case, I decided to give in to the craving because cinnamon, it seems, has many <a href="http://www.naturalnews.com/034260_cinnamon_health_benefits.html" target="_blank">health benefits</a>. There is of course all this debate of <a href="http://www.spice-racks.com/cinnamon-the-truth-about-this-spice/" target="_blank">true cinnamon vs Cassia</a>. Having never tried true cinnamon (also called Ceylon cinnamon) before a few weeks ago, I had never given it much thought. But after a trip to my local health food store, I came back home with a small packet of true cinnamon and I was really surprised at how much different it was from the cinnamon I had always used.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ground Cassia on the left, true cinnamon on the right</td></tr>
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True cinnamon has a lighter color and is much more subtle in flavor than Cassia. Less spicy, I would say. I've found though that I have to use more of it in baked goods to get that expected cinnamon-y kick. I think true cinnamon would be better for sprinkling over oatmeal after cooking or in a recipe where a subdued spiciness is preferable. I'm thinking rice pudding or maybe warmed milk. I guess I am craving comfort! <br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span lang="EN-US"><b>What are you craving lately?</b></span></span><br />
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<b>Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Muffins</b><br />
Makes 18 small-ish muffins<b> </b><br />
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I used true cinnamon in this recipe so I used 2 teaspoons of it. If you use Cassia and you're not a cinnamon fanatic, reduce it to 1 teaspoon. You can also adapt this recipe by incorporating dried cranberries instead of raisins, adding nuts or other seeds, even chocolate chips if you feel like it! <br />
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1 1/2 cups of regular or old fashioned oats<br />
1 1/2 cups of buttermilk*<br />
2 large eggs, beaten<br />
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar<br />
1/4 cup of vegetable oil<br />
1/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce<br />
2 tsp of vanilla extract<br />
1 cup of whole wheat flour<br />
1/2 cup of all purpose flour<br />
3 tbsp of ground flax seeds<br />
2 tsp of true cinnamon (or 1 to 2 tsp of Cassia cinnamon, to taste) <br />
1 1/2 tsp of baking powder<br />
3/4 tsp of baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1/2 cup of raisins<br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span lang="EN-US">Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease a muffin tin or line with paper muffin cups.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span lang="EN-US">In
a bowl, soak oats in buttermilk for 15 minutes. Stir in eggs, sugar,
oil, applesauce and vanilla extract. In another bowl, combine flours, ground flax seeds, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda
and salt; stir into oat mixture just until moistened. Fold in raisins. Fill prepared
muffin tin three-fourths full.
Bake in preheated oven for 18-20 minutes or until muffins test done.
Cool in pan 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 100%;"><span lang="EN-US">* Sometimes, when I don't have buttermilk, I use 1/2 cup of milk mixed with 1 cup of low-fat sour cream or yogurt. Other times, when I don't have buttermilk, sour cream or yogurt, I mix in 1 tbsp of lemon juice with 1 1/2 cups of milk and let it rest for 5 minutes before adding it to the recipe.</span></span></div>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-70883827520498339672012-01-13T10:53:00.001-05:002012-01-13T10:53:27.155-05:00Things, they are a-changing…<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
This post has been a long time coming and I feel bad for not having taken the time to write it before but I just hadn’t found the words yet. I’m not even sure I have the right words right now but I’ll give it a try.</div>
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How cliché of me to do this in January, right? The month of resolutions, of <b>New Year! New You!</b> The month of being bombarded with phrases like: <b>This Year I Will Do It!</b> <b>I Will Be Good!</b> <b>I Will Reach My Goals!</b> <b>I Will Give Up Sweets!</b> <b>Sugar Be Damned!</b> But really, I started this blog in January - <a href="http://www.andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2008/01/irresistible.html" target="_blank">4 years ago</a> -and I guess it is just the best time to reflect, the best time to get things out in the open. Clean slate and all.</div>
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I could give you tons of excuses for my lack of presence in this little web space I call mine. But we all have those: kids, homework, holidays, family… Life in general gets in the way. So I won’t bore you with that. I will say however that I really do have a very short attention span and too many things at once, I cannot do. So the blog went on the backburner and I want to apologize for not at least giving you guys a heads up. I am very sorry about that. </div>
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I haven’t been around the blogging world because I’ve just been trying to take care of myself. Cheesy? Maybe so, but it’s true. And I know it is said that to be accountable and reach your goals more easily, it is better to share said goals with others, to talk about them openly. But I’m not that kind of person. I like to keep things to myself. Things like how much I weigh. Or what I ate for breakfast. Or how long I exercised today, yesterday or the day before. Which is not to say that I don’t like to read blogs about health and fitness and other people’s goals because, I do. And I have been inspired by them. And I love to get feedback, comments and suggestions, who doesn’t? But I wasn’t about to turn this cooking/baking/all about food blog into a health blog because I’m not an expert at any of that stuff! I’m certainly not an expert at baking either but that just comes a bit easier, you know? And I just felt silly telling anyone about it. I mean, I was just trying to eat a little better, exercise a bit more, no biggie, right? But this lifestyle change/diet/regimen, call it what you will, kept getting a little more serious every day and I kept telling myself I would post something soon, I would take the time to “shoot” this healthy recipe I was making. But I just never found the time. I never <i>made</i> the time. I kept thinking “no one is going to want to read about this, it’s just silly”. But, almost 2 years into this silly <i>lifestyle change</i>, I’ve lost 60 pounds and that is nowhere near silly. That is big. And, although I still have a ways to go, I’m very proud of what I’ve accomplished.</div>
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A few months ago, I read <a href="http://dineanddish.net/2011/11/happy-november-looking-back-and-looking-ahead/">this post</a> from Kristen of <a href="http://dineanddish.net/">Dine & Dish</a> and she really got me thinking. (I think I have a blog crush on Kristen, she is just <i>so</i> inspiring!) I have evolved in the last 4 years, I’ve changed, but my blog hasn’t. Why should I keep writing the same way when I am not the same? Change is scary, that’s why. Would you guys keep clicking on over here if I changed my style? Would the posts without recipes attract as much people as the ones with a pic of a luscious [insert name of decadent dessert here]. I know you guys don’t come here to read about how I’m feeling today or what I did this past weekend. And I’m not sure I even want to write about that. I don’t know what I want to write about. But I know I want to write. I miss it. Writing. Sharing my thoughts, my images. I also miss talking about how delicious and sweet and over the top the last recipe I made was! Because, no, I’m not all about healthy and low-fat, I am definitely not going to post only healthy, low-calorie, “diet” foods. I’ve been pinning sweets like crazy over on <a href="http://pinterest.com/lynnebou/">Pinterest</a> and I sure as heck am going to try a few of ‘em. <a href="http://jumboempanadas.blogspot.com/2011/05/shameless-copycat-starbucks-oatmeal.html">This recipe</a> is especially driving me nuts. I think what I want to go for is balance. A mix of healthy and decadent. More of a these-things-make-me-happy blog than<i> just</i> a food blog. </div>
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Wow. I think this is <i>the longest</i> post I’ve written. Ever. If you’ve made it this long, thank you. I hope I haven’t scared all of you into just unliking this blog on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/And-then-I-do-the-Dishes/155763257781988">Facebook</a> and running the other way. I would love it if you stick around. There will be recipes, stories and photos, just mixed in with some other stuff. Fun stuff I hope. Life.</div>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-31121938135883972632011-12-14T11:29:00.000-05:002011-12-14T11:29:22.262-05:00Maple Almond Butter - Homemade!I am aware that, as it is mid-December, most bloggers have been working overtime, baking and cooking and writing Christmas-y posts galore, giving everyone tips and tricks and fantabulous recipes to make their holidays easier. And here I am, having not blogged in ages, yes I know, <i><b>ages</b></i>, and what do I post? A nut butter recipe. But, hear me out! Not an ordinary, run-of-the-mill-butter-your-toast-and-run nut butter, it's more a sit-down-and-enjoy, how-in-the-world-have-I-survived-without-this nut butter!<br />
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OK, OK, let me explain a little further how this came about. The fantastic Brilynn of <a href="http://jumboempanadas.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Jumbo Empanadas</a> fame had a giveaway on her blog a few weeks ago, I left a comment and didn't think about it until I got an email, from Brilynn, telling me I had won a <a href="http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/product/KFP1333CU" target="_blank">13-cup Kitchenaid food processor</a>!!! So yesterday, I received THE food processor and, of course, all I had time to do was unpack and wash it, set it on the counter and gawk at it as I was already starting on dinner when the doorbell rang. On a side note, that food processor is <b><i>huge</i></b>! I've no idea where I'm going to store it.<br />
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Anyhoo, the first recipe I wanted to make with my new toy was hummus, but, since my cooked chickpeas are still frozen solid, I just <i>had</i> to find something else to do with it. A quick food blog search later, I found <a href="http://www.foodinjars.com/2011/01/homemade-maple-almond-butter/" target="_blank">this recipe</a> and I just knew I was making this! Maple Almond Butter. Just saying it makes me want to dip a spoon into the jar again! Maple. Almond. Butteeeeeeeeer! It's not just good, it's stellar! I promise, if you have a food processor and have never tried making your own nut butter, take the processor out of it's hiding place, roast some nuts, and get whizzing!<br />
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<b>Maple Almond Butter</b><br />
adapted from <a href="http://www.foodinjars.com/2011/01/homemade-maple-almond-butter/" target="_blank">Food in Jars</a><br />
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Store bought nut butters are always too sweet for my tastes and although this is maple flavored, and the maple does come through loud and clear, it is not overly sweet. The maple flavor compliments the almonds perfectly. My favorite way to eat this is with slices of apples, delicious for breakfast or as a snack.<br />
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1 1/2 cup of almonds<br />
3 tbsp of pure maple syrup<br />
Fleur de sel or sea salt<br />
2 to 3 tsp of canola oil<br />
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the almonds on the baking sheet and drizzle with the maple syrup giving the almonds a toss to coat them well. Roast the nuts in a 325F oven for about 20 minutes, tossing them once or twice, making sure they don't burn. When the nuts are ready, remove the baking sheet from the oven, place it on a cooling rack and let the almonds cool for a good 20 minutes.<br />
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Place the almonds in the bowl of your food processor along with a few pinches of fleur de sel and pulse a few times to break up the nuts. Add a teaspoon of oil, scrape the sides of the bowl and pulse again until the nuts break down further. Scrape the bowl and drizzle in some more oil as needed to get a creamy, luscious almond butter. Store in a jar, in the refrigerator.LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-78981425095427978022011-09-20T14:35:00.000-04:002011-09-20T14:36:00.105-04:00Smokin' Chicken Soup<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">I woke up this morning and it was raining. Not an unusual sight as Fall is right around the corner, and the days are getting cooler and shorter. What came to mind as I was getting the kids ready for school? This is perfect soup weather. The kind of day that doesn't feel quite right if you don't have a pot of something warm simmering on the stove top. So after the kids were off to school, their little umbrellas over their heads, I took out my stock pot, raided the freezer for some chicken bones to boil and made some stock. Cut up a few veggies, cut the kernels off a few ears of corn leftover in the fridge, shredded some boneless, skinless chicken breasts I had cooked earlier, and voilà! Soup! Uncomplicated, comforting and healthy too. Who wouldn't go for that!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Smokin' Chicken Soup</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">This really is the perfect soup to have simmering on the stove on a cold and rainy Fall day. The kick from the smoked chipotle is just enough to give it a little something different from your usual chicken soup. Please feel free to use this recipe as a guide; add more or less of whatever ingredient you like, change the veggies, add some noodles, use smoked paprika in place of the smoked chipotle powder, etc. Soup is great for experimenting!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 tbsp olive oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3 ribs of celery, chopped</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3 carrots, chopped</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 onion, chopped</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp garlic powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp smoked chipotle powder (more if you want it spicier)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">8 cups chicken broth </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 1/2 cups cooked shredded chicken (I used boneless, skinless chicken breasts) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">2 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In a large pot, heat the olive oil on medium high heat. Add the celery, carrots and onions and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic powder, smoked chipotle and salt, mix well. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 15 minutes, until vegetables are cooked. Add the chicken and corn kernels, and simmer until heated through.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Nutritional Information per Serving</b>: </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Calories:</b> 249.2; <b>Total Fat:</b> 7.4g; <b>Cholesterol:</b> 32.4mg; <b>Sodium</b>: 726.1mg; </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Carbohydrate:</b> 27.2g; <b>Dietary Fiber:</b> 3.1g; <b>Sugars:</b> 8.2g; <b>Protein:</b> 19.6g</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">(Please note that the nutritional information will depend greatly on which type of chicken broth you use, if you add more or less olive oil, whether you add white or dark chicken meat and how much salt you add to your soup.)</span></div>
LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-63547913174782737352011-09-08T15:07:00.000-04:002011-09-08T15:07:15.757-04:00Oatmeal, Date and Apple Muffins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;">Summer has come and gone, vacation time flew by like it never existed and already we're back to school, in full swing, like nothing ever happened. And I know, I should, maybe, perhaps, explain where I've been, why I've neglected this blog, my readers, my friends, for <i>such a long time</i> but, I doubt you'd find any of it interesting. Really, it's been a case of <i>I just don't get excited about food the way I used to</i>... Weird, I know! And I miss getting excited about cooking, baking, finding new recipes, I <i>really</i> do. Summer was just all about the sandwiches and salads and taking the kids to their baseball practices and games, all the time, so everything had to be made quickly and eaten quickly and when we did have time to sit down and eat I just didn't have the energy to make anything <strike>complicated</strike> <strike>interesting</strike> blog worthy... </span></div>
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<a href="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6127504961_097dd5e9a4_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6070/6127504961_097dd5e9a4_z.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: small;">But, lately I've become obsessed with finding the perfect date muffin. One that isn't so sweet it's more like a cupcake, or so moist and fluffy it falls apart. I wanted a muffin worthy of being eaten for breakfast, a sturdy muffin you can feel good about, not guilt ridden afterwards. And, after many tries, I think I've found it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">I tweaked my <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2009/09/buttermilk-oatmeal-muffins.html">Buttermilk Oatmeal Muffin</a> recipe and made it into the perfect (imho) <b>Oatmeal, Date and Apple Muffins</b>. Not too sweet, not too moist, full of texture from the dates and pecans, and healthy too! Each muffin has almost 3 g of fiber! Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. Maybe, just maybe, I'm getting excited about this <i>food</i> business again after all...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Oatmeal, Date and Apple Muffins</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Makes 18 regular sized muffins </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">These make a quick, hearty breakfast you can grab on the go any day of the week; add fruit and some yogurt, and you've got yourself a pretty healthy breakfast!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 1/2 cups quick cooking oats</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 1/2 cups all purpose flour</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 1/2 tsp baking powder</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3/4 tsp baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3 tbsp of granulated sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3/4 cup chopped, pitted dates</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup chopped, toasted pecans</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">2 eggs</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1/4 cup canola oil</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 1/4 cups buttermilk</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">1 tbsp molasses</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">2 tsp vanilla</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">3 small apples, peeled and grated (about 1 cup packed of grated apples)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Preheat your oven to 400F. Line your muffin tins with paper liners and set aside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In a large bowl mix together the oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar, date and pecans. Make sure to distribute the dates well throughout the dry ingredients to prevent them from sticking together.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">In another bowl mix the eggs, canola oil, buttermilk, molasses and vanilla. Fold in the grated apples. Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ones and mix just until the dry ingredients are moistened. If you over mix, you'll end up with tough muffins.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Distribute the batter evenly among 18 muffin cups and bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool the muffins completely on a wire rack.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Nutritional information per muffin</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Calories</b>: 165; <b>Total Fat</b>: 6.7g; <b>Cholesterol</b>: 21.2mg; <b>Sodium</b>: 184.3mg; <b>Total Carbohydrate</b>: 27.5g; <b>Dietary Fiber</b>: 2.8g; <b>Sugars</b>: 9.1g; <b>Protein</b>: 3.7g</span></div>
LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-16721643171606820732011-06-24T11:00:00.001-04:002011-06-24T12:06:07.109-04:00Snickerdoodles aka Cinnamon Roll Cookies<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Yesterday was the last day of school and let me just say, it's been a looooong year. Not that my kids have trouble in school or anything but Tom was in first grade this year as opposed to Kindergarten and it was something else altogether to have both him and Annabelle doing homework and needing my help with </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >something</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > all the time and also Olivia who felt a little left out at </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >not</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > having any homework (I'll let you know how she feels when she </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >does</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" > have some homework in a few years...) and me just trying to keep everything up so that all hell will not break loose. Time for blogging? Not so much.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5277/5866864890_8770313ae2_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5277/5866864890_8770313ae2_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So, yesterday was the traditional Breakfast at School day and all the parents were invited to bring a little something and have breakfast with the kids and teachers. I decided to make Snickerdoodle Cookies, because you know, when do you get to eat cookies for breakfast other than the last day of school? The night before as I was making them (at about 9pm) Martin commented that they smelled like Cinnamon Rolls. And that's when I had a flash: frosting!!! So the next morning I whipped up a small batch of frosting, made a cute little swirl on each cookie and voilà! Cinnamon Roll Cookies! They were a huge hit, the breakfast was once again a success and finally, summer's here (albeit a little cool still, though I'm not complaining) and hopefully we can relax, relax and, uh, relax some more.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5866957860_6178030583_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 462px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5224/5866957860_6178030583_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cinnamon Roll Cookies</span><br />adapted from <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Dessert/Eggs-Dairy/recipe.html?dishID=8576">Michael Smith's Snickerdoodle recipe</a><br /><br />1 cup unsalted butter, softened<br />1 1/2 cups granulated sugar<br />2 eggs<br />1 tbsp vanilla extract<br />1 tbsp corn syrup<br />3 cups all-purpose flour<br />1 tsp baking powder<br />1 tsp baking soda<br />1/4 tsp salt<br /><br />1/4 cup granulated sugar<br />2 tbsp cinnamon<br /><br />Preheat your oven to 375F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.<br /><br />In a large bowl with your mixer of choice, beat butter and 1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one and then add the vanilla and corn syrup. Mix well.<br /><br />In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add to the wet ingredients and mix until smooth.<br /><br />In a small bowl, whisk remaining 1/4 cup of sugar with the cinnamon. With a tablespoon or a small ice cream scoop, form the dough into balls (about 1 to 1 1/2 inch in size) and roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar to coat. Place them on the parchment lined baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Cool the cookies completely on a wire rack before icing them.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cream Cheese Icing</span><br />1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened<br />1 tbsp cream cheese, softened<br />1 cup confectioner's sugar, sifted<br />1 tsp vanilla extract<br />1 tsp warm water<br /><br />In a stand mixer using the whisk attachment, beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the sifted confectioner's sugar slowly, then the vanilla extract and beat well. If needed, add a little warm water until desired consistency. Using a pastry bag with a small round tip, or a ziptop bag with one of the corners cut, make swirls on the cooled cookies. The icing does not completely set so if you want to make them ahead of time and serve them later, I suggest you ice them just before serving.<br /><br />Makes about 42 1 1/2 to 2 inch cookies.<br /><br /></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-57879000682732985192011-04-19T08:44:00.005-04:002011-04-19T09:46:13.131-04:00Making Friends (Eve's Greek Salad Recipe)<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >One of the things I find difficult about being a stay at home mom is making friends. No regular workplace to go to and meet people, no work related trips or classes. But sometimes, you do get lucky. Last year, I met Eve. Both our sons were starting Kindergarten and we would go to the school to pick them up, as they finished earlier than the older kids. As we waited in the school yard for the boys to come out, we would strike up conversations about this and that and whatever. We hit it off right away and became fast friends. Now, as other stay at home moms know, you sometimes <span style="font-style: italic;">need</span> to get outside the house in order to stay sane. So when the kids have days off from school, we use that opportunity to get together, make lunch, have coffee and wonderful conversations. Having grown-up conversations, for a stay at home mom, is almost like winning the lottery, <span style="font-style: italic;">seriously</span>.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5634149735_155465c03b_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 439px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5634149735_155465c03b_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5265/5634149735_155465c03b_b.jpg"><br /></a>On one of those no-school days, the kids and I went over to Eve's for lunch and she had made this wonderful salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, onions, feta and a homemade vinaigrette. I was sure my kids would taste but not necessarily like the salad. Boy, was I wrong. They loved it! Tom even requested that I make it again just a few days after our visit! And every time he asks for it he calls it Eve's Salad, so that's what we call it now! So thank you Eve, and here's to new flavors and good friends!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eve's Greek Salad</span><br /><br />1 seedless cucumber, cubed<br />300g of cherry or grape tomatoes, quartered<br />125g of feta cheese, crumbled<br />1/2 of a red onion, diced<br />1/4 cup of sliced, pitted black olives (or more to taste)<br /><br />for the vinaigrette:<br />1 tsp Dijon mustard<br />1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar<br />1/2 tsp dried oregano<br />1 small garlic clove, finely minced<br />1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil<br />Salt and pepper, to taste<br /><br />In a large bowl, mix all of the salad ingredients together. Set aside while you make the vinaigrette.<br /><br />In another bowl, mix everything but the olive oil. Whisking constantly, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the other ingredients until everything is mixed well.<br /><br />Mix some of the vinaigrette into the vegetables, to taste. Serve with a baguette or some pita bread.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note:</span> You might not need to use all of the vinaigrette, it all depends on how you like your salad. You can keep any leftover vinaigrette in the refrigerator for a few days and use it for other salads or simply drizzle it on slices of tomatoes.<br /></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-30386168452473962112011-04-05T11:00:00.002-04:002011-04-06T12:36:27.360-04:00Finding More Time (Chocolate Banana Muffins Recipe)<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Is there a way to find more hours in a day? Anyone? <span style="font-style: italic;">Anyone?</span> I'm not trying to make excuses, I'm just wondering if anyone else is feeling overwhelmed by the amount of things to do in a day and how it affects creativity. I try to do everything I <span style="font-style: italic;">should</span> do: get up, get dressed, cook, clean, homework with the kids, exercise, volunteer at the kids' school, smile and wave and say everything's fine and dandy, and even all that isn't easy to fit in a day's worth of hours... But when do I find the time to do what I <span style="font-style: italic;">want</span> to do? Blogging, writing, photography, see friends, read a book... When do these things come into play? Seriously, how does everyone <span style="font-style: italic;">do it</span>? Is it at all possible to get everything done? I'm not down in the dumps or anything, just in a rut I guess, just out of juice maybe, trying to get back in the swing of being creative without letting any of the other stuff get out of hand. Is it possible? Not sure yet...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5591952789_1614761c16_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 416px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5591952789_1614761c16_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Let's get started with these muffins. They're quick, they take care of those few overripe bananas on the counter and they're packed full of chocolate, not a bad combo if you ask me. And on a rainy day like today, I sure need a dose of quick, easy and chocolate! A cup of strong coffee doesn't hurt either. ;)<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5591952955_40cde9b33b_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 423px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5106/5591952955_40cde9b33b_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chocolate Banana Muffins</span><br /><br />1/3 cup canola oil<br />1 cup sugar<br />2 eggs<br />1 tsp vanilla extract<br />2 medium bananas, mashed<br />1 1/2 cups flour<br />1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />1 1/2 tsp baking powder<br />1/2 tsp baking soda<br />1/4 tsp salt<br />1/2 cup milk chocolate chips<br /><br />In a large bowl, mix together first 5 ingredients. In another bowl, mix all the other ingredients; add dry ingredients to wet mixing just until blended. Fill muffin tins lined with jumbo paper liners. Bake in a 375°F preheated oven for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.<br /><br />Makes 12 jumbo muffins (about 15 smaller ones).<br /><br /></span></span>8UNC8YN64TNRLyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-26272125811604579132011-02-14T16:16:00.003-05:002011-02-14T17:04:12.758-05:00Happy Valentine's Day!!! (Nutella Brownies and Red Velvet Cupcake Recipes)<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >I couldn't have had a better surprise this morning than to wake up to a snowstorm and closed schools! I was really happy to have the kids at home, I made an army of tiny <span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Velvet Cupcakes</span>, found an <a href="http://www.origami-instructions.com/easy-origami-heart.html">Origami Heart pattern</a> on the net then invited a few friends over for sweets and crafts!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5445829755_4ebfddb5d0_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 417px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5172/5445829755_4ebfddb5d0_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br />It was my first time making Red Velvet anything and I thought Valentine's Day was the ideal day to try these cupcakes. I was pleasantly surprised by their texture, they were soft and fluffy with just a hint of cocoa and the color, wow, very impressive. The cream cheese icing, well, it's just over the top sweet and creamy but I wouldn't have it any other way!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5445829847_8aec98bdd3_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 417px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5220/5445829847_8aec98bdd3_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br />And with all this talk about <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2011/02/nutella-filled-cream-cheese-cookies-for.html">Nutella lately</a>, combined with a serious craving for brownies, well it was just a matter of time before I gave in and made <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nutella Brownies</span>. Armed with a recipe by one of my faves, Ricardo, of course, I knew I couldn't fail! The brownies were just delightful, the hazelnut taste of the Nutella really came through and the texture, oh boy, just dreamy! Perfect for a Valentine's Day weekend!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/5446430000_03e7baacbe_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 442px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4141/5446430000_03e7baacbe_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><br />I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day!!!<br /><br />For the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Velvet Cupcake recipe</span> please visit <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2010/11/08/red-velvet-cupcakes-cream-cheese-frosting/">Brown Eyed Baker</a>. I made the recipe pretty much as is except for using gel food coloring (about 1 tbsp) instead of liquid and baking the cupcakes in mini muffin pans for about 12 minutes.<br /><br />For the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nutella Brownies</span> recipe please visit <a href="http://www.ricardocuisine.com/recipes/bars_squares_and_muffins/3113-nutella-brownies-">Ricardo's website</a>.<br /></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-29791289243127953182011-02-11T10:30:00.007-05:002011-02-11T11:29:09.055-05:00Homemade Pretzels with Cheese Sauce<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I know I'm late to the party as talking about Superbowl food and stuff is sooooo last week (Yay Packers, by the way!) but, even though I made these <span style="font-weight: bold;">pretzels</span> for the event in question, I want to make sure they don't stay labeled as "party food". No, in fact I think you should make these any time, special event or not. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First, they are really easy to make, just like making bread. Second, they're impressively tasty, think bagels but with a fun shape factor. And third, they are endlessly adaptable: they could be salty, sweet, with sesame or poppy seeds, served with a cheesy sauce or an onion dip, or even, oh my, with a cinnamon coating and served with a cream cheese dip! I just thought of that one, I might have to make some this weekend!<br /><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5436007835_e08bfff9ab_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5436007835_e08bfff9ab_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Homemade Pretzels</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">adapted from Chuck Hughes via <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/recipe.html?dishid=11531">Food Network Canada</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 1/2 cups warm water (between 110F and 115F)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tbsp granulated sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2 tsp active dry yeast</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3 cups all purpose flour</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2 tsp kosher salt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2 tbsp melted butter</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">10 cups water</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2/3 cup baking soda</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Egg wash: 1 egg, beaten with 1 tsp water</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Coarse salt, sesame seeds, your choice of toppings</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lightly oil a large bowl and set aside.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a measuring cup, combine warm water, sugar and active dry yeast. Allow to sit 5 minutes so the yeast can start doing its thing. In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt. Once the yeast mixture starts to foam, add the melted butter and pour into the flour mixture. Using a wooden spoon, start mixing the dough until it comes together. Place the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes, adding flour as necessary to obtain a smooth ball of dough. Place the ball of dough in your previously oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave to rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, about one hour.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Once your dough has risen, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and oil it lightly. Take the dough out of the bowl and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Roll each piece of dough into an approximately 20-inch rope. Make a U shape with the rope, holding the ends of the rope, cross them over each other and press onto the bottom of the U in order to form the classic pretzel shape. Proceed that way with each of the 12 pieces of dough and place the pretzels on the baking sheet and refrigerate for one hour. This step allows the surface of the pretzels to dry and makes them easier to handle.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Preheat the oven to 450F.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the largest pot you have, bring the 10 cups of water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, add the baking soda, very carefully, a little bit at a time, as it will cause the water to boil over. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Place the pretzels in the boiling water, one at a time, 30 seconds each. Remove the pretzels from the water with a large spatula and place them back on the parchment lined baking sheet. The boiling step will help the pretzels get that signature brown, crunchy exterior.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Brush the top of each pretzel with the egg wash, sprinkle with your topping of choice and bake in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, until the pretzels get that dark golden brown we're looking for. Transfer the pretzels to a cooling rack and let rest 5 minutes before serving.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Note: If you're not sure you're going to eat your pretzels all in the same day, may I suggest you omit sprinkling them with salt. The salt will make them soggy the next day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Cheese Sauce</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">adapted from <a href="http://www.ricardocuisine.com/en">Ricardo Magazine</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tbsp cornstarch</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 (370 ml) can of evaporated milk</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2 tbsp olive oil</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 onion, finely chopped</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 garlic clove, finely minced</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tbsp tomato paste</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tbsp ground smoked chipotle pepper</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, preferably orange</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Salt and pepper, to taste</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a bowl, whisk the cornstarch and evaporated milk together; set aside.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a saucepan, heat the olive oil and add the onion, bell pepper and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste and smoked chipotle pepper and cook for another minute. Add the evaporated milk mixture and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Simmer for about 2 minutes. Add the grated cheddar and whisk until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste and serve warm with the pretzels.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Note: This sauce is terrific in burgers as well. And if you have any leftovers, you can make a great quickie mac 'n cheese with it the next day.</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-43159833557357834092011-02-05T07:41:00.005-05:002011-02-05T08:43:14.265-05:00Nutella Filled Cream Cheese Cookies for World Nutella Day!!!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Ah, World Nutella Day! A few years ago I made myself a cup of <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2009/02/nutella-hot-chocolate.html">Nutella Hot Chocolate</a>, posted it on my blog and sent the link to Sara of <a href="http://msadventuresinitaly.com/blog/">Ms. Adventures in Italy</a> and Michelle of <a href="http://bleedingespresso.com/">Bleeding Espresso</a>, so I could participate in <a href="http://www.nutelladay.com/">World Nutella Day</a>. I never thought it would become one of my most popular recipes to date!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5417955183_8115caf803_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5011/5417955183_8115caf803_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />So, this year, I prepared a bit better and started thinking of Nutella recipes a little more in advance. I knew I wanted to make something with cream cheese but not a cheesecake. I thought of brownies but I wanted to taste the cream cheese and the Nutella. Then I found this dough recipe that could be easily adapted, added some cream cheese to it, filled the dough with Nutella and tadaaa! I got my <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nutella Filled Cream Cheese Cookies</span>! They are moist, not too sweet, you get a hint of cream cheese in each bite and the Nutella, well, that's just the most wonderful surprise to get inside a cookie! And it works so well with the cream cheese, the cookies stay moist and they are even better the next day.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5417955225_9a4eae24b6_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 426px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5417955225_9a4eae24b6_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span><br />Tell me, are you making Nutella recipes today or are you dipping your spoon into a jar and enjoying Nutella "au naturel"? We'll probably be doing a little of both around here today!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5417955271_bcdbbe0956_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5417955271_bcdbbe0956_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nutella Filled Cream Cheese Cookies</span><br />(dough recipe adapted from Michael Smith via <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Dessert/Eggs-Dairy/recipe.html?dishID=8576">Food Network Canada</a>)<br /><br />1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />1 - 250g package of cream cheese, room temp.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />1 1/2 cups granulated sugar</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />2 eggs, room temp.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />1 tbsp vanilla extract</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />1 tbsp corn syrup</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />3 cups all purpose flour</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />1 tsp baking powder</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />1 tsp baking soda<br /></span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >1/4 tsp salt</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Nutella, for filling</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br />1/3 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Preheat your oven to 375F and line a few baking sheets with parchment paper.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />In your mixer of choice, beat the butter, cream cheese and granulated sugar together until well mixed. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Add the vanilla and corn syrup and mix until incorporated.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Slowly add to the butter/cream cheese mix and beat until the batter comes together.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Refrigerate the dough for at least an hour, otherwise it will be sticky, very had to work with and the cookies won't keep their shape as well.</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Once your dough has been refrigerated, use a cookie scoop or a tablespoon and form little balls of dough. Make an indentation in each one and dollop about 1/2 tsp of Nutella in it. Close the dough around the Nutella as much as you can then</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" > use a small piece of dough to close up the hole. Form into a ball shape and roll into the remaining 1/3 cup of granulated sugar. Place on the parchment lined cookie sheet, 6 cookies to a sheet. </span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Bake (one sheet at a time) in preheated oven for about 12 minutes or until the cookies are slightly golden. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 36 large cookies.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GDyOA2Zkm6cE9b_Gau3VW3CKYbuxQ59wcj2nHvm9VEi3mT27rF16C8aEl1kYLXIgWvQCWAh0JyRHlHJ9e0drVd-8qeBqzD1oRcTqChcRy9Z1EhTRg2KhQBwO0COzQYmS8iPjuZLAgyM/s1600/World_Nutella_Day_Final_m-300x207.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0GDyOA2Zkm6cE9b_Gau3VW3CKYbuxQ59wcj2nHvm9VEi3mT27rF16C8aEl1kYLXIgWvQCWAh0JyRHlHJ9e0drVd-8qeBqzD1oRcTqChcRy9Z1EhTRg2KhQBwO0COzQYmS8iPjuZLAgyM/s320/World_Nutella_Day_Final_m-300x207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570197546226009234" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><br /><br /></span></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-34335569863750101482011-01-24T14:38:00.004-05:002011-01-24T15:26:39.307-05:00Growing up (One Bowl Chocolate Cake Recipe - Redux)<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >My son turned 7 yesterday and as I sit here typing these words, I still can't believe it. How in the world do kids grow up so fast? How did he become this little 7 year old boy who can now read and write, do math problems and figure out a video game way quicker than I can? Can you tell I'm feeling a little old right now? Yep, I am...<br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5385530882_1da0b6e9e2_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 467px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5385530882_1da0b6e9e2_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br />When I asked Tom if he wanted cupcakes or a real cake for his birthday party he replied: "A real cake, of course!" as if cupcakes were just for girls! And, of course, he wanted a chocolate cake. So I decided on my usual <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2008/02/heart-shaped-chocolate-craving.html">One Bowl Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Icing</a>. A bunch of little boys eating chocolate cake at a birthday party, sounds fun, right? Can't be afraid of a little sugar high!<br /><br />The reason I decided to do another post for this cake is that I used buttermilk instead of milk in the recipe. Doesn't sound like much of a change but it makes a great cake even better. Annabelle even told me the cake was just as good, if not better, without the icing. Without icing! OK, so I'm not sure the boys would have been quite as impressed if I had baked this as a bundt instead of a 3 layer cake but I'm sure going to try it when another chocolate craving strikes!<br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5381836073_947b71f7a8_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 462px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5250/5381836073_947b71f7a8_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-weight: bold;">One Bowl Chocolate Cake<br /></span><span>adapted from</span><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/One-Bowl-Chocolate-Cake-III/Detail.aspx"> Allrecipes</a></span><br /><br />2 cups white sugar<br />1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour<br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder<br />1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder<br />1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda<br />1 teaspoon salt<br />2 eggs<br />1 cup buttermilk<br />1/2 cup vegetable oil<br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >2 teaspoons vanilla extract<br />1 cup boiling water</span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two nine inch round pans (or 2 heart-shaped pans).</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">In a large bowl, stir together the sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add the eggs, buttermilk, oil and vanilla, mix for 2 minutes on medium speed of mixer. Stir in the boiling water last. Batter will be thin. Pour evenly into the prepared pans. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">Bake 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the cake tests done with a toothpick. Cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.</span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Note:</span> For the layer cake pictured above, I used three 9-inch round cake pans and baked them for approximately 20 minutes. Check the layers and if a toothpick inserted in the center of the cakes comes out clean, they're done!<br /></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="" lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chocolate Icing</span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="" lang="EN-CA">4 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar<br />1 cup butter, at room temperature<br />2 tsp pure vanilla extract<br />1 to 2 tbsp milk, depending on the consistency you want<br />5 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder<br /></span></span></p><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="" lang="EN-CA">Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add a small amount of milk to reach desired spreading consistency. Add cocoa powder and beat well. Spread on cooled cake.</span></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-44306057449084447772011-01-14T10:00:00.001-05:002011-01-14T10:05:36.710-05:00Three Years!!! (Apple Coffe Cake Recipe)<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There are so many things going through my head right now. Has it really been <span style="font-style: italic;">three years</span> since I hit "publish post" for the very first time? Have I <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2008/01/irresistible.html">really</a> <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2008/04/perfect-crunch.html">made</a> <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2008/03/saucy.html">caramel</a> <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2008/10/tuesdays-with-dorie-caramel-cashew.html">that</a> <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2009/01/one-year-ago-and-another-caramel-post.html">many</a> <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2009/02/twd-caramel-crunch-bars.html">times</a> <a href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2009/09/twd-chocolate-crunched-caramel-tart.html">since</a>? Did we eat all those desserts? <span style="font-style: italic;">Really?</span> And how in the world did three years, <span style="font-style: italic;">three years</span>, go by so freaking fast? Yes, today folks, this little webspace of mine is <span style="font-weight: bold;">three years old</span>. Yes, there has been a lot more sweet than savory appearing in these pages. Yes, we ate everything I made, but we did share a lot of it. And yes, there will be more baking, cooking and sharing in the coming years and I wouldn't have it any other way; I've been enjoying myself way too much to quit. I'm hoping you've also enjoyed reading my ramblings and trying some of the recipes I've posted. I've discovered so many new techniques and flavors since starting to blog and I suspect I'm not done learning!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've made a few changes here and there and I'd like to share them with you. There are some tabs near the top there, under the header and I've finally got that recipe index I've always wanted! It's a work in progress as I'm not sure about the categories I've chosen, but it's there and functional! I've also decided to (finally) write an "About Page". I know, I know, about time, right? This one </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I've mentioned before, but if you haven't had a chance yet, go on over and visit <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/And-then-I-do-the-Dishes/155763257781988">And then I do the Dishes</a> on Facebook, leave a comment, question, whatever you like! </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And, last but not least, there's this nifty little "print button" at the bottom of each post and I would not forgive myself if I didn't thank Taylor over at <a href="http://www.printfriendly.com/">Print Friendly</a>. Best product support ever! Thanks so very much! And thank you guys, readers and friends for your support. For reading and commenting and keeping this little project of mine going. I couldn't do it without you. Thank you!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5354652226_68e08b57ee_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5289/5354652226_68e08b57ee_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span>Now, onto the recipe! If you like <span style="font-weight: bold;">coffee cake</span>, this is the recipe you want! As you may already know, I have many, many recipe books and magazines but the best, tried and true recipes often come from those free recipe booklets handed out at grocery stores or stuck to pages of magazines. This recipe comes from such a booklet, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robin Hood Baking Festival 1992</span>. I've long since adapted the recipe to suit my family's tastes but every time I find a little booklet of recipes, I can't help but keep it. You never know what little gem you might find inside.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Apple Coffee Cake</span><br />Adapted from <a href="http://www.robinhood.ca/homepage.asp">Robin Hood</a><br /><br />Topping:<br />3 tbsp granulated sugar<br />2 tbsp all-purpose flour<br />1/2 tsp cinnamon<br />1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted<br />1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)<br /><br />Cake:<br />2 cups all-purpose flour<br />1 1/4 cups granulated sugar<br />1 tbsp baking powder<br />1/2 tsp baking soda<br />1/2 tsp salt<br />1 tsp cinnamon<br />1/4 tsp nutmeg, freshly grated<br />1/8 tsp ground cloves<br />1/8 tsp tonka bean, freshly grated (optional)<br />2 eggs<br />1 cup sour cream or plain yogurt<br />1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted<br />2 cups peeled and grated apples, lightly packed<br /><br />Topping:<br />Combine all ingredients. Mix well and set aside.<br /><br />Cake:<br />Preheat your oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 10-inch springform pan and set aside.<br /><br />In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves and tonka bean, if using. Mix well. In another bowl, beat eggs, sour cream or yogurt and melted butter. Stir into dry ingredients until just blended. Stir in grated apples. Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan and sprinkle topping over the batter.<br /><br />Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cake rest in the pan a few minutes before unmolding and placing it on a baking rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Maple Glaze</span><br />adapted from <a href="http://comfybelly.com/2010/07/caramel-sauce/">Comfy Belly</a><br /><br />I added this glaze as an afterthought because I thought the cake looked plain in the photos. It certainly doesn't need the glaze taste wise, but it does add a little more sweetness, and it looks nice. You could also drizzle some <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://andthenidothedishes.blogspot.com/2008/03/saucy.html">caramel sauce</a> on top, that would be just decadent!<br /><br />1/2 cup milk (I used 2%)<br />1/2 cup maple syrup<br />Pinch of fleur de sel<br />1 tsp unsalted butter<br /><br />In a saucepan, pour the milk and maple syrup. Add pinch of fleur de sel and bring to a boil. Whisk constantly until the mixture is thickened and starts to look like caramel. This can take from 5 to 10 minutes. When you're happy with the consistency, whisk in the butter, strain the glaze into a heatproof bowl and let it cool slightly. Now, you can pour the glaze directly onto the hot cake, in which case most of the glaze will be absorbed into the cake, which would be delicious. But, if you're going for the same look as in my photos, wait until the glaze and cake are cooled and drizzle the glaze onto the cake. If the glaze has hardened too much to pour, you can microwave it a few seconds to get it to the right consistency.<br /></span></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-30810284522840751772011-01-07T13:15:00.004-05:002011-01-07T13:49:01.609-05:00Mexican Lasagna<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When Winter rolls around, all I feel like eating is comforting casseroles and warming dishes. Now, I know that after the sweet treats and decadent meals of the Holiday season, many people tend to look for low-fat, healthy salad recipes but with three kids to feed, salad ain't cuttin' it around here! You <span style="font-style: italic;">can</span> serve this fantastic lasagna with a side salad though, you know, to lighten the guilt factor. This dish was such a hit, we all looked forward to having it for lunch the next day, which is saying a lot! I have a feeling this is one of those recipes that will be on permanent rotation on my meal plans!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5333219161_74ab95e2c3_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5284/5333219161_74ab95e2c3_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mexican Lasagna</span><br /><br />1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />1 green bell pepper, diced</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />1 onion, chopped</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />2 cloves of garlic, minced</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />1-28 oz can of diced tomatoes (don't drain it)<br />1 packet of taco spices (I use the low salt kind)<br />1 to 2 tsp Chipotle chili powder</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />1-12 oz can of corn kernels, drained (or use frozen)</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />1-19 oz can of red kidney beans, drained and rinsed</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tbsp cornstarch (optional)</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />9 large flour tortillas</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese, grated (or TexMex blend, or Monterey Jack)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish; set aside.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />In a dutch oven, brown ground beef until no longer pink. Drain off all fat and transfer to a heat proof bowl. In the same dutch oven, heat a tablespoon or two of olive oil and sauté bell pepper, onion and garlic until onion is translucent. Put the ground beef back in the pot and also add the tomatoes, taco spices and chili powder. Mix well then add the corn and the red kidney beans and mix again. Let simmer for a few minutes. If you find that your "chili" is a bit watery, make a slurry of a tbsp of cornstarch with some cold water and add it to the pot. Let it simmer a little and it should thicken up enough not to water down your lasagna.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Preheat your oven to 375F.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Ladle a little bit of chili on the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Cover with 3 of the tortillas, overlapping them to fit the dish. Ladle a third of your chili over the tortillas, sprinkle with a third of the cheese and cover with 3 more tortillas. Layer the ingredients that way, ending with the cheese on top of the casserole.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the filling is bubbly and the cheese is nicely browned. To further brown the cheese, broil the casserole for about 1 minute. Let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving.</span> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Serve with sour cream, chopped green onions and a salad.</span> </span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-35578602706533761752010-12-31T15:25:00.003-05:002010-12-31T16:07:34.017-05:00Another Year Over...<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" >Christmas has come and gone and I can't believe it's New Year's Eve already. As I look back on 2010 all I can think of is how incredibly lucky I am. We are all healthy and happy, all five of us. I had wonderful opportunities this year to <a href="http://www.slatterymedia.com/store/viewBook/foodies-of-the-world/?ref=FOW24C">showcase my blog and photography</a>, and for a stay at home mom who hasn't worked outside the home for about 10 years, it gave a real boost to my self esteem. I hope to keep the ball rolling in 2011, work on my photography and find new ideas to upgrade and renew this little webspace of mine.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5310659506_97b5cf3a33_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 420px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5242/5310659506_97b5cf3a33_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br />For now I want to share with you another recipe from <a href="http://www.bluemountain.com/channel/kraft2010/">Kraft's Recipe for Joy</a> program. These <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pecan Bars </span>are an absolute perfect choice to end the year on a sweet note. Gooey caramel and crunchy pecans baked on a sweet cream cheese dough. Wonderful by itself or put it over the top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or even whipped cream! And don't forget, you still have a few hours to send some last minute holiday wishes with some <a href="http://www.bluemountain.com/channel/kraft2010/">free e-cards</a>. Let's all help</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;"> <a href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/home.aspx">Kraft</a> reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to Food Banks Canada.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy New Year everyone!!! Have fun and be safe!!!</span><br /><br />For the recipe, please visit the <a href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/home.aspx">Kraft Canada Website</a>:<br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/pecan-bars-82757.aspx">Pecan Bars</a><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><br /></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-49563498884081893102010-12-20T15:00:00.000-05:002010-12-20T15:59:13.390-05:00Kraft Recipe for Joy<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >There is nothing like a good cause to get me in a Holiday mood. Well, that and Christmas is right around the corner! If you're like me and you're being pulled in a hundred different directions with cleaning, baking and gift shopping you'll appreciate the <a href="http://www.bluemountain.com/channel/kraft2010/">Kraft Recipe for Joy Program</a>. You can send your friends and family some free <a href="http://www.bluemountain.com/channel/kraft2010/">Holiday e-cards</a> and help fight hunger at the same time! <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvngKICHlr2_KOT-HUeH-bkuAJYfacFd7xcURCbafgcCmOcZOwTidU3o1v7iLi3AssXd0J8Sy090Oj5MWTj08ptSHw4WY9q3__4G05keh10n5hINfxXF77-lyrrc2BMehtlAG-V_hII4/s1600/RFJ_2010_English.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvngKICHlr2_KOT-HUeH-bkuAJYfacFd7xcURCbafgcCmOcZOwTidU3o1v7iLi3AssXd0J8Sy090Oj5MWTj08ptSHw4WY9q3__4G05keh10n5hINfxXF77-lyrrc2BMehtlAG-V_hII4/s400/RFJ_2010_English.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552865115695530098" border="0" /></a>That's right, because for every e-card sent, <a href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/home.aspx">Kraft</a> will donate 2$ to Food Banks Canada. Now, that is one of the best deals ever! Of course, you get some great recipes with that e-card and having tried a few of them I can tell you, they are easy and delicious. Just what the doctor ordered for this busy season! You can even install a nifty virtual recipe box on your computer's desktop for easy access to the recipes.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5278419054_c64783d6c6_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 434px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5128/5278419054_c64783d6c6_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br />So far, our 2 favorite recipes are for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprints</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Crunch "Bars"</span>. The Raspberry Thumbprints are almost brownie-like in texture and the cream cheese they contain gives them this slight cheesecake taste, they are quite addictive. And they stay moist and tender for days!<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5277809171_816363d054_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 392px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5277809171_816363d054_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br />The Crunch Bars were also a big hit here. The caramel soaked Premium Plus crackers take on a wonderful flaky pie dough quality and the thick layer of chocolate and chopped nuts totally take these over the top. And they are easy-peasy! Just be sure to watch the oven and have everything ready because mine baked a lot quicker than I expected.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5278418968_d1d52cf330_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 403px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5278418968_d1d52cf330_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span> <br />So can I just recommend you try these during the Holidays, please? Make yourself happy! And make hungry families happy too by helping <a href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/home.aspx">Kraft</a> reach their goal of a $50,000 donation to Food Banks Canada. Go <a href="http://www.bluemountain.com/channel/kraft2010/">send some e-cards</a>! <br /><br />For the recipes please visit the <a href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/home.aspx">Kraft Canada website</a>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/chocolate-raspberry-thumbprints-114521.aspx">Chocolate-Raspberry Thumbprints</a><br /><a href="http://www.kraftcanada.com/en/recipes/crunch-bars-82859.aspx">Crunch "Bars"</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note</span>: I was sent a gift package from Kraft Foods in exchange for sharing the Kraft Recipe for Joy Program and recipes with my readers. The opinions in this post, about the program and recipes, are my own.<br /></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-39122247160954374212010-12-10T08:30:00.000-05:002010-12-10T08:32:48.632-05:00Novica Product Review<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" >Cue the first of my Holiday posts, complete with photos of twinkling lights and presents to boot! One catch though: there's no food involved. Instead I wish to talk to you about <a href="http://www.novica.com/">Novica</a>, one of the leading fair trade artisan websites, which I discovered recently. Here is an excerpt of their mission statement:<br /><br />"We want to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.</span> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.</span></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">We want you to know about who you're buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it."</span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5246871334_fc5857e461_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 425px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5125/5246871334_fc5857e461_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">In association with National Geographic, Novica gives talented artisans around the world a place to express their artistic talents and provide access to the world market. They have thousands of top fair trade <a href="http://corporate-gifts.novica.com/">corporate gifts</a> and home decor items on their website. Seriously, all kinds of jewelry, <a href="http://jewelry.novica.com/bracelets/%22%3Ebracelets%3C/a">bracelets</a>, <a href="http://jewelry.novica.com/earrings/%22%3Eearrings%3C/a">earrings</a>, <a href="http://gifts-for-mom.novica.com/">gifts for mom</a>, <a href="http://unique-gifts.novica.com/gifts-for-him/%22%3Egifts">gifts for him</a>, <a href="http://clothing.novica.com/">clothing</a>, <a href="http://handbags.novica.com/">handbags</a>, I could go on!</span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5246871476_4f844d9429_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 441px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5043/5246871476_4f844d9429_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">I was lucky enough to get an offer to review their products and website, and I absolutely jumped at the chance to do so. What really got me was the uniqueness of each item. I don't know if I've ever mentioned this but I am a sucker for huge, unique rings and, although I had such a hard time choosing among the literally hundreds of gorgeous <a href="http://jewelry.novica.com/rings/">rings</a> on the website, when I spotted <a href="http://www.novica.com/itemdetail/index.cfm?pid=159041">Venus Moon</a>, I knew I had to have it! The ordering process is really easy, you can find out the cost of shipping for any country you would like to have your gift shipped to and if you order right now, until December 13th, they guarantee shipping on many items for December 24th.</span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5246269587_280f875341_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 448px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5246269587_280f875341_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;">Whether you decide to shop for Christmas or any other occasion, shipping is quick and the product packaging is flawless. For us folks living in Canada, some international fees apply and must be paid upon receiving the package, but it's well worth it. My items even came gift wrapped, and very cutely so! And I was totally blown away by the quality craftsmanship of the jewelry I ordered. I recommend <a href="http://www.novica.com/">Novica</a> to everyone who loves distinctive, fair trade gifts. I mean, come on, who wouldn't want something so unique and thoughtful wrapped up under the tree? I know I still have quite a few items on my wishlist so I think I'll forward it to Santa ASAP!</span></p><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Please note</span>: The nice folks at Novica sent me a gift code so that I could order a few items of my choice from their website (including shipping but not international fees). The opinions expressed in this post are my own.<br /></span></p>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-88011064977231166562010-12-07T11:01:00.003-05:002010-12-07T11:31:13.155-05:00Most Ordinary/Extraordinary Banana Bread<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Aaaaah! You guys! I miss my blog so much! I know by now I should be posting Holiday appropriate recipes and photos with backgrounds-full of lit-up Christmas trees and decorations but you know what? I'm not there yet. Soon, very soon, but for now, I will share with you my most <span style="font-weight: bold;">ordinary/extraordinary</span> recipe.<br /><br />Ordinary because, really, does the internet need <span style="font-style: italic;">yet another</span> banana bread recipe? No, probably not. But also extraordinary because it is the only one in my repertoire that I know by heart, that I go to almost every week and also, because we all love it, all 5 of us. So I thought it was time that it got the respect it deserves and a rightful place alongside the other banana bread recipes floating about the web.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5241568034_a1d5cf8354_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 419px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5241568034_a1d5cf8354_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Ordinary/Extraordinary Banana Bread</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2 tsp baking powder</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1/2 tsp salt</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1/4 tsp baking soda</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 egg</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1/3 cup canola oil</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2/3 cup granulated sugar</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3 medium bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tbsp lemon juice</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1/2 cup semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Preheat your oven to 350F. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan and set aside.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda; set aside.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In a large bowl, mix the egg, oil and granulated sugar. Mix the lemon juice with the mashed bananas. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture alternately with the bananas, starting and ending with the dry ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the greased loaf pan and bake in preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, until a skewer inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean. Invert onto a wire rack and let cool completely.</span><br /></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-53500011800444923202010-11-12T10:31:00.003-05:002011-10-18T09:53:20.492-04:00November Blues<span style="color: black; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-size: 85%;">I just love Fall, it is my absolute favorite season. But when mid-November rolls around and the trees are bare and you wake up in the morning to a frosty lawn and gray skies, I just feel like packing my <a href="http://www.wayfair.com/Luggage-and-Bags-C216180.html">suitcase</a> and going on a trip... Anywhere!<br /><br /><a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/5169090619_ef0b9942d9_z.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4059/5169090619_ef0b9942d9_z.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 401px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 640px;" /></a><br />Since a trip just isn't in the cards right now, there's nothing like an online shopping spree to cure the old November Blues. The nice folks at <span style="font-weight: bold;">CSN Stores</span> suggested I do a review of one of their products. Stay tuned, this should be interesting! And hopefully I'll get into the cooking and baking mood again soon, and be back, better than ever, with new recipes to share with you all.</span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-41845221266020666672010-10-31T16:26:00.003-04:002010-10-31T16:45:16.278-04:00Happy Halloween!!! (Pumpkin Carrot Cupcake Recipe)<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy Halloween</span> everyone! I hope you guys had as much fun as we've been having here. The kids have been costumed twice now, since last week: once for school and once for going door to door. They had a blast and of course, so did I! I just love making their costumes and also, baking up goodies.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/5132599717_0b25719525_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 427px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/5132599717_0b25719525_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I made these <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pumpkin Carrot Cupcakes</span> using an Anna Olson recipe from the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Dessert/Eggs-Dairy/recipe.html?dishid=10905">Food Network</a> and they turned out great. I made a <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cream Cheese Frosting</span> to go along and decorated with a pumpkin shaped candy. Aren't they cute! Of course, it's not as if the kids are going to need any extra sugar in their diets any time soon, but the cupcakes might just stop me from digging inside the kids' goody bags for a while. Maybe...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For the cupcake recipe <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipes/Dessert/Eggs-Dairy/recipe.html?dishid=10905">click here</a>. The only changes I made to the recipe was using butternut squash puree instead of pumpkin because that's what I had!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Cream Cheese Frosting</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This frosting is perfect if you want to pipe it on thickly onto the cupcakes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">8 oz cream cheese, at room temperature</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1/4 cup of unsalted butter, at room temperature</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1 tsp vanilla extract</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3-4 cups confectioners sugar, sifted</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract, until well blended. Then, a little at a time, blend in the confectioners sugar, until the frosting is thick, creamy and luscious. Pipe it or spread it onto your cupcakes and dig in!</span><br /></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5707738409244548852.post-52368858499749619662010-10-29T08:15:00.003-04:002010-10-29T09:17:26.744-04:00Roasted Squash with Risotto<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" lang="EN-US" ><span>Fall is my very favorite season for so many different reasons. I love the cooler temperatures and being able to wear a warm sweater to go for a walk. I love that the leaves change colors and become these gorgeous reds and oranges and yellows. And, I also love the fresh vegetables that we can get during Fall.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/5125973430_68bdcd2fb6_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 436px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/5125973430_68bdcd2fb6_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"><span><a href="http://whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm">Squash varieties</a> abound and they are all delicious and so easy to prepare. Either baked cubed or halved or even whole, squash can be served as a side dish, its purée can be used in quick breads or muffins, and you can even serve it as a bowl for your main dish. My favorite way is to serve it with risotto. I don't know what it is that makes them go so well together but the creamy, cheesy risotto served inside a halved, baked squash just seems even more comforting. You can't eat this and not feel all comfy and warm, it's just impossible.<br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1048/5125973184_325e786bab_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 416px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1048/5125973184_325e786bab_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"><span>Roasted Squash</span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"><span>2 or 3 small, roundish winter squash (such as acorn or carnival), cut in half, seeds removed<br />Olive oil<br />Fresh thyme<br />Salt and pepper<br /><br />Preheat your oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the squash, cut side up, on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle fresh thyme, salt and pepper on the squash and then flip it over (cut side down). Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the size of your squash. The flesh should be very tender when the squash is done. While the squash is baking, prepare the risotto.<br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"><span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5125367651_03f8bbb975_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 421px;" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4126/5125367651_03f8bbb975_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Risotto</span><br />Adapted from <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_6617,00.html">The Food Network</a></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">1 onion, finely chopped<br />3 tbsp butter<br />Pancetta, bacon or diced ham, about 2 ounces<br />5 cups or more of chicken broth<br />Fresh thyme, a few branches<br />1 ½ cups Arborio rice<br />Salt and pepper to taste<br />½ cup freshly grated Parmesan or Grana Padano Cheese</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">Melt the butter in a 4 to 5 quart saucepan over medium heat, stirring regularly. Add the diced pancetta, bacon or ham and let it brown a few minutes. Add the onion, continuing to stir, until it turns soft and translucent. Turn the heat down if the onion starts to brown.</span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"> </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">Meanwhile, pour the chicken broth into a separate saucepan, add the fresh thyme and set over medium heat, and bring to a gentle simmer. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain this simmer the whole time you are preparing the risotto. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">Once the onion is soft, add the rice and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 3 minutes. Adjust the heat as necessary -- if the rice is cooked at too high a heat, it will turn brown and take on an undesirable flavor. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">Using a ladle, scoop up about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of broth. Pour it in the pan with the rice, stirring constantly with a spoon. After the first addition of broth, the rice mixture will look a bit soupy. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">As the rice begins to cook, stir it constantly, making sure that you scrape along the bottom of the pan so that it does not stick. You should see little bubbles popping up on the liquid from time to time. If it bubbles more vigorously than this, turn the heat down to medium-low. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">When most of the liquid is absorbed into the rice and the rice begins to look a bit dry, add another ladle of broth to the pan and stir constantly, as before. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">Continue to add the broth in 1/2-to-3/4-cup batches and stir the rice until you have used most of the broth (this will probably take about 20 minutes). It is now time to test whether the risotto is cooked. Spoon up a grain of rice and bite into it -- it should be tender without being too mushy. If it is still crunchy and tastes a bit starchy, you will need to continue adding liquid and cooking further. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">If it looks as if you will run out of chicken broth and your rice is still not cooked, don't be alarmed. Because of variations in individual stoves and cooking temperatures, you may need more liquid than called for in the recipe. Simply heat up another cup or 2 of chicken broth. If you run out of broth, use hot water. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">When the rice is tender and the risotto has a creamy consistency, almost like thick oatmeal, it is done. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">Add salt and pepper to the risotto, about 1/4 teaspoon at a time, until it seems well seasoned to you. Stir. </span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;">Add the grated Parmesan cheese and stir well. </span></p> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: trebuchet ms;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;" lang="EN-US" >Serve the risotto immediately in the warm squash "bowls" and have extra grated Parmesan on hand.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:85%;" lang="EN-US" ><span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:85%;"><span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1428/5125367739_2648deac20_z.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 424px;" src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1428/5125367739_2648deac20_z.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span>LyBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17504659088765433358noreply@blogger.com5