Gardening

It's that time of year we get to garden and bake more with the produce.  We have had an official garden for three years now.  When you think about it most of the ingredients in baking come from a farm or garden.  I enjoy the fun of being able to watch a plant grow.

Recipe #10
Whole wheat Bread

I found this recipe in a cookbook at the library.  It was all about bread machine breads and was the first successful whole wheat bread I've made (that rose and wasn't completely dense).  I actually made it twice and would make it again, but I am open to looking at other recipes, too. 

 It looked really pretty in the oven...

and it made the house smell even better!

Recipe #9
Cranberry and Lemon-Ginger Parfaits
Rating:  3 whisks

This recipe comes from Bon Apetit Desserts cookbook by Barbara Fairchild.  Even though they were good, I was frustrated because this took a long time and my family (siblings) were getting into the ingredients!  To me, the parfaits were very creamy and thick, much more than ice cream.  The recipe called for cranberry liqueur or brandy, but I used Sprite with cranberry juice as a substitution.  I would make this again (without a brother and sisters getting in the way)!

Recipe #8
Orange and Vanilla Scented Bundt cake
Rating:  2 whisks

This is my first time making a bundt cake.  This was one of my favorite cakes I've ever tasted, and I would definitely make it again (especially in the winter when oranges are in season).  The recipe is perfect as is, and can be found in the Bon Apetit Desserts cookbook by Barbara Fairchild.  I definitely recommend this recipe!

 Beginning the cake mixture

 Baking takes concentration....

 Kinda looks like a doughnut in this picture, doesn't it?

Recipe #7
Strawberry Cream Puffs with Strawberry Sauce
Whisk level:  2  whisks

I really like this recipe because it has fresh fruit and cream filling.   I like how the puffs were so fluffy, light, and hollow in the inside.  I thought the cream and strawberries went really well in the centers.  There isn't really anything that I would change (except making more!).  My family particularly liked these, and if we hadn't limited them, the puffs would have been gone immediately!
This recipe is found in Bon Apetit Desserts by Barbara Fairchild.  The pictures are a bit yellow, but you get the idea!

recipe #6
Mango lassies
whisk rating: 2 whisks


I really liked this recipe, which came from an Indian cookbook I found at the library, but it needed a little more sweetness and more fruit.  I've tried these drinks at different local Indian restaurants, and wanted to try making it at home.  The key is to find good ripe mangoes and a good brand of yogurt.

Basically, you want to put in the blender some good plain yogurt (like Brown Cow brand or a good Greek yogurt like Choboni), some diced and peeled mangoes, a little cardamon,  and a sweetner (such as sugar or agave).  You can also add a tiny bit of salt to balance things out.  Blend it up and voila!

You can also substitute strawberries or other fruits for the mango.

Toll-House Chocolate Chip Bars

recipe # 5 

whisk level: 1

This recipe was very fast, tasty, simple, fun, and very easy.  I make this recipe with half the amount of butter and I bake for about 20 min. instead of 25 min.  I like these for any meal and  this recipe comes from a cookbook called Favorites by Grace Ivory Little and Jane Ivory Metcalf.  If you want to make this recipe I have my adapted version below.

Chocolate Chip Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

2 1/4 cups flour

1 (11-ounce) package Guittard milk chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Cream butter and sugars.  

2. Add eggs and vanilla and beat. 

3.Add baking soda, salt, and flour and combine until well-mixed.

4. Slowly and chocolate chips.

5. Spread into greased 9 inch by 13 inch baking pan.

6. Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

7. Cool and cut into squares to serve.