Do Blond(ies) Have More Fun?

It's 3:00 and I'm getting a little craving for something sweet. Mmmmm how about classic blondies? This recipe is simple and delicious. The perfect treat to satisfy my craving.


Blondies
*Adapted from How to Cook Everything

8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Pinch salt
1 cup all-purpose flour

  1. Butter an 8×8 pan
  2. Mix melted butter with brown sugar – beat until smooth. Beat in egg and then vanilla.
  3. Add salt, stir in flour. Mix in any additions (ie I used milk chocolate chips and white chocolate chips).
  4. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 350°F 20-25 minutes, or until set in the middle. I always err on the side of caution with baking times — nobody ever complained about a gooey-middled cookie. Cool on rack before cutting them. Printable recipe

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Spinach Salad with Honey Paprika Dressing

A friend invited our family over for dinner. She always serves the best food. She served this yummy salad with a delicious dressing. It was so good I think I licked my plate...or was that in my dream? Anyway, make this soon for your family or for any dinner party. What a fabulous salad to serve for a Valentines dinner. Substitute the fresh pears with fresh strawberries. The pink dressing will make it look valentine-y too.

(another) Spinach Salad

Baby spinach leaves
Crumbled Feta cheese
Craisins
Sliced pears (peeled with potato peeler)
Sugared nuts (I use these)

Mix 3-4 cups spinach (you can mix in Romaine or Iceberg too)
Sprinkle Feta, Craisins, pears and nuts. Drizzle with Honey Paprika dressing and serve immediately.

Honey Paprika Dressing
*Erin R.

2/3 cup sugar
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp sea salt/kosher salt
1 tsp celery seed (I've made it without this and it is still delicious!)

Mix above dry ingredients. Set aside.

In a blender or food processor mix:
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar
1 tsp grated onion (or dried minced onion)

Pour dry ingredients in blender. Blend to mix. While blender is running slowly add 1 cup canola or vegetable oil. Printable recipe

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No-Knead Artisan Bread


There is a place in Heaven called the Sullivan Street Bakery. It has the most amazing breads, doughnuts and sandwiches. I came across this recipe and cried. It is the actual recipe from Jim Lahey, the owner of Sullivan Street Bakery. I knew I had to try it. It is so easy to make and only calls for 5 ingredients! The one thing you need for this recipe is time. If you plan on serving it at a dinner party you need to start it the night before. I just took my bread out of the oven my home smells delicious and the bread is outstanding. Try it. Promise you'll impress even yourself.

No Knead Bread
*adapted from Jim Lahey, Sullivan Street Bakery

3 cups flour or bread flour
1/4 tsp instant yeast (yep that's all)
1 Tbs. Salt
Cornmeal or wheat bran as needed.

1.
In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; 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 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: One 1½-pound loaf. Printable recipe


This is what it looks like when you combine all the ingredients. Kinda sticky. Put plastic wrap over the bowl and let it set in your kitchen for 12-18 hours.

This is what your dough looks like after it sets. Bubbly at the top and sticky...that means the gluten is working.

Pour dough onto floured surface and turn ends in to make a ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 min. Then sprinkle corn meal, bran or flour on clean kitchen towel. Place dough on towel and sprinkle again. Place a second kitchen towel over the dough and let it rise for two hours. It should double in size.

After rising two hours. During the last half hour of rising, preheat empty dutch oven in 450 degree oven.
Put your hand under the dishtowel and carefully place the dough in the hot dutch oven. It will be upside down so the seam is on top. That is great and will look great once bread is cooked. After cooking at 450 with the lid on, remove the lid and cook 15 minutes longer until it is a beautiful brown. (I sprinkled Rosemary on my bread for a little flava)
Ta Da! This is the end product. It comes out of the pan easily and if you tap it lightly it sounds hollow. Let it cool...if you can.
Look at that gorgeous crumb! I love it with butter but it is also delicious dipped in a vinegar and olive oil mixture.

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Spahgetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes

This is a great dish to make when you are having people over. The recipe serves 6-8 people plus it has spaghetti noodles (who doesn't like those) and a nice cream sauce and to add great flavor, artichoke hearts and tomatoes. I have just decided that marinated artichoke hearts are from the gods. I can sit and eat them out of the jar. Mom, aren't you proud of me that my palate is maturing? This recipe is from my friend Ree. She doesn't know who I am but I own her cookbook and read her blog daily so I feel like we're friends. I hope you love this meal as much as I do. (even if your kids pick out the tomatoes and artichoke hearts they will still love this dish)
Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes
*adapted from Pioneer Woman

2 chicken breasts
Lowry's Season Salt
2 Tbs. Olive Oil
2 Tbs. butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 whole medium onion, finely diced
1 can artichoke hearts (14.5 oz quartered) drained
1 can diced tomatoes with juice (14.5 oz)
1 cup half and half or heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp nutmeg
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound thin spaghetti
1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 Tbs. fresh basil

Directions: Cook spaghetti till al dente. Drain and set aside.

Sprinkle Lowry's Seasoning Salt on chicken breasts and grill until done. Slice chicken lengthwise and place on plate; set aside.

Melt olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and saute for 2 to 3 minutes. Add artichoke hearts and tomatoes. Stir and cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream and chicken broth. Add salt and pepper to taste (do not undersalt!) Cook over low heat until heated through, then turn off heat.

Place drained pasta in a large bowl. Sprinkle with 1 cup Parmesan. Place chicken on cheese and pour sauce over the top. Add fresh basil. Toss lightly to combine and coat; add additional chicken broth if sauce seems too thick. Delicious! Printable recipe

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