dessert

#EVOOChallenge: Dark Chocolate Chip Olive Oil Donuts

~ lk529 ~ 3 Comments

It’s the final day of the #EVOOChallenge. This challenge, in which we make foods with the only cooking fat being olive oil, was issued by Spartan Olive Oil. The goal is to highlight the benefits of using olive oil over its less healthy counterparts, I’m looking at you butter and vegetable oil. Search the hashtag on social media to see more great recipes!

While both olive oil and vegetable oil have 120 Calories and 14 grams of fat per tbsp, olive oil has 10 grams of monounsaturated fat (the good fat) whereas vegetable oil has only 3 grams of monounsaturated fat. Monounsaturated fat is actually good for your health; it reduces bad cholesterol and provides vitamin E. (Source: American Heart Association)

This unfiltered extra-virgin olive oil is made from the olives of 700 year old trees in Sparta, Greece. The flavorful oil has a rich golden color and smooth texture. I wanted to highlight the nutty, fruity flavor of the oil in my recipes this week.

I wanted to end the week on a sweet note and make dessert, or breakfast if you’re so inclined! I got a donut pan for my birthday last summer and thought it was about time it was christened! I brought my son into the kitchen and let him whisk the ingredients and add the pinch of salt… which ended up being more than a pinch… ah well!

I veered a bit from the recipe: I substituted cake flour for the pastry flour because I simply didn’t want to buy another flour variety (we’re moving in a couple of months and I really need to start cleaning house). I don’t know if chemically that was a valid substitution, but I ran away with it. I also used whole milk instead of buttermilk because I didn’t have any in the fridge. (Yes, I know there’s a substitution involving vinegar but for only 2 tbsp worth of milk I didn’t bother.) And yet another “lazy baker” change was to put dark chocolate chips inside the donuts instead of glazing them with a beautiful dark chocolate icing. With my first attempt at baking donuts I didn’t fully realize that the tops wouldn’t get golden so for aesthetic purposes they definitely benefit from a frosting. I wonder if it’d be possible to flip the donuts midway through the baking process to get both sides golden from the pan. (I’m just “talking” out loud here.)

Dark Chocolate Chip Olive Oil Donuts for the #EVOOChallenge from Sew You Think You Can Cook

My 18 month old snagged a donut during food photography took a little bite and declared them “good.”

This recipe makes 6 baked donuts.

Dark Chocolate Chip Donuts

Ingredients:

  • 1 C cake flour
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1/4 C dark chocolate chips

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 6 tin donut pan with olive oil.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  3. In another bowl, whisk together the eggs, olive oil, and milk.
  4. Combine the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until smooth. Fold in the chocolate chips.
  5. Divide batter evenly into prepared donut pan. Bake 10-15 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out cleanly.

*This recipe is modified from Tara at http://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/olive-oil-doughnuts-with-dark-chocolate-glaze-and-sea-salt/*

Dark Chocolate Chip Olive Oil Donuts for the #EVOOChallenge from Sew You Think You Can Cook (2)

Disclaimer: By participating in this 5 day challenge I received a bottle and pouch of Spartan Olive Oil. 

recreatedbysrc

Black & White Cookies

~ lk529 ~ Leave a comment

I have two cookbooks dedicated solely to cookies yet I never really think to make them! It’s not until an event pops up that requires cookies to be made that I remember I have these books.

There was a service event at church calling for homemade cookies. I searched through my Pinterest boards and found a couple of recipes that intrigued me, but when it came time to bake them I realized I didn’t have all of the ingredients as I’d thought, and then I continued reading and didn’t have time to chill the dough long enough either. So I opened up The Gourmet Cookie Book: The Single Best Recipe from Each Year 1941-2009 on a mission to find a recipe that would make at least 2 dozen cookies, could be made quickly, and with what I had on hand. The recipe I chose is from December 2005.

Black and White Cookies are, according to the cookbook, somewhat of a favorite in NYC. I’ve never had the classic half black half white cookie so I can’t confirm that these tasted like the real deal or not. I know they don’t look like the real deal though because I don’t have the talent or patience to frost 28 cookies, so I used piping bags and went wild.

Mini Black and White Cookies

Ingredients for cookies:

  • 7 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/4 C flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 C buttermilk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Ingredients for icing:

  • 2 3/4 C powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp corn syrup
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4-6 tbsp water
  • 1/4 C cocoa powder

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 baking sheets.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and beat until combined.
  3. In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  4. In another bowl or glass, whisk the buttermilk and vanilla.
  5. Alternately add the dry and wet ingredients to the butter, beginning and ending with the dry.
  6. Place spoonfuls of dough onto prepared baking sheet and bake 6-8 minutes, rotating pans halfway. The cookies are done when they’ve puffed and the edges are a pale gold. Allow cookies to cool on a cooling rack.
  7. Make the icings: Whisk together the powdered sugar, corn syrup, lemon juice, vanilla, and 2 tbsp water. Add more water if needed. Divide icing in half and stir the cocoa powder into one half.
  8. Frost the cooled cookies: Classically they are half white and half black. If you pipe like I did you can get away with a half batch of icings.

*This recipe is adapted from The Gourmet Cookie Book: The Single Best Recipe from Each Year 1941-2009*

Black and White Cookies | Sew You Think You Can Cook

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

#BundtBakers: Beverages

~ lk529 ~ 23 Comments

4ae7b-bundtbakerspostIt’s that time of month for me to share a bundt cake with you alongside #BundtBakers. #BundtBakers is a group of bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bundts with a common ingredient or theme. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme or ingredient. This month Laura of Baking in Pyjamas chose Beverages to be our inspiration in baking.

I wracked my brain for this one. I’ve already shared a mimosa bundt and one with Khalua. I wasn’t even convinced I’d fit “bake a bundt” into my busy last-month-before-baby schedule but when I spontaneously purchased Apple Cider a light bulb went off.

This pound cake tastes like Fall. My husband said it reminded him of banana bread and I found the seasonal spices to hint towards a pumpkin treat. It’s a dense cake that lends itself nicely to being thinly sliced, toasted, and topped with apple butter.

I didn’t make a glaze for my cake because I didn’t want it to be too sweet, but if you think it to be “naked” a simple confectioners sugar & milk mixture would be great – especially if you throw some cinnamon and nutmeg in with it – or confections sugar & apple cider. Maybe even some real maple syrup (especially if you toast a slice!) or caramel.

Apple Cider Pound Cake

Ingredients:

  • 3 C apple cider
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 3 sticks butter, softened
  • 2 C sugar
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 C flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp ground allspice
  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp salt

Steps:

  1. In a saucepan over medium-high heat, bring apple cider and maple syrup to a boil. Boil, stirring occasionally, 30-40 minutes, or until reduced to 1 C. Remove from heat and set aside.
  2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a bundt pan.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla, mixing until combined.
  4. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, and spices. Add half of the dry ingredients to the stand mixer and mix until incorporated. Add the apple cider and mix until combined. Add the remaining dry ingredients until incorporated.
  5. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan. Bake 1:15-1:30, or until a cake tester inserted comes out cleanly. Allow cake to cool in the pan before turning out onto a cooling rack.

*This recipe is adapted from Mary at http://oneperfectbite.blogspot.com/2010/10/apple-cider-quatre-quarts-cake.html*

Apple Cider Pound Cake for #BundtBakers from Sew You Think You Can Cook

You can see all our of lovely Bundts by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about #BundtBakers, can be found on our home page.

And don’t forget to take a peek at what other talented bakers have baked this month:

Apple Cider Bundt Cake from That’s My Home

Apple Cider Bundt Cake w/ Caramelized Apples from The Freshman Cook

Apple Cider Bundt Cake from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Apple Cider Pound Cake from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Apple Juice Spice Bundt with Caramel Apple Glaze from Our Good Life

Apple Spice Latte Bundt from Living the Gourmet

Black Forest Hot Chocolate Bundt from Baking in Pyjamas

Cava Bundt Cake from La mejor manera de hacer…

Chai Bundt Cake from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner

Chocolate Chai Bundt Cake from Basic n Delicious

Chocolate Expresso Bundt Cake from En la cocina de Caro

Dark ‘n Stormy Bundt Cake from Eat, Drink, and Be Mighty

Earl Grey Bundt Cake with Milk and Honey Glaze from Brooklyn Homemaker

Margarita Bundt Cake with Candied Limes from How to Philosophize with Cake

Mexican Hot Chocolate Rose Cake from Faith, Hope, Love & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice

Milo and Condensed Milk Bundt Cake from Passion Kneaded

Mojito Bundt Cake from Baking Yummies

Orange Juice Pine Nut Bundt Cake from A Kingdom for a Cake

Pacharán & Apple Bundlettes from I love Bundt Cakes

Pumpkin Coffee Bundt Cake from Los Chatos Chefs

Pumpkin Spice Latte Bundt Cake from Liv for Cake

Red Wine Chocolate Bundt Cake from Brunch with Joy

Root Beer Float Bundt from Food Lust People Love

Tiramisu Bundt Cake from Patty’s Cake

Vanilla Chai Honey Latte Bundt from Tartacadabra

White Chocolate and Espresso Bundt Cake with Coffee Glaze from Taking On Magazines

White Russian Mini Bundt Cakes from Magnolia Days

#BundtBakers: Sprinkles

~ lk529 ~ 33 Comments

4ae7b-bundtbakerspostThis month #BundtBakers are baking cakes with sprinkles! #BundtBakers is a group of bundt loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bundts with a common ingredient or theme. We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme or ingredient. This month fun host is Terri of Love and Confections.

Surprisingly, I was stumped by the task. As much as I love Funfetti cake (I used to request it for my birthday in college) I thought, “There has to be something else I could do!” So I reached out to Kate and she provided me with this recipe for Pistachio Cake. Sprinkles BundtTo fit our sprinkles theme I used green sprinkles instead of food coloring. The cake is already a light green thanks to the pistachio pudding so my green sprinkles melted into the cake creating an almost zebra like pattern! I did take a photo of the sprinkles in the batter as proof that I did indeed use sprinkles in my cake! (Photographic evidence to the right.)

This August marks the first in 5 years that Kate and I aren’t making a birthday cake together. (Cue the tears.) Her birthday was last Thursday and mine is in 9 days. If we can’t be together I might as well use her mom’s recipe! And the real reason we (aka I agreed to Kate’s suggestion) chose this pistachio cake is because the birthstone for August is Peridot – a light, bright green. A perfect fit for our August Bundt.

Pistachio Sprinkle Bundt Cake

Ingredients:

  • 1 box yellow cake mix
  • 1 box pistachio instant pudding
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1 1/4 C water
  • 1/4 C vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp almond extract, divided use
  • 3/16 C sprinkles, plus more for decoration (optional)
  • 1 1/4 – 1/2 C powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp milk

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a bundt pan.
  2. In a large bowl whisk together cake mix and instant pudding. Add the eggs, water, oil, and 1/2 tsp almond extract until combined. Gently fold in the sprinkles, if using. Pour batter into prepared bundt pan.
  3. Bake 37-40 minutes until a cake tester comes out cleanly. Allow cake to cool in pan at least 30 minutes before turning out onto a cooling rack.
  4. Make the glaze: whisk together 1 1/4 C powdered sugar, 3 tbsp milk, and 1/2 tsp almond (or vanilla) extract. Add more powdered sugar if a thicker glaze is desired. Pour over completely cooled cake.
  5. Decorate with sprinkles!

Pistachio Sprinkle Bundt Cake for #BundtBakers from Sew You Think You Can Cook

You can see all our of lovely Bundts by following our Pinterest board. Updated links for all of our past events and more information about #BundtBakers, can be found on our home page.

And don’t forget to take a peek at what other talented bakers have baked this month:

Black Onyx Bundt Cake from Living the Gourmet

Bourbon Walnut Pound Cake from Magnolia Days

Bubblegum Frosted Funfetti Vanilla Bean Bundt from Baking in Pyjamas

Bundt Cake Extra Chocolateado from la mejor manera de hacer…

Celebration Confetti Bundt Cake from Cali’s Cuisine

Chocolate Chip Cheese Cake from Tea and Scones

Chocolate Sprinkles Sour Cream Bundt Cake from Spice Roots

Chocolate Walnut Cake with Sprinkles from FoodJam

Confetti Bundt Cake with Whipped Chocolate Ganache Frosting from How to Philosophize with Cake

Crazy Coco Bundt Cake from Los Chatos Chefs

Eggless Vanilla Confetti Bundt Cake from SimplyVeggies

Funfetti Bundt Cake from Liv for Cake

Funfetti Bundt Cake from Recipes, Food & Cooking

‘Guild the Lily’ Bundt from Jane’s Adventures in Dinner

Irish Butter Chocolate Sprinkle Cake with Ganache from Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice

Jammin’ Jimmies Bundt from Noshing With The Nolands

Nutella Bundt with Nutella Glaze from Food Lust People Love

Oatmeal Cookie Bundt Cake with Sprinkles from The Spiced Life

Orange Dreamscicle Confetti Cake from Our Good Life

Raspberry Ricotta Bundt Cake from Brunch With Joy

Red Velvet Sprinkle Explosion Bundt Cake from Love and Confections

Sprinkled Jelly Donut Bundt Cake from Making Miracles

Sprinkles of Love Cake from A Day in the Life on the Farm

Strawberry Sprinkled Bundt Cake from The Freshman Cook

Triple Chocolate Zucchini Cake with Sprinkles from Baking and Creating with Avril

Vanilla Bundt Cake with Sprinkles from I Love Bundt Cakes

Vanilla Mini Bundts from Passion Kneaded

Watermelon Bundt Cake from Eat, Drink and Be Mighty

CIC: Cashews and Coffee

~ lk529 ~ 12 Comments

CIC-header

I can’t believe I am actually posting with the Crazy Ingredient Challenge today! I loved seeing the winning flavor combination of Cashews and Coffee but simply kept forgetting about actually making my dish.

I immediately though of a play on a frappuccino, because you hear coffee you think Starbucks (or at least I do since my best friend is a store manager). I really wasn’t sure how to make that happen and simply pushed it out of my mind. But then I saw a commercial for cashew milk last week and this month’s challenge came screaming back to me. To be that guy in the almond milk commercials, “I don’t know what it tastes like so I don’t want to try it.” It’s not that I don’t want to try it, it’s that I don’t want to be stuck with a half gallon of cashew milk if I don’t like it!

Back to the drawing board and I thought of brownies. I know a lot of people add instant espresso to their chocolate desserts to intensify that chocolate flavor. And I only have a measly two recipes for brownies on this site. It’s a dessert I tend to forget about, but absolutely adore when I have them. These rich, fudgy brownies are studded with salty cashews for a perfect late night craving buster.

Fudgey Cashew Brownies

Ingredients:

  • 7 tbsp butter
  • 8 oz semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp instant espresso coffee
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 C sugar
  • 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 C flour
  • 1/2 C chopped cashews

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8×8 (or 9×9) pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  2. Place butter, chocolate, espresso powder, and salt in a large glass bowl over a double boiler. Warm over low heat until butter and chocolate are melted together. Remove from double boiler (and heat).
  3. Mix in the sugars until combined. Mix in the eggs and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the flour until there aren’t any lumps. Fold in the cashews.
  4. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake 22-25 minutes, until the brownies are set. Place pan on a cooling rack. Let brownies cool before cutting.

*This recipe is adapted from Yvonne at http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2013/10/one-bowl-espresso-cashew-brownies-recipe.html*

Fudgey Cashew Brownies for Crazy Ingredient Challenge from Sew You Think You Can Cook

To see the other bloggers who participated in this month’s Crazy Ingredient Challenge click on the link below.

#SundaySupper: Pool Party

~ lk529 ~ 29 Comments

It’s August! Can you believe that?! Now’s the time to polish off those summer bucket lists before school is back in session. (If that affects your household anyway.) That’s why this weekend’s Sunday Supper theme of Pool Party is a perfect fit! I connect even more with the theme because my birthday is at the end of this month and I would always have a pool party!

If you’re throwing a poolside bash this month be sure to scroll past my recipe for a wonderful list of menu possibilities. A big thank you to the Sunday Supper Movement for hosting this event.

Fellow food bloggers, do you lie awake at night thinking about your food styling and photo props? I don’t often because I know I’m not quite at that level, but with this fun summer theme I had visions dancing in my head of how I would plate my pool party offering. I used my Kroger gift card and strolled down their seasonal aisle, where school supplies pushed barbecue dishes and water toys to half off prices. I picked up a yellow plate and a beach ball. Pink Lemonade Cupcakes | Sew You Think You Can CookI knew I’d use some of my son’s water table toys for extra water fun props. But how do I put all of these fun things in the background? I’d have to put out a quilt on the grass. Luckily the sun stayed behind clouds and the threat of rain held off for the day so I didn’t have any funky shadows. I absolutely loved the way my photos turned out – from the screen on my camera, that is. Once I sat down to edit I was slightly disappointed. The bright yellow ducks and orange pail were too hard to tone down without drowning out my food. Luckily I took a close up!

Salty snacks tempted me as whenever I’m at the beach or pool I want salt! Not sure if I’m the only one there. A Chex Mix with Goldfish would be cute to serve at a pool party. But, when I think pool party I think watermelon. Unfortunately, that is a fruit that is off limits to me now. Next up, berries. I hit Pinterest looking for a fun idea and was very close to making a fruit beach ball cookie cake. But that giant sugar cookie got me thinking dessert. Cupcakes would be easy to eat by the pool. The answer: Pink Lemonade Cupcakes!

These cupcakes are everything lemonade should be and thanks to the frosting they’re tartingly sweet.

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes

Ingredients for cake:

  • 2 1/4 C flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/3 C room temperature butter (5 tbsp + 1 tsp)
  • 1 1/3 C sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 C thawed frozen pink lemonade concentrate
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (I used Nielsen-Massey)
  • 3/4 C sour cream
  • 1/4 C strawberry preserves/jam/spreadable fruit

Ingredients for frosting:

  • 1/3 C softened butter (5 tbsp + 1 tsp)
  • 4 C powdered sugar
  • 1/3 C thawed frozen lemonade concentrate (or more as needed)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • red food coloring (optional)

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 21 cupcakes with liners.
  2. In a bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
  3. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add in eggs one at a time. Add in the lemonade concentrate, vanilla, sour cream, and strawberry preserves. Mix until combined. Add in the dry ingredients in 2-3 batches until fully incorporated.
  4. Spoon batter into prepared cupcake tin. Bake 18-21 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out cleanly. (Note: If one cupcake tin is on the bottom rack, I suggest rotating the cupcake tins halfway to prevent the bottoms of the bottom batch from burning.)
  5. Allow cupcakes to cool 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack. Let cupcakes cool completely before frosting.
  6. Make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment cream the butter with 1 cup of the powdered sugar. Add in the lemonade concentrate and vanilla and whisk until combined. Add the remaining powdered sugar. Add additional lemonade concentrate as needed. If using, add a couple drops of food coloring to achieve a pink frosting. Frost cooled cupcakes.

*This recipe is adapted from Alice at http://hipfoodiemom.com/2014/07/11/strawberry-lemonade-cake-for-a-guest-post/*

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes for #SundaySupper from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Refreshing Beverages and Cocktails:

Appealing Appetizers and Snacks:

Super Sides and Salads:

Tempting Desserts and Sweets:

8387592742_f6164fd5a8_oJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Blog-iversary 2

~ lk529 ~ 7 Comments

IMG_5681Today is my blog’s anniversary! This second year has flown by.  In this past year I have gained an additional 77 followers and 357 Facebook friends.

I am still going strong with Secret Recipe Club and #BundtBakers (having missed only one month in each so far) and I continue to participate in Foodie Extravaganza and The Crazy Ingredient Challenge when my allergy restrictions allow it.

As if I didn’t have enough commitment on my plate I have added Blogger CLUE Society and The Sunday Supper Movement to my blogging community adventures. The latter has been a huge boost to not only my site’s traffic but also my social media accounts. If you’re a blogger looking for ways to venture out, I encourage you to join a group like these – the camaraderie you’ll find is more reward than you could imagine.

I feel like my blogging has grown over the past two years and my food photography has improved considerably (staying home with my son has definitely contributed to that as I now have natural light!), my photography editing skills have become second nature, and I think my story telling ability is on the rise. My efforts have even been rewarded when I was nominated for the Liebster Award!

For my blog-iversary I decided to try something that’s been on my culinary bucket list. Making marshmallow. I saw these adorable mini s’mores cheesecakes and knew that’s what I’d do to celebrate another blogging milestone. Unfortunately I don’t have a mini cheesecake pan – but how awesome is that?! – and didn’t think using cupcake liners would create the same impressive dessert. I decided to make a full size cheesecake. I increased the crust amount but didn’t think about the actual cheesecake, as a result my cake is very thin. However, the silky richness of the chocolate cheesecake doesn’t leave you feeling cheated. (If you want a thicker cake I’d suggest adding another 1/2 recipe to the filling.) To top this decadent cheesecake, homemade marshmallow frosting. If you have a blow torch I highly encourage you to take the s’mores factor to the next level. I simply garnished mine with extra graham cracker crumbs.

This cheesecake is sexy. Now there’s a word I’ve never used for food before! But seriously. Next time you want to impress your date make this cheesecake. It’s smooth, it’s rich, and it melts in your mouth.

S’mores Cheesecake

Ingredients for crust:

  • 9 full sheets graham crackers
  • 3 tbsp melted butter
  • 1 tbsp sugar

Ingredients for cheesecake:

  • 12 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste (I used Nielsen-Massey)

Ingredients for topping:

  • 2 egg whites
  • 1/2 C sugar
  • 1/8 tsp cream of tartar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9″ springform pan.
  2. Place graham cracker sheets, butter, and sugar in a food process. Pulse until the mixture looks and feels like wet sand. Press into the pan evenly. Bake 5 minutes.
  3. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Mix in the cocoa powder and salt until combined. Add the egg and vanilla paste, mixing until incorporated. The mixture will look like chocolate pudding. Spread cheesecake filling on the crust.
  5. Bake 25-27 minutes, or until set. Turn off the oven and crack the door. Allow cheesecake to cool completely before chilling in the refrigerator.
  6. Whisk egg whites, sugar, and cream of tartar over a double boiler until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture is warm. Remove from heat. Beat using a hand mixer, starting on low and increasing speed to high, until mixture becomes white, thick, and sticky. Add the vanilla extract and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently spread over the chilled cheesecake.

*This recipe is adapted from Rachel at http://www.bakedbyrachel.com/mini-toasted-smore-cheesecakes/*

S'mores Cheesecake | Sew You Think You Can Cook

#FoodieExtravaganza: Creative Ice Cream Flavor

~ lk529 ~ 23 Comments

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This month’s #FoodieExtravaganza theme is creative ice cream flavors. The Foodie Extravaganza is a monthly party hosted by bloggers who love food! Each month we incorporate one main ingredient or theme into recipes to share with you. Thanks to Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla for challenging us with this theme.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do and I’m happy to say this ice cream flavor was a huge hit. That container of homemade ice cream didn’t last very long in the freezer. IMG_3926We even let the little man try it. He wasn’t even flustered by the frozen treat and immediately asked for more. He practically begged at my husband’s knees and when he saw that the bowl was empty a tantrum ensued. Photographic evidence to the right; he can thank me for that later.

Now on to my creative ice cream flavor.

When I made hummus I could only find a large jar of tahini paste and immediate searched the web for other uses for the ingredient and I have used it in dressings and stir fry sauces. I started thinking of ways to use it in sweet dishes. I figured it could probably substitute peanut butter in almost anything. When the #FoodieExtravaganza theme for July was announced I had my answer! Tahini Ice Cream!

I followed a recipe for peanut butter ice cream and simply substituted the tahini paste. (Fun fact: I accomplished my mission and emptied my jar. A feat my husband never thought would happen.) But I wanted to take this ice cream a step further and do not only a play on peanut butter ice cream but a play on PB&J. So I added lemon curd! That decision was probably the best one I could have made. The tahini ice cream had a perfectly smooth texture and a very deep and earthy flavor. It’s not as sweet as peanut butter. It definitely needed that cut of tang from the lemon to brighten and lighten the spoonful of frozen dessert.

I wasn’t sure if I should add the lemon curd into the ice cream while it was churning and further research led me to the idea of layering. I spooned a layer of lemon curd on the bottom of the dish and spread the ice cream over top. Depending on the depth of your dish you may want to add another layer of lemon curd to the batch, finishing the layering with ice cream.

Tahini and Lemon Curd Ice Cream

Ingredients:

  • 1 C tahini paste
  • 3/4 C sugar
  • 1 1/3 C heavy cream
  • 1 C milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla bean paste (I used Nielsen-Massey)
  • lemon curd, as much as desired

Steps:

  1. Using a hand mixer, combine tahini paste and sugar until smooth and sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream, milk, and vanilla bean paste.
  2. Place ice cream base in ice cream maker and follow the directions for your ice cream maker.
  3. Spread lemon curd on the bottom of a freezer friendly dish. Top with ice cream and freeze until ready to serve. (If desired, create multiple layers of lemon curd and ice cream, ending with ice cream.)

*This recipe is adapted from http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/peanut-butter-ice-cream-for-the-ice-cream-maker/*

Tahini Lemon Curd Ice Cream for #FoodieExtravaganza from Sew You Think You Can Cook

Be sure to check out the rest of these other creative ice cream flavors:

Chocolate Decadence Ice Cream by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Chocolate Malted Whopper Ice Cream by My Daylights
Crushed Pineapple Ice Cream by Food Lust People Love
Custard Cream & Strawberry Swirl No Churn Ice Cream by Baking in Pyjamas
Éma’a (Syrian Ice Cream) by Tara’s Multicultural Table
Fruity Fruit Popsicles by The Freshman Cook
Lemon Basil Ice Cream by Our Good Life
Lemongrass Ginger Coconut Ice Cream by The Joyful Foodie
Maple Bacon Ice Cream by Cooking With Carlee
No-Churn Chopped Macaron Vanilla Bean Ice Cream by Rhubarb and Honey
No Churn Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream by Fearlessly Creative Mammas
No Churn Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream by NinjaBaker.com
Oat and Dulce de Leche Swirl Ice Cream by Passion Kneaded
Peach Cobbler Ice Cream by Cherishing a Sweet Life
Rhubarb Ice Cream by From Gate to Plate
Root Beer Barrel Ice Cream by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
The Bees’ Knees Semifreddo by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

Cracked Sugar Cookies

~ lk529 ~ 2 Comments

I don’t know how it happened, but my little man will be ONE this week!

In introducing foods I was careful to avoid too much sugar and overly processed, salty foods. Those restrictions were laxed the closer he kept getting to one.

At 10 1/2 months I decided it might be a good idea to introduce him to sweets prior to the big day. The last thing we need is for the birthday boy to get sick from his cake. (If he even eats any of it!)

We started with pancakes (no syrup). A huge hit.

cracked sugar cookiesI then decided to make cookies! He really liked these cookies! In fact, after having a taste, I couldn’t go grab myself a cookie without him practically begging for a bite. And who can blame him? These cracked sugar cookies should come with a warning label – they are addicting!! They’re almost-thin, chewy cookies with a touch of salt that keeps you coming back for “just one more.”

This recipe makes 24-30 cookies.

Cracked Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:

  • 1 stick butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 C vegetable shortening, at room temperature
  • 1 C sugar, plus more for rolling
  • 1 C brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 C flour
  • 2 tsp cream of tartar
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt

Steps:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, shortening, sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. Add in the egg and beat until combined. Mix in the vanilla extract, flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt until a stiff dough is formed.
  3. Roll dough into balls, about the size of a golf ball. Roll in sugar and place on a baking sheet.
  4. Bake 9-11 minutes, until just golden. Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.

*This recipe is adapted from Nicole at http://www.heatovento350.com/2013/09/cracked-sugar-cookies.html*

Cracked Sugar Cookies | Sew You Think You Can Cook

#FoodieExtravaganza: Oatmeal + a Giveaway

~ lk529 ~ 23 Comments

foodieextravaganza-300

Happy New Year, Foodie Fans! To kick off the year, this January we’re having an oatmeal extravaganza! If your New Year’s resolution is eat healthier, adding oats to your diet should be part of your plan. Or better yet, add a real breakfast to your morning routine.

I made oatmeal pancakes for you. These pancakes are very filling and could make for a satisfying breakfast or a fun late night snack. (We had them as breakfast for dinner.) I served these two ways – as breakfast and as dessert. For the breakfast version I topped the pancakes with apples, raisins, and syrup. For the dessert version I topped the pancakes with whipped cream and chocolate chips.

I’m not sure where my recipe fits into a healthy lifestyle but I’m sure some of my blogging friends have something for you so be sure to check out the list at the end of this post. Our host this month is Lauren of From Gate to Plate.

Oatmeal Pancakes

Ingredients:

  • 1 C flour
  • 1 C old fashioned oats
  • 1/2 C brown sugar
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 C sour cream
  • 3/4 C milk
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 C melted butter
  • toppings: apple, raisins, nuts, chocolate chips, syrup (optional)

Steps:

  1. Preheat griddle to 350 degrees F. Spray griddle with non-stick cooking spray or melted butter. Note: If you don’t have a griddle use a large skillet over medium high heat.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together sour cream, milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter. Add to the dry ingredients and mix until combined. (This is a thick batter.)
  4. Drop 1/3 C of batter onto griddle. Cook 3 minutes on each side, or until golden. Serve with desired toppings.

*This recipe is adapted from Emily at http://itbakesmehappy.com/2014/11/oatmeal-cookie-pancakes.html*

Oatmeal Pancakes

Be sure to check out these other oatmeal recipes. We have a diverse list this month! There’s also a give-away happening so keep scrolling.

Apple Pie Overnight Oats / Wallflour Girl

Bacon Whole Grain Granola Bars / Pantry Friendly Cooking

Berry Oatmeal Super Smoothie / Keep Moving Forward With Me

Brown Sugar Barbecue Meatballs / Fearlessly Creative Mammas

Chickpea Veggie Soup / Food Lust People Love

Homemade Cranberry Almond Granola / Rhubarb and Honey

Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies / Making Miracles

Mango Poppyseed Oat Muffins / The Sweet {Tooth} Life

Mini Meatball Subs / The Freshman Cook

Monster Cookie Granola / From Gate to Plate

Mushroom Ginger Oat Congee / Culinary Adventures with Camilla

Oat Cinnamon Rolls / Passion Kneaded

Peanut Butter Oat Snack Balls / Mrs. Penguin

Vanilla Salted Oatmeal Cookies / Baking in Pyjamas

Southwestern Oatmeal Cakes / A Day in the Life on the Farm

If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza.  We would love to have you! If you’re a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board! Looking for our previous parties? Check them out HERE.

 The Giveaway

OATrageous-OatmealsThe oat-guru Kathy Hester has been so generous in donating one of her books to one of our lucky Foodie Extravaganza readers. With her book OATrageous Oatmeals: Delicious & Surprising Plant-Based Dishes From This Humble, Heart-Healthy Grain, you will learn how to use heart-healthy oatmeal in new and exciting ways! You can find recipes such as Veggie Oat Taco Mince, Gluten-free Lemon Blueberry Belgian Waffles, and Blackberry Mojito Overnight Oats.

Use the link below for the rafflecopter to enter the giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions: This giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada only, age 18 and older. The OATragous Oatmeals Cookbook giveaway runs from Wednesday, January 7, 2015 12:00am ET through Thursday, January 15, 2015 12:00am ET. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced on January 16, 2015. Winners will also be contacted by email and will have 24 hours to respond to the email. If a winner does not respond in that time a new winner will be chosen. For more information, see the full terms and conditions in the Rafflecopter widget.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.