tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60298024266423198212012-02-01T13:51:26.955-08:00Tender Crumb has moved! Please head on over to my new home at http://atendercrumb.comLindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.comBlogger1621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-58778753536497887462010-10-04T16:45:00.000-07:002010-10-04T17:38:33.651-07:00

Hi all! After two and a half years on Blogger, my blog has received a long overdue facelift. Along with a new look, I've finally gotten my own my own domain name. Please join me at my new home:http://atendercrumb.com/Also, if you have Tender Crumb bookmarked, please make sure to update your links. Looking forward to having you visit my new site!

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-60884731833978187612010-09-27T20:11:00.001-07:002010-09-27T20:30:13.846-07:00

It was a sweltering 113 degrees in Los Angeles today! We're definitely making up for the crummy summer weather this year, but this is a bit too much. I had every intention of making this week's TWD recipe for Tart Fine, but could not muster up the courage to turn on the oven today. I definitely want to make this beautiful tart, but it will have to wait until this heatwave breaks.My apologies

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-29633516972847209152010-09-21T00:01:00.000-07:002010-09-22T07:19:48.607-07:00

As a self-confessed coffee junkie, this week's Tuesday With Dorie recipe for Coffee Break Muffins is right up my alley. Rhiani of Chocoholic Anonymous is our hostess this week, and you can find the complete recipe on her blog.I've been needing this additional boost of caffeine. Insomnia + catching up on DVR backlog = not a lot of sleep.Dorie goes bold with the coffee in this recipe. Strong brewed

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-36665258522653873922010-09-14T16:08:00.001-07:002010-09-14T20:05:34.233-07:00

Even with summery weather still going strong in my neck of the woods, I was looking forward to doing some holiday baking with this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Cranberry Upside Downer. Chosen by Sabrina of Superfluous, you can find the complete recipe at Dorie Greenspan's website or Sabrina's blog. In lieu of fresh cranberries, I opted to use Trader Joe's frozen sweetened

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-39810650070131370202010-08-24T03:25:00.001-07:002010-08-24T04:15:09.966-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe is Crunchy and Custardy Peach Tart. I'm wrestling with serious writer's block, so you will have to excuse me as I'm going to keep this post simple and let the photos do most of the talking.Instead of a large tart, I opted to make smaller individual tarts. The recipe, which you can find at Rachel's blog Sweet Tarte, will make six 4-inch tartlettes.Start with

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-91521650517222058232010-08-19T08:26:00.000-07:002010-08-19T14:21:37.403-07:00

I purchased The SoNo Baking Company Cookbook eons ago, and it has sadly been collecting dust on my bookshelf until now. John Barricelli is one heckuva pastry chef, and I totally admire his accomplishments. With Martha Stewart complementing and backing his talents, you know that he is a pastry rock star.Yes, I fantasize about opening a bakery like his...There are so many delicious sounding recipes

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-82686607346285966312010-08-17T07:56:00.001-07:002010-08-17T16:25:29.701-07:00

When my husband and I purchased our home way back when, we were particularly thrilled that our backyard had a variety of fruit trees growing: orange, grapefruit, lemon, peach and fig.During the summers, we would gorge ourselves silly with the bounty of peaches and figs that we harvested from our postage stamp sized backyard. I didn't do a lot of cooking and baking back then, so most of the fruit

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-13679573600736415472010-08-17T00:01:00.000-07:002010-08-17T07:55:01.472-07:00

Things have a bit hazy for me this past week, as I've been fighting a nasty respiratory infection. Feeling under the weather + medication + hot summer weather = yuck!Under normal circumstances, this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Oatmeal Breakfast Bread would be a cinch to prepare. However, in my medicated state I was a complete ding dong and left out the most important ingredient - oats.

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-28823737302750509632010-08-10T00:01:00.000-07:002010-09-19T12:41:46.470-07:00

When we're talking about chocolate ice cream, my husband is the connoiseur in our house. He's a less is more kinda guy, and believes that "all that unnecessary stuff" (i.e. nuts, chocolate chips, etc) gets in the way of enjoying really great chocolate ice cream. In most instances I do agree with him, but there are times when nothing else satisfies me like a double scoop of Rocky Road in a waffle

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-64940754778098345902010-08-03T15:40:00.000-07:002010-08-03T16:21:59.407-07:00

I need to up my blogging game. I've been baking and photographing, but am totally behind on getting all of my posts up. Sure, I have lame excuses for my procrastination, but I won't bore you with the details...at least for today.This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Gingered Carrot Cookies is essentially a carrot cake in a portable cookie form. You know that this will be a hearty cookie with

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-75086990163434925542010-07-20T00:01:00.000-07:002010-07-20T00:01:01.442-07:00

I've made this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Lot's Of Ways Banana Cake several times before, and I can tell you that this is a keeper!For some, all they see are sad old bananas. For me, I see a delicious banana cake in the making:In the book Dorie shares that this cake can be baked in a variety of shapes and sizes. I've previously made this recipe into a layer cake and cupcakes, and they

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-31227099120131028352010-07-14T12:58:00.001-07:002010-07-14T13:44:43.319-07:00

I'm back!!! The hubs and I had an amazing two weeks traveling through Italy. Along with the breathtaking sights, we indulged ourselves with food, wine, and gelato. Just before we left for vacation, a friend gave me this advice: "Eat, drink and enjoy yourselves silly while in Italy. I promise that you will not gain a pound." Yeah, right! After returning, the hubs and I each hopped on the

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-78312718755443120692010-06-15T00:01:00.000-07:002010-06-15T18:45:46.454-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Raisin Swirl Bread is all about my baking frenemy, YEAST. Once in a blue moon, I will experience baking success with yeast. However, more times than not I've ended up with some pretty spectacular fails, and vowing during those moments to never to bake with yeast ever again (okay, I'm being a little melodramatic).With this bread recipe, I'm happy to

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-36847695038743040982010-06-08T00:01:00.000-07:002010-06-08T00:01:01.537-07:00

This will be a short and sweet write-up for this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Tender Shortcakes. Things have been busy and hectic around here, as the hubs and I are counting down to our upcoming vacation in Italy!I'm a raving fan of shortcakes, as the slightly sweet biscuit serves as a delicious platform for all of delicious fruit in season. For a change of pace from my favorite

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-14253110591395377842010-06-02T17:15:00.000-07:002010-06-02T17:15:20.255-07:00

It's finally feeling like summer, and the warm weather always puts me into the mood for ice cream! The hubs and I are not fussy about how we enjoy our ice cream. We'll usually enjoy our frozen treats straight of of the carton or generously scooped on sugar cones.If I'm feeling particularly fancy and entertaining dinner guests, these delicious profiteroles will make an appearance. Composed of a

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-18554285283294750502010-05-25T00:01:00.000-07:002010-06-07T20:46:40.477-07:00

After reading through this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Banana Coconut Ice Cream Pie, I wasn't sure that this would be my cup of tea. Something about food processing together bananas and ice cream didn't whet my appetite.The crust of this pie calls for butter cookies, a generous amount of butter (1 stick!), and a boatload of coconut. Instead of butter cookies, I used these:I scaled this

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-42663568636543958842010-05-18T00:01:00.000-07:002010-06-07T20:47:48.620-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Apple-Apple Bread Pudding is all about comfort food that warms your tummy. This recipe takes a traditional bread pudding and adds a double dose of apples - sauted sliced apples and apple butter.I did take some liberties with this recipe (you can find the complete original recipe at Liz's terrific blog, Cake or Death? ):- I halved the recipe to

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-17598082709081639542010-05-11T00:01:00.000-07:002010-06-07T20:48:52.605-07:00

With all of the gorgeous fruit on display at my local farmers market, I was super happy that Christine of Cooking With Christine decided on Quick Classic Berry Tart for this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe.I definitely have a weakness for fresh fruit tarts. As I couldn't trust myself with a full-sized tart at home, I transformed this recipe into tartlettes --- I can have a little taste and then

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-60207737872501942762010-05-04T18:16:00.001-07:002010-06-07T20:49:21.027-07:00

Oh yeah baby - this Burnt Sugar Ice Cream tastes as good as it sounds. I love all things caramel, but have avoided making it from scratch --- I guess I've experienced one too many burnt sugar messes. This time, I watched my sugar like a hawk.The caramel base starts with sugar and a little water which is dissolved into a syrup. Now, it's time to watch carefully: Nope, it's not ready yet:Oh yes,

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-14162312755589986342010-04-27T00:01:00.000-07:002010-04-27T00:01:03.453-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Chocoblock Cookies means serious business with all of these delicious add-ins:In addition to the above ingredients, this cookie recipe calls for a healthy amount of old-fashioned oats and molasses. As I'm not a big fan of molasses, I substituted an equal amount of Lyle's Golden Syrup, which provides the same consistency as molasses without the strong

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-52241483043422971302010-04-25T16:43:00.000-07:002010-04-25T18:18:37.772-07:00

In Southern California, you know it's springtime when you start to see an abundance of gorgeous strawberries popping up at the farmers markets. Gaviota, Camarosa, Chandler Seascape...so many varieties to taste, all with their own textures and flavors.Growing up in Orange County way back when, my family lived in an area where land originally devoted to strawberry fields and orange groves were

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-36783317531729668892010-04-20T06:52:00.000-07:002010-04-20T12:11:56.074-07:00

{Due to some serious procrastination, I'm doubling up on TWD this week, with the delicious Swedish Visiting Cake preceding this post.}Flour, cream, sugar, baking powder, salt --- with this short and readily accessible list of ingredients, you can whip up these soft and fluffy Sweet Cream Biscuits.I enjoy noshing on homemade biscuits - as long as someone else does the baking. My prior experiences

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-84338532800024571892010-04-20T06:50:00.000-07:002010-04-20T12:06:52.527-07:00

I'm a week late in publishing last week's Tuesdays With Dorie selection, Swedish Visiting Cake. No excuses this time around - I just suffered from a case of chronic procrastination. I definitely didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to rave about this ridiculously simple and totally yummy cake, so am doubling up with this week's TWD post for Sweet Cream Biscuits. In essense, this is a one

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-65197135561037529282010-04-06T00:02:00.000-07:002010-04-06T06:02:30.691-07:00

This week is a Tuesdays With Dorie two-fer! Along with a post for a delicious Coconut Lime Tea Cake, you can read all about a little incident at the Tender Crumb casa which derailed my plans for posting on time last week.This week's TWD selection is a Mocha-Walnut Marbled Bundt Cake --- sounds pretty delicious doesn't it?This bundt cake looks unassuming on the outside, but when you cut a slice

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-29871632523842430582010-04-06T00:01:00.001-07:002010-04-06T00:01:02.092-07:00

I totally dropped the ball and didn't get my Tuesdays With Dorie post up on time last week (s0rry Carmen!). I promise that I have a good reason, as you can see here (the poor girl looks completely miserable, doesn't she?):You would think that just after turning a year old that my dog would become older and slighly wiser...wishful thinking! Siena was tearing through the house like a tazmanian

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-18093023587214678792010-03-25T15:40:00.000-07:002010-03-25T19:22:58.010-07:00

Happy Birthday Siena! Our little pooch is celebrating her first birthday, and she spent her day in typical California girl fashion, lounging around the pool and soaking up the sun. Looking at her now, I can't believe that she is the same tiny pup that we brought home last spring: To mark this special occasion, I busted out the mixing bowl and baking sheets to make Siena her favorite homemade

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-91286075290088184382010-03-23T00:01:00.000-07:002010-03-23T00:01:01.367-07:00

For all of you caramel fanatics, this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Dulce De Leche Duos is calling your name. Luscious dulce de leche is incorporated into the cookie dough. If that isn't enough, a generous dollop of this caramel-y goodness is sandwiched between two cookies.On David Lebovitz's blog, he writes about this delicious spread and aptly describes it as a "shiny and deeply

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-51583515513771958882010-03-17T08:20:00.000-07:002010-03-18T09:43:10.090-07:00

My friend T asked me to make cupcakes for a friend's birthday. Her friend's favorite cake flavors are coconut and chocolate, and I was more than happy to oblige:Along with a couple dozen cupcakes for the birthday party, I wanted to give the birthday girl her own personal box of goodies - you've gotta indulge youself on your birthday, right? Not to detract from the yummy chocolate cupcakes (made

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-60303812248541672052010-03-16T09:47:00.001-07:002010-03-16T11:02:15.216-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Soft Chocolate and Raspberry Tart was one that I was really looking forward to making after reading Dorie's delectable introduction:"After this tart hs baked and cooled just a little, the chocolate filling takes on the lovable characteristics of pudding, becoming soft and creamy and seductively slithery, and the flavor of the berries intensifies."I

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-25813380541282498102010-03-16T09:11:00.000-07:002010-03-18T09:42:50.173-07:00

This is a very tardy Tuesdays With Dorie post, which should have been published two weeks ago. My apologies to the host for that week, Beryl of Cinemon Girl, as I had all of the best intentions of getting this written sooner.Coconut evokes very strong reaction by people - either you love it or hate it. I like coconut in my drinks (hello pina colada) but am not crazy about having it front and

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-8369676331186076762010-03-15T16:38:00.000-07:002010-03-15T17:54:04.735-07:00

So, why in the world did I subject myself to a three week cleanse? I was definitely motivated to improve my health - to rid myself of toxins and to reset my body to function effectively and efficiently are pretty compelling reasons. Of all of the crazy detox plans that I've tortured myself with, this was definitely the most effective and the most reasonable in terms of food consumption. I

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-56331178848094403262010-03-09T14:43:00.000-08:002010-03-09T15:30:04.893-08:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie selection is Thumbprints For Us Big Guys, and these delicate shortbread cookies are all grown up with the addition of ground hazelnuts (or another nut) and jam. As I have been making up for lost time tasting (or more accurately devouring) all of the TWD treats that I tucked away in the freezer during my 3 week detox, I was definitely feeling a little overloaded

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-58191197867264963552010-02-28T19:27:00.000-08:002010-03-01T05:53:18.395-08:00

I was recently gifted a bounty of gorgeous meyer lemons from LA baking maven and lover of all things bundt Mary (aka The Food Librarian). The beautiful fruit came right off of trees in the backyard of Mary's dad --- Thank you Mary and Poppa Food Librarian!!! I knew I couldn't use all of this precious fruit right away, so I prepared most of them for the freezer.I zested,halved the zested lemons,

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-41773345060273328732010-02-23T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-23T00:01:01.185-08:00

With all of the chocolate-centric recipes baked this month, this week's Tuesday's With Dorie selection, Honey-Wheat Cookies, was a welcome change of pace to my baking agenda. With a healthy amount of wheat germ and honey, as well as a touch of lemon zest, you could almost consider these cookies a healthy snack - just ignore the stick of butter that is part of the ingredient list. I may be in the

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-59651575823780446332010-02-21T19:08:00.000-08:002010-02-22T09:33:48.347-08:00

I've been meaning to write about this cookie eons ago, as this recipe for Buttery Jam Cookies was a Tuesdays With Dorie selection back in December 2008. Can we say that I'm just slightly overdue? It is a pretty simple and straightforward butter drop cookie with a bit of jam mixed into the dough. I always have several open jars of jams and preserves sitting in the fridge (what can I say, I

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-82866596051261826402010-02-20T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-20T12:59:21.703-08:00

After baking along with The Cake Slice group for the past 15 months, I've decided that this will be my last recipe with the group (at least for now). Along with appreciating the beauty of triple layer cakes and the traditions of favorite southern cakes, I've enjoyed baking along with a supportive and enthusiastic group of bakers.The Cake Slice group voted, and Mississippi Mud Cake came out on top

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-73575645179896489862010-02-16T00:01:00.000-08:002010-02-16T09:35:37.218-08:00

Week 1 of my "crazy-ass detox plan" (as oh so appropriately described by my homegirl Mary, The Food Librarian) is in the books, with two more weeks to go. Detoxing and food blogging is not a very good combination (I know...DUH!!!). When I peruse all of your beautiful blogs, I get cravings that are more intense than when I'm in the kitchen baking....seriously.I'm no saint, but so far I haven't not

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-90287583559586514142010-02-09T10:46:00.000-08:002010-02-16T09:58:02.133-08:00

I had mixed feelings about making this week's Tuesdays With Dorie selection, Rick Katz's Brownies For Julia. I love brownies. Let me clarify...I really LOVE brownies. Those of you who have followed my blog long enough know how much I {heart} making and eating brownies. When it comes to sweets, brownies are my achilles heel.So, what's my problem? I just started a 21 day detox following the Clean

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-23368610511152271662010-01-26T18:50:00.001-08:002010-01-26T19:12:54.984-08:00

I need to quit this habit of JIT (just-in-time) blogging. Hopefully, I'll get this post up before the day is out.Fortunately for me, this week's Tuesdays With Dorie selection of Cocoa-Nana Bread was mercifully easy, and I was able to bake and photograph the goods before I polished off my last cup of coffee this morning.This quick bread recipe is intended as a breakfast treat that combines the

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-1250473188020224032010-01-19T00:01:00.000-08:002010-01-19T00:01:03.416-08:00

This week's Tuesday With Dorie recipe for Chocolate Oatmeal Almost-Candy Bars is diet breaker for sure --- and we're only 19 days into the new year!With a chewy oatmeal-peanut layer on the bottom, a rich, fudgey chocolate layer that is studded with peanuts and raisins (or dried cranberries in my case) in the middle, and a crunchy oatmeal layer on the top, a small slice of this cookie will tame

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-70348750422456994152010-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:002010-01-07T01:33:17.339-08:00

Happy 2nd Anniversary to Tuesdays With Dorie! Who would have guessed that after two years that TWD would be going strong with 300+ bakers and with 95+ completed recipes from Dorie Greenspan's fabulous cookbook Baking: From My Home To Yours. Even more surprising to me has been my own commitment to bake and to post weekly on my ole blog (you see, I'm a huge flake when it comes to my personal

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-71402860217071016972009-12-08T00:01:00.000-08:002009-12-08T06:06:55.488-08:00

I loved that this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for sables provided us with several flavor options. As my baking time this month is devoted to assorted holiday sweets, I was definitely up for making the savory version of this buttery shortbread cookie.The crumbly yet tender texture of these gems is what makes them so addictive to eat. Technique is key to getting the right texture - no

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-10716693784123785872009-11-27T17:02:00.000-08:002010-01-05T05:37:46.343-08:00

So, we had to cope with our derailed Thanksgiving travel plans. The hubs and I went through a momentary (okay, it was a bit more like a few hours) whiny, pity party phase, and now we've moved on. We decided to make the proverbial lemons into lemonade, and are making good use of our new found time.The hubs has been a whirling dervish as he's already cleaned the garage, dug out the Christmas boxes,

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-43217296615088170932009-11-25T20:34:00.000-08:002009-11-25T20:52:26.221-08:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! When I originally wrote this post, it started something like this: "I'm taking a quick break as it's time for our yearly Thanksgiving sojurn to Vegas". For the past 10+ years, the hubs and I have spent the Thanksgiving holiday week in Vegas with single-minded goal of indulging ourselves silly.Well, this post has been revised...we've crapped out and our Vegas streak is over.We

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-86893624770484964952009-11-24T04:46:00.000-08:002009-11-24T07:42:29.703-08:00

Cauliflower, brussels sprouts, sweet potato --- the mere mention of these vegetables had my brothers and I groaning with disgust at the dinner table. I'm a big girl now, and my palate has evolved to appreciate and enjoy the flavor of these veggies. Aside from taste, these veggies are packed with nutrition and high in fiber, so you can totally load your plate guilt-free with these gems.This

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-81868381994880820332009-11-17T00:01:00.000-08:002009-11-17T00:01:01.387-08:00

As a thin-blooded native Californian, I was reaching for my fuzzy slippers and huddling under a flannel blanket last night as the temperature dipped into the 40's. Okay...you can stop laughing at my weather wimpiness, as I get enough mocking at home courtesy of my hubs. As a New Jersey native, he thought last night's temperature was "refreshingly crisp" and sat next to his shivering wife

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-82834006974947501442009-11-10T06:15:00.000-08:002009-11-16T21:22:52.572-08:00

These Sugar-Topped Molasses Spice Cookies are a must-bake during this time of year. When these cookies are baking in the oven, the delicious smells of molasses and spices will permeate the house and remind you that the holidays are here.The spicy kick in these beauties come from ginger, cinnamon, allspice, --- and black pepper. Do not shy away from the black pepper, as they add a really nice heat

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-7963593206968155762009-10-31T20:15:00.000-07:002009-10-31T21:24:09.884-07:00

Instead of venturing out tonight, the hubs and I are spending a comfortable and stress-free evening at home. Maybe I'm a fuddy-duddy, but there is nothing more delightful than kicking back in sweats, reading a good book and enjoying a bottle of good wine on a Saturday night. Besides, I didn't want to miss the entertaining parade of trick-or-treaters canvasing our neighborhood.In keeping with the

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-77247716395624415802009-10-27T00:01:00.001-07:002009-10-27T22:22:45.970-07:00

Thanks to this month's Daring Baker's Challenge, this was my first attempt at making macarons. I've assumed that these delicate European cookies were difficult and time consuming, so I never bothered to try making them at home. Besides, I'm fortunate to have Paulette Macarons within a short driving distance from mi casa. Paulette's macarons are works of art, and they are almost too pretty to eat

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-24699814774689282722009-10-27T00:01:00.000-07:002009-10-27T20:05:43.853-07:00

Chocolate, cherries, and mascarpone mousse - what's not to love about this Cherry Fudge Brownie Torte? This inspired recipe takes the flavors of a black forest cake to a decadent new level with a ultra rich brownie studded with kirsch soaked cherries and a light and creamy mascapone mousse. The flavor quotient is punched up with a healthy grinding of black pepper in the brownie base. There

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-6150474188122471282009-10-20T00:01:00.001-07:002009-10-20T00:01:02.939-07:00

After a year of baking some really delicious and TALL cakes from Sky High: Irresistable Triple Layer Cakes, The Cake Slice group has switched gears and has moved on to a new cake baking book. After a vote (we're so democratic, aren't we?), the group has chosen to bake recipes from Southern Cakes by Nancie McDermott. In the introduction of the book, Nancie shares the following:"I invite you to

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-88358938138686372172009-10-13T00:01:00.000-07:002009-10-13T07:36:19.820-07:00

I treasure the early morning hours, especially on the weekends. Most people I know do whatever they can to squeeze in a extra hour or two of zzzzz's. I happily buck that trend, looking forward to the quiet pre-dawn hours on Saturday and Sunday. Once I get a humongous pot of coffee going, I dive into the pile magazines and books that accumulate on my my nightstand and leisurely read the morning

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-58823795876013615322009-10-06T10:31:00.000-07:002009-10-07T06:44:01.716-07:00

I'm back... after a month long haitus, I ready to get my blogging mojo on! September was an action-packed month for me, with various mini-vacations, classes and time with friends and family. Where do I begin...- The hubs and I decided to do a series of mini-trips instead of one long vacation. The hubs attended a week long conference in Vegas at the Bellagio, so of course I had to tag along. Pool

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-4151780308807342162009-09-13T07:45:00.000-07:002009-09-13T16:58:30.637-07:00

I am very overdue in posting this, but I am taking a little hiatus this month to take care of assorted personal stuff.I'm not going to have time to visit all of your terrific blogs, so please forgive my lack of commenting --- I feel like I'm missing out!I am bummed about missing out on all of the great baking with TWD, The Cake Slice and Daring Bakers, but I think this little break will

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-3129321638917308412009-08-25T00:01:00.000-07:002009-08-25T00:01:01.250-07:00

Without Tuesdays With Dorie, my blog would not exist! Back in April 2008, I unexpectedly found TWD from doing a Google search on Dorie Greenspan and her cookbook, Baking: From My Home To Yours. I was only intent on buying the book, but after learning more about TWD, I thought that it would be a fantastic avenue to bake through the recipes.At that time, I didn't have a blog and the group required

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-82747790078770620622009-08-18T00:01:00.000-07:002009-08-18T05:49:05.834-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Applesauce Spice Bars are technically bar cookies, but as you can see in these photos, mine turned out thick and cake-like.The reason - I totally misread the pan requirements and used a smaller 8"x8" pan (versus a 9"x13" pan called for in the recipe). Aside from the pan snafu, I did follow the recipe with the following notes (for the full recipe, please

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-74671199582985439192009-08-11T00:01:00.000-07:002009-08-12T06:34:19.219-07:00

Please do not mistake this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe, Brownie Buttons, for those pre-packaged two-bite brownies. They may look the same, but that's where the similarity ends. Dorie Greenspan's petite treats are oh so moist and chock full of chocolatey goodness --- their flavor and texture puts those two-bite brownies to shame!Not only was this recipe so easy and quick to prepare, it gave

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-51092217539585915092009-08-04T00:01:00.000-07:002009-08-04T06:54:58.561-07:00

I think this week's TWD recipe, Classic Banana Bundt Cake, is one the best banana bread/cake recipes that I've ever made. I know, it's a pretty bold statement, isn't it? I have made this recipe numerous times since I've gotten my hands on Dorie Greenspan's Baking: From My Home To Yours, and this banana cake has never failed me. To me, what makes this recipe fantastic is the simplicity of the

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-35421957342678970452009-07-28T00:01:00.000-07:002009-07-28T12:56:27.813-07:00

I think that Vanilla Ice Cream is the "little black dress" of the dessert world. It goes with almost anything - it can go fancy accompanying an elaborate dessert or be enjoyed simply on top of a sugar cone. Here is one of my favorite ways to enjoy vanilla ice cream....Take a glass and add one scoop of Dorie Greenspan's fantastic vanilla ice cream,One scoop of root beer sorbet (too simple to make

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-21741317500782250492009-07-27T19:09:00.001-07:002009-07-27T19:52:26.106-07:00

This month's Daring Bakers Challenge was to make homemade versions of a couple of grocery aisle cookie favorites, Milano Cookies and Mallomars. I'm pretty good about resisting temptation in the cookie aisle at the grocery store, but I definitely have a weakness for these two cookies. In college, both cookies provided essential nutrition (i.e. sugar and carbs) for my all night study sessions.

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-50887265270284013502009-07-20T19:02:00.000-07:002009-07-21T21:46:04.158-07:00

When I read that Susan of Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy selected Raspberry Blanc-Manger as this week's TWD recipe, I immediately had a flashback to this:I was a total new wave music fanatic in high school, and this recipe totally sent me into 80's flashback mode! :) But I digress...Until this week, I had no idea what a blanc-manger was. I did a little research on wikipedia, and this is what I

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-62724850079127800342009-07-14T00:01:00.000-07:002009-07-14T00:01:03.387-07:00

A Brioche Fruit Tart? I can say that this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe would be a first for me. A rich brioche base, layers of fruit jam and fresh fruit, and a sprinkling of sugar and chopped nuts --- all of these components sounded absolutely delicious, so I couldn't wait to try my hand at this recipe. Instead of using plums as indicated in the original recipe, I couldn't resist using

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-50787539542651472382009-07-07T00:01:00.000-07:002009-07-07T00:01:11.496-07:00

I hope that everyone had a great July 4th holiday! We couldn't have asked for more perfect weather in Los Angeles. We definitely took advantage of it and spent a nice lazy long weekend at home. Important priorities included floating in the pool, sipping fruity cocktails, and playing with the dog. With this hectic schedule, I'm glad that I was able squeeze in some baking time. ;)This week's

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-56434052509656786082009-06-30T00:01:00.000-07:002009-07-13T09:21:04.148-07:00

It's been a busy month with work and to top it off, I've been super busy planning for my hub's birthday celebration. This was no ordinary b-day, as my eternally youthful hubs was celebrating his 50th! Just yesterday, we returned from that birthday celebration weekend up in Paso Robles, CA. With a weekend of fantastic wine, delious meals, and in the company of some wonderful friends, I think the

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-86854374183102727052009-06-22T12:00:00.000-07:002009-06-22T12:45:15.186-07:00

Argh, I'm totally behind on my blogging! I'm juggling a bunch of things right now...I guess I'm not as good of a multi-tasker as I used to be. Wish me luck, as I'm in major catch up mode. :)LAST week's TWD recipe, Honey-Peach Ice Cream, is a perfect treat to welcome summer. I wished the peach flavor was more pronounced, but maybe it's because I pureed all of the fruit and didn't mix in any chunks

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-38218489316782616582009-06-09T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-09T00:32:08.837-07:00

The ingredient list for this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe: puff pastry, fruit, brown sugar, and butter. Who knew that this short and sweet ingredient list could create these beautiful and elegant tartlets!As we're just jumping into the summer fruit season (yipeee!!!), I also used fresh cherries and peaches, along with apples that are called for in the original recipe (please visit My

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-19084718230527181412009-06-02T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-02T00:02:02.584-07:00

I know I've said this about several of the previous Tuesday With Dorie recipes, but I think this is one of my favorites to date! I {heart} cinnamon, so I was super excited to see a recipe where it is showcased front and center. This recipe keeps things simple, with just some espresso and chocolate to complement the cinnamon flavor.For the layer running through the middle of the cake, I used 1/4

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-86173379897895714672009-05-27T00:01:00.000-07:002009-05-27T07:25:07.569-07:00

This month's Daring Bakers Challenge is Apple Strudel, and I was definitely excited about this recipe, as I've never attempted making strudel. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've tasted homemade strudel... until now.The ingredient list is pretty simple, but the challenge definitely comes in making and stretching the dough to create the impossibly thin and flaky layers. I definitely had my

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-88863157452120998882009-05-26T00:01:00.000-07:002009-05-26T08:43:35.909-07:00

If you know me, I have a little "thing" for brownies. I'm game in trying all sorts of brownie concoctions, but I have only one requirement: keep the recipe simple --- no nuts, frostings, fillings, or other flavors to interfere with the chocolatey goodness.You can bet that I was skeptical about this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe for Chipster-Topped Brownies. A chocolate chip cookie layered on

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-72072882319587028612009-05-24T13:55:00.000-07:002009-05-24T17:13:31.557-07:00

I'm a little late to The Cake Slice party! Better late then never, as I didn't want to miss out on opportunity to make another scrumptious cake recipe from Sky High: Irresistable Triple-Layer Cakes. This month's recipe is a Mile-High Devil's Food Cake, with a choice of Brown Sugar Buttercream or Brown Sugar Seven-Minute Frosting (for a lighter frosting alternative).I made the full recipe, with

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-82056506078209332762009-05-21T07:45:00.000-07:002009-05-21T08:05:52.047-07:00

You'll have to forgive my flakiness with my baking and blogging this past week. I've been a little distracted in giving my undivided attention to the newest member of our family:We've been eagerly waiting for Siena to come home with us since the beginning of this year, and I can't believe she's finally here. We love her tons! Things have been hectic with a new puppy in the house, so I haven't

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-49200521468637766092009-05-19T00:01:00.000-07:002009-05-19T00:01:00.289-07:00

Help, my hard drive was attacked by computer gremlins! For the life of me, I can't seem to locate my mango bread photos. Sorry, this lone photo is all I have to share. I'm bummed! :(Mango Bread is this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe. Aside from eating mangos fresh or sipping a mango-rita (man, I could use one of those right now), I've never baked with this fruit. I was very interested to see

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-50484948714945407992009-05-12T00:01:00.000-07:002009-05-12T00:01:00.619-07:00

After the overload of rich chocolate recipes last month, this week's TWD recipe for Tartest Lemon Tart was a refreshing change of pace. I love all things that are intensely sweet & tart (I'm a total Sour Patch Kid junkie), and I was totally looking forward to making this. What is so unique and intruiging about this recipe is the use of whole lemons, peel and all.I couldn't resist making

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-17592724585079117362009-05-10T08:25:00.001-07:002009-05-10T19:52:56.139-07:00

When I started my brownie quest earlier this year, Teanna recommended that I check out this recipe for Chocolate Mascarpone Brownies.With a half a tub of mascapone cheese leftover from a recent effort to make Tiramisu Cake, I had the the perfect opportunity to take this brownie recipe for a test drive.The sweetness takes a back seat to the intense chocolate flavor, which comes from the chocolate

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-23801803455196969002009-05-06T15:03:00.000-07:002009-05-07T06:44:26.679-07:00

I love strawberry season! In Southern California, you know that summer is just around the corner when you see gorgeous strawberries overflowing at the local farmers market...and the unbelievable fact is that you can get a half flat (6 baskets) of super sweet, juicy berries for 10 bucks. With the berries at their height of their season, there is no better way but to eat them fresh --- no

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-89157559483283875712009-05-05T00:01:00.000-07:002009-05-06T20:04:22.363-07:00

I was so happy to see that Megan of My Baking Adventures selected Tiramisu Cake for this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe. For a while, tiramisu was considered THE dessert, and it was included on almost every restaurant menu. Trendy or not, tiramisu has always been one of my favorite desserts.In BFMHTY, Dorie Greenspan developed a twist to the traditional recipe, transforming the trifle-like

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-8024190546592707242009-04-28T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-28T00:01:00.344-07:00

This is going to be a very abbreviated Tuesdays With Dorie post. The hubs and I are heading up to San Francisco for a few days of R&R, and of course I'm the classic procrastinator running around like a maniac getting ready to leave town.Chocolate Cream Tart is the TWD recipe this week. This tart consists of a cocoa shortbread crust, chocolate pastry cream, and a slightly sweetened whipped cream.

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-70722684284764152102009-04-23T13:34:00.000-07:002009-04-24T06:46:37.612-07:00

The search continues! So far, I've made my way through two hyped and popular brownie recipes with really great results - The Baked Brownie and Nick Malgieri's Supernatural Brownie.For this round, I've selected a brownie recipe from King Arthur Flour. If you haven't already visited the KA site and blog, I most definitely recommend it. Both are fantastic resources for recipes and baking techniques

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-87490502715375293432009-04-21T00:01:00.000-07:002010-05-17T18:40:46.755-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe, Four Star Bread Pudding, is one of the more un-photogenic desserts that I've made (I hesitate to tell you what I think this really looks like). Still, don't judge a book by it's cover, as this dessert tastes WAY better than it looks.This recipe takes the traditional bread pudding and elevates the richness (and deliciousness) with the addition of bittersweet

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-57018424642540624182009-04-20T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-24T06:47:54.512-07:00

SCRUMPTIOUS!!! I think that succinctly describes The Cake Slice recipe for this month, Chai Cake w. Honey-Ginger Cream.I went the baby cake route again, making a triple layer 4 inch cake. I cut the cake recipe in half, which provided enough batter for two 4 inch springform pans and 6 cupcakes.The cake layers get its spicy note from chai tea (I used the Tazo brand), and augmented with cinnamon and

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-9984077085019959042009-04-14T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-14T07:14:48.388-07:00

I think the title of this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe says it all..."15 Minute Magic"! Seriously, with only 15 minutes of active prep time and 30 minutes in the oven, you will be rewarded with a wonderfully decadent chocolate & almond treat. What makes this recipe so unique is the use of crushed amaretti cookies in lieu of any type of flour.As if this couldn't get any better, this recipe

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-67351585618361898842009-04-07T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-08T17:40:06.500-07:00

What do I know about this week's Tuesdays With Dorie selection, Banana Cream Pie?I know this pie well...- Between my hubby and me, this pie can be inhaled in a weekend or less.- On occasion, this pie and I have shared a 2am rendezvous, with me standing in front of the fridge.- Ingorance is bliss - I know NOT to ask about the calorie count in this dessertAs you can see, I am very familiar with

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-56192558312239178642009-04-04T07:10:00.000-07:002009-04-06T06:23:08.325-07:00

Back in February, I began a quest for the ultimate brownie. At that time, I was totally motivated, so I gathered up a bunch of recipes to test, bought a truckload of chocolate and butter, and resolved to bake and post weekly. So, how are things progressing, you ask? Well, I haven't gotten very far (I know...I'm totally lame). Posting weekly isn't going to be realistic for me, but I promise going

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-24519165925151572452009-03-31T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-14T07:09:51.330-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe is Coconut Butter Thins. The foundation of this cookie is a shortbread dough, which is embellished with coconut, macadamia, and lime zest. These components are not necessarily in my top 10 list of favorite ingredients/flavors, and I confess that I wasn't excited about making these cookies. The instructions for this cookie are pretty straightforward, and for

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-66022105058958886852009-03-29T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-14T07:11:21.694-07:00

The Daring Bakers took a savory detour for March's challenge with lasagne. The focus of this month's challenge is making homemade pasta, which is a first for me. I've always wanted to experiment making pasta by hand, but have always found a convenient excuse to flake. Usually, my energy and effort are usually focused on the components that accompany the pasta (i.e. sauce).This month's recipe (

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-22202908115439646192009-03-24T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-08T17:44:50.090-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe, Blueberry Crumb Cake, was the perfect remedy for a lazy Sunday morning at our house this past weekend. It was definitely a "stay in my PJs and fuzzy slippers" kinda day, and this recipe started my morning on the right foot. With a miminal fuss to prepare, in no time you're rewarded with a delicious homemade treat with your morning cup o' joe and a Sunday

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-11001882993106099112009-03-20T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-14T07:11:06.385-07:00

The Cake Slice bakers voted, and our selection for March is Triple Lemon Chiffon Cake. When I bake recipes out of the Sky High book, I can serve the finished cakes to an army of people, as most of the cakes in this book are beautiful, delicious and GINORMOUS! Well, that's not the case this time around. Surprise --- this is a triple layer baby cake: The full recipe (see below), is enough to make a

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-20074449421358074832009-03-17T00:01:00.000-07:002009-04-08T17:46:03.961-07:00

I was looking forward to making this week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe, French Yogurt Cake w. Marmalade Glaze. I was soooo tempted to try the olive oil variation (w. citrus and herb flavors --- sounds so delicious), but stayed the course and stuck with the original version first.With the exception of the glaze, I followed recipe instruction as exactly as written. As I didn't have any marmalade

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-83802409261427291502009-03-10T00:01:00.000-07:002010-03-01T10:52:35.409-08:00

There was quite a bit of chatter among the Tuesdays With Dorie bakers regarding this week's recipe, Lemon Cup Custard. Some of the bakers commented that this custard tasted eggy and had a flan-like texure, and as a result, a lot of folks clearly expressed their love or hate of this type of dessert.When it comes to dessert, I'm game for anything, except for anything flan-like. The texture is just

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-18078709393546168372009-03-06T17:35:00.001-08:002009-03-08T13:34:19.474-07:00

Lately, I've been really getting into the recipes of Baked: New Frontiers In Baking. I love how they've put their own modern spin to familiar, classic desserts, but even more I enjoyed reading about the authors' journey to create and perfect their recipes and to open their storefront --- it's a real inspiration to an aspiring bakery owner like me.I've baked a few recipes out of the book including

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-69716727203965112742009-03-03T00:01:00.000-08:002009-04-08T17:54:53.525-07:00

I'm going to apologize in advance for this really short post, as I'm just back from a three day wine tasting trek through the Central Coast (Paso Robles, Santa Barbara). Our wine fridge is now nicely stocked, and we're mentally rested and ready to face the rat race again.LyB of And Then I Do The Dishes selected Chocolate Armagnac Cake as for this week's Tuesdays With Dorie. With the notoriety of

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-18589305353313614222009-02-28T00:01:00.000-08:002009-04-14T07:12:09.612-07:00

This month's Daring Bakers Challenge showcases how a few simple yet high quality ingredients can be transformed into a special, decadent dessert...and a perfect sweet treat for Valentines Day!The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef. We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-86838252245241307442009-02-24T00:01:00.000-08:002009-04-08T17:57:14.027-07:00

This week's Tuesdays With Dorie recipe, Caramel Crunch Bars, was selected by Whitney of What's Left On The Table (please visit Whitney's blog for the recipe).This cookie is essentially a shortbread with morsels of chocolate (I used bittersweet) distributed throughout and topped with more chocolate and toffee candy (I hand-chopped Skor toffee bars).Instead of using a 9x13" pan (as instructed in

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-31259942142728987312009-02-20T00:01:00.000-08:002009-03-12T06:21:42.023-07:00

This month's installment of The Cake Slice features Southern Coconut Cake. So far, every recipe that I've made out of Sky High: Irresistible Triple-Layer Cakes has exceeded my expectations, and I highly recommend that you go out and treat yourself to this cookbook.Impossibly moist white cake layers are subtly flavored with unsweetened coconut milk, enveloped by a cream cheese buttercream frosting

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-17733035615679553532009-02-17T09:30:00.000-08:002009-02-17T09:37:42.119-08:00

Someone recently asked me what I would select as my all-time favorite sweet treat. Without hesitation, I responded --- BROWNIES! In fact, my first childhood baking experience was making brownies with a Pillsbury box mix. Eventually, I graduated to homemade and haven't looked back, especially as it is so easy to make brownies from scratch (most are one/two bowl = minimal dish washing = yippeee!!).

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-49800270278501163202009-02-17T00:01:00.000-08:002009-04-08T18:00:56.004-07:00

The Tuesdays With Dorie bakers can let out a collective cheer --- someone finally chose the cover cake!! Many thanks to Stephanie of Confessions of a City Eater, as she selected Devil's Food White-Out Cake for this week's recipe from Dorie Greenspan's Baking: From My Home to Yours.Dorie Greenspan describes this dessert as "a dig-into kind of cake, not one meant to be cut daintily or eaten with

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-41061726457537165612009-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:002009-04-14T07:25:20.049-07:00

For this weeks Tuesdays With Dorie, Jessica of CookBookHabit selected World Peace Cookies. Not many words are required to describe this treat --- This is one hellava delicious cookie! I've made this cookie numerous times without fail (as evidenced by the stain splattered page in my copy of BFMHTY), and everyone raves about how delicious it tastes.The ingredient list and instructions are really

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-26965483571727066762009-01-27T00:01:00.000-08:002009-04-18T07:48:01.922-07:00

It's Tuesday, and it's time for another delicious installment of Tuesday's With Dorie. Heather of Sherry Trifle selected Fresh Ginger & Chocolate Gingerbread. How do you describe this cake? I think Dorie Greenspan's description says it all --- "Packed with fresh, candied and ground ginger, spices, molasses and a little chocolate, it is moist, mildly spicy and just a teensy bit hot from the ginger

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-12630463119911141602009-01-20T00:02:00.000-08:002009-04-14T07:12:45.834-07:00

Here is another terrific installment of The Cake Slice. Our group has been baking through Sky High: Irresistable Triple Layer Cakes, and our selection for this month is this beauty. Less dense than banana bread, this cake only requires a 1/2 cup of mashed banana but produces big banana flavor. Paired with sugary pecans (yes, they're fried, but with all of the butter, cream and chocolate in this

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029802426642319821.post-13139931586816464732009-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:002009-04-18T07:50:08.247-07:00

This week's summery Tuesdays With Dorie recipe is definitely a tribute to Southern California's unseasonably warm weather. Selected by MaryAnn of Meet Me In The Kitchen, Berry Surprise Cake is composed of a hollowed out genoise cake filled with berries and a cream/cream cheese mixture, and topped with a whipped cream frosting.Dorie Greenspan described this cake as "reminiscent of the spirit of a

Lindahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12233697236651340860noreply@blogger.com26