Your Best Holiday Baking Guide

 Baking is going to be an important aspect for home chef during the next two months. Luckily The New York Times dropped their baking issue in Sunday's papers. There is everything here, from cakes, to cookies to even muffins. These are all perfect for the dinners and parties ahead.

This is a pretty substantial issue and definitely a keeper for all sorts of bakers from experienced to novice ones. Keep in mind that these are not your typical sugar cookie and vanilla cake with chocolate frosting recipes. These have interest. These have spice. These have even fire. There are caramel cookies heated with the Korean gochujang, a red chili paste usually used with veggies or meat..Miso gives layers of unami to pecan banana bread. Again it's used mostly in soups to bring out the flavor.Candied ginger give zing to ordinary marbled shortbread cookies.Lemon bars are given color and tanginess with cranberries. Even a simple apple crunch cake is boozed up with half a cup of bourbon. Even sugar cookies are not the typical holiday recipe. The New York Times recipes gives them color and an earthiness by the addition of freshly ground  Earl Grey tea leaves cooked with butter.

There are some traditional flavors used but not in the way you'd think. The highlight of the issue is a peanut  butter and jelly pound cake. This is a peanut butter rich cake marbled with raspberry jam. The icing is from the jam being mixed with confectioner's sugar.Imagine this finishing a holiday brunch. There's also s'mores brownies and pumpkin brownies ,perfect t for both Halloween and Christmas tree trimming parties. There's also a sweet potato and brown butter snacking cake - just great for those weekends in with family.Yes, every fall baking issue has a doughnut recipe and this one is no different. Home bakers will appreciate the baked apple cider doughnuts , baked in the oven for a lighter taste instead of deep fried. Cheesecake also makes an appearance but it's the Basque kind with a deeply caramelized top. There are also maple pecan sticky buns amongst others for a a lazy morning in.

Go through your Sunday papers for this issue if you haven't already saved it. It;s chock full of great recipes. Bake these for the holiday season and beyond.

Giving Up For Lent

 This is the first Friday of Lent <Mpst Christians,, specifically Catholics give up all meat products for this day. However Lent is about giving up so many  things , form favorite foods to time to cook and shop for others.

Mostly everyone gives up sweets for the oirty day Lenten period. It's a good start .Breaking a sugar dependency helps the body t detox . The same goes for those giving up snack and junk foods. These few weeks allow the body to recalibrate and crave healthy products. Instead of cany ther are grapes and pineapple chunks. Instead of chips, there are tomatoes or broccoli and cauliflwoer florets. Salads replace hamburgers and fries. It is a good idea to give these up.Doing so may lead to keeping these dietary rules for a cleaner and healthier lifestyle. Another idea is giving up all meats , seafood and dairy.There'sa pretty solid theory going around that Jesus HImself was a vegan. He could not stand to see any living thing suffer so He went for plants . Luckily the climate - as with other Mediterreneam countries was abundant in olives and their leaves as well as in eggplants There also may have been chickpeas (nott the  kind that we know of  today. The ancient ones were bigger - sort of like cannellini beans) added in  to  provide protein.Now it's easy to forgo meat and fish . Check out the vegan aisles of your grocery and find any kind of plant based meat , egg and dairy substitute.

The best thing you can give up is your time. Why spend an afternoon at Starbucks when you can take a elderly neighbor or family member. They'd enjoy some time out , sipping coffee and chatting.Bring in coffee and doughnuts if they're housebound. Stay.Again there's nothing like company. This is also a good time to check their fridges and make sure that they have plenty of staples. Also check to make sure that they don;t have expired food in teh fridge ro pantry. Help them clean out and replenish with fresh food. Another giving up is time for your own shopping. Shop for them too. They'd appreciate it and it sets thei minds at ease about running out . Make sure they have milk, fruit, veggies and even easily microwaved meals. Buy the appropriate foods if they're on certain diets. You can also give up your time to work in a food pantry or soup kitchen. People forget that hunger is a year round thing and not just there at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Spend a Sautrday , helping to cook, clean and serve. Even bake brownies or cookies of you want.

Lwnt is the time to forgo.It could be your favorite candy.It could be your time. It's up to you to deicde which will be more beneficial.

Put Festive In Everyday Cooking

 The CHristmas dinner is always the star of the holiday cooking season.Yet you could alkso make the meals leading up to CHristmas just as festive and just as fum. It just takes some creativity.

You can easily turn dinner into a salutte to the holiday. Homemade pizza cna be tirned into a wreath. It's taking th e pizza dough and forming it intoa doughnut shaped circle with an opening in the dough. Roll it out and then tear the middle. Kids will love the fact that there's a double crust here. It's then putting extra sauce on for that holiday redness and sprinkle such fun green toppings as spinach and green pepper slices. You can also make pizza canes. Form the dough in the shape of candy cane. LAyer strips of mozzarella to create the classic red and white look. You can also try a Santa Claus pizza using puff pastry along with olives for the eyes and cheese for Santa's beard, mustache and eyebrows. Use a cherry tomato for his mouth.meat loaf may seem plain, but it , too, can be turned into a festive dinner.Stud it with sliced gtreen olives as wreaths with pimentoes acting as bows. You can also add red and green peppers both for taste and color too. This version may become so popular that you'll be asked to make it all year round.Mashed potatoes can also be made festive thanks to adding a cup of both red and green peppers .

Even simple desserts can be made festive.Ice cream can get that festive holiday sparkle by addng red and green cherries in a sundae. Layer them with scoops of chocolate and syrup. Add a huge puff of whipped cream and then top with red and green sprinkles. The last can be bought at your local grocery store where they use them to decoratte cakes and cupckaes. You cna also make candy cane ice cream sandwiches.Use store bought brownies and then spead softened vanilla or chocolate ice cream on them. Add a layer of crushed pepperment candy and top with another brownie. Dust with confectioner's sugar. Another fun treat is  peppermint chocolate trifle. Slice up a chocolate pound cake or layer brownues in a  trifle dish or bowl. Add peppermint whipped cream. You can make this by adding a few drops of peppermint oil to heavy cream. Confectiioner's sugar is also added to give it some stuffness. Red gel food coloring can be mixed in for a fun pink shade.Add layers of crushed peppermints for more flavor or even chocolate syrup.

Christmas is about festive food. Create these colorful meals and desserts leading up ot the big day. Your family will appreciate their tastiness and fun

Changing Up Spring Sweets

 This is the season for baking holiday treats and sweets. Yet it's usually the same thing, from kugel for Passover to Easter themed cakes , cupcakes and cookies . What about changing ot up a bit? Put in a new recipe that the family will love.

Passover begins on April 5th this year and ends on April 13th. The usual desserts are ones made with out flour namely kugel. Yet it's time to break out of that classic mold. Why not serve a refreshing fruit salad or fruit cups instead. Make it colorful with pineapple chunks, kiwi slices and strawberries,Add blueberruies ,s liced grapes and tangerine slices for more sweetness. Now zing it up with a honey lime dressing. Another dessert not necessarily associated with Passover are chocolate covered strawberries. Dip these ruby gems in dark chocolate for a different kind of ending . Give them a dusting of kosher sprinkles to make them even fancier.The days are getting warmer so think about fruit sorbets.Create an easy three ingredient one by using fruit, honey or agave syrup and a squueze of lemon juice.It's pureeing the fruit and mixing with the sweetener and juice. Pour this into ice cube trays and then freeze. Take the frozen cubes and placed into a food frocessor. They're transformed into a cool creamy dessert. Think a a strawberry or blueberry sorbet for a refreshing end. You can also make a chocolate one too using both Dutch processed chocolate and cocoa powder.

As for Easter, yes those bunny cakes and cupcakes are cute but they can be a little boring. Why not end the Sunday meal with homemade ice cream spiked with chocolate eggs or the fun multicolored robin's egg malted milk eggs. You can make a vanilla or choclate ice cream loaf to be sliced and served with whipped cream.. It can even be served in multicolored cones for the little ones. Brownies may be known as an after school snack but they can be topped with a thin layer of icing and a Peep for a colorful end to your Easter dinner. You can use a box mix or try a scratch recipe.Another unusual idea are cake bites baked to look like small Easter eggs. You can use molds (which can be bought on Amazon) to create the shapes and then decorate them in pretty colors.Both kids and adults will love meringues. These are airy puffs of sweetness which can be made with vegan or non vegan ingredients. The non vegan is made with aquafaba or chickpea brine and tastes the same as the regular ones made with egg whites. Dye them pink with all natural beet root which gives them a candy pink color. Of course coffee flavored ones are great for the adults.

Change up your Spring treats with new and exciting recipes .Break away from the classics.Serve fun sweets for Passover and Easter

A Healthier Way To Bake Part Two

 There are healthier ways to bake mouth watering treats. You can easily switch out refined flour and sugar for better for you nut and rice flours along with all natural sugars like maple syrup and agave. Yet there are other ingredient  conundrums that can more or less be solved.

Vegan or vegetarian baking holds the answers. Many  home bakers want to omit eggs for something healthier or won''t trigger egg allergies. There is Just Egg, an egg yolk substitute that can make everything from omelets to cookies. It's made from mung beans and has the same eggy flavor as the real thing. Three tablespoons equal one egg, yolk and white included.I've baked with it and it did produce  a crisper cookie. There is also Vegg, a powdered egg sub in that's also plant based. They use peas to create the mix, You do have to buy  the Vegg Uncaged version and then add a teaspoon of coconut sugar along with a scant amount of water to get the liquid. again I'v e made brownies with it and they came out chewy and dense. You can reduce the amount of sweetener if you use Vegg's one. Dairy is always another area of concern. For milk the best replacement is soy. It has the same amount of protein as cow's milk and it helps baked goods to brown nicely. This is perfect  for pond cakes and biscuits, recipes that don't require icing. almond milk is the second best bet. as for butter. Melt plant based butter is a good alternative. and it is a good leavening agent. It works perfectly in cookies and creates a lovely brownness to them. Miyoko's also works well as does avocados and applesauce. Nut butters and pumpkin puree can also make for a smooth batter or dough.

The big question is the frosting. Most American buttercreams have at least two to two and a half cups of confectioners sugar in them.  This is way too sweet no matter how tasty they are. Yet what's a cupcake without a big blob of colorful icing on it? There is a way to have healthy and decadent.. One is making your own  sort using  ground coconut sugar and tapioca flour.  If  you can't  get the tapioca flour then just use cornstarch or arrowroot powder.You do need a high powered blender like a Vitamix to grind it into that powdery consistency. It just takes only thirty to sixty minutes and storing it in an airtight container. This is also perfect for making glaze and icing for cakes and cookies too. another frosting idea is taking maple syrup and vegan cream cheese. You will need to use Greek yogurt but only a quarter cup of it along with a dash of vanilla extract. another recipe for a healthy but still creamy topping is a mix of unsweetened apple sauce and coconut oil. Palm oil and tapioca or arrowroot flour round it out to give it both that creamy mouth feel and taste. You could also use cocoa powder for a chocolate frosting. 

Healthy baking can be done. You can even have cupcakes with a big swirl of frosting on top. It's just subbing in the good ingredients for the bad ones>It's just that easy.

Brownie Basics

 It's baking season. It's a good time for brownies , those chewy squares of chocolate=y goodness. They are one of the basics of home cooking - easy to make and easy to eat. Many have had box brownies for years but they can be made from scratch too.

Brownies have been around for a long time on the American table. They were created in 1893 by prominent socialite Bertha Palmer, wife of the owner of Chicago's famed Parker House Hotel. She needed a cake like confection suitable for ladies visiting Chicago's World Columbian Exposition. The results was a Parker House brownie with walnuts and an apricot glaze.It went through a series of changes thanks to a housewife in Bangor Maine who added a square of extra chocolate and extra eggs for a richier , fudgier treat. There was also a mention of them in the Machias cookbook created by another home baker Marie Kelley of Whitewater Wisconsin in 1899. No matter what their origin is, scratch ones are delicious. The basic brownie recipe is an alchemy of cocoa powder or unsweetened baker's chocolate , sugar, eggs, salt and vanilla.Many home bakers and bloggers strongly recommend using cocoa powder instead of using a mix of melted butter and chocolate. This ensures a soft moist middle and a  shiny , almost candy like top. You can add a small amount of chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips. To get that perfect crinkly top, melt the butter with the cocoa and sugar in a saucepan over a stovetop. Doing this allows the sugar to rise to the top in baking, creaking that perfect crackly crust.

What about vegan brownie?. Yes you can make them from scratch. All the ingredients are the same save for omitting the eggs and butter. You can use ground flax seeds for binding  along with mashed pumpkin or bananas or applesauce. I've used Vegg Uncaged Mix and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter when I've baked regular brownies. No one could tell the difference between the vegan and the regular ones. Can you bake them with whole wheat flour? Yes,and it;s to the brownie's benefit. The flour leaves the texture extra chewy and richly textured. What's the best pan to bake brownies in? Always stick with metal. Don't use a glass or ceramic one. Metal will allow them to bake evenly,prevent over browning and yield straight edges. Remember to always grease the tin with either butter, margarine or cooking spray to prevent sticking. I always use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and generously grease the pan's bottom and corners for an extra buttery flavor. Can you vary the recipe? Yes , Cinnamon can be added for a Mexican hot chocolate vibe. It just takes a pinch to give them that zing. Coconut is another fun change up , giving the brownies a Mounds Bar flavor. You can even make them Rocky Road m with teaspoons of mini marshmallows , peanuts and chocolate chips.

Scratch brownies are the perfect fall baking project. You can make them tradional or vegan, plain or loaded with extras. Ant way, they're a bite of chocolate-y goodness.

Those Bunny Bits

 Everyone knows what to do with Easter leftovers. Make ham sandwiches and serve them with the leftover potato salad. Reheat the asparagus with butter. Slice the lamb for stew. Yet what do you do with all that leftover Easter candy? How much chocolate can one family eat? Luckily there are a few fun recipes to deal with those bunny bits.

All kinds of chocolate can be meted down and refashioned into bark. Think of melting those leftover  milk chocolate bunnies and hollow dark chocolate eggs to create a two tone or truffle bark. You can add the leftover over coconut from those bunny and lamb cakes , nuts and pretzels. You can also roll pretzel rods in the chocolate for dipped ones. A second roll in pastel colored sprinkles lends a festive air.Another idea is chopping up the chocolate and adding it to any ice cream. Think of a strawberry or raspberry gelato chock full of chunks or create you own version of Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia by combining cherry vanilla with cut up chocolate eggs or Kisses. What about those  solid creme, nougat and coconut eggs? Slice those and put a scoop of chocolate ice cream on top for a kind of Easter egg sundae. It's a fun way to get rid of those giant eggs that always seem to last forever.  If you were lucky to receive those huge Perugina eggs with the toy inside. then they're a double bonus. The halves make for excellent cups for ice cream, puddings, custards or mousses. Add whipped cream and some sprinkles for a truly decadent treat or dessert.

Easter candy can also be baked into sweet treats too. You can take all that leftover chocolate and turn it onto a decadent mousse pie. This is perfect for any milk chocolate (although you can do the same with dark too ).It's  melted  and mixed with mini marshmallows, milk and whipping cream, then poured into an already made pie crust. The entire pie is refrigerated for about three hours in the fridge.  Of course you can also add the chopped bits to cookies and brownies. Try a chocolate chip recipe but sub in sliced solid or Krispie  eggs. You could also sub in pastel M&M's too for a festive looking cookie.Brownies can also be stuffed with chopped candy too. You can use a scratch recipe or just a box of any brownie mix. Even marshmallow eggs can be used for a creamy chewy middle. Peeps can even be repurposed. Think fun Rice Krispie bars decorated with whole chick or bunny Peeps. You can also cut these up (if you can bear tearing up all that cutemess) and put them into the treats. The results are pretty rainbow colored bites. Chocolate can also be thrown into the recipe too.

Don't worry about all that leftover Easter candy. It can easily be repurposed into fun treats everyone will like. It will be like finding that candy all over again!!!

A Basket Of Brownies

 One of the best baked goods to come out of any kitchen is a pan of brownies. Who doesn't love a square of chocolate decadence/ Yet can you make them lusher and richer? Yes! You can!

Melissa Clark knows this and gave us three variations on the treat in Wednesday's New York Times Food section. Her recipes are true to her tastes - and they reflect ours as well. She has salted pretzel ones that brings in savory and crunch and ones that are an homage to the classic Mounds bar. Those have a well of coconut in the middle. Then there are her pecan pie brownies rife with the flavorful nut and the sweet filling that goes with it.  The salted pretzel brownies have the added surprise of a graham cracker and crushed pretzel crust underneath to also give them a cookie vibe. There's also the richness of one stick of butter added to this , giving the treat a nice buttery flavor too. The rest of the recipe is the classic brownie one, with processed Dutch cocoa and chocolate chips. A whole pretzel is placed  on top so each square gets a whole pretzel. You could sub in one of those buttery checkerboard ones for a fancier look or even sticks for a more rustic appeal.

The coconut macaroon ones have the added creaminess of condensed milk and egg white to create a homemade macaroon. These would be good on their own but they'll take the simple but delicious brownie to the next level. Ms. Clark makes the brownie batter first and then the coconut. A tablespoon of the last is put in what would be the middle of each square or four by four rows. Flaky sea salt such as Malden's is sprinkled on top and then the batter is baked for half an hour. The pecan pie brownie is another decadent treat. The top is true pecan pie filling with dark sugar and the nuts. Usually the filling has corn syrup added but Ms. Clark subs in a quarter cup honey and omits the egg. It is still rich with a stick of butter and two tablespoons of heavy cream. The topping then poured on top of the brownie batter and spread in an even layer. Again sea salt is scattered over it to give it a jolt of savory. It's then cut into squares. You could sub in walnuts which has always been a brownie add in. Another idea is grating eighty-five percent chocolate over all three to cut the sweetness and add to the decadence. All three would be a great dessert with a scoop of chocolate gelato or an afternoon snack with a big glass of milk.

Brownies are a treat unto themselves. However make them extra special with either a pretzel crust, a mound of coconut macaroon or a layer of pecan pie. It's taking them to the next layer of goodness.

Birthday Feasts At Home

 There are still birthdays. There are still reasons to have fancy foods and cake. The best part is that you don't have to cook or bake any of it. There are restaurants that can handle everything for you. Que Pasta in Saddle Brook New Jersey is one eatery to take care of birthday feasts.

The restaurant has been known for their delicious pastas and sauce for twenty-five years. They've also been catering fantastic parties, full of all sorts of Italian classics for that long too.. We had a party , thanks to them - at home.

                                      We ordered their Megapack which has one baked dish, salad, bruschetta, garlic bread and brownies. 

It was baked penne which went in a heartbeat along with the included garlic bread , also devoured in a second.

With this came bruschetta and an ample house salad with balsamic vinegar. These were heavenly too, perfect with the cheesy, saucy penne, Dessert was bite sized brownies.

These were the perfect ending. The best part was that this entire feast was only $39.95 for four people. It can be stretched to five.They have a Monsterpack for ten dollars more with a chicken dish  such as francese , Foresto ,(with artichoke and spinach) Marsala or Parmesan Other restaurants are offering party packs, Take advantage of these. They're a great way of celebrating at home. Some even offer delivery.

Birthdays will still happen. Celebrate the way we used to in our favorite restaurants. Order the party packs and enjoy a festive feast.

The Perfect Cookie Box

 One of the best gifts to give this holiday season is a box of homemade cookies. These are perfect because you don't really have to leave your home and you can put your baking skills to good use. It also means you care for those around you when you can't be around them.

Melissa Clark offered this in her column in today's New York Times Food section. She has been creating cookie boxes for a long time and avows that they really do make great gifts. It's also a fun gift , with the recipient enjoying a wide range of flavors and textures Before you start she does recommend creating a cookie box log with a list of what you made, what worked and what didn't. She has other suggestions about how to create the perfect sweet gift.Variety is the key to success. Have different kinds , form gingerbread to shortbreads to a cookie with chocolate.. Something sparkly and colorful is a must. Ms. Clark throws in a recipe for gingerbread cookies topped with a royal icing and shimmery sparkles. Also have cookies with a fruity or jammy note to them. Crunch is also important. Think shortbreads or almond snowballs. Chocolate is a definite must. Another must  are boozy treats for adults. Whip up some rum or brandy balls, brandy snaps or even miniature fruitcakes. Anything made with alcohol is a plus because the heady stuff helps preserve them for weeks. Also present these treats in a nice box too. I would add some chocolates or mini candy canes too.

Ms. Clark gives an excellent array of cookie recipes. I definitely want to bake her traditional spritz cookies, those made with a cookie press. She gives them more flavor with the addition of lemon or orange zest and/or cardamon and cinnamon. Another must bake are her cornmeal lime shortbread fans. This is not the traditional Scottish shortbreads but one made with cornmeal and drizzled with a lime juice glaze. There is the traditional gingerbread, but zinged up with colorful icing and decorations. Peanut butter and jelly lovers will go mad for the honey roasted peanut thumbprints with the well of Concord grape jam in the middle. For a more delicate flavor , bake toasted almond snowballs livened up with brandy, pastis or ouzo. The texture is melt in your mouth , thanks to the almond flour used. Chocolate lovers will most certainly gobble up the black and white brownies made with both white and dark chocolate and dusted with Malden sea salt. Another chocolate lover's dream is a box of fudgy bourbon balls which are no bake - an absolute plus. For a true flavor explosion bake Ms. Clark's cherry rugelach with cardamon. The filling is a yummy mix of cherries and chopped walnuts spiked with cardamon and cinnamon. The cookie is made with cream cheese for a lovely flaky texture.

A cookie box filled with homemade treats is a sure winner for gift giving. It's also a fun way to show off your baking skills to those around you. Create a box of favorites , full of love and home baked goodness.  It's truly a sweet gift.

Into The Mix

Cake and cookie mixes can be time saving yet they really don't let home bakers get all too creative. However there's nothing wrong with adding to the mixes, spiking them up with flavor or color. It makes for fun baking and eating.

One of the easiest mixes to doctor are brownie ones.Yes, they're good on their own but they can be amped up. I recently did this with Duncan Hines Milk Chocolate Brownie mix. The mix does produce a delicious treat but I wanted something extra. Walnuts are the perfect nut for brownies, they go hand in hand.I added a small package of broken pieces or chips and they gave so much to the recipe.  You could add pecans or peanuts too if you wanted to. The Duncan Hines site has recipes for amaretto brownies along with ones spiked with ground red pepper. If you're adding this, experiment with various pinches of pepper. What you may think is not hot may be a four alarm fire for someone else. Cake mixes can also have an add in or two. Coffee granules can elevate any dark chocolate cake. A small dash of liquor  or even soaking a cake mix cake in rum. The last is the ultimate holiday cake, especially with a homemade hard sauce. Sprinkle cakes are still the cake of the moment. Just remember to add ONLY  quarter of a cup.  I used a full cup once and ended up with  two layers of unbaked disaster. Keep in mind that the sprinkles don't always have to be multicolored. Have all pink or all blue for reveal cakes. Use red and green for Christmas and orange ones in a chocolate cake for Halloween.

Cookie mixes can also be zinged up with all sorts of add ins. Over the years I've added mini chocolate chips to the Betty Crocker oatmeal cookie mix and red and green sprinkles to their sugar cookie mix. Any of these are fun add ins  - especially for a holiday tray or bake sale. M &M's are another great add in, whether they're the regular size or  the mini ones.One of the best additions is Hershey's Kisses to make Blossom cookies. They can be the traditional peanut butter ones or use a sugar cookie mix. Dust with cocoa powder after they're baked for an extra layer of flavor.If you're craving something healthier then think about tossing in some Raisins or Craisins - dried cranberries. They both add an old fashioned sweetness and color to any cookie, especially the spice and oatmeal ones. Nuts can also be a nice add in.  Put the nuts in a chopper first for a finer texture.Think pecans or walnuts to add more of a buttery flavor. Another fun idea is turning the cookies into sandwich ones.The filling is an easy mix of confectioner's sugar, vegetable shortening, butter and a few drops of vanilla extract. You could sub in cocoa powder for vanilla for a fudge-y kind of frosting.

Don't be afraid to add to any cake or cookie mix. Put your own spin on these. A half cup of sprinkles or raisins, a shot of brandy or red pepper will make these average ingredients your signature mark

Bake Or Buy? A Guest's Dilemma

It's a general rule that dinner guests should bring some kind of thank you for inviting me gift. The easiest  ideas are either wine or flowers. Yet what happens when the host requests a dessert. Do you go all out and create a confection or do you make a quick trip to the local bakery?

There are a lot of reasons not to bake. One is that it saves a lot of time. Baking and icing any cake or cupcake takes a lot of time. Using  cake mix and canned frosting saves some time but not really all that much. Plus canned icing is not as good as homemade buttercream. Then there's rearranging the fridge to accommodate  the treat. Nothing sweet can be left out - not when there are ants scurrying about.Another possible dilemma is taste. What you may think of as delicious may not be what other guests think delicious.You go through all the work of mixing, pouring, and baking then spend another hour or two creating elaborate swirls or flowers   all to have it ignored.Weather also plays a part in it. Who wants to bake in a hot kitchen on a hot summer's day? The room still will be a bit too warm despite air conditioning. Also rain could ruin a dessert. Forget making meringues. They don't become those crunchy light confections on a steamy, humid day. Think more a giant pool of very chewy salt water taffy. That's not something you want to bring to a dinner party.

Yet, you may feel guilty buying that tray of store brownies or cheesecake bites.You could bake something light and dependable such as an angel food cake. Use aquafaba or chickpea water for a delicate , vegan treat. You can bring macerated strawberries or even blackberries to top it. They're easy to make  - just let the fruit  sit in the sugar for about twenty minutes and then serve. Add a splash of Grand Marnier or brandy for an extra kick.Another easy bring over is the famed chocolate wafer cake. This American classic consists of just taking chocolate wafers and forming them into a log using either Cool Whip or homemade whipped cream. If you decide on the last you could sub in a drop or two of peppermint extract for a refreshing chocolate mint log. It can also be served with sliced strawberries or raspberries too. One good aspect is that you can make it early in the morning , and pop it into the fridge until it's time to leave. Another ice box cake to bring is one that involves layering graham crackers and pudding, then topping it off with frosting.

Should you bake or buy? It's up to you. If you have the time, then try your hand at an easy recipe. If not - head to your local bakery. There's no guilt or shame in treating your host to a perfectly baked and decorated dessert.

Etsy's Sweet Side

Many know Etsy as that cool place to buy cool artesanal jewelry and hand crafted home design ware and clothing. Others (such as myself) use it for handmade mineral cosmetics and lotions. Yet many - incluing me -didn't know that you cn buy all sorts of home made treats. Yup, Etsy is also the coolest treat store too.

I first stumbled upon Etsy's sweet side while probably looking for homemade fudge. The food and beverage section is hard to find.It's not obvious as it is on other web sits such as Amazon or Target You have to first go to Home and then the Food And Drink . There are all sorts of categories, from soups, to herbs, spices and seasonings to baked goods to candies. There's even a section on recipes. The last can be a money maker for any home chef.A Scottish home chef is charging  almost three dollars a recipe for a kind of vanilla fudge called tablet (and as we all know we can get this free on any candy making or Scottish heritage website). Someone else  is charging for vintage cherry and strawberry recipes as well.I'd rather get the actual item than the actual recipe. Home chefs can buy ingredients such as ground capiscum and vanilla beans  along with all kinds of salts and garam masala. Here you can even find the ingredients for making gin.

Etsy also has a wide variety of ready made treats.You can try a huge flavor assortment of cupcakes at the Mississippi based The Dessert Cafe. They also have brownies , from plain to mint to a wide range of oatmeal cookies. I stumbled not on fudge- but on handmade flavored marshmallows from Sweet Jumbles in Jersey City.

These are the strawberry. I also bought the coffee as well as the peppermint (which looks like bloodied gauze) I thought about popping them all in hot cocoa bit they're huge, pillowy types.I have bought chocolate graham crackers which I may make  fancy s'mores with soon.

Etsy is the place for finding all sorts of gourmet goodies. Yes, you can get one of a kind Spanish leather bracelets and lotions that smell like spun sugar. You can also real spun sugar too.

My Big Christmas Baking Extravaganza

 I am in full baking mode this year. Blame it on The Great British Baking Show and The Great American Baking Show for making me want to have a three day event where I will be creating the trifecta of holiday baking  -cupcakes, brownies and cookies. It'll be the most baking I've done in years, but I'm looking forward to it.

The cupcakes will be the star of the show. I plan on using Duncan Hines lemon cake mix and turning it into Christmas Funfetti cupcakes. This is where you add half a cup of sprinkles to the batter. This creates a fun and pretty polka dot look. Many home bakers are getting on the trend and making these for birthday parties and showers. The tubular jimmy kind has to be used. The tinier rounded sprinkles just don't cut it. I bought mine at Stop & Shop. They always have large tubs of them, left over from their own baking. The  icing will be my favorite cream cheese one dyed a festive green and decorated with  what else  - more red, green and white sprinkles.If this works out I may try pink and red Funfetti cupcakes for Valentine's Day. The icing will be elevated - I'm using  the good  Irish Kerry Gold butter to kick it up a notch. I am thinking of using it in a champagne buttercream icing  for a friend's birthday.

As for the cookies and brownies.the cookies are from the Betty Crocker packaged mixes. Fingers crossed that it works out well, because I have yet to use that brand thus far. It is an oatmeal one that I am going to amp up with mini chocolate chips. It should be very buttery tasting, Again I will be  using the Kerry Gold butter which will work well with the oatmeal. If these are successful I will move onto the brand's sugar cookie mix. The brownies are my go to, Duncan Hines dark chocolate brownie mix. I love this mix. Use two eggs when making it and the brownies come out perfectly cake like. with  a tender moist crumb. Home bakers can add  crushed peppermint candy or walnuts for a fun spin. The company does have a decadent brownie line (which my store unfortunately does not carry) .The various  mixes have walnuts, caramel and even large milk chocolate chunks along with peanut butter pieces added to them. If you want to jazz up the regular ones, think of serving them with eggnog or peppermint ice cream and Stop & Shop's Limited edition peppermint whipped cream.

My oven will be working overtime this week. I can;t wait to bake and share these experiences with you. It'll be fun   and actually better than any baking competition, British or otherwise.

Oodles of Good Noodles

Noodles are a fun dish, brightening up every meal but did you know they can also be packed with nutrition? Or made from favorite veggies and fruits? They can and thanks to a new cookbook they can be turned into a variety of delicious dishes, starting with breakfast and ending with dessert.

Chris Anca, creator of the blog, Tales of a Kitchen wrote this intriguing cookbook Nourishing Noodles (Race Point Publishing) about homemade noodles. These are not the typical egg noodles that most home chefs use. Instead they  are created from a variety of produce thanks to  a spiralizer, a gadget that can cut almost any vegetable or fruit into thin noodle like strips. The strips are called zoodles, ribbons and spirals.and are a refreshing departure from the usual flour kind. The book starts off with a list of the gadgets to use, including a dehydrator as well as a detailed list on how to spiralize various fruits and vegetables. Spiralizers are a great addition to any kitchen , and can be bought for as low as $19.99 at Target and Kohl's. Her advice is excellent for novices just getting the hang of the gadget and technique and how to use it on the various ingredients for the best results. The book  is divided into different sections from breakfast, lunch and dinner to snacks and appetizers,soups, and desserts. There's an extra chapter on condiments  and toppings, from coconut "bacon" dried coconut chips that have been coated in liquid smoke to nice cream, an ice cream stand in made from mushed, frozen, overripe bananas.

The recipes are fun and original. Even the most finicky of eaters would melt at them and leave the plate clean. Breakfast offers a blueberry smoothie bowl, made colorful with beet and carrot spirals and made healthy with homemade nut milk,.Kids will get a kick out of the carrot granola breakfast to go, with its' fun carrot noodles and kick of spices.Hosts will love making the pear, date and cheese canapes, decorated with ribbons of Asian pear and and dates. There are even sushi recipes that involve Fiji apples and yellow squash mixed with avocado and wrapped up in nori. Of course there are "pasta" recipes. most notably zucchini noodles with kale pesto. This is a take on the Genovese  sauce , usually made with basil but it's where the similarity ends.The sauce is left to marinate for five days before serving with the "zoodles". A tasty hot noodle dish is potato pasta aglia e olio that combines both regular  potatoes and white sweet potatoes in a garlic and oil sauce made interesting with currents, paprika and turmeric. Dessert recipes feature the whimsical carrot cake noodles, that have a cream cheese sauce. and the taste good, good for you brownies that are gluten free and nutrition dense,

Nourishing Noodles is the book to

have for noodle loves wanting something different along with those home chefs who  love to spiralize their fruits and veggies. The dishes are fun and creative , healthy and nutritious all in one, It's a great cookbook ,with oodles of good dishes and oodles of tasty noodles.

Meals To Go - In A Jar?

A hearty and healthy meal on the go is a a rarity, However it doesn't have to be - thanks to Mason Jars. Mason Jars??? Yes, there is an interesting new cookbook that has all sorts of recipes that involves using these classic containers to make meals. They're great for office and school lunches as well as for picnics.

Tanya Linton, a lifestyle writer and television wrote  150 Best Meals In A Jar.(Robert Rose Press) thanks to her passion for making them. It's an innovative idea because  Mason jars make great containers. Mostly crafty gift givers use them at Christmas to fill with ingredients for soup, cookies and/or hot cocoa. Yet they can be used for so much more and  don't come with any of the health concerns of plastic containers. She includes a thorough explanation of how to scrupulously cook foods and prep produce  because even the slightest  mistake can cause food poisoning, There is even a guide for layering ingredients for both Mason jar salads and Mason jar meals. She also recommends subbing in one ingredient if you don't have the one needed. The book is divided into different sections. There is the breakfast one, a huge one devoted to all sorts of salads from veggie to surf and turf., along with one for dressings .Ms. Linton also includes the trendy rice bowls along with hearty meals and finishes up with desserts.It's a nice variety for those wanting to go from simple salads to more complicated dishes.

Home chefs will love the variety of different recipes. There are the breakfast ones that include an overnight oatmeal one that  will "cook" the grain along with a trail mix and a chocolate ricotta spread. There are some great soup recipes such as the fun pizza soup which has all the pie ingredients plus chicken broth.. There's also chicken soup n the jar, the perfect gift for a sick friend.Ms. Linton's specialty is salads and she shines in all the recipes she gives for them. There are ones that features just veggies such as kale and quinoa salad with a citrus dressing  and the triple berry spinach salad with lemon poppy seed dressing.  The meat ones feature the famed Cobb  salad with  homemade ranch dressing and the classic salad Nicoise, complete with tuna, olives and hard boiled eggs. The salads and dressings are separate so home chefs can mix and match them.I love the rice bowl and layered meal Mason jar recipes. These are full dinners in a jar.Home chefs can make a layered turkey dinner or lasagna, There is the polenta Bolognese and a shepherd's pie with lamb. The rice bowls feature a tasty Santa Fe style complete with avocado , black beans and hot sauce and fried egg rice bowl , a tribute to the Korean dish bibimbap. Finish with a jarred dessert of banana s'mores or brownies smothered in chocolates and the raspberry soaked pretty macaroon pavlova.

150 Best Meals In A Jar is a great cookbook for home chefs who want to make hearty and tasty meals on the go. It shows how to take the humble Mason Jar and turn it into a container for a salad, lasagna or even a sweet treat. It's fun and innovative way to cook.

The Goodness Of a Bake Sale

One of the best and fun charity works anyone can do is a bake show. It fits to any charity along with honing home bakers skills and expanding repertoires . Another plus is sampling other home bakers wares and getting ideas for future projects.

Of course the first step is having a cause. Most sales are for schools or for certain conditions or diseases. However you could start or ask your church or food pantry if you could arrange a bake sale for the needy in the community.They may be able to set up a tent at the any one of the street fests that take place in the fall.You could also help at an organization's cake sale, which gives more time to devote to creating goodies Adding drinks is a great way to increase sales. People love to have tea or coffee to wash down a muffin or cookie. Sometimes a passerby just wants a hot beverage to keep warm (and conversely have iced drinks during spring and summer bake sales). Napkins and forks are a must as are containers and bags for those who want their goods to go.Of course having a cash box and plenty of paper and coin change are other musts.One of the most important things to do is having labels listing ALL the ingredients. So many kids have a variety allergies that it's necessary for parents to know what's exactly in that cake pop or brownie. All lists should state  that the items have gluten,were made in a kitchen where there was nuts and if any dairy was used in the baking or icing.

What to make for  a bake sale?Stick with what you know best. You can use a scratch recipe or mixes. Plain brownies are always popular so have a few batches of those on hand. For large quantities use mixes.They make prep and bake time that much easier. You can add extras such as chocolate chips, coconuts , and nuts to give them oomph. Blondies are another hot seller  as are fruit bars.Kids love cake pops and these are easy to make ,especially if you have the molds. Have help when it comes to decorating though, because that's a bit labor intensive.. Cupcakes are classic and they sell - well- like hot cakes. Have fun with the decoration and icing. Chocolate and vanilla are your best bets for flavors and a classic buttercream frosting is always the crowd favorite.You could set up a decorations bar for a dollar extra  and have a  table set up with  sprinkles, nuts cherries  M&M and chocolate chips.Small pies or galettes will do better than whole pies - too messy to eat a cut slice. Think small too when it comes to cakes. A large one may be too much for a person to  carry. Looking for something different/ Then think cinnamon rolls and sticky buns.They're easy to make an can be made in large quantities.

Bakes sales are a great way of giving back to the community. They're also fun , letting passerbys enjoy sweet treats. Think about organizing one to help out those less fortunate.

A New Treat Scuffins

Can two traditional baked items be combined into a yummy new hybrid?The answer is yes and it's the scuffin.It's an interesting blend of scone and muffin , perfect for breakfast or for wowing people at a home brunch. Frog Hollow Farm of Brentwood ,California has come up with this treat.It was by necessity, thanks to the farm having an overabundance of fruit that is too ripe or cosmetically imperfect.Purée was made from this and it was incorporated into many of the farm's baked goods. One of the best pairings was the purée with the scone muffin marriage.This is a unique blend of flavor and texture.The scuffin's exterior is crumby like that of a scone with the shape of a muffin.Flax seed is added for both color and flavor.This, by far, is one of the best fruit filled treats I've tasted.I had the apricot filled ones and fell instantly in love.The best part of it is the deep well of purée.This is no thin vein of fruit, this is a good ,gooey dollop of refreshingly tart apricot.Usually most fruit added to any baked product is cloyingly sweet but not Frog's Hollow"s. The treat can also be bought with nectarine and peach fillings too.Scuffins can be served cold but try them toasted for two minutes in a 350 degree heated toaster oven.This really brings out the flavors. Scuffins would make a nice Mother 's Day gift(especially for a lux breakfast in bed).Their website, www.frog hollow.com has other treats as well.Again the farm is not afraid of unusual parings,such as the olive oil brownies.These are the traditional sweet but with the added boost of olive oil and no gluten. They also have European favorites such as the bacci di dam a from my great grandparents Provence of ,Piedmonte Italy.These are definitely on my to buy radar since I haven't had them since my last trip to the Val Susa decades ago.Frog Hollow is primarily a fruit farm and there are all sorts of great fruit gifts as well.Try the fruit of the month California style.You can also order just apricots or kumquats, all organic and fresh picked. Frog Hollow Farms also have on site manufactured marmalades and purees which would be fantastic filling homemade crepes. Scuffins are a must have hybrid.They are a delicious blend of the best baked goods and fruit purees of Frog Hollow Farm.Order them now to enjoy a yummy breakfast or brunch treat!

Rochelle Park Diner Hometown Goodness

New jErsey has it's fair share of diners.Almost every town has signature one, usually big and flashy bathed in neon and serving fancy platters of all sorts f foods.the Rochelle Park Diner is it's town signature eatery but it's really the antithesis of one.It is small with a limited menu yet the food is four star quality good. The one thing that stands out is it's size.Unlike other diners that seem to have wings, the Rochelle Park is cozy L shaped place with an old fashioned counter.The decor is just plain charming with cute utensil printed wall paper and old-fashioned tile mosaics everywhere. Again, unlike it's fellow diners across the state,it has a small menu.There are no exotic burgers offered or a huge array of elaborate appetizers.It serves two soups daily ,a mouth watering Manhattan clam chowder and the soup of the day.There's not a lot of choice which is good.It's how diners used to be and sadly aren't anymore. The Rochelle Park diner does have some gems.There is the Eggs Benedict amongst the omelets along with pastrami and eggs.The omelets themlseves are straightforward. With just one extra added. There are some simple salads, that can any addition from steak to salmon added or they can be eaten just plain. sandwiches range from the classic such as The Happy Waitress to the trendy like the Athenian panini.The diner serves excellent pastas.Their linguine is exactly like homemade with a rich marinara sauce while their eggplant parmesan is nicely breaded and fried to a chewy crisp.They offer desserts such as brownies and puddings to finish off the meal. New jersey has some good diners however if you want a cute,quiet place then try the one in Rochelle Park.It has excellent food served in a cozy setting.It 's a great getaway fora summer meal .

Snow Food

This is the season for snow. The white stuff means days of staying in along with time outside, shoveling and playing. This is not the time for light fare.Snowy days and chilly temps mean hearty meals that will warm you down  to your toes. For those on a diet, not to worry .There are plenty of healthy , rib sticking dishes too.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals during a snowy day. Everyone functions better with a heartier  start. You can create taste scrambled eggs(or egg whites) along with omelets. Add some spinach and mushrooms or just cheese  for more flavor. Two nice sides are sausage patties and bacon.If you want healthier fare sub in soy or turkey versions of these. You can even create a satisfying breakfast sandwich .French toast is another good and hearty choice. It's easy to make and kids would love an extra treat on their day off. You can also have oatmeal or farina too. Serve your choices with endless cups of hot coffee or tea or better yet, homemade hot cocoa,. Lunch can be comfort food - and you'll need it to thaw out. healthy fare could include a vegetable or minestrone soup with a toasted sandwich. Better yet a happy waitress  - a more sumptuous version of a grilled cheese with the addition of tomatoes and bacon.

Dinner is going to be a family affair with everyone being home. Think about a communal dish such as spaghetti or stew with dumplings.. If you have corn meal , then use it for polenta. This Northern Italain fave is a great cold weather dinner choice , wonderful with steak or chicken strips. Serve it with either a tomato sauce or brown gravy for the beef. You can also make homemade pizza which again is a treat for the kids. for dessert try homemade brownies or cookies. A snow day is perfect for baking and it keeps the kids occupied. Have them make the night's dessert which can be perfect snacks later on.

A snow day is a good food day. Make healthy rib sticking meals that will keep everyone well fueled  for shoveling or playing in the snow. They'll both appreicate and enjoy it.