If you bake bread regularly, or you are thinking about starting, here's a little tip for you... Store your yeast in the freezer! It is certainly cheaper to purchase a jar of yeast than to purchase the strips. If you are planning to make more than 3 loaves of bread or 3 batches of dough for rolls, pizza crust, cinnamon rolls or other yeast bread, then … [Read more...]
Maple-Walnut Muffins
When signing books in Minneapolis last week, the lovely folks at Barnes and Noble asked if I'd like to take a book with me, as a thank you. My "dessert of the month" challenge came immediately to mind, and I knew that I had to get a baking cookbook of some sort. After careful deliberation, and much drooling, over at least 20 books about baking, each with stunning photographs, I … [Read more...]
Pretzel Chocolate Chip Cookies
When I was in Chicago last week, my sister-in-law took me to a favorite bakery in her neighborhood, Bake°. It is adorable, cozy little spot that reeked of butter upon opening the door. And when I say, reeked...I mean it in the most delicious way possible. I don't do much baking with real butter. So the smell of the buttery baked goods was deafening. (That is, if a smell can … [Read more...]
Gingered Pear and Blueberry Cobbler
First up in this year's Dessert of the Month... Gingered Pear and Blueberry Cobbler! I've made a number of cobblers and crisps in my day. I thought I'd stick to a baking concept that I was familiar with and experiment with flavors. I've never made one, or tried one, with these 3 flavor combinations. I bought 4 pears at the store last week, not really intending to use them … [Read more...]
Christmas Cookie Decorating
Last week I threw caution to the wind, made spontaneous plans and broke all of my rules... I was chatting with some friends after church last Sunday...and I just blurted out that we should get the kids together for a cookie decorating party. I knew that I had lots of wiggle room in our grocery budget and decided to splurge and have a little fun with the kids and our … [Read more...]
Peanut Butter Chocolate Special K Bars
Peanut Butter Chocolate Special K Bars - perfect family treat or gift for holiday or bake sale contribution! Special K Chews. Special K Bars. Hawgs. Scotcheroos. Whatever you want to call this sweet treat, These are a favorite family recipe that we traditionally always make for the holidays, and they're wonderful for holiday gifts and bake sales … [Read more...]
Quadruple Berry Pudding Cake
So my friend Christan and I have been trying to get our families together for dinner...oh, for about 2 months now! And it finally happened just before Thanksgiving! She made Stack-E-Up-Es...and I brought this. Christan's family has been transitioning to the Nourishing Traditions lifestyle, so I *tried* to make as healthy as a dessert as I could! This Quadruple Berry … [Read more...]
7 Tips for Making the Perfect Pumpkin Pie
7 Helpful Tips for the Perfect Pumpkin Pie this Holiday Season Thinking about making your pumpkin pie from scratch this Thanksgiving?! Making your own crust?! When it comes time to serve the pumpkin pie at your holiday feast, you want it to be perfect. Whether it’s your first time making a homemade pumpkin pie or your eighth, I’ve got a few ideas and tricks … [Read more...]
Caramel Apple Crisp
I've made many a crisp in my day. And by many, I really mean too many. You name the fruit, I've probably made the crisp. Well, except not with pomegranates. Thinking that wouldn't work out so well. Anyways, I love how this crisp is made. You create the caramel sauce and toss it with the apples, rather than just tossing the apples with the brown sugar before … [Read more...]
Strawberry Almond Bars
I absolutely love the almond flavor combined with the strawberry flavor. When I have cold cereal for breakfast, it's usually Rice Chex (or the store brand...whichever ends up being cheaper that week!) with Almond Milk and Sliced Strawberries. Simple, but so delicious. The almond and strawberry flavors are kinda like chocolate and peanut butter. They just work. These … [Read more...]