Bake 52: Babka (Rolls)

I really didn't know what Babka was before this!  It's normally a loaf but I had this great idea.  I thought if I halved the recipe this week and made rolls instead of a loaf, we could eat a few and then give some away.  (I didn't want to cut a few slices off the bread to try it and then give someone a partial loaf of bread.  I really don't know anyone well enough for that kind of thing.)  See what I mean?  It was the perfect plan.  

Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes with Caramel Buttermilk Syrup

I picked up some blueberries at the grocery store the other day; they were on sale and I have been wanting to make some things with blueberries.  These were so worth the on-sale-blueberries (maybe even worth the full price variety).  I think Calvin ate 15 of them and Hadlee loved them even though she wrinkled her nose when we were making them.

Chicken with Broccoli and Rice

{photos updated 8/22/2013}

 I didn't intend to put this on the blog.  It's one of those recipes for a day when I don't feel like cooking.  Do you ever have those days?  Where you're inches from saying let's go get pizza or Chick-Fil-A?  (I love that place, judge if you must!)  And if I don't think of anything easy to make I might give into the craving.    I usually don't feel like doing a huge pile of dishes on those days either.  Not that I want to do dishes any other day.  But you get it, right?  I was having one of those days and threw this together.  It's so easy, few ingredients and only uses one pot.  Yay for not having tons of dishes!!!

Southwest Fiesta Salad

I guess the trend in the food blogging world is to post sweet things on Friday.  I haven't caught on to that yet.  Unless we are saying sweet-as in awesome, because then this is pretty sweet.  

We have this salad quite often and have had a few different variations so it's pretty versatile.  You can add pretty much

Hamburger Buns

I love finding recipes I like and re-purposing them.  A couple of weeks ago, we made white loaves for our Tuesdays with Dorie baking group.  One of my baking friends had a great idea and used the dough for buns instead of making a loaves.  Since seeing the photos on her blog, it's been in the back of my mind.  I had already

Bake 52: Peanut Butter Cookies

I am by no means a peanut butter cookie connoisseur.  I can probably count on one hand the number of times I have actually made a peanut butter cookie.  I mean, what's the point really?  Aren't they only for people who haven't heard of chocolate chip cookies?  (kidding, kind of)  Now that you know where I am coming from, you should also know that I thought these cookies were delicious.  Chocolate or not.  I did have to

TWD: Chocolate Truffle Tartlets

I hope you guys had a great Presidents' day!  It was also my brother's birthday and the whole day, my kids were trying to get out of doing things since it was his birthday.  Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't.  I spent the day baking in celebration of some great men. :)

As you can see, our recipe this week was Chocolate TRUFFLE tartlets.  I took that to mean they would be really rich and delicious.  And I was right.

Gooey Salted-Caramel Popcorn

It seems like salted caramel is a big deal these days.  Have you noticed?  Maybe it's always been a big deal and I'm just noticing, not sure.  It had been a while since we had caramel popcorn at our house.  We were so hooked and the kettle corn (still are) that we made it every time we wanted sweet popcorn.  Then, Jesse posted a caramel popcorn recipe on her blog and I saw the pictures.  I really shouldn't look at food blogs because then I get things in my head.  I just can't help it.  Her recipe was a little different than the one I had been using.  Not a lot.  All the same ingredients, just a little less butter and more brown sugar.  I decided to try hers since there was less butter, I figured it's healthier, right?  (I know, I am delusional.  Just go with me on it.)  I had some

California Rolls

I have been wanting to make these for a while now, but just got around to it.  I like buying them at the grocery store sometimes and wanted to see if I could duplicate them at home.  The only problem with this is not everyone in my family was excited about them.  I feel like every once in a while I need to make something I want and not worry about the masses though, ya know?  

Bake 52: Cheese Pizza

I knew this would be a hard sell as soon as the recipe was chosen.  You see, I am very loyal when I find a recipe that I love.  It's not that I won't try a new recipe, but it has to be pretty darn good for me to leave something I love for something else.  Especially when the pizza that I love is also super easy.  Super easy and super delicious, that's a hard combination to beat.  

Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies

I feel like today is my last chance to post about Valentine's day.  I saw these brownies on Tracey's blog and had to try them.  The only thing about it is-I should have called them not-so-red velvet.  I skimped on the food coloring.  What can I say?  It gets a bad name, red.  Everyone hates it these days and I felt guilty dumping it into my brownies.  (They were so healthy otherwise)  I actually thought I had them pretty infused, but the proof is in the...uh.. brown.

Pavlova for Valentine's

I had never heard of Pavlova before I saw it on my friend, Michelle's, blog.  Have you heard of it?  Maybe I am the only one.  :)  I was trying to think of something a little different for Valentine's and little by little, I landed here and it was a good choice.  

Coleslaw

 I promised the other day to give you a recipe for the salad with the carrot heart.  Remember?  When I posted about the mayo?  Anyway, this is the salad I referred to.  

Tyler came home the other day wanting to go to Famous Dave's for ribs.  When he gets and idea in his head like that, I can scarcely convince him otherwise.  But really, we don't need to be spending money on Famous Dave's.  I tried to compromise with getting the fixin's and making them ourselves, (or myself, who am I kidding including him?) and it was a battle, but I won.  I was more excited about making the sides than the ribs, personally.  I had never made coleslaw from scratch before (that I know of) but I was excited to make it.

Bake 52: Challah

I am trying to figure out if I have had CHALLAH before.  I was expecting it to be pretty sweet.  Like, too sweet to eat with dinner.  Maybe more of a dessert-typish bread (is there such thing?).  I don't know why I was expecting that, but mine wasn't sweet at all really.  Not that it was a bad thing, just not expected.  And now I am wondering if I forgot to add the sugar.  I can't promise I added it.  That's why when a recipe flops, I never blame the recipe the first time.  I really can't be trusted.  This was by no means a flop though.  I loved it.  It was fun to

Tuesdays with Dorie: White Loaves

Hi, my name is Amanda, and I have a problem.  I have been trying to tell you guys for months.  I am pretty sure most of you think I've been joking.  Well, probably just those of you who don't know me very well.  But I really do.  Have a problem.  I haven't just been messing with you.  To prove my insanity to all of you, I joined another baking group.  I know, one should be enough, right?  I am sure for some people it would be.  And maybe at certain times in my life, one might be enough, (I will let you know).  But for now, I am stuck here and not going anywhere.  If we have learned anything from history, it's that when I am stuck somewhere, I bake.

DIY: Mayonnaise

{Photos updated 4/25/2013}

There are a few reasons to make your own mayonnaise.  My main reason is usually that I need mayo to make something and I don't have any.  I usually have Miracle Whip on hand but sometimes that tangy zip gets in the way.  I barely use that enough to warrant keeping it around and I definitely don't use mayo enough to have it on hand all the time.  That's deep, right?  If I were cooler, my reasons might be that it's healthier, I know what's in it, I can put any kind of oil I want in it, it's fresh, I can add different combinations and make it just how I like it,.... but I am not that cool.  It's sad really.

Mozzarella Bites (on a stick) with Chutney and Marinara

Last chance to share recipes for the Super Bowl and if we were having a party, these would be on the menu!  They were so good, I kept eating them!  After a new batch would come out, I would each  another one.  It was to the point that I wouldn't let myself eat any after I sat down at the table since I had scarfed so many already!  And I wasn't even eating them with the sauce.  I am including the recipe for 2 sauces and you can decided what kind of person you are.  Our family was

Parmesan Stuffed Soft Pretzels with Puff Pastry

I used to be more into the whole football scene, but football and I parted ways a while ago.  I know the Super Bowl is coming up and those who don't even like football are allowed to pretend they do.  If we lived in a different place right now, I would possibly be throwing a party just for the food and company, but this is not the year for that.  We live in a little apartment and don't really have a friend-count that would warrant a "party."  So I will live vicariously through all of you.  

Bake 52: 7 Layer Bars

When I first said I was going to have a heart in every post, I was a little worried it might be hard.  But so far, it seems you can make a heart out of anything!

I had never made 7 layer bars before, and I am not sure if I had ever eaten one before.  These. were. good. I mean, what's not to like?  Graham crackers....good, chocolate.....good, coconut.....good, sweetend condensed milk....good.  I guess I mean, what's not to love?  Oh and they also have rice krispies in them so you can totally count that as breakfast, right?  Right.  They reminded me a little of