Black Bean Blender Brownies

Today, we’re testing recipes for Colin’s upcoming birthday party. He’s craving brownies and I just had to try this recipe I found on the Whole Food’s website: Flourless Brownies. I’d seen recipes for black bean brownies and really wanted to try it out. Since Colin is looking for a fudgy rather than a cakey brownie, we made a test pan.

Organic black beans…

All the ingredients are to be mixed in a food processor, but alas my processor died awhile back and has not been replaced. I used the next best thing, my blender…

Super nutritious and taste rich eggs from Ravencroft Farm…

More blender magic…

Blender black bean brownies baked (say this several times fast)…

Cut and ready to try…

The result: A fantastically fudgy brownie enjoyed by all:)

Does not the ear test words as the tongue tastes food? Job 12:11

Strawberry Festival

I’m thrilled to announce: I’m going to have a booth at a local strawberry festival in July. Since the last Art Fair I did was in 1998, I’m kind of nervous too! Wish me well as I plow through a whole lot of work in the next few weeks:)

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL
KNOX GREEN HILL FARM
SAT. – JULY 2 – 10am-2pm
FAMILY FUN – GAMES – PRIZES
TASTING – EATS & TREATS
U-PICK & WE PICK BERRIES

The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. Psalm 72:3

More Rhubarb Goodness

This recipe from Martha Stewart has been tucked away in my mind awaiting rhubarb season. It’s finally here and I had to try Rhubarb Upside-down Cake. With many recipes, I’ll make a few alterations because I don’t have the exact ingredients or just because I’m that way. For this recipe, I subbed plain yogurt for the sour cream and used orange juice concentrate instead of juice. Why yogurt? Simple, I had it. The orange juice concentrate goes back to a family recipe for Orange Drop Cookies which has been passed down for several generations. In my experience, it’s adds more “orangey” flavor.

I was intrigued by Martha’s recipe because I love rhubarb, I’ve not made an upside-down cake since I was about 12, and it sounded so yummy!

Another thing, I changed was to use my angel-food cake pan rather than the 9 inch. There’s the crumb topping which actually ends up on the bottom…

In my zealousness to upside-down the upside-down cake, I really didn’t let it cool enough….

The result is a delicious, moist cake with lovely fruity flavor…

A few pieces left the next day & still very moist and flavorful. Martha Stewart’s Rhubarb Upside-down Cake – you must try this!!

But come on, all of you, try again! Job 17:10a

Danish Dough Hook & 5 Minute Artisan Bread

When I’m at the library, I naturally gravitate to the cookbook section and absolutely lose myself among the stacks. My two younger sons go to their storytime and/or bookclubs & I play, play, play… I love library day:)

A promising book leapt from the shelves – Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day by Jeff Hertzberg, MD, and Zoe Francois. This book made the cut and landed in the library bag.  After taking copious notes and reading it cover-to-cover, I reluctantly returned it. Shortly afterward, I found this website (http://www.artisanbreadinfive.com/) and was thrilled to discover I could find all the information I needed right there.

Five minutes a day – yes and no.  Yes, it just takes minutes to prepare the bread on baking day.  But, no, you must dedicate some time to the process i.e. 40 minute rise, 25 minute bake.  Regardless, it just what I needed it to be: some tasty dough available each day for fresh baked bread.

Does anyone else get about 5 different flours for their birthday? No? Really? I’m sorry…

My new bread bucket that just fits in my refridgerator…

My new Danish Dough Hook (Happy Birthday to me!) really does the trick…

I doubled the recipe, mixed it up and now it’s ready for the rise…

Wow – that’s a lot of dough! This should make 8 1-pound loaves of artisan bread…

Already developing a sour dough smell – I’m in heaven…

Instead of making one loaf, I opted for a few smaller rolls…

The result: A fantastic bread with a crust that literally sings when broken (remember Ratatouille?)

Hot bread, fresh from my baking stone, anyone?

Give us each day our daily bread.  Luke 11:3

Rhubarb, Beautiful Rhubarb

I was gifted some loverly rhubarb & my kitchen’s been singing with delight…

Chopped rhubarb…

Frozen strawberries + rhubarb = yum, yum

Flour & sugar & some light tossing…

Bubbly, steamy and smelling divine!!

Strawberry-rhubarb pie = a sensational delight!

They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. Psalm 36:8

You’re Special Today – Part 1

I really, really love family celebrations!  My mother and sisters and I share this passion so our family events range from very large gatherings (family of 23) to over-the-top themed-parties complete with bouncy castles and fondue fountains.

So, for my immediate family, I like to keep it simple. A birthday box is filled with supplies including a birthday banner, birthday lights, birthday plate and candles which come out for each birthday.  The decorations adorn walls and table the night before (0r just before dawn) in preparation for our morning celebration.  Birthdays begin with a sleepily-sung birthday song, candles to blow out and the traditional cupcakes.  For dinner, the guest of honor chooses a special meal & cake (usually carrot cake or strawberry pound cake) served for them on our traditional “You Are Special Today” plate.

Of course, this is a rough draft and each birthday writes it’s own unique script…

Drake’s 16th

Some more of my birthday presents (aren’t the silicone teacups just plain fun?), slated to be transformed into birthday cupcakes for Drake….

Graeme, my baking companion, doing a little taste testing…

Red Velvet ala Sprinkles!!

Yummy cream cheese frosting…

You Are Special Today and every day in my heart!!

You have a special place in my heart. Philippians 4:17a

Show & Tell: Brotform Proofing Basket

I’ve always LOVED school and when I was a little girl “show and tell” was the ultimate!  I especially loved “show and tell” right after Christmas and my birthday.  Here’s the beginning of my grow-up version – self-indulgence at it’s best!  I received so many lovely and thoughtful gifts for my birthday a few weeks ago.

Two summers ago, I set out to really learn and understand yeast-based baking.  I’d baked before, but I really wanted something more like a class.  So, I checked out many, many books from the local library (and order others) on bread baking.  Some titles I read included The Bread Makers Apprentice, Crust and Crumb and Peter Reinhart’s Whole Grain Breads.  I read these books cover-to-cover and tried many new techniques and recipes (Poolish and Biga bread starters).  My head ached from all the new information, but I loved the journey.

In my study, I discovered the beauty and usefulness of bread proofing bowls.  Well, guess what I got for my birthday this year?  Yes, a Brotform Proofing Basket!!  Love it and I used it as soon as I could….

Not a great pix – but isn’t it just lovely?

My sour-dough bread dough (and do you see my organic bread cloth beside it? *smile*)…

I baked it on my bread stone – look at those pretty lines…

Looks beautiful and tastes yummy!

More show & tell to come…

You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. Job 10:12

Birthday Croissants

Croissants are probably the most beautiful, perfect, delightful food invented by mankind.  They’re light and flakey and buttery and smell divine. They’re rather fussy to make so I’ve been, I admit, a little intimidated – after logging in hours of preparation, would if I burn them or they taste terrible?

As a birthday present to myself, I made croissants. The gift was two-fold: to challenge my culinary fears and to bake something which cannot be easily replicated.  The result: the heavenly smell of a French bakery and the rare experience of eating a croissant hot from the oven.  Happy Birthday to ME!!

Loads of butter…

Butter and flour mold ready to chill…

 

Butter and dough before layers and layers of folds…

Day Two:  Had to run to my parent’s (I almost, gulp, forgot about my dough…) and didn’t want all my work and, not to mention, butter to go to waste. I divided the dough (froze the other half), formed the croissants, and threw them in the van.  Upon arrival, I set them in a sunny spot to happily finish rising. After they were more than adequately risen, I popped them in my mother’s oven. The house soon smelled like a French Patisserie, and we devoured these little pretties fresh from the oven. And, a happy day was had by all!

Next time – pain au chocolat (chocolate croissants)…

What recipe or food intrigues yet intimidates you? Give yourself a wonderful gift – just make it! Bon appetit!

…now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. 1 Peter 2:3

Pi Day!

Here is some Pi Day inspiration…

Just like my pie plate given to me by my Nana who appreciates my sense of humor:)…

Pi inspiration…

Earrings from Etsy…

More Etsy…

Both from this Etsy seller….

Happy Pi Day to You!

They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. Psalm 89:18

*Fun banner fonts from kevinandamanda.com

Baby Gift Set & Comfort Food

Still battling the flu here with lots of attention, love and comfort foods. Homemade chicken noodle soup (homemade egg noodles), chicken and dumplings, pannekokens, egg salad sandwiches and warm chocolate chip cookies – do you see a trend? Eggs, I find, are very comforting and healing.

My mother requested a pair of baby booties to give as a gift today.

I could not just stop there…

I just had to create a whole set!

So elated!

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3&4