Showing posts with label Brunch

William- Sonoma Mac And Cheese Frittita

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, April 18, 2011

Ingredients:

8 eggs
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 1/2 tsp. unsalted butter
2 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil
3 cups cooked macaroni, chilled
6 oz. ham, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
3/4 cup fresh or frozen peas, blanched if frozen
8 oz. cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, salt and pepper. Set aside.

In the deep half of a frittata pan over medium heat, melt the butter with 1 1/2 tsp. of the oil. Add the macaroni, ham and peas and cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Using a spatula, flatten the mixture and spread it evenly across the pan. Cook, without stirring, until a golden crust forms underneath, 5 to 6 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese on top and let melt for 1 minute.

Meanwhile, in the shallow half of the frittata pan over medium-low heat, warm the remaining 1 tsp. oil. Pour the eggs over the macaroni in the deep pan. Place the shallow pan upside down on top of the deep pan and cook until the edges of the frittata are set and the center is beginning to set, about 4 minutes. Uncover the pan and gently run the spatula around the edge of the frittata to loosen the sides. Re-cover with the shallow pan and flip the frittata into the shallow pan. Cook, covered, until the eggs are set, 2 to 4 minutes.

Carefully slide the frittata onto a serving plate and let rest for 3 to 5 minutes before slicing. Serves 8.

Williams-Sonoma Kitchen.

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Paula Deen's Shepherd's Pie made from Leftover Roast Beef

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, January 25, 2011

Shepherd's Pie from Leftover Beef Roast and Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients

1 small onion, peeled and chopped
14 tablespoons butter, divided (1 stick plus 3/4 stick)
1 1/2 pounds leftover pot roast, cubed
Salt and black pepper
8 to 10 medium red new potatoes
2 cups milk
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups instant biscuit mix
1 1/2 cups niblet corn or mixed vegetables, prepared according to package dire

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Pot Roast Layer:

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, saute onion in 2 tablespoons butter. Add pot roast and cook until browned. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.

Potato Layer:

Peel and slice potatoes 1/4-inch thick. Place in a saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a boil. Cook for approximately 15 minutes or until fork tender. Drain potatoes and transfer to a mixing bowl. Whip potatoes with an electric mixer, mixing until moderately smooth. Don't over beat them; a few lumps are nice. Add 1/2 cup heated milk, 1 stick butter, and sour cream. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Whip again until mixed. Adjust thickness by adding more milk, if desired.

Biscuit Layer:

Combine biscuit mix and 1 1/2 cups of milk. The mix should be thinner than that of normal biscuit mix but not runny.

Spray a 9 by 9 by 2-inch pan (or any similar casserole dish) with cooking spray. Layer mashed potatoes halfway up the sides of the dish. Next, spread a layer of corn or mixed vegetables on top of the potatoes. Then add the layer of pot roast and onions with gravy. Pour the biscuit mix over the meat. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over top. Bake for approximately 35 to 45 minutes or until top is golden brown. Let stand for a few minutes before serving.

Source: Food Network

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S'mores Filled Pancakes from Williams-Sonoma

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, January 25, 2011

Like their namesake, these filled pancakes are made with marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers, creating a delectable breakfast treat.

Ingredients:

4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted, plus more for cooking
1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
1 1/4 cups ebelskiver pancake mix
2 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
40 semisweet chocolate disks (about 2 1/4 oz. total)
1/4 cup coarsely crushed graham cracker crumbs
Optional: Sprinkle with a few chopped pecans

Directions:

Fill the bottom pan of a double boiler with water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. In the top pan of the double boiler, combine 2 Tbs. of the butter and the marshmallows, and stir until they are melted and incorporated into the butter, 3 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and keep the marshmallow cream warm until ready to use.

Using the ebelskiver pancake mix, eggs, milk and the remaining 2 Tbs. butter, prepare the pancake batter according to the package instructions.

Brush the wells of a filled-pancake pan with melted butter and heat over medium heat until the butter begins to bubble. Pour 1 Tbs. batter into each well. Place 2 chocolate disks in the center of each pancake and top with 1 Tbs. batter. Cook until the bottoms are golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Using 2 ebelskiver turning tools or wooden skewers, flip the pancakes over and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes more. Transfer the pancakes to a large serving plate. Repeat with the remaining batter and chocolate.

Drizzle the tops of the pancakes with the warm marshmallow cream and sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs on top. Makes about 20 filled pancakes.

Adapted from a recipe from Williams-Sonoma Kitchen

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Cinnamon Roll Pancakes from Big Red Kitchen

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, June 11, 2010

Robin, at Big Red Kitchen, gave me permission to post this. I just had to enlarge this
picture so you could see the details. This is pancakes, ladies, pancakes!

Is this not the most clever thing, ever? What a great weekend idea. Gotta try these at our house, soon. ~ jan

For the Cinnamon Filling...
In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, mix until smooth:
1 stick softened butter, almost melty
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 T. cinnamon

Using a rubber spatula to scrape the sides, pour this mixture into a large pastry bag that had been opened and stood up in a tall tumbler. A large ziptop bag with the edges folded over the tumbler would work too.

For the Cream Cheese Icing...
In the same bowl that you used for the cinnamon filling, mix together, using the hand mixer again:
2 cups powdered sugar
2 ounces cream cheese
1 tsp vanilla
4 T. milk

Mix until smooth and pour into a second pastry bag just like you did with the cinnamon mixture above.

For the Pancakes...
In the same bowl that you used for the filling and the icing- no need to be using or washing too many bowls now- mix together:
2 cups pancake mix- I used Bisquick's Heart Healthy
3 eggs
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 T. powdered sugar
1 1/4 cups milk

Using the hand mixer, blend until smooth. In a large non-stick skillet, over medium to medium-low heat, and using a 1/4 cup dry measuring cup, ladle 2 pancakes. Snip the tip off the pastry bag containing the cinnamon filling so that the opening is a scant 1/2 inch wide, swirl over cooking pancakes in a circular motion- 3 go-a-rounds should do. Continue to cook the pancakes until bubbles form evenly through each cake. Gently flip each pancake over and cook another 30-45 seconds, remove to a serving platter and serve immediately or keep warm covered in a warm oven. Continue with the rest of the batter. Place 2-3 pancakes side by side (too pretty to stack!) on each person's plate and drizzle each one with icing. Serve maple syrup, bacon or sausage, and fruit on the side. Makes 18 pancakes.

Note- Using a damp paper towel, wipe your skillet after each pancake is made. This will keep the next pancake from sticking to any of the cinnamon filling that has leaked onto your skillet or griddle.
After I swirled each pancake with the cinnamon filling, I returned the pastry bag, tip down in the tumbler. This kept it from leaking all over.
Store any leftover icing in the refrigerator for future use.

If you link to her site, you can see step by step instructions on how to make these. While you’re there, poke around in her recipe archives – she has some really good stuff!

Here’s the link>>>

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Chicken Fried Bacon aka “bacon porn”

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, June 04, 2010

Chicken Fried Bacon - Frank Sodolak's Country Inn - Snook, TX

The idea of this totally fascinates me. Completely, totally unhealthy, of course, but it looks awesome! Would I make this, probably not, but I would love to taste it, just once. ~ jan

FRIED BACON

1 lb thick sliced bacon, cut in half
1 egg
1/2 cup milk (or cream or half & half)
1/2 cup flour
spices (optional)
oil (for frying)

CREAM GRAVY

3 tablespoons drippings or butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons heavy cream (whipping)
salt and pepper, heavy on the pepper

Directions

1. Heat oil in a frying pan over med-high heat.
2. Whisk egg and milk together in a bowl.
3. Place flour in another bowl - season it if you'd like (garlic, pepper, salt, lemon, cajun, etc.).
4. Double dip - first in the egg mixture, then into the flour and repeat.
5. Fry in oil until golden brown.

Serve with cream gravy for dipping; also good served with steak.

To make cream gravy:

Put drippings or butter in a sauce pan over med-high heat. Whisk in the flour until well blended; cook over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until bubbly. Remove from heat and gradually add milk whisking constantly; return to heat & whisk until the gravy thickens; Whisk in the cream, salt & pepper.

Source: RecipeZaar

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Cheddar, Bacon, and Fresh Chive Biscuits

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 14, 2010

Cheddar, Bacon, and Fresh Chive Biscuits

yield: Makes 12
active time: 25 minutes
total time: 55 minutes
These are great for sandwiches. Just split them in half, slather with some Dijon, pile on thinly sliced ham, and add a lettuce leaf.

6 thick-cut bacon slices
3 3/4 cups bread flour
1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus melted butter for brushing
2 1/2 cups (packed) coarsely grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 12 ounces)
1/3 cup chopped fresh chives
1 3/4 cups chilled buttermilk
Honey (optional)

Preparation

Position rack just above center of oven and preheat to 425°F. Line heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cook bacon in heavy large skillet over medium heat until crisp and brown. Transfer bacon to paper towels to drain, then chop coarsely.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add butter cubes. Blend until coarse meal forms, about 30 seconds. Transfer flour mixture to large bowl. Add cheddar cheese, fresh chives, and chopped bacon; toss to blend. Gradually add buttermilk, stirring to moisten evenly (batter will feel sticky).

Using lightly floured hands, drop generous 1/2 cup batter for each biscuit onto prepared baking sheet, spacing batter mounds about 2 inches apart.

Bake biscuits until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Brush biscuits lightly with melted butter. Let cool 10 minutes. Serve biscuits warm or at room temperature with honey, if desired.

Source: Bon Appétit | February 2010
by The Bon Appétit Test Kitchen

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A little nostalgia, Chocolate Gravy

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 07, 2010

Get the recipe here -
Confections of a Foodie Bride

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Barefoot Contessa Banana Sour Cream Pancakes

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, January 22, 2010

Makes 12 pancakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk
2 extra-large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
unsalted butter
2 ripe bananas diced, plus extra for serving
pure maple syrup

Directions

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Whisk together the sour cream, milk, eggs, vanilla and lemon zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, mixing only until combined.

Melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat until it bubbles. Ladle the pancake batter into the pan (I use a 1/4 cup measure per pancake). Distribute a rounded tablespoon of bananas on each pancake. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until bubbles appear on top and the underside is nicely browned. Flip the pancakes and then cook for another 1-2 minutes, until browned. Wipe the pan with a paper towel, add more butter and continue cooking the pancakes until all of the batter is used. Serve with sliced bananas, butter and maple syrup.

original recipe found here

Source: Foodgawker

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Ricotta Muffins

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, January 22, 2010

Adapted just barely from Pastries from La Brea Bakery
The book says it yields 12 standard-size muffins, but I could have gotten 14 (if I hadn’t insisted upon overfilling and then overflowing the tins)

1/2 cup (2 ounces) walnuts or pecans
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
3 cups unbleached pastry flour or unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
3/4 cup vegetable oil (though I imagine that olive oil would be a delicious swap)
1/2 cup (4 ounces) ricotta cheese
6 tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream
Kosher salt, to taste

Adjust the oven rack to the center position and preheat oven to 325°F. Lightly butter a 1/2-cup capacity muffin tin.

Spread the nuts on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until lightly browned (though I like my pecans a darker brown, for better flavor), about 8 to 10 minutes. Shake the pan halfway through to ensure that the nuts toast evenly. Cool, chop finely and set aside.

Turn the oven up to 350°F.

In a small sauté pan over medium heat, toast the fennel seeds, stirring occasionally until they become aromatic and turn slightly brown, about 2 to 3 minutes. Allow to cool and finely chop, crush or grind in a spice grinder, clean coffee grinder or mortar and pestle.

In a large bowl, sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda together to combine. Sprinkle in the fennel seeds. Make a large well in the center and pour in the yogurt and oil. Whisk together the liquids and gradually draw in the the dry ingredients, mixing until incorperated.

To prepare the filling: Place the ricotta in a mixing bowl and, if stiff, break it up wtih a rubber spatula to loosen. Stire in the crème fraîche and a pinch of salt.

Using a pastry bag fitted with a wide tip, a plastic bag with the corner snipped off or a spoon, fill each muffin tin one-third of the way with batter. Place one tablespoon of the filling into the center of each muffin.

(I suspect at this point that Silverton believes that your filling will be thick, and perhaps with a stiff ricotta and crème fraîche, it might have been, but my mixture, with store brand ricotta and sour cream, was more of a puddle that spilled out into a flat layer. While it didn’t matter in the end, it did make it harder to put the remaining muffin batter — which was stiffer than the filling — over the ricotta mixture with just a spoon and I ended up having to go the plastic bag/piping bag route to easily cover it. Grumble-gripe.)

Pipe or spoon the remaining batter into the cups, filling them to just below the rim. (Unlike you see in my pictures, as I overfilled the tins.) Sprinkle about 1 teaspoon of the nuts over the top of each. (I had extra.)

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until lightly brown and firm to the touch.

Do ahead: I’m going to put a big question mark in this space until smarter people than me weigh in on whether a ricotta-filled muffin can be stored at room temperature. (We left them out and lived to tell you about them, but perhaps this was still a no-no?) Muffins always freeze well, however if you’re looking to a get a head start.

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Food & Wine’s Best Recipe of 2009 – Butterscotch Sticky Buns

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, January 20, 2010

Ingredients:

3/4 cup whole milk Tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 stick unsalted butter (6 Tablespoons softened, 2 Tablespoons melted)

2 large eggs

4 cups flour, plus more for dusting

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 cup light brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 cup pecan halves

Glaze:

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

6 Tablespoons unsalted butter

3 Tablespoons Scotch whiskey

2 1/2 teaspoons condensed milk

2 Tablespoons water

2 Tablespoons creme fraiche

1 1/2 teaspoons corn syrup

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon baking powder

***

Directions:

1. Make the dough: In a glass measuring cup, heat the milk in a microwave until warm, 1 minute. In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a paddle, combine the warm milk with the yeast. Add the granulated sugar and the 6 Tablespoons softened butter and mix at medium speed until the butter is broken up, 1 minute. Beat in the eggs one at a time, Add the flour and salt and mix at low speed until incorporated, about 2 minutes longer. Scrape the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature

for 30 minutes.

***

Preheat the oven to 325. Spray a standard 12 cup muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray.

***

On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out to a 9 by 24 inch rectangle. In a small bowl, mix the light brown sugar with the cinnamon. Brush the 2 Tablespoons melted butter over the dough and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Beginning at a long edge, roll up the dough as tightly as possible and pinch the seam. Cut the log into twelve 2-inch pieces and set them in the muffin cups, cut side up. Cover and let stand in a warm place for 30 minutes.

***

Set the muffin pan on a baking sheet and bake 25 to 30 minutes, until the buns are golden brown. Spread the pecans in a pie plate and toast 10 minutes until fragrant. Let cool and coarsely chop the nuts.

***

MEANWHILE MAKE THE GLAZE: In a small saucepan, bring the brown sugar, butter, Scotch, condensed milk, water, creme fraiche and corn syrup to a boil. Simmer over moderate heat until thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. remove from the heat and stir in the salt, vanilla, and baking powder.

***

Unmold the buns. Pour the glaze over the hot buns and sprinkle with the pecans. Let stand until the buns have soaked up some of the glaze and are cool enough to eat, about twenty minutes. Serve warm.

Yield 12 Buns.

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Almost Cinnabons….

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, January 13, 2010

This recipe got great reviews. I like the addition of nutmeg to the dough. This one is a must try, ladies. ~ jan
Almost-Famous Cinnamon Rolls
Adapted from the recipe at Food Network
Makes 6 enormous rolls, or 8 huge rolls
For the Dough:
1 cup whole milk
1 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast
1/4 cup plus 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the bowl
1 large egg yolk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
For the Filling:
All-purpose flour, for dusting
12 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for the pan
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons ground cinnamon
For the Glaze:
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Make the dough: Warm the milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until it reaches about 100. Remove from the heat and sprinkle in the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar (don’t stir). Set aside until foamy, 5 minutes. Whisk in the melted butter, egg yolk and vanilla.
Whisk the flour, the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, the salt and nutmeg in the bowl of a stand mixer. Make a well in the center and pour in the yeast mixture. Mix on low speed with the dough hook until thick and slightly sticky. Knead on medium speed until the dough gathers around the hook, 6 minutes. (Add up to 2 more tablespoons flour if necessary).
Remove the dough and shape into a ball. Butter the mixer bowl and return the dough to the bowl, turning to coat with butter. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 1 hour 15 minutes.
Roll out the dough, fill and cut into buns (*see instructions below*). Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking pan; place the buns cut-side down in the pan, leaving space between each. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until doubled, 40 minutes. Preheat the oven to 325.
Bake the buns until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Cool in the pan 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the glaze: Sift the confectioners’ sugar into a bowl, then whisk in the cream and melted butter. Transfer the buns to a rack and spoon the glaze on top while still warm.
*How to Form Cinnamon Buns*
On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 12-by-14-inch rectangle with the longer side facing you.
Spread with the softened butter, leaving a 1/2-inch border on the far long edge. Mix the sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over the butter.
Brush the unbuttered far edge with water. Roll the dough away from you into a tight cylinder and press on the long edge to seal.
Cut the cylinder with a sharp knife to make 6 or 8equal-size buns.

Even easier, take a piece of thread, doubled, slip it under the bun where you want to cut it, bring it up, crisscross the thread and pull. You have a perfectly cut bun. Pinky swear. ~ jan
Source: Food Network

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Perfect scrambled eggs, the Julia Child way…

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, March 09, 2009

Scrambled Eggs

2 eggs

1 pat of butter

1 Tbsp (or thereabouts) of whole milk or cream

Salt and pepper to taste

Heat a medium pan (preferably nonstick) over medium-low heat.

In a separate bowl, scramble your eggs enough to break the yolks and mix the whites in, but not enough to make the mixture frothy. In other words, don’t over mix.

When the pan is heated, reduce the heat to low and add the butter. Once the butter melts along the bottom of the pan, add your eggs and let them sit for a bit in the butter. Don’t stir too quickly. You want the heat to permeate the bottom of the eggs and start to cook them.

When you can see that the bottom of the eggs have begun to heat through, stir the eggs and then add the cream or milk, which will instantly froth a bit. Mix the milk or cream into so it integrates into the eggs and makes them custardy.

Continue cooking on low heat until the eggs are slightly firm (but not so long that they are actually firm).

Remove from the pan and serve immediately with salt and pepper to taste. Add an extra pat of butter if you want to really indulge.

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Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, December 21, 2007

I made these EXACTLY like the recipe, EXCEPT, I omitted the 2 teaspoons of orange flavoring in the frosting, and instead grated fresh orange rind into it. I did put the 2 teaspoons of orange flavoring in the batter as the recipe specified. I made these in a 9x13 pan - cooked them 27 minutes, just like the recipe said - they turned out perfectly. 4 Stars on these, girlfriends....

I used dried cranberries, instead of Craisins, they are probably the same thing, though...

Lindsay and I took one of my bars to Starbucks and taste tested it next to the real thing - it was really close in taste, except Starbucks seemed to have a bit denser base than mine did. They also tasted a little more orangy, so next time I'll probably do exactly like the recipe says and put the 2 teaspoons of orange extract into the frosting and then grate the peeling on top.

Our version was really yummy, even alongside Starbucks, they stacked up to the originals and were a lot more moist than Starbucks, probably because they were freshly baked...

~ jan

BARS
1 cup butter (2 sticks, very soft)
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons orange extract
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup craisins (dried cranberries)
3/4 cup white chocolate chips

ORANGE FROSTING
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons orange extract

TOPPING
1/4 cup craisins, chopped
1-2 tablespoon grated orange rind
1/2 cup white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon canola oil

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees (325 for a glass or dark pan). Prepare a 9x13 pan (or 10x15 pan) by lining it with parchment paper or use a non-stick spray.
2. Bars: With an electric mixer, beat together butter and sugars until fluffy; add eggs and orange extract and beat until combined.
3. Add the flour, baking powder, and ginger and beat briefly. Add the cranberries and chips, stirring just to blend and being careful not to overmix.

4. Note: You can make these lower-fat by omitting 1/2 cup butter and substituting 1/2 cup applesauce. No one notices the difference! I didn't do this, though, I made the full fat version ~ jan

5. Spread thick batter in prepared pan and bake 350 (25 minutes for 10x15, 27 minutes for 9x13), until the top is light brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out mostly clean. Let it cool completely.
6. Frosting: Blend cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add orange extract and confectioner’s sugar and beat until frosting is fluffy and spreadable (adding 1 t. milk if needed). Spread evenly over cooled bars.
7. Garnish: Use a zester to remove rind from an orange. Chop 1/4 cup Craisins coarsely. Sprinkle this garnish of orange zest and Craisins over frosted bars.
8. For the final topping, mix white chocolate and oil in a glass measuring cup. Microwave 60% power for 1 minute; stir. Repeat 1 more minute at 60% power; stir. Use a fork to drizzle the white chocolate in thin diagonal strips across the bars.
9. Allow one hour for the white chocolate to set before cutting. **To make signature Starbuck triangles, cut jelly roll pan into 20 large squares (5 cuts by 4 cuts with the knife). Then cut each square in half diagonally (see additional photos which show this step

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Nisha's Friend Kathy's Lemon Pecan Sticky Rolls

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, December 16, 2007

Nisha says these are amazing, and Nish is a great cook, Im sure this one is a keeper, gang. ~ jan

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1/4 cup Frozen Lemon Juice from Concentrate, or RealLemon
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 (8-ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls
Preheat oven to 375. In small saucepan, combine sugars, margarine, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil; boil 1 minute.
Reserving 1/4 cup, pour remaining lemon mixture into 9-inch round layer cake pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Separate rolls into 8 rectangles; spread with reserved lemon mixture. Roll up jellyroll-fashion, beginning with short side; seal edges. Cut in half. Place rolls, cut-side down in prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until dark golden brown. Loosen sides. Immediately turn onto serving plate; do not remove pan. Let stand 5 minutes; remove pan. Serve warm.

These can be made and refrigerated overnight and then baked the next morning...

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Lemon Pecan Sticky Rolls

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, December 16, 2007

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1/4 cup margarine or butter

1/4 cup Frozen Lemon Juice from Concentrate, or RealLemon

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped pecans

2 (8-ounce) packages refrigerated crescent rolls

Preheat oven to 375. In small saucepan, combine sugars, margarine, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Bring to a boil; boil 1 minute.

Reserving 1/4 cup, pour remaining lemon mixture into 9-inch round layer cake pan. Sprinkle with nuts. Separate rolls into 8 rectangles; spread with reserved lemon mixture. Roll up jellyroll-fashion, beginning with short side; seal edges. Cut in half. Place rolls, cut-side down in prepared pan. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until dark golden brown. Loosen sides. Immediately turn onto serving plate; do not remove pan. Let stand 5 minutes; remove pan. Serve warm.

These can be made and refrigerated overnight and then baked the next morning...

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Oven Baked Donuts from Heidi

by 👩‍🍳 Cooking With a Southern Vibe in Music City USA 👩‍🍳, February 16, 2007

Baked Doughnuts
February 12, 2007 | by Heidi

Mention the concept of a baked doughnut to any self-professed doughnut connoisseur, chances are you'll take some heat. The idea that a baked doughnut can match up to its deep-fried brethren is laughable in some circles. I'll concede they aren't the same, but baked doughnuts can be just as delicious - delicious yet different. They get bonus points for being healthier and for not making the house smell like a greasy fry station.

I spent the better part of Sunday trying to get the dough for these yeasted baked doughnuts right. Broadly speaking, if you can make pizza dough, you can make these. The process is very similar. I looked at a broad cross-section of recipes as inspiration and tried to settle on a ratio of sugar to egg to flour to yeast and salt that would yield a tender, slightly sweet, delicious, pillowy doughnut when baked.

Many recipes call for water as the base liquid, I opted for milk (I like the softness of the milk-based rolls I've made in the past) and I baked batches at 375, 400, and 425. On the higher end of the spectrum the bottoms browned too fast. I settled on 375 and a slightly longer time in the oven.

You can glaze these the way you would any other doughnut, but because I knew these were going to be at their pinnacle of taste minutes after coming out of the oven, I opted for a simple, classic, sugar dusting.

Baked Doughnuts

Don't over bake these, if anything, under bake them a bit - they will continue baking outside the oven for a few minutes. You want an interior that is moist and tender - not dry. Also, be sure to cut big enough holes in the center of your doughnuts - too small and they will bake entirely shut. Remember they rise, and they rise even more when they are baking. These really need to be made-to-order, but you can make and shape the dough the night before if you want to serve them for brunch. Instructions: after shaping, place doughnuts on baking sheet, cover and place in the refrigerator overnight. Pull them out an hour before baking, and let rise in a warm place before baking.

1 1/3 cups warm milk, 95 to 105 degrees (divided)
1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
5 cups all-purpose flour (alternately, white whole wheat might work - haven't tried it yet)
A pinch or two of nutmeg, freshly grated
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Place 1/3 cup of the warm milk in the bowl of an electric mixer. Stir in the yeast and set aside for five minutes or so. Be sure your milk isn't too hot or it will kill the yeast. Stir the butter and sugar into the remaining cup of warm milk and add it to the yeast mixture. With a fork, stir in the eggs, flour, nutmeg, and salt - just until the flour is incorporated. With the dough hook attachment of your mixer beat the dough for a few minutes at medium speed. This is where you are going to need to make adjustments - if your dough is overly sticky, add flour a few tablespoons at a time. Too dry? Add more milk a bit at a time. You want the dough to pull away from the sides of the mixing bowl and eventually become supple and smooth. Turn it out onto a floured counter-top, knead a few times (the dough should be barely sticky), and shape into a ball.

Transfer the dough to a buttered (or oiled) bowl, cover, put in a warm place (I turn on the oven at this point and set the bowl on top), and let rise for an hour or until the dough has roughly doubled in size.

Punch down the dough and roll it out 1/2-inch thick on your floured countertop. Most people (like myself) don't have a doughnut cutter, instead I use a 2-3 inch cookie cutter to stamp out circles. Transfer the circles to a parchment-lined baking sheet and stamp out the smaller inner circles using a smaller cutter. If you cut the inner holes out any earlier, they become distorted when you attempt to move them. Cover with a clean cloth and let rise for another 45 minutes.

Bake in a 375 degree oven until the bottoms are just golden, 8 to 10 minutes - start checking around 8. While the doughnuts are baking, place the butter in a medium bowl. Place the sugar and cinnamon in a separate bowl.

Remove the doughnuts from the oven and let cool for just a minute or two. Dip each one in the melted butter and a quick toss in the sugar bowl. Eat immediately if not sooner.

Makes 1 1/2 - 2 dozen medium doughnuts.

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