Recipe: Easy Chocolate Chunk Cookies per-Jacque Torres
Like most of us in the midwest, I was only familiar with the Nestle Tollhouse cookies growing up. They were great right out of the oven and the house smelled so good. Over the years, my mom who encouraged to bake would create her own cookie recipes. (Her most famous were called Muscle Cookies) I … Continue reading Recipe: Easy Chocolate Chunk Cookies per-Jacque Torres
TWD- Semolina Bread
I love making bread! Okay, honestly, I love eating homemade bread that has just been pulled from the oven! It didn’t take much to get me fired up to do this TWD recipe. As you know by now, I can’t post the full recipe but you can find the full recipe HERE and HERE. You … Continue reading TWD- Semolina Bread
Homemade Vanilla Extract- from Organic Costa Rican Beans!
I love all things Vanilla and use several bottles of vanilla extract over the course of a year because of all my baking! This past August I was down in Costa Rica at our place for a week trip without the kids or the husband! (SO MUCH FUN!) While I was walking in town, I popped … Continue reading Homemade Vanilla Extract- from Organic Costa Rican Beans!
Ultimate Banana Bread!
We all love banana bread, right? I have tried so many recipes over the years … most of them are good. THIS one is great! I found the recipe through my Cooks Illustrated – July/August 2010 issue. I am not going to lie … this recipe does have a NEW step that I had never done before. … Continue reading Ultimate Banana Bread!
How to Split a Vanilla Bean …
I thought I would start doing a few technique blogs. Short and Sweet! Check out the attached video for a “how to” on splitting a vanilla bean, it’s two steps and will really BOOST the flavor of ice cream, crème brûlée, pastry cream, whipping cream etc. If you only need the seeds, you can save … Continue reading How to Split a Vanilla Bean …
Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Fresh Sage
Last year I had the opportunity to go to Yountville, CA (Napa) for several days. While I was there I had dinner at Michael Chiarello’s restaurant called Bottegga. I choose the Gnocchi since it was the only vegetarian dish on our preselected menu. I had tasted it before, but it had been the store-bought frozen … Continue reading Gnocchi with Brown Butter and Fresh Sage
Homemade Tomato Sauce …
My oldest loves reading anything you put in front of him, so around meal time he likes to read the label on the back of any can, jar, bag or box which I am using. (Now that might sound bad, but if you read this blog, you know I do make HOMEMADE food a lot!) … Continue reading Homemade Tomato Sauce …
Kale Chips- Easy and Great!
I bought Brad’s Kale chips from Whole Foods a few years ago. They are amazing. I have NO idea how they make them and these homemade ones aren’t the same. However, they are easy to make and really good. The Brad’s Kale chips are $8 for a small package, that isn’t a typo! Trust me, in … Continue reading Kale Chips- Easy and Great!
Creme Brûlée with just 4 ingredients!
Let’s get started with our Mise En Place (putting everything in its place) 1 qt heavy cream 1 vanilla bean – split in half, (longways and try not to cut through) and scrape out all the tiny black seeds, reserve 3/4 c white sugar 8 egg yolks. (Don’t forget to always use LARGE eggs unless … Continue reading Creme Brûlée with just 4 ingredients!
Granola!
A few weeks ago, I made a recipe from Cooks Illustrated for Crunchy Almond Granola. Actually I made it twice, because I didn’t love it the first time and wanted to make sure I hadn’t left anything out. I hadn’t. It just didn’t have a lot of flavor, or any flavor! I mean let’s be … Continue reading Granola!
Caprese, Greek and Crudities
Sweet Sweet Pinterest! Oh, how my world has changed with the introduction of Pinterest. As I am a very visual person, I love that I can surf the site and then “pin” what I like to my own “board.” Plus, since I have a less than stellar memory, it’s helpful that I can easily circle … Continue reading Caprese, Greek and Crudities
French Strawberry Cake- TWD
For those of you who are new to my blog, this is recipe from Dorie Greenspan’s book called Baking with Julia. Each “Tuesday” a group of 400+ bakers blog about a pre-selected recipe. There are two “hosts” that are “allowed” to share the actual recipe. Sophie – and Allison this week. You can check out … Continue reading French Strawberry Cake- TWD
Grilled Shrimp with a Bangin’ Cajun Sauce
I have a “famous” friend … and local Richmonder’s have probably seen her on NBC 12 as a newscaster over the last few years! Oh, yes … CASEY NICHOLSON!!! I met her through a volunteer organization that I have been involved with over the last 9 years. (Junior League of Richmond, http://www.jlrichmond.org) I must … Continue reading Grilled Shrimp with a Bangin’ Cajun Sauce
Zucchini Boats
I loved the little zucchini canoes I made a few weeks ago, so I decided to make them again and grill them out on our new “Big Green Egg!” If you are not familiar with the Big Green Egg … it’s a charcoal grill on STEROIDS! Besides all of the desserts that I make, … Continue reading Zucchini Boats
Dark Chocolate Mousse
Dark Chocolate Mousse on the Food Network. It’s official. Bobby Flay must actually have some secret technique that he is not sharing with me about this Mousse recipe! That has to be the problem, right? It can’t be “my” technique … (ha-ha). It’s not like I haven’t made chocolate mousse 15 times before … … Continue reading Dark Chocolate Mousse
Denise’s Top TEN – Sorry Letterman!
I took my first cooking class at U. of Richmond about a year ago. The first class that you are required to take is called “Tools of Trade.” It’s a three hour class with two hours of lecture. For those of you who have known me a long time, you know that my body starts to shake … Continue reading Denise’s Top TEN – Sorry Letterman!
Crunchy Almond Granola
Hello! About a month ago I joined a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) that delivers right to the door! LOVED IT! Until I realized that I just can’t cook that many random vegetables in a weeks time. (BEETS, really?) I have made them in one of my classes, but I am going to be honest … Continue reading Crunchy Almond Granola
Zucchini Boats
At 16, I became a vegetarian. You might wonder if I first did research on the topic … or saw a movie about reasons why I should become one. The answer would be that I did none of those … at 16, I was finding myself, just like every other teenager. I had slowly … Continue reading Zucchini Boats
Sweet Yeast Bread – Braided
It’s summertime friends … and that means my schedule is MINE! Okay, almost mine … I do have two little people who I have to drive to play dates, camps and other appointments. So, my baking has been a bit sporadic. I have been repeating some of my earlier recipes … I like to do … Continue reading Sweet Yeast Bread – Braided
Pecan Sticky Buns -Step 2! TWD
Tuesday’s with Dorie- Pecan Sticky Buns Step Two After completing Step One, I am ready to pull my yeast dough out of the fridge and get started. I set up my Mise En Place on the island and bring out my silpat. I divide the dough in half and place the one piece back in … Continue reading Pecan Sticky Buns -Step 2! TWD
Brioche for Pecan Sticky Buns – Step One TWD
TWD- Brioche Recipe for Pecan Sticky Buns! Another week and another recipe to conquer from Dorie Greenspan’s book “Baking with Julia.” I have never made sticky buns before. I don’t even think I have ever tried one before. I have had and baked some seriously amazing cinnamon rolls. I finally was trusted by family friends … Continue reading Brioche for Pecan Sticky Buns – Step One TWD
Hungarian Shortbread – Great Make Ahead Dessert!
You can find the recipe for the shortbread in Dorie’s book called Baking with Julia or check out the two hosts of the week who are able to share it. http://1smallkitchen.blogspot.com/2012/05/tuesdays-with-dorie-hungarian.html or http://crazyworldofcher.blogspot.com/2012/04/on-shoulders-of-those-before-us-twd.html Let’s get started! Combine the dry ingredients – flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside. Using a stand mixer, beat the softened unsalted … Continue reading Hungarian Shortbread – Great Make Ahead Dessert!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Tart w/ Pretzel Crust! (from one tart to another …)
Hello! Today’s blog goes out to one of my dearest friends! I had lived in Colorado for 10 years, just purchased my first home, had a wonderful circle of friends and a great job when … I went on a business trip and met the man of my dreams. Months later, he brought me to … Continue reading Peanut Butter Chocolate Tart w/ Pretzel Crust! (from one tart to another …)
Spanakopita Bites – Appetizer or Side Dish!
I found this recipe on Pinterest a few weeks ago and knew I had to try it. Traditionally, you will find spanakopita in little triangles. This recipe was different, as this spanakopita is made in mini muffin pans. (I knew there had to be another use for those muffin pans!) I was really hoping that … Continue reading Spanakopita Bites – Appetizer or Side Dish!
Chocolate Mousse Cake – The Triple Threat!
It’s official … I have met my match and it came in the form of a birthday cake! My husband of 8 years loves chocolate. Over the years I have made chocolate cakes, mousse, tarts, fudges and even chocolate caramel. I have collected recipes in food magazines and searched on Pinterest for chocolate desserts for … Continue reading Chocolate Mousse Cake – The Triple Threat!
Savory Puff Pastry – Side Dish
A friend of mine, Jean Marie Kennedy and fellow student from the University of Richmond Cooking School, made her TV debut on NBC12 with this recipe. It looked so good; I had to try it. I’ve made puff pastry a few times for Palmier Cookies but had never used it in a savory … Continue reading Savory Puff Pastry – Side Dish
MOST REQUESTED:Sour Cream Coffee Cake
This recipe has been made 100’s of time by my family. I always double it, because it freezes well and people love receiving one! *Preheat convection oven to 350 degrees Ingredients: 2 sticks of unsalted butter- room temperature 2 c white sugar 2 large eggs- room temperature 1 c sour cream 1 t vanilla extract … Continue reading MOST REQUESTED:Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Irish Soda Bread- TWD
About two months ago, my mother emailed me and let me know that we are part Irish! Apparently, she had been on http://www.ancestory.com and discovered this exciting part of our history! Lucky for me, one of my college roommate, (Amy) who was Irish, taught me to drink like I was Irish so at least … Continue reading Irish Soda Bread- TWD
Lemon Loaf Cake – TWD
I love lemon … so I was really excited to try this lemon pound cake from the Baking with Julia cookbook. Mise En Place: I used my microplane to grate 3 lemons. I learned in one of my classes to only scrape the yellow part of the lemon. If you grate to deep you … Continue reading Lemon Loaf Cake – TWD
Pizza Rustica – TWD
I’m Back! I was able to sneak away to CO for a week and enjoy my family, friends and those Rocky Mountains! While in Beavercreek, before a busy dinner service, I toured Spendido’s at the Chateau’s kitchen. It was amazing! I waited tables through high-school and college, so I have seen a lot of … Continue reading Pizza Rustica – TWD
Baking with Denise 