Archive for the ‘summer favorite’ Category

Post 50… and no pictures.

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

You know something’s good when it doesnt last long enough to have pictures taken!

Blueberry and Nectarine Cobbler!

(the recipe is for Southern Peach Cobbler…. but I used what I had. It was amazing!)

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 fresh peaches - peeled, pitted and sliced into thin wedges
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (skipped, as my nutmeg went MIA before I started cooking.)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    Topping
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
  • 1/4 cup boiling water
    mix together and keep off to side:
  • 3 tablespoons white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

    DIRECTIONS

  • In a large bowl, combine fruit, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and cornstarch. Toss to coat evenly, and pour into a 2 quart baking dish.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine flour, 1/4 cup white sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, baking powder, and salt.
  • Blend in butter with your fingertips, or a pastry blender, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in water until just combined.
  • Remove peaches from oven, and drop spoonfuls of topping over them.
  • Sprinkle entire cobbler with the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
  • Bake until topping is golden, about 30 minutes.

    And…. Vanilla Ice Cream to go with it!
    (warning : this recipe makes a GALLON of ice cream, so adjust accordingly.)

    INGREDIENTS

  • 2 (12 fluid ounce) cans evaporated milk
  • 1/2 pint heavy cream
  • 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 (3.5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 4 cups milk

    DIRECTIONS

  • In large bowl, beat together eggs, evaporated milk, cream, condensed milk, sugar and vanilla, with electric mixer.
  • Beat in pudding mix until smooth.
  • Pour into freezer canister of ice cream maker and add enough milk to bring mixture to fill line. (I just measured and added with everything else.)
  • Freeze according to manufacturer’s directions.

    WARNING: it takes FOREVER to freeze. Make the day before!

    • Posted in ice cream, summer favorite, dessert, comfort food, super easy, baking | 1 Comment »

    Maple Porkchops and Hot Crash Potatoes!

    Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

    This was one of those nights where I couldnt figure out what to make… and I found these easy recipes… They were amazing! I highly recommend trying them! (DH hates carrots and loved these!) 

     

    These lovely chops came from Elizabeth’s Edible Experience… She added apple too… but we had apple last night, so I skipped it. VERY good… :)

    Maple Porkchops and Apples

    Ingredients

  • 4 Pork Loin Chops, 1/2 inch thick
  • 2 Tbsp. Butter
  • 12 Baby Carrots with tops, halved lenghtwise (I used baby carrots…)
  • 1 Medium apple, sliced and seeds removed
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup

    DIRECTIONS

  • Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper. In skillet melt butter over medium heat; add chops.
  • Reduce heat to medium-low. Add carrots, apple, and maple syrup.
  • Cover; simmer for 8 minutes or until desired doneness.
  • Using slotted spoon, transfer chops, carrots and apples to platter; bring syrup mixture to a boil. Boil gently, uncovered, 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Pour over chops and serve

     

    Hot Crash Potatoes
    These are a WC cult food right now… I got the recipe from Venice who got it from Pioneer Woman. 

    INGREDIENTS

  • 2 lbs of baby red potatoes (or how much you need), scrubbed clean
  • a few sprigs of freshly chopped flat leaf parsley & basil (didnt have either, so I just did salt, pepper and garlic powder.)
  • salt & pepper
  • extra virgin olive oil for drizzling and basting

    DIRECTIONS

  • Preheat the oven to 450. 
  • Bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and add potatoes.
  • When the potatoes are tender, drain.
  • Drizzle olive oil on a cookie sheet and place the potatoes on it and give plenty of room to spread out.
  • Use a potato masher and gently press down on the potato until it slightly mashes.
    Then rotate the masher 90 degrees and finish flattening it. Of course, you don’t want to absolutely smash it into the pan—you want it almost to resemble a cookie.
  • Repeat until all are flattened. Next, brush the tops rather generously with olive oil.
  • Next, sprinkle the potatoes with sea salt or Kosher salt, and freshly ground pepper. Add some chopped fresh herbs.
  • Now throw them onto the top rack of a very hot (450-degree) oven, and cook them for 20-25 minutes. (Mine cooked while the pork cooked…) Or until they’re golden and crispy and sizzling.

    Enjoy!

    • Posted in summer favorite, comfort food, pork, super easy, baking | 1 Comment »

    The Infamous BakingBlonde Blondies

    Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

    oh.
    my.
    god.

    These are amazing. They take minutes to make… a little while to bake… and forever to cool. All that said, you cant rush perfection. Spend the time to make them…. your thighs might hate you, but your mouth will love you forever.

     

    BakingBlonde’s Basic Blondies

    INGREDIENTS

  • 6-7 TBS butter, melted 
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking powder (optional, creates lighter blondie texture)

    DIRECTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 350.
  • Line an 8×8 pan with foil and lightly spray with PAM.
  • In a large microwave safe mixing bowl melt the butter. Allow to cool for 5 mintues.
  • Mix the brown sugar with the melted butter and beat until smooth.
  • Beat in egg and then vanilla.
  • Add salt, stir in flour and baking powder (if using).
  • Mix in any additions (some ideas below).
  • Pour into prepared pan and use a greased spatula to evenly spread mixture in pan and level the top.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until set in the middle. (My oven’s funny- they baked for 30-35 minutes)
  • Cool on rack before cutting. (This is the hardest part. They take FOREVER to cool, and smell AMAZING.)

    Add in ideas:
    I did:

  • 1/2 to 1 cup chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, white chocolate or butterscotch chips (I did white chocolate)
  • 1/4 cup toffee pieces (I used 1/2 cup Heath bar pieces.)
    other ideas :
  • 1/2 tsp mint extract in addition to, or in the place of vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds
  • 1/2 cup M&M candies
  • 1/2 chopped Reese’s PB cups

    Enjoy!

    • Posted in summer favorite, super easy, baking | 2 Comments »

    mmmm watermelon!

    Tuesday, June 10th, 2008

     

    We’ve been really busy… and havent done much that’s ended up being blog worthy :( 
    We had some leftover watermelon… (well 4 of them!) so I decided to make some watermelon sorbet. 

    I found this recipe on epicurious.com  and its really good!

    INGREDIENTS
    8 cups cubed (1 inch) watermelon, seeds and rind discarded
    1 cup Simple Sugar Syrup
    2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

    DIRECTIONS
    Puree the watermelon cubes in a food processor.
    Measure 4 cups of the puree and place in a bowl.
    Add the Simple Sugar Syrup and lemon juice and stir well.
    Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Enjoy! :)

    Posted in summer favorite, dessert | 2 Comments »