Peanut Butter Cookiesadapted from a Better Homes and Garden recipe Ingredients:1/2 cup butter1/2 cup shortening 1 cup smooth peanut butter (not natural style)2 cups packed dark brown sugar2 eggs1 tsp. vanilla 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 1/2 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt Instructions: Beat butter, shortening and peanut butter until well combined and creamy. Add […]
Raspberry Buttermilk Ice Cream
Raspberry Buttermilk Ice Creamoriginal recipe Ingredients: For berries: 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries1/4-1/2 cup sugar (depending on sweetness of berries) For custard base: 2 cups heavy cream6 egg yolks (4 or 5 will work fine, but no less than 4)3/4 cup sugardash salt1 tsp. vanilla, optional2 cups cold buttermilk Instructions: For berries: Place the berries […]
How To Make Croissants (With Step-By-Step Photos!)
I received the book pictured below for my birthday this year. (P.S. It’s on sale right now!) I have checked this book out many, many times from my local library, so it was a great gift for my husband to have bought me. I’m a huge fan of the cooking shows on PBS, but especially […]
Making Croissants: Rolling Out The Dough, Part 2
The next morning, the dough looked like this after I took it out of the fridge. Incorporating the butter: 1. Place the croissant dough on a large, well-floured surface. (The recipe recommends marble–and if you have a slab of marble that big, you are SO lucky. Can I come see it?) 2. Roll dough into […]
Making Croissants 101: The Finished Product
The plain and almond croissants and pain au chocolat pictured here were what I wanted mine to look like. Gulp. Would they? Would all my hard work pay off? Almost…… The croissants could have been a little more bronze, the pain au chocolate a little less bronze, maybe. These are the innards. I liked the […]
Have You Tried: Hazelnuts?
Hazelnuts are a delicious nut that pair well with chocolate and coffee. They are very popular in Europe and are becoming more popular here in the US. For more info on hazelnuts (read: I’m too tired to write my own little ditty about them) head on over to Wikipedia. I’ll never forget my first experience […]
Hazelnut Brown Sugar Ice Cream with Coffee-Toffee Sauce
This creamy, smooth ice cream is made with hazelnut-infused whole milk. While it is excellent and rich enough all on its own, a small amount of Coffee-Toffee Sauce makes it that much better. Recipes using hazelnuts you might enjoy: Flourless Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies Chocolate Hazelnut Nutcracker Cake Caramel Hazelnut Gelato Hazelnut Toffee Cookies Pear, Chocolate, […]
Toasting Hazelnuts 101
Toasting hazelnuts is the perfect way to intensify and enhance their natural flavor. Start with shelled hazelnuts. Pick through them to remove any damaged nuts. Lay the nuts on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in a 350 degree oven for between 10 to 20 minutes. The papery skins will start to split. […]
White Balsamic-Shallot Vinaigrette
White Balsamic-Shallot Vinaigretteoriginal recipe Ingredients:1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar1/2 cup good quality extra virgin olive oil1 tsp. Dijon mustard1 shallot, finely mincedsea salt, to taste (the vinaigrette benefits from a good amount 1/4 to 1/2 tsp.)fresh ground pepper, to taste Instructions:Place the mustard in a small bowl and whisk in the vinegar. While vigorously whisking, […]
Mixed Greens with Dried Black Currants and Toasted Hazelnuts
If I could pick my most favorite salad in the world, it would be this salad. It’s amazing and garners compliments whenever I take it to parties and potlucks. If you can’t find dried black currants, use Zante currants, raisins, dried cranberries or blueberries instead. Mixed Greens with Dried Black Currants and Toasted Hazlenuts original […]
