Blueberry Orange Baby Bundts #Bundtamonth

CAN WORDS DESCRIBE THE FRAGRANCE OF THE VERY BREATH OF SPRING?”  Neltje Blanchan

Blueberry Orange Baby Bundts | From My Sweet Heart

So many people await the arrival of spring because it means the days are longer and there is so much more to do outside.  For some, it’s the constant sunshine that they enjoy.  And for others new growth brings with it a feeling of new hope.  For me, spring is like living in a world of aromatherapy.  There is nothing that instantly relaxes me like the scent of lilacs in my yard, freshly cut grass, or even wet dirt after a soaking spring rain.  And so it is with baking.  Anuradha of Baker Street and Lora of Cake Duchess challenged the Bundt a Month bakers to use berries this month.  While blueberries are not the most fragrant fruit, when you combine them with the warm sweet scent of vanilla and bright and cheery citrus notes, your kitchen is suddenly filled with promise.  And these sweet little blueberry orange mini bundt cakes promise to be delicious! [Read more...]

Berry Smoothie Ice Cream Pie

PIE IS A SYMBOL OF SOMETHING BIGGER THAN MOM AND HER WAY WITH DESSERTS.”  Pascale le Draoulec

Berry Smoothie Ice Cream Pie | From My Sweet Heart

Well if this mom has a way with desserts, her kids would never know.  They don’t eat them much!  I don’t know what to say other than I can’t believe they’re mine.  But my kids just aren’t sweet eaters.  Birthday cakes?  Unless it’s plain vanilla, no icing, with a slight sprinkling of powdered sugar…..maybe.  Ice cream?  Now we’re talking!  So when the “fabulous 14”, the fun loving, creative and talented women who brought you Crêpe Week, Beer Week and Soup Week decided on Sweets Week, my head went straight to this recipe. 

It has been a really fun week of Sweets for Your Sweetie Pies.  The true sweetie pies in my life are my boys (now young men).  So I decided on this incredible Berry Smoothie Ice Cream Pie.  Every luscious layer of this ice cream pie blends together to have you feeling like you are enjoying your favorite smoothiePureed strawberries, bananas and blueberries are combined with vanilla frozen yogurt and stacked on a sweet granola pie crust.  Your spoon may not be fast enough and you’ll be wishing you had a straw!  And I’ve put together a Pie Package for one lucky winner. . . . . [Read more...]

Blueberry Spice Muffins

“BLUEBERRIES AS BIG AS THE END OF YOUR THUMB, REAL SKY-BLUE, AND HEAVY, AND READY TO DRUM IN THE CAVERNOUS PAIL OF THE FIRST ONE TO COME!”  Robert Frost

Blueberry Spice Muffins | From My Sweet Heart

I have been patiently awaiting the arrival of great summer berriesBLUEBERRIES are one of my favorites to bake with.  I particularly like this version of blueberry muffin, slightly sweetened with the warmth of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves[Read more...]

Lemony Blue Heart Cupcakes

It’s Kitchen Improv!!!

Lemony Blue Heart Cupcakes | From My Sweet Heart

Have you ever watched Chopped on The Food Network?  It’s one of my favorite shows!  How those chefs combine 4 totally obscure ingredients in the most cohesive way in 20 minutes is mind blowing to me!  And though I’d love the challenge, it would take me days to figure out how to put them all together!

Luckily for me, I’ve found a more reasonable, realistic, and fun version of this concept.  It’s called The Improv Cooking Challenge.  And it is hosted by Kristen from The Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker.  If Kristen is a harried homemaker, you would never know it.  She’s a wonderful chef, baker, blogger, mother, whose site is filled with amazing recipes for “family style cooking, frugal tips, and an occasional random post”.  And it is awesome!

The premise of The Improv Cooking Challenge is that each month we are given 2 ingredients to incorporate into a recipe of our choice.  I can do that!  This month, we were to utilize lemons and sour cream.  A fabulous combination!  Let me show you how I worked them into a scrumptious and lemony cupcake filled with a creamy lemon and blueberry filling.  Hopefully, I won’t be hearing Kristen say, “Chef Anne, you’ve been chopped!” [Read more...]

Wild Blueberry Oatmeal in Warm Maple Cream

“YOU HAVE TO EAT OATMEAL OR YOU’LL DRY UP.  ANYBODY KNOWS THAT.”  Kay Thompson, author of ‘Eloise’.

Wild Blueberry Oatmeal in Warm Maple Cream | From My Sweet Heart

Growing up in New England, and especially in the winters, my dad would very often make me oatmeal for breakfast.  To some, this may have seemed like the dreaded, dreary breakfast.  I think oatmeal has a bad rap of being a sticky, clumpy, heavy gruel.  But I have always loved it! Dad always served it with milk and maple syrup.  And I remember secretly wishing that he would be distracted while making it, because I was sure to find a lump or two in my bowl.  And I loved finding the sweet, unexpected texture of those lumps!

I still love oatmeal and eat it all year round.  And who says oatmeal can’t be sophisticated?!  So I’ve tried to elevate it a little bit from it’s rustic form; while still giving a wink and a nod to my dad, who I miss with all my heart.  A friend gave me this recipe some time ago telling me how she tweaked it from when it was given to her.  And I did my own tweaking to get it to my personal liking.  Here are the basics, but I hope you will feel free to tweak away……. [Read more...]

Blueberry Pie Ice Cream

“I GO RUNNING WHEN I HAVE TO.  WHEN THE ICE CREAM TRUCK IS DOING SIXTY.”  Wendy Liebman

Blueberry Pie Ice Cream | From My Sweet Heart

This is so far the BEST  ice cream I have ever tasted in my life!  I love it because it truly is a great combination of pie and ice cream.  I’ve seen other recipes include graham crackers in their version of ‘pie ice creams’.  But pie to me, is crust, not crackers.

This ice cream has all the components of pie a la mode.  Sweet cream ice cream with a hint of cinnamon, fresh blueberry compote, and chunks of sweet and savory cream cheese pie crust.  You won’t be running for the ice cream truck with a pint of this in your freezer!  Check out how easy it is to throw together…….. [Read more...]

Blueberry-Vanilla Cream Cheese Hand Pies

“A MOTHER IS A PERSON WHO SEEING THERE ARE ONLY FOUR PIECES OF PIE FOR FIVE PEOPLE, PROMPTLY ANNOUNCES SHE NEVER DID CARE FOR PIE.”  Tenneva Jordan

Blueberry Vanilla Cream Cheese Hand Pies | From My Sweet Heart

 Well the bad news is, it is Mother’s Day weekend and my guys are once again away at school.  The good news is, this recipe makes 10 hand pies and there’s only one of me!!!  This is a perfect Saturday morning recipe.  It is quick and easy and amazing in flavor!  I love, love, love blueberries!  And I will be using them a lot as spring turns into summer.

But this recipe is simple and  delicious!  The pies are incredibly light given the buttery, flaky crust and the amount of blueberries and cream cheese packed inside of them.  They come together quickly, but the end result is something pretty special.  I hope you will give them a try and feel free to mix and match berries and liqueur.  Yum! [Read more...]

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Maple Blueberry Sauce

“ALL HAPPINESS DEPENDS ON A LEISURELY BREAKFAST.”  John Gunther

Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Maple Blueberry Sauce | From My Sweet Heart

 

It is so nice when I have the time to make breakfast.  Most mornings I am gulping down a quick yogurt while standing up; or grabbing a Starbuck’s along the way to work.  Sometimes it just feels good to treat yourself right and make something a little special.  This is one of my favorite recipes; quick and easy.  The ricotta makes it a little savory, while the lemon keeps it light and fresh and the blueberries  add the right touch of sweetness.  A great idea for breakfast or brunch.  And it’s definitely a great way to start the day.  Today, it was a burst of sunshine on my rainy morning! [Read more...]