You are here: Home / Archives for sweet

Lemony Blue Heart Cupcakes

January 19, 2012 By 86 Comments

It’s Kitchen Improv!!!

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 Kitchen Improv.  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 Kitchen Improv 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 these 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 have been chopped!” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cupcake Heaven, Fruity, Kitchen Improv Tagged With: , , ,

Caramel Sauce

September 10, 2011 By 26 Comments

 “COME ON OVER HERE WITH THAT SUGAR STICKY SWEET STUFF.”  Sugarland

I always think it’s a smart idea to develop a repertoire of good, simple, basic recipes.  They are always there to fall back on in a pinch, stand in for something else, and be the basis or sidekicks for other great recipes.  A fantastic caramel sauce is one of those basic necessities.  I especially love to warm this in the fall and dip slices of fruit in it!  I love to bake this in apple or pear pies. And of  course, it’s great drizzled over ice cream!  I made this delicious caramel sauce now because I’ll be using it in a frosting!  However you choose to use it….it’s one of the simplest things to make and keep on hand….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Basics Tagged With: , ,

Sunflower Seed Cookies

August 31, 2011 By 50 Comments

“EVERY FRIEND TO THE OTHER IS A SUN, AND A SUNFLOWER ALSO.  HE ATTRACTS AND FOLLOWS.”  Jean Paul Richter

Some days we could all use a little self imposed sunshine.  Such was my day today!  And while I didn’t intend on baking and posting today, a quick trip to the market had me gazing upon these enormous sunflowers and just smiling!  Plus….they were on sale!  While these are not my most favorite flower, when I see them…..it’s like looking at a huge smiley face ….and I can almost hear them telling me….“Have a nice day!”  And then I knew I wanted to bake a batch of sunflower seed cookies!  The best part of a chocolate chip cookie for me is the cookie flavor itself.  I swear I could bake them plain without the chips!  And so I wanted to use a similar cookie base.  But I just had to add something special….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cookies Tagged With: , ,

Lotta Lemon Pie

August 20, 2011 By 42 Comments

“IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE LEMON IS THE MOST VALUABLE OF ALL FRUIT FOR PRESERVING HEALTH.”  Maud Grieve: A Modern Herbal (1931)

Ahhhh Maud….I hope you are right!  Then there’s all the more reason we should all eat this sweet, creamy, tangy pie …and often!  It’s not that there’s a crazy amount of lemon in this pie that makes it so good.  But it’s what’s going on in the layers that makes it incredible.  The most concentration of tangy lemon flavor is in the crust.  The lemon cream is light and sweet.  And then the whipped cream on top is only kissed with the zest of the lemon.  So each bite has you puckering, savoring, licking your lips and digging in for more!  The secret to the tart, lemony crust is…… [Read more...]

Filed Under: Pie Tagged With: , , , ,

Summer Corn Custard with Blueberry Compote

July 20, 2011 By 23 Comments

“AH, SUMMER, WHAT POWER YOU HAVE TO MAKE US SUFFER, AND LIKE IT.”  Russell Baker

 

Every season has its harvests.  To me, summer seems to have the best!  And I think this is true in both flavor and variety.  So I wanted to share a recipe that combines two of my very favorites from the summer produce stand……corn and blueberries!   I love corn on the cob, I just don’t like to eat corn on the cob! (At least not in public! Ha!)  But I love when the corn is so sweet, you really don’t need to put butter on it.  (But I do, anyway!)  Well this custard is lovely, because you don’t grind the corn, you infuse it in with your vanilla cream!  Sounds good so far?  Wait….it gets even better……. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creamy Desserts Tagged With: , , ,

Macarons Au Cafe-Creme

July 17, 2011 By 31 Comments

“THOUGH THIS BE MADNESS, YET THERE IS A METHOD.”  William Shakespeare

Well this is my first attempt at making macarons!  You know, for such a perfect little cookie, you hear so many horror stories about how difficult it is to make them!  But actually, it really wasn’t so difficult after all.  You simply must follow the instructions as exactly as you can.  I let my egg whites age for several days.  I measured everything (in grams)!  I even purchased thermometers for both ovens!  The only thing I would do differently is pipe them smaller.  (I know my piping skills are sorely lacking, so I should have measured here, too)!

But all the effort you will put forth will be worth it.  This delicately sweet, chewy cookie filled with rich coffee cream is like no other baked good in all this world!  While my first love is for cupcakes, I believe I am developing a passion for these amazing and special little cookies!  And I can see how some are inspired, by the most ordinary visual stimulus, to create these little sensations!  The possibilities are endless!  And here’s how you can be inspired, too…….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cookies, Great Kitchen Reads Tagged With: , , , , ,

Berry Basil Ice Cream

June 15, 2011 By 14 Comments

B is for BASIL

 

Well this is the second post in my series “My Spice Rack from A-Z”.  This month, I had to choose a spice beginning with the letter B.  Not sure what is in your spice rack that would fit the bill.  But I had bay leaves and basil!  While I cook enough times with both spices, I’ve never created a dessert with either.  Inspired by a poem by Keats, I chose basil!

I searched online a bit, and most recipes matched basil with lemon, and usually in a panna cotta.  I decided to keep it simple and basic and I made some ice cream.  I made it a bit differently than I usually do.  And I wonder if those of you who make ice cream can tell me the difference………. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Creamy Ice Cream Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Heart of Darkness Brownies

June 7, 2011 By 14 Comments

“ALL I REALLY NEED IS LOVE,  BUT A LITTLE CHOCOLATE NOW AND THEN DOESN’T HURT!”  Charles Shulz

 Well I think these brownies are very appropriately named.  And very much suited to the state of my own heart these days.  You see, I’m in a spell of very bad kitchen karma.  My strawberry tart, though incredibly delicious, didn’t hold up very well.  And today, while making these brownies, my lower oven was set to 350°; while my upper oven somehow was set to 450°.  So you can imagine the fate of one set of brownies!  And….in between batches, my power went out!!!  I think the kitchen gods are trying to tell me something.  Or maybe I think that my own heart has been a little heavy these past few days and so I am feeling a bit distracted in the kitchen.  Anyway…. I decided to abandon the strawberries in lieu of these incredible, moist, chewy, fudgey delights!  And believe me…..this was just what my poor heart of darkness needed.  You cannot believe what is in these!!!  But read on to understand why they will lift you out of your own dark place……. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Brownies Tagged With: , , ,

Petit Fours

May 8, 2011 By 19 Comments

“THERE IS AN ENDURING TENDERNESS IN THE LOVE OF A MOTHER TO A SON THAT TRANSCENDS ALL OTHER AFFECTIONS OF THE HEART.”  Washington Irving

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

I’m sitting here with my lower lip out because this day just isn’t the same without Jeff and Matt here.  I think Mother’s Day should be moved to the summer, when my guys will be back from school.  I’m not sure if I am really missing them, or if I am just missing the opportunity to have yard work done or my car cleaned inside and out!  (I am usually good for milking whatever work I can from them on this day!)  So to make myself feel better, I made some little cakes!  These are sweet and simple.  But let me tell you what I learned about working with the fondant icing….. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Little Cakes, Petite sweets Tagged With: , , , ,

Tres Leches Cake (with Rum Fruit Topping)

May 4, 2011 By 18 Comments

“THE HISTORY OF EVERY COUNTRY BEGINS IN THE HEART OF A MAN OR A WOMAN.”  Willa Cather

 

Cinco de Mayo marks the defeat of French forces by Mexico in the Battle of Puebla which took place on May 5, 1862.  It is celebrated because not only did Mexico take back their own nation on that day, but their victory influenced the outcome of the United States Civil War.  For many, Cinco de Mayo has come to mean margaritas and Mexican food.  For me, it is an opportunity to make one of my most favorite desserts.  Tres Leches Cake! When I first tasted this cake… [Read more...]

Filed Under: Cake Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Older Posts