A Lazy TWD….

 

I think the Tarte Fine is a perfect Lazy TWD dessert.  It is so simple to put together, quick to bake, and tastes really good.  And if it wasn’t easy enough….I got lazy with it.  Which I shouldn’t have, because now I have chunks of apricot jam in my glaze that you can see in pictures….and undercooked puff pastry.  And there is nothing worse than undercooked puff pastry, it’s chewy and a little gross.  I got lazy.  I wanted to glaze it and eat it.  So when I saw the edges of this simple, easy tarte getting browned I pulled it!  I should have foiled the edges like Dorie told me too and let it bake longer.

So even though my pictures are spotted with bits of apricot, and my puff pastry is a little chewy, I think it looks good, and the edges are really good!!

I, of course, added a little caramel sauce!  I think it really goes with everything! 

Enjoy!

And be sure to go and check out all the other TWD creations of the Tarte Fine!

TWD - Vanilla Ice Cream

In the past couple of months I have made a few different ice creams, different bases, etc....and I have to say...I love a custard base ice cream. It is so rich and sticks to your tongue. It may be a bit more work, but it is so worth it. I didn't realize how easy it is to make ice cream without a maker - believe me, I wish I had one, and hope to get one soon - but you can make these delicious treats without one. Just check out how to here.

Dorie's Vanilla Ice Cream is yummy. She gives options of either using vanilla extract or a vanilla bean. GO WITH THE BEAN. Scrape out the seeds and boil the bean - get that flavour out. It makes a difference. Seeing all those little specks makes me smile too!

Be sure to check out the TWD blog roll and see what other's made with this week's recipe. And check out Lynne's blog, Cafe Lynnylu, for this week's recipe.

Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

TWD - Brioche Tart!

I wasn't going to participate this week as I have developed quite a summer cold! I am all congested and icky feeling the past couple of days. But I forged on and twisted it up a bit. Instead of using plums like Dorie's recipe calls for I used diced apple and blueberries.

So since I am not feeling so great and anxious to take a hot bath and go to bed, all you are going to get from me this week is pictures! Sorry....but they are great pics, in my opinion!

Before going in the oven....

A little slice....

The complete tart! Look at those shriveled blueberries....all that juice is in the tart...mmmmm

Take Care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

No TWD...again...damn humidity

Well...I really wanted to make this week's Coconut Roasted Pineapple Dacquoise....minus the pineapple. But I was reading on the P&Q that humidity would be an issue. I knew this...I have made meringues in the middle of summer and had them come out chewy and not so meringue-y. So I didn't want to take the risk, even though I secretly like chewy meringues! But with already wanted to sub out the pineapple and the crazy humidex here in GA I just plain bailed.


I apologize to Andrea, of Andrea in the Kitchen, for not participating...please don't hate me! I promise to make this by the end of the year when the weather isn't so sticky! And be sure to stop by Tuesdays with Dorie and take a peak at all the other creations.


Oh....Check out our new logo....pretty awesome eh?


Thanks to Jaime of Good Eats n’ Sweet Treats for passing our contest info on to her friend Lisa of Surviving Oz for creating it. It Rocks!


More treats to follow.....


Take Care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

Not So Peachy Ice Cream

Unfortunately I am the only one in the house that likes peaches. Jason and Jakob don't really like all things peachy....and I think they are trying to turn Aiden to the dark side! I brought up the subject of this week's Tuesdays with Dorie recipe, Honey Peach Ice Cream, with the boys and both said "no thanks!". So I put on my thinking cap, and then realized I had lots and lots of blueberries in the fridge just waiting to be eaten. Honey Blueberry Ice Cream was approved by all and the process began. I was a little apprehensive to attempt this as I don't own an ice cream maker! But some great friends on Twitter (I love my Twitter friends!) sent me this link to David Lebovitz's website with great instructions on how to do it without one! It went fairly well, a little time consuming and meant that I couldn't go anywhere or nap for a few hours in the afternoon but it was so worth it. I actually said that we may never buy ice cream again. But I really still want an ice cream maker....maybe the ice cream fairy will bring me one.

I switched up the peaches with 2 cups of blueberries....but that is all I changed. I did not save any for the end of the recipe - I boiled them all with the honey and pureed them all.....made for a lovely purple shade of ice cream!

A huge Thank You to Tommi, of Brown Interior, for choosing this recipe - it got me to try to make my own ice cream...something I had been to intimidated to do before now! Be sure to stop by Brown Interior for the recipe and check out the Tuesdays with Dorie Blogroll to see all the other creations.

Oh, and I made a small batch of Lemon Sugar Cookies to go with the ice cream...a perfect match!

Take care,
Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

Brioche Snails

So awhile ago I tried my hand at Brioche dough....and decided it was not my friend. I am not sure if I did something wrong, maybe didn't let it rise enough, maybe didn't punch it down enough before letting it rest in the fridge over night....who knows?! But what I did with the dough the next day was all worth it. I followed Dorie's recipe for Brioche Snails, with a few twists, and they were YUMMY! Instead of rum soaked raisins I used mini chocolate chips, and I added some orange extract to the pastry cream. How can you go wrong with buttery dough, orange pastry cream and mini chocolate chips? You can't!

Here is how they turned out....probably not as high as they should have risen, but they were some tasty!

I will attempt Brioche again. Some time when I am feeling brave and have the time to make sure I do it right!

Take care,
Tania
Love Big, Bake Often

No slacking here this week!

I apologize for the lack of blogging. Have had my head in a funk and am trying really hard to pull myself together. So you will understand when I say that I was very thankful that this weeks Tuesday with Dorie's recipe had so few ingredients and was so simple to put together. These Parisian Apple Tarts were so easy to make. Once I made my own puff pastry that is!! I had checked out the P&Q and the recipe and saw that a full butter puff pastry was recommended, and that the brand of puff pastry that Dorie recommended was hard to find and expensive. So I checked the recipe in "Art & Soul of Baking" and saw that their puff pastry recipe was fairly easy....even if I was intimidated by it! So I jumped in with two feet and made a 1/2 batch of pastry. It was pretty easy....lots of steps...and totally worth it!

And with Dorie's recipe basically cutting up an apple, cutting a circle of pastry, put apple on pastry, sprinkle with butter and brown sugar and bake, how could I go wrong?? And I didn't. It turned out great. My homemade pastry puffed like it was suppose to! They are so simple, and so delicious. I really wanted to make some caramel sauce to put on top of them, but I didn't have any heavy cream in the fridge to make some. :( Next time for sure!

Look at them....they are so yummy looking....and look at that puff!

Be sure to check out the other wonderful bakers on the TWD Blogroll, here!

I am looking forward to posting all the goodies I have been busy baking as I hibernate in my AC - it is so freakin' hot here already!!

Take Care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

A TWD failure!

I was very excited about this weeks recipe. Very excited. Chipster Topped Brownies - Chocolate Chip Cookie topped Brownies! I am thinking now (in hindsight, which is always 20/20) that I should have just followed the recipe as written and not try to "fun it up!" I thought that making them in a muffin tin and making individual portions for Jason to take to work would be a great way to make these! But alas....there were no great treats to be taken to work. I made one failing tin full, and then scrapped the chocolate chip topper and made mini brownies for the guys.

I was happy to see them baking up fine, they rose nicely and the cookie top browned nicely too, and then failure ensued...as soon as they started to cool they caved in like a fallen souffle! Ugly is a hard word to use when describing baked goods....but these are ugly!

I give you my failed attempt at Chipster Topped Brownies...

There are many TWD bakers out there who followed the recipe and did not have this kind of failure...be sure to check them out. You can find the list of them here.

I would probably make these again as the concept is great, but next time I will follow the recipe as it is written!!

Note: even though these look ugly - they taste great!

Take Care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

TWD....ummmm...not here

I apologize to my TWD Bakers....there is no lemon tart at my house. I was thinking I would shrink the recipe and give it a go...but decided not to. I had leftover birthday cake in the house, I had cookies, fresh fruit, ice cream, macarons....you name it! So to have lemon tart in the house as well wouldn't have been very helpful to the reduction of my butt.....which is becoming a high priority in this house. Mama needs to lose some weight. I am working on a plan to do this, and have come up with a list of things that need to happen around here to make this extra weight go away. Here is my list:

• Exercise - there is no reason why I can't work this into our routine! The boys actually enjoy going to the gym childcare and playing with the other kids. So I am vowing to make it to the gym for three days a week. Either in a class or on the treadmill/elliptical.


• Yoga - I have the Biggest Loser Yoga dvd - I vow to do this 4 times a week. There is no reason why I can't fit this in while the boys are napping. Use that me time for ME.


• Veggies - time to get them back into my diet. And back on the plates of my family - they all hate them, but we really need to eat them!


• Fruit - when did I stop eating it? Dammit!


• White Flour - I need to lessen my white rice, bread, pasta intake - and increase my grains. Bring on the brown rice, couscous, and all the other good grains.


• Walking. The dog needs more exercise, the boys love to go on nature walks. And there are lots of trails and parks around us....there is no reason why we can't work in more walks. Just need to bring the bug spray!


• Baking - need to stop eating so much of what I am baking - and shrink the portions. I don't see myself being able to stop baking, but maybe just not doing AS much baking. And to make some better recipes - look into low cal, low fat options to recipes.

So that is my list of things that I need to do...so lets get going! Here we go!

I apologize for no lemon tart. Just didn't need it in the house and no one to give it too!

Be sure to check out the other TWD bloggers tarts - there are some beauties out there!

Take Care,

Tania Love Big, Bake Often

A twd ho hum dee dum

Tiramisu. I had such hopes. But I hate so say that Dorie let me down. It might be that I had to substitute some ingredients, and misread some of the directions, but I am not sure. Looking at some of the other stunning ones (like this one by Rebecca) I realize that I failed. Mine were dry, forgot the mini chocolate chips, and didn't make enough filling/frosting to cover my little cakes.

So please don't judge the recipe by my attempt! Check out all the other great cakes from the others at Tuesdays with Dorie, and you can find the recipe over on Megan's blog My Baking Adventures.

So all you get from me is this picture.....

And maybe an agreement to try this again!

Take Care

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

Tuesday's with Dorie...chocolate cream pie, my way!

Chocolate Cream Pie with a Layer of Caramel

in a Pretzel Crust!

I was really looking forward to this week's recipe. I love chocolate cream pie. I love Sonic's chocolate cream pie blended thingy....

When looking at the recipe I decided that a chocolate pie crust was not what I wanted to do...I needed to mix it up a little. So I went the salty sweet way....I decided to make a Pretzel Crust! I food processed up some pretzels, mixed in a little salt and sugar and some melted butter to bind it all together. I baked it and was happy when the second time around it held together as a nice tart crust! I also decided to 1/4 the recipe and make two little tarts.....better for my figure and I think they are just cute as can be! A whole chocolate cream pie has no place in my kitchen! And friends are too far away to be taking treats to them every week....so I plan it into my diet these days. It seems to be working.

Back to the pies..... I also decided that to go with the salty pretzel crust that there needed to be a layer of caramel. I think I made it a little too think...but we will see. This was the perfect chance for me to use some of the AMAZING Askinosie chocolate that I got in the mail a couple of months ago.....it is a Mexican 75% dark chocolate....do dark....see?

The chocolate cream in this pie is so rich...I LOVE IT! And I used some of my fantastic vanilla sugar to sweeten the whipped cream just a touch! Absolutely perfect. This pie is rich, creamy, chewy, salty, chocolatey and absolutely phenomenal. I will be making it over and over again.

Be sure to check out the other TWDr's here, and see all their wonderful creations.

And thank you to Kim, from Scrumptious Photography, for choosing this wonderful dessert.

Leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

Take Care,

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

Bread Pudding Letdown

Let me start by saying I LOVE BREAD PUDDING!!! But I don't like this one! Maybe I am a bread pudding purist...I like the original - raisins, cinnamon, rich bourbon sauce on top. And yes, I could have made bourbon sauce to go on top of this....but I didn't. I was expecting to love this recipe, it combines two of my favorite desserts - chocolate and bread pudding! But no. No, I do not like it. And I tried...I ate a huge chunk last night. Even after I decided I didn't like it I still continued to eat it until the huge chunk was gone!

I also am not going to have a chance to try to make this dessert into something that I would eat either, you see I managed to forget to put the bread pudding into the fridge before going to bed last night. So it sat on the counter spoiling as I snored in bed. Dumb, right? Couldn't believe it when I got up this morning and was making a pot of coffee and there it was...just sitting there. Who does that? I have no excuse, I wasn't super busy, super stressed, super drunk, super anything..... just plain forgot. I am kicking myself - SO hard. I had dreams of the ways that I would resurrect this bread pudding, vanilla bean cream sauce, bourbon sauce, chocolate orange ganache to drizzle on top to make it more enjoyable..... so many plans dashed by my inability to put a simple dish in the fridge. Seriously kicking myself hard. All those yummy sauces I want to make and nothing to put them on.....

But back to the bread pudding. Dorie's recipe is super simple. Since I love bread pudding I decided to make a whole recipe rather than halve it...also since I couldn't figure out how to halve 3 eggs! (Suggestions on how to do that would be greatly appreciated!)

I took some great photos of things before I baked it, and planned to take some pics today (in the beautiful sunshine) of the finished product since I baked it last night and not very photogenic in my fluorescent kitchen! Note to self....change bulbs to make nicer photos!

Here you go...

So that is it for the photos...sorry...no after shots....check out the other TWDr's for their posts and some awesome "after" shots! And thank you to Lauren, from Upper East Side Chronicle, for picking this weeks treat...I really thought I would like it!

Better luck next week....Chocolate Cream Tart coming right up!

Take Care,

Tania Love Big, Bake Often

I Ain't no Challah Back Girl!

Well....actually today I was! I was a Challah Girl today. Ok...is that funny? I am trying my hand at being funny here, work with me!

This weeks TWD (Tuesdays with Dorie) recipe is for Chocolate Bread Pudding (YUM!!!) and the recipe calls for Challah or Brioche bread. So rather than go and buy a (usually) expensive loaf of bread I thought I would try my hand at some bread again. I was a little discouraged by my earlier attempts this week - I didn't blog it because it didn't turn out very tasty. But not this time.....It ROCKS! It is so delish. I had a thin slice with some butter to taste test it.... and Jakob had it with Nutella. Jakob's verdict was that it was super yummy mummy! I also made the boys grilled cheeses with it for dinner. It also took everything in me to make the pork chops I had planned for dinner rather than the whole family having grilled cheeses!

Side note....check out Jen's blog Piccante Dolce for recipes and ideas for this month...which happens to be Grilled Cheese month! Bizarre, right? But who doesn't love a good grilled cheese?

But I digress.....

Here is the Recipe courtesy of Sur la Table's...Art and Soul of Baking (Jason ordered it for me as a belated Valentine's gift)

Challah

Makes 1 loaf....a yummy loaf

Ingredients:

3/4 c warm water

2 TBSP honey

1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

2 large eggs, at room temp.

3 TBSP canola or safflower oil

2 1/2 c bread flour or all purpose flour

3/4 tsp salt

1 large egg, lightly beaten

2 tsp poppy seeds (optional - and I opted out)

1. Combine the warm water and honey in the bowl of the stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast over the top. Whisk by hand to blend well. Let the mixture sit for 5 - 10 minutes, until the yeast activates. Add the eggs and oil and whisk together. Stir in the flour and salt. Attach the dough hook and knead on low speed for 2 min. Turn the speed to medium and knead for another 6 to 8 minutes, until dough is smooth, silky and elastic. I found it to be a little sticky and added a little more flour, but it stayed sticky!

2. Lightly oil a tub or bowl. Scrape the dough into the tub and brush the surface with a little oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let the dough rise until doubled in size, approx 45 - 60 min. My mother always told me to put the bread in the oven with the light on to create a nice warm draft free place for the dough to rise!

3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Press down on the dough firmly to expel some of the air bubbles, but don't knead the dough again. Divide the dough into three pieces. Work with one piece at a time and roll it gently into a rope about 15 inches long.

4. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat and lay the three ropes on the sheet with ends facing you. Pinch together the three ends furthest away from you. Braid the dough, pinching the loose ends together at the bottom. Tuck the ends under just slightly.

5. Cover the braid with plastic wrap or the damp towel again. Allow the braid to rise until it is almost double in size again.

6. Preheat the oven to 375F and position an oven rack in the center. Gently brush the braid with the beaten egg...you will not use all of it. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until the top and bottom are golden brown. Transfer to rack to cool completely.

7. Then wait as long as you can before digging into the loaf and eating it all up!!

We didn't wait very long...just til it was cool enough to cut! I don't think there is enough to make a full recipe of the Chocolate Bread Pudding so I think I will be halving that recipe this week! LOL!

Here is what the end result looks like......

There will definitely be more of this bread being made in our house...we all loved it. And it was so easy! Thank goodness!

Come back on Tuesday (Wait!!! Come back every day!!!) to see the bread pudding I am making with this loaf.

And also stay tuned for the giveaway I am putting together....going to be a good one, my first one!

Take care,

Tania Love Big, Bake Often

TWD Slacker, but with good reason

I want to preface this email with a warning that there are gross details about dogs, and poop, and stuff...... read at your own risk!

We were so busy this weekend and the desserts were set weeks ago, so no baking TWD cake for Easter. I had all intentions of baking today, no other plans on my agenda. But my lovely chocolate Lab Toby had other plans for me. She started vomiting Sunday afternoon, and then didn't stop til late last night. I took her to the vet yesterday and after explaining her vomiting and her history of eating random things; socks, plastic toys, onesies (which I had to pull out of her throat as she vomited it up), dryer sheets and paper towels. She usually eats things when we aren't around, as she is very sensitive and anxious. So with her history they wanted to take some xrays and give her some fluids (she was dehydrated from throwing up so much). So I left her there and headed home for a few hours. Jason went to pick her up and they showed him the xrays and said that they were suspicious of a few spots but couldn't really tell what or if anything was stuck. So they sent her home, no food or fluids and we would come back in today to recheck with some more xrays and see what's up. So today I took her in and she was doing much better, more energy and I thought she was doing great. But when I went to pick her up the Vet wasn't so sure. She thought that there was still a couple of patches that she was worried about. ACK! But she also said that she was confused by the fact that Toby seemed well, no fever, no more vomiting and quite energetic. So the Vet wants us back tomorrow. She sent us home with decisions...barium contrast with xrays to determine blockage and then possible surgery, or jump straight ahead to surgery. DOUBLE ACK! Cost: Barium Contrast = $400 - 500, Surgery = $800 - 1200. OMG - not exactly in the budget this month. But she also sent us home with a goal : GET HER TO POOP. They really wanted her to poop. She hasn't gone in a couple of days now, and she needed to see if Toby could get it through. So I brought her home and immediately we went for a walk. You see, Toby loves to poop on walks. She likes to make me pick it up. But she didn't want to poop just then. But she did poop once we got home!! She pooped and it stayed there, hanging... I ran out (I was watching her) with some napkins and yanked it out. And out came about a foot and a half of some kind of string, maybe a shoe lace? Something that stretched itself into this rope like thing? Who knows.... But I am so glad that she pooped. I was so happy to call the Vet and let her know. Unfortunately this doesn't necessarily mean we are out of the woods, but this is a step in the right direction, and a step towards not needing surgery. She is still off food, but she is allowed some water and has managed to keep it down and is peeing normally. Sorry, I told you this would be too much information!


Back to Tuesdays With Dorie......

Holly, from Phemomenon, (and she is a phenomenal Mom) chose this weeks yummy cake - the 15 Minute Magic Chocolate Amaretti Torte. She did a fantastic job. Hers look so yummy. Hop over to her blog and take a look at all the yumminess. And check out the TWD blogroll for other yummy versions of this yummy cake.

Also on Holly's blog, please read about Little Maddie Spohr. Last week Maddie passed away. Her life, from conception on was blogged about by her parents, on The Spohr's are Multiplying. There are blogs across the internet changing their colours to purple in memory of Maddie, donations of over $20,000 have been collected in her name, a blog to remember her has been created - Remember Maddie. It is so sad to hear about little babies losing their lives. It is heartbreaking. I just heard about Maddie, this wasn't one of the blogs that I followed, but seeing the outpouring of condolences and donations in the name of this little girl and her poor parents has touched me. I had already planned on walking in the March of Dimes walk in a couple of weeks, but I will be pledging my walk to her. Please donate if you can.

So I am sorry that I didn't get to bake this week....I hope you all understand.

Take care,
Tania
And Remember...LOVE BIG, Bake Often

YWPWT meets TWD

Let me start off by saying that I don't "do" bananas. I like the flavor just fine, but the texture really grosses me out. I can't peel and bite into a banana, I don't like banana pudding, or banana cream pie. (I do like banana bread - no chunks please) So when I saw that this weeks Tuesday's with Dorie was Banana Cream Pie I knew that there would have to be something else baking in my kitchen again. I am so sorry my TWD friends....I just couldn't do it. But hop over to Sing for Your Supper, Amy has Dorie's recipe for the pie there.
Side note: after reading and seeing the pics of all the other TWDr's pies I think the boys really would have loved it! Sorry Boys!


I have had pies on my brain for awhile to come up with my submission for this month's You Want Pies with That? This month's theme is Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, chosen by Jacque & Natashya.


And so I give you.........
Joaquin Phoenix's Cuckoo Coconut Custard Cream Pie!

It is a delicious graham cracker crust, filled with thick and creamy toasted coconut custard, and topped with a vanilla rum whipped cream. And it is divine - I only ate half of one, but I could have eaten all four! But then I wouldn't be able to sit up and type this! Not good!

I cannot wait to submit this as my contribution. It came to me in a dream, as most of my great ideas do, and I was giddy about it. I hope you think I am as clever as I do!! Toot, toot...that's my own horn you hear!

I am going to make next weeks TWD for sure, I promise, no matter what.

Until then,

Take Care, Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

TWD: French Pear Tart!!

Tuesdays With Dorie.... I am on it. This year is going to be my baking year! I had several set backs last year that prevented me from participating on a regular basis (I probably should have been booted out - Thank you Laurie for not booting me out!!!) but this is my year. My goal is to participate in 99% of the weeks. So here we go.....

This was my first attempt at working with tart dough, tart pans, and actually all the parts of this recipe - never made almond cream, never baked with pears. So an adventure in firsts. I think they turned out pretty great - and they were really tasty!!
What do you think???

I think it looks pretty on the blue plate. I just wish I new how to take better photos! Need to get some tips and advice and maybe a good book about photography. And to find the time to take them during the day so I can take advantage of some natural light instead of icky flash photos!

Here are the ingredients for the crust - don't know why the pic wont rotate.... Simple yummy recipe for tart dough.

And the ingredients blended together... nice and crumbly like the recipe says!

I chose to make four little tarts - but I think I could have made more, the dough was a little thick, it made for a hard crust. Super tasty. I used the bottom of a glass to press it into the pan, didn't mean for there to be so many impressions in the dough! Ooops...
I prebaked them like Dorie says!!

And here they are before I put them in the oven. I did my best to create a nice spiral on a couple. Thought it would look pretty. And they did. They baked up lovely. The almond cream browned up around the pears and made such a lovely crust.

The tarts were very yummy. Jason and I enjoyed them with a bottle, yes a bottle, of Bogle Pinot Noir. He thought it was a very decadent rich dessert, and I have to agree. Would make it again, but maybe with apples or raspberries - the tartness of raspberries would be yummy with the almond.

I am proud to be a member of TWD! It turned a year old, all these amazing bakers baking together every week for a whole year! I hope we can continue for a very long time, I should be choosing the recipe for the week in several years from now!

Be sure to check out everyone else's creations for the week, here!

See you next week!!

Tania

Love Big, Bake Often

TWD - Grandma's Sugar Cookies

Ok, out of the December TWD list I chose the easiest! Sorry, but I am a sucker for new sugar cookie recipes. I can't believe I hadn't tried this one yet. So simple, and so super yummy. I did make one addition to the recipe. I omitted a tbsp or so of flour and added 3 tbsp of Starbucks Matcha Green Tea powder. No, they don't sell it, but I convinced a barista to sell me a package. She gave it to me for $4.00 - a deal if you ask me. I have made my own green tea frappachinos with it, lattes, etc. But hadn't baked with it yet. It is sweetened so it added a little more sweet to the cookies. I like the flavour it gives, and the colour too. I know my friend, J, is kinda cringing right now, not a matcha green tea fan. I promise I wont send these to you in CT. But I have another recipe in mind that I want to send you some . . . hint - creamy caramel.

Ok, back to the cookies. I like the texture, it's a great kinda chewy but not really. I find it hard to describe textures of food. Need to break out the thesaurus! I did dip them in sparkling sugar before baking them. I only had light pink in the house, but you really can't see the pink, just looks shiny and delicious. I know the colour of the cookies may be off putting to some, but I love it, so grassy and lovely.

Here are some pics.

Not the greatest shots - I mixed them up late afternoon and then baked them after dinner so my light was all gone. :(

Have a good night.

Love Big, Bake Often

Tania

TWD - Aborio Rice Pudding - Vanilla!

I know that it isn't a favourite of everyone, but I love rice pudding. It is comforting, warm, yummy and reminds me of being little in the winter. So now that it is getting cold here in CT and I am feeling so crummy, rice pudding is a great recipe for me this week. I took the time to check out the q&a on the TWD site and decided to use a little less milk and cook the rice in the milk a little longer. The other thing I did differently was I used my homemade vanilla sugar in it. I really liked seeing all the little black specks of vanilla in the milk as I brought it to a boil. And the smell was fantastic, being able to smell it even though I was stuffed up was quite wonderful.

I decided to not go the chocolate rice pudding route - I love just plain old vanilla rice pudding, don't mess with what you like.

Here are some pictures:

The Vanilla Sugar...

The specks in the milk - cool, eh?

The finished product, not a good shot, late in the day

I haven't tried it yet, not going to be finished its six hours before I go to bed (early). But I am really, really looking forward to it for breakfast.

The only thing I have to say about this recipe is that I wish it made more. I was surprised that I was able to put it in a cereal bowl. Not what I would call four servings.

Will let you know how it tastes tomorrow.

Love Big, Bake Often

T