Archive for April 2010

Apr202010

TWD: Sweet Cream Biscuits

This week’s Tuesdays with Dorie was a nice change — instead of the usual sugary treat, we did Sweet Cream Biscuits, which worked out really well because I was able to make them to go along with dinner last night! The recipe was chosen by Melissa of Love At First Bite.

These biscuits are a spin on a traditional baking powder biscuit and use heavy cream and a bit of sugar, but no butter or shortening. There’s a very light sweetness, and with a pat of butter they were the perfect addition to last night’s dinner of pork chops and mashed potatoes.

My pint of cream had a little leftover after I used the one cup necessary for the biscuits, so the girls poured the leftover cream into a glass container and made butter for the biscuits while dinner cooked! 😀

Anyway, these were delicious and I’ve got the recipe bookmarked now so I can get to it quickly when I need a side for dinner.

Apr132010

Chocolate Chip Blondies

It’s hard being inside updating a blog when it’s been so beautiful outside! Our spring in Las Vegas are so short-lived that you have to take advantage of it, otherwise you really regret it when May rolls around and you’ve already got the air conditioning cranked up. So updates may be a little bit sporadic for a couple of weeks, but I have a good reason 😀

Anyway, these chocolate chip blondies have been a favorite of ours for only the last year, and I bring them up now because they’re perfect for outside eating. Whether it’s a picnic, a barbecue, a potluck — you name it — these are easy to make and transport, and are sure to be a hit.

I first made them after seeing a similar treat made on TV, and had to dig up a recipe to try for myself. I didn’t write down where this recipe came from and I’ve tried looking or it since without much luck. So if you recognize it, let me know!

These are delicious (pretty much chocolate chip cookies in brownie form) but combining and heating the butter and sugars beforehand made them extremely gooey and extra sweet. Make sure you let them sit out for a while (at least an hour, I’d say) so they kind of fall and compress a bit. Even after a few days they’re still moist and yummy!

Chocolate Chip Blondies

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, plus butter for pan
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup light brown muscovado sugar
1/2 cup dark brown muscovado sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons toffee chips
1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and line a 9 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing a 2-inch overhang. Butter the lining too.

Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.

Melt the butter in a medium saucepan; add both sugars and whisk until combined and sugar is melted, about 5 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and let cool slightly. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract until combined. Add the flour and whisk until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips, toffee chips and almonds and transfer the mixture to the prepared pan.

Bake for 24 to 27 minutes or until the top cracks slightly and is firm to the touch and a skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist pieces clinging to it. Remove to a wire rack and let cool completely. Remove the bars from the pan using the parchment handles, transfer to a cutting board and cut into 2-inch squares.

Apr92010

Homemade Dog Biscuits

I’m breaking out of my standard human-food recipe post today for some animal munchies! It’s been a pretty eventful week as far as our household animals are concerned: we picked up a new litter of kittens last Saturday to foster until they’re big and old enough to go up for adoption. The five little kitties can be seen live for most of the day at their very own website, at http://thekittenroom.com!

So, in honor of all the four-legged family members in my home, both permanent and temporary, I’m going to share a recipe for dog biscuits that my dogs absolutely adore (I’ve tried treats for the cats but they don’t care for anything beyond catnip!).

I love to make my own homemade dog treats because I like knowing exactly what’s going into them — and what’s not. These biscuits are always a hit, and I swear our two little dogs know when I’m prepping for them, too.

These biscuits are easy and foolproof, but make sure you don’t store it in an airtight container (they’ll get moldy)

Fido’s Favorite Treats

1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup butter
1 cup boiling water
3/4 cup cornmeal
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons chicken or beef instant bullion
1/2 cup milk
4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese (1 cup)
1 egg, beaten
2 cups wheat flour (white flour will work, too)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper. In large bowl combine rolled oats, margarine and water and let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in cornmeal, sugar, bouillon, milk,cheese and egg. Mix well. Add flour 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition to form a stiff dough.

On floured surface, knead in remaining flour until dough is smooth and no longer sticky, 3 to 4 minutes. Roll or pat out dough to 1/2 inch thickness; cut with cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on cookie sheets.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely. Store loosely covered or in the fridge. Makes 3 1/2 dozen large biscuits.