Banana Maple Walnut Muffins

Ingredients:
2 eggs, at room temperature
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cup mashed overripe banana
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup maple sugar
1/3 cup coarsely chopped black walnuts
2/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons grade b amber maple syrup
2 teaspoons baking powder


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Grease, spray with baking spray or line 18 wells in a muffin tin. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, baking powder and flour. Set aside. In a large bowl, beat the eggs, sour cream, oil, banana and maple syrup until smooth. Add the dry ingredients. Mix to combine. Fold in the nuts. Divide evenly into wells. Bake about 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the center muffin comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.

My thoughts:

I have to admit something. I don't particularly like overripe bananas. Or maple syrup. Or nuts in muffins. Luckily, these muffins are not for me! My husband loves all of the above so I made these for him to take to work for breakfasts this week. I made these with canola oil so they'd be extra fluffy and because somehow we seem to have run out of butter (the horror! the horror!). Using oil instead of butter also speeds up the muffin making process because there is no creaming of butter into sugar or having to wait for it to soften. I got up, started measuring and had batter in the pan in about 10 minutes. Perfect for mornings when you are only half awake but want something warm to eat. Even though I personally am not the banana muffins number one fan, my husband assures me these muffins are 100% moist and delicious.


If you are unfamiliar with maple sugar and are a maple fan, it is worth checking out. You can use it in the same way you would regular white or brown sugar but it is made with 100% maple syrup. The brand I used is Coombs Family Farms.

Spiced Black Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
2/3 cup coarsely chopped black walnuts
2 egg, at room temperature
4 tablespoons blackstrap rum
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon mace

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a medium sized bowl combine flour, salt, and baking powder. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add the egg and rum and combine thoroughly. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the sweetened butter and mix until a very thick dough forms. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts. Distribute them evenly in the batter. Form cookies by dropping 1 teaspoon of dough on the sheet two inches apart. Flatten slightly then bake until light brown, about 12 minutes. Remove (using a flat turner or spatula) to a wire rack to cool.


Yield: about 2 dozen cookies

Note: This is a really easy recipe to double or even halve.

My thoughts:

Black walnuts are native to Maryland but as the saying goes, they are a tough nut to crack. They have very hard shells and prepping the nuts for use is pretty time consuming. Luckily, they are pretty easy to find, especially during the holiday season, in grocery stores. I found some at Costco that were very fresh and affordable. They are a bit more robust flavored than regular walnuts and well worth seeking out. I love this cookie because it doesn't stray too far from the traditional chocolate chip cookie but the spices and walnuts make it more festive. The best of both worlds!

Chocolate Chip Vanilla Bean Hazelnut Oatmeal Cookies

Ingredients:
6 oz semisweet chips
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts
4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, at room temperature
1 vanilla bean

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper. Split the vanilla bean in two down the seam. Scrape the seeds into a large bowl, then add the butter, vanilla and sugar. Cream together. Add the egg, beat until fluffy. Add the flour, baking powder, salt, and oatmeal. Mix until well combined. Fold in the nuts and chips. Place tablespoon sized blobs of dough on the lined cookie sheet about 1/2 inch apart and bake for 12-14 minutes or until they look "set" and the bottoms are just golden. Carefully remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

Yield: about 2 dozen cookies

My thoughts:

The name is a bit of a mouthful but these are great cookies. Chewy, crunchy, chocolate-y. Not the most showy of cookies but I've never seen anyone turn one down. I love them because they are a bit of a change from a simple chocolate chip oatmeal cookie but are still quick to make with ingredients I have on hand. Homey, delicious and comforting. The best kind of cookie.

Fruit & Nut Oatmeal Muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup flour
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup old fashioned oats
3/4 cup mixed dried fruit
1/3 cup quartered, skin-on almonds
1/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Line or grease and flour one 12 well muffin tin. In a medium bowl, whisk together the spices, flour, baking soda, sugar, baking powder and oats. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together the egg, oil and buttermilk. After it is thoroughly mixed, pour in the dry ingredients. Stir to combine. Fold in the fruit and nuts. Divide evenly among 12 muffin wells. Bake 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the center muffin comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack, serve.

My thoughts:

This morning felt nearly fall-like so I was inspired to make these appropriately autumnal muffins. You can use any dried fruit you'd enjoy but I used an "antioxidant blend" that included blueberries, tart cherries, cranberries and plums. I like that blend a lot because it isn't overly sweet and cheaper than buying all of those fruits individually and mixing them myself. Anyway, the mixture of fruits added a lot of flavor to these hearty muffins and the almonds added a bit of crunch. As an added bonus, they were super quick to make, from raw ingredients to fully cooked muffin took only 30 minutes. You can't beat that for a homemade breakfast!

Zippy Broccoli Salad with Bacon, Pinenuts and Cranberries

4 broccoli crowns
3 slices (cooked) bacon, crumbled
1 bunch green onion, diced
1 shallot, minced
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/3 cup toasted pinenuts

dressing:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons minced basil
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 teaspoon agave nectar
salt
pepper


Directions:
Quickly blanch the broccoli by plunging it into boiling water for one minute. Rinse off under cool water. Allow to cool. Thoroughly drain (a salad spinner works nicely) then chop into bite-sized pieces. Toss with salad ingredients. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing. Drizzle over the salad, toss to coat and evenly distribute.

My thoughts:

My family never made broccoli salad when I was growing but from what I've encountered at picnics and parties since, we were in the minority. I think I have had at least 10 variations of the salad. They all seem to have some things in common: something crunchy, something sweet and some sort of onion. When I went to make my own version, I didn't see any reason to leave any of that out. Raisins seem the most popular sweet ingredient but since I find them abhorrent and bug-like I went with sweet-tart dried cranberries. The need for bacon was clear and for crunch I added some toasty pinenuts. Often the dressing in broccoli salad is rather sweet which isn't terribly appealing to me so I made basil vinaigrette with just a drop of agave nectar for sweetness. Green onions and shallot provide the onion flavor without the sometimes harsh flavor of raw onion.

Quick note: While blanching the broccoli seems like an unnecessary step; it brightens the color of the broccoli and takes some of the raw edge off which really adds something to the salad.

Radish Pesto Potato Salad

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lb red skin potatoes, diced
1 bunch radishes, greens attached
1 shallot
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup toasted pinenuts
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt
pepper

Directions:
Halve and slice the radishes. Place the greens, nuts, shallot, garlic, oil, cheese, salt and pepper in a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Boil the potatoes in salted water until fork-tender. Drain the potatoes. Toss the radishes and potatoes together. Drizzle with pesto, toss to evenly distribute.

My thoughts:

Radish leaves are perfectly edible. They have the peppery bite that you would expect but they are mild enough to use in a salad. Since radishes are in season right now, it is easy to find radishes with their leaves still attached. Look for leaves that are still crisp with no bruising. Anyway, they are so tasty, I felt bad about tossing them out but I didn't have any other salad ingredients (besides whole radishes, obviously) so I decided to make a pesto. Since we had just had pasta, I tossed with some potatoes instead. The result? A creamy potato salad with no mayo but lots of fresh flavor.

Strawberry-Asparagus Salad with Strawberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Ingredients:
1 bunch spring lettuce
1 bunch baby spinach
2 strips crisp bacon
3/4 lb fresh asparagus
1 pint strawberries, sliced
1/3 cup bee pollen dusted hazelnuts
2 oz ch�vre

for the vinaigrette
2 oz avocado oil
2 oz pomegranate infused balsamic vinegar*
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 strawberry, mashed**

Directions:
Place the vinaigrette ingredients in a jar or salad dressing mixer. Shake until a smooth, emulsified dressing forms.

Place the lettuce in a large bowl. Top with the spinach. Cut the bacon into bite sized pieces. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook for about 2 minutes. Drain and cut into manageable sized pieces. Arrange on the salad. Add the sliced strawberries. Dot with goat cheese. Toss in the hazelnuts and bacon. Drizzle with vinaigrette.

*I used locally bottled Pompeian vinegar.
**I just put it on a cutting board and mashed with with a potato masher until pretty smooth.

My thoughts:

A while back I was invited to do a cooking demonstration at the Maryland Heartland Sustainable Living Fair which is going on today. Of course I agreed to do it. The major challenge was designing a recipe that made the most of what is in season in the end of May in Maryland. Which, unfortunately, isn't terribly much as May is pretty much the beginning of the growing season here. I had thought of doing some sort of stir fry but when I looked at the list of what was in season I realized that a big salad might be a better choice. I used locally grown strawberries, lettuce, spinach and asparagus along with some local fresh goat cheese. I tossed in some bacon because it just smells so good and thought it might draw some people in to watch the demo. It also adds a smoky note to the salad. I used some hazelnuts from a family owned farm (in Oregon) that were dusted in local bee pollen for some crunch. The dressing was simple but extremely tasty and added an additional fruity note to the salad. Unfortunately some of the dressing ingredients were not quite local but there is a drawback to living in the mid-Atlantic; no avocado or olive trees for oil.

All of these seemingly disconnected ingredients came together to from a very satisfying salad that felt light and fresh. I loved the asparagus and the strawberries, they made the salad feel hearty despite the near absence of meat. The perfect springtime meal salad.

Bee Pollen Dusted Hazelnuts

Ingredients:
1 cup dry roasted hazelnuts
2 tablespoons bee pollen
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Place the pollen, sugar and salt in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder and grind until a fine powder forms. Heat the oil in a small skillet. Add the nuts and toss occasionally for 1 minute. Pour into a bowl. Sprinkle with the pollen mixture. Toss to coat. Pour into a fine mesh sieve and shake off excess powder.

My thoughts:

I bought bee pollen at the farmers market ages ago with the idea of making some pollen caramels like the divine ones sold by Vosges but never quite got around to it. Then yesterday I came across a passing reference to a dessert that featured bee pollen and almonds in a food memoir and then a box of Freddy Guys hazelnuts arrived and it seemed fortuitous. They were super simple to make and tasted great out of hand or in a salad. The bee pollen has a fruity herbal flavor that pairs wonderfully with the toasty nuts. The sugar adds a touch of sweetness and helps the bee pollen adhere to the nuts.

Spicy Peanut Noodle Salad

Ingredients:
10 oz grilled or sauted chicken breasts*
8 oz somen or soba noodles cooked, drained and cooled
1 1/4 cup spicy peanut sauce
chopped dry roasted peanuts
chopped scallions
julienned seedless cumber
steamed snow peas
mung bean sprouts


Directions:
Slice the chicken breasts into long, 1/4 inch wide strips.

Toss the noodles with the peanut sauce. Top with grilled chicken and the remaining ingredients to taste.


*This is totally optional but if you don't have leftover chicken on hand to use, this is a yummy (20 minute) chicken marinade that complements the dish.
3 tablespoons roasted peanuts
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, minced or 2 tablespoons ginger juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark brown sugar

My thoughts:

When I make this, I like to serve everything (except the peanut sauced noodles) in separate bowls so everyone can take as much or as little of the toppings that they want. When I made the peanut sauce for the first time I couldn't wait to try it on other things. The most obvious idea was some sort of noodle salad. This particular noodle salad is the perfect mix of creamy, crunchy, crisp and green. Not to mention quick to make and super cheap! This is the best peanut noodle salad I've ever had, it really is all about the sauce.

Spicy Peanut Sauce

Ingredients:
2/3 cup pork broth, at room temperature
1/4 cup lightly salted roasted peanuts (see note)
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
2 cloves of garlic
1 green onion, green parts only, chopped
additional lightly salted roasted peanuts, chopped



Directions:

Note: I made this using my very powerful VitaMix with is able to turn nuts into a smooth paste. If using a regular blender, substitute about 3 tablespoons of smooth peanut butter for the 1/4 cup peanuts.

In a mixer, pulse the peanuts, garlic and oil until smooth. Add the broth, fish sauce and garlic sauce, pulsing after each addition. Pulse until very smooth. If using a VitaMix, continue mix on high until the mixture is hot-steam will come out of the top when you remove the lid- about 1-2 minutes. If using a less powerful blender, pour the sauce into a small sauce pan to heat through. Allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in the green onion and chopped peanuts.

I used it on steamed Chinese eggplant, but I think it has potential as a (slightly thin) dipping sauce and I bet it would be great drizzled over green salads. Many possibilities for this one.

Yield: a little more than 1 cup

My thoughts:

Oh my is this a great sauce. It is rare that I am so taken aback about how good it tastes. I am not normally a big peanut or even, sauce fan but yum. So worth whipping up today. Or right this very second. It was actually just something I threw together for a quick dinner side dish but was so taken with it, I just had to write down what I did and share it with all of you. It is just so lovely and fresh tasting. Much more special than the simple ingredients list would lead you to believe. The peanuts are perfectly balanced by the spice so you don't get that "watered down peanut butter" effect that a lot of peanut sauces seem to give. My VitaMix (this sounds like a commercial, but seriously...) got it so smooth that I could not believe that it was made with whole peanuts. AND it heated it up in like 2 minutes. Freakishly good and easy. I think it would be just as good made in a regular blender (not a food processor, you want it to be smooth) but I'd skip straight to using prepared peanut butter. A little bit of coarsely chopped peanuts is fine but you don't want a thick or gloppy sauce. Anyway, while it was divine tossed with some steamed eggplant and roasted garlic, I am already plotting other ways to use up the leftovers.


It is also easy to vegan-ize, just use vegetable broth, leave out the fish paste and maybe add a dash of soy sauce or tamari instead.

Thai Noodle Salad with Turkey and Shrimp

Ingredients:

for the dressing
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2 Thai green chiles, thinly sliced
juice 1 lime
2 tablespoons fish sauce (nam pla)
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon palm sugar
1 tablespoon tamarind juice (optional)


salad ingredients:
1/2 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced
3 oz bean sprouts
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, cut up

for the meat:
2 cups shredded, cooked turkey
1/2 lb steamed, peeled shrimp
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 Thai chiles, diced
1 clove garlic, minced

Plus:
10 oz rice stick OR bean thread noodles

to serve:
3 tablespoons chopped toasted peanuts
1 lime, cut into wedges
diced green onion

Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together all of the dressing ingredients, set aside.


Prepare noodles according to package instructions. Set aside. In a skillet, heat the oil then saute the chiles, and garlic with shrimp and turkey for 1 minute. Toss with dressing, salad ingredients and noodles. Sprinkle with peanuts and diced onions. Serve with lime wedges.

My thoughts:

Every year I get a lot of "what to do with leftover turkey" requests. Frankly leftover turkey was never much of an issue in my family (we just ate the meal, had a sandwich and maybe made soup and that was it) but since I've had this blog, I've been making Thanksgiving-like meals way in advance so I can post new holiday recipes leading up the event and come up with creative leftover ideas.

While checking out the competition, I've found most turkey leftover recipes are either a. some sort of creamy casserole, b. Mexican food or c. chili. All of which are well and good (and I still might make a chili this year) but I was thinking of something a little lighter. The last thing I want after a day of heavy food is more stick to the ribs fare. So I came up with this Pad Thai-inspired salad. It is substantial enough to serve as a meal but much lighter and healthier tasting than what you probably had on Thanksgiving.


Note: I used bean thread noodles but I think that rice stick (normally what is used in Pad Thai) would be great as well. I actually only used the bean thread because I had a package of them and not the rice stick like I thought. Despite being rather different noodles I think both would work because they are neutral tasting and delicious even when served in cold dishes.

Cinnamon & Sugar Peanuts

Ingredients:
2 cups unsalted roasted peanuts
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg


Directions:
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 250. Toss all ingredients together. Make sure the nuts are evenly coated. Arrange in a single layer on one of the baking sheets and bake 40-45 minutes, or until the peanuts look mostly dry, stirring every 10 minutes. Remove from the oven, and pour on to the remaining lined baking sheet to cool thoroughly before eating.

My thoughts:

These quick and simple nuts would make a perfect present to give at the holiday season (I gave some away last year and they we a huge hit) or to serve at a party or on election night. They are ready to eat almost as soon as they come out of the oven and it is always a good idea to have some snacks ready so you don't have to spend valuable time in the kitchen when you could be watching the results or enjoying your guests. They can also be made ahead of time-they keep well for at least 2 weeks in an air tight container.

I think these are the most crowd pleasing of all of my various flavored nut recipes. My favorite are the balsamic glazed almonds and my neighbors loved the sweet & spicy peanuts I gave them last year but these seem to have the broadest appeal-perfect for giving or serving people whose taste you might not be familiar with. Pretty much everyone likes something sweet and the cinnamon gives them a nice kick without being overly spicy. They are also naturally vegan.

Banana Walnut Muffins

Ingredients:
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup mashed overripe bananas
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2/3 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 banana, sliced into 1/4 inch slices (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Grease or line 16 wells in a muffin tin. In a large bowl, whisk together the spices, nuts, baking powder and both flours. Set aside. In another large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Stir in the milk then add the dry ingredients. Mix to combine. Fold in the mashed banana. Divide evenly into wells. Top with slices of banana (one per muffin) if desired.




Bake about 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the center muffin comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Note: if the tops are covered in banana slices, slide the toothpick at an angle, under the banana to test. Do not pierce the banana slice. Cool on a wire rack.

My thoughts:

In the interest of full disclosure, while I did come up with the recipe for this muffins, I didn't actually eat any. I am not a fan overripe bananas or really bananas that are even just barely past green. Yup, I like an unripe banana or no banana at all. My husband, however, doesn't share my aversion and requested a recipe for banana muffins that had nuts (which I also don't really care for in baked goods), used butter and whole wheat flour (again, not a favorite) and I am nothing but accommodating (at least when it comes to baking) so I came up with these muffins that included all of his stipulations and cardamom, which he adores. According to him, they are quite moist but very light textured and very flavorful. The banana slice added some moisture and really added to the banana flavor.

Spiced Apple Bread Recipe

Fall is the harvest season, and the markets are flooded with lovely golden Apples, inviting us to cook them, drink them, jam them, or bake them into something delicious! This Spiced Apple Bread is one such treat that exudes the flavors of fall in all its glory. Made with fresh apples and chopped nuts, and flavored mildly with cinnamon and nutmeg, I had as much pleasure baking it, and smelling it as it cooked in the oven, as I had in devouring it like crazy with a dollop of butter and orange marmalade! I have never been too keen about Apple desserts, but I love this Apple Bread, and I know I'll be baking it quite a lot! [img credit: hunnybscakery]

Ingredients
2 cups sweet apples - shredded or chopped finely
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup butter
2 small eggs (or 1.5 large eggs)
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (optional)

Method
Cream the butter (at room temp) with the sugar, then combine with the oil, eggs, and vanilla and set aside.

In another bowl, sift the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients to oil mixture gradually. Finally add the apples and nuts.

Grease one loaf pan, or line it with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the pan, and bake at 325 deg F for about 50 mins (check after 40 mins) till its brown on the outside, appears crusty, and the toothpick test passes.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes in the pan after switching off the oven, then let it cool completely on a wire rack.

Run a knife under warm tap water, and use this to slice the bread. Store in an air-tight container. Enjoy this delicious Spiced Apple Bread with butter or honey as you celebrate Fall flavors!

Related Recipes:
Chocolate Zucchini Bread
Chocolate Banana Bread
Coconut Pandan Bread

Chocolate-Hazelnut Coffee Cake - From the Archives

Chocolate-Hazelnut Coffee Cake is my all-time favorite, and I never fail to order one whenever I stop at a Starbucks for a hot cup of coffee. I just love the flavor and the taste that blends so well with my mocha. So when I found this Mocha-Banana bread recipe at Amy's blog, I couldn't resist to try out a variation myself. I skipped the bananas, and instead added hazelnut, coffee and nuts. I also changed the sugar and butter contents to make my bread a little more cake-like, just the way I like it! This is kind-of a mix between a coffee cake and a bread, yet it is not as sweet as a cake, so pairs well with your morning breakfast. And with chocolate flvor to bring it all together, there's no resisting a piece of this delicious Chocolate-hazelnut Coffee cake!

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2-3 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter-softened
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp instant hazelnut coffee powder
1/2 cup walnuts and pecans - chopped
Cooking spray

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a loaf pan with cooking spray.

Use a sieve and pass the flour, cocoa powder and baking powder through this and combine all 3 in a medium bowl. Add salt, and break any lumps with your fingers.

In another bowl combine the sugar and butter, beating with a mixer or a wooden spatula until well creamed (about 2-3 mins). Add eggs and beat well. Add the vanilla and the hazelnut flavored coffee and beat again. finally add the flour mixture, stir in the chopped walnuts and pecans and combine and beat until you can see stiff peaks. Do not add milk or water. Spoon the batter into a small greased loaf pan (preferably square or rectangular so it's easy to slice the bread later).

Bake for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow it to cool completely after done. Do not try to slice while hot otherwise the bread will crumble and you won't get clean slices.

Cut into thin cake-like slices and enjoy with a sizzling hot cup of coffee or tea!! This Hazelnut Coffee Cake is a perfect recipe to entertain with at cocktail parties!

Related Recipes:
Espresso Kahlua Brownies
Chocolate-Banana Bread
Persimmon & Chocolate Spice Cake

Pork Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

1 lb thick cut pork chops
2 tablespoons canola oil
6 rice paper wrappers*
1/2 pound rice stick noodles
1 cucumber, in thin strips
2 carrots, in long strips
1 head red or green leaf lettuce
fresh mint

pork marinade:

2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons rice wine
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1 teaspoon black sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, sliced


dipping sauce:

1 quarter cup roasted peanuts, ground
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon grated garlic



Directions:
First, mix marinade ingredients in a small bowl and marinate pork in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Heat the oil in a skillet Add pork and cook until pork is cooked and sauce has thickened, covering if needed. Cut into thin strips. Then, boil rice stick noodles for 5 minutes and blanch in cold water. Cut noodles into bite-sized pieces.

Whisk together all ingredients for the dipping sauce, set aside.

Fill a wide bowl or pot with warm water. Each rice paper wrapper must be soaked individually. For each roll, soak a wrapper until pliable and soft. Remove the wrapper and spread out on a clean surface. Add a small portion of the noodles towards the middle of the wrapper. Add a portion of the lettuce, a portion of the meat, and mint. Fold the rice paper from both sides in towards the middle, then lift the end closest to you and roll away from you, grabbing all of the filling, and roll until the spring roll is closed. Repeat with remaining ingredients. Serve at room temperature.

*Sometimes labeled spring roll wrappers. Not to be confused with refrigerated egg roll wrappers, they are round, brittle, translucent and sold directly off the shelf.



Yield: 6 rolls

My thoughts:

Summer rolls (g?i cu?n) are salads convinently served in roll form. They are a bit of work but it is worth it, they are quite filling and we often have them as a meal unto themselves. They can also keep for a few hours in the refrigerator if you cover them with a damp towel so they can be made ahead. For this version I kept the filling simple and made a yummy dipping sauce which takes them to the next level of deliciousness and cut down on the prep time.

Raspberry Almond Crumble - Berrylicious Summer Dessert

The easiest way to enjoy fresh fruits as a simple yet delicious dessert is by baking them into pies and crumbles! This lovely Raspberry Almond Crumble made with wholegrain flour is proof enough, don't you think! Crips, Crumbles, Cobblers and Pies all belong to the same family, but technically, they are slightly different. A Crumble is a british dessert containing stewed fruit topped with a crumbly mixture of butter, flour, and sugar. It is then baked in an oven until the topping becomes brown and crispy! My crumble recipe is made from fresh raspberries, crushed almonds, rolled oats and flour, a tinge of orange juice for that fresh citrusy flavor, and a touch of ginger for the perfectly refreshing aroma that'll fill your kitchen as you bake these! You could also try using other seasonal fruits like apple, blackberry, peach, rhubarb, berries or plums. But I have to say I prefer raspberries for their color and taste, and you are sure to love this Raspberry Almond Crumble recipe too!

Ingredients
2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries
3 tbsp regular sugar (adjust according to tartness of berries)
2 tbsp orange juice (or 1 tsp fresh orange zest)
1/2 tsp freshly grated ginger

Crumble Topping
1/2 cup wholegrain flour
3 tbsp rolled oats
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 tbsp coarsely-crushed almonds

Method
Preheat oven to 400 deg F; grease one 6 inch baking dish (or 4 small ramekins) with butter or non-stick spray.

Place all the topping ingredients in a mixing bowl and rub them lightly together, using your fingertips, until you have a uniform mixture that resembles fine breadcrumbs or pearl-sized granules.

Mix the raspberries with the sugar, orange juice and ginger in a bowl. Gently toss to evenly coat the berries. Now arrange them in a freased/buttered ramekin or baking dish.

Top the raspberries with the crumble mixture and the crushed almonds, pressing it down lightly to get it even all over, then run a fork gently over the surface to make it crumbly.

Bake it on the high shelf in the oven for 18-20 minutes or until the top is golden. and the fruit starts bubbling from underneath, cutting through the top crust.

Serve it warm topped with some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

This Raspberry Crumble recipe is a definite winner with guests, and even with kids. Looking colorful and elegant, it tastes even better, and can serve to be an easy dessert while entertaining!

Related Recipes:
Peach Melba with Cardamom Ice-Cream
Raspberry Swiss Roll Cake
Refreshing Raspberry Lassi (Smoothie)

Badam Burfi - Almond Fudge

Burfis, a traditional Indian sweet made with milk, khoya and flavoring comes in varieties of shapes and forms. From saffron to chocolate, pineapple and coconut to mangoes and almonds, Burfis have honored several festivals and gatherings. So to celebrate India's Independence Day, and also the festival of "Rakhi" this weekend, I made these delicious Kesar Badam Pista Burfis. Made with milk and flavored with saffron, you can call it an Indian version of Fudge! Mildly sweet and adorned with chopped almonds and pistachios, they look pretty on a plate and are pretty easy to make! So try this simple badam burfi recipe and spread the festive spirit around!

Ingredients
1 cup almonds
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup (4 oz) condensed milk
sugar (optional, if needed)
6 tbsp ghee (clarified butter) - melted
6-7 strands of saffron + more for garnish
2 drops yellow food color (optional)
slivered almonds & pistachios - for garnish

Method
Soak the almonds in the milk for a at least an hour. remove the skins, then using a blender or food processor, blend the almonds and milk together into a fine thick paste.

Soak the saffron in 2 tbsp warm milk and set aside to bleed.

Take a deep skillet, set it on low-medium heat, and add the almond paste and keep stirring continuously. After 3-4 minutes, add the sugar, saffron and the melted ghee slowly into the pan (in small increments) while stirring continuously, and cook till the ghee is absorbed by the almonds.

As the mixture thickens, add the condensed milk and the food coloring, then again stir for another 5-7 mins, making sure it doesn't stick to the bottom.

Remove from the heat and allow to cool just slightly. Lightly grease a square baking tray (about 1/2 inch deep). Transfer the mixture to the tray while it is still warm. Garnish with some chopped almonds and pistachios, and the remaining saffron strands.

Now allow to cool, about half an hour. Then cut into diamonds or squares. If its still soft, refrigerate for 15 mins then cut. You can store the burfi in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for upto a week. This goes to Pooja for her Independence Day theme this week, featuring Orange-Green-White colors.

Serve the Kesar Badam Burfi to your friends and family. Here's wishing every Indian a very Happy Independence Day, and I also wish every brother & sister a Happy Rakhi as they celebrate their bond of love!

Related Recipes:
Kesar Elaichi Shrikhand (Yogurt Dessert)
Coconut Burfi (Laddus)
Kesar Rasmalai

Nutella Crepes with Peaches & Raspberry Sauce

I've always preferred crepes over omelettes, especially for breakfasts, but after watching Alton Brown's Good Eats episode featuring Crepes, I have to say I've become a fan! These Nutella Crepes are particularly special as they have hazelnut-flavored Nutella, one of my favorite indulgences! Seriously, there's no way someone could refuse a helping of Nutella; creamy, chocalatey, nutty, gooey, velvety, sweet & tasty, I could go on describing this spread, and Crepes are a wonderful way to enjoy the goodness of this special blend. This is my second heist with crepes, the first one not being good enough to post:). But I think I've mastered it now, thanks to Alton's tips and a tried-and-tested recipe. These beautiful crepes filled with Nutella, then topped with raspberry sauce, and served with some fresh seasonal fruits on the side, are perfect to enjoy as breakfast or brunch, or even as an easy dessert!

I always used to think that Crepes are very difficult to make, and its easier to stick with pancakes. but after seeing Mike's Mango Nutella Crepes, and reading his excellent tips, I was inspired to try these myself. A colleague at work had shared her mom's perfect crepe recipe with me, so I was all geared up to give crepe-making a shot! Unfortunately, my first experience was not so exciting! But, Alton Brown's expert advice once again got me going. I changed Mike's recipe just a little to use some water in place of milk. I served my crepes with some fresh peaches and raspberry sauce, and now I have to say I'm no longer afraid of making Crepes! Thanks Mike, and thanks Mr.Brown, wherever you are!

Ingredients
Makes about 6-8 crepes

2 large eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup water
1 cup flour
3 tbsp melted butter
butter - for coating the pan

Filling & Garnish
Nutella - for filling
Raspberry sauce - to drizzle on the top
Seasonal Fruits - sliced (I used Peaches)
Powdered sugar - for dusting

Method
In a blender, combine all of the ingredients and pulse for 10 seconds. Place the crepe batter in the refrigerator for 1 hour. This allows the bubbles to subside so the crepes will be less likely to tear during cooking.
Note: The batter can be kept for up to 48 hours.

Now warm up your pan (a 7 or 8 inch skillet works the best) to about medium-high heat, giving it a few minutes to ensure it reaches a steady temperature. Melt down a knob of butter and swirl it around to coat the surface of the pan.

Pour 1 ounce of batter into the center of the pan and swirl to spread evenly. Cook for 30 seconds and flip. Cook for another 10 seconds and remove to the cutting board(or any flat surface), and allow to cool slightly.

Continue until all the crepes are done. Wipe the inside of your pan clean with a paper towel after each crepe, and butter the pan for the next one.

Assembling the Crepes
Spread a generous layer of Nutella on each crepe. You can even add some chopped fruits inside the crepe. Then fold it once in half, then again in half to form a triangle.

Transfer your crepe to a serving plate. Drizzle with some raspberry sauce, and serve with some sliced fruit like Mangoes, Peaches or Strawberries.

These Nutella Crepes are perfectly delicious with coffee for breakfast. To serve these as desserts, top with some ice-cream of whipped cream!

Related Recipes:
Wholegrain Blueberry Pancakes
Mango Streusel Cake
Cranberry Orange & Pecan Bread

Related Tags
fruits, desserts, breakfast-recipes, nuts

Cranberry Orange Bread with Pecans

Cranberry Bread, flavored with zesty Orange and filled with the goodness of Pecans and crushed almonds, and topped with a layer of butter or maple syrup, served with a cup of hot tea or coffee! Does it sound like a scintillating breakfast or not? I, for one, would never refuse a platter like this, and neither should you! Cranberries are a wonderful summer fruit, and when paired with citrusy orange, it invokes a lovely flavor and aroma that is sweet and invigorating. I love walnuts, and pretty much throw them in any recipe that can do with nuts, but this time, I chose to go with Pecans, as something told me they would be great with the cranberries, and I was not disappointed at all! A lover of almonds, I dumped some slivered almonds too into the batter, and the result was a wonderfully soft bread that is pretty enough to be served at feast, and tasty enough to be cherished with family. This moist Cranberry Orange Bread is an out-and-out winner indeed, sure to serve as a fitting start to your day!

I was really happy with the way this beautiful bread turned out. It was truly a treat with my morning tea. Off this goes to Sia's WBB-Summer Feasts and also to Susan who's hosting SHF-Berries this month!

Ingredients
Makes one 9x5x3 inch loaf

1/2 cup pecans - coarsely chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries(sweetened) - coarsely chopped
3 tbsp slivered almonds
2 cups whole-grain pastry flour
1 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp orange zest
4 tbsp cold unsalted butter - cut into cubes
1 large egg well beaten
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tsp vanilla extract

Eggless Recipe
** substitute 1/4 cup sour cream instead of the egg in the recipe

Method
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Grease a loaf pan with non-stick vegetable spray and set aside.

In a small bowl, combine the beaten egg with the orange juice and vanilla extract. For the eggless version, replace the egg with 1/4 cup sour cream and beat it with the orange juice and vanilla.

In a large dry bowl, whisk the flour with the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and orange zest. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend it into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir in the chopped cranberries, almonds and pecans.

Pour into the prepared pan and bake for 50 - 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Then remove the bread from the pan and let cool completely before slicing.

Enjoy this delicious Cranberry-Orange Bread with your breakfast, or as a dessert with some more fruits and whipped cream!

Related Recipes:
Chocolate-Banana Bread with Cranberries
Italian Tomato Herb & Cheese Bread
Hazelnut Mocha Coffee Cake

Related Tags
fruits, desserts, breakfast-recipes, nuts