2x Chocolate Muffins Twice as Delicious

Don't these look delicious?

There's no icing but none is needed.

Photo found here.

It led me to the recipe here.

Question: Are there fewer calories if you call them muffins rather than cupcakes? I'm calling them mini chocolate cakes.

xo

Miniature Arrow Back Rocking Chair + Sweet Potato Recipes

I picked up this little handmade painted rocker years and years ago at a garage sale. The lady didn't know anything about it and sold it to me for a song.

Side view.

Rocker next to a miniature picture frame. Rocker is 6-1/4" high. Frame is 2-7/8" high. Unknown gentleman in frame reminds me of my grandfather. 

I bought a mesh bag full of sweet potatoes on Wednesday. I scrubbed six of them and put them in a cold oven and turned it on 350° and set the timer for 90 minutes. I used my downstairs electric oven because it has a more even heat. I usually cook these for one hour at 400° but they were much better cooked slower and longer. I ate two for lunch and they were soft and sweet and really delicious. Butter wasn't required but I put a dab on each for good measure and sprinkled on a light shake of pink himalayan salt. I'll never bake them any other way from this day forward. This was a perfect lunch for a Sunday that turned out to be a rainy one. My kitchen range has a gas cooktop and a gas oven as well but the oven has uneven heat. I'm glad I have the choice of both. xo

UPDATE -- TRY THIS RECIPE TOO

Slow Roasted Sweet Potatoes from Smitten Kitchen

Read the article and get the recipe HERE. 

She cooks hers at 275° for 2-1/2 hours!!!

Enjoy. Sweet potatoes are very plentiful right now.

xo

Rhubarb Buckle with a Crumb Topping RECIPE

https://alexandracooks.com/2012/04/27/rhubarb-buckle-revisited/

Full post by the original author. Found on Pinterest.

This looks amazing and so easy.

Click HERE to read & print recipe with instructions.

See the ingredients below.

Happy Baking.

xo

Hand-Written Recipe for Meringues

These are the best meringues you will ever make.

V is for Vanilla

Always have paper and pen at the ready in case someone wants to share a recipe with you! Charlie McCormick is my favorite on Instagram. He grows and exhibits the most beautiful dahlias ever. And he bakes the most spectacular things for teatime! Here is his Instagram link. https://www.instagram.com/mccormickcharlie/

Here is the link for this particular recipe: https://www.instagram.com/p/CMZ3HvqhlRP/

Enjoy! xo

Amazing Bread Baked To Look Like A Pumpkin

It took me the longest time to realize this was pumpkin bread and not a real pumpkin. Sadly, there is no recipe for this ginger pumpkin bread but doesn't it look delicious. 

Photo found here.

!!!UPDATE!!!

King Arthur Recipe and instructions for making the pumpkin shape. https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/ginger-pumpkin-braid-recipe

Thank you, Nancy🧡

Zucchini Bites: Baked & Healthier than Fried

I adore Zucchini Fritters and this recipe offers a baked version.

Here is the link for the website offering this recipe with many more photos.

https://www.melskitchencafe.com/baked-cheesy-zucchini-bites/

Enjoy! xo

Irish Lemon Pudding Recipe

I bookmarked this recipe because it calls for ingredients I always have on hand very little sugar. It's almost like a lemon meringue pie and is adapted from an authentic Irish recipe in the cookbook pictured below. I'm a true lemon🍋 lover and buy lemons in bulk and always have them in my refrigerator crisper drawer. Limes, not so much, except in limeade.

Irish Traditional Cooking by Dariana Allen

This link has a preview of the book and the history behind it.

Recipe and images found here along with the cookbook information. Happy baking. Enjoy! xo

Cookie Recipe for My Cookie Mold

 I found the perfect recipe for my Hessian Soldier mold thanks to a comment from @kathiquilts suggesting he would make Springerle cookie. I searched and found a recipe but I like the same auther's Traditional Speculoos Cookie better (also called Windmill Cookie). She illustrates how to use a mold like mine only hers are wooden.

The recipe calls for Baker's Ammonia (Ammonium Bicarbonate) and I have never heard of this but it's an essential ingredient to prevent the cookies from becoming too hard. I searched google and Whole Foods has it. She explains this on her blog post with recipe here. She walks you through every step with numerous photos. Enjoy. Save this recipe for the holidays.

xo

Hessian Soldier Cookie Mold from Williamsburg

I purchased this Virginia Metalcrafters item hanging on my wall long ago at an estate sale. It turned out to be the perfect size to hang in my pantry/office on a narrow space beside the front window. He is a Hessian Soldier made of Aluminum (called Silvertone) and was copied from an old mold used in the Bake Shop at Williamsburg. The impressed stamp shows the Virginia Metalcrafters’ familiar Betty Lamp hallmark.

I have never made a cookie with it but I would use a shortbread or maybe a gingerbread recipe if I ever tried.

I have seen a similar design on fireplace andirons too. There are wonderful items out there and it's up to people like you and me to find them, display them, brag about them, and love them again.

UPDATE: I FOUND A RECIPE TO USE WITH THIS MOLD HERE.

xo

Recipes from National Trust UK

Just start scrolling through this National Trust recipe site and you will definitely want to come back and save or try some of the recipes. Here is the link for the National Trust Fruit Scones pictured above. Enjoy!

Here is the link for converting the measurements and oven temperatures from UK to US. 

https://whatscookingamerica.net/equiv.htm

♡HOME♡

 

Small 6" Cakes for Two with Recipes

I have been meaning to tell you about this site with wonderful recipes for small cakes for two people. I made a very plain one a while back and used my heart shaped cake pan and it was so good. I dusted with powdered sugar rather than making icing. Happy baking. Recipes here 🍰Happy April Fool's Day❤️

Home Page with Latest Posts

Chicken Pot Pie Cornbread Muffins

I have been saving this recipe ever since it appeared in my inbox. I love cornbread and chicken pot pie and muffins too so I had to look at the recipe. It is a winner. It pops up immediately under the photo when you click on the link so you can decide for yourself. I have everything on hand except buttermilk so I might substitute my homemade yogurt. You can google buttermilk substitute to find other suggestions. I just did that and think I will wait and pick up some buttermilk when I go grocery shopping this week because it has a flavor none of the substitutes have and I happen to like it too. Enjoy if you make these pie/muffins that just might turn into your favorite comfort food. xo

Delicious looking Cowboy Cookies

These cookies have my name written all over them. Jump directly to the recipe here. Read the article and look at many more yummy photos here. They remind me of oatmeal bars my mother and I used to make with all of these ingredients except for the flaked sea salt sprinkled on top. I dare not make them unless I have to take a dessert to a gathering and those are few and far between in the days of Covid. Enjoy if you dare make them.

Gingerbread Skeletons for Halloween

What a clever idea! Turn your gingerbread men cookies into Halloween Skeletons. The placement of the piped icing makes all the difference. Love! Found on Tumblr.

Pumpkin Dream Cake Recipe

Are you drooling yet? This sheet cake with cinnamon cream cheese icing is absolutely the best pumpkin recipe I have seen in ages. See more photos and read all about it here. Can't wait? Jump directly to the recipe here. You're welcome!

Pumpkin (Spice) Chocolate Chip Cookies

I am a fan of all the spices related to pumpkin pie spices and I know I would love these cookies. You could probably spread the dough and cut into squares. This recipe might be a keeper.

I have been really busy with real estate. That house I recently showed you with my staging in the bedroom is Under Contract and I am dealing with home inspections now. Fingers crossed for smooth sailing. xo

Chocolate Cake: Pears Inside: Recipe

This photo stopped me in my tracks. I searched google for the source of the image and found it. It's called Pear and Chocolate Loaf. The recipe is included in the link above and there are more beautiful photographs of this delicious-looking cake. I think it's stunning.

Save this recipe for fall when pears are in season. 

xo

Olive Oil Biscuits: Delicious Recipe

UPDATE: I sent the recipe to a friend in New England and she made them right away and sent me this photo. She just started baking and has only one square pan, so this recipe was perfect for her. She and her husband ate them right away with butter and jam. She thought they would have been better if they had been made with butter and she will use Smart Balance fake butter that is made with olive oil next time. xo

Mine didn't look like this but were tan in color because I used whole wheat flour. I don't have any white flour 😢 

This recipe is definitely a keeper. It makes only 6 biscuits and that's a good thing since leftover biscuits are never as good as those right out of the oven. They are very quick and easy to put together and you probably already have all the ingredients on hand. (You could double the ingredients if you dare having a dozen biscuits in the house.)

Simple Olive Oil Drop Biscuits

Recipe by Taste As You Go 

Delicious drop biscuits that are simple to make and don't require an ounce of butter.

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10-12 minutes
Total time: 15-17 minutes
Yield: 6 biscuits

INGREDIENTS
1 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup milk (I used whole milk)

INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 450°F.

In a large bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt until well-combined. Pour in the olive oil and milk and stir until just moistened. (I mixed the milk and olive oil together before adding to dry ingredients.)

Drop batter onto a baking sheet lined with Silpat or parchment paper (or do what you've always done when baking biscuits). Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown on the edges.

Serve warm.

I put butter inside when they were hot and they are so very tender and delicious. Really good and I grew up on Southern Biscuits so I know what a biscuit is. I was dubious about the whole wheat flour but it was fine. Would use it again, if I had any!!! I am going to a local bakery to see if they will sell me any flour and if they won't, I will try a pizza place. Wish me luck.

I added the sugar because I always bake according to the recipe the first time. They were not sweet at all. Next time I will probably leave it out. Or maybe I will add a little more and sprinkle sugar on top and then they will be like scones to have with a cup of tea. You could add raisins too.

Enjoy. xo

Baking Sourdough English Muffins

I baked sourdough English muffins yesterday and they were easy and good but way too small. They look pretty normal in the photo but the are more like sea biscuits in real life, but good. The recipe called for a 3 inch cutter and that's what I used. My mother used to use tuna cans with the bottoms cut out. They don't make the cans that way anymore and you cannot cut out the bottoms. I just transferred the muffins from the griddle to this pan for the photo. To see more photos, go to my Instagram where I posted three photos. Use the forward arrow on a computer or swipe on phone or iPad. The jonquils were planted by my mother and I love seeing them sway from my kitchen window in a new garden where I transplanted them. xo

Baking: My Sourdough Oat Bread

As promised, here is the loaf (minus a few slices) of Sourdough Oat Bread I baked yesterday. The cookbook is opened to the page for how to make the starter. Click on the link for the recipe I used. I am very pleased and this bread is very satisfying somehow and doesn't leave me wanting to snack after eating it. Maybe I'm on to something. Staying at home during this pandemic makes one try to go back to homesteading, doesn't it? I have dabbled with sourdough several times before but I think this time, I will stick with it. 

I put this photo on Instagram this morning and so many people are learning sourdough techniques right now. I am looking forward to learning more. I will probably have french toast made with my loaf tomorrow for breakfast. See you tomorrow. xo

UPDATE: HuffPost has a great article on the immense popularity of backing sourdough bread now that people are home all day. Everything old is new again!!!