Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases

Bake it, Make it & Take it.....Birthday Party To-Go!

The Stamping Diva ~ AKA my daughter Erika from Stampin' Mama ~ has done it again! She has the most amazing talent for creating outrageous treasures out of totally ordinary things! Given the success we had with our last Cherry Kisses project, we've decided to make "Bake it, Make it & Take it!" a regular feature. I'll give her the recipes from my collection at Suite101.com, she'll bake the goodies, then dream up some way-out container to showcase them in! Erika has always been creative, but I swear those twisted dreads have given her some magical power to make everything she touches sparkle!

While I was in Vermont visiting a week ago, I got this uncontrollable urge to play bakery! What a coincidence my son has a bakery (that's another story)! I bought all sorts of ingredients and went to play with the BIG BOY equipment. I made Kahlua Tiramisu at his place. The next day, I went to Erika's house and we both had a blast, making messes and licking bowls! When I was done, we all got to eat the fruits of my labor ~ meaning cheesecakes and Tiramisu!

For this "Bake it, Make it & Take it" project, we came up with a version of my Chocolate Zebra Cheesecake Recipe. After I was done with everything I wanted to make, I still had some batter left over and decided to make mini cheesecakes with Oreos, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and Chocolate Chips. Erika then grabbed the cheesecakes before the guys and kids could devour them and took a bunch of very professional photos. She then sat down and savored every bite while groaning in delight! Can't you just picture it? That's my girl!
                                                                         

"101 Easy Peasy Cookie Recipes" by Lucinda & Heather Wallace ~ A Cookbook Review

COLOSSAL DOUBLE CHOCOLATE WHITE CHIP COOKIES

                                                                                                                                                      
A few months ago, I received an email from Mother & Daughter tag-team bakers, Lucinda Wallace & Heather Wallace, authors of "101 Easy Peasy Cookie Recipes". Would I be interested in receiving a copy of their new cookie cookbook and possibly do a review and interview for them? Let me think about this... Two seconds later, I decided what a delicious opportunity that would be and said "YES!"

I wrote that exclusive interview just recently for Suite101 with Lucinda & Heather. To see the complete two-part review and interview, go to Suite101.com, "101 Easy Peasy Cookie Recipes" and "Lucinda & Heather Wallace's Exclusive Interview". The articles tell how they got their start, what motivated them to bake and write a cookbook and last but not least, a personal peek into their lives as bakers.

For more information or to order a book for yourself, go to Amazon.com. You won't be sorry!

They were also kind enough to share two awesome cookie recipes with us. Here's the first delicious recipe.

COLOSSAL DOUBLE CHOCOLATE WHITE CHIP COOKIES

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ cups butter or margarine, softened
• 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
• 1 ¼ cups packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup milk chocolate chips
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup white chips
• 1 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and baking soda. In a large bowl, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat eggs and vanilla extract into butter mixture. Gradually stir in flour mixture. Stir in milk chocolate chips, semi-sweet chocolate chips, white chips, and nuts. Drop by level ¼-cupfuls, about 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until light golden brown. Allow cookies to cool for 2 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Permission granted by authors Lucinda Wallace and Heather Wallace to publish personal interview and recipes.

SHORTBREAD RASPBERRY KISSES

                                                                                                                                                                 

 

"101 Easy Peasy Cookie Recipes" by Lucinda & Heather Wallace

ORANGES AND CREAM COOKIES                                                                                
Another Outrageous Cookie Recipe from "101 Easy Peasy Cookie Recipes" by Lucinda & Heather Wallace.

ORANGES AND CREAM COOKIES

Makes about 3 ½ dozen cookies.

• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2-3 teaspoons grated orange peel
• 1 package (12 ounces) white chips

Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and salt. In a large bowl, cream together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in egg and orange peel. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in white chips. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Allow cookies to cool for 2 minutes on baking sheets, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Just a reminder to read the complete two-part Exclusive Interview and book review "101 Easy Peasy Cookie Recipes" on Suite101.com.

SWEET CHERRY WRAP-AROUNDS                                                                          

Newport Rhode Island ~ So Much To Eat, So Little Time!

Newport is known for some of the best restaurants on the East Coast. With Johnson & Wales College of Culinary Arts less than 30 miles away, it's no wonder Newport gets more than it's fair share of top-notch chefs! The biggest problem with dining out in Newport, is trying to decide where to go and what you have a craving for!

One Saturday morning, we ended up at the cutest little breakfast/lunch cafe called Annie's on Bellevue Ave right near the International Tennis Hall Of Fame. It was off-season, but the place was packed with locals and tourists. The restaurant is small and quaint with lace curtains in the floor-to-ceiling windows and a good amount of hanging plants to make you think you were in a European cafe. Very cute! Most of the wait staff looked like girls from Salve Regina University dressed just right with white blouses and black bow ties and aprons. We started off with fresh squeezed orange juice for both of us and a few rounds of decaf coffee. John had Eggs Florentine with the most delicious homemade hollandaise sauce. I had Banana Pancakes with just the right amount of smashed bananas in the batter and sliced bananas decorating the top. A little pricey ~ we walked out of there with $35.00 less in our pockets, but satisfied none-the-less!                                                    

We went to Annie's once more before we left Newport looking for the same fuzzy feeling again. It was a weekday, so the crowds weren't there and we had our pick of cozy seats. The only drawback was we sat too close to the door and were chilled each time someone came in. I started with a glass of freshly made carrot juice ~ what restaurant makes fresh carrot juice? That was a nice surprise! John had fresh squeezed OJ again. I decided on Blueberry French Toast made with whole wheat bread and a big dollop of real butter. VERY yummy! John had a basic breakfast of eggs over easy, home fried potato wedges and toast. We finished it off with decaf coffee. Damage ~ $24.00 including the tip. I'd go back again, but with so many restaurants calling our name, we really need to try them all ~ just to be fair!

Newport Rhode Island ~ So Much To See & Do!

We stayed in Newport, RI recently for 18 days for a much needed rest. While there, we were able to eat at a few very nice restaurants and cafes and take in a some sights. Newport is only across Narragansett Bay for us ~ 45 minute ride ~ but sometimes it feels so far away because of the toll bridge. As a kid, I think I only went to Newport 2 or 3 times. It was a little harder to get there back then because the Newport Bridge didn't exist. We went over the now defunct 2 lane Jamestown Bridge and then had to catch a ferry to Newport and back again. Fast forward to the present and time changes everything. The new and improved Jamestown Bridge now has 4 lanes and the Newport Bridge with 4 lanes looks so pretty at night. All lit up, it looks like a giant ice cream sundae with 2 red blinking cherries on top!

We've been to Newport more in the past 3 years than all our years combined! It is a beautiful place. So full of history, stately mansions, quaint cafes, cobblestone streets and breathtaking scenery. We've had picnics overlooking the ocean and dinners in to-die-for restaurants. We really should go back there more often!
                                                                           
I took this shot of Rose Island Light from our sailboat a few years ago. You can actually stay overnight and see what it feels like to be a lightkeeper for the night!

 Up next ~ "Newport ~ So Much To Eat, So Little Time"!

(photo of bridge by bern161616,sxc)

Cherry Kisses Cookies with a Hershey Kiss on Top!

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, but don't fret, there's still time to make these easy cookies for your kids class party! Cherry Kisses ~ or Cherry Winks ~ can be whipped up real quick. The kids can help you unwrap the Hershey Kisses ~ one for the cookie, one for me! ~ and with adult supervision, they can even place the kisses on the cookies when they come out of the oven.

I've teamed up with Erika Martin from Stampin' Mama.com to do a "Bake it, Make it & Take it." project. This new feature is going to showcase different goodies that you can easily bake and can be showcased in a stamped or paper-crafted container/box/bag/holder/etc. Roughly once a week, she'll be posting a project that you can create and include some goodies inside of. I'm so excited to be doing this with her! I send her the recipes, she bakes them, she takes the photos, her kids eat them and we both post them on our blogs! What's not to love?

In Erika's own words, "I'm really excited about this feature because it means that I'll be getting us all to think beyond the realm of cards (I DO love cards, but I really enjoy paper-crafting of all kinds) and it also means that I'll be able to bake something yummy to eat and share. And those that know me well enough know that I have a sweet tooth and that I love to make things for people (my neighbors are usually the recipient of these goodies)."

 

Today's "Bake it, Make it & Take it" post features an adorable mailbox and yummy Cherry Kisses Cookies!

This project is Erika's creation from Stampin' Mama using my Cherry Kisses Cookie Recipe from Suite101.com.

I have to give Erika all the credit for the photos, aren't they adorable?

 

Raspberry & Strawberry Cheesecake Muffins

In keeping with the spirit of Valentine's Day, I've decided that you really need to try these amazing Raspberry Cheesecake Muffins! If you love raspberry or strawberry cheesecake, then you're going to love these muffins. They are so decadent and delicious, they will make your mouth sing! Make a batch and surprise your loved ones on Valentine's Day. Take a basket full of muffins to work and you might even get a raise! Send some to school with the kids ~ they're so good they'll think they're eating cupcakes! Make them for a special occasion or just because. Either way, they'll become one of your favorites too!
If by some weird chance you don't like raspberry, you can substitute strawberry, blueberry, cherry, peach or any other seedless jam that suits your fancy.
Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake is another recipe you might want to try for a Valentine's Brunch.

Raspberry Cheesecake Muffin Recipe

• 5 1/2 cups unbleached white flour, sifted
• 2 Tbsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cups melted butter
• 1 tsp lemon peel, grated
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup seedless raspberry or strawberry jam
• 1/4 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease 24 regular size muffin pans with vegetable spray or use paper muffin cups.
3. In a large mixing bowl, blend flour, baking powder and salt together. Set aside.
4. In another large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, brown sugar, melted butter, lemon peel and almond extract until mixed well and set aside.
5. Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together in a small bowl.
6. Add liquid ingredients to dry ingredients and mix only until blended. Do not over mix, it makes tough muffins.
7. Spoon about 1/3 muffin batter in pans, plop about a tablespoon of cream cheese batter on top and then a teaspoon of jam on top of that. Add enough muffin batter to fill cups 3/4 full.
8. Sprinkle a little sugar on top of muffins before baking.
9. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350° depending on your oven. The muffins should be light golden brown and spring back when you touch them.
10. Remove from pans and cool completely before storing them in a tight fitting container.
11. Makes 20 - 28 muffins depending on how big your pans are.

Make a pot of tea, invite a friend over and enjoy!

(photos by ladyheart,morguefile and fishmonk,sxc)

Valentine's Day Strawberry Parfaits

                                                                           
In honor of Saint Valentine, let's whip up a batch of Strawberry Parfaits. Easy to make and absolutely delicious, these beauties will look just gorgeous on your dinner table for Valentine's Day. So, dust off your most elegant stemware or glasses and show off your culinary talents!
Be sure to check out my Baking & Desserts section at Suite101 for additional Valentines dessert ideas!

Strawberry Parfait Recipe

• 4 cups fresh, ripe strawberries, hulled
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup cream cheese (4 ounces)
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp water
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup vanilla cookies, coarsely crushed
• 1/2 cup whipped topping
• 2 Tbsp sliced almonds

Directions:

1. Slice 2 cups of strawberries and set aside.
2. Place remaining 2 cups of strawberries and 1/4 cup sugar in a blender and pulse a few times until it resembles coarse puree and sugar is mixed in.
3. In a medium mixing bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat ricotta, cream cheese, powdered sugar, water and vanilla until smooth.
4. Start by layering crushed cookies in the bottom of the glass, followed by strawberry puree, strawberry slices and cheese mixture.
5. Repeat once more and decorate with whipped topping.
6. Sprinkle almond slices over the top.
7. Refrigerate 30 minutes before serving.
8. Serves 8 depending on the size of your glasses.

Cheers!

(photo by richcd,morguefile)

Strawberry Desserts ~ Shari's Berries and Strawberry Cheesecake

Who doesn't love strawberries? There's just something about a big ripe, juicy strawberry. While it's not really the berry season for most of us in the snow covered north, we can still dream about summer and indulge in those luscious berries anyway. They may come from California or Florida, but they're delicious and available none-the-less!

Shari's Berries
A company called Shari's Berries has been receiving a lot of attention lately. I think it's because of their aggressive advertising and absolutely stunning photographs. They're a little on the pricey side with shipping, but  I'm sure your loved one is worth every penny! Their Gourmet Chocolate Covered Strawberries come in dozens and half-dozens just like a bouquet of roses. The strawberries are hand-dipped and beautifully decorated to perfection. Some are decorated like the cutest little tuxedos and come delivered in a box that looks, well, like a tuxedo! Very striking! Others are dipped and decorated with white, milk and dark chocolate drizzle. They promise to be delivered fresh to your door in time for Valentine's Day. But don't stop there! Mother's Day is coming up fast too. Check out Shari's Berries if nothing to simply view the beautiful photos! Here's an article I did for Suite101 called "Buy Valentine's Desserts Online" for a few other suggestions.

Cheesecakes
In our previous life as retail and wholesale bakers, we made thousands of cheesecakes! I wish we had kept track of the true count, but it was a staggering amount. All kinds of flavors with different crusts and toppings. Sometimes I miss those days. Being the anal person that I am, I loved to line up all the finished desserts along the counters and just stare at them for a while, always amazed at how we could produce so many in such a short amount of time. More about that in a later post!

If you'd like to make your own Valentine's Cheesecakes, here are some suggestions you can make at home.   
New York Style Strawberry Cheesecake with a Graham Cracker Crust
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with an Oreo Cookie Crust
Chocolate Zebra Striped Cheesecake with an Oreo Cookie Crust

I've just made myself hungry and craving Strawberry Cheesecake. I'll just have to stop at Antonio's Bakery for a slice. I wonder if I could get back home undetected without strawberry stained lips, or if I should just bring another slice home for my hubby.

Don't forget to visit my Baking & Desserts section at Suite101 for more tempting recipes!

Next up, Strawberry Parfaits!

Valentine's Desserts ~ Lake Champlain Chocolates & Amy's Apples

"Hello, my name is Donna Diegel, and I'm a chocoholic!" Anyone that knows me, knows I love chocolate and I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm addicted to the stuff. I really should go to support group meetings, but then I'd be the one volunteering to bring chocolate refreshments afterwards. I'd also be dragging one of my daughters along with me. Actually, she's worse than I am. I wonder where she gets it from?

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. I knew it was coming up, but it didn't register that it was next week! I should have been a little quicker to pick up on this since the stores are full of red and pink candy, flowers and balloons. I've also been getting a lot of junk email from FTD and other candy sites. So, I really had to get my butt in gear and try to play catch up with my Valentine's articles for Suite101. I'm a little late getting started, but here I am!

There are a few on-line dessert companies worthy of my time and that I've really been impressed with lately. I thought I should share them with everyone here so I wouldn't be the only naughty chocoholic! It's not too late to order. Just do it!

Lake Champlain Chocolates in Burlington Vermont, is my absolute favorite chocolate. I should have bought stock in this company because I've kept them in business all these years! Their gourmet chocolate truffles are to die for. The outside of the truffle is a thin milk or dark chocolate shell that conceals insides made of ganache that are so silky smooth they melt in your mouth. With flavors like Cappuccino, Grande Valencia, French Roast, Vanilla Malt, Raspberry and Champagne, who could resist? Then they're meticulously hand-decorated and beautifully presented in unique and colorful seasonal boxes with matching hand-tied ribbons. I also adore their Almond Butter Crunch and Signature Milk Chocolate Bar with Almonds. Heck, I'll eat them all! They even have a Chocolate Bar Sampler with 21 bars of gourmet chocolate. WOW! I'm in love!

Another company that I've had a love affair with lately is Amy's Apples from Providence, Rhode Island. I can't say enough good things about this company. I found them completely by accident one day when I went to a wine tasting at Newport Vineyards. They were set up as vendors giving away samples and they had to be the most popular booth there. I believe they sold out that day. Their apples are simply outrageous! They are so enormous that one apple will feed a party of five! You might think that $14.00 per apple is an insane price to pay for an apple, but once you see the size of this thing and taste the sinfully rich caramel and chocolate covered masterpiece, you'll fall in love too! We had a Cashew Lover's Delight and a Heath Bar Heaven. I could use every adjective there is to describe how awesome these apples are, but until you try them for yourself, you'll never know true happiness!

Enjoy!  I know I will!