Spatulas, Corkscrews & Suitcases

VEGAN Baking Recipes: The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Baking

You don't have to be on a vegan diet to enjoy these vegan baking recipes. Vegan Red Velvet Cake and Cupcakes Recipe and Vegan Cheesecake are just a few of the delicious vegan recipes in this brand new cookbook.

Save $5.90 by pre-ordering from Amazon, and Barnes & Noble now for only $11.05.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Baking is due to hit the book store shelves on April 5th, and Amazon will send the books the day it's released. It's also available in the Kindle edition for $9.99.

I received my two author's copies in the mail last week from the publisher and have been totally excited ever since. I still can't believe I'm holding the book in my hands after 14 months. It seems like yesterday!

Order from Amazon here
Order from Borders here
Order from Barnes & Noble here

VEGAN PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Kentucky Derby 2010 Recipe Contenders: Mint Julep Recipe, Kentucky Derby Pie

What are the odds you can get to Churchill Downs for a Kentucky Derby Party? Have your own Kentucky Derby Party with these recipes.  I didn't know this, but Bobby Flay has his own race horses, plus, he has a mean Mint Julep Recipe! Then again, Food Network's Emeril Lagasse has his own awesome version of Kentucky Derby Pie that's to-die-for!

BEST Kentucky Derby Pie Recipe
My own version, made with blood, sweat and tears, and some major love! Seriously, we made these Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pies for years at the bakery. Way too good and very rich. Just what you want for tomorrow's race with a tall icy Mint Julep!

Another one of the bakery's specialties: Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe with Roasted Pecans

Check out my Slideshow Photos of Kentucky Derby Horses and of course, my Kentucky Derby Pie!

  

Emeril Lagasse's Gold Brick Chocolate Pecan Pie - This recipe sounds pretty similar to my Kentucky Derby Pie. However, his does include edible gold leaf. Not sure if you want to include this or not. Looks pretty, but probably over-the-top expensive too!

Bobby Flay's Mint Julep Recipe - So easy to make Kentucky Derby Mint Juleps made with just a few ingredients. Course, the best Bourbon Whiskey and fresh mint leaves are a must for this race day special.

Double Chocolate Mint Brownie Sundaes: Kentucky Derby Dessert from Yumsugar

Now off to Dave's Marketplace to pick up some fresh mint and all the Kentucky Derby Pie fixin's!

Mint Julep photo: Wikipedia.org

Kentucky Derby race horse: AP Photo

Nutella Hot Fudge Pudding Cake Recipe

Celebrate World Nutella Day 2010 with this over-the-top, sinfully rich, ooey-gooey Nutella Chocolate Hot Fudge Pudding Cake. Awesome with fresh whipped cream and melted Nutella drizzle. Why not splurge this weekend? Throw this easy-peasy chocolate dessert recipe together in 10 minutes. Then let the oven do the rest of the work!

Here's my Nutella recipe from last year. Nutella Chocolate Fudge Brownies. They're to-die-for! Or how about Nutella S'mores? They're extra yummy too!

WORLD NUTELLA DAY 2010

A word from our sponsors :-) "Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy and Michelle from Bleeding Espresso (and Shelley from At Home in Rome, in spirit) solemnly declare Friday, February 5th “World Nutella Day 2010″ – a day to celebrate, to get creative with, and most importantly, to EAT Nutella."

Check out the article I did last year for World Nutella Day 2009 Recipes.

 

Nutella Hot Fudge Pudding Cake Recipe

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 Tablespoons cocoa
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup room temperature Nutella
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa
• 1 3/4 cups hot water
• 1/4 cup Nutella

 

How To Make Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray 8" X 8" baking dish with vegetable spray.
• In a medium size bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt, sugar and 2 Tbsp cocoa.
• Stir in milk, oil and 1/4 cup Nutella. Spread in the baking dish. It will be very thick. You may have to use a spatula to spread it.
• Mix brown sugar and 1/4 cup cocoa in the empty bowl, and sprinkle it evenly over batter.
• Measure hot water in a 2 cup measuring cup. Add remaining 1/4 cup Nutella and stir to dissolve. Pour hot Nutella water over batter very slowly, so as not to disturb the batter. DO NOT STIR IN. Let the water sit on top in a puddle. This is where you'll think I've lost my mind, and got the recipe wrong. The water seeps into the cake as it's baking and magically makes the Nutella pudding!
• Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Do not over bake. It will be jiggly and set up as it cools.
• Serve warm or cool with sweetened whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. Make sure to drizzle some extra melted Nutella over the top.
• Serves 6.

RECIPES OF THE MONTH

 


Nutella S'mores, Apple Bread Pudding, Zucchini Bread, Blackberry Cobbler, Baked Flounder, Chicken Tetrazzini, Banana Nut Muffins, BLT Pasta Salad, Corn Pudding and Deli Style Macaroni Salad.

I Got My Bakin' MoJo Back!
Yes, I'm still alive! And I'm back with a bunch of new recipes! July & August were very busy months with tons of company, sailing and searingly hot temperatures that left me with almost no will to bake or cook. We don't have AC on the boat, and when that sun beats down on the deck, it heats the inside temps to over 100 degrees. There were days I just packed up my laptop and went to the library to escape the heat. The gas grill was my best friend for weeks! I got my MoJo back now that the days have turned cooler, and I've started baking and cooking again! Even our son Brad got the baking bug yesterday and made a batch of cookies, just because he could!

Recipes of Some of the Month!
This is just 1/3 of the things I've written since I've been AWOL the last 4 weeks. I'll post more in the days to come. PLUS, I have another Giveaway planned, so keep your eyes peeled for that as well! As always, feel free to print these Examiner and Suite101 recipes out, and make sure to email them to your friends too!

BLT Pasta Salad Recipe
Bacon, Lettuce & Tomato Macaroni Salad – A twist on the classic BLT Sandwich! Use spiral pasta to hold more Italian dressing, add crisp bacon, romaine lettuce and vine-ripened tomatoes. Great for lunch, brunch or supper!

Macaroni Salad Recipe with Mayonnaise
Classic deli style macaroni salad with onions, peppers, celery, hard boiled eggs, mayonnaise and celery salt. Hamburgers & hot dogs, barbecues, cookouts & picnics, could all use a big helping of this easy macaroni salad!

Chicken Tetrazzini Recipe
Chicken Tetrazzini casserole with leftover roast chicken, spaghetti, butter, mushrooms, onions, sherry, cream and spices. This lip-smacking dish is perfect for pot lucks and large family dinners.

Corn Pudding Recipe: Scalloped Corn
Easy side dish casserole for quick meals & holiday entertaining. Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix is the secret ingredient! Don't let the name 'Corn Pudding' throw you off. This is an amazing veggie casserole. Red peppers and green scallions give it festive color, while canned and creamed corn give it great texture.

Baked Flounder Recipe with Cracker Topping
Baking flounder, sole or cod is a quick & easy way to prepare this mild white fish. Just a few simple ingredients, and tender baked flounder is ready to serve.

Red Onion Jam Recipe
Large red onions simmered and cooked down with butter, sugar and balsamic vinegar, makes an amazing relish or jam that's perfect for burgers, cheese, appetizers, tarts & galettes or dipping. Quick & Easy!

Banana Nut Muffins Recipe
Moist & flavorful muffins loaded with ripe bananas, walnuts and chocolate chips if you like. Banana streusel muffins freeze well, so bake a double batch for later. Great for brunch, snacks, picnics or with a cup of tea!

Nutella S'mores Recipe
Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, campers and kids  will love these s'mores made with Nutella Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, honey graham crackers and toasted marshmallows.

Zucchini Bread with Chocolate Chips
Moist & flavorful Zucchini Nut Bread recipe loaded with chocolate chips, cinnamon and walnuts. Easy quick bread recipe can be baked in mini loaf pans or cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!

Apple Bread Pudding Recipe with Fresh Apples
Fall dessert recipes with fresh apples, Vermont maple syrup and apple juice concentrate make this apple bread pudding with whip cream a perfect cool weather snack.

White Chocolate Frosting Recipe
Melted white chocolate coating, blended with butter & cream cheese frosting. Decorate Red Velvet Cupcakes, Coconut Cake, Chocolate Cupcakes, or frost a cheesecake. 

Fresh Peach Pie Recipe with Streusel Topping
Flaky pie crust loaded with fresh ripe peaches & spices, topped with sweet brown sugar praline streusel.

Blackberry Muffin Recipe with Fresh Blackberries
Blackberry Muffins with brown sugar & pecan streusel topping. 

FUDGE BROWNIES RECIPE - TWD

Tribute to Katherine Hepburn Brownies
Double chocolate fudge brownies with a sprinkle of cinnamon and instant coffee make all the difference in these brownies. The recipe calls for walnuts or pecans and finely chopped bittersweet dark chocolate. Sounds good to me! This recipe was way too easy, and other than the coffee and cinnamon, it sounds very similar to the Chocolate Fudge Brownies I've been making all my life! I guess Dorie and I were on the same page so to speak, when it came to desserts, brownies in particular!

Lisa was the Logo Contest Winner for the new TWD home page logo. Tuesdays With Dorie has been without a logo for some time now, and the home page looked rather bare and white. Time for a new contest! Enter Lisa Surviving Oz, all the way from Australia! Because she won the contest, she also won the right to choose this week's Dorie Greenspan recipe from Baking: From My Home To Yours. If you already own the book, the Katherine Hepburn Brownies are on pages 96-97. If you don't, you can find the recipe on Lisa's post, which also includes the new TWD logo. It's rather catchy, don't you think?

MEMORIAL DAY DESSERTS & RECIPES

Dessert Recipes for Memorial Day!
It's Friday, the holiday weekend is upon us, do you have your Memorial Day Dessert menu ready? Since Memorial Day is the traditional kick-off to summer, most people think of strawberry desserts. I know I do, but I also think about chocolate! OK, so I always think about chocolate! Doesn't everyone?

Whether you're having a cookout, going on a picnic, going on a cruise around the bay, or you've been invited to a potluck outing, I'm sure you'll find something in this list that will knock your socks off and make you the hit of the party! I've put together a list of desserts that I think should be on every Memorial Day menu. Whatever you choose, have a blast this holiday weekend!

HOLIDAY DESSERTS

Fresh Blueberry Pie

Fresh Cherry Pie

Key Lime Pie

Homemade Apple Pie

Classic Lemon Meringue Pie

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

Strawberry Cheesecake

Fresh Strawberry Tart

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Hot Fudge Pudding Cake

Nutella Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies

Bacon Brownies - Don't knock 'em till you try 'em!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

And if desserts aren't your bag, why not try some of these salads or dips!

Spinach Artichoke Dip

Zesty Pesto Pasta Salad

Tri-Color Easy Coleslaw Recipe

Easy Ambrosia Salad - Totally Retro!

Colorful Cobb Salad Recipe

Red Bliss Potato Salad

Taco Salad Recipe

Mexican Salad Recipe

7 Layer Mexican Dip

Guacamole Dip Recipe

BACON BROWNIES & RECIPE ROUND-UP!

 

Grillin' & Chillin' Time!
I can't believe Memorial Day is next weekend! Time really does fly when you're having fun!
I'll be gearing up for the holiday during the week, so be sure to check out my pages on Examiner.com and here too, for more recipes & holiday ideas! I'm craving lots of salads, grilled burgers or seafood and strawberry desserts. What are you craving?

• Bacon Brownies Recipe - Come on, you just gotta try them out of sheer curiosity!
• Bacon & Cheese Strata Recipe - See, I can use bacon in "real" food! Make-ahead Overnight Breakfast Casserole. Refrigerate it overnight, bake it the next morning!
• Grilled Marinated Salmon - Great for the up-coming holiday weekend - Super easy foil packets!
• Grilled Yellowfin Tuna Recipe - Quick & Easy slap-it-on-the-grill meal.
• Cucumber Dill Sauce for Seafood - Perfect cool accompaniment for seafood of any kind.
• Grilled Sweet Potatoes - Throw these on the grill along with whatever else you're grilling!
• Homemade Butterscotch Pudding - Just like Grandma's. Skin or no skin?
• Mocha Cake with Chocolate Frosting - Delicious moist cake with a dairy and egg-free bonus.
• Carrot Cake Recipe & Cream Cheese Frosting - My famous Carrot Cake...or cupcakes!
• Grape-nut Pudding Recipe - Family favorite pudding recipe!
• Sourdough Starter Recipe - Well, because I could, that's all!

And finally, I just received the go-ahead on my 2nd Examiner topic - National Food Blog Examiner. So, if any of you have an active food blog with dripping good photos, I'd love an exclusive interview. Lots of press and exposure! Shoot me an email and I'll send you my questionnaire.

CHOCOLATE BACON BROWNIES

Recipe for Bacon Brownies
Have you heard all the buzz lately about Bacon & Chocolate? It started a few years ago, seemed to back off for a while, and now it's back, bigger and piggier than ever! I made these brownies out of sheer curiosity. I had no intention of trying them, let alone eating them. But once they cooled off and I drizzled them with chocolate ganache, I couldn't help but take a bite, and then another bite, and another. They were awesome! There's no way I can explain exactly how amazing these Bacon Brownies were, you'll just have to try them for yourself! I posted the recipe for these unbelievably decadent Bacon Brownies at Examiner. Take a peek over there a grab the recipe.Make a batch for yourself and see what you think!

ST. PATRICK'S DAY RECIPES Round-up

                                                                        

   


St. Paddy is Irish, Don't You Know?
St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday, only two days away. St. Joseph's Day is Thursday, March 19th. Two holidays, only two days apart! And for all you Rhode Islander's out there, that's BIG news! Can you say Zeppole? So, needless to say, I've been writing like crazy in all different topics too. One thing you will notice is a number of Irish recipes.  I tacked on a few from last week just to keep the list together. I have more links to add, but these will at least get you started on the road to the pot of gold. Just kidding!

                                                  

Irish Recipes!

• Healthy Irish Soda Bread!!!
• Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe 
• Baileys Irish Cream Cheesecake Recipe
• Homemade Baileys Irish Cream Liqueur Recipe
• White Chocolate Baileys Irish Cream Mousse Pie Recipe

 

More Random Recipes & Articles - Week Ending 3/14

• Hello, Cupcake! Book Review
• 5 Best Selling Cupcake Cookbooks
• Nutella Chocolate Fudge Brownie Recipe
• Lots of Nutella Recipes - World Nutella Day Round-Up
• Congratulations To The Smith's Edge Winners!

 
 

FEEDS & EMAIL ALERTS
Just a note on feeds and email alerts. With a Feed, you get an almost instant message update in your reader of choice. Most people have all their feeds go to their Google reader or iGoogle page. When you get to my main page on The Examiner for instance, you'll see that familiar orange box in the upper right hand header next to "Donna's Articles". If you click that, it'll bring you straight to a page to sign up for instant alerts. Spatulas & Corkscrews on the other hand, doesn't have anything so bright and shiny. It just says, "Subscribe to this blog's feed", in the top right sidebar right under Get Email Updates. It does the same thing - instant updates so you don't miss a thing!

Email Updates work a little different. When you enter your email address, Feedblitz gets the message and sends it to you the next day. If I can get a post in before midnight, you'll have an email waiting for you in the morning. If I don't, and do it anytime during the day, you'll get it the next day. They're only sent out once every 24 hours. Not that that's bad. They both have their own charms and applications. My suggestion would be to do both. Because if you're anything like me? I'll forget to look at my reader, but ALWAYS check my email! Keep in mind though, that it could be a day later. PHEW!!!


Now that I've totally confused you, I'm inviting you to subscribe to my FEEDS and EMAIL UPDATES, not only this blog, but also The Examiner and Suite101 as well. Many of you already have, and for that I'm extremely grateful. You're the reason I cook, grill, bake and drink!

 

NUTELLA ROUND-UP!

                

Ahhhh....NUTELLA!
On February 5th, over 100 Nutella addicts came out with their oven mitts on and their sleeves rolled up to celebrate World Nutella Day 2009! You should see all the creative things  bloggers from all over the world made with their jars of Nutella. Cookies, croissants, muffins, puddings and!  Cheesecakes, waffles, crepes, truffles, and, I kid you not, even grilled Nutella sandwiches and chicken enchiladas! Oh, and don't forget my NUTELLA CHOCOLATE FUDGE BROWNIES!

There were so many entries, that Sara from Ms. Adventures in Italy posted half the Nutella photos, and Michelle from Bleeding Espresso posted the other half!

And, if that's not enough, Sara shares: Types of Nutella Lovers and 50 Ways to Eat Nutella! And wait, there's more! Michelle wrote up a post: Top 10 Signs You’re Addicted to Nutella! Ya think?

   

                                

I don't often buy Nutella, but when I do, it usually shows up in some sort of dessert. Are you surprised? Now that I have another gazillion ideas, I'll have to buy another case or two! And when I do, you can bet I'll be posting the photos to tempt you some more!