Sourdough Popovers

Sourdough popovers

On sunday I decided to make my own sourdough starter... After several searches I decided on a very simple and easy starter. Today was my day to discard a cup and "feed" the rest. As most bakers, I was hesitant to throw out the cup because it just felt wasteful!!! And I absolutely hate wasting anything... I jumped on King Arthurs sight to see what I could dig up with an "unfed" cup. I wanted something simple, quick and easy. Popovers! 5 ingredients and done in 30 mins? Yes please!

My "discard"

Nice and spongey!!!

Recipe said to mix and should be the consistency of heavy cream. I think I got it to where it should be.

Straight from the oven!

This is first time I have ever made these and im not sure what my texture should be, but im quit sure they were slightly under cooked. I was afraid to burn them so took them out slightly early. They were ok, but I think for my next discard, ill try something else....

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Panettone!

Coming to you from the ABC club for the year of 2013, the decision has been made to bake from King Arthur Web <big squeals> I have been a fan of them for years and they are my go to for almost everything. So this year is going to be the best!

 

 

This was a very fun and easy recipe! I enjoyed making it :) I do need to share why I was soooo excited to make these, drum roll please........!

 

My new kitchen aide mixer!!!! This is the best thing ever for bread. How did I ever live with out it??? Love the color of it too. Ok back to Panettone...

I did not have the fancy pants extract so I think I did what some of you did... I used the lemon extract and just vanilla. To add to the flavor, when I cooked my craisins, I used Lots of pulp orange juice and the zest from one lemon. Not to get side tracked again, but I have a yankee candle and the scent is mandarine cranberry. I love the smell of it!!! I didnt really have any other dried fruits and I wanted to keep it simple with just the craisins so I opted to not go to the store and get anymore.

 

Another thing I didnt have was MILK! With kids on Christmas break, they were going thru it and I didnt think to check before I started, BUT I always have fat free half and half on hand. I used about 3/4 cup and filled the rest with water. I dont think you can even tell I didnt use milk. Was all the same.

 

I must say these were absolutely delicious! I could tasted the lemon, orange and cranberry in every bite and I was completely satisfied with how they turned out. My kids loved them and had them for a bed time snack. This is a keeper.... My only question about this recipe is why couldnt you use fresh fruits??? Your rehydrating dried right? Just a thought and something I may think about next time. Enjoy! :)

 

 

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Almond Crunch Cherry Galette

This recipe comes from "The Weekend Baker" by A.J. Dodge. For the ABC ladies, it was free style pie! Let me say this was wonderful!!!! Super easy. Tasted great. I did let mine get a little more brown that I had intended but was still really good! I def. plan on making more and freezing them for later occasions :)

I did very minor changes to recipe. I had no lemon zest so I just left it out and instead of making one big galette I made 2 medium size ones.

I apologize for the pictures. For some reason my camera didnt want to focus all that great.

This tasted better than I expected. I did forget to wet each pleat which is why I think my form sorta went soft and lost its shape.

 

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Kraft makes life easy!

Normally when I bake Wild Salmon fillets I just throw a little seasoning on them and grill them up. I wanted to try something different but fast and easy.

I was at Walmart grocery shopping with my Sister-in-Law and I picked up another Kraft Fresh Take. Rosemary and roasted garlic is the one I used.

I put skin side down and just piled the mix on top. Was very very good!

I did spray lightly with the olive oil in a spray can and baked at 350 for about 30 mins.

This was the side! Fresh grean beans with a chopped up vidalia onion with a little salt and pepper and 5 slices of bacon. They cooked for around 4 hours on high in crock. This was before cooking. Turned out good as well. Was all served with a side of jasmine rice. Mmmmm good food!

 

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ABC- Classic Fruit Tart

This months challenge comes from "The Weekend Baker" by Abigail Johnson Dodge

Pan from target

I have no experience what so ever in making tarts. In fact, I didnt even own a pan so I headed to target to pick up a tart pan with removable bottom. Pretty orange color :) I had so many questions about the pan alone! The bottom removable part, which way does it go since its not completely flat and has a little rim around the edge. I baked mine edge up but thinking I failed on it.

I did bake mine in steps and did most ahead of time. I decided to triple the recipe so I could share and bring the tart to family for the 4th of July. The plan was to make 2 full tarts and some tart-lettes. Maybe my pan was bigger than most? I used 1 1/2 dough on my pan. I ended up with 1 full tart and 4 tartlettes and about 1 batch of crust left. Almost all my filling went in the one pan itself. Glad I tripled it just to cover the pan :)

So glad I read the other ladies reviews! I did roll mine flat in pieces and then used a bench scraper to scoop up in sections and then pressed evenly into pans. I am not confident I could have gotten the entire crust up in one piece. I can see where a person would be aggrivated trying to get it all in one but results were amazing! So different from a standard pie crust.

 

I thought once assemble it turned out just gorgeous! I was actually proud of myself. Iv never made anything like this and it turn out so pretty.

The tartlettes are so adorable! I couldnt help but be impressed by them. You could really jazz up each individual tart by customizing it to the person preference. Seems your options could be endless with so many fruits in season right now.

My family really enjoyed the dessert. It was so pretty before I cut into it :) Once I did things just starting running together which is why I think I prefer the tartlettes. They seem to stay pretty once served. I always dread that first cut anyways. I cant ever get that first one out with out destroying it completely! Great recipe. I think I would make again if I had a special event and time.

*** My tart bottom was upside down :( That may be why my crust crumbled when I cut into it. Plus when I lifted the tart came up but didnt wanna slide off the bottom part. My first tart and it was an experience with errors. Next time ill be pro right?

Thanks Ladies!

 

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Zucchini Bread - Narup Family Recipe

As requested by my father and aunt... I decided while at store to pick up some zucchini to fulfill their wishes. This comes from a family recipe book called "The Spice of Life" by Terri L. Jurkanin (my 2nd cousin) The only alteration I made to recipe was instead of using cinnamon I used cardamom. And I split the oil by using butter. Smells so wonderful in my kitchen right now as the bread is baking and im blogging !!!!!

Pre-heat oven to 325

1. 3 eggs
2. 1C oil (I used 1/2c extra virgin olive oil and 1 stick real butter)
3. 2C sugar
4. 2C grated (raw) zucchini
5. 2 tsp. vanilla
6. 3C bread flour
7. 1/2 tsp. baking soda
8. 1 tsp. cinnamon (I used 1 tsp. cardamom)
9. 1/2C chopped nuts <sigh>..... (omitted)....grrrrr
10. 1 tsp. salt
11. 1 tsp. baking powder

Cream first 5 ingredients, add flour, soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nuts. Bake in 2 greased and floured loaf pans 50-60 mins.Enjoy!

I made several small loafs so I could pass them out to friends and family :)

 

MMMMMMM! Just had a slice :) yummy!

Ok... so maybe I ate the entire loaf. Its 12:30am no one is up so I wasnt obligated to share. :)

Night all!

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Overnight Brioche Bread

Wow! I have never tasted a bread better than Brioche. This is my first time making it. I love to make breads but I usually stick to the very easy and most of time made in the bread machine breads. I almost always even use the machine to do the dough process. So this was really a big deal for me.

Before I get to far, this was a recipe that http://avidbakerschallenge.blogspot.com/ did for the month of june. I just recentely joined but after recieving my book in the mail, The Weekend Baker by Abigail Johnson Dodge, and looking at this I just had to make it. And im glad I did. I cant even describe the taste except that I know ill never make regular dinner rolls again. This recipe for me is definately a keeper.

I made 3 batches and this was my first after all the mixing. I wish id taken pictures of the other 2 because it looked much silkier than this.

 

Braiding bread is fun. So I decided to go with a 4 braid round.

 

I made 2 rounds out of each batch. I thought it turned out pretty! Oh and please ignore my table. Normally its covered with a cloth unless im baking and its gotten lots of use over the years.

 

So I ended up with 4 rounds, a 6 braid and a 3 braid.

As you can see this is the 3 braid. I cut a chunk to try hot and fresh out of the oven and YOWZA!

 

This is the inside. I guess this looks good. I know it sure tasted delightful!

 

I really enjoyed my evening bake :) With it being so hot out i thought this would keep my house cooler and it did! Its just late and now im tired :)

 

I found this to be actually a very easy bread to make. Only bump in the road was I decided to do a 3 strand braid and I had to youtube how to braid with only 3 strands?!?! Even after watching video I messed up somewhere so after it baked that was the loaf me and family nibbled on. Hey 6 is no prob but watch out for 3! hehe Good night all!

 

Now I have some questions for the pros! Can I make more than one batch at a time if I have a big bowl? If yes, would I divide before first rise or after? And, does it matter which kind of bowl you use? Glass, metal, plastic... Thanks ladies! Good night :)

 

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