Cappuccino Biscotti

When you can't run, bake. Sounds pretty legit to me.

It's a co-workers bday tomorrow and I wanted to make him something tasty. He's not a big sweets fan. SO... my usual make a big bday cake, take it to work to let people ooo and ahhh over it plan kinda went out the window. Then I was thinking maybe cookies. Or muffins. Or a loaf of bread?

Finally, it hit me! He LOVES coffee. And what goes better with coffee than Biscotti? I'm not going to lie, I've never made the fancy treat before. It's 9:30 at night and the only secret family recipe I have is almond biscotti. So there I had it.

As I was running out the door (ok, hurrying not running) because I only had two eggs in the fridge, I suddenly remembered: nuts = a NO-GO. He's allergic. That pretty much wipes out 99.9999999999999% of the things I make. I found this new gem of a recipe that combines coffee and biscotti. Sounds like it could be a winner winner!

Cappuccino Biscotti
from Joy of Baking

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
1/4 cup espresso or strong coffee
1 tablespoon milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extra
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

*original recipe calls for 3/4 cup hazelnuts, but I obviously did not add them*

preheat oven to 350. whisk together the COOLED coffee, egg, milk and vanilla in small bowl.
mix flour, sugar, soda, powder, cinnamon and cloves. add the wet ingredients until incorporated. add chocolate chips.
with flour on your hands, divide the batter into two. using extra flour, roll the half into a log (about 10 inches long by 2 inches wide). bake for 25-30 minutes at 350.

let the logs cool for about 10 minutes on a wire rack. cut the logs into pieces and place back into the oven at 300 for another 15 minutes until golden brown.

They are a bit sweet for my liking and I would def add some nuts for an extra crunch if I make them again! I hope the birthday boy enjoys them!!

Brownies!

Happy Feb 16th! SURVIVOR PREMIERE NIGHT!!!

I am not completely against celebrating Vday. Buying over-priced flowers that will die the next day and dealing with the 8913789 other lovebirds that flock to restaurants for a fixed menu does seem a bit outrageous to me though. I am not really a fan of chocolate either. I'll take shoes.

This Valentine's Day I did share a special bonding moment cleaning the house from floor to ceiling. It needed a major face lift and many toxic chemicals were involved in the process. Bleach works magic! I did get to enjoy awesome salmon cakes, edamame, a salad and some rosemary pasta. And even managed to catch a few precious minutes of the drama-filled Bachelor...quite a glorious day I will admit!

With that being said, I am still waiting on a company to mail the Vday gift that I ordered (back in Jan). So I have decided that I will just "celebrate" whenever I feel like it. I needed a little help to get through this hump day and to make the bestest show ever a little more exciting! What better way than to bake. Bake brownies that is!

Brownies

from a box

1 box o greatest

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/4 cup water

walnuts

caramel bits!

I know. I cheated and used a box. But Dukie was playing ball. And Jeff Probst was airing. I was rushed...

I did get a bit creative and used some extra fixings and a cute pan! Brownie points? Dukie dominated. Survivor was great. Milk + gooey brownie = awesome hump day on my clean, germ-free couch!! Looking forward to a warm weekend!!

Chili and Corn Bread!

Comfort food. Does it really comfort you?

Some dishes, and even drinks, make me think of certain people. It usually brings back lots of good, fun memories of times together.

I have been craving chili all week. It could be cause it's Super Bowl weekend. Or it could be because I needed a minor trek down memory lane...

I miss hanging out with one of my good pals and the long chats we had together. We would stroll to the dining center for bunch after a wild night out. I would eat cereal by the bowl full. He would dominate the chili. And corn bread. I think it helped us recall the night's happenings...

I remember multiple tailgates when warm chili in my belly made me so much happier! My favorite memory probably has to be the VT Duke football game last fall. My cousin, sister and I had a super fun time "taste tasting" the chili at 3 am the morning of the game! Hey, we did discovered a new love for chili with corn chips! And only needed two hours of sleep...

Chili
1 1/2 onions (or one really large one) chopped
1 pepper, chopped
1 lb lean ground beef
2 cans dark kidney beans, rinsed
2 cans light kidney beans, rinsed
2 cans diced tomatoes (can use one can of fire roasted)
1 can tomato sauce
1 jalapeño, diced
chili powder
pepper
Frank's hot sauce
cheddar cheese
corn chips

sauté the onions and peppers on medium heat with some olive oil. add in the ground beef and let it brown. you might need to drain the excess liquid that comes off as it cooks. lightly season the meat while it is cooking. 

drain and wash the beans in a colander. add them to the crock pot and combine the meat on top of the beans.

pour the diced tomatoes and sauce on top of the beans and meat. add the jalapeño, spices and hot sauce. gently mix it together.

let it simmer on low heat for 5-6 hours. mixing every few hours.

beef n bean chili!!

Corn Bread with Chiles
from mama!

1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup corn meal
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup shredder cheddar cheese
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup oil
1 can corn, drained
1 can green Chiles, drained

preheat oven to 400. mix together dry ingredients and cheese in bowl.
beat together egg, milk and oil in separate bowl.
add wet ingredients to dry. do not over-mix. add in the corn and green Chiles.
put in muffin tins, or bread loaf pan.
bake for 20 minutes until golden brown on top!

I heart football. Lots. And am pumped for the big showdown this weekend. Rodgers was on my fantasy team so part of me feels like I need to cheer him on. Having some roots in PA, cheering for the Steelers seems appropriate. Honestly, I don't really care who wins. I just want to be entertained. Whether it's MillionDollar HairBoy picking everything off or Concussion Man airing out 1298371982 yard passes to Jennings, I'll take it.

The commercials never fail. And the Black Eyed Peas always make me wanna dance! I am looking forward to a good time with more friends, good eats and sports! Chili goes great at any get together, inside or out.

Powerbars!

I love traveling. Seeing new sites. Exploring big cities. Wandering aimlessly around town.

Last week I had a blast in San Fran. Visited some awesome eateries and had delish, fresh seafood, toured an amazing winery, hiked with the big redwoods! It was awesome.

I'm usually afraid of heights, but I was climbing/crabwalking on high overlooks. The scenery was beautiful and it was so peaceful. I didn't have time to get scared.

me and the world!

Cali residents are all about going green. Earth loving people. Recycling. Composting. Made me think a bit more about how much I waste. So I decided to try something a little different when I got back...

Powerbars!
2 cups oats
1/2 cup wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flaxseed
6 tablespoons water

preheat over to 375. mix flaxseed and water in a small bowl.
combine dry ingredients together. stir in chocolate chips and cranberries.
mix together syrup, honey, sugar, and peanut butter. add to flaxseed and water mixture.

the not so pleasant-looking, peanut butter-flax goo...

add wet ingredients to dry and mix. for a while. keep going. until fully incorporated.
press into a baking dish. bake at 375 for 15 min.

allow to cool. then cut into bars!

I am not exactly a tree hugger. Or vegan. But I did stumble across a delish new concoction that I will take with me the next time I encounter Muir Woods!

Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry, Walnut Cookies

Cake? Bars? Cookies? 

Chocolate Chip? Peanut Butter? Oatmeal Raisin? Nuts?

Yea I get a little carried away sometimes. And overwhelmed by all the possibilities cause I want to create the best thing possible. Especially when I haven't baked in a while. But I was having difficulties coming up with something this time. 

I weighed the pros and cons. Multiple times. Back and forth like a yo-yo. 

Most people like cakes for their birthdays. And I have a pretty famous Layered Chocolate Raspberry Cake. But I don't really like cake. At least the traditional, frosting-loaded type. And I made that a time or six before...

Cookies always please me. But is that enough to make someone feel special on their birthday? It's not my birthday.

Bars are a bit more unique. Maybe fancier than a simple cookie?

Ever feel like you get so worked up about the dumbest things? Things that should be fun, enjoyable, or not so stressful? Yea, I found myself falling into this category...again...

So finally I decided to put down the computer. Stopped looking at cookbooks. Started throwing around ingredients... 

Awesomeness. 

Oatmeal, Chocolate Chip, Cranberry, Walnut Cookies

something I created

1 stick butter 

1/2 cup oil 

1/2 cup white sugar 

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 eggs 

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups oatmeal

1 1/2 - 2 cups flour

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup walnuts

1 cup chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon finely chopped rosemary

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

beat butter, oil, sugars, eggs, vanilla together. mix in baking soda, powder, cinnamon, rosemary. fold in oatmeal, flour, cranberries, chips and nuts. 

use a teaspoon to place onto cookie sheet. *or press into a baking dish to form bars*

bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.


I like my cookies a bit softer so I watched the timer very closely and did not overcook them. 

yummo!!

 *I clearly could not decide on bars or cookies so I did both! :)

the bars!

I will place a candle in the cookie bars and present it to the birthday queen in just a short bit. Hopefully they will not be overcooked and will be soft, chewy and moist!


At the end of the day, I think it's best to go with you gut. Trust yourself to make good decisions. It's ok to be cautious, but sometimes it's ok to not over-think everything. Once you make a decision, stick with it. Confidence is key. You learn with each mistake. And decision.

Happy 2011!!

Happy 2011!! I am still in denial that another year passed, but 2010 brought lots of new things.

I enjoyed a fun graduation celebration for lil bro and a great Christmas in Iowa last week. It was awesome baking dozens upon dozens of cookies and other treats with Mom, trying to beat Dad in Backgammon, catching up with the besties, and, yes I’ll admit it, shoveling and sledding! I guess a little bit of the white stuff isn’t too bad every now and again…

I also think it is safe to assume, we may have altered an old family tradition. I have fond memories sneaking out of my room to partake in Monopoly matches. It started as a fun and friendly way to pass time so we could stay up late enough to witness the Times Square magic. Family friends started joining the party, the snacks got a bit more sophisticated, and I eventually toasted bubbly at midnight. I treasure the Monopoly bragging rights and it didn’t seem right if we did not play at least one game.

This year, Dad got Monopoly Deal as a gift. (I do need to sincerely thank my din din date pals for introducing me to the most addicting card game!) Needless to say, my week in Iowa was filled with many, many cut-throat matches of Monopoly Deal. I think the transition from board game to card dealing was well received by all despite my awesome wins! J We stayed up nearly every night together battling it out!

While I accepted the small change in the family game, I could not move on without the guest star New Year’s treat. It’s no New Year without the shinny silver coin buried in the cake and bread. 2011 marked the first year I ventured to create my first New Year’s cake.

New Year’s Cake (Vasilopeta)

a Greek family secret!

½ lb butter

2 cups sugar

3 cups flour

6 eggs

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 cup warm milk

½ teaspoon baking soda

juice of ½ lemon

chopped walnuts and sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350. Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour and stir until it is mealy. Add the eggs one at a time beating after adding each one. Stir the baking powder into the warm milk and add into the batter. Mix the baking soda and lemon juice together and stir in. Mix well and pour into a greased 10 inch cake pan.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Sprinkle the chopped walnuts and sugar mixture on top after 20 minutes. Bake for another 20-30 minutes until the cake is done all the way through.

my lovely new blue platter!!

Mom would wrap a quarter in tin foil and plop it in the cake batter, and also with the New Year’s bread, before baking. Dad would carve our initial on top of one piece and we would search for the shinny piece. The person that got the coin would have good luck for the entire year!

no silver...

I have a 50/50 chance this year as my sister and I are searching for the lucky piece! I am looking forward to a fun filled 2011 and know that more changes are coming, but this Greek family tradition is here to stay! 

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Empanadas

Food overload? Yes. But it doesn't stop me from cooking and eating more!

I am not going to lie, with traveling, eating out and turkey day, I ate lots of meat! So I could use a break for a bit.

My goal for the week is to make and eat legit, tasty meals for din din each night instead of the usual, mindless, simple salad. So far, so good.

Last night was lentil burgers topped with tzatziki, tomato and spinach! I'll admit, I made a mess. My sister thoroughly enjoyed watching me shove my face while yogurt covered my hands. and face. I know so appetizing! But really, I was kinda surprised by how good they were.

Tonight we experimented with sweet potatoes and black beans. I suppose you could throw in the leftover turkey if you're struggling for what to do with the extra. Or maybe make them for next year's turkey day party!?

Sweet Potato and Black Bean Empanadas
from Cooking Light
Dough:
9 oz flour (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup oil
1 large egg
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Filling:
1 chile
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 cup sweet potato, mashed (I put mine in the microwave for a few minutes)
1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
1 teaspoon chile powder
pinch of salt
egg white (optional)

mix together water, oil, egg and vinegar. gradually add mixture to flour. knead until smooth. shape the dough into a ball, cover with plastic wrap and chill in fridge.

preheat oven to 400.

cook cumin seeds in skillet until toasted. process in grinder until ground. combine cumin with chile, sweet potato, beans, onions, cilantro, chile powder and salt. mash in a large bowl until smooth.

 

divide dough into 10 portions and roll into small circles (about 5 inches).

spoon mixture into the center (about 3 tablespoons). fold the dough over and seal the edges together using a fork. *you can brush the extra egg on the edge to help create a seal*

place empanadas on a baking sheet. make three small slits in the top to let the steam escape. *you can brush the remaining egg on top to help them brown*

bake at 400 for 16-20 min until golden brown! enjoy!

I attempted empanadas with whole wheat dough, but would not recommend it. Next time I'll stick to traditional white flour or use less wheat flour for the dough. Also, I think I would add a bit more of a kick and remove/use less cumin. Not a fan of cumin. But I really enjoyed the black bean/sweet potato combo and had fun making something new for din din!

empanar: to wrap or coat in bread.