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October 24, 2011

Vanilla & Ginger Crumble Rice Pudding

vanilla & ginger crumble rice pudding

I took the plunge and bought a pound of vanilla bean the other day off the internet. The vanilla arrived in a small box and was vacuum sealed in a plastic bag; it made me feel like our UPS man was a drug dealer.  The second I opened the box, my kitchen was instantly perfumed with the heady scent of Tahitian Vanilla. My excitement grew knowing how many recipes I could knock out with this vanilla hoard at my disposal. I quickly flipped through the latest issue of Donna Hay Magazine, knowing that there was a beautiful spread about rice pudding. I located the recipe Vanilla Ginger Crumble Rice Pudding and dove right in.
vanilla & ginger crumble rice pudding

Creamy arborio rice mixed with vanilla beans, drizzled with maple syrup and topped with crumbled gingersnaps. It’s simple and comforting and it was exactly what I needed after spending the morning at a damp & foggy pumpkin patch surrounded by 3 year olds. Think dessert risotto with a slight ginger spike! I promise you won’t need a store bought air-freshener when you have the intoxicating scent of vanilla rice pudding cooking your stove.
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October 22, 2011

365-Week 42

A food related photo everyday until 2012. Here’s week 41:

295/365 Making salted caramel lady apples.

caramel lady apples
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October 21, 2011

I Love Lists FRIDAY!

  1. DIY Camera Purse/Bag Hmmmm! If only I had the time… via Vanilla & Lace
  2. Whole Grain Pumpkin Pancakes with Apple Compote Gimme that stack! via Honey & Jam
  3. What English sounds like to foreigners Super confusing & I see why! via A Cup of Jo
  4. Such a cute Halloween pumpkin mantle. I love the B&W smiley pumpkins! via Cute and Delicious
  5. These Orchard Pear Muffins looks IRRESISTIBLE via Tea & Cookies
  6. Guess what?! I bought a pound of Vanilla Beans! Vanilla Extract making is happening this weekend!
  7. I really want to have/attend a Pie party! via That’s Happy
  8. 5 Halloween Costume Rejected Ideas. HONEYBADGER!! Omg awesome! via Modern Kiddo
  9. Not So Spooky Double Oatmeal Raisin Cookies =YUM & I also love the teabag costume idea! via Turntable Kitchen
  10. Such a great/funny read- Five costumes for meeting your new BFF written by Danielle of Sometimes Sweet for Hello Giggles
  11. Check out the HALLOWEEN edition of the Joy the Baker Podcast. We talk about candy, costumes, Oprah & Dracula!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

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October 20, 2011

Hot Toddy

hot toddy time!

TODDY. It’s a funny word, right? I always feel weird when I say it out loud. If I’ve had enough toddies, the weirdness totally disappears and I might even shout TODDY if given the chance. I can also speak fluent Italian when I’m drinking. We’ll get into that some other time.

hot toddy

It’s toddy season! The weather is cooler and it’s time to get boozy. Bourbon in hot water with lemon, honey & ginger is supreme. I live off these drinks in the winter because they make me feel like I’m wrapped in a fuzzy cashmere blanket and I’m sitting by a fire. Toddies are also great if you’ve got a wicked cold. I like to put ginger in mine to give it an extra health boost.

HOT TODDY. Now say it 5 times fast! Ridiculous, right?
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October 19, 2011

Peppery Chicken Wings

peppery chicken wings

For as long as I can remember I’ve always been into books. My childhood allowance usually went towards books from the Scholastic book sale at school or food (go figure!).  One of the best purchases I made from one of those Scholastic catalogs was a simple cookbook for kids. It was the first cookbook that made me excited about cooking. I’d wake up on the weekend, turn on the toons and make a batch of french toast that  my brothers would bribe me for. I worked my way through that little cookbook with recipes for eggs, pasta, and English muffin pizzas but the one thing that impressed me and my whole family most was the roasted chicken thighs.

peppery chicken wings

Every time I roast chicken, I get a vivid flashback. I remember mixing chicken thighs with chopped onion in a metal brownie pan. I drizzled the thighs with olive oil, coated them with rosemary, thyme, salt & pepper and placed them into the oven to roast. What came out of the oven was more than decent; it was exceptional! The sheer alchemy of it all fascinated me and I felt a great sense of accomplishment making a grownup dish on my own. Fast forward twenty something years later and I’m still blown away at how spice coated chicken can be easily transformed by a little oven time. These wings & drumsticks were a hit in my household. Casey’s always begging me to make more meat and with the ease of this recipe there’s really no excuse not to!
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Pumpkins!

Sometimes you don’t need a real pumpkin patch for a Fall photo shoot…

Pumpkins outside the grocery store can be the perfect backdrop.

Don’t ya think?

We’re actually going to a real pumpkin patch this week. It will be Cooper’s FIRST field trip!

blurry but good!

To say I’m excited is an UNDERSTATEMENT. I’ve always LOVED field trips!

STAY TUNED.

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October 17, 2011

Coconut Maple Granola


coconut maple granola

If you’ve been listening to me on the Joy the Baker Podcast, you already know that I have an inner hippy and I like to make my own granola. You also know that I’m absolutely smitten with coconut oil and find any excuse to use it. What you may not know is that this granola is the first time I’ve used coconut oil as a replacement for my favorite granola lubricant, olive oil.

coconut maple granola

This Coconut Maple Granola is the perfect snacking granola. Sure you could add some to a bowl of Greek  yogurt or replace your regular breakfast cereal with it, but when you pour a little in your hand and take your first bite, you might bypass a bowl completely. This is the kind of granola that begs to be eaten directly out of the jar. Perhaps it’s the crunchy roasted almonds mixed with golden oats and coconut or maybe it’s the salty/savory vibe that fuels the addiction. All I know is that this granola is dangerous and I think it’s the coconut oil’s fault! Go ahead, embrace your inner hippy and make some.
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