Breads Archives | Page 3 of 6

Grilled Pizza – Six Ways

June 4, 2011

You say grilling season, I say…pizza!

Yes, I know that other things like pork chops, hamburgers and veggie skewers may come to mind, but I have officially decided that my absolute favorite thing to grill is pizza.

We have a ceramic grill and those mesquite wood chips infuse the crust and toppings with a flavor that words can’t describe. From savory to sweet, there isn’t any kind of pizza that I don’t like grilled.

On Memorial Day, I was determined to kick off the grilling season with this favorite. Knowing that I’d be traveling this week for work I made up two batches of dough and lots of flavor combos so that my husband would have some leftovers during the week.

I have a favorite pizza dough that I make every time from Food Embrace (formerly Off Her Cork). I’ve mentioned it before and you can find the recipe there. I often switch the flour combos up and this time I used (for a double batch) 2 cups of unbleached white flour and 6 cups of white whole wheat flour. This dough rises every time without fail and it grills up so well.

I had the garden in mind for these combinations. Arugula is just beginning to grow, but I couldn’t wait any longer so I picked a few pieces early for one of my favorite pizzas. The loads of kale we have came in handy, too. Herbs were perfect for the cheese pizza and the strawberries came into play for the dessert pizzas.

I had picked up some local, grassfed brisket that had been smoked a few days prior and it was a bit too fatty for us. Not knowing what else to do with it besides sandwiches, I was so glad my husband came up with the great idea of dicing up the lean portions and using it for the pizzas.

Below are all the combos from this round of grilling. No measuring necessary. I eyeballed it all and used the amount I wanted based on my preferences. I divided the dough into 7 portions and we had 6 different topping combinations. All were different in size which is the fun of pizza making!

Although you might want to ignore the guava and cheese pizza. We had a bit of a mishap with the dough and it is more of an H than a circle or oval.

I love taking a few photos when my husband isn’t paying attention and this one depicts the necessary beverage for pizza grilling. We had picked up some imports earlier in the day.

Using plenty of olive oil and cornmeal to coat the dough, the grill was heated to about 350 degrees F and my husband grilled one side of the dough for about 3 minutes. The pizza dough is then flipped onto a tray and comes inside for toppings. So we are putting the toppings on the partially cooked side. Then it goes back on the grill for another 3-5 minutes with the uncooked side down. This way, the rest of the dough bakes as the toppings melt.

You’ll notice that all the photos are grill-side shots. Time is of the essence when grilling pizza because it will cool quickly. I was so hungry for pizza that no time could be wasted for photos once it was slid off the grill!

Kale and Mushroom

Red sauce (any of your favorites will do)

Sauteed kale and mushrooms (toss in a skillet with olive oil until kale is wilted)

Mozzarella

Arugula and Sundried Tomato

Mozzarella

Sundried tomatoes, thinly sliced

Arugula, chopped if leaves are large

Cheese and Herbs

Red Sauce

Mozzarella

Cheddar

Fresh oregano leaves

Fresh thyme leaves

Brisket and Blue Cheese

Red Sauce

Cheddar

Mozzarella

Blue cheese

Smoked brisket, finely diced

Peach and Strawberry

Peach preserves (I used what I had canned last year)

Strawberries, sliced

Mozzarella

Romeu e Julieta (Guava and Cheese)

Goiabada (guava paste, chopped, or guava jam)

Mozzarella

Strawberry Rhubarb Bread

May 21, 2011

One of the best gifts anyone can give me is an ingredient. While others may want a ready-made food – a cookie, a bread, etc. I’d much rather have the berries, the chocolate or the oil, which I will then turn into the final product.

Yeah, I’m that person on your gift list that doesn’t take much work at all.

So I was thrilled earlier this week when a friend gave me some rhubarb. As I mentioned last spring with my rhubarb experiments I was never a fan of it growing up, but as I’ve learned of more things to do with it, I actually kind of like the stuff.

Another source of my rhubarb inspiration has been Two Peas and Their Pod. Maria shares her love of rhubarb in her recipes such as the Rhubarb Apple Bread which got me thinking about how to use my rhubarb.

Strawberry Rhubarb Bread Recipe | Fake Food Free

Since we have so many strawberries, I just had to go with the classic combination. So I played around with a few ingredients and came up with a bread of my own.

There is something about a slice of seasonal quick bread and a cup of coffee on a beautiful Saturday morning that makes the entire weekend complete!

Strawberry Rhubarb Bread
Adapted from Rhubarb Apple Bread from Two Peas and Their Pod

Makes: 1 loaf

Ingredients

1 ½ cups white whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground allspice
1 egg
¼ cup plain Greek yogurt (I use 2% or full-fat)
3 tablespoon butter, melted
¼ cup mascavo sugar
¼ cup Demerara sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2/3 cup whole or 2% milk
¾ cup rhubarb, finely chopped
1 cup strawberries, finely chopped

Topping
1 tablespoon Demerara sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Prep

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×4 inch loaf pan. (I used coconut oil.) (I also used one mini loaf pan and one 8×4 so I could give a small loaf away. My larger loaf was just a little smaller than yours will be. )

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and ground allspice. Set aside.

In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix together the egg and yogurt. Blend well on medium speed. Be sure your butter has cooled and slowly add that to the yogurt and egg.

Add ¼ cup of Demerara sugar and the mascavo sugar, mix on medium-high for about 2 minutes. Mix in the vanilla and milk.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the mixing bowl. Mix on low just until the flour is incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer and gently fold in the rhubarb and strawberries, being careful not the break up the berries too much.

Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Mix the remaining Demerara sugar and cinnamon for the topping. Sprinkle it evenly over the loaf. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick or knife inserted in the center comes out clean. (My mini loaf took 20 minutes and the less full 8×4 took 30 min.)

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Pimento Cheese Dinner Rolls

May 5, 2011

My experience with Pimento Cheese started, not in Kentucky, but in southern Indiana. When I was in grade school, it was the deli selection of choice for my grandmother.

In need of a simple lunch? Pimento Cheese on white sandwich bread to the rescue.

It wasn’t until just recently that I realized how much of a southern spread it truly is. In small towns of Kentucky it is as much the lunch of choice now as it was for my grandmother when I was growing up.

When I started my current job last September I quickly learned that pimento cheese also passes as a vegetarian menu choice. I travel to many small towns in the state to attend trainings and events hosted by small scale, local caterers. Since I can’t verify if these lunches include meat that is from local sources and/or raised by humane practices (well, that, and I get pretty tired of the standard chicken salad) I’ve ventured so far as to request a vegetarian option.

It’s a risk that has been rewarded time and again with a pimento cheese sandwich. Yeah, not what I would expect either, but I try to be understanding.

I don’t mind Pimento Cheese spread. In fact, I kind of like it if it isn’t swimming in mayo. But for Derby Day I thought I would turn this classic Kentucky combo into something a little more unique.

These rolls are filled with flavorful sharp cheddar cheese and sweet roasted red peppers. They also happen to be made with white whole wheat flour. They can serve as the base for the spread they are named after, be turned into mini sandwiches or served as a Kentucky-inspired dipper for your favorite soup.

Pimento Cheese Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

½ packet active dry yeast
½ cup lukewarm water
1 tsp mascavo sugar
1 ½ to 1 ¾ cups white whole wheat flour
1 ½ tsp olive oil
¾ tsp salt
¼ cup roasted red peppers, diced and drained
¼ cup sharp cheddar, shredded

Prep

Place the yeast and sugar in the water and let sit about 5 minutes, or until the yeast blooms. In a mixer fit with the dough hook attachment, combine 1 ½ cups of the flour, olive oil and salt. Turn on low and stir in the yeast liquid.

Mix on low until a dough forms. Add more flour by the tablespoon if the dough is too sticky. It should knead into a smooth ball.

Add in the roasted red peppers and cheddar. Continue to mix on low until both are incorporated. You may need a little more flour if your peppers make the dough too wet.

Turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead by hand 1 to 2 minutes and form dough into a ball. Place a warm place and cover with a kitchen towel. Let rise 1 hour.

Cut dough into 6 equal pieces and roll into balls. Place on a greased baking sheet or a sheet pan covered with a silicone liner. Cover with the dish towel once more and let rise about 30-45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown and firm. Makes 6 rolls.

Mint Julep Scones

April 29, 2011

There is Derby fever in the air around here. Regardless of whether you care a thing about horse racing it’s difficult not to get sucked in. Store fronts display their fanciest hats and dresses, favorites and racing stats are being discussed at the water cooler, roses are the flower of choice and here comes the bourbon!

We celebrated a few Derby days in Brazil which was then followed by watching it in a hotel room last year since it was the same weekend as my husband’s marathon. Fortunately this year the Flying Pig is this weekend so we will have our big race done and we can adequately celebrate next weekend.

It’s likely no surprise that the food and drink are the best part of Derby for me. This time of year really brings out the culinary history throughout Kentucky. One of those things rich in Kentucky history is the Mint Julep.

I learned that if you ask Kentuckians if they like Mint Juleps, most will tell you no. However, they will drink them anyway on the first Saturday in May.

I don’t tend to follow the crowd, though, because I happen to love a good Mint Julep. I think the key is fresh mint from your own garden and high quality bourbon. It also doesn’t hurt if you have my husband as your bartender because his are, hands down, the best.

In case you are unfamiliar, a Mint Julep is a cocktail of bourbon and simple syrup that has been infused with mint served over finely crushed ice. You have to make your own simple syrup, though. Or find someone to do it from scratch for you. That’s the only way to drink them.

I have my mind on mint julep flavors and spring just wouldn’t be complete without my favorite breakfast pastry – the scone. So this is the first of Derby-inspired recipes I hope to post until the big day arrives.

These will win over anyone, Mint Julep fan or not. They also make a lovely addition to your Mother’s Day brunch menu. Not to mention they are going to taste so good after the Flying Pig Half Marathon on Sunday!

Mint Julep Scones

Makes: 6 scones

Ingredients

½ cup pecans, chopped
3 tbsp Kentucky bourbon
1 ¼ cups white whole wheat flour
2 ¼ tsp baking powder
3 tbsp mascavo sugar (or brown sugar)
½ tsp salt
5-6 mint leaves, finely chopped
¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
½ tsp pure vanilla extract
½ cup 2 % milk
Demerara sugar for topping

Prep

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Place the pecans in a small dish and cover with the bourbon. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, mascavo sugar, salt and mint. Add the butter and use a pastry blender or two knives to blend until the butter is pea-sized and well incorporated into the flour.

Stir in the vanilla, milk and pecans with the liquid. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and gently shape into a circle about ½ to ¾ inch in thickness. Gently press about 1 to 2 tbsp of Demerara sugar into the top. Cut into 6 equal pie-shaped wedges.

Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes or until the edges are browned and the center is firm.

Classic Chili Dogs Courtesy of Rocky Mountain Organic Meats

March 27, 2011

I connected with Rod of Rocky Mountain Organic Meats on Twitter some time ago. I’m not sure who followed who first, but I remember in one conversation he shared with me how delicious the grass-fed meats were way out there in Wyoming due to the type of grass the cows were feasting on. My response was that we had some pretty good meat right here in central Kentucky due to our beloved Bluegrass. Secretly though, he had peaked my interest in those meats way out west.

Well, a few months later, I was given the offer to try Rocky Mountain Organic Meats firsthand when Rod asked if I’d like to sample a few items. I thought about it a while and after reading more about the company, I decided I couldn’t pass it up.

As you know, we buy most (were at about 95% now) of our meats locally and ensure that they are sustainably and humanely raised. Rocky Mountain Meats fits all that criteria except the local part. However, I decided this could work in the favor of my readers.

Every time I write about the great meat I get around here, I usually have at least one person tell me in the comments that they wish they had access to similar products in their area. In most cases you do. You just have to venture outside the city a bit, but there are likely some cases where you don’t. So sharing these products with you is to let you know that you do have access to some incredibly tasty, sustainably and humanely produced animal products through the good ol’ internet.

If you want to know exactly what this company is all about there is an abundance of information on their website including a little about what they do, who they are and what they sell. It starts like this:

“Rocky Mountain Organic Meats offers the finest Certified Organic grass-fed beef and grass-fed lamb in the country. All of our meats are 100% grass-fed and grass-finished and come from the best cattle and sheep country the Rocky Mountains have to offer. Our livestock is raised the old-fashioned way; no steroids or growth hormones, no antibiotics and no grain. Our only additives are clean water, lush grasses and fresh air resulting in lean and delicious organic grass-fed beef and lamb.”

I was a bit overwhelmed when the box arrived at my door. I couldn’t believe the selection! Along with ground beef, lamb and sirloin steak, there was summer sausage, beef breakfast sausage, pastrami, hot dogs and my new favorite snack, Honey Beef Jerky. Wow, that stuff is good! Considering all the beef jerky lovers in my family, a bulk order will likely be on the Christmas list.

The ingredients used in processing, smoking and aging the products are as natural as the meat itself. I found black pepper, paprika, celery juice and others boldly listed on the front of the packages.

So with all this great meat, you know I had to come up with something exciting to share with you.

I found myself thinking back to some favorite foods that we haven’t had in years. The combination of healthy eating in general, decreasing our support of the current fast food system and increasing our investment in grass-fed meats means that we’ve stopped eating a lot of the foods we might have splurged on in the past.

Enter the classic chili dog. Not just any chili dog, but the most sustainable, from scratch, partially local, mostly organic and all grass-fed chili dog you have yet to see.

First I started on the buns using the same recipe I posted a while back for the Bread Bowl. I just portioned the pieces after the bread doubled and made each into hot dog-bun shapes. The bun recipe makes about six so you’ll have a couple left over.

I got to work with the organic grass-fed ground beef and made a chili-type sauce that was part Coney, part Lori’s tastes. My husband said it was a bit more tomato-y than the Coney sauces he’s used to, but that is where the Lori’s tastes come in. I like that tomato flavor in my chili.

That last sentence in the quoted description above is spot on. The beef was so lean that I had no grease to drain from the pan. It was full of the flavor I’ve come to expect from grass-finished beef. Excellent,and it was a perfect match for the chili sauce.

I cooked up their organic beef hot dogs just to heat them through. You could grill, pan fry or boil them depending on your preferences. These hot dogs had a slight sausage texture to them which we didn’t mind at all. They were just right as the main attraction in this dish.

I saved a bit of chopped onion to top off the dogs, and I shredded up one of our new favorite Kentucky cheeses, St. Jerome from Kenny’s Farmhouse Cheese. It has a creamy texture and resembles the flavor of an Asiago to me.

Pile it all together and you have the best dog around. The perfect blend of foods from the past combined with food choices of the present.

Classic Chili Dogs

4 homemade hot dog buns
½ lb organic, grass finished ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp chili powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp celery salt
½ tsp ground mustard
1 tsp mascavo sugar (or brown sugar)
2 cups tomato sauce
1 tbsp tomato paste
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 organic, grass-finished hot dogs
¼ cup shredded cheese (optional)

In a medium size sauce pan begin to brown the grown beef. Reserve 3 tbsp of the chopped onion for garnish and place the rest in the pan with the beef. Continue to cook until the beef is cooked through.

Next add the chili powder, paprika, celery salt, ground mustard and sugar. Stir in the tomato sauce and tomato paste. Let simmer for 1 to 2 minutes and then add salt and pepper to taste.

Slit each bun down the side, lay a warm hot dog in the bun and top with the chili. Sprinkle on a little chopped onion and shredded cheese for garnish. Serves 4.

Disclaimer: The products featured were sent to me free of charge from Rocky Mountain Organic Meats. I was not required to post about them and received no compensation for doing so.

Irish Soda Bread with Pistachio Vanilla Butter

March 14, 2011

This pistachio vanilla butter makes a quick and easy spread for a favorite St. Patrick’s Day staple, Irish Soda Bread!

I’m finally back in the kitchen! After travel with family to Hilton Head Island last week and then a trip to Charleston, SC for work I’m settling back into shopping and meal planning this week. I’ll recap the food portion of my trip later, but right now I’m happy to say I made it back to the kitchen just in time for St. Paddy’s Day.

Last year, I let the holiday slip by without a celebratory food in sight. I must admit I didn’t go over the top this year with a full meal, but I guess I do still have a few days left.

Pistachio Vanilla Butter for Irish Soda Bread | Fake Food Free | An easy spread for a St. Patrick's Day staple.

While Irish Soda Bread may be the St. Patrick’s go-to for many, this is the very first time I have baked it. To add to the Irish flavor, I made sure I got the recipe from one of my favorite Irish chefs, Rachel Allen. We are headed to Ireland this summer and I already have space and weight set aside to stock up on several of her cookbooks.

So I tried my hand at her Irish Soda Bread and it was a hit! Crusty and chewy on the outside and soft on the inside. I guess it would be difficult to mess up so few ingredients, but given my baking history I can never be too sure. I used unbleached all-purpose flour for this one and substituted Demerara sugar. I also added some raisins for color and sweetness.

Once I had the bread, I felt the need to spread on something green. Pistachios were the first thing that came to mind. I chopped them up, added them to some butter and added just a drizzle of pure vanilla. The nutty vanilla flavor goes so well with the slightly sweet raisins in the bread. Not to mention, the finished product is flecked with festive pieces of green.

The White Soda Bread recipe can be found on Rachel Allen’s website. The quick and easy butter is below.

Pistachio Vanilla Butter

Makes: 1/4 cup

Ingredients

½ stick unsalted butter
25 to 30 shelled, salted pistachios, finely chopped
1/8 tsp pure vanilla extract.

Prep

Place all the ingredients in a small food processor and pulse until the butter is softened and everything is combined. If you’d like the butter slightly sweet you can add a teaspoon of honey or confectioner’s sugar to the butter before mixing.

This post has been submitted to the St. Paddy’s Day Food Parade at The Daily Spud.

Roasted Acorn Squash and Garlic Pizza

January 30, 2011

When it gets around to this time of year, I’m always so happy to see the end of January. It’s not that I dislike winter. In fact, I tend to annoy most of the people around here with my enthusiasm for it. I don’t like treacherous driving, but now that we live out in what could be called the country, the snowy white is just beautiful.

That being said, despite the fact that January has the same number of days as months such as March, May and July it often feels like it will never end. So I’m glad to see February come with Valentine’s Day quickly followed by Easter, springtime 10Ks, gardens and the farmer’s market.

However, with another month of full-on winter ahead, at least in this part of the US, I’m not ready to give up warm, comfort foods. I still have some winter squash around and a few weeks ago I was thumbing through my RR magazine. Yes, although people find her annoying I owe much of what I’ve learned about cooking to watching endless hours of 30 Minute Meals back in the day.

When I saw her Butternut Squash Pizza, it inspired to me to create something similar myself. My ingredients are little less exotic as I only had a few things on hand, but it turned out pretty tasty, nonetheless.

Roasted Acorn Squash and Garlic Pizza recipe

I roasted a whole head of garlic until soft and creamy, and then spread it on the pizza crust. It was a bit of work, but I also peeled the squash and diced it before roasting it until just barely tender. Plan ahead with this one because it will take you a little while to get your roasting done.

I will say that while I loved this pizza, my husband thought it was just okay. This was mainly because it is so sweet. However, I found that sprinkling on a little crushed red pepper just before serving really balanced the flavors.

Roasted Acorn Squash and Garlic Pizza
Adapted from Everyday with Rachel Ray’s Butternut Squash-and-Red Onion Pizza

1 large (14 inch) pizza dough (I make the Spelt Crust from Off Her Cork)
Olive oil
1 head of garlic
1 small acorn squash, peeled and flesh cubed
1 medium onion, sliced
1 cup whole milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
¼ cup freshly grated parmesan
Crushed red pepper (optional)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Carefully cut off the top 3rd of the head of garlic so that the cloves are exposed. Place in the center of a square sheet of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive oil and wrap loosely. Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until tender. Set aside.

Spread the cubed squash in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat. Roast 15 to 20 minutes, just until tender. Meanwhile, drizzle a skillet with olive oil, add the onions and cook over medium-high heat. Cover and continue to cook, stirring often, until the onions are slightly browned and soft.

Squeeze the garlic flesh into a small bowl and stir to mash any clumps. Spread evenly over the pizza crust. Top with the squash and caramelized onions. Cover evenly with the cheeses. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the crust is slightly browned. Garnish with crushed red pepper, if desired.

Baking Bread and Handmade Pottery

January 3, 2011

I’ve mentioned before that I lack skills for baking bread. I can come up with creative ideas and I can knead and shape dough like nobody’s business, but when it comes to pulling a light, fluffy, crusty loaf out of the oven I fail just about every time.

However, something is telling me that my luck may improve this year.

Way back in August, I went to the Woodland Art Festival. A fantastic event, by the way, if you happen to be in the area when it is hosted. There were booths full of handmade pottery and I’m quickly learning that this may be my new thing. I find pottery so interesting – both how it is made and the gorgeous end products.

Baking Bread and Handmade Pottery | Fake Food Free

About halfway through my browsing I found these bread baking bowls from Neal Pottery out of Lebanon, OH. I simply could not pass them up so I bought one for myself and one for my mom which we just gave to her for Christmas.

There are two reasons that this piece of functional art is so outstanding. It is super easy to use when making bread and it makes a small amount. Just about right for 2 to 3 people.

Mine has been sitting in the cabinet all autumn, but my mom was on the ball as soon as she received hers. She also happens to be an expert baker, if I haven’t mentioned it before, so it was no surprise that her loaf turned out great.

I wasn’t convinced that I would have success, but I thought it was about time I attempted. Since we had pasta for NYE, I decided to bake a loaf to serve with our olive oil and herb dipping sauce.

The baking bowl came with 8 recipes, some more complicated than others. I decided to take the recipe that was originally for Greek olive bread and omit the added ingredients. So basically, I wanted to make a loaf of unbleached white bread. I also added a little bit of sugar, because I have a hard time grasping bread recipes without sugar to feed the yeast and have little success with them.

The steps are so simple. Mix the bread dough, knead the dough by hand for a few minutes, place it back in an oiled mixing bowl, rise for an hour. Punch down, knead again for a few minutes, place in the oiled bread baking bowl, let rise to double.

Bake for 45 minutes and viola! It turned out perfectly! It was a really unexpected surprise given my history with bread.

If you need bread for two, this is a great option. You could easily substitute a small loaf pan or a casserole dish or large ramekin for the bread bowl. However, if you come across one of these bowls, it is a great buy. It bakes some great bread and looks darn cute sitting out in the kitchen.

Basic White Bread in a Bread Baking Bowl

Makes: 1 small loaf, about 2 to 3 servings

Ingredients

1/2 pkg dry yeast
1/2 cup lukewarm water
1 tsp mascavo sugar
1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour, plus extra for kneading
1 1/2 tsp olive oil, plus extra for the bowl
1/2 tsp salt

1 small bread baker pottery bowl, about 6.5 inches in diameter and 3.5 inches deep

Prep

In a small bowl combine the yeast, water and sugar. Let sit a 5 to 7 minutes, until it blooms.

In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, olive oil and salt. Add the liquid ingredients and mix until a dough is formed. Add a more water by the teaspoon if it is too dry to form into a ball.

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth, about 2 or 3 minutes. From the dough into a ball. Coat the inside of the mixing bowl with olive oil. Place the dough back in the bowl and cover with a clean dish towel. Let rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Place the dough on a floured surface, punch down and knead for about 2 to 3 more minutes. Roll into a ball. Lightly oil the pottery bowl and place the dough in the bowl. Cover with a dish towel and let rise until doubled in size again.

Place the bread and baking bowl in a cold oven, set the temperature to 350 degrees F and bake for about 45 minutes. Mine was perfect right when the timer went off.

I checked out the Neal Pottery website and they have started selling some of their products (bread baking bowls included) on their Etsy site. You can check them out there if you are interested, or check out their art show appearance listing to purchase one in person.

Bourbon Sweet Potato Waffles with Maple Cinnamon Butter

November 14, 2010

Towards the end of last week we were able to catch up on the DVR. One show we’ve been anxiously awaiting was the recent Iron Chef America episode on the Food Network. While I didn’t intend to keep with the theme of my last post, the secret ingredient just happened to be bourbon!

Since I still have some sweet potatoes from my Dad’s garden in the kitchen, I perked up when I saw that Iron Chef Cat Cora was roasting some sweet potatoes for one of her dishes. The final creation was a bourbon sweet potato waffle.

Can you guess what I made for Sunday breakfast this weekend?

I used a combo of whole wheat flour, white whole wheat flour and maple syrup to make a hearty, slightly sweet waffle. A little nutmeg and cinnamon in the batter gave it a mild holiday flavor.

I decided to top it off with a simple, sweet butter made with cinnamon and maple syrup. If you add the butter when the waffles are warm, it will melt down into a cinnamon sauce and you won’t need any additional syrup at all.

Bourbon Sweet Potato Waffles

Makes: 6 to 8 waffles

Ingredients

2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 cup white whole wheat flour
1 tbsp baking powder
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
2 cups milk (any variety)
2 large eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup maple syrup
2 tbsp bourbon
¼ cup mashed sweet potato

Prep

Preheat your waffle iron and melt the two tablespoons of butter. This will be used to brush on the iron before cooking the waffles.

In a large bowl, sift together the flours, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, maple syrup and bourbon. Whisk in the sweet potato vigorously to break up any clumps.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently to incorporate. Once the batter is mixed, brush butter on the waffle iron and pour by ¼ to 1/3 cup portions onto the hot waffle iron. Cook about 3 to 4 minutes, until the waffled is puffed and slightly browned. Makes 6 to 8 waffles. Top with maple cinnamon butter when warm. (recipe below)

Maple Cinnamon Butter

Makes: About 1/4 cup

Ingredients

½ stick unsalted butter, softened
2 tsp maple syrup
¾ tsp ground cinnamon

Prep

Stir all ingredients together until combined. You can also use a small food processor to blend the ingredients. Add more cinnamon or syrup to taste if desired. Makes about ¼ cup.

Almond Banana French Toast

November 2, 2010

The breakfast craving: sweet, crunchy, nutty, warm.

I suppose lots of breakfast foods could have satisfied, but I just couldn’t get my mind off French toast.

Speaking of that, when I was younger we always called French toast egg bread. I can’t really even remember when I learned the more widely accepted term for one of my favorite breakfasts. My mom would ask what we wanted on the weekends and “egg bread” was usually my answer.

This past weekend, after being under the weather for most of the month of October, I finally had my appetite back and wanted to step up the French toast a bit. And of course I had those cravings I mentioned to fulfill.

Almond butter, raw almonds, and yet another banana that desperately needed to be eaten came to the rescue. The result was sweet, crunchy, nutty and warm Almond Banana French Toast topped with a little pure maple syrup.

Almond Banana French Toast

2 slices whole grain bread (I used Great Harvest Honey Whole Wheat)
1 tbsp almond butter
1/2 very ripe banana, sliced
1 egg
1 tsp milk
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 tbsp raw almonds, finely chopped

Spread the almond butter on one slice of the bread and top with banana slices. Place the other slice of bread on top of the banana and press firmly.

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the egg and milk, then stir in the cinnamon. Place the chopped almonds on a plate next to the bowl of egg. Preheat a nonstick skillet on medium-high heat.

Dip the banana almond butter sandwich in the egg mixture. Flip and press firmly so the bread absorbs the egg. Once the bread is saturated, about 20 seconds on each side, place the sandwich on the plate of almonds.

Press the bread into the almonds so they stick well, flip and coat the other side. Place in the skillet and cook about 90 seconds on each side, until the bread and almonds are browned, all the egg is cooked and the sandwich is heated through. Top with a little maple syrup. Serves 1.