TWD - Fresh Mango Bread

This week's TWD recipe was chosen by Kelly of Baking With the Boys. You can check out her blog for her take and the recipe as well!

I was so glad to see a non chocolate, non cake/cookie recipe! This is semi healthy, right?!

My daughter loves mangoes, so she is always BEGGING me to buy them at the commissary. She was so bummed when I finally brought one home, only to find out it was not for her! Sorry!

I loved how quick and easy the recipe was... and it required no mixer which equals less dishes!!! My mango only made me about one cup, so I went ahead and halved the recipe. But I used 2 whole eggs, and zested the entire lime, instead of half... why not? My only concern was my super stringy mango!
I debated on making muffins, but since I had just had a Pampered Chef party recently, I decided to break in my brand new stoneware mini loaf pan! Yay! My halved recipe made 3 mini loaves! They took exactly 30 minutes in the oven and came out nice and golden brown. I let them cool a few minutes before turning them out onto the cooling rack.... and only waited until the steam stopped rolling off of them before slicing into the first loaf to try it out!YUMMMMMMM! I LOVE IT! And after having my first slice, the mango was tender enough that the strings break right up in your mouth... no gagging when you swallow! And I loved the spices in it! Some people commented that it was too much spice.... but I loved it! It probably doesn't hurt that I love gingerbread cookies....

TWD- Tartest Lemon Tart

This week's TWD was chosen by Babette of Babette Feasts. There have been so many 'tarts' lately, I have been hitting myself for not going out and buying a pan. This week I just made it in a pie pan... and some mini tartlette dishes (as I'll call them).

I made this tonight after the kids had supper and were 'winding down' (aka tearing up the family room before bedtime). I was surprised at how easy the assembly was!

However, I didn't care for the taste. Too bitter from using the whole lemons... but that was strictly my own opinion!


Go check out Babette's website for the recipe!

TWD - Tiramisu Cake

This week's recipe was chosen by Megan of My Baking Adventures. I did this recipe a few days behind because I ended up making them for a birthday party I went to Friday.

I saw some great ideas from other bloggers who made petite fours and cupcakes, so I decided to go the cupcake route with this recipe.

I sliced them in half, soaked them with the coffee syrup and spread the filling and added chopped bittersweet chocolate between the layers. Then topped with a swirl of filling and sifted cocoa over that before topping with a dark chocolate chocolate chip!

They were a big hit! Kudos to Megan for chosing this recipe! Yum!

TWD this week

I LOVE tiramisu, and was so excited that it was chosen for this weeks' recipe! I am baking some desserts for our squadron's HALFWAY THROUGH DEPLOYMENT party this weekend. (Only 3 1/2 months left until our husbands/wives return from Afghanistan!) So I am going to wait and make it for that..... I hope it turns out!

Stay tuned! Lots of baking coming up this week/weekend!!!

TWD: French Pear Tart

It's been a long break for me! I've was busy with holiday baking, birthdays, and squadron functions and then a 2 week trip back to Iowa to be with family for Christmas! Then, to top that all off, I got sick...which ended up helping me to find out I was pregnant! A surprise to us all! So, #4 will be making his/her appearance early August!

So, with that out of the way, it's good to be back home and back to baking.

I got a new stove, so I have been trying to break it in as much as I can!

This week's TWD was chosen by none other than our very honored guest each Tuesday, Dorie Greenspan!

This recipe wasn't too difficult, but I was a little disappointed in the end result. I halved the recipe, and didn't have a tart pan either, so if that had something to do with it, I take all the blame for my not so perfect ending.

I had to sneak peeks at other TWD-ers to see how they sliced their pears, as I didn't understand what Dorie meant in the recipe. After seeing what everyone else did, going back and re-reading the recipe, I get it now!

I think the biggest turnoff for me was the dark rum. I made sure and halved it with the rest of my ingredients, but the taste was so strong (enhanced senses due to pregnancy, maybe!?) But it was too much for me.

I'll be eating the pears, and maybe pick at the rest, but I probably won't attempt this recipe again. But like I say, I always enjoy trying something new! Thanks to Dorie for chosing this recipe this week! It was fun to read all the answers to our questions on the TWD blog!

TWD: Baking, Baking & Baking

So I held out on making Tuesdays With Dorie this week until closer to the big day. A bunch my friends in our squadron are getting together this holiday, and having a big potluck of Thanksgiving feasting!

This week's recipe was chosen by
Vibi of La Casserole Carree.

Thanksgiving Twofer Pie
It's a cross between Pumpkin and Pecan Pie

I remember growing up how much my dad LOVED pecan pie. I just couldn't stand it! I thought it was too rich and just.... bluck! But now, I think I've kind of grown to like it. It's definitely not my favorite, but I'll eat it.

My 4 year old, as you know by now, loves to help me in the kitchen, so he was very excited to help me make some pies. I don't do pies much, so this was his first experience with that!

He was quite an expert at designing the crust edge! Not even letting me help him!

I partially cooked the crust, but didn't get the crust completely covered with the foil. The edges got a bit browner than I wanted.

It was fun to pour all the different layers in the pie. I was worried it all wouldn't fit! But it did!

And here is the final product! I snuck a little sliver to try it out! I am thinking I'll need a bigger slice this afternoon after the big Thanksgiving feast to decide it I really like it...however, I could taste the pecan pie part instantly, and then right at the end, you get that burst of pumpkin flavor! Both I love very much!
Notice my crust edges are pretty much burnt! Argh!

I decided that just in case this pie wasn't a big hit, I'd bring back up...
Besides, what is Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie?

The spouses are also baking/cooking some food for the single marines living in the barracks, so I baked up some cookies from some dough I had leftover from yesterday. I pulled out some cupcakes from the freezer and frosted those up, and then made little mini pumpkin pies from the extra pumpkin pie filling and pie crust.

I have two pans full of the goodies my husband will deliver this morning. I hope they enjoy them!

As I'm posting this, I'm waiting for my potato rolls to rise so I can start baking those up! These always go fast, and I am wishing I would have made a double batch... oh well, hopefully 4+ dozen will be enough!!!

Then, I think I'm going to make up some mashed potatoes to take along as well. Then, I'm done. Then the rest of the morning I'll just be running around getting things loaded up, kids bathed and ready, and oh yes, try to get myself made up too, if I have time! Oh, a mother's work is never done!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

TWD Rice Pudding & Rugelach

So for starters, I am posting the strawberry rhubarb rugelach I made last week, which even then was a week late. This recipe was chosen by Grace of Piggy's Cooking Journal. Someone else on TWD tried this variation and it sounded good to me. I have never made, or even heard of Rugelach....but it looked good in the book!

I substituted strawberry preserves and fresh rhubarb for the filling.

Here is my little 4 year old helper sprinkling on the cinnamon and sugar before we rolled them up!
And, here they are ready to go in the oven...
Where is the final product? Well, they didn't last long enough to take a picture! They were that good! And...I used pink sugar sprinkles on top! That's all I had! Ha Ha

Now, on to this week's TWD, which again, is a day late! This recipe was chosen by Isabelle of Les Gourmandises d'Isa. You can also find the recipe on her blog.

Ok, so I was not too excited about this one, because I could not track down the special rice Dorie recommended. So, I'm embarressed to admit I used minute rice. (Dodging rotten tomatoes)

I also cut the recipe in 1/3 because I had just ove 1 cup of whole milk. Good grief, I know! I followed the rest of the recipe to a T, but it still tasted like alcohol to me, I think it was the pure vanilla....too much?!

I do like rice pudding, so I think I'll give a go another time....when I have the correct ingredients. I will even try the chocolate version then.

Oh, I am so ashamed...

TWD - Kugelhopf

This week's Tuesday's With Dorie was chosen by Yolanda of All Purpose Girl. I skipped out on last week. I just had too much going on to try the Rugelach...but I have the dough in my fridge right now so I'll be posting a rewind in the next day or so.

I got to use two items for the first time with this recipe...my dough hook for my Kitchen Aid, and my Pampered Chef stoneware bunt pan. I was surprised at how simple this recipe was. Ingredient wise. It was quick and painless, well, quick if you don't count all the rising time.

Here is a time warp of my dough rising in my bunt pan.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have sprayed my bunt pan so that the end result would not have stuck to much. I forget that it takes a few times on the stoneware before it's actually "non stick".

Anyways, I had never heard of Kugalhopf in my life...so I was anxious to try something new! It smelled delicious in the oven, however, I have to admit, it wasn't what I was expecting. To me, it tasted like a semi sweet dinner roll with raisins. (And, I only put raisins in it because my husband likes them) Good thing, too, because that was his first comment "Mmm, I like the raisins in this!"

So I probably won't be making this again, but at least the hubby liked it!

Oh, my sad little Kugelhopf....the aftermath of a non - nonstick pan.

TWD "Get In My Belly" Pumpkin Muffins

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm! Mmmmmm Mmmm Mmmmmmmm. Oh, sorry! I was just enjoying some pumpkin muffins that I just pulled out of the oven.All hail Kelly of Sounding My Barbaric Gulp for chosing this recipe for this week! I love you!

These pumpkin muffins are indescribable. I love spices, and pumpkin, and pumpkin pie! Mmm pumpkin pie! These muffins are like eating pumpkin pie for breakfast....or lunch, a snack.....or while you are blogging!

They were so easy and the batter was so delicious! It's a good thing my 4 year old son, who usually gets to lick the spatula, didn't like the batter, because we would have gotten into a wrestling match over who gets to lick the spoon with this recipe!

I made 11 standard muffins and 2 dozen mini muffins, which are probably half gone now...ok I'm exaggerating, but the night isn't over yet!

*I will say that next time I will have to turn down my super hot oven...my poor pumpkin muffins got a little too 'brown' around the edges in there!

I've got playgroup Thursday, so if there are any left, I'm totally bringing some, even if I have to make another batch!

This was the perfect recipe for the season! I can't wait to get me some pumpkin pie! But these will tide me over until then!!!

TWD Lenox Almond Biscotti - Yum!

Woot! Woot! I love me some biscotti! And I was so excited not to see another cookie recipe or chocolate something. Don't get me wrong, I have a sweet tooth like no other, but sometimes a girl needs a break!

I love love love almond, too, so I just knew this was going to be good!

Since my husband is off training (again) for a couple months, my friend Sherree asked the kids and me over for supper tonight. She made red beans and rice....something she introduced me to a while back. LOVE IT! Me, being a poor deprived midwestern girl, grew up on meat and potatoes and casseroles! So I love all the southern foods my friends make!

I decided to throw this recipe together quick and take her some. She is a coffee drinker and I knew she would enjoy some biscotti! She is also guilty of introducing me to the Hot Caramel Mocchiato at Starbucks. But...the secret was to get it as skinny as they make it so you don't ever know what you are missing without all the good stuff.

Oh, I digress. I have always been so surprised at how simple it is to make biscotti. Had I known this, I would have started making my own years ago! The smell of this batch was devine! I even snuck a quick lick of the bowl after I made my biscotti logs. (Which, by the way, were so not even!)

These got a little browner than I would have liked the first round in the oven, but oh well. I think I left them in a couple extra minutes than I should have.

I even cheated a little on the cooling stage due to my lack of time in order to make it to my dinner date. Doing so caused some of the ends to break off as I sliced it....darn, they just HAD to be eaten! I can't have little bits laying around my pan!!!! Ugh!

A quick round two and they were done. I threw some in a mug for my friend, and decided the little bag I had them in didn't hold very many if I was going to tie the end up, so I threw in a few more and left the bag open....they were still steamin' a bit anyways.

She was thrilled to have some biscotti...and I was equally thrilled to eat her red beans and rice...as well as not have to cook supper! Ha!

I also have a package to send to my sister tomorrow. My neice just turned 6, so I have a package full of goodies for her....plus, my big sister is soon turning the big 3-0! So I thought I'd package up a few for her with the recipe and some herbal tea.

You better beleive I'll be making these again! Super Uber delicious! Thank you to Gretchen of Canela & Comino for chosing this recipe! Kudos!!!!

By the way, I'm on my second one tonight as I'm sipping Melaleuca Tangy Lemon hot herbal tea while posting this blog!