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Cookbook Review: CakeLove: How To Bake Cakes From Scratch

Posted by Jenny Lewis
Categories: Dessert, Books, Comfort Food, Product Reviews, Baking

cakelove

Warren Brown’s first foray into cookbook writing, “CakeLove: How to Bake Cakes from Scratch”, was published on May 1st, and like many dessert lovers and home bakers, I could barely contain my enthusiasm when I finally got to plunk down my $27.50 for the oversized tome, full of beautiful photographs by Renee Comet.

If the name Warren Brown sounds vaguely familiar to you, it may be because you’ve seen him on Oprah or Today, or maybe because of his second (third, now) job hosting Sugar Rush on the Food Network. Brown left his law career and opened his first CakeLove bakery in Washington, DC in 2002, which has since branched out to three bakeries and a cafe, with two more bakeries in the works.

Click to continue reading Cookbook Review: CakeLove: How To Bake Cakes From Scratch


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Recipe: Birthday Brownies

Posted by Jenny Lewis
Categories: Dessert, Comfort Food, Chocolate, America, Baking

birthdaybrownies

I have a friend who requests one thing for his birthday every year - brownies. After a few trial and error batches with various recipes, I discovered this recipe two years ago and have never looked back - the combination of easy preparation and a texture that falls somewhere between a cake and a piece of fudge make this recipe a winner.

Ingredients:

  • 6 oz 70% bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 3/4 cup cold butter, cut into chunks
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Click to continue reading Recipe: Birthday Brownies


Recipe: Copycat Red Lobster Biscuits

Posted by Jenny Lewis
Categories: Breakfast, Side Dishes, Snacks, Comfort Food, Recipes, Cheese, Vegetarian, America, Baking

rl-biscuits

Seafood is not that big a thing around Gear Live’s virtual offices. And while I can’t speak for the other editors, I’ve been known to hit up the neighborhood Red Lobster solely for the biscuits. Unfortunately, the staff at the ol’ RL didn’t take kindly on a person who goes in alone and has nothing but biscuits, a side salad and water. That left me trying to recreate the little starchy wonders at home.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup margarine or butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 cups of baking mix (I use Bisquick)
  • 2/3 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Click to continue reading Recipe: Copycat Red Lobster Biscuits


Recipe: Cranberry Lemon Muffins

Posted by Jenny Lewis
Categories: Breakfast, Dessert, Comfort Food, Recipes, Fruit, Baking

cran-muffin

I’m on a personal mission to get you baking, readers! These cranberry lemon muffins, which I’ve adapted from Nigella Lawson’s classic “How To Be A Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking”, are easy, fast, and delish.

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1 1/3 all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • Juice and and chopped zest of 1 lemon
  • Approximately 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 5 ounces dried cranberries

Click to continue reading Recipe: Cranberry Lemon Muffins


Recipe: Dave’s Grandmother’s Pound Cake

Posted by Jenny Lewis
Categories: Dessert, Comfort Food, Baking

poundcake

Cake. We can all agree that it’s awesome, correct? Good. While it’s undeniably easy to stop in your trendiest neighborhood bakery or pick up a boxed mix and a tub of frosting (and please just… don’t), making a cake from scratch is not nearly as intimidating as you might think. In fact, I’m fully confident that anyone with a mixer and a bundt pan can successfully bake this cake. Besides, starting from a recipe as great as this one, you don’t have to be an expert baker, you just have to have good notes from the real recipe experts - in this case, grandmothers.

Click to continue reading Recipe: Dave’s Grandmother’s Pound Cake


Recipe: Carbonara Pasta

Posted by Jenni Burns
Categories: Dinner, Comfort Food, Recipes, Poultry, Italy

Carbonara Pasta

Carbonara

Ingredients:

1 lb Bacon, fried
1 onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 pint of heavy cream
1 lb Chicken sauteed until done
2 cups Parmesan or Romano cheese, shredded

Click to continue reading Recipe: Carbonara Pasta


Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Posted by Jenni Burns
Categories: Dessert, Snacks, Comfort Food, Recipes, Chocolate, Sugar, America, Baking

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

About three years ago my family took the plunge and left white flour behind. We have switched from using white flour to using only flour. It’s been a slow process, I began with exchanging portions of white flour for wheat in recipes that called for all purpose flour. This slow change allowed our palates time to get used to the change in flavor and texture. Now we use almost 100% whole wheat in all our recipes. Most people who prefer the taste and texture of white flour, will be surprised that these are made from 100% whole wheat flour. In fact my neighbor told me, “I think these are the best chip cookies I’ve ever eaten!” I adjusted this recipe from an old church from my childhood. These have definitely become a family favorite, but we try not to make them too often, you can’t just eat one!

Click to continue reading Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe


Seasoned Fried Potatoes Recipe

Posted by Jenni Burns
Categories: Breakfast, Dinner, Comfort Food, Quick Meals, Recipes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian, America, Frying

Seasoned Fried Potatoes

In many homes the is a staple food. In our home, while they would not necessarily be considered a staple, they are definitely enjoyed every now and again, as a side dish or even as a main dish. I like to serve them fried, as a main dish, along with a salad and/or corn on the cob or another steamed vegetable. They are very simple and easy to prepare. You can easily adjust this recipe based on how many people you are serving and whether you will be using it as a side dish or as a main dish. My recipe will serve 4 adults as a main dish. You can use any kind of potato, sweet potato or yams (you will need to cook sweet potatoes/yams longer as they are a much harder vegetable).

Seasoned Fried Potatoes

INGREDIENTS:

  • 5-6 medium sized potatoes
  • 2-3 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • Johnny’s Seasoning to taste
  • Fresh herbs to taste (you could use many different kinds of herbs, oregano, rosemary, I’ve tried thyme and that was very yummy. Be creative!)

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Wash and peel potatoes, or leave the peel on if you wish. Poke with a knife or fork several times (this can be a great stress reliever but just be careful!)
  2. Partially cook in the microwave. I usually put them in for 3-5 minutes, turn and flip a couple times checking for doneness. You want the potatoes to be partially cooked, not too hard and yet still firm so they don’t fall apart.
  3. Oil your pan, cut potatoes into small cubes and add to pan. Toss in your herbs and spices and cook until they are nicely browned. Serve potatoes by themselves or drizzle a healthy serving of ketchup all over them. Enjoy!

Happy National Corn Fritters Day!

Posted by Andru Edwards
Categories: Appetizers, Snacks, Comfort Food, Recipes, Grains, Vegan, Vegetarian, America, Frying

Corn Fritters

With all of the crazy holiday and national recognition days out there, we love when there is one we can get behind whole-heatedly. Today just happens to be such a day, what with it being National Corn Fritters Day and all. I mean, is there anyone out there who doesn’t enjoy these incredible morsels of yellow goodness?

In all seriousness, today is National Corn Fritters Day, so we’ve got a recipe for Southern Style Corn Fritters for you. Check it out after the jump.

Click to continue reading Happy National Corn Fritters Day!


Recipe: Fried Apple Pies

Posted by Janie Franz
Categories: Dessert, Comfort Food, Recipes, Fruit, Vegetarian, America, Frying

Red DeliciousWhen I was little, I wasn’t sure my mother meant fried, apple pies or fried-apple pies, but either is great. I think the fried-apple pies are tastier, but if you’re in a hurry, warm applesauce is a great substitute. Also, you may use pie dough for the pies, but biscuit dough makes a more tender crust.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Biscuit dough (see recipe below)
  • Fried apples (see previous recipe)
  • Oil

Biscuit Dough:

  • 2/3 cup butter or margarine
  • 2 cups flour
  • 2.5 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2/3 cup milk

Preparation: Put the dry ingredients into a bowl. Grate the butter or margarine into the flour mixture with a cheese grater. (Clean by using some of the flour to remove the butter clinging to the grater.) Mix in the milk and stir only until moistened. 

Roll out dough onto a floured board to one-half inch thickness. Cut into circles or squares, whichever is easier for you. Put 1/4 cup of fried apples (or applesauce) onto the middle of the circle or square. Moisten the edges of the dough and fold over the apples. (Fold the squares diagonally to form triangles.) Using a fork, press the dough edges together.

Heat a half-inch of oil in a small iron skillet. Using a spatula or egg turner, lower a pie into the oil. Brown on each side.  (It will take longer for the first pie to cook than subsequent ones because the oil will be hotter for them.  As the oil heats, turn the heat down a bit, making sure your are maintaining an even temperature.) Drain the pies on paper towels and enjoy.

[I have made these with nearly any kind of apple available, even red delicious apples, which are supposed to only be used for eating out of hand. Almost any apple works.]


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