showering Monique with 4 south love

I don't get to see my college girlfriends too often since we live a good distance apart, but lately it has been taking turns going to each other bridal showers and weddings. Today we honored Miss Monique with "showers of happiness" on this rainy March day - a little road trip to Norwalk, CT isn't so bad when you get to spend the day with old friends catching up during the long drive up the NJ Turnpike! 

The shower invite asked us not to wrap the gifts,  so instead I made a little basket (which I like to do anyway) I got her this great artisan pie pan (so she can make a delectable pie of course) with a cookbook and dressed it up with some apples - when you forget a card, using the apple worked just fine!
After brunch and embarrassing Monique with some bridal games, we browsed her new gifts she received - they were all set up in a side room, what a great time saver for a bridal shower! We all know how long they can go opening presents.. there was more time to chat with guests and enjoy herself - can't wait for the Big Day!

                                                      

Mac n' Cheese Upgrade

So this isn't my usual dana-lectable, but it is baked! I had a sample in the food store the other day of Grilled Gouda with Roasted Red Pepper - what a sophisticated combo, right?  I had to buy some Gouda after that, so I thought instead of sandwiches, why not bake up a cozy mac n' cheese using  some Gouda and RRP? Quite easy, I must say.

1 box of pasta (I used whole wheat spirals)
3/4 to 1 lb. of grated gouda (the cheesier the better!)
1 tbsp. butter
1 onion
1/2 jar of roasted red peppers (use as much to your taste), chopped
2-3 cloves are garlic
2 tbsp flour
1 cup of vegetable broth
1/2 cup of light cream (don't be afraid to use 1 1/2 cups of milk)
Bread Crumbs
Salt, Pepper, White Pepper

• Cook pasta according to directions on box, drain, set aside
• Melt butter in pot, add onions and garlic, saute until soft
• Add flour and gradually add liquid. This will become a thick roux
• Stir in grated cheese and roasted red peppers, add seasoning
• Add cooked pasta to cheese mixture, stir until combined and gooey - add more seasoning if you like
• Transfer mac n' cheese to a greased baking dish - top with bread crumbs
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly!

whoopie be mine?

Who doesn't like Red Velvet cake with the {best invention of sweetness} that is cream cheese icing? There is such a mystery behind Red Velvet - what makes it red? There is quite a history behind it - but in the modern days of baking, it really is a cocoa-flavored cake with some red food coloring!
So on this lazy Saturday I figured I would test out some red velvet recipes - I adapted my creation from this classic recipe and came out with a sweet-heart of a dessert!

First up - I love whoopie pies (who doesn't?) - the almost cake...not quite cookie consistency sweetens me, I thought I should give some of my heart shaped cookie cutters a whirl and see what I can "whoop" up.

I used a round cake pan and after letting it cool I used a heart shaped cookie cutter to cut out some pieces. I'll admit - it would of been easier having a mold, but this was fun, (plus the scraps while cutting out the heart shapes were a good taste tester) They came out perfect for my valentine.

banana muffins

There are a million and one banana muffin recipes out there - I wanted to share mine because it contains one ingredient that when you take a bite of the muffin you are thinking, "What is making this muffin so amazing??" It's mascarpone cheese! I know it is not a staple everyone has in their fridge, but you might need it for a dessert recipe, and their might be leftovers - then what do you use it for? Everyone also seems to have over-ripe bananas around, (I have quite a few stored in the freezer).  Give the recipe a shot - it also doesn't need eggs - very quick prep!

1/2 cup butter (or shortening)

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 tsp vanilla

3 over-ripe bananas

1/4 cup mascarpone cheese (or whatever you have left over!)

chocolate chips, walnuts, berries  - your choice!

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Spray muffin pan with cooking spray (I use butter flavored)

Cream softened butter, sugar and vanilla in mixer

Add bananas, sifted flour, baking soda, salt, mix well

Add in any nuts, chocolate chips or berries if you like

With a small cookie scoop I do  3 scoops of batter into each muffin spot

Cook for 25 minutes - until done

Hope you find this recipe dana-lectable!

Withdrawal from Holiday baking!

The holiday baking season begins the day before Thanksgiving. My best friend and I put on our aprons, uncork a bottle of vino and have our first listen to holiday music (our choice: Sufjan Steven's holiday albums) while baking our holiday desserts for Thanksgiving.
It seems like every weekend between Thanksgiving and Christmas I find myself with my Kitchen-aid mixer whipping up a batch of treats for either a Cookie Exchange, Work's Secret-Santa and then of course Christmas itself. I can't escape my kitchen, here it is the first full weekend without anything holiday related and I am attempting to put away holiday decor, but I just find myself in my kitchen, this time whipping up a batch of chilli. Today - I have no reason to bake! I like to give away my treats - not keep them around for my husband and I to eat!

Here is the grand list of what was baked for the Holiday Season 2010:

Thanksgiving was mini-pumpkin whoopie pies - although I added a spiced cream cheese filling instead - just mixed a teaspoon or two of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice into the cream cheese

Cookie Exchange - Nana's Knots

Treats for Work - good ol' chocolate chip, sugar cookies, Peanut butter Thumbprint Kisses and my fave of the season : White Chocolate Oatmeal Pistachio Cookies!
Edible dana-lectable gifts - Rainbow Cookies
Christmas - Limoncello Tiramisu - what a delectable treat, I can't wait to make it again, I loved displaying it in a trifle bowl.