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Saturday, May 16, 2009

Chocolate Chip Cake

My 11 year old daughter has recently developed and interest in and love for baking!  She has created lots of nummy things the most recent being a Berry Cobbler, which we neglected to photograph.  It looked so delish, that we just devoured it immediately!

1 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, at room temp.
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup milk
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease the round cake pan with butter.  Sprinkle some flour in the pan and shake and tilt the pan to coat the bottom and sides evenly.  Turn the pan upside down and tap out the extra flour.

In the small bowl, using the wooden spoon, stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt.  

In the large bowl, using the electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and brown sugar for about 3 minutes, until creamy.  Turn off the mixer and scrape down the bowl.  Add the egg and vanilla and beat on medium speed until blended.  Turn off the mixer and add the flour mixture.  Mix on low speed just until blended.  Using the wooden spoon, stir in the chocolate chips. 

Scrape the dough into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with the rubber spatula.  Put the pan in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with a few crumbs clinging to it.  Remove the pan from the oven and set it on the cooling rack to cool for 30 minutes.  Run the knife around the edge to loosen.  Place a plate right side up and lift off the pan.  

Add Whipped cream and strawberries for the topping... Super easy, your kids can make this cute cake for their friends!

Recipe adapted from Williams Sonoma Kids Baking.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Whole Wheat Pancakes with Raspberry and Granola

These pancakes are divine and so guilt free!!  There's no oil and you can make it even more guiltfree by using Agave flavored with mapline for your syrup!  My daughters and I went on a trip together to St. George, Utah.  We went to this cute little spot for breakfast and they served this super nummy pancake... We all fell in love with this great idea and now we can't get enough of it at home!!!  Try it, YOU ARE SURE TO FALL IN LOVE... too!!

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 Tbsp baking powder
1 cup milk
1 Tbsp applesauce
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp sugar
1 egg
2 heaping Tbsp yogurt
uncooked granola
whole raspberries

Mix dry ingredients.  Beat egg, milk, yogurt, and applesauce.  Add to dry ingredients and beat well.  Pour on griddle one at a time, adding drops of uncooked granola and whole raspberries right to the uncooked pancake.  

I love to make pancakes and waffles!   I usually triple this recipe for my family of 7.  And we have leftovers for the next couple of days!!!  Enjoy!

Asparagus Bisque


1 bunch Asparagus

1 onion, peeled, chopped
1 cup celery, chopped
4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 cup rice or cous cous, cooked
pinch salt and pepper

Cook all ingredients together until rice is soft.  Puree fine and strain out solids.  Serve hot or cold.  Over season if serving cold.

I really liked this soup... However, my kids all hated it!!  My kids aren't terribly picky, but they hardly ever like soup.  This recipe is adapted from the Red Mountain Spa, Adventure Cuisine Cookbook.  It is so good for you, and if you love asparagus like I do, you will enjoy this bisque!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

STRAWBERRY JAM


Ok...I am so, so lazy.  And I'm too irresponsible for deadlines!  I just realized that...HELLO-O... I can still post my other recipes!  So, I haven't been taking any pictures of any of my food lately, I just forget I guess (again with the irresponsibility...I can't help it, it's my nature).  My 11 year old daughter, Alyssa made a lovely Berry Cobbler on Sunday, and of course, no pics.  I am making it a goal to pay more attention to my blogs!  So, I know everyone already does this, but I usually make freezer jam...which I hate!  So, I just made cooked strawberry jam!!!  It tastes wonderful... not too sweet, not too tart.  I love it and the color is out of this world.  Red is my favorite color, but this red is one I could live in!  The recipe is the cooked jam recipe that comes in the Pectin!  I wish I could share a slice of honey whole wheat bread with butter and strawberry jam, with all of you!!  Make some...and then I can!!