Chocolate Banana Bread
I’m a bad baker. Over the weekend I discovered, much to my shock and horror, that I had run out of butter. It does not happen often and I actually buy two or three pounds at a time as to have plenty on hand at all times. When I do run out I usually discover it while in the middle of baking something and it honestly makes me feel a little edgy. For the most part butter is my fat of choice for baking, but in cake baking oil...
Jam Filled Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
Oh how I love overripe bananas. I do not often have them, we are prolific banana eaters in my house, but when I do I like to bake them into breads and cakes. So does my husband, so it typically works out pretty well for everyone. This time around I was thinking about peanut butter and bananas. When I explained my vision to hubs he suggested that some grape jam filling might be a good idea. He was right. Ultimately these are like...
Chocolate Chip Banana Blondie Cake
Once again, a culinary accident has become something beautiful. I set out, the other evening, to make some chocolate chip banana blondies. One thing led to another (as they usually do while baking) and what emerged from the oven was … light and fluffy?! Filled with despair, since these were not the chewy bars I had been craving, I was tempted to throw the whole pan in the trash, but I decided to try a taste. Boy am I glad I...
Orange Chocolate Stout Cake
I love beer. I know, not exactly shocking if you know me. So many of my recipes are born of the odd craving, and this one is no different. One afternoon, during a particularly stressful day at the office, I found myself craving a nice, stout beer. I was also thinking how nice a slice of chocolate cake would be, because nothing takes the edge off a bad day like cake. Of course, this led me to think about stout cakes. I love them,...
Japanese Shortcake Jelly Roll with Chocolate Whipped Cream
I spend a fair amount of time shopping in Asian markets. I love the fresh produce, meat and fish. The whole experience is an adventure for me as I discover new ingredients, flavors and snacks. One of my favorite discoveries are Japanese Cake Rolls. They are soft sponge cake filled with a delicate layer of lightly sweetened creamy filling. My husband, in particular, enjoys these and had been asking me to find a way to make them at...
