This little blog has given me a lot of pleasure. However, I found it too limiting artistically.

In the next few days, I will be editing my new site. So expect to see some changes!

Thank you all for very kind comments. They have been so encouraging.

P.S. The picture of the Kitchen-Aid has nothing to do with my new blog. I just like photos and couldn’t bear to post something without one.

This morning, the desire to make cookies suddenly overcame me. So this afternoon I found a reliable-looking recipe, gathered my ingredients, and made these delicious cookies.

I knew I wanted to make the original recipe a little more healthy. Thus I replaced half of the AP flour with whole wheat and used Demerara sugar instead of granulated. The large crystals from the Demerara sugar give the cookies a pleasing crunch.

We had used up the last of our pure vanilla extract, so I was forced to use *horrors!* imitation. Yes, that’s a bottle of pure vanilla in the picture. I just couldn’t bring myself to take a picture of GV imitation vanilla extract.

Then, after all of the cookies were done baking, our order of vanilla arrived.

Oh well.

They are still excellent cookies, if I do say so myself. Mom thinks they’re a little on the sweet side, and I agree with her. Maybe next time I’ll use only 1½ cups of sugar instead of 2.

And maybe next time I’ll use a full tablespoon of Madagascar Bourbon vanilla extract.

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:: Chocolate Chip Cookies ::

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Adapted from Allrecipes

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 2 cups Demerara sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ cups Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons hot water
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup toasted chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts are good choices)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Cream together the butter and Demerara sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Dissolve baking soda in hot water. Add to batter along with salt. Stir in flour, chocolate chips, and nuts.
3. Drop by large spoonfuls onto ungreased pans. Bake for about 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are nicely browned.
4. Remove from oven. Allow to cool for a few minutes on pan. Transfer to cooling racks to cool completely. Store in airtight containers at room temperature or in the freezer for longer storage.

I

]]> http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/03/04/chocolate-chip-cookies/feed/ 5 ericalberge sheet http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/creamy-split-pea-soup/ http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/creamy-split-pea-soup/#comments Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:32:43 +0000 ericalberge http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/?p=636 ]]>

When I’m not in the mood to spend hours slaving over lunch, I turn to one of my tried and true recipes. Like this soup. Throw a few things into the pot, bring to a boil, simmer for an hour or so, and puree. Can it get any more simple?

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: : Creamy Split Pea Soup : :

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Adapted from Taste of Home

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 9 cups water
• 1 package (16 ounces) dried green split peas
• 2 cups cubed peeled sweet potatoes or russet potatoes
• 1 bay leaf
• 1-1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion and celery and cook until tender. Stir in the water, peas, potatoes, bay leaf, salt, thyme and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 70-80 minutes or until peas are tender.
Remove from heat. Discard bay leaf. Using an immersing (stick) blender, puree the soup until completely smooth. Or cool slightly and puree in a blender in batches until smooth. Serve garnished with sour cream, yogurt, cheddar cheese, croutons, or nutmeg.

Yield: 10 servings.

I’m finally getting back into the swing of things after over a week of vacation. Please forgive me for the paucity of my posts. Hey, I like how that sounds. Paucity of posts. Paucity of posts.

Anyway.

I promise to be better in future.

Maybe.

We’ll be heading out to go skiing tomorrow, so things will be quiet around here for a week or so. I leave you with this recipe…

This recipe makes a moist and flavorful loaf again and again. And can you beleive it’s 100% whole wheat? Serve warm or at room temperature slavered with butter, or spread with cream cheese.

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:: Banana Nut Bread ::

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Adapted from The New Best Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (8 ounces) white whole wheat flour
• 1¼ cups walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped coarse
• ¾ cup sucanat, rapadura, demerara or granulated sugar
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 3-4  large, darkly speckled bananas, mashed well (about 1½ cups)
• ¼ cup whole plain yogurt
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
• 1-2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• Extra banana, for garnish, optional

1) Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.

2) In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and nuts. In a medium bowl, mix the mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter, and vanilla until well blended. Gently fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula just until combined. Batter with be thick and chunky.

3) Scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Garnish with slices of banana if desired. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, about 55-60 minutes.

4) Remove from oven and cool in pan for 5 minutes. Gently loosen the edges with a knife. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Makes one large loaf

]]> http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/02/04/banana-nut-bread/feed/ 14 ericalberge http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/favorite-cheese-ball/ http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/favorite-cheese-ball/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:29:54 +0000 ericalberge http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/?p=581 ]]>

A few years ago, my sisters and I were asked to bring a cheese ball to a bridal shower. We threw a few things together, tasting as we went along, until the flavors were just right. It was a great success, and to our pleasure, a lady asked for our recipe.

We have tried other cheese ball recipes, but none can compare to this one. Simple, yet very tasty. Dad complains if we try any other recipe.

The original recipe contained cranberries. We generally leave these out, but it is quite good with them. We have also tried it with a few drops of liquid smoke with excellent results. If you prefer a spicier cheese ball, simply increase the amount of cayenne, pepper, or onion. Or decrease the amounts if you like your cheese ball mild.

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:: Favorite Cheese Ball ::

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Ingredients:

• 1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• a pinch of cayenne powder
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries, optional
• 1/2 cup toasted pecans, chopped coarse, optional

Directions:

1) Place all ingredients except pecans in a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer on medium-low speed until well combines.

2) Scrape the mixture onto a piece of plastic wrap. Cover with the plastic wrap and shape into a ball or log. Put the cheese ball on a plate and place in the refrigerator to harden, about 30 minutes – 1 hour.

3) Roll the cheese ball in the chopped pecans and place on a serving plate. Serve with crackers.

Note: This cheese is best if allowed to sit for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to blend. The flavors a best if allowed to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving.

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]]> http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/01/28/favorite-cheese-ball/feed/ 4 ericalberge http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/surprise-muffins/ http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/01/20/surprise-muffins/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2009 23:20:29 +0000 ericalberge http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/?p=570 ]]>

A while back, when I was serving bean soup for lunch, I realized that there was absolutely no bread to be had. That’s a big no no in our house. If you have soup, you eat bread in some shape or form.

I looked at the clock – nearly 11:30. Dad would be home in half an hour. I decided to make lunch wait a while, and whipped up a batch of muffins.

Isn’t it funny how the recipes you don’t expect much from often times turn out the best? That’s what happened with these muffins. I knew that since they would be 100% whole wheat, they would most likely turn out tough and dry. Not so! To my surprise and delight, they were tender and full of flavor.

Okay, I admit it. This recipe comes from Betty Crocker. That old, tattered, well used book with a broken spine and the pages falling out. When pressed for time, I do refer to this seasoned cook.

The surprise in these muffins lies in the center: a dab of jam nestled in the muffin batter. Use whatever jam is your favorite. Raspberry works very well.

The original recipe makes 12 muffins. I like my muffins a little larger, so I made just eight. Enough for everyone to have one and fight over the last.

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:: Surprise Muffins ::

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Adapted from Betty Crocker

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 ½ cups (6 ounces) whole wheat pastry flour (aka soft white wheat)
• 1/2 cup sucanat, rapadura or demerara sugar.
• 2 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Jam of choice

Directions:

1) Heat oven to 400° F. Grease or line with paper muffin cups 12 medium muffin cups.

2) In a large bowl, combine the egg, milk, butter, and vanilla. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredient to the egg mixture and stir just until the flour is moistened. Batter should be lumpy.

3) Fill muffin cups 1/2 full with batter. Drop 1 teaspoon of jelly into the center of each muffin and top with remaining batter to fill 2/3 full.

4) Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan onto a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm with butter.

Makes 8-12 muffins

P.S. It’s Kitchen Tip Tuesday…

When I first discovered the world of online recipes, The Joy of Baking was a big influence. It provided clear, detailed recipes that even a novice could pull off successfully.

I spotted her recipe for homemade granola, and decided to give it a whirl. It was a daunting task. My impression of homemade granola was not quite crisp oatmeal filled with burnt raisins.

This recipe was a success from the first. I have tried several different granola recipes, but I always return to this one. For some reason, it no longer appears on the Joy of Baking website. I feel very fortunate to have printed it out before it disappeared!

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:: Homemade Granola ::

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Note: I usually make a double batch as one recipe will only get us through one breakfast.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups (400 grams) old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 cup (50 grams) shredded or chipped coconut
• 1 cup nuts of choice, chopped coarse
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or coconut oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup dried fruits (cranberries, cherries, apricots, raisins, etc.) optional

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 300° F and place rack in center of oven. Either grease or line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2) In a large bowl combine the rolled oats, coconut, nuts, and salt.

3) In a small saucepan set over medium low heat, melt the butter. Remove from heat. Stir in the honey, maple syrup, and vanilla. Pour this mixture over the dry ingredients and toss together, making sure all the dry ingredients are coated with the butter mixture.

4) Spread onto the prepared baking sheet and bake in preheated oven for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring every five minutes. Do not over bake.

5) Place on a wire rack to cool. You will notice that the granola is still sticky when you remove it from the oven but it will become crisp and dry as it cools. Once the granola has completely cooled stir in your choice of dried fruits if desired. Store in an airtight container or plastic bag. It will keep for several weeks.

Makes about five cups of Granola

Edited on 2/19/08: The correct oven temperature is 300° F, not 350° F.

This soup is a blend of sweet and savory.  Make it spicy by garnishing with freshly grated nutmeg. Or give it a little extra kick with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

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:: Cream Butternut Squash Soup ::

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Adapted from The New Best Recipe

Ingredients:

• 4 Tablespoons butter
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 large butternut squash (about 3 pounds)
• 6 cups water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup
• Freshly grated nutmeg or balsamic vinegar, optional

Directions:

1) Cut the squash in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and strings; reserve the scrapings.

2) Melt the butter in a large stockpot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the scrapings from the squash and cook until the butter turns a saffron color, about 4 minutes.

3) Add the water and salt and increase to high heat. When the water comes to a boil, add the squash halves, reduce the heat to medium low, and cover. Cook until the squash is tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat.

4) When squash is tender, transfer to a baking sheet and cool slightly. Strain the liquid in the pot through a fine mesh seive and reserve the liquid.  When the squash is cool enough to touch,  scrape the flesh from the skin.

5) Puree the squash in a blender, adding a little of the reserved liquid to achieve a smooth consistency.  Return this mixture to the now empty pot and stir in the cream and maple syrup. Stir in enough of the remaining liquid to achieve desired consistency. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.

6) Warm the soup over medium-low heat until hot. Do not boil. Serve immediately. Garnish with nutmeg or balsamic vinegar.

Makes 4-6 servings

]]> http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/creamy-butternut-squash-soup/feed/ 5 ericalberge http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/homemade-spices-seasonings-sweet-italian-sausage/ http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/homemade-spices-seasonings-sweet-italian-sausage/#comments Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:22:36 +0000 ericalberge http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/?p=473 ]]>

With this little mix of spices you can create your own bulk Italian sausage. Perfect for pizza or any place sweet Italian sausage is called for.

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:: Sweet Italian Sausage Spice Blend ::

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Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground pork (ground beef may be substituted, but the flavor and texture will not be the same)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
• 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon fennel seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons chopped parsley

Directions:

Combine the spices in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly with ground pork. Cook as directed by recipe.

P.S. It’s Kitchen Tip Tuesday…

]]> http://cookingforseven.wordpress.com/2008/12/30/homemade-spices-seasonings-sweet-italian-sausage/feed/ 2 ericalberge 12-20-08n41