Just in case you're wondering.....I'll set your mind at ease.
My team won!
Showing posts with label Jonny. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonny. Show all posts
Monday, February 8, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Mocha-Walnut Bars with Dark Chocolate Ganache
What a lovely, deliciously, chocolaty time of year. With Valentine's Day approaching, I decided to look up some yummy treats that my family might like. We all enjoy homemade goodies so this was a fun project. Come in the kitchen with me and we'll whip up something tasty.
This recipe-posting is dedicated to one of my very sweet daughters, Miss All-Grown-Up, who happens to live a long way away. I miss you, Sweetheart, and wish I could make this for you today. We'd share a sweet cookie-bar and a hot coffee over a loooong conversation.
Today I'm making a Pillsbury recipe: Mocha-Walnut Bars with Dark Chocolate Ganache. The bars have three distinct layers which are prepared and cooked separately, one on top of another. It is very easy to do and your children can jump in and help you. (Trust me, if they don't help you in the beginning while you're putting this together.....they WILL help you in the end by eating it! Maybe now's a great time to tell them the story of The Little Red Hen...) The recipe is designed to be quick and easy and does so by using refrigerated sugar cookie dough. Feel free to use your own sugar cookie dough recipe instead if you'd prefer.
2 1/2 cups of very finely chopped walnuts
6 T. sugar
6 T. melted butter
1 roll sugar cookie dough (or make a batch of sugar cookie dough from your personal favorite recipe!)
2 T. instant espresso coffee granules (the recipe called for 1T. but 2T. gives it more of the coffee flavor)
1 t. home-brewed vanilla (my own personal addition)
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate baking chips
1/4 cup plus 2T. whipping cream
It's a great idea to get your supplies together. It makes the work go smoothly and you can live out your cooking show fantasies. (That'll be our little secret.)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Stir your walnuts, sugar and butter together in a bowl until completely mixed.
This is where I decided to add my homemade vanilla. (Now you need to know how to make your own delicious vanilla! We'll get to that soon. It's easy, only a bit time-consuming and you know it is homemade goodness.)
Press the mixture evenly on the bottom of an ungreased 13 x 9 pan.
(Here's where I'd like to tell you that I followed the directions exactly and wasn't as pleased at how they came out of the pan. I'd suggest spraying the pan before layering. It's what I plan to do next time.)
Bake for 8-15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Cool for 30 minutes.
While that is cooling, begin to prepare the cookie layer. In a large bowl, knead the cookie dough and espresso granules until blended.
Drop spoonfuls of dough evenly over the walnut crust. Gently press the dough together over the crust. Bake for 20 minutes. (The recipe said to cook for 20-25 minutes but I think 25 is a little long and makes the cookie too crunchy.) Let cool for 30 minutes.
ps. Licking fingers is allowed.
***Thank you to Jonathan Anderson for taking the pictures. Your work is always the best!
This recipe-posting is dedicated to one of my very sweet daughters, Miss All-Grown-Up, who happens to live a long way away. I miss you, Sweetheart, and wish I could make this for you today. We'd share a sweet cookie-bar and a hot coffee over a loooong conversation.
Today I'm making a Pillsbury recipe: Mocha-Walnut Bars with Dark Chocolate Ganache. The bars have three distinct layers which are prepared and cooked separately, one on top of another. It is very easy to do and your children can jump in and help you. (Trust me, if they don't help you in the beginning while you're putting this together.....they WILL help you in the end by eating it! Maybe now's a great time to tell them the story of The Little Red Hen...) The recipe is designed to be quick and easy and does so by using refrigerated sugar cookie dough. Feel free to use your own sugar cookie dough recipe instead if you'd prefer.
2 1/2 cups of very finely chopped walnuts
6 T. sugar
6 T. melted butter
1 roll sugar cookie dough (or make a batch of sugar cookie dough from your personal favorite recipe!)
2 T. instant espresso coffee granules (the recipe called for 1T. but 2T. gives it more of the coffee flavor)
1 t. home-brewed vanilla (my own personal addition)
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate baking chips
1/4 cup plus 2T. whipping cream
It's a great idea to get your supplies together. It makes the work go smoothly and you can live out your cooking show fantasies. (That'll be our little secret.)
Stir your walnuts, sugar and butter together in a bowl until completely mixed.
This is where I decided to add my homemade vanilla. (Now you need to know how to make your own delicious vanilla! We'll get to that soon. It's easy, only a bit time-consuming and you know it is homemade goodness.)
Press the mixture evenly on the bottom of an ungreased 13 x 9 pan.
(Here's where I'd like to tell you that I followed the directions exactly and wasn't as pleased at how they came out of the pan. I'd suggest spraying the pan before layering. It's what I plan to do next time.)
Bake for 8-15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
While that is cooling, begin to prepare the cookie layer. In a large bowl, knead the cookie dough and espresso granules until blended.
Drop spoonfuls of dough evenly over the walnut crust. Gently press the dough together over the crust. Bake for 20 minutes. (The recipe said to cook for 20-25 minutes but I think 25 is a little long and makes the cookie too crunchy.) Let cool for 30 minutes.
Finally the ganache.....What a wonderful word. It rolls around your mouth much like the chocolate itself! And it isn't hard to make but very impressive.
I prefer to make my ganache in a double-broiler, which I also have to make. If you don't have one, make one like mine. I put a glass bowl over a small pot of water and let the water heat up and melt my chocolate chips. The other option is the microwave but I don't like microwaves so we don't happen to have one.
Add the chocolate chips and the whipping cream to your bowl and heat it slowly.
Your chips will begin to mix and the whipping cream will blend right in. I stir constantly because the transformation tends to happen quickly. Stir until the chips and cream are one happy family.
Spread the chocolate ganache over the bars.
Refrigerate for one hour. Cut the bars into 24 servings (6 rows by 4 rows) or smaller if you'd like dainty servings that don't seem to add as much cushion to your thighs. I'm just saying.....
They're delightful and delicious with a hot cup of coffee or an ice cold glass of milk. Divine.
***Thank you to Jonathan Anderson for taking the pictures. Your work is always the best!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
My Stacked Coins and Vine Quilt
My quilts are full of countless stitches and heaps of love since it takes that for me to make a quilt. I'm not fast like many quilters these days. I can easily get pulled away with cooking, baking, and schooling projects. I'm one to take my time on most of the sewing I do. I try to savor every moment......
I have several quilts that haven't been photographed. Since Mr. Drummer Boy is aka Mr. Master Photographer, I decided to have him take some pictures of it (and several of the antique quilts that I own) over time.
I made this quilt several years ago and am rather careful with it. We tend to use everything I make and most things start to look a bit worn and "tuckered-out." I felt like this one looked more like a wall piece to me but it hasn't made its way to the wall just yet.
It is machine-pieced and quilted and the applique was completed by hand. The coins are all woven plaids which I dearly love. I have since made several scrap quilts (my ultimate favorite quilts) and have managed to squeeze several of the plaids into them. Not one little piece goes to waste!
I can't say enough about quality fabrics. I don't purchase fabric too often because the good-stuff comes dearly but when I do get my supplies, I try to get the best I can afford. It has been my personal experience that the better the fabric, the better it wears over time.....and I've already mentioned how we use everything. Sometimes until it's threadbare.
Quilting is such a therapy for me, whether by hand or machine...and I do love both! I remember back in 1980, when my mother and I owned a quilt shop just outside of New Orleans. We had a few customers who would come in and make their purchases and enter the name of a grocery store in the check register! While I'm NOT condoning the art of lying, but I do understand their obsession. And their were a few other customers who received gift certificates for classes (sometimes from sweet and understanding husbands) so that they could have their own dose of quilting therapy.
The 1980s offered us a few hard times...sort of like these days all over again. I'm all for sewing the stresses away.
One last note, I had an aunt come for a visit this summer and while she was here, she spent some time admiring my finished quilts. After a little while, she looked at me and told me I'd been real smart to put my time into something that could be handed down to loved ones one day. I couldn't help by agree.
All the stitches....all the love.
**Proud to be part of the Show Off Your Stuff party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.
I have several quilts that haven't been photographed. Since Mr. Drummer Boy is aka Mr. Master Photographer, I decided to have him take some pictures of it (and several of the antique quilts that I own) over time.
I made this quilt several years ago and am rather careful with it. We tend to use everything I make and most things start to look a bit worn and "tuckered-out." I felt like this one looked more like a wall piece to me but it hasn't made its way to the wall just yet.
It is machine-pieced and quilted and the applique was completed by hand. The coins are all woven plaids which I dearly love. I have since made several scrap quilts (my ultimate favorite quilts) and have managed to squeeze several of the plaids into them. Not one little piece goes to waste!
I can't say enough about quality fabrics. I don't purchase fabric too often because the good-stuff comes dearly but when I do get my supplies, I try to get the best I can afford. It has been my personal experience that the better the fabric, the better it wears over time.....and I've already mentioned how we use everything. Sometimes until it's threadbare.
Quilting is such a therapy for me, whether by hand or machine...and I do love both! I remember back in 1980, when my mother and I owned a quilt shop just outside of New Orleans. We had a few customers who would come in and make their purchases and enter the name of a grocery store in the check register! While I'm NOT condoning the art of lying, but I do understand their obsession. And their were a few other customers who received gift certificates for classes (sometimes from sweet and understanding husbands) so that they could have their own dose of quilting therapy.
The 1980s offered us a few hard times...sort of like these days all over again. I'm all for sewing the stresses away.
One last note, I had an aunt come for a visit this summer and while she was here, she spent some time admiring my finished quilts. After a little while, she looked at me and told me I'd been real smart to put my time into something that could be handed down to loved ones one day. I couldn't help by agree.
All the stitches....all the love.
**Proud to be part of the Show Off Your Stuff party at Fireflies and Jellybeans.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
How to Practice Piano in Six Easy-to-Follow Steps
Step One
Step One
Sit with good posture and play the pieces your teacher gave you for the week.
Step Two
Smile when your brother sits beside you and invite him to a duet.
Step Three
As he begins to take over the piece, gently slide (no pushing, please) him over and place your arm over the notes he shouldn't be playing.
Step Four
If this technique fails, sweetly place your arm on him and explain to him that you are a budding pianist and would like to continue your devotion to music. He'll begin to understand that you are under time constraints and that you must take your music seriously.
Step Five
Don't be surprised if your brother is overcome with joy and decides to hug you. He isn't trying to slow you down in your endeavors, he is simply expressing his deep-felt emotion.
Step Six
If you've truly impressed him, your brother will even give you pats on the back(side).
You'll never know what music does to people until you begin to play an instrument.
It really does soothe the savage beast.....as illustrated above.
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