Mountain o' Meatballs...

Mike gets credit for discovering this recipe, although he has never made it, so I guess I get the credit this time.  This recipe makes 4.5 dozen meatballs!  It's simple enough, just one of those things that is rather time consuming and does take a little bit of patience as there is a lot of "resting" time for the meat.....I took advantage of this and simultaneously made a pizza!  With homemade crust of course, the best sauce at Safeway, some spinach, shredded mozzarella, and sliced onions.  Oh wait....back to the balls.....

I started by taking 2 packages of ground turkey (I buy them when they are at their cheapest 2 for $5) and I package of ground pork (this was just under $3)....here's what gives it all the delicious layers of flavors..
- 3 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp pepper, cayenne, cinnamon, & salt
- 1/2 tsp turmeric


  Two eggs work as a great binding agent.  I find it best to mix this up with your hands, which would make them smell awful nasty.....raw turkey and pork smell......I prefer to wear rubber gloves when I am working with meat in this manner....I also end up rolling them like a cookie after I scoop out a serving size, after letting the meat rest for an hour in the refrigerator.....I lightly grease a pan with extra virgin olive oil and when hot add meatballs.  When browned on one side, flip....this works well using two forks.....then continue cooking.....I usually let them get about 80% cooked and then take them off the heat.  The meat will continue to cook after it is off the heat.  I only go to 80% because I end up packing these up in ziploc bags and freezing them....then I take them out and defrost and warm in the oven.....I bet you were wondering when the baking part was coming in, after all this is a blog about baking! ......they are great in pasta, and topped with BBQ sauce is good too!  They really are the most versatile meatball I have had the pleasure of making....so go ahead and be creative with them......

Enjoy!

Banana Bread Avec Chocolate......

 
  If ever there were a recipe that has been worked and re-worked again, this would be it.  I think the first time I started playing around with a recipe, especially a baking recipe was with banana bread.  I have to say that I have finally settled on this recipe, but let's face it it is bound to change yet again.......but for this mornings envelope stuffing it shall remain in its current form!

What you need:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 unsweetened apple sauce (snack pack size)
4 egg whites
3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup skim milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
chocolate chips

I myself prefer to start by blending the sugars together in a metal bowl, then mix in the apple sauce.  After briefly beating the egg whites with the vanilla in a separate bowl, add to the sugar mixture.  Then come the bananas - peel and place on a large plate.  Sprinkle some cinnamon on the bananas before smashing them with a fork.  This is a secret if you notice there is no mention of cinnamon in the recipe itself.....when bananas have reached a smooth consistency or you have gotten your daily frustrations out by beating the bananas, add to the batter.  Also at this time you can add the milk.  Mix thoroughly.  Then add all the dry ingredients except for the chocolate chips and stir, stir, stir.  I suggest using a spatula for the last few stirs as flour is bound to get trapped under all that beautiful banana bread batter.....then add the chocolate chips. The amount is your call, you can even leave them out, or add crushed nuts and more spices....this recipe is forgiving and was made to be played around with a little.....so go ahead and have some fun!

Bake at 350 degrees for about 1.23 hours or until a toothpick comes clean.  Enjoy!

SuperQuiz Cookies Perfected....

These cookies were originally inspired by a lunch time meeting for the 2011 Team One AcDec'ers.....as we continue to prepare for the state competition I have decided to alter them again....this batch will be enjoyed by team one as well as a group of educators who will be donating their time to provide feedback with speeches and interviews....here's hoping they are a hit!

SuperQuiz Cookies 
2 cups butter (at room temperature)
1.5 cups white sugar
1.5 cups brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP molasses
3 cups white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
chocolate chips (as many as desired)

   First you want to start by creaming the butter and sugars together.  Then you want to beat in the 4 eggs and vanilla.....the better quality the vanilla the better quality the cookie.....then add the molasses in and mix thoroughly.  Add in all dry ingredients at once (flours, baking powder, baking soda, and salt).  Mix well...the best thing to use a wooden spoon....it will take some time so be prepared to get a little elbow grease going!  Then finally add in the chocolate chips.  I always like to let the dough rest overnight before baking.....cool batter bakes better.....Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Enjoy with a glass of milk!

Baking for my fav peeps...

...or at least 9 of them as we are having a SQ lunch tomorrow!  I can not imagine a better way to spend a Friday lunch at school.....for real....I am this geeky.....


After a long thought out process I believe I have finally found my thesis....interestingly enough now that I have figured it out, it seems like it was already there, staring me down....

So, taking the advice from my Dad I had decided to bake some cookies and think about it....well that's exactly what I did and now I would like to introduce you the SuperQuiz Cookie...



First you want to get 2 cups of margarine warmed up to room temperature, then you add the sugar....oh so glorious sugar....1.5 cups of white and 1.5 cups of brown.....these are some serious calorie kicking cookies.....once creamed together add 4 eggs, 2 tsp of vanilla...and because I was making these cookies for my team one twenty-eleven AcDec'ers I used the vanilla in the glass jar.....if that isn't love I don't know what is.....also add in, here it is the secret to chewiness....2 TBSP of molasses...it really is a secret softener...I often use it in muffins when I go for the health nut variety and cut out all eggs and fat.....good thing because it all ends up in these darn cookies.....mix well......a fork will still do a good job for mixing.....then add the dry ingredients (3 cups of white flour, 2 cups of whole wheat flour....didn't see that one coming did you....1 tsp b.powder and 1.5 tsp of b.soda, 1 tsp salt).....keep mixing until the dough reaches a smooth slightly difficult to stir consistency......then add in the chocolate chips....I went for milk chocolate....be creative.....cranberry and white chocolate chips would work well.....or some nuts.....even adding cocoa powder would make some wicked cookies.....

Thanks for reading!

Baking for the AcDec'ers.....

....muffins seemed like a handy little snack for tonight's meeting.  This will be the last class where everyone will be there the entire time.....this marks the transition to mission: get ready for state!

I decided to go with chocolate chip (see pictured above) and some blueberry banana muffins.....we will see how they are rated.....

Should I share these recipes?

Sweet Tooth Satisfied.....with sugar free?!?

....how can that be?


Just came up with another great way to "use" the sugar-free brownies that I bake and freeze.....I use the mini-muffin tin so they are bite size brownies....and this time I added a little bit of coffee for that extra zip!  I think it worked out rather well....what I did was take 3 of the mini-cafe mocha brownies and cut them in half....arranged them like pedals on a flower in one of the creme brulee ramekins and finished it off with a dollop of sugar-free strawberry jam....it is rather decadent and yet not 1/2 of my daily caloric intake.....OK now its time to work....woohoo!

A New Tool!

      Yes....a zester it is!  I have never used one before and after getting a gift certificate from Williams Sonoma for all of the holiday purchasing from their fine establishment I figured I should go after something I have always wanted.  I have this wonderful recipe for lemon loaf, it actually comes from a secret cookbook that was given to me by my Nanny (maternal grandmother).....it is a collection of all of her mother's recipes that she complied and wrote out for her....what a treasure, the cursive is a work of art!  Everything I have made from it, which I have to admit is a small fraction, has been simply sublime.  Perhaps you will read more about it in the near future as I continue my baking expedition.  Today's lemon loaf is going to the science department meeting that I have been asked to be a part of (woohoo).....See, I am the kind of person who shows my appreciation and care for others through food.  Nothing beats the love that goes into something that is baked.  It really is magical how a few ingredients, a properly chilled bowl for beating eggs, and a little heat can make a warm moist almost too lemony loaf....my favorite part is the glaze that goes on top.  As I pulled the loaf from the oven I drizzled on a mixture of lemon juice and sugar, it soaks into the hot loaf and cools to a fine sweet crust.....yum. 

   About the new tool......I was rather pleased to wake up this morning coffee in hand, apron tied, and zester locked and loaded....then I tried to zest an over-ripe lemon.....much to my disappointment it did not work at all....I am not sure what type of lemon it was but the rind was rather thin, lesson learned - don't ask others to pick out lemons for you - it was a nice gesture by the other but unfortunately it brought me back to slicing the rind then filleting off the white portion that has no flavor.....what I wanted to get from the zester was the perfectly curled miniature strands of nothing but lemony goodness that unleashes bursts of citrus smell with each stroke. 

  So not everything turned out the way I wanted it to....does it ever?  Heck no, and I know that many more severe disasters await as I continue to challenge myself and my culinary skills....I am thinking about no longer buying bread....only baking it.....

..until next time ;)