Thursday, June 21, 2012

Honeyed Apricots and French Toast


My family is big on honey. Especially local, raw honey. I decided to try tartelette's Honey apricots (Her pictures are stunning and far better than mine.). I have no idea why, because 1. I don't really like apricots, and 2. The apricots we had were sour.




 They were not my favorite, but my mom liked them so it was all good. Probably if they had been riper, they would have been tastier.



The honey was delicious though. It had a really nice apricot flavor.

And since I can't just eat apricots for breakfast, I made french toast.
I usually eat my french toast with syrup, jam, or powdered sugar but french toast with honey is incredible. I feel like I've never tried it with honey before, but I know I have. Maybe it was the apricotness.


I'm not quite sure of the ratio of eggs to milk but I used Challah bread. But here's the recipe for the apricots:
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • six apricots, cut in half, pit removed
  • 1/3 cup honey
Melt the butter in a pan until it starts to sizzle, put in the apricots, cut side down, cook for 2 minutes, flip and cook for another 2 minutes. remove them from pan and place on a serving plate. Add honey to the hot pan and swirl around until hot. Pour over apricots and serve.


Sunday, June 17, 2012

Happy Father's Day!

My Dad's favorite cake is carrot cake packed with pineapple, and raisins. This year I made just that.




It was delicious. Right down to the sweet, carroty end.
It's was pretty hot, so the frosting was very creamy. I tried to stir it long enough to get it fluffier, but I think it was too busy melting.



Carrot Cake

Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 c. Sugar
  • 1 c. Vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 c. flour
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 c. shredded carrots (about 5-6 large)
  • 18oz can or 1 c. chopped or crushed pineapple 
  • 1/2 c.- 1 c. golden raisins 
Heat oven to 350. Grease bottom and sides of 13 x 9 or 2 round (8") pans and lightly flour.
Beat sugar, oil, and eggs in a large bowl with mixer on low speed about 30 seconds or until well blended. Add remaining ingredients except carrots, pineapples and raisins. Beat on low speed for 1 minute. Stir in carrots, pineapples and raisins. Pour into pan(s)

Bake 13 x 9 for 40-45 minutes, rounds for 30-35 or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan or on wire rack. Frost and store covered in fridge.


Cream Cheese

Ingredients
  • 1 pkg (8oz) Cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 c. butter or stick margarine
  • 2-3 tsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 4 c. powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese, butter, milk and vanilla until smooth. Gradually beat in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time, on low speed until smooth.


P.S. Sorry my pictures have a pixely haze. It's because I used the video camera instead of a regular one.
 


Saturday, June 16, 2012

The Hole Story

- Doughnut hole that is


Little hoops of deep fried delicious.

And it gets better...
 

 With nutella and lemon curd with blueberries.


I probably ate 3. They were Delicious and I had a lot of fun. Plus, now I have my own candy thermometer!
Unfortunately, I made a mess.

 

Oh well, it was worth it.


Cake Doughnuts

Ingredients
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 1 quart oil for frying

Preparation

Heat oil in a deep fryer or large pot to 375 degrees F. For draining doughnuts, prepare a place with paper towels. For powdered sugar doughnuts fill a pan with some powdered sugar.

Sift flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon. Mix in butter until crumbly. Stir in milk and egg. With floured hands, lightly knead the dough. Turn onto an area prepared with flour. Pat dough into 1/4 inch thickness. Dip a biscuit cutter and a 1 inch round cutter in flour. Use to cut-out doughnuts.

Carefully drop doughnuts into hot oil, only a few at a time. Fry, turning once, for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.
For powdered sugar doughnuts, dry on a paper towel quickly and dump in the pan of confectioner sugar.

Spread on nutella, or the frosting of your choice and enjoy!