Apple® Apple pie!! ♥ Look closely

For my friend Gordon's birthday I cut a Apple® logo in the
center a tribute to the most helpful friend and tech support.

Ingredients:
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cups white sugar
3 teaspoon salt
3 tsp of squeezed lemon
2 stick of butter
8-10 apples - peeled, cored and cut into thin wedges
pie crust recipe (x1.5)

Directions:
1. Peel and core the apples. Slice into 1/2-inch thick wedges. Toss all of the apples with 1/4
cup of the sugar, place in a colander set over a large bowl and allow to drain for approximately 1 1/2 hours.
2. Transfer the drained liquid to a small saucepan, place over medium heat and reduce to 2 tablespoons. Set aside to cool.
3.Toss the apples with the remaining sugar, flour, lemon juice, salt.
4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
5.Place the apples into the unbaked pie shell in concentric circles starting around the edges, working towards the center and forming a slight mound in the center of the pie.
6. Pour over any liquid that remains in the bowl.
7. Roll out the second pie dough as the first.
8. Place this dough over the apples and press together the edges of the dough around the rim of the pie. 9. Brush the top crust with the reduced juice everywhere except around the edge of pie and trim any excess dough.
10. Place the pie on a half sheet pan and bake on the floor of the oven for 30 minutes.
11. Transfer to the lower rack of the oven and continue to bake another 20 minutes or until the apples are cooked through (but not mushy).
12. Remove to a rack and cool a minimum of 5 hours or until almost room temperature.
13. Serve and enjoy with a large family or  group of friends!

Dorayaki どら焼き♥ Japanese snacks

A traditional Japanese dessert made with pancakes sandwiching Azuki (sweet bean paste) filling. It's said that the named is derived from it's shape which resembles dora (gong in Japanese). For best results  cook on an electric pan so that pancake brown evenly.

Ingredients:

2 large eggs

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup of water

1 cup all purpose flour, sifted

2 cups of Azuki (sweet red bean paste)

Directions:

1. Whisk together eggs, sugar, and water. 

2. Add sifted flour and baking powder. 

3. Pour a small scoop of the batter into the buttered skillet (3-4 inches). 

4. Turn over when bubbles appear on the surface. 

5. Repeat this process 3&4. 

6. Scoop 2 tbsp of sweet red beans between them.
7. Enjoy now or wrap it up to enjoy as a snack later.

♥Baby Apple Pie♥

Adorable right? They look so cute and easy but it actually too my double the time of a normal pie to assemble these. Using my recipe for Good Old Fashioned Apple Pie ♥ I simply just use a coffee mug the twice the diameter of the cupcake tins for the bottom crust and either used a lattice top, crumble or a normal top. It's actually fairly easy, just a bit time consuming if you are making a lattice crust for each pie.

Chocolate Chip Banana Oat Bread! ♥

Ingredients:
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats, grounded
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Beat bananas, sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla.
2. Combine the dry ingredients and add into banana mixture.
3. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Pour into two greased 8-in x 5-in loaf pans.
5. Bake at 350F for 45-55 min or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
6. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Easy Chocolate Fondue Recipe

Follow up post to my fondue party!

For those of us that don't have a double-boiler, a very basic chocolate fondue, the college way aka microwave style.

Popular Dippers:

2 pints of Strawberries

Pretzels rods (especially good with toasted coconut)

Oreo Cookies

Bananas

Graham Crackers

Marshmallows

Popcorn

Pineapple Chunks

Potato Chips, ridged

Ingredients:

2 cups (12-oz pkg.) of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

3/4 cup of heavy cream

2 tbsp of butter

Directions:

1. Put all the ingredients in a microwave safe bowl.

3. Microwave on at high power for about 1 minute.

4. Take out and stir (it will look lumpy but keep stirring)*.

5. Put it back in the microwave for another 30 seconds.

6. Stir until smooth (if it still looks lumpy put it in the microwave for another 20)*

7. Set the pot over a candle or canned heat and serve hot with dipping items.

(Optional) Pour into cute ceramic hershey kiss fondue warmer

*all microwaves are different, it's best to make to microwave less as chocolate burns easily and milk forms a film if over heated

Additional ingredients you could add are 2 tbsp of Cognac, liqueur, or brandy.

I also love using some of this sauce for sundaes!

Easy Cheese Fondue Recipe

An easy cheese fondue with a sauce pan.

Ingredients:

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp of dry mustard

1/2 tsp of nutmeg

1/2 tsp of pepper

1 tbsp of cornstarch

1tbsp of lemon juice

1 cup of white wine, dry

1/2 lb of Gruyere Cheese*, Shredded

1/2 lb of Swiss Cheese*, Shredded

*personal preference

Dippers suggestion:

Bread Cubes, preferably day old

Chips

Broccoli/Celery, Crispy or Blanched

Carrots

Grape Tomato

Apple Wedges

Potato Wedges, roasted

Button Mushrooms, roasted

Cauliflower

Directions:

1. Put cheese and cornstarch in a bowl or large plastic bag, toss to coat. Set aside until ready to use.

2. Bring wine, lemon and garlic to a simmer in saucepan over medium heat.

3. Slowly add in cheese while continuously stirring to prevent clumping.

4. Add the spices* stir well and cook stirring until the mixture is smooth (3-5 mins)

5. Set the pot over a candle or canned heat and serve hot with dipping items.

*add spices to taste

Never too old for a Slumber Party!

Once again it's time for our annual slumber party. Each year since freshman year, my roommates and I get together in the summer for a girls night with popcorn, pizza, chocolate, movies and did a mention LOTs of CHoCOLatE?! Yes, we do a fondue with cheese and Chocolate!! It all started because our dorms don't allow open flames, including a tea cup candle, out rages we do a summer sleepover to reconnect and stuff faces with chocolate! It's the simplest meal because you just dip your stick in the pot and eat as much as you want! Everyone is a happy camper with fondue and no judgement even if you put your Cheeto in the chocolate pot, guilty! What can I say I thought salty and sweet are so go together why not try cheesy and chocolatey, taste wise? not bad, except you stomach will not be so pleased with your exotic taste.

Hot Pink Velvet Cake!! ♥ UW

Today my love, Jordan, is coming to UW for her business school orientation!! She is one of the most hardworking young woman I've met and I''m so proud of her accomplishment. I was so excited that I decide to bake her a cake, and what better than a HOT PINK Velvet Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. I just reduce my Red Velvet Cake Recipe into a fourth of the serving size and used less red food coloring. Unfortunately people will probably mistaken the pink frosting for red, which is our rival school's color (WSU); a purple & gold cake (UW) didn't seem as appetizing. Oh well let critics be i guess...

Christmas Cookies

I love christmas! Christmas cookies are part of that added bonus of the holiday season. It's even better when you do Christmas in July.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cups white sugar

1 eggs

1 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoons white sugar

colorful sugar sprinkles

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F

2. Cream together butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla.

3. Sift in the flour, soda and salt.

4. Mix dry and wet ingredients, then shape into 1-inch balls.

5. Roll balls in colorful sugar sprinkles.

6. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

7. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until slightly golden.

8. Remove immediately from baking sheets onto wired rack to cool.

9. Frost and top with more sprinkles.

Chocolate Espresso Pecan Pie ♥ Deep Dish

Happy July 4th!! Where would I be if I didn't bake a Chocolate Espresso Pecan Pie for America's Birthday! And Deep Dish Mind you. Not the prettiest picture, but certainly delish! ♥

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups pecan halves, chopped
3 eggs
1 tablespoon instant espresso powder
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp salt
1 cup corn syrup

1. Preheat oven to 375°F
2. Bake crust in preheated oven 5 minutes.
3. Remove to rack and cool completely before filling.
4. Sprinkle the pecans evenly on the bottom of the cooled pie shell and set aside.
5. Beat softened butter, sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
6. Add in cocoa and salt and espresso powder
7. Add eggs in one at a time, beating after each addition, until smooth.
8. Pour in corn syrup and mix until thick and custard-like.
9. Pour mixture over pecans in pie shell.
10. Let stand 5 minutes; clear any remaining air bubbles by running a fork though.
11. Bake in oven for 45-55min or until edges pie center still only gives slightly.
12. Remove from oven
13. Cool on rack before serving (apx. 15min).

♥ Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe is well enough frosting for a 2 layered cake. Be sure to cool the cake completely before frosting.

Ingredients:
2 cup butter, softened
2 pkg. cream cheese, softened (16 oz.)
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 cups confectioner's sugar

Directions:
1. In a mixer, cream together butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until uniform and smooth.
2. Slowly add confectioner's sugar 1 cup at a time, beating after each cup.
3. Frost you bake good and enjoy!

Remember to use a towel to cover when adding dry ingredients a flour and powdered sugar as your room will be covered in dust.

♥Red Velvet Cake♥

Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups flour, sifted (preferably cake flour)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (2 sticks)
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons red food coloring (2 oz.)
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease and flour two 8 inch cake pans.
3. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, salt. Set aside.
4. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and eggs.
5. Add buttermilk, vanilla extract, and red food coloring
6. In a small cup mix together vinegar and baking soda.
7. Add sifted ingredients into large bowl of wet ingredients, then fold in vinegar and baking soda mixture.
8. Pour into cake pans and bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
9. Cool on rack for 10-15 minutes then invert pan on the cooling rack.*
10. Finally top with a Cream Cheese Frosting.

*Inverting the pan after cooling to warm prevents the layer from sinking and sticking to much to the pan.

Funfetti Cookies Recipe

I've made my own Funfetti Cake Mix Recipe but using the box also works.

Ingredients:
1 pkg. Funfetti Cake Mix
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs

1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix Funfetti Cake Mix, eggs, and oil until completely combined.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. With bottom of glass dipped in flour, flatten to 1/4-inch thickness.
3. Bake at 375°F. for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets.

Yield: 3 dozen

Good Old Fashioned Apple Pie ♥

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cups white sugar

1 tsp salt

2 tsp of cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp of squeezed lemon

2/3 cup of butter

6 apples - peeled, cored and cut into thin wedges

Pie Crust Recipe

Directions:

1. Peel and core the apples. Slice into 1/2-inch thick wedges. Toss all of the apples with 1/4 cup of the sugar, place in a colander set over a large bowl and allow to drain for 1 1/2 hours.

2. Transfer the drained liquid to a small saucepan, place over medium heat and reduce to 2 tablespoons. Set aside to cool.

3.Toss the apples with the remaining sugar, flour, lemon juice, salt.

4. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

5.Place the apples into the unbaked pie shell in concentric circles starting around the edges, working towards the center and forming a slight mound in the center of the pie.

6. Pour over any liquid that remains in the bowl.

7. Roll out the second pie dough as the first.

8. Place this dough over the apples and press together the edges of the dough around the rim of the pie. 9. Brush the top crust with the reduced juice everywhere except around the edge of pie and trim any excess dough.

10. Place the pie on a half sheet pan and bake on the floor of the oven for 30 minutes.

11. Transfer to the lower rack of the oven and continue to bake another 20 minutes or until the apples are cooked through (but not mushy).

12. Remove to a rack and cool a minimum of 4 hours or until almost room temperature.

Easy Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Easiest recipe you'll find and it only requires TWO ingredients!! Strawberries & Chocolate!

Baker's Dipping Chocolate to be exact, they come in a 7 oz microwave-safe container with classic flavors as Dark, Milk, and White Chocolate. Sometimes you can find it in a store brand and chocolate is chocolate so why not save a dollar, it's college! Dorm approved! No mess, no fuss, just delicious!

Ingredients:
Baker's Dipping Chocolate (or any brand)
1 pint of strawberries (varies, depend on how much chocolate you use)

Directions:
1. Wash strawberries, and be sure to dry them off completely! Otherwise the chocolate won't stick to the strawberries :(
2. Microwave dipping chocolate as directed on package.
3. Dip strawberries, place on a plate for 1-2 minute for it to harden (plastic wrap does make the clean-up easier).
4. Serve and enjoy!

If you have leftovers, which I never do, let remaining chocolate cool then cover with the lid and refrigerate up to 2 weeks.

Oatmeal Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:

1 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cups of oatmeal, grounded

1 tsp of vanilla extract

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup mashed bananas

3/4 cup white sugar

1/2 a stick of butter

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F and butter cupcake pan.

2. In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.

3. In a separate bowl beat eggs, then stir in bananas, sugar, oil, and lemon juice.

4. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.

5. Fold in in chocolate chips.

6. Fill muffin pan cups 2/3 full.

7. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned.

8. Remove muffins from pan, cool on wired rack.

Benanna chocolate oatmeal chip cookies!! ♥

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1 stick of butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1 cup mashed ripe banana
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup oats, grounded
2 cup (12oz-pkg) semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375F

2. Cream together bananas, butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. 

3. Sift in the flour, powder, soda and salt. 

4. Mix together dry and wet ingredients.

5. Scoop a spoonful 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.

6. Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until slightly golden.

7. Remove immediately from baking sheets onto wired rack.

Banana Nut Muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 cup mashed bananas
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 a stick of butter
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 375F and butter cupcake pan.
2. In large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl beat eggs, then stir in bananas, sugar, oil, and lemon juice.
4. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until combined.
5. Fold in in walnuts.
6. Fill muffin pan cups 2/3 full.
7. Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until tops are lightly browned.
8. Remove muffins from pan, cool on wired rack.

Espresso Double Shot Brownies!! midterms week ♥ good luck!

Need a shot of esspresso but Starbucks is closed? Solution! I've created Espresso Double Shot Brownies!! midterms week ♥ good luck!

Ingredients:
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp of salt
1 tsp of baking powder
2 tsp of espresso powder (2 packets of VIA)
1 1/4 cups of semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cups of AP flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sugar
1⁄4 cup water
2 tsp of vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease an 8x8" baking pan with butter.
3. Bring 1⁄4 cup water to a boil in a 1-quart saucepan. Whisk in espresso; let dissolve. Whisk together espresso, beans, 1 cup sugar, chocolate chips, flour, oil, vanilla, salt, baking powder, and eggs in a bowl.
4. Pour batter into pan; spread evenly. Bake until set, 45–50 minutes. Let cool slightly.