Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Cinnamon Apple Yogurt Stuffed French Toast

Weeks back, the idea of French toast pranced in my mind. Soft, luscious bread coated in a cinnamon and egg, grilled to perfection, warm, drizzled in maple syrup, and stuffed to the brim.


That's right. Stuffed.

Maybe I'm just really late to the party, but I hadn't heard of stuffed french toast until a few years back. I was channel flipping when I came across an episode with Bobby Flay (boo hiss) and a New Jersey spot called La Isla.  This place renown for it's guava and strawberry stuffed french toast. The sheer thought makes me feverish with desire!

With some challah bread we happened to pick up at the grocery store, I decided to take a run at the stuffed French toast game. One quick google image search for "stuffed french toast" took me to Tasty Kitchen.  I'll admit, the pretty pictures drew me right in! No guava lying around... nor cream cheese.. nor strawberries.


Apples. Victims of circumstance. 

Made a few quick adaptions and came out with these scrumptious  Cinnamon Apple-Yogurt Stuffed French Toast. Is it french toast if challah bread is used? Is that some sort of technical foul?



Either or. It's tasty and simple. They key is making a good cut in the bread to make a pocket of flavor. Stuff as much filling in as possible. The bread lovingly soaks up the flavor.


The moral of the story: stuff your toast kids.


Cinnamon Apple Yogurt Stuffed French Toast
inspired by Tasty Kitchen
 
2-3 medium sized honey crisp apples, peeled and chopped
1/3 cup raisins (optional)
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
spritz of lemon juice
1 loaf challah or french bread

3-6 tablespoons apple butter (you decide)
8 ounces plain yogurt
3 eggs
1 tablespoon Cinnamon
½ cups milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter


Preheat oven to 350.

Make the Apple Filling: Peel, core, and slice the apples into small cubes. Toss the apple pieces with the sugar, raisins, and lemon juice. Bake the apple filling in an 8-inch square baking pan for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside. 

Heat skillet or electric griddle to 325 to 350 degrees.

Cut challah into 2ish inch wide slices. Then, with a paring knife, go back and cut halfway into each slice, in the center, creating a ‘pocket’ that your fruit mixture can be stuffed into.

In a bowl, mix the yogurt and three tablespoons of apple butter. Add the baked apple/raisin mixture.

In a separate bowl, break 2 eggs; add cinnamon and milk and combine well.

Now, take fruit mixture and stuff into the ‘pockets’ of your french bread slices. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

When done stuffing each piece of bread, completely coat each piece in egg mixture. Make sure all sides are covered. Do all pieces before starting to fry.

Put 2 tbsp of butter into a hot skillet and melt completely. Add all of the bread to the skillet and cook roughly about 3-6 minutes on each side, until it reaches a nice golden brown.

When done cooking, serve immediately with maple syrup. Dust with powdered sugar if you're feeling fancy.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Wanted: A Warm Home for Kittens

It is with great joy and a heavy heart I introduce two of the world's finest kittens: Chamo-O (ying yang) and Kit Kat (icee).

 
Last year, we began volunteering with animal non-profits in hopes of helping those in need and enriching our own lives with positivity. The boy and I both have soft spots for animals, though truthfully he's more of a dog person. I'm an equal opportunity lover of living things (well minus most bugs... and sharks...). We hitched our wagon to Homeward Trails and got the idea to be a foster home. There's a guest bed room upstairs that is rarely used- why not turn it into "kitty hotel?" It's better than forcing an innocent animal to live in a cage. Last week, we received our first assignment: a pair of 7 month old brother's from the DC Petmac location. We were told that they were cuties. Talk about false advertisement...

They are so much more than that.

They are 2 beautiful souls.


Chamo-O's adoption name is ying yang- take a wild guess why.  Every time you pick him, he says "hello" by slamming his adorable face into yours in a funny "kiss punch." He is initially a reserved gentleman that's cautious and curious. It doesn't take long for him to want to play and bask in attention. We called him Oreo until one night, we heard the strangest soft sing-song sound. It was the cat, meowing at curtains. He sounded like a whale! We jokingly called him "Shamu." It turned into "Shamu-Oreo" which sounds like the Portuguese word Chamo: you call me. With that, he became Chamo-O. "You Call Me O."


And then there's this little guy... Kit Kat, known as icee. Where they came up with icee is beyond me- there's nothing cold about him. Maybe that's the joke? This guy is so sweet it will give you diabetes. It doesn't matter what you're doing, he will climb into your lap and cover you with kisses. Literally. He was weened from his mother too early and find's comfort in suckling your arm. I've seen cuddly creatures- but this brown kitty takes the cake. We like to say he's training for the Kitty Olympics high jump division cuz boy has ups.


They are a joint package as they are brothers and were raised together. It would be too cruel to separate them at this point. They are very low maintenance. They are playful, cuddly, chill, and in great health. They have been raised as house cats so no outdoors! Remember, they're only 7 months old and agile so you need to kitten proof the house.
 
If you're interested in adopting them, check out their page: YingYang & Icee

Please do not hesitate to contact myself or Homeward Trails if you have any questions.

PS Happy Anniversary to the love of my life! Many more to come- you're my inspiration and heart. 

Sunday, January 22, 2012

New Year Cupcakes: Almond and Green Tea

 
It's a beautiful, snow speckled Sunday afternoon in Northern Virginia. Curled up in bed with the lap top when I should have gone to the gym, walked to grocery store, and started studying. Alas, this is far more cozy. Who am I to argue with a Sunday afternoon? Imprints of a dream are still dancing in my head- luscious green mountains and  walking down a rugged trail.  The boy is playing "Skyrim"- my least favorite of games to watch in recent memory. Mass Effect II had a far better plot and sucks you in. We're a little bit geeky.


I wanted to post these Almond Cupcakes with Green Tea frosting (from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking)  on 1 January because they were made in celebration of the new year. Better late than never. Something about fortune cookies and starting a new year seemed to go together.


Cliche? Maybe. But it made me think about New Year's Eve a few years back at the Sham/Shek home. The entire family sat around the kitchen table with shreds of paper and pencils. Everyone wrote down their resolutions, one by one, on shreds of paper, folded them up, and put them into a small glass jar. 

It was very peaceful. 

I've made custom fortune cookies in the past and this sounded like a perfect pairing of ideas: personal resolutions inside home-made fortune cookies.

The almond cake was moist with a slight crumble. I really enjoyed its texture and the flavor was not super sweet. The ingredients were basic and easy. The frosting, on the other hand, was a pain. Finding matcha without a Wegman's grocery store was harder than I anticipated. I ended up buying green tea WITH matcha powder, hence the small flecks of tea leaves. Regardless, it turned out fantastic and again, was not overly sweet. This is the only book I've seen frosting made on the stove top and it's crazy. 

Add a fortune cookie on top and you have a playful combination of crunch, smoothness, and flavor! The author's of Baked have created a perfect flavor profile with these cupcakes.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Rochester, NY: Latte Art Throw Down II

Yet another reason why I wish it was possible to teleport. For those of you in the Rochester area, I am most certainly jealous.

This Friday night, January 20th, is their second ever "Latte Art Throw Down." The competition starts at 7:30pm and is family-friendly- just don't give your little one's cafe!

What is latte art? It's all those mind blowing images exceptional baristas create atop your latte; they put a smile on your face and warm fuzzies in your heart. The only time I've received latte art was during my trip to Costa Rica.


If you love coffee.... and you love art... this will be a caffeine junkie's paradise. No joke.  For those interested in participating in the actual event, visit to the Joe Bean website for more information.



Jealous!

Joe Bean
1344 University Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607
benturiano@joebeanroasters.com
(585) 319-5279

Monday, January 16, 2012

Whole Wheat Apple Muffins & Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Austin for winning the first-ever Squirrels-n-Sweets giveaway! Thanks to everyone who participated! There will always be a next time so don't sweat it if you didn't win this round. I loved reading all the excitement for 2012- lots of good things to come. 



Speaking of good things to come .... 


 These muffins make a wonderful "good morning" treat. If the morning wasn't so rushed, I would have basked on the back porch and nibbled away slowly. At least I got this quick click in!

 


The muffins are chopped full of apples and brown sugar. It's hard to find a genuinely healthy muffin, but these at least incorporate wheat flour. You could always substitute a few tablespoons of the butter with apple sauce. I recently did this with the oatmeal cookies and liked them even more. Oh, and why not a few raisins if you're trying to spice it up? Mmmm.... muffy....



If you're going for the gusto, don't skimp out the brown sugar topping. It adds a slight crunch and sweetness- not that you need to be any sweeter! (wink wink) Don't be a muffin top brat though! Eat the entire thing.



The texture is fluffy and very moist. It's rich and dark.  It's a perfect addition to a cup of tea and will make the morning commute all the more enjoyable.

PS. Don't forget to pay respects, it's Martin Luther King Day. So few of us have that kind of courage and wisdom. No hate. Know love.


Whole Wheat Apple Muffins
Smitten's adaptation from King Arthur Flour

Yield: 12-18 cupcake sized muffins

1 cup (4 ounces) whole wheat flour
1 cup (4 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed, divided
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup (8 ounces) buttermilk or yogurt
2 large apples, peeled, cored, and coarsely chopped

Preheat the oven to 450°F. Grease and flour 18 muffin cups and set aside.

Mix together the flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, and set aside. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and add the granulated sugar and 1/4 cup of the brown sugar. Beat until fluffy. Add the egg and mix well; stop once to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl.Mix in the buttermilk gently. (If you over-mix, the buttermilk will cause the mixture to curdle.) Stir in the dry ingredients and fold in the apple chunks.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, sprinkling the remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar on top. Bake for 10 minutes, turn the heat down to 400°F, and bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool the muffins for 5 minutes in the tin, then turn them out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Iced Eggnog Cookies


During the holiday season, I was torn on what to bake. Food isn't stuff to mindlessly shovel in your face-- it's a form of expression. You wouldn't make ice cream for someone lactose intolerant. You take into consideration who is going to eat what you create, not your own fat kid desires. That is unless of course you don't like the person... bake 'em a brick in that case (just kidding?).

As it turns out, the boy's father loves eggnog. This came as a bit of a surprise because the boy hates the stuff- he won't touch it with a 10 foot pole. Plus, his family likes to keep everything super healthy. Eggnog by it's sheer nature is loaded with delicious calories. That's part of the fun of the holiday season- a little indulgence here and there never hurt anybody. Eggnog it is!


I was torn between 2 cookie recipes: one from Spork&Foon and the other by HungryGirl. Honestly, I really wanted to make the version from Spork&Foon because of the cute cookie cutter potential. Sandwich cookies can be a bit heavy but these look fluffy and welcoming. Per my insider resource's on what the boy's dad would like, I went with the HungryGirl recipe. Another day Spork&Foon!!

 
These Iced Eggnog Cookies are very much like a sugar cookies. Just with some added eggnog. I was very happy with the moist, cakey texture. They're confectionery clouds of softness! Plus the icing is thick and easy to decorate with. The aesthetic of this cookie is WONDERFUL! They are best the day made but will keep in an airtight container for a few days.


There is one small hitch: flavor. Nobody could tell they were eggnog. I'm not blaming the recipe- maybe it was the brand of eggnog I used. Someone said "rum" which is kind of correct for eggnog. Maybe if more spice was added? They were delicious- don't get me wrong- but they did not have that distinct eggnog taste I was going for. 

PS. Today is the last day to sign up for the giveaway! Be sure to sign up!


Iced Eggnog Cookies
from Hungry Girl Por Vida

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg (or ground)
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons softened, unsalted butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup dairy eggnog, well shaken

1 cup confectioner’s sugar
pinch of salt
1/8 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg (or ground)
2 tablespoons eggnog
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350F. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone liners or parchment, set aside.

In a medium bowl whisk together flour, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer or with electric beaters, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg, beat to combine and scrape bowl well. Add vanilla, beat to combine. Mix in flour and eggnog alternately, beginning and ending with flour, until just combined. Scrape down sides of bowl as needed.

Drop tablespoons of dough on cookie sheets about 1 1/2 inches apart-cookies will flatten slightly while baking, but still be domed. Bake sheets 1 at a time until cookies are puffed and slightly golden around the edges (9-12 minutes). Cool the cookies on sheets for 1 minute before transferring to a cooling rack.

To make the glaze: Whisk together all of the ingredients until combined. Add more confectioner’s sugar or eggnog to acheive the consistency you like. Spoon glaze over slightly warm cookies. Allow to set on wire rack until cool and glaze hardens slightly.

Friday, January 6, 2012

2011 Recap and a Giveaway!

Damn. What an amazing year.


January is a time for reflection. Something about getting a new calender has that effect. Sit back, try to relax, and focus on the good things. There's no point in dwelling on the negative. This was a milestone year filled with change and growth.


New job. New home. The birth of my adorable nephew. And of course, the official start of something magical.

Are you still dwelling on the negative? Stop it. If you don't like something, make a battle plan and do something about it. I don't believe in "resolutions." It makes it sound like you did something wrong and need to amend it. Screw that man. Recap of last year:

Take 6 week course Done
PMP certificate.Finishing next month (damn earthquake)
Comptia Project Plus exam in January.  Already working on that PMI status
Have my left side checked. Got it looked at after the snowboarding crash
Finish my sketchbook and submit it. Submitting
Find a volunteer organization. Homeward Trails
Travel. Stayed in country



Feels good to scratch those off- I love making lists and attacking them. There's satisfaction in knowing things got done. I need to put more thought into this year's battle plan. I know stepping up my language game is on there. The boy and I are working on French and I would like to polish my Portuguese. Plus, I need to get dual American-European citizenship so I won't need a work visa overseas. Hooray for fob parents! We also plan on being a kitten foster home, aka. the kitty hotel. Plans poppin, moo ha ha ha. 


To welcome in the new year, I would like to give you a present: this hella cute kitchen towel set from World Market. I hope you like them! It's 2 towels and a pot holder.



Entering is easy! Just leave a comment with:

1. Your name
2. Your email addresse
3. What you're looking forward to in 2012
4. Giveaway ends January 12 at 11:59pm; the winner will be selected at random.

Hello 2012! Make it count!