Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

This bread is super tasty, quick and easy!

INGREDIENTS
1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix)
1 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 2/3 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup + 1/4 cup chocolate chips, divided

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Grease & flour loaf pan. (I also lined mine with parchment paper.)
2. In large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt TWICE.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the pumpkin, eggs, oil, vanilla and sour cream until smooth.
4. Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the wet ingredients. Whisk together until smooth.
5. Fold in 1 cup of chocolate chips.
6. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle 1/4 cup chocolate chips on top.
7. Bake 60-75 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cool in pan on a wire rack 20 minutes before removing to wire rack to cool completely.

Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread

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INGREDIENTS (Yields: about 18 muffins)
3 cups all purpose flour
1 cup yellow corn meal
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
2 cups milk
3 large eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 lb. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 cups sharp cheddar, shredded plus extra for garnish
3 jalapenos, seeded and minced
1/3 cup of scallions, chopped plus extra for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan, set aside. Combine the first five ingredients into a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the eggs, milk and cooled butter. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry and mix, be careful not to over mix. Fold in the two cups of the cheddar, 1/3 cup of the scallions, and the jalapenos. Let the mix sit at room temperature for roughly about 20 minutes. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and top with the remaining cheddar and scallions. Then pop into the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden brown or until a toothpick comes out clean. Slice into squares and serve.

You can also bake these as muffins using a muffin pan, cook time change: 15-20 minutes.

from Ina Garden via Une-deux Senses

Chocolate & Peanut Butter Cake

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For Ganache Filling: (Make the night before)
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
6 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/4 cup old-fashioned (natural) chunky peanut butter

For Cake:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup old-fashioned (natural) chunky peanut butter
1 pound golden brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk

For Cream Cheese Frosting:
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
2 2/3 cups powdered sugar, divided
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream

Prepare the ganache filling:
Bring cream and sugar to simmer in saucepan, whisking to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; let stand 1 minute. Whisk until smooth. Whisk in peanut butter. Chill uncovered overnight or for several hours. If left overnight, you may need to microwave the ganache briefly in order to make it spreadable.

Prepare the cake:
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides. with baking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper. Spray again. Sift first 4 ingredients into medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and peanut butter in a large bowl until blended. Beat in sugar. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, then vanilla. At low speed, beat in flour mixture in 4 additions alternately with buttermilk in 3 additions.

2. Divide the batter among the pans, spreading evenly. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. Cool cakes 5 minutes. Turn out onto racks; peel off parchment. Cool completely.
Prepare the frosting:

3. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, 1 2/3 cups powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla in a large bowl to blend. Whisk or beat the heavy cream and 1 cup powdered sugar in bowl until mixture holds medium-firm peaks. Fold into the cream cheese mixture in 3 additions; chill until firm but spreadable, about 1 hour.

Assemble the cake:
Level each cake layer. Place 1 cake layer on a cardboard cake round or cake plate protected by strips of wax paper or parchment paper. Spread with half of the ganache, leaving a slight border at the outside edge. Place another layer on top of the first layer. Spread with remaining filling. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost the top and sides of the cake with the cream cheese frosting. Decorate with chocolate shavings.

Serving:
You can serve the cake immediately, but it's best to let it sit (in the refrigerator) for a few hours or overnight. Serve at room temperature. Freeze leftovers (or the entire cake!) for up to two months. Defrost (still wrapped) overnight; or microwave directly from the freezer for a messier, more gooey slice of cake.

from Zucchero Dolce

Cinnamon Apple Muffins

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INGREDIENTS (makes 12)
1 ½ Cups of Flour
½ Cup of Sugar
1 Cup of peeled, diced Granny Smith apples
1/8 tsp. Salt
1 Egg
1 ½ tsp. Baking Powder
½ Cup of Milk
1/3 Cup of Butter, Melted
¼ Cup of Sugar
½ tsp. Ground Cinnamon
¼ Cup of Butter, Melted

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.

2. Mix flour, ½ cup of sugar, baking powder, and salt together. In another bowl, mix egg, milk, and 1/3 cup of melted butter. Add egg mixture to dry ingredients. Stir.
Spoon batter into cupcake mold.

3. Mix in 1 cup of diced Granny Smith peeled apples (I soaked mine in a little sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon for a few minutes first).

4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes.

5. Combine ¼ cup of sugar and cinnamon. Cool muffins and remove from pan. Dip muffins into ¼ cup melted butter, then into sugar-cinnamon mix.

Peach Muffins with Brown Sugar Struesel

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Makes large 12 muffins

Muffin Batter:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 1/2 cups sour cream
1 tablespoon dark rum or pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups peeled, pitted, chopped peaches

1. For the topping: In a small bowl, combine the walnuts, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir in the butter, and mix until well blended.

2. For the muffins: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line 12 large muffin cups with paper liners, and spray the top of the pan lightly with nonstick spray.

3. In a medium bowl, sift together the dry ingredients, from flour to salt, and set aside.

4. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, butter, sour cream and rum or vanilla. Fold in the peaches.

5. Add the egg mixture to the dry mixture. Stir until just moist and blended. Do not overmix.

6. Scoop the batter into the prepared muffin pan with a large ice cream scoop (1/3-cup scoop). The batter should come to the top of the paper liner or pan. Sprinkle with the Brown Sugar-Walnut Streusel Topping, and lightly press the topping into the muffin batter.

7. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until the tops of the muffins spring back when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center of a muffin comes clean. Remove from the oven, and cool for 5 minutes. Turn the muffins out of the pan, and serve immediately.

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Brown Sugar-Walnut Streusel Topping:
1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Variations: Almost any fresh or frozen fruit (except for very soft fruits like bananas or mango) can be substituted for the peaches.

from Ezra Lb Cake, adapted from Sara Foster’s “The Foster’s Market Cookbook”

Fresh Tomato Tart

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Basil-Garlic Tart Dough:
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves
1 medium garlic clove
1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 8 to 10 pieces
4-5 tablespoons ice water

1. Place the basil and garlic in the work bowl of a food processor. Process, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until finely chopped. Add flour and salt; pulse to combine.

2. Add butter. Pulse about 10 times, or until the mixture resembles pea-sized crumbs.

3. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing several times after each addition. After 4 tablespoons water have been added, process the dough for several seconds to see if the mixture forms a ball. If not, add remaining water. Process until dough forms into a ball. Remove dough from processor.

4. Flatten the dough into a 5-inch disk. Wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. (The dough can be placed in a zipper-lock plastic bag and refrigerated for several days or frozen for 1 month. If frozen, defrost the dough in the refrigerator.)

5. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Lay the dough over the tart pan, and press it into the pan. Trim the dough, and proceed with the recipe as directed.

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Fresh Tomato Tart with Basil-Garlic Crust:
1 recipe Basil-Garlic Tart Dough (recipe follows)
8 ounces sliced mozzarella
2 large, ripe tomatoes (about 1 pound), cored and cut crosswise into thin slices
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1. Prepare the dough, and press it into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line the bottom of the tart shell with mozzarella. Arrange the tomatoes over the cheese in a ring around the edge of the tart and a second ring in the center. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil.

3. Bake until the crust is golden brown and the cheese has started to brown in spots, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on a rack for at least 5 minutes before slicing. (The tart may be covered and kept at room temperature for 6 hours.)

from Ezra Lb Cake

Guinness Chocolate Cake

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INGREDIENTS

Cake:
1 cup stout (such as Guinness)
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 cup plus 3 tablespoons sour cream

Icing:
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 pound bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
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DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper. Butter paper.

2. Bring the stout and butter to simmer in heavy large saucepan over medium heat.
Add cocoa powder to the stout and butter mixture. Whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.

3. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in large bowl to blend.

4. Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sour cream in another large bowl to blend. Add stout-chocolate mixture to egg mixture and beat just to combine.

5. Slowly Add flour mixture to the chocolate and egg mixture. Beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined.

6. Divide batter equally among prepared pans. Bake cakes until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 35 minutes.
Transfer cakes to rack; cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack and cool completely.

*For icing (store-bought works too): Bring cream to simmer in heavy medium saucepan. Remove from heat. Add chopped chocolate and whisk until melted and smooth. Refrigerate until icing is spreadable, stirring frequently, about 2 hours.

7. Place 1 cake layer on plate. Spread icing over. Top with second cake layer. Spread remaining icing over top and sides of cake. Cut and enjoy.

M&M Cookies

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INGREDIENTS
2 1/4 cups flour
1tsp. baking soda
1/2tsp. salt
one cup butter
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1 to 1 1/2 cups m & m chocolate candies
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DIRECTIONS
In a small mixing bowl, combine the first three ingredients and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until fluffy. Add the vanilla and eggs and beat well.

Sift the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture and mix well. Add the m & m chocolate candies and stir them well into the dough .

Take a heaping tablespoon of dough and roll it into a ball. Put it onto an ungreased baking sheet. Repeat for the other cookies allowing 2 inches between them on the baking sheet. Bake them eight to ten minutes in a preheated 375F oven.

Remove the cookies from the oven and cool them on a baking rack. Makes approximately 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Caramel Bread Pudding

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INGREDIENTS:
8 large eggs
2 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dark rum or brandy
1 baguette (1 pound), cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter

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DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, whisk eggs until combined. Whisk in milk, cream, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla bean, salt, and rum. Add bread and let soak 45 minutes to 1 hour, pushing bread down occasionally until most of liquid has been absorbed.

2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over high heat, stir together remaining 1 cup sugar, vinegar, and 1/2 cup water until sugar has dissolved. Cook, without stirring, until sugar is dark amber in color, 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and carefully add 1/4 cup water (mixture will sputter); swirl pot until combined.

3. Working quickly, pour caramel into a 9-inch round baking pan, carefully rotating the pan so caramel covers the bottom and some of the sides; set aside until cool.

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Put a kettle of water on to boil. Rub cooled pan with butter and spoon in bread mixture packing bread tightly to fit. Cover with a parchment round.

5. Place pan in a roasting pan and pour hot water to come halfway up the side of the pan. Bake 1 1/4 hours or until a knife inserted in the center comes out barely clean. Do not overbake. Let stand 5 minutes then run a metal spatula around the edges and invert the pudding onto a large rimmed plate.

Linzer Cookies

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Ingredients
(makes about 30 small-size cookies)
1 cup blanched or sliced almonds
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2/3 cup granulated white sugar, divided
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2large egg yolks
Zest of 1 lemon
Powdered sugar for dusting
1 cup seedless Raspberry Preserves

Directions
Place almonds in a food processor and process with 1/4 cup of the sugar from the recipe until finely ground. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, whisk or sift together the flour, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of your mixer, cream the butter and remaining sugar until light and fluffy (approximately 3 minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract, egg yolks, and lemon zest. Beat in the ground nuts. Add the flour mixture beating just until incorporated. Divide the dough in half and fill large freezer bags with it. Then roll it out in the bags. Refrigerate until firm (at least one hour and up to several days).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.

Remove one rectangle of dough from the refrigerator. On a lightly floured surface, cut the bags and roll out the dough between the plastic (this is only necessary if it is not yet only 1/4 inch thick). Using a cookie cutter (round, square, heart, etc.) cut out half the dough. Place the cookies about 1/2 inch apart on the prepared baking sheet. Use a smaller cookie cutter to cut out the the centers of half of the other half of the cookies. (You will be sandwiching two cookies together and there will be a small ‘window or cut out’ in the top cookie so you can see the jam underneath.)

Re-roll/refrigerate/cut any scraps of dough. Bake the cookies for 12-14 minutes or until they are very lightly browned. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool.

While the cookies are cooling place the raspberry jam in a small saucepan and heat gently until it has thickened slightly. Strain if there are any lumps in the jam. Let cool.

To Assemble Cookies: Place the cookies with the cut-outs on a wire rack and lightly dust the tops with the confectioners’ (powdered or icing) sugar.

On the bottom surface of the full cookie (top of cookie will face out) spread with about a 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of jam. Place the cut-out cookie on top and gently sandwich them together.

Note: You can store the unassembled cookies in the refrigerator for several days in an airtight container. It is best, though, to assemble the cookies the same day as serving in order to keep the cookies crisp.

Apple-Cheese-Lager Bread

INGREDIENTS
1 small Granny Smith apple, peeled
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/4 cups shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
1 (12-ounce) bottle Sam Adams lager, or a similar lager-style beer
2 tablespoons melted butter

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 375F degrees. Shred the apple, discarding the core. Squeeze the excess juice from the shredded apple so that it is barely moist.

Heat the olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and shredded apple to the pan and cook for 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the pepper and garlic and cook for 1 minute more.

In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, thyme, and cayenne. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the shallot mixture, cheese, and lager to the bowl, stirring until just combined.

Transfer the batter to a 9X5-inch loaf pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Drizzle the melted butter over the loaf and bake for 50-55 minutes, until the loaf is a deep golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean. Cool the loaf in the pan for 5 minutes and then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Feel free to substitute or get creative with this recipe - you could swap out the cheese for one you'd like better, omit the cayenne, or change up the beer to hard cider for example. Store your bread at room temperature, tightly wrapped, for up to two days.

Apple Crisp

INGREDIENTS
8 cups (about 9-10 medium) cored, peeled, and sliced cooking apples
2 Tablespoons lemon juice
2/3 cup flour
1 1/3 cup (packed) brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 cups quick oats
2/3 cup butter, softened

DIRECTIONS
1. Spread apple slices in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish. Sprinkle with lemon juice. (Skip lemon juice if apples are extremely tart.)

2. Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and oats. Add melted butter and mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples. Top with sunflower seeds if desired.

3. Bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until top is golden brown and apples test done.

Makes about 12 Servings.

Candy Corn Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS
Simple Buttercream
Cupcake Mix
1 Bag Candy Corn

DIRECTIONS
Using an offset spatula, frost the cupcakes with a generous amount of buttercream. Place 4-5 pieces of candy corn upright in the frosting.

Banana Bread with Walnuts (or pecans)

Banana Bread with Walnuts/Pecans: (from Carrie!)

INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
3 overripe bananas
1 cup sugar
¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¾ - 1 cup walnuts (or pecans)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat over to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 by 5 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, sift the flour, baking soda, and salt together; set aside.

In a mixer fitted with a wire whisk, whip the bananas and sugar together for a good 3 minutes; you want a light and fluffy banana cream. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla; beat well and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated; no need to overly blend. Fold in the nuts with a rubber spatula. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Give the pan a good rap on the counter.

Bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes – until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Don’t get nervous if the banana bread develops a crack down the center of the loaf; that’s no mistake. Rotate the pan halfway through cooking to ensure even browning.

Cool the bread in the pan for about 5 minutes, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

"Perfect" Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Yield: 12-24 cookies, depending on size.

INGREDIENTS
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
4 cups semisweet chunks (preferably imported).

DIRECTIONS
1. Place the butter in a large bowl and cream at high speed until fluffy. Add the sugars and beat until light and fluffy, about 4minutes, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until completely mixed.

2. In a separate bowl, mix flour, salt and baking soda. Add to the butter mixture at low speed until just combined and add vanillaextract. Beat on medium speed, scraping bowl down, until blended. Do not overmix.

3. Add chocolate chunks and mix till thoroughly combined. Refrigerate batter until cold, preferably overnight.

4. Preheat a conventional oven to 350 degrees or a convection oven to 300 degrees, and line several baking sheets with parchment paper. Drop heaping spoonfuls of batter 2 inches apart on the lined baking sheets and bake, turning tray once, until golden brown around edges and soft (but not bubbly), about 9 minutes in a convection oven or 12 in a conventional one. Cool on a wire rack.