[chocomouse]

Nice looking pie, Len. And a perfectly formed pi, too!
Yesterday was a baking marathon for me. I made the Chewy Semolina Rye bread and the 100% whole wheat bread for the bread machine that were in recent KAF catalogues. Both were mixed and kneaded in the abm, but shaped and baked in cast iron bread pans. The only substitution I made was to use Rye Bread Improver instead of the Vital Wheat Gluten. I highly recommend both recipes -- they rose very high, good oven spring, great crumb and taste. Then, I made a blueberry lemon cake from NatashasKitchen.com. I subbed Lemon Juice Powder for the lemon zest and juice. The flavor and texture are great. The outer inch or so was overcooked, so if I make it again I'll cut the baking temperature back to 350 and start checking for doneness at 40 minutes. I'd never heard of tossing the berries with cornstarch so they don't sink to the bottom of the cake, and that trick worked well, with no noticeable change in texture; I'll use cornstarch in the future instead of the usual flour.

[chocomouse]

BakerAunt, I haven't yet tried the cinnamon bits that KAF carries, and they had none in the store today. TI did see an apple pie flavor bit. If they are anything like their other "jammy" bits, forget it! I've tried several including the blueberry and the lemon -- no flavor, rubbery. I think the Prepared Pantry does still carry them. I too have a couple packages saved in the fridge. I hate having to be so organized that I plan and order ahead! Maple Cinnamon scones are a standard around here -- something quick when you need a baked good to share.

[chocomouse]

I found my recipe, but also googled cinnamon chips. Here's a website I think I got my recipe from:
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/242206/homemade-cinnamon-chips/

Also, I found a cappuccino chips recipe:
themondaybox.com/2013/08/cappuccino-chip-fudge-cookies/

Not sure how great either of the recipes will be, but it might be worth a try!

[chocomouse]

I can't find cinnamon chips any place local now, although Hershey's cinnamon chips are listed as stocked in several of the grocery stores (and the clerks/stockers have no idea why there are none on the shelves or in the warehouse). But I did find a recipe for how to make your own cinnamon chips. I wonder if that could be adapted to make cappuccino? I'll see if I can find the recipe. Or, you could google "DIY cinnamon chips". Also, I was in the KAF store this afternoon, and looked again for their cinnamon chips -- not to be found. I didn't ask, although I was the only person in the store, aside from the three clerks. There was a nor'easter blowing around outside - the best time to shop!

[chocomouse]

I made mushroom soup today, using a copycat recipe from Souplantation restaurants. It's my favorite and quick to make. With another nor'easter coming in tonight and tomorrow, we'll be living on mushroom soup and turkey sandwiches. This is our third major storm in about 7-10 days, although this one is predicted to drop only 10-15 inches, which is considerably less than the 18 we got from the last one.

[chocomouse]

Yesterday I made the Crusty Loaves from KAF. I've made them several times previously and they are very good. However, I'd recently seen a baking site where the blogger added chopped green olives before rolling up the dough, and thought this would be tasty. I had some Gruyere-Cheddar from Trader Joe's in the freezer, a perfect match with olives. I cut the salt to less than a 1/2 teaspoon, due to the saltiness of the olives and cheddar. They rose much higher than my earlier batches, I would assume due to the lower amount of salt.

Today I made the Sour Cream Coffee Cake, a Goodness mix from KAF. If you're not familiar with those mixes, KAF donates to a foodbank for every mix sold, and the price of a mix is only 3.99, compared to their more typical 6.95 mixes. I love this particular mix, and there are days when I just don't want to stand at the counter measuring out ingredients. I don't care for the Lemon Bars or the Cheesecake - I can make those so much better from scratch. The cinnamon muffins are good. I also made two loaves of buttermilk oatmeal whole wheat bread.

[chocomouse]

We had roast turkey, dressing, baked potato, and squash. Now we'll be eating turkey sandwiches for a few days.

[chocomouse]

I made clam chowder for dinner. It is snowing quite heavy now, and we are predicted to get 12-18 inches by the time the storm ends tomorrow night. I had leftover hamburg-macaroni soup for lunch. It's soup weather!

[chocomouse]

I baked chewy molasses cookies.

[chocomouse]

I've never roasted a chicken! But I think it's time I tried. I guess it would be much like roasting a turkey, but I would serve different vegetables from those traditionally served with turkey. And, I would try cooking the veggies under and around the chicken. I have done that with chicken thighs or breasts in the tagine, with potatoes, carrots, onions, and brussel sprouts. I'll look for a chicken on my grocery shopping trip. You all are such enablers, it's wonderful!

[chocomouse]

I didn't use a recipe - just a standard basic bread formula of a cup of water, plus added a couple of tablespoons to get the right consistency, a couple tablespoons of olive oil, 2 cups of AP and 1 cup of WW flour, a little salt, a tablespoon of sugar. They were fine. I rarely make hot dog buns, and would usually use Moomie's bun recipe, but I was in a hurry.

[chocomouse]

Yesterday I made hot dog buns for dinner - brats with sauteed peppers and onions.

[chocomouse]

I made a large farfalle salad, with spinach, feta, red onion, black olives and Ranch dressing to take to BookClub tonight. A fun evening out with friends, wine, and good food before the Nor'easter moves in sometime after midnight.

[chocomouse]

A wonderful story, Wonky. Thanks for sharing. Treasure that time with your sister.

[chocomouse]

I posted about what I cooked for dinner on the baking forum. So here's what I baked today: breakfast cookies! with craisins, white chocolate chips, coconut, oatmeal, and maple syrup.

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