FRUITCAKE

Although I realize Fruitcake is maligned the world over, it remains one of my favorite Christmas traditions, although not one recognized every year, nor celebrated by the rest of my family. I aspire to bake a moist, dense delicious cake, reminiscent of my Childhood treats - although to be honest, I was in College before I could fully appreciate the beauty of fruit in a cake.

FRUITCAKE

2 cups brown sugar
3 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking soda
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons ground cloves
2 tablespoons allspice
2 tablespoons nutmeg
4 eggs
2 tablespoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons vanilla extract
1/2 cup brandy
1 1/2 cups raisins
1 1/2 cups chopped nuts
1 1/2 cups dried mixed fruit
1 1/2 cups butter, melted
1 3/4 cups brandy

Heat oven to 225F.
Grease and flour a tube pan.
In a large bowl, combine sugar, flour, soda, spices, eggs, lemon rind, vanilla, 1/2 cup brandy, fruit, nuts and melted butter. Mix thoroughly, and pour into prepared pan.
Bake for 1 hour, or until a tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool on a wire rack.
Wrap cooled cake in foil. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of brandy over the cake every day for 2 weeks.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from The Morning News, December 2005

APPLE BUTTERSCOTCH OAT BARS

We were invited to a friends house for dinner, where the kids had so much fun playing outside, they had to remove their mud encrusted garments, and attire themselves in borrowed clothes, so they could venture inside to eat.
When I returned the freshly laundered clothes, I included these Apple Butterscotch Oat Bars, in the hopes we would be welcome back - perhaps on a day when there weren't so many puddles in the yard.

APPLE BUTTERSCOTCH OAT BARS

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups quick cooking oats
1 apple, cored, peeled and finely chopped
1 3/4 cups butterscotch baking chips

Heat oven to 350F.
Grease a 13 by 9 inch baking pan.
In a large bowl, beat butter and sugars together until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.
In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating on low until just combined. Stir in oats, apple and butterscotch chips. Spread mixture evenly in prepared pan. Bake for 35 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool completely in a pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, September 2005
www.arkansasonline.com/news/features/food/‎

PUMPKIN AND MOLASSES MUFFINS and PUMPKIN PIE MUFFINS

A pair of perfectly pleasant pumpkin muffin recipes.

PUMPKIN AND MOLASSES MUFFINS

2 cups flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
45 grams butter
3 tablespoons molasses
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup cooked, mashed pumpkin
pumpkin seeds

Heat oven to 375F.
Combine flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon in a large bowl. Place butter, molasses, sugar and buttermilk in a pan and warm to melt butter. Whisk into pumpkin and pour into dry ingredients. Mix quickly until just combined, and spoon into greased or lined muffin tins. Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds and bake 18 to 20 minutes until just firm on top. Turn on to rack to cool.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from New Zealand House and Garden
www.nzhouseandgarden.co.nz/

PUMPKIN PIE MUFFINS

cooking spray
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons molasses
1/4 cup canola oil
2 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup buttermilk

Heat oven to 400F. Coat a 12 cup muffin pan with cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and spices.
In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, molasses, oil, and one of the eggs until combined. Add the other egg and whisk well.
Whisk in the pumpkin and vanilla. Stir in the flour mixture in two batches, alternating with the buttermilk, just until combined. Pour the batter into the prepared muffin pan, filling each one about 2/3rds full.
Tap the pan on the counter a few times to remove any air bubbles. Bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center of one of the muffins comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from USA Weekend, November 2012
www.usaweekend.com/section/FOOD04/Recipe-Archive‎

BLUEBERRY ZUCCHINI BREAD

I am fortunate to have the most incredible women in my life - friends and family, near and far, old and new!

The saying is "it takes a village" - I believe not only to raise a child, but also to enable a woman to reach her full potential and live her best life.

The women in my life lift me up, keep me grounded, support me in good and bad, give me love, lend me their ears and shoulders, guide me, advise me, accept me, watch my children and my back.

There are many in my "village", each one bringing her own individuality, to encompass all parts of life, even during the hurtful times. It is then I believe the most valuable lessons can be learned, and the most personal growth achieved.

I made this Blueberry Zucchini Bread one morning for a friend who came to the house to give me a makeover, I felt beautiful and confident when she had finished. The "pretty" in my village.

BLUEBERRY ZUCCHINI BREAD

2 cups flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 eggs
3/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups shredded zucchini
1 cup blueberries

Heat oven to 350F. Lightly coat the bottom of 8 4-inch mini loaf pans, or 1 9-inch pan with cooking spray, set aside.
In a large bowl combine flour, sugars, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and baking powder, set aside. In another bowl, mix eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Add to flour mixture and stir until combined. Gently stir in zucchini and then blueberries.
Spoon batter into prepared pans. Bake about 20 to 25 minutes for mini pans, or about 1 hour for larger pan, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of each comes out clean. Allow to cool in pan 10 minutes before removing. Serve warm or let cool completely before slicing.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Parents, May 2011
www.parents.com › The Latest from Parents Magazine

BUTTERSCOTCH MARBLE BLONDIE DROPS and CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES and BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE BLONDIES and CHOCOLATE COFFEE TOFFEE OATMEAL COOKIES

I am always looking for an excuse to bake, and love to share my cooking with friends. It's one way to show my fondness and affection for the lovely people in my life, and its less for me to have around the house to indulge in.
When a friend thought of the perfect book to lend me, I returned her copy with Butterscotch Marble Blondie Drops, when our neighbors moved out of town, I baked them Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies for the long car ride, when a friend invited us over for a play date, I arrived with Blueberry Cheesecake Blondies, when I hosted friends for lunch, I served Chocolate Coffee Toffee Oatmeal Cookies. There really must be a baked good for every occasion.

BUTTERSCOTCH MARBLE BLONDIE DROPS

4 ounces of semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 eggs

Heat oven to 350F.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
Melt chocolate in the microwave, or over a double boiler.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl, set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter, brown sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add the eggs and mix until blended.
On low speed, add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated.
Drop tablespoons of dough 3 inches apart on the baking sheets.
Drizzle about 1/2 teaspoon of the melted chocolate over the top of each cookie. Using a small sharp knife, gently swirl the chocolate to marbleize it.
Bake 1 sheet of cookies at a time for 10 minutes, or until the tops feel soft but set and the edges are lightly browned. Cool the cookies on the baking sheets for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from The Morning News, August 2005

CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

125 grams of butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup of flour
1/4 cup of cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Stir butter and sugar together in a bowl, don't over mix. Stir in the egg.
Add dry ingredients and mix to combine. Stir in chocolate chips. Chill for 1 hour.
Heat oven to 180C. Line 2 oven trays with baking paper.
Place tablespoonfuls onto oven trays, leaving space for cookies to expand. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden.
Cool on trays.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Next magazine, September 2011

BLUEBERRY CHEESECAKE BLONDIES

1 1/2 cups flour
pinch ground cinnamon
1/2 cup sugar
6 ounces of cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 batch of Fresh Blueberry Jam (recipe follows)

Heat oven to 350F.
Coat a 9 inch square baking pan with cooking spray or with butter and flour.
In a bowl, stir together the flour, cinnamon and sugar. Beat in cream cheese and vanilla until thoroughly combined.
Beat in egg yolk, mixing until combined, set aside.
In a saucepan over low heat, melt butter and white chocolate chips together, stirring constantly until smooth.
Stir melted mixture into cream cheese mixture and mix well.
Transfer to a prepared pan and spread into an even layer. Spread blueberry jam over batter.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until edges are golden brown and center is set.
FRESH BLUEBERRY JAM
1 cup blueberries
2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
1 teaspoon of corn starch

Mash berries, using the back of a spoon, until coarsely mashed. Add sugar and lemon juice and mix well, taste and adjust sugar and lemon juice as necessary. Add cornstarch mixed with a little water.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, June 2010
www.arkansasonline.com/news/features/food/‎

CHOCOLATE COFFEE TOFFEE OATMEAL COOKIES

1/4 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon instant coffee powder
1 1/3 cups brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups oats
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 (8 ounce) package milk chocolate toffee bits
3/4 cups chocolate chips
3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350F.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Dissolve coffee in boiling water, cool to room temperature.
In a large bowl, beat sugar and vegetable oil spread on medium speed of electric mixer until creamy. Add egg, beat well. Beat in coffee and vanilla. Combine oats, flour, slat and baking soda, mix well. Gradually add to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Stir in toffee bits and both chocolate chips.
Drop dough by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto cookie sheets, bake 8 to 10 minutes just until golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets, transfer to wire racks, cool completely.
Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from The Morning News, October 2004