TWD: Lots of Ways Banana Cake

I made this one a week early. Surprised? I know...especially since even though I did it so early, I'm only now making the post about it. Halfway through Tuesday, and my TWD is just now going up. It's appalling. I know.

But let's talk cake!

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie was chosen by Kimberly of Only Creative Opportunities. Be sure to check out her site for this yummy, moist recipe.

Easy Cinnamon Bread

Dun duh duh daaaa! The bread I promised! And on the day that I promised it! Is it bad that I'm so proud of myself?

TWD: Rum-Drenched Vanilla Cakes (minus the rum)

I turned these Rum-Drenched Vanilla Cakes into Vanilla-Drenched Vanilla Cakes because who doesn't like vanilla? Plus, I don't really mess around with alcohol. I find things are good without it, so why bother?

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie was chosen by Wendy of Pink Stripes. Check out her site for the recipe.

TWD: White Chocolate Brownies

I love raspberries. Seriously. They are by far my favorite fruit. They are so delicious, sweet, and tart. I could eat them every day if I could. When I first bought the book Baking from My Home to Yours, I spent hours poring over the pages, imagining what it would be like to make some of the recipes. I particularly remember oogling the picture associated with this recipe. White chocolate and raspberry. What a delicious and wonderful pairing. So when I saw that this was the recipe for this week, I was...what do they call it...drooling, I mean, excited.

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie was chosen by Marthe of Culinary Delights. Be sure to check her site for this yummy recipe.

So have I made it clear that I love raspberries?

Well guess what...no raspberries here. I cannot recall one time when I have ever seen them here. I was/am sooooo disappointed.

TWD: Apple-Apple Bread Pudding

I'm late, but I'm here. I'm actually finishing a two-week stay with my parents in Maryland, and being back in the US has been such a wonderful experience. I'm a little afraid of what my reaction will be when I get back, but we'll just have to see.

So back to the reason for the post. It's Tuesday!! This week's Tuesdays with Dorie was chosen by Elizabeth of Cake or Death? Be sure to check out her site for this yummy recipe.

Cocoa Brownies

I am always on the look out for easy, fast, but yummy dessert recipes because you just never know when the urge is going to hit or the need is going to arise for something sweet, and you don't always have time to wait for butter to soften.

Brownies from scratch are generally pretty easy to begin with, but I like this recipe because the main ingredient is cocoa rather than chocolate. Around here I can buy cocoa by the barrel load, but all my chocolate has to be bought in candy bar form with candy bar price. So needless to say, I have more cocoa laying around than chocolate.

TWD: Chocoblock Cookies

I'mmmm backkkkk!

I am so glad to be making this post right now. You don't know how much I've been missing baking and blogging. I would think of it often, but it would make me so sad to know that I was physically so worn out and nauseated to do it. But I managed to do it this week. And I'm so glad.

This week's Tuesday with Dorie was chosen by Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet. Be sure to check out her site for the recipe of these very interesting cookies. Lots of stuff in these cookies.

I've got an Announcement

Hello everyone!

I know it's been a while since I last posted, and some of you might be wondering why that is. I haven't been out of town or anything. But the reason why I haven't been keeping up lately is because...

TWD: Thumbprints for Us Big Guys

I wasn't sure if I was going to make it on this one.  I haven't been feeling too good lately, and I was a little skeptical that I would feel up to making these this week. But after some encouragement (read "get off your butt, honey"), I got up and made these.

This week's Tuesday with Dorie was chosen by Mike of Ugly Food Dude. Check out his site for the recipe.

TWD: Toasted-Coconut Custard Tart

Now doesn't that title just sound good. Now take a look. Yeah, you wish you had this tart.

I have to admit, at one time, I was not a fan of coconut. Why, I couldn't tell you because now I simply love the smell (and taste) of lightly toasted coconut. It rocks the house. And when you pair it with cool creamy custard, you really can't go wrong.

This week's Tuesday with Dorie was chosen by Beryl of Cinemon Girl. Be sure to check out her site for this great recipe.

DB: Tiramisu

I'm a little late and a little rushed, but here goes.


The February 2010 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen and Deeba of Passionate About Baking. They chose Tiramisu as the challenge for the month. Their challenge recipe is based on recipes from The Washington Post, Cordon Bleu at Home and Baking Obsession.

I'm finally back in Tripoli after two weeks stuck in Malta, and as a result, I didn't have much time for this multi-day challenge. But I pulled it off (sort of), so come check it out.

Black and White Squares Part I: Oreo Rice Krispies

Sorry I've been so long in posting. Ever since my last post (Feb 9) I have been in Malta trying to renew my visa for working in Libya. Every six months you have to leave the country to renew your visa. Usually this is a three or four day ordeal, but I have been here for two weeks now, and it doesn't look like we're going to get it any time soon. 


So...I haven't been able to bake, and it's been killing me. But instead of sulking, I decided to share with you something I baked earlier. It's easy and good, so here goes.

Twofer TWD: Milk Chocolate Mini Bundts and Rick Katz's Brownies for Julia

Lucky lucky you! You get two Tuesdays with Dorie for one! Yipee!

So let's start with last week: Last week's TWD was Milk Chocolate Mini Bundts chosen by Kristin of I'm Right About Everything. (Great blog title, huh?)

And this week: This week's TWD was Rick Katz's Brownies for Julia chosen by Tanya of Chocolatechic.

TWD: Cocoa-Nana Bread

I actually did this one early! Woo hoo!

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie was chosen by Steph of Obsessed with Baking.

Yeasted Cinnamon Rolls

I had made one of my goals in this post to make 12 yeasted items this year. And wouldn't you know it, I'm so getting right on those goals. Here's my first tick-mark on my goal list: yeasted cinnamon rolls.


Now, I must admit, I've made these before. But I never did stipulate that they had to be new recipes. A yeasted item is a yeasted item. Besides, I thought it would be wisest for my sanity to start with something easy when I am trying to tackle something I most definitely stink at.


This time was a little different, though, because this time I used instant yeast. I've never worked with instant yeast before, but I've read a little bit about it. Now bear with me, I'm going from memory here. Instant yeast is supposed to be a good thing because you don't have to wait for it to bubble up and get ready, it's ready instantly. Amazing, right? But the trick is that you have to mix the instant yeast with the flour first because...I'm not really sure, but I know you're supposed to do it. (Maybe someone can jog my memory.) Then you can mix things normally.

TWD: Chocolate Oatmeal Almost-Candy Bars

Yay! It's Tuesday! Not very early in Tuesday, but Tuesday nevertheless.

Chocolate Chip Blondies

I am an impatient girl.

TWD: Cocoa Buttermilk Cupcakes

It is okay if I let the T in TWD stand for Thursdays with Dorie?

Cashew Brittle

I'm not sure why, but I've been really learning to like nuts. I only just discovered cashews (and by that I mean I finally tried eating one), and they are surprisingly sweet. I was not expecting that. But they are, and they are pretty good.

Happy New Year!

I think the picture says it all, but Happy 2010!

Doesn't that seem like such a big number?

Anyways, with the beginning of the new year, I guess it's time for some New Year's Resolutions. So here goes for my blog this year:

• Bake 12 yeasted items.
• Make 12 savory items.
• Purposefully edit my pictures instead of posting as is.
• Make 12 highly decorated items.
• Attempt to make up one recipe on my own.
• Significantly modify 4 recipes to make them my own.
• Add cuter buttons and things to the look of my blog.
• Make 12 international items.

And I think I'll stop here before I commit to too much. I do have the habit of over-dreaming, just ask anyone. But I figure better to have the goals and not quite reach them than to have no motivation and do hardly anything.

So that's what I'm shooting for. I hope you'll stick around as I try to make them happen.