The Old Man is Snoring

It's a nice, cold, rainy day today, perfect for stayin' home and baking! So that's what I'mma doin'. I was suppose to be baking some "harvest" breads for a Halloween event, but the event is postponed. Instead of just sitting around doing nothing, I decided to continue with my baking plans, since, I should probably test recipes before I serve them to a stranger.

First recipe up:



Applesauce Bread
I ended up changing this recipe a bit, based on some of the comments people posted about the recipe.


Ingredients


1/2 c    unsalted butter, softened
1/4 c    dark brown sugar
1/8 c    sugar (white)
1 c       all purpose flour
1 c       whole wheat flour
1 tsp    baking powder
1 tsp    baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp    ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp    vanilla
1 c       unsweetened applesauce
2          large eggs


Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees F for dark pans). Grease and flour 8x4x3 in. pan.
2. Cream butter and sugars (brown and white). Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Do not over mix - a few white streaks are okay. Pour into pan and bake for 40-45 min..

Makes 2 loaves.

Other options

Add raisins, walnuts, or chopped apple! The recipe suggested 1 c raisins and 1/2 c chopped walnuts. I, instead, added about 1/2 c chopped honeycrisp apple for one loaf (I would do no more than 3/4 for the whole batch). To add any of these ingredients, fold in after other ingredients have been mix well.

Results!

Very moist and tender. Not too sweet, - 'cause it's not cake! - but just sweet enough. Doesn't have a lot of apple flavor, though. I don't experiment much in my baking, so I'm not sure how I would fix that...Perhaps somebody has an idea?

-----------------------

Second recipe:

Fudgy Bonbons

Not sure where this recipe originated, but I got it from my mother, who got it from her mother, who got it from her mother. I like to think of it as a family recipe. :)

Ingredients

Cookie dough

1 12 oz package of chocolate chips

1/4 c butter

1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

2 c flour

1/2 c finely chopped nuts

1 tsp vanilla

60 Hershey's Hugs (or any bite-sized chocolate candy)

Icing

2 oz white chocolate 

1 tsp shortening or oil

Instructions

Cookies:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Combine chocolate chips and butter and melt until smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk and mix well.
3. Add flour, nuts, and vanilla and mix well.
4. Shape 1 tbsp of dough around each Hug, rolling between hands to form ball. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 6-8 min. Cool on cookie sheet for 1-2 min, then place on wire cooling rack.

Icing:

1. In double boiler over low heat, melt white chocolate with oil.
2. Drizzle icing over cookies.

Serve warm for melt-y center! Makes 5 dozen cookies.

Results!

DELICIOUS cookies! They're extremely fudgy and rich. Definitely requires a glass of milk. 

----------------------

The house has such a nice, cozy feel and smell...it makes me wanna curl up with a book or a good movie  - with a cup'pa tea and a slice of bread! Yeahhhh sounds good. Toodles!