TWD - Vanilla Ice Cream

For this week's Tuesdays with Dorie, we're all screaming for ice cream! Lynne at Cafe Lynnylu chose this week's recipe...Dorie's vanilla ice cream. After chocolate my next favorite food is ice cream, but I've never tackled making it myself so I had to give this one a shot. It definitely does not disappoint! I recently purchased a countertop ice cream maker, & I've discovered that I'm going to have to be very careful...it's way too easy to whip up a batch of homemade ice cream with that puppy. My thighs are getting bigger just thinking about it!

The recipe was actually very simple to follow. I was a little scared about the whole custard making thing, but I didn't have a problem. (Thank goodness!) I did make a little addition as per Dorie's instructions...I added some cinnamon to the mix. I mean really who can resist cinnamon ice cream?! Not this girl! I had to stop myself from eating it all directly out of the ice cream maker because it was delicious. It's now hardening in the freezer, & I can't wait for it to be ready!


Getting ready to go into the freezer. (Before I annihilated half of it!)


Look at those gorgeous cinnamon specs!!

Head on over to Lynne's blog for the recipe & her awesome pictures. Also be sure to check out the rest of the TWD blogroll for everyone's delicious ice cream creations!

TWD Rewind - Tribute to Katherine Hepburn Brownies

I wasn't able to participate in TWD last week, but I really wanted to try these brownies so I decided to make them this week. Lisa of Surviving Oz designed a fabulous new logo for TWD, so she got the priviledge of choosing the recipe & posting it on her blog. Congrats!

This recipe was so amazingly simple to put together, & I got so lucky to have them turn out perfectly after the recommended baking time. (That's a first for me!) Of course they tasted wonderful...the perfect combo of gooey chocolateness. (Oh yes, I said chocolateness!) I think that this will probably be my go-to brownie recipe from now on!

See my little tester divot? Perfectly baked!!

Still warm...these two didn't survive long after this photo was taken.

Check out Lisa's blog for this recipe! Also head over to the TWD blogroll & visit Denise at Chez Us for this week's recipe...Brioche Plum Tart!

TWD - Cinnamon Squares

Another Tuesday, another yummy treat! This week Tracey of Tracey's Culinary Adventures chose Cinnamon Squares. Cinnamon you say? Oh how I love cinnamon! Every week I fall in love with what we make, & this was no exception. Cinnamon & chocolate in one dessert...I'm in! The layer of cinnamon, sugar, espresso & chocolate in the middle of these squares is so perfect. Plus the cake is moist & delicious. I had to bake mine about 15 minutes longer than the recipe called for, but I covered it with a foil tent for the extra time so it didn't dry out at all. The only issue I had was that I didn't have enough chocolate to do the frosting. (That's what I get for assuming I had enough. You know what they say when you assume...) I had enough to cover a little piece of it just so I could try it. The rest will just have to be gobbled up plain, but I'm sure that won't be an issue!!

Check out Tracey's blog for the recipe, & the TWD blogroll to see how everything turned out!

TWD - Chipster-Topped Brownies

This week Beth of Supplicious chose Chipster-Topped Brownies for the TWD selection. I've been making chocolate chip cookie brownie cupcakes for a while now, but I was super excited to try Dorie's recipe. I never would have thought that the combination of the two would be any good, but it is actually one of the best things I've ever tasted. We had a big cookout last night, so I figured that would be the perfect occasion for these beauts.

This recipe went together so well, & I didn't have any problem with the cookie dough sinking into the brownie mixture. I popped it in the oven, 55 minutes letter the tester came out exactly like it was supposed to, & everything looked great. I left them to cool for several hours & then turned them out to cut into bars. That's where it all went to bad...I cut the first row & everything looked great, but after I cut the next row the entire middle oozed out. They weren't done...not at all. The middle was still completely raw & uncooked, so I had to trash the whole thing. Needless to say I was absolutely disappointed, but I think I will definitely give this recipe another try in the future.

I did manage to snap a pic while everything was still in the pan & looking oh so delicious. Ahh if only...

Check out the TWD blogroll to see everyone's brownies that actually turned out wonderfully, & take a peek at Beth's blog for the recipe!

TWD - Fresh Mango Bread

Ahhhh finallly back into the swing of TWD! Things have been so busy lately. This week's selection (Fresh Mango Bread) came from Kelly of Baking with the Boys. I was worried that I was going to have trouble finding mangos at my local grocery store, but I was in luck...they had a pretty good selection for once! This bread was so quick & easy to put together, & it smelled so good baking in the oven.

The only tweak I did on this recipe was leaving the raisins out...I absolutely hate cooked raisins. I love the spice in this cake, & the mango flavor. The middle sunk in a little bit so I was concerned that it was undercooked, but it was actually just right.

I will definitely be making this again!

(Forgive the horrible photo this week...my camera battery is still dead because I can't find the damn charger. Ugh!)



Check out Kelly's blog for the recipe & the TWD blogroll for everyone's bread!

Hello My Name is Ashley & I'm a Slacker

I hate to admit this, but I have been a complete & total lazy ass this past week. I procrastinated so much that I never got around to making the amazing tiramisu cake for TWD. I promise I'll be back next week...I'm so excited about this month's recipes!



Check out the TWD blogroll for everyone's gorgeous cakes, & Megan's blog at My Baking Adventures for the recipe!

TWD - Chocolate Cream Tart (Minus Pictures)

Woot woot! I'm finally back in the swing of all things TWD. This week Kim of Scrumptious Photography chose Dorie's Chocolate Cream Tart. As we all know, chocolate is a food group for me, so I love love love this tart! So creamy & chocolaty & delicious! I chose a really nice bittersweet chocolate for this recipe because I figure either go big or go home. I had a hard time not eating the chocolate cream all by itself. (Okay so I ate a little, but shhhhh.)

Sadly I'm a ditz & failed to realize that my camera battery was dead until it was too late. No pictures for me this go round. Boo. :-(

Hop on over to the TWD blogroll for everyone else's drool-inducing pictures, & check out Kim's blog for the recipe!

No TWD

I spent my entire weekend on a mini vacay, so no TWD this week either. I'll be back in full swing next week!!!

No TWD

No TWD for me this time around. I have been absolutely positively swamped!!

TWD - Banana Cream Pie

I made a pie! I made a freaking pie! I have never in my short baking career attempted a pie...they scare the pee out of me. But this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection was chosen by Amy of Sing for your Supper, & she chose Banana Cream Pie. Eek! I knew that I had to at least attempt it or I wouldn't be happy. It actually worked out great...I'm so proud of myself! It wasn't at all difficult to make, & the end result was oh so yummy. I love the addition of cinnamon & nutmeg in this; it's just delicious. Another winner!!

Check out Amy's blog for the recipe, & the TWD blogroll for everyone else's beautiful pies!

TWD - Coconut Butter Thins

This week's TWD recipe was chosen by Jayne of The Barefoot Kitchen Witch. She chose Coconut Butter Thins, & I must say these cookies are delicious. I love shortbreads & butter cookies, so this one was right up my alley. I decided to take these with me to work to share with everyone, & I think I've lost count of how many I actually ate today. Oh well...totally worth it!

Check out Jayne's blog for the recipe, & the TWD blogroll for everyone else's cookies!

TWD - Blueberry Crumb Cake

I am so so so so SO excited to be a member of Tuesdays with Dorie!! I have been following this fabulous group of bloggers for quite a while now, & last week they opened membership for one day only. I jumped at the chance, so this is my first TWD entry! Woot!!

Sihan of Befuddlement chose Dorie's Blueberry Crumb Cake as this week's recipe. I'm a huge fan of all things blueberry, so I was super excited that this got to be my first TWD recipe. It was so easy to put together & turned out beautifully. A lot of people seemed to have problems with a pool of butter in the middle of the cake, & I did too. Not a problem though...just a little extra dab of butter goodness for whoever got the middle piece. (Which was me...oh yeah!) Mom, Dad, & I all had a piece last night for dessert, & the rest went with Mom to work today.

Check out the TWD blogroll for everyone else's creations, & Sihan's blog for the recipe!