Mexican Lasagna

A twist on an old favorite, this recipe for Mexican Lasagna layers enchilada sauce, corn tortillas, refried beans, vegetables, and cheese that reaches ooey gooey levels of deliciousness as it bakes in your oven. Enjoy it with some fresh cilantro or a dollop of guacamole and a glass of sangria (this one or this one would do nicely) for a dinner you won't soon forget!

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups enchilada sauce (jarred, canned, or homemade)
• 18-20 6-inch corn tortillas
• 1 can refried pinto beans, with or without chiles/jalapeños/salsa-style/etc. depending on your taste
• 1 can refried black beans, with or without chiles/jalapeños/salsa-style/etc. depending on your taste
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced
• 1-3 jalapeños, minced: Use one for a mild lasagna... more to add heat!
• 1 large yellow onion, diced
• 4 cups shredded cheddar or "mexican blend" cheese
• cilantro or guacamole for garnish

To Make

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Blend the two cans of refried beans using a spoon or food processor. Add a little water if necessary to make them more spreadable.
3. Combine the tomatoes, jalapeños, and onions in a bowl.
4. Coat the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish with enchilada sauce. 
5. Add a layer of tortillas.
6. For the next layer, spread half of the beans over the tortillas. 
7. Spoon half of your vegetables on top of the beans.
8. Sprinkle on a layer of cheese.
9. Add a second layer of tortillas. 
10. Coat the tortillas with more enchilada sauce. 
11. Spread the remaining beans on top of the sauce. It's okay if they blend a little bit.
12. Distribute the rest of the vegetables and another coating of cheese on top of the second bean layer.
13. Finish off with a final layer of tortillas, the rest of your sauce, and the last of the shredded cheese. 
14. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until golden brown and bubbling.
15. Allow the lasagna to set up for at least 10-15 minutes after removing from the oven to avoid a runny dinner plate.

Oven Roasted Chickpeas

Feel like a crunchy snack, but not in the mood to break out the chips and crackers? I love roasting chickpeas. There's a nice protein punch in this snack, and you get to customize your spices to boot!

Ingredients

• 1 15.5 ounce can of chickpeas
• 1 TBSP olive oil
• Your spices of choice (about 2-3 tsp total). Sky's the limit, so be creative and pick flavors you like. I like using:
• kosher salt and cayenne pepper
• garlic salt
• parsley and paprika

To Make

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Rinse chickpeas thoroughly, and allow to drain.
3. Spread the chickpeas out in one layer on a cookie sheet and bake for 20-40 minutes, until golden and crunchy.
4. While they're still warm, toss the chickpeas in the olive oil, then stir in your spices.

Stuffed Peppers

Summertime is here, and peppers are in season. What to do? What to do? There's always tossing them into a cold salad or a morning omelet, but when you feel like something heartier, try stuffing them full of tasty brown rice, beans, vegetables, cheese, and spices.

INGREDIENTS

- 6 large bell peppers, any color... tops and seeds removed

- 2 cups cooked brown rice

- 4 medium tomatoes, chopped

- 1 small/medium sweet onion, diced

- 6 cloves garlic, diced small

- 1 cup cheese shredded (cheddar, monterey jack, parmesan, etc.), plus a little extra

- 1/2 cup red kidney beans

- 1/2 cup black beans

- 1 TBSP dried basil

- salt and pepper to taste

- 1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

- 3/4 cup pasta sauce

- 1 cup vegetable broth

HOW TO PREPARE

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Sauté onions and garlic in olive oil until lightly browned.
3. In a small bowl, combine the vegetable broth and pasta sauce.
4. In a large mixing bowl, combine the rice, tomatoes, cooked onions and garlic, cheese, beans, and spices. 
5. Arrange the peppers, hollowed side up, in a baking dish.
6. Spoon the mixture from the large bowl into the peppers.
7. Poor the sauce and broth into the bottom of the pan, and sprinkle a little extra cheese on top of the peppers.  
8. Bake peppers for 30-40 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and bubbly and the peppers are tender when poked with a fork.

Salmon and Lentils

Okay, so from a vegetarian perspective this recipe could totally be Lentils and Salmon. I ate the lentils as a main dish, and had the salmon ready as a "side" for the much-loved omnivores in my life. I'm no expert when it comes to meat, but all in all this dish turned out pretty well. The original recipe is from the Good Housekeeping cookbook- I didn't have fresh tarragon on hand and used dried rosemary instead without any problems.

Ingredients
- 1 cup lentils, rinsed and picked through
- 2 1/4 cups water
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 pieces (6 ounces each) salmon fillet with skin
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/8 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1  lemon
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 4 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
- 1 tablespoon butter or margarine
- 1/4 cup finely chopped shallots
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

How To Cook It
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In 2-quart saucepan, combine lentils, water, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; heat to boiling over high heat. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until lentils are tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain.
2) Meanwhile, grease 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish. With tweezers, remove any bones from salmon. Arrange fillets in single layer in prepared baking dish. Rub with 1 teaspoon oil and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bake until fish is just opaque throughout, 15 to 20 minutes.
3) While salmon is baking, prepare dressing: From lemon, grate 1/2 teaspoon peel and squeeze 2 tablespoons juice. In small bowl, with wire whisk, whisk together lemon juice, mustard, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Gradually whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons oil, then stir in 2 teaspoons tarragon.
4) In 10-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in lentils, lemon peel, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Remove from heat and stir in parsley and remaining 2 teaspoons tarragon. Spread lentil mixture on platter. Arrange salmon on top of lentils and spoon dressing over salmon.

Vegetable Wellington

This one is all thanks to the folks over at the Vegetarian Times. Who says that vegetarians can't enjoy a good Wellington every now and then?

Ingredients
1 TBSP olive oil
1 pound asparagus, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
2 medium red bell peppers, cut into thin strips
1 medium onion, thinly sliced (1 1/2 cups)
1 5 ounce. package baby spinach leaves
1 10 ounce log goat cheese (I successfully -and deliciously- used ricotta instead)
1 4 ounce jar prepared pesto sauce
1 large egg
1 17.3 ounce package frozen puff pastry, thawed
1 16 ounce jar prepared tomato sauce

How To Cook It
1) Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Add asparagus, bell peppers, and onion, and sauté 5 to 10 minutes, or until vegetables begin to soften. Add spinach, remove from heat, and stir until spinach wilts. Stir in pesto. Cool.
2) Whisk egg in bowl, and set aside. Cut 15 x 10 inch piece of parchment paper, and set on work surface. Place 1 sheet puff pastry on parchment paper. Lift parchment with puff pastry, and place parchment side down in 9-inch loaf pan. Press pastry into pan, being careful not to let folds get caught in parchment and allowing excess parchment and pastry to hang over sides. Cut squares from second puff pastry sheet, and press onto short sides of parchment-covered pan to make dough shell. Prick bottom of puff pastry all over with fork.
3) Spread cheese over bottom of puff pastry. Top with asparagus mixture. Fold excess puff pastry over vegetables, and brush edges with egg.
4) Cut 9 1/2 x 5 1/2 inch piece of puff pastry from remaining sheet. Set on top of asparagus mixture, pressing to seal edges. Refrigerate 30 minutes, along with unused pastry scraps and egg.
5) Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit, and place oven rack on second lowest level. Brush top of Wellington with egg, and poke 2 or 3 holes in top. Cut decorative pieces (leaves and stems, etc.) from remaining pastry, press onto top of Wellington, and brush with egg. Use tip of small knife to score top and decorations with additional touches.
6) Bake Wellington 15 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and bake 45 minutes more. Cool 15 minutes.
7) Use parchment to lift Wellington from loaf pan. Remove parchment, and transfer Wellington to flat serving plate. Slice, and serve with tomato sauce.

Note: I didn't have parchment paper on hand, so I used foil instead without any issues.

Flan

Making and sharing family recipes is one of my favorite things to do! Flan and I go way back too... My Nana used to make it on special occasions, and I'm currently kicking myself for not making it sooner. I remember thinking as a little girl that the caremelized sugar had a taste reminiscent of maple syrup.

The ingredients list is short and inexpensive. Eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla are pretty standard items in my kitchen. What about yours? Just add a little heat on the stove and in the oven, followed by some chill time in your 'fridge, and you'll be greeted by deliciousness when your flan evacuates the pan.

Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- 4 cups whole milk
- 6 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla

How To Make It
1) Melt one cup of the sugar over low heat in a small pan/saucepan. Don't stir, as stirring promotes the formation of sugar crystals.
2) Remove the sugar from the heat when it is just turning golden brown. Use the hot sugar (careful!!) to coat the bottom and sides of a tube or bundt pan. It will sugar will continue to cook even after you remove it from the heat, so remove sooner rather than later to avoid burning.
3) Heat your milk until the boiling point, then remove from the stove. This is known as "scalding" milk. Add the second cup of sugar and stir until both are mixed.
4) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
5) Take two eggs, separate out the yolks, and toss the whites and shells.
6) Whisk the remaining for (whole) eggs with the two yolks.
7) Gradually pour the hot milk/sugar mixture into the eggs in a slow stream, whisking all the while so that the eggs don't cook.
8) Stir in the vanilla.
9) Pour the egg mixture through a fine mesh strainer for a nice silky custard base, then pour into the bundt pan to cover the sugar.
10) Put the bundt pan in a larger baking pan/casserole dish. Pour hot/boiling water into the outer dish until it is at a level that's at least halfway up the flan.
11) Bake until flan is set in the center, about 45 minutes to an hour, keeping the water level up the whole time.
12) Cool all day or overnight in the refrigerator before sliding a knife around the edges and turning upside down onto a plate or platter.

Mushroom Potpie

Sometimes I see a recipe in a magazine and just have to try it. I literally feel compelled to make sure I have all the ingredients on hand so that I can prepare and try it out as soon as possible. When I read over the Mushroom Potpie recipe in the November 2011 issue of Real Simple, I knew it would become a favorite.

Ingredients
- 2 TBSP olive oil
- 1 1/2 pounds mushrooms (such as cremini or button), halved, or quartered if large
- 4 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 celery stalks, sliced 1/4-inch thick
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
- 1/3 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 1 sheet puff pastry (half of a 17.3 ounce package), thawed

How To Make It
1) Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, carrots, celery, onion, thyme, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender, 12 to 15 minutes.
3) Add the flour and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the broth and peas; bring to a boil.
4) Transfer the mushroom mixture into an 8-inch square baking dish. Lay the pastry on top and cut several vents in it.
5) Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until crust is golden, 25-30 minutes. Let rest 15 minutes before serving.

Occupy Your Oven: A Story Of The People's Cinnamon Bread And Kitchen Activism

I love being a stay at home mama! My son is almost two years old, and I'm in that phase of life where my daily schedule still revolves around Gavin's sleep. When he naps, we're home. A couple hours before bedtime, we're home.

So, when the Occupy Wall Street movement was born I was feeling somewhat limited. In my college days, I would have frequented Zuccotti Park when I wasn't in class. Activism with a toddler in tow-- a little more subtle in my case. I can't see taping a sign on my son; I'd rather wait until Gavin is old enough to decide to come with me (and bring his own sign) or stay home.

When you find a cause, there are ways to get involved. Even if you're not at the heart of it all, you can do anything from stuff envelopes, to make phone calls, to knit warm clothing, to deliver supplies.

In this case, I decided to add raisins to my Cinnamon Bread recipe and deliver four freshly baked loaves to the folks camped out in downtown NYC. To make your own Cinnamon Raisin Bread simply soak 1 cup raisins in water after you feed your starter, then drain, pat dry, and add to bread dough when mixing. If your dough is too wet as a result, add more flour until you reach your desired dough consistency. Go forth and feed the people who need feeding! I've come to call myself a kitchen activist. When I see a need, I cook, I bake, and I deliver. You can do the same! Get out there and feed your movement!!

Glazed Lemon Cookies

My brother-in-law is getting married next weekend and having a cookie reception after the ceremony. Family from across the country are bringing dozens of cookies to share. Tasty variety will abound! I baked up a batch of Glazed Lemon Cookies (recipe from Real Simple magazine). The cookie itself has a taste similar to a sugar cookie with a satisfying snap, and the lemon glaze adds a refreshing tang to the mix.

Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 2 cups all purpose flour (The cookie dough should be about the consistency of play-dough, add a little flour at a time until it's at this consistency when you press a couple pieces together.)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 TBSP fresh lemon juice, plus more if necessary
- 1 tsp grated lemon zest

How To Bake Them
1) With an electric mixer, beat the butter and granulated sugar until fluffy. Add the egg yolks, vanilla, and salt and beat to combine. Gradually add the flour, mixing until just incorporated.
2) Divide the dough in half and shape into 1 1/4-inch-diameter logs. Wrap in wax paper or plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
3) Heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the logs into 3/8-inch-thick pieces and space them 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
4) Bake until lightly golden, 16 to 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.
5) In a small bowl, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, and zest until it forms a thick but pourable glaze (add more lemon juice if necessary). Dip the top of each cookie into the glaze and let set, about 15 minutes.

Note: Instead of refrigerating the dough, you can freeze the logs from Step 2 for up to two months. To bake, follow the recipe instructions, cutting and baking the dough from frozen, and use the upper end of the time range.

Nana's Refrigerator Rolls Version 2.0

I have fond memories of eating dinner rolls (probably too many for my own good) around the table at Nana's home. The original recipe used only white flour and called for margarine, but I've altered it to include whole grains and butter. That doesn't make this side a health food, but it adds nutritional value and additional depth to the flavor. Happy baking!

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 TBSP yeast
- 1 TBSP salt
- 1 1/2 cups wheat flour
- 4 1/2 cups white flour
- 1/2 cup flax seed meal
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 2 cups water
- 1 egg

How To Make Them
Notes: 

• You'll need to make the dough for these at least 4 1/2 hours before serving, but it can keep in the refrigerator for about 3 days.
• You can make this dough by hand, but I prefer to use a stand mixer with a dough hook so the instructions are written with that in mind.

1) Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl on a stand mixer.
2) On your stove, heat the water in a saucepan and melt the butter in the water.
3) Whip the egg and mix into the flour.
4) Add the warm liquid (not too hot, or you'll kill the yeast to the bowl and scramble your egg) and set your mixer on low speed until you have a smooth and elastic dough.
5) Move dough to an oiled bowl, lightly brush the top of the dough with oil, cover and let rise until doubled. The time this takes is dependent on the temperature and draftiness of your home, but it typically takes me about 1 1/2 hours.
6) Punch dough down. Now, you can shape the dough into rolls or cover tightly and put in the 'fridge.
7) If you've chosen the latter, remove the dough about 2 1/2 - 3 hours before serving. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
8) Form dough into any desired shape and drop into greased muffin pans. I like rolling three little balls and pressing them together like my Nana did; after baking they pull apart wonderfully for easy dipping. Cover and let raise until doubled.
9) Bake your rolls 15-20 minutes until golden.
10) Melt a little additional butter to brush on top of the baked rolls before serving if desired.

Chili Pie

The start of football season coincides with the beginning of chili season in our home. It doesn't get better than crusty, homemade bread or freshly baked cornbread on the side. This recipe combines the two for a quick and easy dinner that makes a great meal whether you're having guests over, a casual game day, or a combination of the two. It's based on the recipe found in the 2002 edition of Practical Vegetarian Cookery. If you're lacking fresh tomatoes, corn, and dried beans, simply substitute one drained and rinsed can of each for the filling ingredients listed below.

Ingredients

For The Filling You'll Need...
- 1 TBSP vegetable oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 bell peppers (one red, one green), seeded and diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1-2 tomatoes, diced
- 1 1/2 cups corn
- 1 1/2 cups cooked kidney beans
- 2 TBSP fresh cilantro, chopped + plus a little extra to garnish
- salt and pepper, to taste

For The Cornbread Topping You'll Need...
- 2/3 cup cornmeal
- 1 TBSP all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 egg, beaten
- 6 TBSP whole milk
- 1 TBSP vegetable oil
- 1 cup of your favorite sharp cheese, shredded

How To Cook It
1) Heat 1 TBSP of oil in a large skillet and gently fry the garlic, peppers, and celery for about five minutes until they're just softened.
2) Stir in the spices (salt, pepper, and chili pepper), tomatoes, corn, and beans. Bring all to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for ten minutes. Add the cilantro.
3) Spoon all into an ovenproof dish and set aside.
4) Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
5) Mix the dry topping ingredients (cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt). Once well combined, add the egg, milk, and oil. Stir until just moistened.
6) Use a spatula to evenly cover your chili filling with the cornbread batter.
7) Bake the Chili Pie for about 30 minutes, or until golden and firm.
8) Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Zuccanoes

I found this great recipe in The New Moosewood Cookbook. If you're baking it for a child, you might consider sitting a toy person with a little toothpick or mini flag "paddle" on top. Hope you enjoy baking (and eating) up this tasty zucchini dish as much as I did!

Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups cooked rice
- 4 medium-sized zucchini (about 2 pounds)
- 1-2 TBSP olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups onion, minced
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 pound mushrooms, minced
- 6 medium cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups almonds or pecans, minced and lightly toasted
- 3 TBSP fresh lemon juice (about 1 small lemon)
- black pepper, to taste
- cayenne pepper, to taste
- a few pinches of freshly minced or dried herbs: any combination of parsley, basil, dill, thyme, or marjoram
- 1 cup packed and grated swiss or cheddar cheese

How To Cook It
1) Cut the zucchini lengthwise down the middle. Use a smallish spoon to scoop out the insides, leaving a canoe with a 1/4 inch shell. Mince the insides, and set everything aside.
2) Heat the olive oil in a medium-sized skillet. Add the onions and salt and saute over medium heat until the onion is soft (5 to 8 minutes).
3) Add the minced zucchini innards and the mushrooms. Turn up the heat and cook for about 8 minutes, stirring, letting the liquid evaporate. Stir in the garlic and remove from heat.
4) Stir in the rice and nuts, along with the lemon juice, and season to taste with black pepper, cayenne, and the herbs of your choice.
5) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill the zucchini shells, top with cheese, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until heated through. Serve hot.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed mushrooms have long been one of my favorite appetizers. Depending on how much stuffing you like, you find that either the mushroom either shines on it's own or serves as more of a tasty carb delivery system. Strike the balance of both and you might very well achieve hors d'oeuvres nirvana.

Ingredients
- 20-40 ounces mushrooms, washed with stems removed. Use less mushrooms if you want a "Would you like some mushrooms with your stuffing?" dish, and more if you prefer to highlight your mushrooms.
- 4 1/2 cups fresh breadcrumbs. Put your favorite bread through a food processor or to a cheese grater to achieve this.
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, diced
- 1 TBSP dried parsley
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 5 TBSP butter
- 2 eggs, whipped
- Splash of red wine
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano

How To Make Them
1) Splash a little wine into a pan and warm.
2) Add onion and garlic, sauté until translucent.
3) Combine breadcrumbs, parsley, oregano, salt and pepper, and cheese in a large mixing bowl. Add the onion/garlic mixture and the egg.
4) Melt the butter and stir into all. You should be able to pick up a bit of the stuffing and press it together to form a little ball. If the mixture seems too dry, add a bit more wine.
5) Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
6) Lay out your mushrooms on a baking sheet and fill with the stuffing.
7) Bake for 30-45 minutes. When the mushrooms are done they'll be golden brown, and you'll have to fight the urge to pop one in your mouth fresh out of the oven.
8) Make sure you eat a mushroom or two yourself before putting them out for friends and family. These little beauties disappear quickly!

Veggielicious Enchiladas

Try adding some nutritional value to your baked enchiladas using this recipe. From the shallots in the sauce to the peas and peppers in the filling, you'll find plenty of ingredients that make this dinner a knockout! Kick the health factor up a notch by using wheat or whole grain tortillas instead of the white flour variety.

Ingredients

- 6 large tortillas
- 1.5 cups of your favorite shredded cheese (a cheddar-monterey jack blend tends to work well)

For the sauce you'll need...
- 2 1/2 cups tomatoes, chopped
- 3 shallots, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper (Cayenne tends to add heat more than flavor, so if you like your enchiladas on the mild side, leave this spice out.)

For the filling you'll need...
- 2 cups black beans, cooked
- 4 TBSP peas
- 2 cups bell pepper (any color), chopped
- 1 jalapeño pepper, minced (leave out if you want a mild enchilada filling)
- 1/2 of a large Vidalia onion, minced
- 15 baby corn-on-the-cobs (approximately one can), sliced
- 4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste


How To Cook It

The Sauce...
1) Add all ingredients to a pot. Bring to a boil.
2) Reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes (stirring constantly), or until the mixture is reduced by half.

The Whole Enchilada...
1) Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Heat the olive oil in a pan. Add all filling ingredients except for the beans and peas. Sauté on medium heat for about 5-10 minutes, until vegetables begin to brown just a little bit.
3) Stir the beans and peas into the pan and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
4) Divide the enchilada filling equally between the six tortillas. Roll up and lay seam side down in a glass baking dish.
5) Pour the sauce you've made over the top of the tortillas, and sprinkle the cheese over all.
6) Bake for 20 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Rainbow Angel Food Cake

Our church celebrates NYC Pride every year. This year I offered to contribute a cake for the festivities and came up with the idea of dressing up a plain angel food cake with the colors of the rainbow. For the cake, I used a tried and true recipe from The All New Good Housekeeping Cook Book. The rest was just putting together a pretty design with colorful fruits.

Ingredients
For The Cake You'll Need...
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 2/3 cups egg whites (12-14 large eggs)
- 1 1/2 tsp cream of tartar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract

Fruit...
Get at least five fruits: a variety of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. If you have other shade of fruit to add into the mix do so, but I used the following fruits and assembled the leftovers into a tasty salad.
- strawberries
- mandarin oranges
- pineapple
- green grapes
- blueberries
- blackberries

How To Make It
1) Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Sift flour and powdered sugar together over a small bowl.
3) In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat egg whites, cream of tartar and salt until foamy. Increase speed to high. Beat until soft peaks form. Sprinkle in granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until whites stand in stiff, glossy peaks when beaters are lifted. Beat in vanilla and almond extracts.
4) Sift flour mixture, one-third at a time, over beaten egg whites. Fold in with rubber spatula just until flour mixture is no longer visible. Do not overmix.
5) Scrape batter into an ungreased 9-10 inch tube pan; spread evenly. Bake until cake springs back when lightly pressed, 35-40 minutes. Invert cake in pan onto a baking sheet and allow to cool completely. Run a thin knife or spatula around the cake to loosen from side and center of tube pan. Remove from pan and place on cake plate/platter.
6) Slice fruit into bite size pieces and arrange around finished cake.
7) Serve with additional dusted powdered sugar or fresh whipped cream.

Tip From The Hearth: Make Stromboli

Looking to mix up your pizza night? Make stromboli instead of pizza for a change. Sounds kinda fancy and difficult, right? Well, I seek to make my kitchen a no-intimidation zone, so no! Only an extra step or two and longer baking time required. Stromboli is essentially just a pizza in jellyroll form.

Simply:
1) Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Prepare your pizza dough.
3) Using your hands and/or a rolling pin, roll the dough out on a rectangular cookie sheet until it looks like it would be ready to turn into a regular pizza.
4) Add your favorite toppings (think red sauce, cheese, broccoli, mushrooms, garlic, onions, meat for the omnivores if you're making a couple of these at a time, etc.). Use a little more sparingly than you would with pizza to avoid the a mess of stromboli filling on your baking sheet.
5) Roll up as you would a jelly roll (or a loaf of cinnamon bread) and pinch the ends together. Use a little water if the dough is difficult to stick together.Place seam down on your baking sheet.
6) Lightly brush the top of the stromboli with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with a little bit of cheese.
7) Bake for 30-45 minutes, or until thoroughly browned.

Grandma's Cinnamon Bread: Part Two

When it comes to breakfast, noot much tops a fresh, warm loaf of cinnamon bread. Beware! This bread has a history of disappearing quickly.

You'll need a starter to make this cinnamon bread, so don't forget to check out Part One of this recipe for easy instructions.

Ingredients
- 1/3 cup sugar (in the original recipe as optional, so I don't use it)
- 1/2 cup corn/canola/vegetable oil
- 1 cup cinnamon bread starter
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 6 cups bread flour
- 1 1/2 tsp salt

How To Bake It
1) Combine your liquid ingredients (oil, water, starter), then add it sugar and salt so that it has a little time to dissolve.
2) Slowly mix in the flour using either a spoon/hands or a stand mixer to form a stiff dough.
3) Lightly spray the top of the dough with oil and cover with plastic wrap or a towel that you don't mind getting dough on.
4) When the dough has doubled in volume (usually 8-12 hours depending on the temperature of your home), punch down. Knead on a floured surface until no longer sticky and divide into three equal parts.
5) Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and grease three loaf pans. I like using stoneware pans; Grandma used metal. Choose what works for you.
6) Stretch each section of dough into a long piece.
7) Sprinkle sugar and cinnamon onto the dough and roll up as you would a jelly roll.
8) Pinch the ends of the loaves together with your fingers and place in the greased loaf pans.
9) Spray a little oil on the tops of the bread. Sprinkle a little extra cinnamon and sugar on top for an extra dose of YUM!
10) Cover the pans with plastic wrap/a towel. Let stand for 4-5 hours, or until the dough rises a little above the top of the pans.
11) Bake for 30 minutes until the bread is nicely browned.
12) This bread freezes nicely, but don't forget to share! If bread starts to get stale before you can eat it, it also makes fantastic french toast.

NOTE: Don't like cinnamon bread? Just form the dough into loaves right away without rolling up with the cinnamon and sugar. Instant white bread, which is also delicious.

Grandma's Cinnamon Bread: Part One

My Grandma Shook used this recipe to bake bread for her family and friends; it makes three loaves. She started the tradition of keeping a loaf or two for the family as a breakfast treat and giving the rest away. I ask that you continue the tradition: Remember, your mama always taught you to share...

The Starter

Starters are living, breathing yeast colonies. You'll need one to bake this bread, but don't worry-- their care and feeding is simple.

Ingredients
- 2 1/4 tsp yeast
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 TBSP instant mashed potato flakes

How To Make Your Starter
1) Dissolve yeast in warm water
2) Add sugar and potato flakes
3) Refrigerate for three days in a container with a lid loosely on top. I use a mason jar.
4) For extra fun, give your starter a name!

Feeding Your Starter
Whether you bake on a regular basis or not, you'll need to feed your starter about once a week.

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 TSBP instant mashed potato flakes

Feed Your Yeast!
1) Add the ingredients to your starter, mix well, and let stand out of the refrigerator for 8-12 hours. Keep free from drafts and in your original container. Starter will be slightly bubbly after being out of the refrigerator.

If you're not baking bread...
2a) Set aside 1 cup of your starter and either discard the rest or give some to a friend so that they can have a starter of their own.
3a) Pour the cup of starter into the original container and return it to the 'fridge. Feed again within 5-8 days.

Baking day...
2b) Set aside 1 cup of your starter for baking and another cup to return to the 'fridge in the original container. Discard the rest.
3b) Feed the starter you return to the refrigerator within 5-8 days.
4b) Use the remaining cup of starter to bake your bread.

To be continued...

Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie

So, my friend Shannon is biking 300 miles this week to raise awareness about climate change. She's titled her journey: Will Bike For Change (Or Pie!), and since she's joining us for dinner tonight before her ride kicks off in New York I thought it only fitting that we have pie for dessert. Strawberry-Rhubarb is a classic spring pie, and while rhubarb is bitter on it's own it pairs nicely with the sweetness of the strawberries. You'll find yourself headed back to your 'fridge for seconds.

A tip from me: Strawberries and rhubarb are both juicy ingredients. This pie will most likely turn out to have some extra liquid. Rather than drowning your filling with too much more flour than the recipe calls for, embrace a little juice! You can always serve your pie over ice cream, where juice is an advantage. Now, wouldn't that be a shame?

Ingredients

For the crust you'll need...
- 3 cups flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup vegetable shortening
- 1.5 TBSP vinegar
- 10-12 TBSP water

For the filling you'll need...
- 6 cups strawberries, de-stemmed and sliced
- 2 cups rhubarb stalks, sliced
- 1 tsp fresh lemon zest
- 1 tsp lemon juice, ideally freshly squeezed
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup flour

How To Cook It

The crust...
1) Blend flour and salt.
2) Cut in shortening with a pastry cutter until the pieces are the size of small peas.
3) Sprinkle the water/vinegar into the flour mixture while gently tossing the mixture with a fork. Form into two balls. Try to handle the dough as little as possible, but add a little more water if the dough is too dry.
4) Put the dough balls into the refrigerator to chill.
5) Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit while you prepare the filling.

Assembling and baking your pie...
1) After you've combined your filling ingredients in a large bowl, grease a pie plate.
2) Place the dough on a floured surface and roll from the center to the edges to make a round flat dough that is a little bigger than your pie plate.
3) Gently fold it in half to pick it up and place it on the pie plate. Pat down and add your filling.
4) Repeat step two to make the top crust.
5) Crimp the edges together, using a little water if necessary.
6) Using a knife, cut some openings in the top of the pie. Be creative! You could do anything from a couple simple lines on up. Think of it like carving a jack-o-lantern if it helps you to have a little more fun.
7) Place the pie pan on a cookie sheet (to catch any drips) and bake for 50 minutes, or until the crust is nice and golden.
8) Allow your pie to rest for at least an hour before serving.

Baking Class: Butter Lane Cupcakes

I had the pleasure of joining a group of ladies from the Urban Girl Squad at Butter Lane Cupcakes last night for a baking class. I don't journey downtown often, but let me tell you: The cupcakes and baking/decorating classes at Butter Lane are officially added to my list of excuses to hop on the subway. All ingredients are fresh, natural, and ideally local as well. Best of all, not a glimpse of fondant in sight!

We learned some tricks of the trade to help us improve our baking techniques:

• Use cake flour when making cupcakes. It has less gluten than all purpose flour, and will make for a lighter cake.
• When mixing your flour into the wet ingredients in your recipe, less is more. Don't mix the batter too much, or you'll develop more gluten in the flour. Translation: Chewy cupcakes. Stop your mixer (or your spoon) when the flour just disappears.
• On the other hand, it's the opposite when making a good butter cream frosting. For nice fluffy, light frosting, mix for a longer period of time.
• Even when you're not making cream cheese frosting, add some to frosting recipe. It's not exactly intuitive, but it cuts down on the amount of sugar you need in your cupcake topping. 
• Move beyond the basic vanilla, chocolate, and cream cheese frosting flavors. Feeling adventurous? Mix a scoop of peanut butter into your chocolate frosting! Add some fresh fruit preserves into your vanilla frosting! Shake some cinnamon into that cream cheese!
• Use an ice cream scoop when you add the cupcake batter to your liners. It will ensure that you have an equal amount of cupcake mix in each cup.

Disclaimer: I am in no way a skilled cupcake decorator, as you can see from the above photo. The other women and I did our best, but we were no match for our teacher... who had attended pastry school! This was a delicious treat though, and I truly enjoyed my experience at Butter Lane. I look forward to developing my decorating skills in the coming years.

If you're in New York City, stop by the bakery on East 7th Street for a dessert to remember. Whether you're a local or some distance from Manhattan, you'll definitely enjoy the recipes posted on the Butter Lane Cupcakes page on Facebook (like the page, then look under PDFs). Happy baking!