I just love pasta. I mean I really LOVE pasta (as if you didn’t know that by now tee hee). It’s the perfect dish. You can literally make it a million different ways. Okay I haven’t actually tested out that theory but I’m working on it! Plus I know you’re probably ready for something other than chicken! I KNOW I’ve had a lot of chicken lately, really I know, and NO in case you’re wondering I’m not tired of it *wink wink* but I have been wanting some pasta so voila a pasta dish! This dish will make you want to scrape the bowl with your finger! & It’s all because of the sauce. Not just any sauce. A creamy tomato-y basil-y melt in your mouth Mascarpone sauce *swoon*.
These are THE most delicious little balls of pillowy, chocolaty, hazelnut goodness! I wish you could smell them. The dough is intoxicating. Even before you take a bite you’re sucked in to their magnetic forcefield. Seriously. THAT. good.
You probably have realized by now that I cook with A LOT of GARLIC! Yes, I do & I’m not ashamed of it! Have you seen my garlic bowl? It’s always on my counter and normally when someone comes to my house for the first time they truly think it’s artificial & there for decoration. NOPE, it’s real & I use it!
Are you ready? I know I am! Well ready or NOT, here is the 2nd installment of the Nutella Challenge! Last month there were some ah-mazing offerings. I hope you’ve had a chance to try a few of them out. If not, here’s the link where you can find them: Nutella Challenge ~ Round 1 So without further ado, I present to you my THREE LAYERED MINI CHOCOLATE TORTE WITH NUTELLA MOUSSE & RASPBERRIES (what a name LOL such a mouthful, yikes)….are you drooling? Well you should be. Read the rest of this entry »
Week #15 in the Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge was Italian Bread…Ah I can hardly believe it’s been almost 4 months worth of fresh bread making…each week delivered right to my table by my own hands {& with LOTS of help from Marta of course}. Who would have thought I would be getting the hang of this baking thing? Def not me! Although I still don’t consider myself a baker - more like home cook extraordinaire - tee hee! I am def feeling much more comfortable with the likes of yeast, kneading, rising, windowpane test, ferment, etc. and I’ve definitely used my share of King Arthur Bread Flour & Yeast as well. I don’t dare try to count the bags. Seriously I’m going through those two like they were water. But nevertheless, I have wonderful bread each week.
Week #14 in The Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge is French Bread! As I’m writing this, I’m noshing on some of this delightful bread dipped in Olive Oil (hopefully in the process, avoiding any sticky fingerprints on my laptop). All of this I do for you, of course, so that I may fully express in words the deliciousness that is homemade French Bread…ah mon cheri you see how much I adore thee? Tee hee.
I must admit that I now completely understand why Artisan bread costs so much at the bakeries or in the high end deli/bakery section of the grocery. If you don’t, you should just make some homemade yourself and you’ll know immediately what I mean. But with that said, I truly believe that putting the effort into homemade breads is worth the effort. As is the case with cooking in general. You get out what you put in! No?
Week #13 in the Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge! Focaccia! I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to get started on this bread! It’s one of my favorite Italian breads. Peter’s recipe was another 2 day bread (boo, but I was looking forward to the end product).
Week #12 in The Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge is English Muffins! I can’t believe how much I have learned in this challenge by baking a new bread recipe each week. I’m so thankful to Pinch My Salt for organizing this challenge & for getting me out of my baking box! Well I don’t even think I had a box because the only bread I had really ever baked was banana bread. LOL If you don’t already have Peter Reinhart’s book you really should pick it up! If I can bake bread so can you!
Week #10 in the Bread Baker’s Apprentice Challenge was Cornbread. WOW hard to believe this non baker has been at this 10 weeks now! Okay back to business.
Now I know what I’m about to say might come as a surprise to some of you so brace yourselves. I’m NOT a big fan of Cornbread. Gasp! I know. Who would have thought a Southern Girl wouldn’t be crazy about cornbread. Well, go figure, but I’m not. But then again, I’m not your typical Southern girl. Around here saying your not crazy about cornbread is almost be as bad as saying that you don’t like grits! But fear not, grits I do like (drenched in cheese of course LOL).
Week #9 is Cinnamon Raisin Walnut Bread (wow that’s a mouthful). Well you KNOW I have a wicked sweet tooth so I was quite excited about this one. Not to mention it’s another 1 day bread! WOO HOO! Another big plus, there wasn’t any complicated folding that required me to pour through any online tutorials first.
Luckily I had almost all the ingredients required (with the exception of the walnuts) already in my pantry (another big plus) so I called on Marta and away we went. I don’t know about you but it’s amazing how just the smell of cinnamon puts a smile on my face. Awwwh, okay onto baking.
