Thursday, August 11, 2011

Chocolate Crack!

What a loooooong time it has been (again)! Not much time to do actual baking as of late - except for a few repeats of the classic recipes. But here's something I couldn't wait to try as soon as I saw it online.

We are all familiar with my "crack fish" yes?
Well, when I went to Unique LA a couple of weekends ago... I came across Bacon Crack from Cast Iron Gourmet. SO good... and then I didn't feel so un-PC by calling my crackers "crack fish".

So when I found this recipe for "chocolate crack"... why the hell not give this a shot? Plus, all I had to pick up from the store were the saltines.

Chocolate 'Crack' from Serious Eats

Ingredients:
Approx 2 sleeves Saltine Crackers
8oz Unsalted Butter
8oz Dark Brown Sugar
1tsp Vanilla Extract
12oz (or random handfuls) of Dark Chocolate (chopped or chips)


Line a half sheet pan with aluminum foil.
Then lay flat saltine crackers all along the bottom of the lined tray.
Melt butter on the stove. Add sugar and vanilla. Cook until thick and bubbly.
Pour over crackers. Spread evenly.
Place into preheated 350 oven, until butter mixture gets super bubbly. (I might have pulled this out earlier and may not have reached optimal bubbly-ness.)
With butter mixture still hot, drop chopped or chips of chocolate all over the top. Let it melt from the residual heat and spread with a spatula.
Let cool to room temp. Then place in refridgerator to let it chocolate firm up.


*I sprinkled some sea salt on the top. I like a distinct contrast of salty and sweet.


This is definitely Trial 1. The crackers got a bit chewy/soggy. Perhaps from prematurely taking them out of the oven. And I think I would play with the thickness/thinness of the butter-sugar layer as well as the chocolate layer. But great flavors together. Got to brainstorm something for the texture. I want crunchy. Crunch crunch.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Tuesday Night Cafe - Los Angeles June 21st!

The Appropriated Muffin will be vending at the bi-monthly Tuesday Night Cafe in Los Angeles this coming Tuesday, the 21st! Stop by for some treats and get your fill of live artists and performers!

For more information, go to:
website: www.tuesdaynightproject.org
facebook: www.facebook.com/tnproject
twitter: www.twitter.com/tnproject

Friday, June 10, 2011

A "Thank You"

I sometimes find myself struggling with the (weak) correlation between my education and my "career". Art and baking, respectively. But then, I get a "project" that gives me reason to believe again. LOL.
Hand-cut/shaped rice krispy treat letters.

Sea Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies, PB Cup Rice Krispy Treats, Krispy Marshmallowy Peanut Buttery Chocolate Brownie Squares

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Cookie Cutouts

We all know I have a slight aversion to decorating. It drives me (almost) bananas. I try not to decorate any of my cutout cookies or sugar cookies simply because I don't like icing/decorating a whole bunch of individual items. But when you get some cute ass cookie cutters, why the hell not make an exception?

We've seen these before!
Got this tree cookie cutter from Sweet Baking Supply. Awesome shop! Great stuff, quick to ship!
I love my snail cookie cutters too! Still looking out for "the" perfect dino cookie cutter though.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Sugar-crusted Strawberry Muffins

In the "early years" of my baking adventures, I would jot down recipes into this little 3"x5" Hello Kitty notebook. (What other way is there, really?)
And even so, I still look through it for treats to make! Thus, a re-visit to fresh strawberry muffins.
The source of the original recipe is now lost, but at least I still have it to work from!

Sugar-crusted Strawberry Muffins

Strawberry Muffins - yields 1 doz

2T Butter
2/3C Sugar
1/2C Milk
1 Egg
1/2tsp Salt
1-1/2C Flour
1tsp Baking Powder
1C Chopped Strawberries
Turbinado Sugar to top

Cream butter + sugar.
Add egg.
Add milk.
Then add the (already combined) dry ingredients.
Fold in fruit.
Portion into muffin cups.
Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.

Bake at 350 for 35 min, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Banana Bread Mini Loaves

So, its been a while since I've made banana bread. How could I forget those several failed attempts previously? Armed with my new loaf pans... I think its time to try again!

Banana Bread Mini Loaf



Sunday, May 15, 2011

Baby Lemon Loaf

Aaaaaand it's been over a month since I've blogged. Needless to say I've been uber busy!

Anyhoos, just wanted to share that I'm loving my new mini loaf baking pans!

Lemon Loaf with Lemon Glaze