Specialty Biscuits: Butter Maple Cranberry

This morning when we got up, Anthony asked if I could make biscuits. I used a basic biscuit recipe. At the last minute, I drizzled maple syrup over the batter. I also sprinkled a small handful of dried cranberries over the maple syrup before mixing the batter a final time. I threw in the add-ins in an attempt to make our biscuits special, "unboring," or to give them a little twist. My sweet biscuit idea played out flawlessly. I enjoyed the taste of success!

French Toast From Bread Machine Bread

Anthony said his family used to make bread in the bread machine sometimes for the express purpose of making french toast with the freshly baked bread. I decided to give that a try. I am now a fan of french toast from bread machine bread. 

bread

Spiced Banana Pecan Cake

Anthony asked if I would make a banana nut cake. I agreed to make one since there is going to be a church potluck dinner tomorrow. I needed a dish to take. I got out my Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook, and found a banana cake recipe. I went with the 9 x 13 version because it would be quicker. I got most of my ingredients out only to discover that I was out of baking powder. To make up for it, I used half self-rising flour, and half all-purpose flour. I also cut the salt and baking soda in half. I wondered at the "lack of " spices called for in the recipe I was using, I mean "nonexistent" spices. I mustered up my own spices including: ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon! I also added pecans to the recipe. I think that about explains the extent of my banana cake customizations for the evening. The cake turned out heavenly.

large microwave mug cake: spicy

Daddy decided to make a family snack. He came up with his own microwave spice cake. For icing he used thawed leftover papaya frosting I had made on Valentine's Day. 

 

Pizza Steaks & Sandwich Cookies

I made pizza and cookies for Valentine's Day. I was out of yeast and tomato sauce. I found a new quick pizza dough recipe that did not use yeast, and made that. I created my own tomato sauce recipe. It turned out lovely.

I found a basic oatmeal cookie recipe, and then changed it up . . . a lot. I was out of brown sugar and vanilla flavoring so I used granulated sugar. I had raisins but I used dried raspberries in place of raisins because I thought they might be nice with the filling I was going to make for the cookies. I love sandwich cookies so I made a papaya icing to go between the oatmeal/sugar raspberry cookies. My sandwich cookies were outstanding in a good way.

Shari's Sexy Seductive Swirly Snacks

So exciting, I made these chocolate swirl rolls without referring to a recipe for the dough, the filling, the oven temperature, or the timer setting! A most superb new combination, my own creation. We had some old grapes in the fridge and some dried plums that had been in the cabinet forever. I thought it was time to use them up. I wanted to use them up in epic fashion. I did. My fruit filling was fabulously succulent and delectable, the perfect match for my quintessentially dramatic chocolate swirl rolls.

Shari's Sexy Seductive Swirly Snacks:

Dough:

3 Tsp Granulated Sugar

1 Tsp Yeast

1 Cup Warm Water

2 1/3 Cups Flour

1/3 Cup Cocoa

1 Tsp Salt

Filling:

1/2 Cup Old Red Grapes

1/2 Cup Dried Plums

1/2 Cup Almonds

1/3 Cup Molasses

1. Combine first three ingredients for dough in bread machine canister and mix. Add flour, cocoa, and salt. Turn on dough setting.

2. Put grapes, dried plums, and almonds in a blender and chop.

3. Roll out dough. Spread filling mix on top of dough. Drizzle the molasses over the filling and dough.

4. Cut into 12 chocolate swirl rolls with a serrated knife.

5. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.