Jam Exchange

A few weeks ago Steph from Steph Chows announced that she was having a jam exchange. I have participated in exchanges like this before and loved it. What's not to love? You get to be in the kitchen making some concoction, mail it off and you get some back in return.

Today my package came from my secret partner...Diana from A little bit of Spain Iowa. I didn't even know of her until now! If you haven't visited her, you should! And now, here is what she sent me!!

Look how cute the labels are!! Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Diana sent me 2 jars of this! Strawberry Honey Jam with a hint of chamomile!! I cannot wait until she perfects this recipe and shares it with us! Not that I am not just completely impressed with this jam, but she also sent me a jar of this.....

Did you see what this is???? Homemade Apple Pectin!!! I didn't even know there was such a thing! I am now ready to get to making some more jam using it!

Thank you Diana for a great package! And thanks to Steph Chows for putting this together!

Zucchini Bread

This is just your average zucchini bread, nothing special. But, that shouldn't scare you away from it. This bread is sweet, moist, and full of spices. This loaf makes 2 regular size loaves or I ended up getting 1 regular loaf and 4 mini's. Just enough to share with a friend, or stick in the freezer for a later time!

Zucchini Bread
From: Southern Living

3 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 large)
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.

Combine sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla; stir well. Add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Stir in zucchini and pecans.

Spoon into two lightly greased 8 1/2-4 1/2 inch loaf pans.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Snickerdoodle Blondies

School here starts next week, and I can honestly say that I am ready for it. I like the routine of everyday, just being structured. And that also means that I have more time in the kitchen. I have slacked this summer, but hey, you have "life" that has to be lived.

I have seen these blondies floating around the blogosphere. Ingrid made them, and then Donna made them, you see, they both twisted my arm to make these. I am really glad that they did! These are perfect for an after school snack, for the lunch boxes, or really just any time of the day!

Snickerdoodle Blondies
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, at room temperature
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan.Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.

In large bowl, beat together butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth.

Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan.

Combine white sugar and cinnamon in a little bowl. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the batter.

Bake 25-30 minutes or until surface springs back when gently pressed. Cool slightly. While still warm, cut into bars with a sharp knife.

Coffee Cake Muffins

I have done it again, staying away for too long! This summer is just flying by, and that doesn't leave a lot of time for being in the kitchen, and I am missing it! I need my therapy sessions! These muffins are easy to put together and very, very good! They are moist, dense, and you have a swirl of cinnamon in the middle, well, I say the middle...but some of my swirls were more near the bottom of the muffin than the middle, but that didn't change the taste at all. Spread the warm muffin with a pat of butter and you have total comfort!

Coffee Cake Muffins
Makes 12 muffins

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 large egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Combine first 3 ingredients; set aside.

Stir together flour and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir together the egg, milk, and oil; add to flour mixture stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

Place paper cups in muffin pans, and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Spoon about 1 tablespoon batter into each of 12 cups; sprinkle evenly with half of brown sugar mixture. Top evenly with remaining batter, and sprinkle with remaining brown sugar mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from pan immediately; cool on a wire rack.

Twd-Tribute to Katherine Hepburn Brownies

Better late than never, huh? Can we pretend that it is Tuesday? Ok then! These brownies are fantastic! Gooey in the middle with a paper thin crust on the top. Love them!!!! You can find the recipe on pages 96-97 in BFMHTY.

I'm back with a Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake!

I have been away from here for way too long! I don't intend on staying away like this again, I have missed you guys! So, what better way to make a come back than this pound cake? You will want to try this one! I am not really a coconut lover, it seems that the older I get, the more I can tolerate it, but I really think that I could eat this whole cake. Maybe because it makes me think of a tropical island. Not sure, but I really like it! Sweet, coconutty, moist...just delicious!

I hope you all have a safe and fun holiday!!

Coconut Cream Cheese Pound Cake

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 8oz cream cheese, softened
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups flaked coconut
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp coconut extract

Beat butter, shortening and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes or until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each addition just until yellow disappears.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in coconut, vanilla, and coconut extract.

Pour batter into a greased and floured 10 inch tube pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 30-40 minutes (mine only baked for 1 hour and 10 minutes), or until a wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10-15 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

Beach Bound and Brownies

Tomorrow morning I will be up and on the road at 4 am. Heading to my favorite place south, Seagrove Beach, FL. I will be around and checking on my daily reads at night, I mean, when you are a blogger it is quite obsessive and you can't stay away for too long! So, I will leave you with these brownies. I saw them over at Valerie's and new that I had to make them, they are quick and easy to throw together and gooey in the middle. Just like I like my brownies! Have a great week!


Chewy Cocoa Brownies
From: Valerie
1 2/3 c. sugar
¾ c. butter, melted
2 T. water
2 large eggs
2 t. vanilla
1 1/3 c. flour
¾ c. cocoa
½ t. baking powder
¼ t. salt
¾ c. chopped nuts (optional)
Powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 9x13-inch baking pan. Combine sugar, butter and water in large bowl. Stir in eggs and vanilla extract. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt in medium bowl; stir into sugar mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread into prepared baking pan. Bake for 18 to 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out slightly sticky. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Sprinkle with powdered sugar or frost with frosting.