Weekend Baking Saturday Edition

Happy Saturday! I hope you have some great plans for the weekend, I sure do!

You can't make this up... it's COLD!!

So what's the weather like where you are? Because I've got to tell you... it's been a little chilly here! Seems like the only thing you can do when the weather's like this... is BAKE!!!

I have so much baking planned for this weekend that I get to do multiple posts with multiple recipes, and I'm really excited so let's get started with what I've done today...

First I whipped up a pretty easy (and let's be honest... ugly!) batch of brownies.

I will share a recipe with you... but I didn't really use one! What I really wanted to do was make something s'more-like... I had the graham crackers, the marshmallows and brownie mix. Let's just say, it was a no-brainier. 

They might not look pretty but they taste SO GOOD!!

S'more Brownies
Makes: One 9x13 pan

Ingredients:
2 bags Ghirardelli brownie mix (or your favourite brownie mix)
2 Eggs
2/3cup Oil (I used canola)
2/3cup Water
12 Graham Crackers, roughly crushed
12 large Marshmallows,each  cut in half

Directions:

• Prepare your brownie mix according to the package (or your recipe) directions. Mine calls for the eggs, oil and water, but go ahead and follow your instructions!
• Gently mix in the graham crackers and marshmallows so everything is covered.
• Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
• Bake at according to your brownie mix directions (mine called for 325F for ~50 minutes, but I had to add a bit before it was done).

Eating this warm is probably the best thing in the world!!

For my next recipe, I FINALLY made crème brûlée!! I've been meaning to do this for a long time. When I was at  school (for Baking and Pastry) we made crème caramel which is basically the exact same thing only crème caramel has a layer of caramel on the bottom that when you invert the desert onto a plate it streams over the custard. Crème brûlée, the custard is served in the ramekin it's baked in and sprinkled with sugar that is caramelized (and burnt!) on top.

But why stop at crème brûlée? I made mine VERY vanilla by incorporating a whole vanilla pod as well as an entire white chocolate bar!

Sorry for the bad phone picture... I was so excited to eat it!!

White Chocolate Crème Brûlée
Makes: 6 ramekins

Ingresients:
5 Egg Yolks
1/3cup Sugar (plus 6tsp)
pinch Salt
2cup Whipping Cream 
100g White Chocolate, finely chopped
1 Vanilla Pod 

Directions:

• In a mixing bowl combine yolks, 1/3cup sugar and salt.
• Pour whipping cream into a sauce pan.
• Slice the vanilla pod down the middle and put add to whipping cream and heat until it just reaches a simmer.
• Remove the pod and scrape the seeds into the cream. 
• Add chocolate and stir until incorporated. 
• Strain into ramekins and place the ramekins into a baking pan.
• Fill pan to the middle of the ramekins with hot water.
• Bake at 150C (302F) for about 30 minutes (or until set).
• Remove from oven and carefully remove the ramekins onto a towel. Cool and refrigerate until ready to be served (at this point I'd like to point out that we prefer a warm dessert so as long as you don't mind a runny custard, you can skip the chilling step!)
•  Sprinkle tops with a teaspoon of sugar each and by using either a torch or broiler, caramelize the sugar.

Enjoy!!

So go ahead and make these yummys to keep you warm, let me know how they worked out and come back tomorrow to see what else I'm up to while using the oven to warm up the house!

Cheers!!!xoxo,
-Shelly

Fit Friday ~ #4

Happy Friday!!!

Are you as excited as I am for it to be Friday? Fun fact: For some crazy reason, I thought it was Friday... on TUESDAY this week! So needless to say this has been a very long week for me and I have REALLY been looking forward to the weekend!

I guess the only thing I can report on this Friday is that I'm still doing the elliptical thing regularly and keeping an eye on what kinds of food I eat, as well as the portion sized.

myfitnesspal's logo!

I told you about myfitnesspal, the app I've been using to track my food and exercise. It sounds a little obsessive, checking in with everything you eat and when you work out... but I'm finding it REALLY beneficial! I would totally recommend it to anyone! It's a real eye opener to let you know if you're over eating, or even under eating! The app will actually give you a little talking to if you don't eat the recommended amount of calories for your specific height, weight, sex, age and activity level.

So please, wander on over to the app store (or the website!) and check out the program... and feel free to add me as a friend! There are a lot of supportive people on there that you can lean on and learn from!

On that note... stay tuned for some "healthy" baking this weekend!

Cheers!!! xoxo!
-Shelly  

Wish Wednesday ~ #4

Welcome to Wednesday! I hope the first part of your week is going well!

Let's jump right into the pretties!

Look at all the jars!! Check out the link for other crafty jar ideas!

Did you know that it's been in the -30 degrees Celsius range? With the windchill we even made it down to -40!!

 
Just like the benches from my first #wishwednesday, I love this concept!!

Whoa hello awesomest camp food ever! SO trying that this summer!!!

Check out the nook!! Actually, check out the whole kitchen! Love, love, LOVE everything about it!!

My dream tub is freestanding, at least 6 feet long and three feet deep... what's yours?

What adorable little labels! Free download at the page too!!

Hope you enjoyed! Which one is your favourite??
Cheers!! xoxo!
-Shelly

Links: Mason Jars - Sortature, Heater - Kelly's Camping, Chair - dornob, Oranges - Chow, Nook - House of Turquoise, Tub - style-files, Lables - World Label

Weekend Baking ~ #4

Tell me, does that not look delicious? :)

This weekend I only got to bake for one day because I went for a little shopping trip to Kenora for a little shopping trip on Saturday! I just love Kenora :) Yes, it's a tourist trap... but it's a pretty tourist trap!

So without boring you with my gushing about Kenora (cause it was -30 and I didn't get any pictures, maybe next time!) Let's jump right in to the recipe!

Apple Strusel Brunch Pizza
Makes: 3 Pizzas

Dough
1-1/8tsp dry active yeast
1/2cup water
3tsp sugar
1/2tsp salt
1-1/2tbsp canola oil
1-1/2cup flour

Prepare dough:

• Dissolve yeast in 1/4cup water. 
• Dissolve sugar and salt in the rest of the water in your mixing bowl. Mix together with canola oil.
• Add flour on the top of oil mixture then add yeast mixture. (protects the yeast from the oil and salt!)
• Cover and set in a warm spot for approximately an hour. 
• Knock back the dough and divide into three equal portions
• Cover and let rest for about 15 more minutes

Apple Topping 
3 granny smith apples (cored, peeled, chopped)
A splash of lemon juice
1tsp ground cinnamon
3tbsp brown sugar
1/2tsp corn starch
1tbsp butter

Prepare the apples:

• Toss the apples with lemon juice.
• In a bowl mix cinnamon, brown sugar and cornstarch. Toss with apples.
• Spread apples out on a baking sheet and dot with butter. Bake at 400F for ~10-15 minutes. 

Strusel Topping 3tbsp brown or raw sugar
1/4cup flour
3tbsp butter 

Prepare Strusel Topping:

• Combine flour and brown sugar.
• Cut butter into flour mixture.

Glaze
1/2tbsp butter
1/2tbsp cream cheese
1tsp vanilla
1cup icing sugar
Milk

Prepare Glaze: 

• Melt butter with cream cheese.
• Mix in vanilla.
• Mix in icing sugar and add milk if it's not smooth enough to drizzle.

Assemble Pizzas:

• Roll dough out until thin.
• Arrange apple pieces over dough
• Sprinkle with strusel
• Bake at 450F for approximately 10-15 minutes or until crust is light golden
• Drizzle with glaze when still hot
• Serve warm

Once again I adapted this recipe from a few different sources and also I used my awesome baking expertise to make it extra yummy! Head on over to my main inspiration, the wonderful Minimalist Baker for a lovely dairy free version of this recipe!

See you next weekend!!
Cheers!xoxo,
-Shelly