Homework

Yes!! I am finally back it. Well, kinda. I am trying my best to bake and blog, but really all I want to do is eat popcorn, take photos, and listen to the Joy The Baker Podcast.   Joy and Tracy are to blazer wearing ladies that make me smile. Their podcast gets me through my commute and I actually find myself telling my husband all about them ALL the time. Real life talk!! During their last podcast they asked listeners to do a "homework" assignment. Simply said, take pictures of things you like and post them. I thought this was the perfect time to attempt to do something for myself that I enjoy. Plus, I get to share with you the things in life that make me happy. 

 #1 Mixed prints and bright colors. All the rage this spring. Oh and big blue eyes and smiles.

 #2 Hearing the waves and seeing the sun shine through our window on a lazy afternoon. Oh and my Uggs....yes, yes...Santa Cruz.

 #3 My husband and my boy. Two dudes on bikes....lots and lots of bikes.

 #4 Watching smoke come out of my toddlers ears as we made cupcakes together from our last gift delivery from ENJOY. First ever baking project together and he was so excited....as was I.

#5 Chocolate sprinkles....need I say more.

 #6 Birthday gifts that mean so much, and a lovely family who thinks of me. Oh, and this awesome ring I got off of etsy.

#7 Tapatio and eggs...this girl loves breakfast.

Thank you Joy and Tracy for giving me inspiration to get back into some sort of hobby again. I am hopeful to start baking and blogging again.
Boom Boom Pow! or is it Cow?

Mini Banana Muffins

Anything mini is on my mind right now. Mini fingers and toes and tiny little eye lashes and a nose. So it is fitting that making mini muffins was right up my alley. 

My sister and brother in law recently visited from Seattle. We had a lovely brunch with my parents and all got to marvel at how small we start when we come into this world. 

We also got to eat, laugh, hug and we had muffins. 

What to do with left over bananas.... muffins of course. I added browned butter and made a crumb topping to add to the fun. 

Super easy and quick to make while the "mini" was sleeping. 

The crumb topping added a nice texture on top. You could also add walnuts or pecans. You could even go wild with blueberries or chocolate. Banana muffins are a blank slate for creativity and these are so easy to make you could whip them up for a post Thanksgiving brunch or over a long lazy weekend. So get going!

Brown Butter Banana Peach Bread

Lately, all I have wanted to eat is fruit. Call it a pregnancy craving, or maybe the fact that I just don't want summer to end. I love the this time of year where the summer meets fall. And this fall is especially exciting as we are welcoming a new little pumpkin to our family. However, there is still a part of me that is not yet ready for summer to be over. I am still enjoying the sun on my face, sitting in the backyard with my son, and eating all the summer stone fruits I can.

This banana bread is the merge of these two pleasures. The spices of fall with the warmth of fresh made bread, and little explosions of sweet sweet summer. It is also a no mixer one bowl kind process that is easy to whip up on a lazy weekend.

Blackberry maple compote & Polenta Crackers

You gotta love blackberries. I do! And right now they are so good. I have been obsessing over this blackberry corn ice cream and yet to try it. However, I did make a blackberry compote and some polenta crackers that paired very nicely with good friends, warm weather and of course....cheese!

The compote came from Heidi Swanson's Super Natural Every Day. If I had time I would make her food every day. It is that darn good!

This compote can be drizzled over ice cream (there I go again)  placed on some pancakes or even mixed into oatmeal for a special weekend delight.

 The polenta crackers were a bit thick for my taste, but received good reviews. 

Plus, who does not like a duck cracker.... I know a toddler who can not resist.

Crunchy and nutty and with the compote and cheese very tasty. It is also probably a bit better for you than the Blackberry Corn ice cream I am still craving. There is always next year.

Brown Butter Peach Crumble Bars

 Farmer's markets, fresh flowers, peaches and brown butter shortbread bars. Just some of my favorite things from this summer.

I have been so busy this summer that I have not been able to blog as much as I have wanted. However, the baking is still happening. While the toddler is sleeping I am trying to get photos off of the camera and into the blog-o-sphere. 

These are an easy crumble bar, but browning the butter ahead of time gives them a nutty flavor that is just lovely. The fresh peaches add sweetness and it all just screams summer fun. I hope you agree!

Ode to Joy & Cupcakes

Life can really move fast. Before you know it we are already into summer...what? I have really meant to blog, but have been so busy. After listening to one of my favorite podcasts, Homefries, with Joy the Baker. I was inspired to bake her birthday cupcakes and of course attempt to blog about it.  These were made for a bunch of different Memorial Day BBQs and right now with the 4th of July beating down our door. I suggest you make them.

Dense, chocolaty, chocolate easy as pie cake, cupcakes. Turned awesome with some.....

Peanut butter cookie dough balls shoved into the center. Yes, a cookie and  a cupcake in one! Hooray!

Add some marshmellow frosting and you have yourself and party, shin-dig, doo-wop..thingy! 

Coconut Custard Tart

 When I asked my Dad what his favorite dessert was for his birthday dinner his response was coconut cream pie and my reaction was to quickly bite my nails and head to the Internet. I had never in my life even thought of making any type of cream pie. For some reason in my head I thought that cream pies were very very hard to make. Boy oh boy was I wrong. This could not have been easier. Thank you Dori Greenspan, Google and Shared Sugar. I was able to make an easy coconut cream tart that just as good to eat as it was to make.

I made the custard the night before using eggs, milk, dark rum and of course lightly toasted coconut.

 You can leave the rum out if needed, but the combination with the coconut is a happy little marriage in creamy heaven.

 The shortbread crust was simple to make in the food processor and easy to mold in the tart pan.

 Vanilla, powder sugar and cream... mix and you get the best whipped cream ever. If you really want to booze up your tart you can add a splash more rum to the cream.... alas, I felt that the rum flavor was just enough in the custard and left it out.

Assemble together and add some toasted coconut on top. This tart was simple, perfect and traveled well. It also made my Dad smile... best part of the day!