The Art Of Baking

 Back in November, I was contacted by Penguin Group USA   and asked if I like to review a chef biography for my blog. I was quite apprehensive at first about accepting because it was my first company review and I've never read a biography before.So the subject matter sacred me off, but I thought about it and a took shot at it.So I hope everyone enjoys. So here we go... My honest opinion about the book is, it was a little hard to get through because I'm not one to read about chef's and restaurants.I'm more into books about food photography and recipes. The writing wasn't really my cup of tea. I would say it was alright. It was somewhat slow and most of the time pretty dry. The worst part I would say is many times I would get confused to what is going on in the story because it would jump from topic to topic.It really lacked something to keep the reader entertained and absorbed into the biography. However don't get me wrong. Their were some really

I recently tried out another cobbler recipe, using the rest of my frozen local blackberries for the dessert.This recipe actually came out a lot different then most cobbler's I've seen. Most recipes Ive tried are with a thick fruit filling on the bottom with a pastry top;however this one has a cake-like breading at the bottom with a berry mixture sprinkled on top.So what you end up with is a topping rising in between the filling while showing off the beautiful berries. This idea is actually way more appealing to the eye, since you get to see the star of the show, the blackberries! Also with the berries on top you have flavor seeping into the breading instead of just the bottom.Genius! However if your someone that loves a pastry topping with their cobbler.Then check out this recipe . If your someone that likes to try new recipes and loves a cake-like topping, then stay right here. Now this cobbler didn't disappoint, even when I had to change the recipe. The toppin

Recently,I used up the last bag of the local blueberries that we froze.For the last of these delicious berries, I chose to make something I've never made before. What would be better? Then making blueberry cobbler. I had lots of fun making this simple dessert and I was surprised how good it really was.Now I only wish I had some whip cream or vanilla ice cream at the time.The cobbler was especially good because the topping and filling harmonize with each other. The topping was golden, puffed and crunchy on the outside while being soft and cake like in the center. It was mildly sweet with its rich moist texture.A couple ingredients were changed for this breading, in the fat content.Instead of butter and shortening I use lard to replace both.Even with this change I saw no distinct difference.The topping was basically a sponge for any liquid that came from the blueberries while the cornstarch helped create thickness in the filling.The topping definitely took over for tex

Just recently I made a recipe to use up the Hershey Chipt Special Dark Chocolate Chips that I got in my winner's package.For this I didn't want to make any cookies, so I decided to make some bars.Now these aren't your regular bars you see that are usually layered, hard or crunchy.These are more of a cake like bar with multiple textures.They are very moist with array of chocolate chips and dried fruit  through out it. They actually remind me a lot of banana bread crossed with a muffin.I give 3 out of 3 for texture There are also many flavors playing off each other in these bars.You have the banana flavor that the senses.The chocolate chips with their intense dark flavor along side the moist cake texture.Then you have the cranberries with a sweet and tart flavor. I also give 3 out of 3 for flavor! The recipe I used is from one of my cookie books I purchased at my local used book store.It was really easy to follow and used simple ingredients. I actually adding i

As most of you know,I recently received a PAM baking package, which I won from Leslie Loves Veggies.( see previous post ). In this prize,it included one package of Chipts Special Dark Chocolate Chips, which I have never tried before from Hershey until just recently. Anyways, I want to share with all of you my thoughts on these chocolate chips in a recipe since you may of never tried them before. Well to tell you pretty simply I was very pleased by this Hershey product .These were some pretty scrumptious chocolate chips all on their own.They had a great balance of dark chocolate and sweetness.I may even like them more then Hershey's milk chocolate or semisweet.I actually had a few of these just before stirring them into the dough and it really excited me in trying out these cookies.It made me even more excited because I took it one step further and added Chipts White Chocolate Chips along with it.However now I only wish I had more at the time when I made these cookies.

Many of you that are freebie junkies like me have likely heard about the free Kellogg's Special K Cereal coupon that many signed up for. I was super lucky to get mine because I can imagine they were snatched up quite quickly.To let everyone know though, that this coupon promotion is no longer available and I hope everyone that did get their coupon used it on January 3rd, since its only valid for one day. If you missed out I can imagine their will be more freebie samples to come this new year.If your someone that did get their cereal? Which one did you choose?  I was able to get their Special K Oats &Honey Cereal . My first choice was to try the Special K Blueberry Cereal ,but they were all sold out at Wal-mart. Many people that day must of went their earlier to get a choice between the two and the blueberry must of came out on top.Also, many people know that if its a one day only coupon the products will be gone fast and I think even Wal-mart put it on sale. I'm not