Herbed Foccacia Bread

Sometimes I get lazy... And when I do, I cheat. As in cheat, I mean its not entirely homemade. However, when I made this the other night, I didn't cheat. Here's the cheating version...

Herbed Foccacia Bread

1lb refrigerated pizza dough (make your own to not cheat)

1/4 c olive oil

2 tbsp chopped rosemary or oregano

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 tsp salt

thin onion slices (optional)

1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese

On a floured surface, roll out 1 pound refrigerated pizza dough into a 10-by-15-inch rectangle; press into an oiled rimmed baking sheet. Mix olive oil, rosemary or oregano, red pepper flakes, and salt. Brush half of the herb oil over the dough. Make dimples in the dough with your fingers and top with thin onion slices and grated Parmesan. Bake at 400 until golden, about 20 minutes. Brush with the remaining herb oil.

Pear Bread with a Pomegranate Glaze

One day I got bored and I realized I had so many pears that were on the verge of going bad. I decided to take care of that and re-do one of my other recipes, but with a new ingredient. And then I noticed in the fridge I had POM juice... Voila!

*The best part about having the pear in it, it adds a nice crunch!

Pear Bread with a Pomegranate Glaze

3 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4 shredded bosc pears
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs

1/2 c powdered sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons POM juice

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or 375 degrees for high altitude). Grease a (9x5in) loaf pan or 2 (8x4in) loaf pans and sprinkle with flour.
Mix flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and baking powder in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix apple, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Form a bowl like dent in the center of the flour mixture. Pour in the apple mixture and mix until fully blended.
Pour into loaf pan or divide evenly into both loaf pans. Place loaf pan on a cookie sheet in case of spills. Bake 8-inch loaves 50 to 60 minutes, 9-inch loaf 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on cooling rack 10 minutes.
Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on cooling rack.

Combine powdered sugar and juice, stirring with a whisk; drizzle over warm bread. Cool completely on wire rack.

On its way...

I really need to update this on a regular basis! So here are some things to expect this week. Like I said here, I am obsessed with cranberries this season, so be prepared!

Pear bread with a Pomegranite glaze
Pumpkin-Cranberry bread
Coco Cranberry-Apple muffins
Coconut Crusted Shrimp with a Peanut Butter Curry sauce
Pumpkin Brownies
Olive Oil-Lime salad dressing
Herbed Foccacia Bread
Orange Poppy Seed Cupcakes

I promise all of this will be posted before Thanksgiving!!!!!!!

Caramel Apple Bread (not the pudding)

I made this last night and I remembered why I love apples so much! I would have taken a picture, but I ate it too fast. Priorities people, priorities. Apparently, mine start with eating before anything else. How I'm still a size 2, I have no idea. Eat up!

3 cups whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups shredded apple (3 medium)
1 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup canola oil
2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
Caramel (for drizzling)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or 375 degrees for high altitude). Grease a (9x5in) loaf pan or 2 (8x4in) loaf pans and sprinkle with flour.
Mix flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and baking powder in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix apple, sugar, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Form a bowl like dent in the center of the flour mixture. Pour in the apple mixture and mix until fully blended.
Pour into loaf pan or divide evenly into both loaf pans. Bake 8-inch loaves 50 to 60 minutes, 9-inch loaf 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on cooling rack 10 minutes.
Loosen sides of loaves from pans; remove from pans and place top side up on cooling rack. Drizzle with caramel. Slice after 2 hours of cooling.

*You really don't have to wait to slice it. I mean you can if you want, but honestly, I like to just dig right in! Who doesn't love warm bread?
**You can wrap this in parchment paper and give it as a gift!

Cupcakes and Loaves

So I am on a roll right now posting these blogs so I thought I'd include a few of my new favorites that I made from my Cooking Light cookbook I got for Christmas. These are way good. You gotta try them!

Lemon Scented Blueberry Cupcakes

Cupcakes:
1 1/2 cups (about 6 3/4 ounces) plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, divided
10 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 large egg
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 cup 2% reduced-fat milk
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
3/4 cup fresh or frozen blueberries, thawed

Frosting:
1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Fresh blueberries (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place 12 decorative paper muffin cup liners into muffin cups.

To prepare cupcakes, lightly spoon 1 1/2 cups flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Measure 1 tablespoon flour; level with a knife. Sift together 1 1/2 cups flour plus 1 tablespoon flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Combine melted butter and egg in another large bowl; stir with a whisk. Add buttermilk, milk, and 1 teaspoon rind to butter mixture; stir with a whisk. Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Toss blueberries with remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Fold blueberries into batter. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

To prepare frosting, place cream cheese, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon rind, vanilla, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed just until blended. Gradually add powdered sugar (do not overbeat). Stir in juice. Spread frosting evenly over cupcakes; garnish with blueberries, if desired. Store, covered, in refrigerator.

Yield: 1 dozen (serving size: 1 cupcake)

CALORIES 236 (29% from fat); FAT 7.7g (sat 4.6g,mono 2g,poly 0.4g); IRON 1mg; CHOLESTEROL 38mg; CALCIUM 71mg; CARBOHYDRATE 38.7g; SODIUM 230mg; PROTEIN 3.7g; FIBER 0.7g

Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup butter, softened

2 large eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)

1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup flaked sweetened coconut

Cooking spray

1 tablespoon flaked sweetened coconut

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime or lemon juice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°.
Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk.
Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Stir in 1/2 cup coconut. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coconut. Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar and juice, stirring with a whisk; drizzle over warm bread. Cool completely on wire rack.

Yield: 1 loaf, 16 servings (serving size: 1 slice)

CALORIES 193 (21% from fat); FAT 4.6g (sat 2.8g,mono 1.1g,poly 0.3g); IRON 1mg; CHOLESTEROL 35mg; CALCIUM 15mg; CARBOHYDRATE 35g; SODIUM 179mg; PROTEIN 2.9g; FIBER 1.1g