Apple Cinnamon Bread

 

You won't find any tricks here today...only treats!  Hopefully your costumes are ready and bowls of candy wait by the front door in preparation for tonight's festivities.

I've seriously been craving something baked with apples and cinnamon lately, thanks to the arrival of my very favorite season.  Fall, I heart you.

This bread was fabulous.  It was perfectly sweet, packed with fresh apples and delightfully cinnamon-y.  It's easy to make and will infuse your entire home with delicious wafts of goodness.

I repeat, delicious wafts of goodness, people.  :)

It was hard for us to wait until the photos were taken before devouring this loaf.  You'll love it, too!  The next time I bake this (and there WILL be a next time!) I'm thinking about mixing the apples throughout the batter before it goes into the loaf pan, and then using the technique below to create the cinnamon/sugar swirl.  I think the bread would be equally fantastic with apples throughout, instead of just in the middle and on top.

Happy Halloween!

Bon Appetit, my friends.

Apple Cinnamon Bread
Adapted from:  The Happier Homemaker

Ingredients:
½ cup packed brown sugar
1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
⅔ cup white sugar
½ cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ cup milk
2 large apples, peeled and finely chopped

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl and set aside.  In a stand mixer, combine white sugar and butter until smooth.  Add eggs and vanilla and continue to beat on medium speed until combined.  Add flour and baking powder, then milk.   

Pour half the batter into the prepared pan.  Cover with half of the apples, patting apples into batter with the back of a spoon.  Sprinkle with half of the sugar and cinnamon mixture.
 
Pour the remaining batter over the apple layer; top with remaining apples and add more brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.  Pat topping into the batter with the back of a large spoon.
 
Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean.

Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes

I just love it when my little nieces spend the night.  We always have such a fun time.  The last time they both spent the night with us, we drug the telescope out of retirement and gazed up at space, while the cicadas hummed and sang from the trees all around us.  They learned all about the craters on the moon, Saturn's rings, constellations and Mars.  Talk about a picture perfect summer evening!

We have a tradition of waking up on Sunday morning and baking something fun together.  I've written about the Buttermilk Biscuits and Chocolate Chip Muffins we've made before here on the blog.  Well, these gorgeous, mouth-watering pancakes are the results of one such recent sleep-over.

These pancakes are amazingly easy, yet so delicious you'll go back for seconds (okay, maybe thirds!).  I mean, who can resist a breakfast that's filled with ooey gooey chocolate chips and is covered with sweet syrup?!?

Bon Appetit, my friends!

Chocolate Chip Buttermilk Pancakes
Adapted from:  Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, pg. 137

Ingredients:
1  3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg, slightly beaten
1  1/2 cups buttermilk
3 tablespoons canola oil
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Strawberries & Blueberries (optional)
Desired syrup

Directions:
In a large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In another bowl, use a fork to combine egg, buttermilk and oil.  Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture.  Stir just until moistened (batter should be slightly lumpy).  Stir in chocolate chips.

For each stand-size pancake, pour about 1/4 cup batter onto a hot, lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet, spreading batter if necessary.  

Cook over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until pancakes are golden brown, turning to second side when pancakes have bubbly surfaces and edges are slightly dry.  Serve warm.  If desired, top with syrup.

 

#SaveTheBiscuit: Berry Salad w/Poppy Seed Dressing & Buttermilk Biscuit Croutons

You know what they say - When life gives you left-over buttermilk biscuits, make croutons!

Wait a minute, I think I got that a little bit wrong.  ;)

But seriously, where have buttermilk biscuit croutons BEEN all my life?!?  They are insanely delicious right out of the oven, and equally amazing after they've cooled and hardened a bit.  I came across the idea in the May 2014 issue of Southern Living magazine, and wondered, "Why haven't I thought of this before?"

This is a wonderfully fresh take on the classic buttermilk biscuit and is the perfect way to use up extra biscuits that you might have on-hand.  Because we all know, it would simply be a crying shame to waste something as mouth-watering as a homemade biscuit!

I paired these croutons with a flavor-packed salad that will be one of your favorites this summer.  It's filled with fresh strawberries, blueberries, toasted walnuts, goat cheese, red onion, chicken, biscuit croutons, and sunflower kernels.  A drizzle of a sweet and tangy poppy seed dressing pulls it all together.  

Another thing that made this salad so spectacular is the fresh greens that were grown by my incredible in-laws.  They are the best and have made me feel like a part of their family since the first day we met.  I sure do love them and feel so lucky to have them in my life. 

This year, they planted a bountiful garden that includes sugar snap peas, assorted salad greens, strawberries, carrots, swiss chard, tomatoes, radishes, and cilantro.  They also have a number of fruit trees/bushes - fig, blueberry, peach, cherry, and raspberry.  I might even be leaving a few things off.  Needless to say, it's so much fun venturing over to their house to sample the latest offerings of the garden.  

The greens really made this salad.  There's nothing better than picking your own produce and eating it right away.   All those bagged salad greens at the grocery store really pale in comparison.  I've included a few photos of the garden below.

This is the fourth installment in my #SaveTheBiscuit series with the great folks at White Lily flour.  You can see my other White Lily posts here:

Just Peachy Shortcake with Toasted Pecans & Maple Drizzle
Caramel Pecan Biscuit Bake
A Buttermilk Biscuit Tutorial

Bon Appetit, my friends!

My awesome in-laws, Travis and Carol, with my little niece, Amber.  Love them!

Gorgeous salad greens growing in their garden.

Swiss Chard...Mmm...

Fresh greens, right after a light rain.

A cute little sugar snap pea.

Berry Salad w/Poppy Seed Dressing & Buttermilk Biscuit Croutons

Ingredients:

For the salad:

4-5 large handfuls of your favorite salad greens

1 lb. strawberries, sliced

1 cup blueberries

1 cup toasted walnuts

1/3 cup sunflower kernels

1/2 red onion, minced

4 oz goat cheese, crumbled

1 rotisserie chicken

For the Croutons:

(Adapted from Southern Living magazine, May 2014)

3-4 buttermilk biscuits, cooled

Salt & pepper, to taste

Extra virgin olive oil 

For the Dressing:

(Adapted from:  Taste of Home)

1/3 cup confectioners' sugar

1/4 cup raspberry vinegar

2 tablespoons orange juice

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

1/3 cup canola oil

1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds 

Directions:

Follow THIS RECIPE to make the buttermilk biscuits.

Let biscuits cool completely and then slice into small, crouton-sized cubes.  Place biscuit pieces on a silicon-lined baking sheet in a single layer.  Drizzle with a little olive oil and season with salt and pepper.   Place in a 400 degree F oven for 10 minutes, or until crisp and lightly toasted.

Meanwhile, remove chicken from the bone and cut or shred into bite-sized pieces.  Set aside.

Place the salad greens into a large bowl.  Add the strawberries, blueberries, toasted walnuts, sunflower kernels, red onion, crumbled goat cheese and chicken.  Gently toss to combine all ingredients.

Divide salad onto individual serving plates and lightly dress with the desired amount of vinaigrette, reserving extra for later use.

To make the dressing:

In a blender, combine the first six ingredients; cover and process until blended. While processing, gradually add oil in a steady stream. Stir in poppy seeds. Chill until serving.  Yield: 1 cup.

#SaveTheBiscuit - Just Peachy Shortcake with Toasted Pecans & Maple Drizzle

Who's ready for some more biscuit deliciousness???  This recipe is one of my personal favorites when it comes to desserts that are perfect for the upcoming spring and summer season.  It's my take on a traditional shortcake.  Sky-high buttermilk biscuits take the place of the usual shortcake, and juicy peaches mixed with a little brown sugar make a mouth-watering filling.  Freshly whipped cream, a drizzle of maple syrup and toasted pecans take this dessert to stellar status.

Recently, I shared the news that my blog had been featured in Wiregrass Living magazine.  This recipe was one of the dishes in my feature.  It's definitely a hit around our house.   In fact, I have a confession to make - After photographing this dish, I unashamedly devoured the.whole.thing.  I mean, I couldn't let such a beautiful thing go to complete waste!?!  Shhh...Don't tell anyone.  ;)  A girl's gotta indulge every now and then.

I know that fresh peaches aren't always easy to come by this time of year, so a bag of sliced, frozen peaches would make a fine substitute if you're in a pinch.  Just defrost and proceed as written.  This entire recipe comes together quickly and the steps are super easy.

Here in the south, we southerners are serious about our homemade biscuits.  There's a debate about whether using salted butter or shortening is better when it comes to this topic.  I've always been a firm believer in butter, until very recently.  The past few times I've made biscuits, I only had shortening on-hand...no butter to be found.  I'm slowly becoming a shortening believer.  My biscuits came out mile-high and were super light and flaky. I've also perfected my kneading method and fold over the dough several times while kneading.  This helps to create beautiful layers.

This is the 3rd installment of my #savethebiscuit series, in which I've partnered with the nice folks at White Lily flour.

Bon Appetit, my friends!

"Just Peachy" Shortcake with Toasted Pecans, Buttermilk Biscuits & Maple Drizzle
Serves 5-6

Ingredients:

6 large peaches, peeled and sliced into wedges

3 Tbsp light brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

2 cups self-rising flour, preferably White Lily

1/4 cup cold, salted butter OR vegetable shortening, cut into cubes

3/4 cup cold buttermilk

1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream

1 Tbsp white sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Pure maple syrup

Directions:
For the peaches:

Mix together the sliced peaches and brown sugar in a medium bowl.  Let the mixture stand for at least 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

For the pecans:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.  Place the pecans on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 5-7 minutes, or until lightly toasted and fragrant.  Set to the side.To make the biscuits:

Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees F.  Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or coat with no-stick cooking spray.

Pour flour into a large bowl.  Using a pastry blender, cut 1/4 cup cold butter (or shortening) into the flour until butter pieces are the size of peas.  Slowly blend in buttermilk using a fork, just until dough begins to come together, being careful not to over-mix.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and very gently knead the dough 2-3 times, just enough to bring it together.  Pat or roll the dough into a 1/2-inch thick disc.  Cut biscuits using a floured 3-inch biscuit cutter, being careful not to twist as you cut.  Repeat until all dough is used.

Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, so that they are almost touching.  Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

For the whipped cream:

While the biscuits are baking, combine the heavy whipping cream, white sugar and vanilla extract in the bowl of a stand mixer.  With the whisk attachment, beat on medium speed until soft peaks form.

To assemble:

Cut each biscuit in half and place a heaping spoonful of the peaches over each biscuit bottom.  Next, add a generous dollop of the whipped cream, followed by a sprinkling of toasted pecans.  Top with the crown of each biscuit, and finish with a drizzle of  maple syrup.  Garnish with extra chopped pecans, if desired.

#SaveTheBiscuit - Caramel Pecan Biscuit Bake

What do you get when you combine the ooey-gooey goodness of a cinnamon roll with the light and fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth amazing-ness of a buttermilk biscuit?

Well, this Caramel Pecan Biscuit Bake, of course.

My mouth is watering right about now, just remembering that wonderful first bite of this concoction.  You might be wondering what a "biscuit bake" is.  I had never made one, and really had never heard of one, until recently.  You basically make an easy biscuit dough and press it into the bottom of an 8x8 inch dish.  Next, it's topped with a heavenly mixture of yumminess, which in this case turned out to be melted butter, syrup, brown sugar, chopped pecans and plenty of cinnamon.  

Um, yes PLEASE!

I was surprised at how high the biscuit dough rose during baking.  I kind of assumed that the topping mixture would weigh it down a little.  Boy, was I wrong. 

The first bite is undoubtedly the best.  Trust me, you won't be able to let this cool long enough to allow each piece to come out of the baking dish in a perfect square.  It's wonderfully messy and seriously melts in your mouth.  The more it cools, the more it will hold its shape.

The weekend will be here before you know it, and that's the perfect time to treat your family to this incredible treat.  Weekend mornings always meant big home-cooked breakfasts around our house growing up.  My mom made mounds of scrambled eggs, grits, bacon, and bread of some sort - either biscuits or toast.  My dad would pile a mountain of grits and eggs onto his plate so high you'd only see the outside rim of his plate!  Thanks in part to this recipe, last Sunday morning was one of those blissfully lazy mornings that just make your heart smile.

This is the second installment of my #savethebiscuit series, in which I've partnered with the nice folks at White Lily flour.  This recipe is a really cool way to incorporate biscuit dough into your repertoire in a new and exciting way.  I'm already brain-storming ideas of what to top my next Biscuit Bake with...Oh, the possibilities!  Seriously...I'm sort of in love with the whole concept.

If you're looking for more breakfast recipe ideas, White Lily has a great selection HERE.

Bon Appetit, my friends!

Caramel Pecan Biscuit Bake
Source:  whitelily.com

Ingredients:
Crisco Original No-Stick Cooking Spray

Topping:
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup Hungry Jack Butter Flavored Syrup
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans
1  1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Dough:
2 cups White Lily Enriched Bleached Self-Rising Flour
1/4 cup Crisco All-Vegetable Shortening, chilled
2/3 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup Pillsbury Whipped Supreme Cream Cheese Flavored Frosting
Instructions:
Heat oven to 400º F. Lightly spray 8 x 8 x 2-inch baking dish with no-stick cooking spray. Combine butter, syrup, brown sugar, pecans and cinnamon in medium bowl. Set aside.

Place flour in a large bowl. Cut in shortening with pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add buttermilk. Stir just until dough leaves sides of bowl.

Press dough into bottom of prepared baking dish with floured hands. Pour butter mixture over dough. Bake 15 to 18 minutes, or until dough rises and edges are golden brown. Place on cooling rack.

Heat cream cheese frosting in microwave safe bowl 15 to 20 seconds or until melted. Stir. Drizzle over biscuit bake. Cool 10 minutes. Serve warm.

#SavetheBiscuit ! A Buttermilk Biscuit Tutorial

How many recipes can you think of that only call for 3 ingredients, yet can evoke such special memories in the hearts and minds of so many southerners?  These days, we rely too often on fast food and frozen meals, that we sometimes forget how wonderfully comforting and easy things like biscuit-making can be.  Sure, you can buy frozen biscuits at the store, but there's just nothing quite like a hot, fluffy biscuit right out of the oven that you've made from scratch.  It's rewarding.  Plus, it's so much fun to teach the people you love how to make the perfect biscuit.  It's something that everyone should undoubtedly have in their arsenal, and a lot of people don't realize how dadgum easy it truly is.

Last weekend, my two adorable nieces spent the night, and on Sunday morning we hopped into the kitchen for a lesson in biscuit-making.  They were so excited, and it turned out to be quite the fun little adventure!  By the end of it, we were all covered in flour, but that was just part of the fun.  Upon first bite, they proclaimed - "Yum!  Let's make more!!"  I have to admit, that sort of enthusiasm in the kitchen warmed my heart.  It brought back all those memories that I have of making biscuits with my grandmother.  Maybe one day, they'll look back and remember learning to make biscuits for the first time with "Aunt Les."  :)

I'm so happy to be partnering with White Lily brand flour, as a White Lily Ambassador, on their mission to #savethebiscuit!  White Lily is a brand that I trust up and down, and I will not make biscuits with any other flour.  The reason is simple - Southern flours, like White Lily, are made from soft winter wheat, and therefore have much lower levels of protein.  This results in lighter, fluffier and more tender biscuits.   

Tips for Great Biscuits: 
1.  Always use COLD butter and buttermilk.  I've even started keeping my flour in the fridge, as well. 
2.  Work quickly while making the biscuits, so that the ingredients stay cold.  Once that cold butter hits the hot oven, it will create steam, which helps the biscuits rise higher.
3.  And most importantly - Use a gentle hand and do not over-mix.

Helpful Links:
White Lily has some great professional baking tips, which can be found HERE.   

If White Lily isn't sold in your area, you can order it online at either the Smucker's Online Store or Amazon.

So, without further ado, here are some photos of our flour-covered adventures in the kitchen.  Now, go grab someone special and share your new biscuit-making knowledge!

Bon Appetit, my friends! 

First, pour 2 cups White Lily self-rising flour into a large mixing bowl.

Next, add 1/4 cup COLD butter, cut into cubes.

Using a pastry blender or two forks, cut the butter into the flour until the butter is roughly the size of peas.

Learning to use a pastry blender :)

They were both such great little helpers!

When you're finished, it should look like this...the butter will be about the size of peas. 

Pour the cold buttermilk into the flour, and using a fork, very gently stir the mixture just until combined.

Stirring and mixing...

Lightly flour your work surface

And pour the dough out onto your prepared work surface

Gently knead the dough just 2-3 times, and pat down into a circle that's about 1/2 inch thick.

Biscuit-making is messy (but tons of fun!)

Next, cut biscuits using a floured, 2 inch biscuit cutter.  Be careful not to twist as you cut.  Place biscuits on a silicone-lined baking sheet, with sides touching.

Biscuit #1 is ready for the oven!

Is that not some major cuteness right there, or what?!?

Into the pre-heated 500 F oven they go for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Flour-covered adventures are some of the best. :)

The after-math.

Voila!  Enjoy right out of the oven with your favorite jam, jelly or honey. 

Classic Buttermilk Biscuits
Ingredients:  
2 cups White Lily self-rising flour  
1/4 cup COLD, salted butter, cut into cubes
2/3 to 3/4 cup cold buttermilk   
2 Tbsp melted butter

Directions:  
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F.

Line a baking sheet with a silicone mat or coat with no-stick cooking spray.
Pour flour into a large bowl.  Using a pastry blender, cut 1/4 cup cold butter into the flour until butter pieces are the size of peas.

Gently blend in buttermilk using a fork, just until dough begins to leave the sides of the bowl.  Do not over-mix!

Place dough onto a lightly floured work surface and very gently knead the dough 2-3 times, just enough to bring it together.  Do not over-knead. 

Pat or roll the dough until it is 1/2 inch thick.  Cut biscuits using a floured 2-inch biscuit cutter, being careful NOT to twist as you cut.  (This will seal the edges and prevent the biscuits from rising as high.)

Place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet, so that they are almost touching.

Bake in the pre-heated oven for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

While still hot, brush additional melted butter on the top of each biscuit.