Extreme Banana Bread!

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This is not your typical banana bread.  Although the ingredients may be the same, this recipe packs 5 bananas in the batter (and one for the top).  It's quite possibly the best banana bread you will ever make!

Recipes for ultimate banana bread abound, but because they include an overload of bananas for flavor, the bread’s texture is often soggy. I wanted a moist, not mushy, loaf that tasted of banana through and through. Let's face it, it's banana bread, you're not painting a masterpiece! It's not a special occasion dessert, it's a very clever way to use over ripe banana's that would of been thrown out, into a pretty descent mid morning snack!

It is not a special-occasion dessert. It is a quick and clever way to use up bananas that are too brown and mushy to eat. It is a way to turn something you would have thrown away into a pretty decent midmorning snack. - See more at: http://www.davidwalbert.com/2010/06/06/pretty-good-banana-bread/#sthash.SkHd46tO.dpuf

It is not a special-occasion dessert. It is a quick and clever way to use up bananas that are too brown and mushy to eat. It is a way to turn something you would have thrown away into a pretty decent midmorning snack. - See more at: http://www.davidwalbert.com/2010/06/06/pretty-good-banana-bread/#sthash.SkHd46tO.dpuf

It is not a special-occasion dessert. It is a quick and clever way to use up bananas that are too brown and mushy to eat. It is a way to turn something you would have thrown away into a pretty decent midmorning snack. - See more at: http://www.davidwalbert.com/2010/06/06/pretty-good-banana-bread/#sthash.SkHd46tO.dpuf

It is not a special-occasion dessert. It is a quick and clever way to use up bananas that are too brown and mushy to eat. It is a way to turn something you would have thrown away into a pretty decent midmorning snack. - See more at: http://www.davidwalbert.com/2010/06/06/pretty-good-banana-bread/#sthash.SkHd46tO.dpuf

Pumpkin Cookies with Penuche frosting!

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I made these easy drop cookies a couple weeks ago for a football party at Sweet One and TT's house, they are so soft and chewy. Then, I posted a picture the other day on Twitter and you all went a little nuts!! 

Easy Oatmeal Apricot Bars!

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 I splurge every once in a while when I am shopping at Pasta and Co. in Bellevue, Washington and I buy a apricot bar. I love them and thought........Hmmmm I should make a few for my daughter, as she has been wanting sweets with oatmeal. She could have them for a yummy dessert or a fun breakfast treat. They are quite tasty and the apricot is a nice change of pace from my normal flavor palate. I made up a batch and served in a dessert buffet for a party we recently had, then, I packaged up the left over's and sent them home with her. She and Nate were so happy!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars!

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What happened to the lovely warm weather we have been having here in Seattle? I have spent most of the Summer in flip flops, shorts and capri's only to wake up this morning to a definite chill in the air. A fire in the fireplace, on the veranda chill! The good news in this is, we now have an excuse to turn on the oven and bake up something delectably good!

These chocolate chip cookie dough cheesecake bars are a mouthful.....of deliciousness! Just picture a bottom layer of graham cracker, a middle layer of creamy cheesecake, and a top layer of classic chocolate chip dough. Does this sound too good to be true? They are for real and are so easy to make! You are only a few steps to reality!!

Lactation Chocolate Chip Cookies!

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"This recipe is great for mothers who are breastfeeding. It helps to keep your milk supply up or increase your milk supply. Use more brewers yeast and oatmeal if you are wanting to increase your milk supply. You can use more chocolate chips if you like or any kind of chips," says Noel Trujillo. You can also safely eat these cookies during pregnancy in preparation for breastfeeding.

JJ's Ooey Gooey Chocolate Brownies

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These are the best brownies you will ever make, decadent and delicious and they are quick to make! Seriously....pinky swear, the best! No more words, just run, don’t walk, to your nearest store and grab some Ghiradelli ground chocolate and make these!

Secret Agent Huckleberry Bars!

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The original recipe is "Secret Agent Raspberry Bars" and is in Chef Michael Schlow's new cookbook, "It's About Time". But, I have been on a huckleberry roll, so I used some huckleberry preserves I had. You can use what ever seedless jam you like.

JJ's Peach and huckleberry crisp!

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Every June it happens-large bins of beautiful peaches arrive at the market. A lot of people in their haste to taste summer, grab a bagful of the pretty rock-hard fruit and take it home. And every year, they are disappointed. 

Cinnamon Pin Wheels!

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Have I got a treat for you today! I don’t know if I was craving cinnamon rolls or what, but, I decided, I am going to make a cookie that tastes like a cinnamon roll!  Brace yourself friends, you will NOT be able to stop eating these, they are that good!

Lil' Monster cupcakes for the Kiddo's!

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These were one of the cutest cupcakes we have made to date! We got the idea from a very creative blogger, Hollie, over at The Seven Year Cottage. We are vacationing with 22 family member's in Lake Chelan, Wa. and made these for the kids at a family BBQ. It goes without saying that these were a HUGE hit with not only the kids, but the adults loved them too. Your kids or grand kids could easily help with these in the kitchen. It would be a great way to spend a Summer afternoon with them! One of the kiddo's said, "You are the best chef in the world!" We all got a good laugh, but, other guests where we were staying came to have a look, wanted the blog address and asked for a cupcake......Yay!

New York Cheesecake with local fresh strawberries!

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There are foods that bring me back to my childhood. Foods that my grandma’s, aunts and my mom would make for family gatherings. I can close my eyes, and can picture myself there. The dining room table filled with food, and a train of relatives carrying plastic trays and paper plates making their way around the spread. Our family gatherings were always large, with lot's of laughter and fun.

It’s the late 1960′s. I can see the harvest gold shag carpet. I can feel my too short bangs, which were freshly cut by my Mother. My uncles and dad will soon retreat to sitting in the living room watching stock car racing on the TV, while the ladies gossip and swap recipes in the kitchen. My cousins and I would play "kick the can" and "King of the Haystack" out around and in the barn. Good memories and good times!

Fleur de Sel Chocolate Cake with Salted Caramel Sauce!

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This chocolate cake concludes any meal on a rich note. A delightful salted caramel topping poured over the top and out onto your plate, this is a little piece of heaven that will leave your guests begging for another invite!!

Two new appetizers- Pancetta wrapped mango & veggie shooters!

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 Memorial Day holiday weekend is here! Have you decided who you will be celebrating with? Have you decided what you'll be eating? Whether you are hosting a barbeque or would like to place flowers on a loved ones headstone, we are hoping you enjoy your Holiday and have very pleasant memories. 

We decided we wanted to get one last pizza party in with our outdoor pizza oven, before we fly back to Seattle for the "Summer of babies"! What about you? If you're still figuring out what to make, here's 12 delicious ideas to consider that will be a great addition to the holiday table...

How to carve a watermelon baby carriage!

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Tink's Baby Madison shower- Part III

If you are hosting a baby shower sometime in the future, you may be thinking about cute centerpiece ideas for the main table of your party or for the food buffet. From flowers, balloons, apothecary candy to diaper cakes, there are so many options for celebrating the upcoming birth of a tiny baby. For those of you planning on serving fruit at the party, you should consider making a adorable watermelon baby carriage. This fun centerpiece is really easy to make and guaranteed to make your guests smile.

 

Baked Alaska with Italian chocolate gelato for Mom!

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A Three generation picture , my Mom, my daughter and me. This was taken on Holly's wedding day, over 4 years ago. Now my beautiful daughter is expecting and we will welcome Madison in the next few months! A fourth generation about to be born!! Happy Mother's Day!

With Mother's Day coming up on Sunday, it got me to thinking even more about my Mom and how grateful I am to her for giving me a love of sewing and cooking. My mother is an exceptional seamstress and home chef and I grew up in a home of several sewing machines, ranging from the fancy to the antique and with lot's of family functions with food ranging from a family barbeque to a multiple course sit down dinner for 40-75. I grew up loving large family/friends gathering's and to this day, love to have large parties! I just love life and I have my Mother to thank for that!

JJ's favorite Chocolate flan with salted caramel sauce! Cinco de Mayo!

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How do you spell romance? I spell it D-E-S-S-E-R-T! In particular I love this Ibarra flan. The first time I tried Ibarra flan I was at a restaurant in Seattle on Queen Anne called Barbacoa (which has since closed). Chef John created this fabulous recipe with Mexican Ibarra chocolate that I fell in love with and I ordered it, every time we went! I begged for the recipe and finally got a scribbled recipe for 24 people, that quite honestly was not accurate! Last year I made an Ibarra flan and blogged about it, but, I have perfected it to serving eight and added a few more touches of my own that I think you will love! This can be served in individual ramekins as well!

Extreme Chocolate Chunk Cookies!

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The other day I whipped up a batch of  these Chocolate Chunk cookies. Our nephew was flying in from California, and I thought they would make a nice snack when he arrived. These are for serious cookie connoisseurs! A friend of mine, Mojdeh, gave me this cookie recipe a few weeks ago, she got it from a friend who made it from Saveur magazine. They're absolutely over the top delicious!! And they were one of Saveur's top 150 recipes.

They're basically 9 ounces of rough chopped chocolate in between three layers of cookie dough...........trust me, you will die and go to heaven with the first bite!   Ed, our nephew said, "they are moist and fudgy like brownies, layered with chunks of chocolate, with a slight crisp outside!"  And they are! Moist and tender inside, and so marbled that every bite contains the consummate balance of sweet dough, melting bittersweet chocolate, and crystalline salt.....mmmm You can't miss with these!

Gender Reveal Party!

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                                       Weddle it be?

What is this new explosion of gender reveal parties? They are CRAZY! I remember when we didn't know the sex until the baby came out the chute!! Well, okay I'm dating myself now, but, this is some serious fun!! And don't you ever think I am not going to be in on "Some Serious Fun"!! It is usually given by the expectant parents and instead of the party goers surprising the mommy-to-be with a shower, the baby's parents surprise their guests when they reveal the gender of their sweet child. I mentioned the idea to my daughter in passing, when we first knew she was expecting. A few weeks later, she said let's do it!! I was ecstatic! When the idea of "Gender Reveal" started  it was with a few photos of a small group, cutting a cake etc. Now they have developed into some serious all out events!!! Some do “Cravings” as the theme of the snacks, which is totally hilarious, as all pregnant women would agree. At the end of the party they opened a box of balloons with PINK OR BLUE balloons in it. And some do it really over the top with fireworks! There are themed parties with pink and blue shamrocks around St. Patrick's day or pink and blue costumes around Halloween. 

Chocolate icebox Tart-From True Food Restaurant

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 To say I love chocolate is a gross understatement..........I can remember going to the corner Bartell's drugstore and going straight to the back of the store where the Fountain was, with my Mom, (who is almost 93 years old and still addicted to chocolate) ordering a two scoop Hot Fudge Sundae with whipped cream, nuts and a maraschino cherry.......... These days, I am still a self professed "Chocoholic", but now I moderate.....ugggghhh!  However, I only eat good dark chocolate, my palate sort of changed as I got older, no more milk chocolate, it just doesn't do it for me. This recipe was part of the class I was honored to be a part of in January, given by Lov'n the kitchen. Other recipes that Chef Stebner created and I have blogged about, are listed below in a link. This tart is healthy, it is easy to make and no baking! I love it and I am pretty certain, if you love dark chocolate, you'll love it too!

Chocolate Icebox Tart
Chef Michael Stebner- True Food Kitchen

1 cup Unsweetened Shredded organic Coconut
3/4 cup Ground Almonds
1 1/3 cups Unsweetened Natural cocoa Powder
1/2 cup Agave nectar
1 1/3 cups Coconut oil
1/2 cup Almond butter

Crust:
In a bowl, mix together the coconut, almonds, 1/3 cup of the cocoa powder, 1/4 cup of the agave nectar and 1/3 cup of the coconut oil. Mix well to make the crust. Press the crust into the bottom and partially up the sides of an 11 by 7 by 2 inch sheet pan or baking dish. Chill for 30 minutes.

Filling:

Put the almond butter and the remaining 1 cup cocoa powder, 1/4 cup agave nectar, and 1 cup coconut oil in a food processor and blend until smooth. Pour the filling into the chilled tart shell and shill for two hours or until firm. Cut into 1 inch squares and serve. Cover and refrigerate any left over. 

Makes 8-10 servings

You can find this at Whole Foods 
and other health food stores in your area

Chick-pea-bruschetta-chef stebner 

Chiciken Farro Salad- Chef Stebner 

Tuscan Kale Salad- Chef Stebner 

Have a great start to your week!

Cheers!
JJ

Buckeye Brownies...!

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Simply delicious is how I would describe these bars! There is a rich, decadent layer of brownie topped with a creamy smooth layer of peanut butter filling, topped off with a chocolatey peanut butter glaze. After the pictures were taken and one bar was consumed by myself and hubby, I wrapped the rest in plastic wrap for safe keeping in the freezer! I have come to love storing goodies in the freezer. When wrapped properly, the yummies stay fresh and you have instant dessert for when company comes. I also store cupcakes in the freezer and when I want to whip up a batch to share or for giving, all that needs to be done is to make a frosting...too easy, right!