Vanilla Bean Paste (product review)

I recently discovered a product called vanilla bean paste. I bought a magazine that had a whole section devoted to vanilla in all it's different forms. There was of course plain old vanilla extract, which is good in a pinch. And the actual vanilla bean, which I enjoy as well. The bean doesn't have as much flavor as the extract, but it has the black flecks which is fun. And you can seep it in liquids and make vanilla flavored things, like simple syrup. You can also make vanilla sugar with the bean!

But my favorite by far is Vanilla bean paste. It is a little expensive (like about $7-$10 for 4 ounces) It lasts for a long time, and it is hard to find. They do not have it at the grocery store, you will have to go to a specialty store or order it online. I found it at a cake decorating store here in Phoenix. I use it in a lot of recipes instead of regular vanilla, and it is awesome in homemade ice cream. It is one of my things to bake with, I made some really yummy butter cream yesterday, stay tuned for the recipe soon

Vanilla Brown Butter Cupcakes

I found this recipe and I had to try it. I did not think that the brown butter would make it taste that much different, but it gave the cupcakes a whole different flavor. The brown butter tastes kind of toasty, and it makes the cupcakes delicious. The recipe goes together really easily also, once the butter is browned and cooled you just kind of throw it all together. The frosting on these wasn't bad either. I used a vanilla bean butter cream and it was delicious. I could have eaten the whole bowl of frosting by itself, but I didn't, which I think shows remarkable restraint. I have discovered product called vanilla bean paste and I have fallen in love. It is a little expensive, but I think it is worth it. It is like a magnified vanilla taste, and it has the beans in it so you can see the little black flecks in whatever you put it in. It is also hard to find, but it lasts for a while, so if you can find it, you'll be in business!! These are possibly the best cupcakes that I have made, or had in quite a while.
Hope you enjoy

Vanilla Brown Butter Cupcakes
Makes 12

1/3 Cup Butter
1 1/3 Cups All Purpose Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking powder
1/4 Teaspoon of salt
1 Cup Sugar
2 Eggs
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract (if you have vanilla bean paste, use it instead, TRUST ME)
3/4 Cup Milk (I used 2%)

Preheat oven to 350 and line 12 muffin tins

Melt butter in a small saucepan and cook over low-medium heat until butter has turned an amber color and smells toasty, but not burnt. Butter will darken quickly once it begins to turn. Pour from saucepan, scraping all the browned bits from the bottom with a spatula, into a small bowl to cool.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.
In a medium bowl, whisk together cooled butter, eggs, vanilla and milk. Pour into flour mixture and stir until just combined.
Distribute batter evenly into prepared muffin cups.
Bake for 16-19 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean.
Cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.


Vanilla Bean Buttercream (best frosting EVER)

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla bean paste (if you don't have it, you can use vanilla extract, but it is not as fantastic)
Approx 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
2-4 tablespoons milk

Cream butter with an electric mixer until soft. Add vanilla and gradually add in sugar until most has been incorporated. Mixture will look a bit sandy. Add in milk as necessary (start with 2 tbsp), along with any remaining sugar, until frosting reaches an easy to work with consistency. The amount of sugar necessary will vary according to the weather and season, so you might need a bit extra if it’s humid out!

Frozen Fruit Pops

It is HOT!! At least for those of us here in the dessert of Arizona, it is roasting outside. So baking and cooking are not as fun, so I made homemade popsicles last week and they were a HUGE hit with my kids, and a few other ones too. I used paper cups and lollipop sticks since I do not have popsicle molds.

Here you go

8 3 Oz paper cups
8 Lollipop Sticks (or popsicle sticks)
12 Ounces of cubed up fruit (I used a combination of watermelon and blueberries one time. And also a combination of strawberries and blueberries, both were delicious. If you use watermelon you need to add a little sugar)
1/2 Cup of Simple Syrup *
2 Teaspoons of Lemon Juice
1/2 Cup Water

Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into the paper cups and put in the freezer. When it gets a little slushy (the stick will stand up) put the stick in and let them freeze the rest of the way.

When you are ready to eat just peel the paper cup off!!

Monster Cookies

I have strong feelings about a few things and cookies are one of them. I think that chocolate and peanut butter are one of the best combinations ever concocted. Those of you who are allergic to peanut better, I feel for you! Those of you who say that you do not like peanut butter, well I think that you are crazy and you should try it again. I also believe that cookies are the best when they are taken out of the oven a couple of minutes early. I like gooey, big cookies!! And these cookies fit the bill. They have a little something for everyone, peanut butter, chocolate chips, oatmeal, and M & Ms!! They are delicious



Monster Cookies
recipe from Baked Perfection

3 Eggs
1 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
1 Cup granulated Sugar
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
12 Ounces Creamy Peanut Butter
1 Stick Butter, softened
2 Teaspoons Baking Soda
3 1\2 Cups Quick Cooking Oats
1 Cup All Purpose Flour
1 Cup Chocolate Chips
1 Cup M & Ms

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Combine eggs and sugars and mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, butter, and peanut butter. Slowly mix in baking soda, oats, and flour. Stir in the chocolate chips and M & Ms. Drop by rounded teaspoonful 2 inches apart. Bake 8-10 minutes. When you take them out of the oven, leave them on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes before removing to a rack to cool.

Enjoy!

Banana Bread

I LOVE banana bread and it seems about every other week I have some bananas that I am going to have to throw away, or make banana bread. Over the last couple of years I have gone back and forth between about 3 different recipes, but I think I have finally comitted to one. It is very yummy and moist and not too dense.


Banana Bread
recipe stolen/borrowed from Rachael White (although slightly adapted)

1 1/4 Cups Sugar
1/2 Cup (1 stick) butter softened
2 Eggs
1 1/2 Cups mashed bananas (about 3 medium)
1/2 Cup Buttermilk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla
2 1/2 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 Teaspoon Salt

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all the above ingredients and bake for about 50 minutes.
If you want you can add 1/2 cup chopped nuts, or my favorite 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Or if you are feeling really crazy, add both. Here is a tip about chocolate chips, if you want to add chocolate chips to something like banana bread have you ever noticed that they sink to the bottom as they cook. If you coat your chips in a couple of teaspoons of flour before you mix them in they will not sink.
This recipe has buttermilk in it, which I think is why it is so delicious, but a lot of people don't have buttermilk laying around. If you don't have it, you can mix white wine vinegar into regular milk and let it sit for a fw minute, and voila, BUTTERMILK! Add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to every cup of milk.

Good Luck, Happy baking