desserts | Bead Happily Ever After

Falling for Dessert

Posted on October 22, 2012 by crystal

I have a strict rule around here . . .

No baking in July or August!

Well, ok, I’m exaggerating . . . but I do avoid using the oven during the hottest months of summer. Honestly, I think that makes it all the more fun to return to baking once the chill of autumn is in the air!

And what did I choose as my first baked item for fall 2012? Biscotti! The recipe came from dear friend and frequent commenter, Paulette. She featured it on her blog a little while ago and I immediately jotted “Paulette’s Biscotti” at the top of my list of “recipes to try”. She doubles the recipe, but I didn’t. I confess I am a bit of a chicken on that score. When I’m making something for the first time, I usually consider it a test and faithfully follow the recipe. Oven temperatures can vary or the baking powder may be close to it’s expiration date. I figure if all heck breaks loose – at least it’s only a single batch wasted.

The biscotti dough mixes up fairly quickly and then you form it into loaves. Here are mine just before I popped them into the oven . . .

Is there anything better than dessert cooling in the kitchen? Baked to a nice golden color, as per Paulette’s instructions! 🙂

Sir Beads and I have been enjoying a couple of these, every evening, along with a cup of tea. They’re almost gone now (Loud sob, here!) Why oh why didn’t I listen to Paulette and make a double recipe??? They’re soooo GOOD!!!

Wish I could hand you one – right through the screen!

But, you can make your own if you like! 🙂

Just stop by Paulette’s for the recipe.

Hugs,

A is for Apple

Posted on October 21, 2010 by crystal

As Clenna reminded us last week with her photos from the orchard – it’s apple season! 😀

I’d like to share a recipe that was my grandmother’s. She’s gone now, but she’ll always be with me in spirit. She was the original organized homemaker, but then that’s really all that girls of her generation had to strive for. She was delightfully funny (witty, actually!), rather shy (but a great story-teller), very generous, and had a way of letting you know she loved you . . . without a lot of words. I still miss her, but I know she’d be tickled that I’m sharing this recipe with you. It’s delicious and so easy to make!

Helen’s Apple Squares

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1 cup flour

2 tbs baking powder

1 cup sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 eggs

3/4c chopped walnuts

3 large apples (diced)

brown sugar to sprinkle on top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mix together first 8 ingredients and

Pour into a greased 9″x13″ pan.

Sprinkle with brown sugar.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Cool and cut into squares.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hugs,

Thank Goodness For You

Posted on March 5, 2010 by crystal

TGFY

No… I didn’t just spell TGIF incorrectly!

I do mean TGFY –

Thank Goodness For You!

Although I didn’t look in the mirror, I’m sure my cheeks were bright pink all day yesterday, as I read your compliments and congratulations.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. 😀

For this week’s Friday Favorites, I have a delicious recipe for a cake that’s special enough for company, but easy enough to have any time!

When I first got married, many of our friends were also young couples, and none of us had any extra money for entertaining. Planning a nice dinner for a group was a costly proposition, so we used to have each other over for “dessert”. Not only was it cheaper, but it was much less work for the hostess, too! We’d take turns hosting the gang, and it was fun to make a cake or pie; put on a big pot of coffee; and relax over good conversation with lots of laughter.

Here’s the kind of recipe (from one of my vintage cookbooks) that we would serve.

Easy Pineapple Cake

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
2 eggs
1 large can crushed pineapple
1-1/2 cups chopped nuts

Directions:
In a large bowl, mix all of the ingredients thoroughly. Stir with a wooden spoon.
Pour mixture into a greased 9x13x2 inch pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until light brown or until toothpick comes out clean.

Frosting:
Use you own favorite frosting or serve with whipped cream or ice cream!

Happy Weekend!

See you Monday for a new giveaway and question. 😀

Friday Favorites – Pears Recipe!

Posted on April 2, 2009 by crystal

This week’s Friday Favorites is a recipe sent in by my sister, Nancy. That girl has such a talent for finding recipes that are not only delicious but also quick to make! I’m getting hungry just reading it, so I’ll definitely be adding “pears” to the grocery cart this week. 🙂

Baked Pears

Ingredients

4 pears cut in halves and cored
4 tablespoons butter, lightly melted
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Place pear halves in baking dish. Brush them generously with butter.
3. Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle mixture on top of pear halves.
4. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.
Perfect!

Have some fun this weekend. 🙂

See you Monday with the new questions!