{sms} boozy cake with fruit and nuts

Technically this is a fruitcake, but in reality it was more cake than fruit and a boozy one at that. Instead of making one loaf, I made minis for easier sharing. These were a big hit at both work and with the family. The recipe called for brandy and amazingly enough my liquor collection (in existence only since I started baking) does not have brandy. Instead of brandy I used amaretto.

Thank you to Karin of Sugar and Spice & Everything Nice for hosting Golden Almond Fruitcake, this week’s Sweet Melissa Sundays. If you would like the recipe, visit her blog or buy the book.

(Today I am in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.)

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{db} holy cannoli

The November 2009 Daring Bakers Challenge was chosen and hosted by Lisa Michele of Parsley, Sage, Desserts and Line Drives. She chose the Italian Pastry, Cannolo (Cannoli is plural), using the cookbooks Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and The Sopranos Family Cookbook by Allen Rucker; recipes by Michelle Scicolone, as ingredient/direction guides. She added her own modifications/changes, so the recipe is not 100% verbatim from either book.

Not only was this the first time I made cannoli, it was the first time I’ve tasted them. I baked rather than fried, which is the traditional way to make cannoli. I didn’t have enough oil in the house to fry and didn’t feel like going out and buying a jug of it.  I really liked the taste of it, a crispy sweet treat. I can see how frying it would make it even more tasty.

(Today I am in Vava’u, Tonga)

Vegan Cranberry and Spice Scones

I didn’t realize Thanksgiving was so close. I knew I would be out of the country and wouldn’t have to plan a dish, dessert, or two. I didn’t pay attention to where the holiday fell on the calendar. I was vaguely aware of that the holiday was coming up. It’s hard not to be aware of it with every magazine cover screaming Thanksgiving or all the wonderful blog posts about delicious sounding dishes.

It took me by surprise then when a coworker told me Thanksgiving was next week {I wrote this on November 18}. Really? Next week? Wow.

Anyway, I made these scones and brought them in my last day of work before I left for vacation as a Thanksgiving/Holiday treat. The recipe comes from Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s Vegan Brunch and is an incarnation of autumn flavors and scents. While they baked (and cooled!!) they made my kitchen smell so good. It almost made me a bit sad to be missing Thanksgiving. Almost. Until I remembered I would be sailing the South Pacific today. 😛

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cranberry and Spice Scones

Adapted from Vegan Brunch

• 1 1/4 cups almond milk
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white whole wheat flour
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Raw sugar for sprinkling

1. Preheat oven to 375° F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small bowl, stir together almond milk and vinegar. Set aside to curdle.
3. In large bowl, whisk  flours, baking powder, spices, sugar, and salt together until well-combined. Stir in dried cranberries. Make a well in center.
4. Add oil and vanilla to almond milk mixture and pour into dry ingredients. Stir until just moistened and combined.
5. Use a 1/4 measuring cup or large ice cream scoop to place mounds on baking sheet. Sprinkle tops of scones with raw sugar. Place in oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the scones are lightly browned and firm to touch. Remove from oven and place scones on rack to cool for at least 20 minutes.

Makes 12 large scones.

{twd} all in one holiday bundt cake

Today I am in Suva, Fiji. I made the All In One Holiday Bundt Cake before I left on vacation. As it’s name implies, it has all the flavors of the holidays mixed in one cake–pumpkin, spices, cranberries, pecans. I liked it, but would probably increase the spices next time. I glazed half of it for sharing and left the other half unglazed for freezing.

Thank you to Britin of The Nitty Britty for hosting this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie. For the recipe, visit her blog or buy the book.

{sms} waffles! brunch!

I had to make waffles for this week’s Sweet Melissa Sundays recipe, so I invited the family over for brunch. The waffles were pretty good (not anywhere near as good as the waffles I had from Bouchon) and the brown sugar bananas were delicious (although my brother said they were too banana-y; how can bananas be too banana-y?)

Waffles from Bouchon

Thank you to Lauren of Fried Pickles and Ice Cream for selecting Raised Waffles with Warm Brown Sugar Bananas for this week. If you would like the recipe, visit her blog or buy the book.

(For those who are interested: Today I am in Lautoka, Fiji.)