Braided Challah Bread

I've been wanting to try making challah for some time now, but I just couldn't seem to get around to it. Last week I decided it was time to stop coming up with excuses and just do it. I looked at several different recipes for challah, it was difficult to choose one to try, but I finally settled on this recipe I found on The Apron Archives. The pictures were beautiful and the original recipe was from the King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion Cookbook, so I figured I was in good hands. While my loaf turned out beautifully and smelled divine, it was a little dry and overcooked. I think it would be just perfect if it baked for just a little less time. I'm definitely going to try it again and keep my eye on it. But even so, this bread made some fabulous grilled sandwiches, and killer croutons. I think my next experiment will be french toast! Can't wait!

Pork Ragu

Growing up, beef roasts were the traditional Sunday meal in our house. Thrown in a crockpot with some vegetables and left to simmer away all morning while everyone was at church. When we would get home the smell had perfumed the whole house, making everyone's mouth water. Dinner couldn't come fast enough. While I don't eat pot roasts as often as I used to, their smell and taste bring me back to those happy Sunday memories.

Even while beef roasts showed up frequently on the menu at my house, pork roasts were quite uncommon. I think the only time a pork shoulder roast made it home to my house was for a meal of pulled pork, the roast thrown into a crockpot to cook all day while my mom was at work, then finished with a jar of barbecue sauce from the supermarket. Still one of my favorites, even though I now like to jazz it up a little with homemade barbecue sauce and buns.

So when I saw this recipe for pork ragu, I decided I had to try it. I love trying new things, and a pork roast that didn't become pulled pork was definitely new. I am so glad I gave this recipe a try, it turned out absolutely delicious. The pork was incredibly tender and moist, the sauce richly flavored with tomatoes, fresh herbs, and wine. Not only that, but it was also very easy to put together. Just toss it in the oven when everything is set and in a few hours all you need to do is boil some pasta and you have a easy and delicious dinner that didn't demand your attention all afternoon in the kitchen. A win-win situation in my book.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Snack Bar

There are times when I just want a quick little snack of something sweet and satisfying. A cookie sounds too unhealthy, and crackers just aren't going to cut it. That's where these bars come in. They are what I would call somewhat healthy as bars go. There are oats, whole wheat flour, walnuts, and a little chocolate of course. They are easy to put together and the perfect little snack when you are needing a little extra sustenance to get you to dinner. They are also really yummy as an accompaniment to a good cup of coffee. So whatever your need, these bars are likely to fill it, give them a try!

Honey Mustard Chicken

Easy, quick and delicious, a perfect combo when it comes to a weeknight meal. This honey mustard chicken is all of that. It only takes a few ingredients, a little bit of prep work and some time in the oven and you have a tasty, satisfying meal that I think just about anyone would enjoy. I don't know about you, but sometimes I want a hearty, filling meal that doesn't take a couple hours to put together, uses what I have in the kitchen and is still full of flavor. I stumbled across this recipe last week and realized that I had chicken in the freezer and some leftover rosemary in the fridge. Since I always have onions, honey and both kinds of mustard on hand I knew I just had to try this. It was a definite do over, a great recipe to hang on to for those days when you don't have the time for much else.

Chocolate Chip Oat Cookies

I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again, chocolate chip cookies are one of my all time favorites. I'm always on the lookout for a good chocolate chip cookie recipe. I have several great recipes in my recipe book, but there is always room for one more, right? Choosing a favorite recipe would be impossible, they are all delicious in their own way. When I saw this recipe from Rebecca LaMalfa, an executive sous chef in Chicago, I just had to give it a try. This is her version of the classic, inspired by her mom's recipe. It's a pretty basic recipe, with one small twist, old-fashioned oats that you grind up in the food processor that give the cookies a slightly different flavor and texture than regular chocolate chip cookies. They turned out delicious, the perfect recipe to try when you want the classic, with a twist!

Fudgy Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting

I don't know about you, but one of my go-to desserts when I don't have a lot of time is a delicious pan of rich, chocolatey brownies. Not just any brownies though, I need my brownies to be fudgy and full of chocolate flavor. No longer will I make brownies that are full of cocoa powder, without any chocolate in sight. No, I need there to be lots of melted chocolate to go along with the butter and sugar and eggs. These brownies have just that. With half a pound of melted chocolate for a 9x9 inch pan of brownies, these are definitely chocolatey! They are perfect with just a dusting of powdered sugar on top, but if you're feeling adventurous, try frosting them to put them over the top. Peanut butter frosting, mocha frosting, ganache, or like I did this time, cream cheese frosting. They will all be fantastic because of the delicious brownie at the base.

Chocolate Chip Cream Scones

This semester my sister Lara and I started a new weekly tradition. Once a week, usually Wednesday or Thursday mornings, we head over to our favorite local bakery, Wealthy Street Bakery, where we split a pastry and enjoy a cup of super dark coffee with plenty of half and half. It has probably become my favorite time of the week! Each week it can be difficult to decide what to get to eat, the options are all so good. There are muffins, scones, croissants danishes, cinnamon rolls, breakfast cookies, babka and bread pudding to name just a few! There is absolutely no way I can name a favorite breakfast treat, but I do have to say that I absolutely love the flavor and texture of their scones. They are so light and soft, yet slightly crisp, light but not overly delicate. In the last few months I have been on the search for a scone recipe that may somewhat compare to these little beauties. Here is one attempt at this difficult and important challenge.