Well, it’s finally started cooling off around here and I’m so very excited to feel some fall weather. Yesterday I put on a sweater, turned on some Nick Drake and decided to bake something. It was a little rainy outside so I thought something to go with soup would be nice, so I went for this. The sweet potato brings a beautiful fall flavor (and color!) into the dish and I just loved it.

It’s my birthday this weekend and to get even more into the fall spirit, I’m headed to the mountains for apple picking with some wonderful friends. So, I’m in the market for some deeelicious recipes using apples! If you have any that you just love, comment and let me know! Until then….happy FALL!:)

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I pulled down my copy of Frame-by-Frame Baking this morning in hopes that I’d find some inspiration for something yummy to bake for breakfast. I found this recipe for a crown loaf using hazelnuts, dark rum, and crystallized ginger, which sounds deeelicious, but unfortunately for me my kitchen was lacking those particular items and I wasn’t feeling in the mood to make a grocery run. I did, however find some pecans, a bottle of triple sec, and a peach and decided to see what would happen. I was happy with what came out, and I think they are a lovely addition to a brunch or the perfect accompaniment for a cup of joe. Not too sweet..but definitely delicious.

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I just pulled this out of the oven and my house is filled with the aroma of fresh baked banana bread and toasted coconut. I was going through the cookbook section at a bookstore last week and found this gem.

I looove picture cookbooks. There’s just something about seeing pictures of delicious food that makes me want to run home and start a cooking marathon. This cookbook shows step-by-step pictures of the ingredients you’ll use and exactly how to execute what you’re going to be making. I excited about trying many more recipes using this cookbook! » Read the rest of this entry «

This was my very first time experimenting with making challah bread and it didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped. I had the bright idea on Saturday night that I wanted to prepare french toast for Sunday morning breakfast and I knew challah bread french toast is the best. I had a limited supply of eggs in my kitchen and the market down the street had closed at six. So the search was on for a recipe using minimal eggs. (probably not the best idea considering challah bread is basically egg bread) The result was a bread that took AGES to rise and turned out extremely dry.

The Sunday morning french toast didn’t turn out terribly, but I think that’s just because anything will taste good when soaked in syrup and butter.:)

If anyone has a good challah bread recipe for me to try out, I am open to suggestions.

Today I made these for the third time for a family gathering. I prepared the dough the night before which made prep super simple today. There were 30 people, 60 rolls and no leftovers (this recipe makes about forty good-sized rolls, but halves well). Needless to say, make sure you make enough for everyone. They go fast.

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