Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Upside-down Puff Pastry

 Brilliantly simple dessert!

Picture from ABC news

This past weekend was such a blessing to this old grandma! I had a few grandchildren and my great grandchild spend the weekend, then a big family dinner with my daughter and her hubby along with another granddaughter! Pretty awesome, huh? Loved every minute!

My grandson, Jordan, came with ingredients to make a dessert he spotted on TikTok, and we made this beautifully simple pastry together. Simple? Yes! Delicious? Yes, yes!

We used raspberries, canned peaches and thinly sliced apples, but the best part was baking and spending time with this wonderful young man! 

Ingredients:
1 box of frozen puff pastry, thawed overnight in fridge
Fruit slices (your choice)
Honey
1 egg, beaten
Parchment paper
Baking sheet with sides (the honey and juices spilled onto the oven)

Preheat oven to 400'F. 

Divide pastry dough into 12 rectangular pieces, keep in fridge until ready to use.

Make 6 rectangle shapes with a little of the honey onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Six pastry squares fit nicely per baking sheet.

Arrange your fruit onto the honey and cover with a sheet of puff pastry. Press down around the sides of the fruit.

Brush the egg wash over the top of the pastry. 

Bake for 17-20 minutes or until pastry is puffy and golden brown.

Let cool a few minutes, then flip them over onto a cooling rack. 

Makes 12 pastries.

A Tip from Grammy:
-Drizzle a glaze over top when cooled or powdered sugar.
-Use a savory filling, like caramelized onions flavored with balsamic vinegar and a little honey.
-Switch up the fruits
-Pepperoni and cheese with a little sauce (quick pizza)

Be encouraged:
"For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself."  -Galatians 5:14








Monday, May 8, 2023

Hot Fudge Brownie Bread

Hot Fudge.Brownie.Bread...'nuff said!


A few weeks ago, my neighbor and good friend brought me a piece of her chocolate bread to try. It was delicious! This led me on a quest to find different versions of chocolate bread because that's what chocoholics do.  LOL!

A I began browsing the web, the title of this recipe alone stopped me in my tracks! What!? Is there really a recipe that contains three of my favorite food groups? Yes, Grammy, there is! And this could not get any easier to make using just five ingredients!

I'm not going to "sugar-coat" how rich this bread is...and it's a heavy loaf, but SO WORTH IT! The fudge brownie flavor is in every bite and it's slightly gooey in the middle. Just like a brownie!

This recipe is from the blog "12 Tomatoes" and I thank Rachel Murray for her version. I didn't need to change a thing!

Ingredients:
1 box brownie mix (your choice...I use Ghirardelli)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 (11 oz.) jar hot fudge sauce (I used Smuckers)
3 eggs (slightly beaten)
1/3 cup vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350'F. and grease a standard loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine brownie mix and baking powder. 

Microwave hot fudge sauce for 30 seconds to soften and add it to the mix along with the eggs and oil.

Transfer batter to the prepared loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes or until cooked though the center. (Insert knife or toothpick and if it comes out mostly clean, the bread is done)

Allow to cool completely before moving to a wire rack. 

Yields: 8-10 servings


A Tip from Grammy:
-Use slices to create a sweet treat with ice cream or whipped cream and strawberries.
-Slice and individually wrap each piece, then freeze until your next chocolate craving. LOL!
-Buy 2 jars of hot fudge sauce and use the second as a glaze for the top. Just heat it and pour over the bread, letting it drip down the sides. (You probably won't need the whole jar.)



Be encouraged!
"...God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" 1 John 1:5-10