Tag: sweet recipes

Sweet Recipes

Mango Apple Pie

Featuredby Lindy MoodyLeave a Comment on Mango Apple Pie

Can you think of any more summer in America than apple pie? Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and even backyard barbecues usually has an apple pie on the dessert table. Often times you cannot beat a classic such as a good old apple pie – often times.

I may have found the perfect variation (a subtle one at that) to the tried and true classic. Not only is summer the perfect season for apples, but it is also prime time for mango. In my adult years I have gained a true appreciation for the spicy juicy tropical fruit. It is the last few weeks of summer, so I am trying to use up as much good summer fruit as I can.

By adding fresh chopped mango to a classic apple pie recipe, you enhance the warm notes of the apple pie spices. The flavor of the mango is not overwhelming, so you still get all of the coveted gooey apple pie flavor. The mango really just amps up the traditional flavors.

I am a believer in homemade pie crust. It is something that is time consuming but well worth the time. The flavor difference in store bought crust versus homemade is barely comparable. I also understand that making it homemade is not always an option due to time constraints.

Make your own crust (everyone has their favorite recipe) or use frozen. Either way you will love this twist to the classic American summer pie.

Sweet Recipes

Banana Peanut Butter Blondies

Featuredby Lindy MoodyLeave a Comment on Banana Peanut Butter Blondies
Banana Peanut Butter Blondies

This post is the result of a large response. After posting a picture of the freshly baked blondies online, I received more requests for the recipe than any I have shared before. I will admit that I have been taking this strange time for complete recharge from work. This includes posting recipes as well. So please forgive me for my delay, and I hope that this new recipe makes up for lost time.

How to you make a warm gooey blondie better? Simple, sticky sweet bananas and velvety peanut butter.

The flavors can be described as a mixture of banana bread, a peanut butter and banana sandwich, and a brown sugar blondie. Browning the butter and using brown sugar adds nutty, caramel notes to the blondies. Overly ripe, super soft bananas are mixed into the batter. Bananas make the already extremely moist batter much more lush. I topped the batter off with a swirl of creamy peanut butter, which really set things off from there.

I knew the combination would be good, but I never expected the results I obtained. These blondies are quick and easy, yet the payoff is astronomical.

These are a home run for anyone, kids, friends, party-guests, husband, long lost friends–or for another week alone social distancing with a pint of ice cream and Netflix.

For another great recipe click here.

Sweet Recipes

Oatmeal Date Cookies

Featuredby Lindy MoodyLeave a Comment on Oatmeal Date Cookies
Oatmeal Date Cookies

I do not like raisins. They are one of the foods that sit pretty high on my short list of dislikes. This means I never eat oatmeal raisin cookies. I consider it a loss to have to cut out an entire type of cookie from my diet. An oatmeal cookie has so many desireable qualities. Deep carmelized sugar and chewy baked oats make for a delicious combination.

With a large container of fresh dates and lack of ideas to use them for, along came these cookies. I chopped up the dates to resemble a raisin, then replaced the raisins in my cookie batter. Let’s just say I made up for the many years of missed cookies by almost eating the entire batch alone.

Despite my disfavor to the original dried fruit, I can confidently say that this version of an oatmeal cookie is superior. The fresh dates add even more deep dark caramel flavor to the already oey gooey cookie. Please let me know what you think of this much needed upgrade.

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Apple Walnut French Toast

Featuredby Lindy Moody2 Comments on Apple Walnut French Toast
Apple Walnut French Toast

Yes I know that everyone is eating healthy and looking for healthy recipes, but I also know that everyone needs a cheat day. Breakfast is the best food of all, so you should cheat with this recipe. At least I did because – can you really say no to soft and chewy, warm, sticky sweet, crunchy French toast fresh out of the oven?

Today’s recipe is extra easy for the user. You can prep the french toast the night before and place it in the fridge until the morning. Who wants to wake up extra early to make a meal? As much as I try to be a good southern wife, sometimes it is not always possible. With this recipe wake up late and throw on some coffee while you bake the bread.

It is just as delicious if you make it the same day. The last time I prepared it I threw it together in a flash the morning of for a late Saturday morning breakfast.

Apple is added for its natural sweetness and walnuts for the earthy crunch. French toast always need some texture to make it truly delicious. Whipped cream is option for this one, but the cinnamon is not. You cannot bake an apple without cinnamon.

Per usual, with this recipe you can substitute whatever you like. Take out the walnuts and replace the apple with blueberry. Use pecans to make the dish extra southern. The breakfast possibilies are bountiful.

Check out this varation to breakfast

 

Sweet Recipes

Cranberry Brownies

Featuredby Lindy MoodyLeave a Comment on Cranberry Brownies
Cranberry Brownies

I am the first to admit that I prefer boxed brownies to homemade. It is so difficult to achieve a gooey fudgy brownie when making it from scratch. Something about the boxed version provides consistent results.

My joy partially results from the deep nostalgia that occurs when I smell a bit of betty crocker wafting from the oven. A quick and easy box brownie was a go to treat from my childhood.

Today I am offering up a fudgy homemade brownie recipe that works. The partial reason this recipe works is because of the addition of fresh cranberries. The moisture in the fruit keeps everything from drying out.

Who knew that the simple toss in of fresh cranberry could take a brownie over the edge. It is the perfect counterpoint to the dark decadent chocolate. With each bite you get a pop of tart fruit.

I present the adult brownie. Still soft like classic but made from scratch instead of poured from a cardboard box. The cranberry doesnt hurt.

If you want a darker brownie use dutch process cocoa and/or dark chocolate chips.

Share these brownies with a loved one, co-worker, friend…or just enjoy them all yourself. They are the perfect quick and easy treat for the holidays.

Sweet Recipes

Cheesecake Stuffed Panettone

Featuredby Lindy MoodyLeave a Comment on Cheesecake Stuffed Panettone
Cheesecake Stuffed Panettone

With Christmas only two weeks away I am in full holiday mode. For me that means baking as many seasonal treats as possible. Since Thanksgiving I have managed to cover almost every holiday staple in the kitchen.

I cannot think of a more Christmas dessert than Panettone – a strange Italian sweet bread version of fruit cake, yet it is nothing like fruit cake. It is airy and buttery with a light peppering of dried fruits. I am not going to pretend like I have ever attempted to bake one. You see bread is kinda my kryptonite. But making a solid dessert doesn’t always require making it fully yourself.

This recipe cuts down some of the effort by using a premade panettone. Like puff pastry, there are just some ingredients that are worth buying premade. It also ensures consistency.

This time of year you can find the bread almost anywhere. You can even find them with variations like pistachio and chocolate

The idea is to gently remove the inside of the panettone, laquer it with egg wash, bake it, then stuff it with cheesecake. Simple right? It really is.

The finished cake is a show stopping and unique dessert. It has a fluffy creamy vanilla inside with a golden brown and carmalized chewy shell. Every few bites you will get a pop of tart dry fruit.

 

For another great holiday dessert click Here

 

Sweet Recipes

Butternut, Burrata, and Rye Pie

Featuredby Lindy MoodyLeave a Comment on Butternut, Burrata, and Rye Pie
Butternut, Burrata, and Rye Pie

For the past week I have been posting unique recipes to wow your guests this holiday season. I like the idea of taking a classic recipe and imparting a slight twist–just enough to make the consumers say, “What is that?”

What better way to end the week leading up to Thanksgiving than with my favorite pie of the series. This recipe, a Butternut Squash and Burrata swirled pie on a Rye crust, takes a classic pie recipe and transforms it into something completely new.  I often find butternut squash and pumpkin pies way too sweet. Besides cutting back on the sugar, the best way to combat their sweeties is to add some savory ingredients.

The recipe for the butternut filling stands up on its own, so if you are not that adventurous you can always leave out the burrata. You will be left with a pie that is an upgraded version of the classic.

The crust is a classic pie crust recipe with a bit of rye flour substituted for the all purpose flour. Burrata is an ultra creamy mozzarella cheese with a very mild flavor. It makes for the perfect addition to swirl into the silky sweet butternut custard. This is a pie for those who don’t eat desserts because they find them too sickly-sweet.

Make this recipe for your thanksgiving feast and you will surely inspire your family.

For another cool burrata baked good, click here.

Sweet Recipes

Honey Carrot Cake

Featuredby Lindy Moody1 Comment on Honey Carrot Cake
Honey Carrot Cake

If I were to name one cake that epitomizes southern desserts my pick would be carrot cake. Chess pie could be said to hold the spot for the pie category, and peach cobbler for something in between the two.

You may consider a different cake to fit the textbook definition of southern, but for me carrot cake was always a family favorite. Throughout my life (and throughout most celebratory tables) a carrot cake was alway present.

Such an old recipe has a debatable origin. It is not debated that it origins began it another country and eventually grew and changed in the States. Traditionally the sponge includes shredded carrots and nuts and smeared with a creamed cheese icing.

With such a traditional cake, it is hard to find a unique or delicious variation on the classic version. I find keeping the modification simple will result in the best results. An easy variation on the tradition is the use of honey to sweeten the cake. Of course, I prefer local honey since Savannah has such good procurers like Capital Bee Company.

To push the variation a bit more, I added orange zest and a bit of orange juice to the cream cheese icing. The citrus brightens up the soulful cake.

Sweet Recipes

Fig Jam Two Ways

Featuredby Lindy MoodyLeave a Comment on Fig Jam Two Ways
Fig Jam Two Ways

Before moving to Savannah, I had never eaten a fig. I had never even had access to a fig. That all changed with my husband’s family.

My husband grew up with a fig tree in his grandmother’s yard. And to say the least, his family adores figs. Despite the family access, I personally have found it difficult to locate fresh figs when they are in season each year. I look and look, hoping to score a container of the soft sweet fruit to bake with.

As you can imagine, anytime I actually spot them in the store…I go a bit crazy. This year when I purchased more fresh figs than I knew what to do with. I ended up with more than I could reasonably cook with.

What does any true southerner do with an excess of fresh summer produce? Jam it or can it. That ways in the depths of a cold grey winter (which does not happen in the low country) you can whip out a jar of preserved summer stock to warm your bones.

There were so many fresh figs in my kitchen, I was able to make two batches of fig jam. One traditional, but with brown sugar instead of white, and one a little jazzed up with a hint of chai tea. The subtle warm flavors of chai is the perfect accompaniment to the fresh sweet fruit.

Making jam is easy. You combine everything into a pot and let it simmer away until ooey gooey and cooked down. If you do not feel like taking on the heavy burden of canning the jam, you can always freeze it for up to six months.

For another fig recipe click: here.

Recipes, Sweet Recipes

Lemon & Pineapple Sage Chess Pie

Featuredby Lindy MoodyLeave a Comment on Lemon & Pineapple Sage Chess Pie
Lemon & Pineapple Sage Chess Pie

The history of the chess pie is debatable. Many contribute its origin to England, but those who have lived in the south their entire lives know it is as southern as peach pie.

To describe the many variations of chess pie that I have tasted, I would sum up the experience as a pecan pie without the pecans, and in their place, a little bit of cream. Just like a pecan pie, chess pie is one of the easiest pies you can make. Almost impossible to muck up.

A flaky tender crust sits at the base of the custard-like filling. And because the filling is so neutral, you can flavor the pie with almost anything.

Chess pie is sometimes referred to as buttermilk pie or vinegar pie.

For my summer version, I went with lemons and fresh pineapple sage from the garden. The custard is made using fresh lemon juice and lemon zest. I add in pineapple sage by seeping cream with it and using it throughout the recipe.

This recipe comes from my mom’s favorite community cookbook and gets an update. Here is another recipe that I did the same thing with.

I always make my own pie crust because the taste is so much better than store-bought. A ratio of half butter and half lard is my preference for fat. You are your own baker, so use any recipe for a crust that you like or even use a premade one!

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