Brie en Croute: What's Baking?

    This month the What's Baking challenge is hosted by Cara from The Boys Made Me Do It!   Her theme for the month was puff pastry.  If you haven't seen any of my other posts on puff pastry then I need to tell you that puff pastry and I are mortal enemies.  It does not like me and I do not like it.  We do not get along.  So when I saw the theme for the month my first reaction was to skip this month's challenge.

    Then we decided to have people over for snacks one evening.  I was scrolling through my list of recipes I wanted to make and I came to one for Brie en Croute.  It looked extremely simple and I absolutely adore baked Brie.  The bonus is that it uses puff pastry and if I could get it to work then this would be my entry for this month.

     Luckily I put the puff pastry out almost an hour before I needed it to thaw.  It was fairly workable by that time and cooperated better then it had in the past.  This recipe was a cinch to make and it ended up tasting amazing!  I'd have to say this was a good experience with puff pastry and I'd even make this recipe again!

Brie en Croute (recipe from Pepperidge Farm)

1 Puff Pastry sheet,thawed according to package directions

8 oz. Brie cheese , preferably round (of course I couldn't find a round at my market)

1 egg

1 T. water

1 T. fruit jam, optional

1.  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  

2.  Unfold 1 sheet of puff pastry and wrap it around the cheese.

3.  Beat the egg with the water and brush it on the seam of the pastry.  Place seam side down on a baking sheet then brush the top with the egg mixture.

4.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and immediately spread a thin layer of jam on top if using.  Let cool for 10 minutes before serving with crackers.

 

Private Selection Upside Down Cakes-The Perfect Ending to any Meal

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Private Selection for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

     I love hosting dinner parties.  Bringing people together for good food and company is one of my favorite things to do.  Whenever we have people over on the weekends I enjoy making decadent homemade layer cakes or intricately decorated cupcakes as the perfect end to a perfect meal.  Many people don’t make desserts at home and everyone is always excited to see what I’ve been baking.

     But what about those days when we have company and I’ve been working all day?  On those days I run to my local Kroger and get a quick and easy dessert from Private Selection Upside Down Cakes.  These cakes are super easy to make and taste like homemade thanks to them using only the best ingredients.  Just warm them up, flip them over, and serve!  Everyone loves a gourmet dessert.  The Private Selection brand is a premium private label brand carried exclusively at the Kroger Family of Stores and affiliated stores including: Baker’s, City Market, Dillons, Fry’s, Gerbes, Pay Less, QFC, JayC, King Soopers, Owen’s, Ralphs, Smith’s and Fred Meyer.   Need help finding Private Selection Upside Down Cakes?  Use the store locator to find a store near you:   http://www.privateselection.com/store-locator/

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       Need more ideas for food and desserts when you are entertaining?  I always do!  Don't forget to follow Private Selection on Pinterest as well!

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35 BBQ and Picnic Ideas for Memorial Day and Summer Celebrations!

    Summer is coming!  Summer is coming!  I am so happy I could jump up and down.  I absolutely love the warm weather and sun.  Running around outside in my bare feet with a sundress on or shorts and a tank top.  For me the beginning of summer is officially Memorial Day.  We usually end up having a picnic or BBQ at my parents house and my dad opens up the pool.  As long as it doesn't rain it's the perfect start to summer.

    Since I feel like we often have the same foods at our summer parties I wanted to share some of my favorite picnic and BBQ ideas as well as some from my favorite bloggers!  I hope these help with your Memorial Day parties and other summer celebrations.  I've also included a few fun project ideas for Memorial Day as well.

Main Dishes on the Grill:

Bison Beer Burgers with Blue Cheese from I Love My Disorganized Life

Award Winning Black Bean Burgers  

Grilled Burgers

 

Burgers with Bacon Onion Jam

Chipotle Honey Lime Pork Tenderloin

Beef Kabobs

Easy Black Bean Burgers from Clarks Condensed

Summer Salads:

My Mother's Pasta Salad from I Love My Disorganized Life

Broccoli Flower Salad from One Creative Mommy

Summer Pasta Salad from Happy Food, Healthy Life

My Favorite Potato Salad from Persnickety Plates

Vegetarian Orzo Salad with Spinach Chickpeas from The Tasty Fork

Easy Macaroni Salad from Organized Island

Antipasto Pasta Salad from Will Cook for Smiles

Cucumber Salad from Miss Information Blog

Rainbow Roasted Potato Salad from Food Babbles

Melissa's Macaroni Salad

Lightened Ham salad from Food Done LIght

Greek Couscous Salad

Chicken Salad with Strawberries

Summer Side Dishes:

 Fruit Pizza

Copycat KFC Coleslaw from Mom on Time Out

Coleslaw from A Family Feast

Tabouli from The Kitchen is My Playground

Mr. Williams Mac and Cheese from Persnickety Plates

Sun Dried Tomato, Artichoke, and Basil Pasta from The Kitchen is My Playground 

Grilled Zucchini with Couscous, Spinach, and Cheese

Desserts:

S'more Chocolate Chip Cookies from I Love My Disorganized Life

Vanilla Custard Brulee from The Tasty Fork

Lime Chiffon from Just My Crazy Kitchen

Red, White, and Blue Cookies

S'mores Pudding Pie from Cupcakes & Kale

Raspberry Peach Cobbler from Miss Information

Crafts and Projects:

Bug Party Tic Tac Toe from Suzy's Sitcom

Memorial Day Dree Printables from Sweet Bellaroos 

French Dip Sandwiches #SundaySupper

      Have I told you how much I love my crock-pot?  It's great for days I have to work late or I want to go to aerobics after work and won't be home until after 6.  It's also wonderful for cooking in during the summer when it's too hot to turn on the oven.  So when I found out that this week's #SundaySupper theme was low and slow I immediately started thinking of Crock-pot recipes.

      I went back and forth between several recipes but in the end this French Dip Sandwich won out.  You see, I've made this several times but I've never blogged it because the photos never come out good enough.  This time I had a plan for photographing the sandwiches and I think it worked out fairly well.

      This recipe has several things going for it.  For starters there are only 6 ingredients so it takes less then 5 minutes to throw together in the crock-pot. It is so packed with flavor it tastes like it was a complicated recipe to make.  It's also great for when company comes over because people enjoy having a sandwich with a small cup of au jus on the side.  It just looks fancy but the beef taste is rich and flavorful.




French Dip Sandwiches (adapted from Kate's Recipe Box)
2 lb. beef roast
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 t. herbs de provence
1/3 c. low sodium soy sauce
2 c. beef broth
2 c. water
1 onion, thinly sliced

8 buns
8 slices provolone cheese

1.  Place the roast in the crock-pot.  Spread the minced garlic over top of the roast and then sprinkle with herbs de provence.

2.  In a small bowl combine the soy sauce, beef broth, and water.  Pour over top of the roast.  Place the onions around the roast.

3.  Cook on low for 8-10 hours.  Before serving shred the beef in the crock-pot and allow to cook for an additional 20-30 minutes.

4.  Use a slotted spoon to scoop the beef onto the buns and top with a slice of provolone.  Use a ladle and scoop out the au jus into a cup and serve on the side.

Check out the other Low and Slow recipes!

Low & Slow Breads & Starters:

• Asiago Meatballs from Daily Dish Recipes
• Slow Cooker Bread: Easy Dinner Rolls from Growing Up Gabel

Low & Slow Mains:

• Apricot-Mustard Baked Ham from Healthy.Delicious.
• Braniya {Lamb and Eggplant Tajine} from MarocMama
• Brisket from Sustainable Dad
• Brisket with Ale BBQ Sauce from Kudos Kitchen By Renee
• Carnitas from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Dairyfree Chicken and Mushroom Ragout from The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
• Dry Rubbed Smoked Back Ribs from Noshing With The Nolands
• French Dip Sandwiches from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Fried Beef Ribs from The Urban Mrs
• Italian Beef from Curious Cuisiniere
• Italian Sunday Gravy from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• Jambalaya from Gourmet Drizzles
• Minestrone Soup from Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Osso Buco from Webicurean
• Pork and Sauerkraut Sandwiches from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Rice, Bean and Vegetable Casserole from Happy Baking Days
• Salsa Chicken from Momma’s Meals
• Sauerbraten from Magnolia Days
• Slow Cooker Chana Masala from Small Wallet, Big Appetite
• Slow-Cooker Mole from girlichef
• Slow Cooked Pork Sausage and Onions from Family Foodie
• Sweet Pork from Table for Seven

Low & Slow Sides:

• Caramelized Garlic in the Crock-Pot from Shockingly Delicious
• Slow Roasted Balsamic Tomatoes from The Wimpy Vegetarian

Low & Slow Desserts:

• 8-hour Cheesecake with Roasted Grapes (gluten free) from Vintage Kitchen
• Gluten Free Slow Cooker Glazed Cinnamon Coffee Cake from Blueberries and Blessings
• Slow-Cooked Gooey Pina Colada Cake from Juanita’s Cocina
• Slow Cooker Pineapple Coconut Rice Pudding from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz

Wine Pairing Recommendations for Low & Slow Food from ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

Don’t forget to join the #SundaySupper chat on Twitter Sunday to discuss cooking low and slow! We’ll tweet throughout the day and share our delicious recipes. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag, and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.

Check out the Food & Wine Conference sponsored by Sunday Supper! Being held July 19th – 21st in beautiful, sunny Orlando, FL. It’s a must for food bloggers. Find out more here ? Food & Wine Conference

Snickerdoodles with Almond Flour (gluten free) + a Bob's Red Mill Givewaway!

     A few weeks ago I received a box in the mail from Bob's Red Mill.  I've been having a great time baking with the products that they sent.  I've made Gluten Free Vanilla Cupcakes, Jalapeno Cheddar Blue Corn Muffins, and this week I made Snickerdoodles with Almond Flour!

     As promised this week I'll be giving away a Bob's Red Mill gift package containing Almond Flour, Blue Cornmeal, and Gluten Free Vanilla Cake Mix!  See below for details on how to enter this giveaway.

     Anyhow, back to the snickerdoodle cookies.  When I first received my package from Bob's Red Mill I was going to make macarons with the almond flour but I've made those before and wanted to try something different.  I've been baking more gluten free but generally I use a blend of gluten free flours.  This time I wanted to try a cookie with all almond flour.

      I've never baked with all almond flour before but I do know that baked goods with almond flour are more crumbly then those with regular flour.  I found that they baked up puffier then regular cookies and while they did crumble, if I let them cool on the cookie sheet for several minutes they stayed in one piece when I transferred them to a wire cooling rack.  They have a different texture to them then regular chocolate chip cookies but they ended up tasting great and I was able to share them with my gluten free friends!

Snickerdoodles with Almond Flour (Gluten Free)  (adapted from Meaningful Eats)
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. applesauce
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar
2 t. vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. cream of tartar
3 c. Bob's Red Mill almond flour
For the topping:
1/4 c. sugar
2 t. cinnamon

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2.  In a large bowl cream together the butter, applesauce, sugar, and brown sugar.   Mix well.  Add in the vanilla and eggs, mixing until incorporated.

3.  In a medium bowl combine the baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cream of tartar, and almond flour.  Add to the butter mixture and mix well.

4.  In a small bowl combine the sugar and cinnamon. 


5.  Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Place on the cookie sheets 3 inches apart.  Bake for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and cool for 2-3 minutes before moving the cookies to a wire rack to cool.

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