Saturday, July 30, 2011

Baked Blueberry Doughnuts


The food blogging world can be a dangerous place, especially for the old wallet. Every time I turn around, I find a recipe I want to try and, sometimes, those recipes require a gadget that I don't have. A couple of months ago, I started seeing doughnut recipes pop up everywhere. I considered buying a doughnut maker but couldn't quite justify the price. Would I use it? Still not sure about that. So, I compromised and bought doughnut pans - cheaper with easier clean-up and storage.

So, there they sat on my dining room table waiting to be utilized. Then, I found this recipe by Chef in Training's Guest Blogger, Katie from This Chick Cooks. I love blueberry cake doughnuts from Krispy Kreme so I knew that I would like these. Besides, I could justify them as both a breakfast pastry and dessert.

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #15

Summer is officially over for us on Thursday. My kids return to school. As sort of a last hurrah, I took them out to dinner last night and we hit some of our favorite haunts: T.J. Maxx and Bath & Body Works. They love to plunder through Maxx's chaotic toy section and sniff all that B&BW has to offer. And, because of a couple of great coupons, I left B&BW with a huge bag of antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers. Ah, the pleasure I had rummaging through that bag when I got home...

There's nothing like treating yourself to a small purchase to liven your spirits. I have a new doughnut pan that I'm dying to use. I found a blueberry doughnut recipe on a blog a few weeks ago and can't stop thinking about it. It's my project for this weekend. Here's my lastest, Honey Bun Cake.


Thanks to everyone who returned to the party last week and to those of you who accepted my invitation and joined for the first time. There were some great recipes at the party. As you can see from the top recipes last week, everyone was in the mood for cake.

Last Week's Top Recipes:

#1
from The Pastry Chef's Baking

#2
from Concetta's Cafe

#3
from Lil' Luna
The Rules...


  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button included below.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
Grab My Button: My button seems to be experiencing some technical issues linking back to my page. I'll try to get them resolved soon or create another one. But, this one will be fine until then.


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The party starts here:

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Honey Bun Cake


I love the smell of honey buns in the morning. I occasionally buy a box of Little Debbie honey buns. They're delicious and I can throw them in my lunch bag for a quick breakfast at work. This recipe for honey bun cake has been around for a while and I finally got around to making it recently. I love recipes that serve as both breakfast and dessert. This cake would be perfect to serve a crowd at an early morning meeting. Just serve with some freshly brewed coffee and a fruit tray. This recipe is from Gooseberry Patch's Homemade Christmas, copyright 2010.

Saturday, July 23, 2011

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #14

Wow! The week has gone by quickly. With the school year about to start here in the world of academia, I've been busy setting up meetings, placing orders, and sending out tons of e-mail. I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel until Labor Day weekend. It's going to be a long, hot August!

Last weekend, I posted a review and giveaway for Gooseberry Patch's forthcoming cookbook, 101 Hearty Recipes. The giveaway deadline is August 1. I hope that you will stop by and sign up for the cookbook. I think you'll enjoy it. It's a little different that the usual Gooseberry Patch cookbook. This has a full-color photograph of every recipe. So, it will be great for you visual learners out there! Just click here to visit the post. Here's one of the recipes that I sampled:


Here's last week's top recipes:

#1
from From Which Things Grow



#2
from From Which Things Grow


Lemon Drop Cupcakes
#3
from Lady Behind the Curtain

I loved seeing all of the Harry Potter recipes that were on the blogs last week. What a phenomenon that series has been!!! Thanks to everyone who returned to last week's party and to those who accepted my invitations and visited for the first time.

The Rules...
  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button included below.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
Grab My Button: My button seems to be experiencing some technical issues linking back to my page. I'll try to get them resolved soon or create another one. But, this one will be fine until then.





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The party starts here:

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Gooseberry Patch Review and Giveaway: 101 Hearty Recipes


If you're a fan of cookbooks with photographs of every recipes, then Gooseberry Patch's 101 Recipes series is the series for you. Each recipe has a beautiful full-color photo of the mouth-watering dish. Not only can you see the finished product, you can almost taste it.

Recipe Snapshot: Pecan Pie Muffins


This recipe is from my review of Gooseberry Patch's 101 Hearty Recipes. It's from the Baked and Buttery section of the cookbook and was submitted by Sandy Glennen from Dandridge, TN. Now what kind of southern girl would I be if I didn't have pecans in my kitchen? An unprepared one - that's for sure. Fortunately, I had pecans so these muffins came together very quickly. One tip: the batter will be very loose much like the filling of a pecan pie. I would suggest mixing this together in a pourable mixing bowl. These muffins do taste exactly like pecan pie. Wonderful! I would serve these muffins for both breakfast and dessert.

Recipe Snapshot: Stuffed Corn Bake


This recipe is part of my review for Gooseberry Patch's 101 Hearty Recipes. It's from the Speedy and Satisfying section of the cookbook and was submitted by Laurel Perry from Loganville, GA. I've actually been looking for a corn recipe that didn't involve a corn bread mix. This recipe was perfect for my family. My husband loves any dish that involves a box of stuffing. I love a recipe that has simple ingredients and comes together quickly. This recipe fit the bill on both counts. I suggest adding some chopped cooked chicken to the dish to turn it from a side dish to a main dish.

Recipe Snapshot: Cajun Oven Fries


This recipe is part of my review of Gooseberry Patch's 101 Hearty Recipes. These Cajun Oven Fries came from the Speedy and Satisfying section of the book and was submitted by Kathy McLaren from Visalia, CA. One of the tasks that I hate to take on in the kitchen is peeling potatoes. Luckily, you don't have to in this recipe. Don't be scared when you see two tablespoons of hot pepper sauce in the list of ingredients. The pepper sauce just added flavor, not heat. I would serve these with a nice little dish of Ranch dressing on the side.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #13

I really enjoyed reading all of your hopes and dreams for your blogs at last week's linky party. There seems to be a lot of kindred spirits out there. I'm pleased to report that I'm beginning to live my dream. I've started writing a food column for my hometown newspaper. I've written two articles so far. Sometimes, I'm amazed that I even got the opportunity to do this. I wanted to share this here with you not to brag but to let you know that if you're dreaming of doing something more with your life and your talent then you should go for it!

I've always been shy and timid, spending the majority of my life living in fear: fear of putting myself out there, fear of failure, and even fear of success. I've often wondered what my life would be like if I didn't let it be ruled by that fear. I made a New Year's resolution to put myself out there and see what happened.

About six weeks ago, I worked up my nerve to "go for it". I wrote a proposal describing myself, my blog, my cooking philosophy, my goals and dreams, etc. and e-mailed it to a couple of editors in my area. Their responses were positive and encouraging. Fortunately, the newspapers are owned by the same company so there was no conflict of interest. I was asked for some sample columns and a week or so later, my career as a food columnist was born. The column, My Well-Seasoned Life, could be just the beginning or could be the finale. Either way, I took a chance and something happened. And, I have no doubt that with the talent I see here, it could happen for you. Go for it!

My latest dessert:

I want to thank everyone who returned to the party last week and those of you who accepted my invitation and posted for the first time. I love seeing your creations!

Last Week's Top Recipes!



#1
Pina Colada Cake
from Cajun Delights





#2
Lemon Bars
from Lark's Country Heart





Tied for #3
from Mrs. Fox's Sweets




from Sweet Baby Mason James



The Rules...
  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button included below.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
Grab My Button: My button seems to be experiencing some technical issues linking back to my page. I'll try to get them resolved soon or create another one. But, this one will be fine until then.


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The party starts here:

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Peach Cobbler Muffins


Occasionally, I come across a recipe that appeals to me and sticks in my mind for whatever reason. I don't necessarily make the recipe but I think about it...a lot. That happened with this recipe, Peach Cobbler Muffins, from Gooseberry Patch's Farmhouse Kitchen, copyright 2009. I knew they would be delicious yet I just couldn't bring myself to make them. I wondered why.

Then, I saw the simple little line in the directions that I knew was holding me back, "Cut in butter with a pastry knife or a fork." Was I without a pastry knife or fork? No, I have both. But, to be honest, the pastry cutter and I had had a bad first date. We exchanged a few negative words and I left him sitting in a bowl of unusable crumb topping. Forgiveness is not really my thing but for the sake of these muffins, I gave him another chance. We got along better this time, but I don't if I'm ready to commit right now. It's just too soon.

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #12

It seems like there's hardly any time between the 4th of July and the first week of school. Another week of summer has already passed. We haven't had a summer vacation this year so the kids and I went to the movies on Friday afternoon to try to squeeze in a little fun. We saw Cars 2. Then, we ordered Chinese take-out when we got home. It was a good afternoon spending time with my sons and listening to them reenact the scenes from the movie. I'm glad I made this day happen!  

I've been thinking about the blogging world lately and wondering what your goals are for your blog. Where do you want it to lead? Is it a stepping stone to an ultimate goal or is maintaining your current blog the end result? There are a lot of creative people out there so I know that some of you must want to be and could be the next Ree Drummond, Christy Jordan, or Sara and Kate from Our Best Bites. For me, I'm more interested in the writing aspect of blogging. My dream is to become a writer and, preferably, to write about food. What is your dream?

Here's my latest...
Chocolate Chess Pie

Last Week's Top Recipes:
#1
from The Sweet Swiper

Two Tie for #2
from Comfy Cuisine

from Chef in Training

#3

Patriotic Pops
from Crazy for Crust


The Rules...
  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button included below.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
Grab My Button: My button seems to be experiencing some technical issues linking back to my page. I'll try to get them resolved soon or create another one. But, this one will be fine until then.


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The party starts here:

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Friends and Fingers: Lunch at Spanky's


Like it wasn't great enough to have a four-day weekend, I got to meet up with two of my best friends for a lunch at Spanky's Restaurant in Pooler, Georgia on Sunday. We haven't seen each other in a while and Spanky's is one of our favorite places to get together. Normally, it's a "girls only" affair, but I decided to bring my older son along while my husband ran errands with our younger son. Sometimes, a "divide and conquer" gameplan is the best approach for children who like to argue with each other all the time. Besides, my son has known these ladies since he was born. He likes to tag along.

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Sweet Indulgences Sunday #11

Hoping everyone is having a happy 4th of July weekend. I'm in the midst of a much-needed four-day weekend! There will be a fireworks display tonight at one of the county high schools which has been wonderful in the past so I'm expecting another good show this evening. My husband and I will also try to catch Pop Goes the 4th on PBS at some point over the weekend. We really enjoy watching it every year.

It's been a fun week out in the blogging world because of all of the red, white and blue goodies. After every holiday, I always hit the clearance racks and grab up those discounted sprinkles, colored sugars, and cupcake holders. I even got a nice red cupcake stand after Christmas last year that I thought would be useful for Christmas, Valentine's Day, and the 4th of July. Now, if only I could remember where I put it... Anyway, here's my small contribution to the patriotic desserts. Can't wait to see what all of you have made this week!



I want to thank everyone who returned to the party last week and all of you who accepted my invitation and visited for the first time. Everything looked absolutely delicious. Here's the top recipes from last week.

#1
from Lark's Country Heart

#2
from Chef in Training

Two Tied for #3
from Crazy for Crust

from Chef in Training
The Rules...

  1. Please link up to the URL of your specific recipe post, not the URL of your main blog. When it asks for "Name", type in the name of your recipe.
  2. Please place a link back to this post in your original post or Grab My Button included below.
  3. Share your most recent dessert. Link up as many desserts as you would like. More is always better when it comes to desserts!
  4. Leave me a comment in this post to let me know that you've joined the party. Also, if you're having your own linky party, feel free to post the link to your party in the comment section. I would love to join your party!
  5. Now, let's share the love! Please visit at least two others and comment on the delicious desserts that they've brought to the party. It means so much to a blogger to get some positive commentary!
Grab My Button:


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The party starts here:

Friday, July 1, 2011

Chocolate Chess Pie


Last week, I mentioned on my linky party that I've started reading At My Grandmother's Knee by Faye Porter, copyright 2011. This book is compiled of recipes submitted from people around the southern United States that focus on their grandmothers' specialities. Last fall, I set out to conquer the pecan pie and I made several versions of pecan pie and posted it here on A Well-Seasoned Life. When I saw this recipe for Chocolate Chess Pie included in Ms. Porter's cookbook, I was immediately drawn to it. Chess pies are another famous southern dessert, but I will admit it here that I've never made one. Heck, I've never tasted one. Yes, I'm ashamed. So, I decided that the chess pie needed conquering, too. It was so simple to make and tasted delicious like a warm chocolate chip cookie...without the cookie!