Category Archives: Baking

Stuffed Peppers

Posted by Lindsey @ Baking Bytes in Baking, Entrée and tagged with , , , ,
[First things first…I am so sorry for the ridiculous semi-accidental hiatus. September was M’s last month in town before he headed back to Antarctica (yes, you read that right) for three months, so I let the blog fall by the wayside. My apologies. But there’s good news! I’m going to post something every Monday in October to make up for it.]

In other news, Montana refuses to legitimately enter autumn and insists on holding onto summer as long as possible. It is in the high 60s as I write this, which personally I think is just ridiculous for October. Maybe it’s just me but I am definitely ready for cooler temperatures. Mainly because I want to run in like 40 degrees rather than almost 70 and then come home to a steaming bowl of soup, but until I get that weather machine working I’ll just be staring forlornly at the weather forecast. Shorts and tank top weather will be over soon enough (I hope) just in time for everyone to complain it’s too cold. In preparation for that glorious time of year, here is a fabulous and easy dinner recipe that’s great for a chilly fall day and conveniently includes almost all of the food groups.

Stuffed Peppers {{Baking Bytes}}

As a kid I was not big on the bell peppers thing. I still don’t really care for them raw, but I love them cooked in things. Stir fry, tacos, pizza, soup, stew, etc are all improved by the addition of a bell pepper or three. Bonus: veggies are healthy. I saw a picture of stuffed peppers on Pinterest a few months ago and thought to myself “that looks like something I could maybe handle” and then promptly never made it because it was 85 degrees outside and I didn’t want to turn on the oven.

Stuffed Peppers {{Baking Bytes}}

Fortunately it has cooled down a bit since then and my hypothesis was correct: they are delicious. Wild rice, Italian sausage, cheese, and a smattering of other flavors come together in a delightfully simple recipe. Although it’s not super quick, particularly if (like me) you’re not practiced at cutting things, it’s incredibly easy and hard to mess up. You could cut down on the time by preparing them the night before and popping them in the oven when you get home from work. They may need a bit longer in the oven to warm through so make sure you check that the center isn’t cold.

I did not add a lot of spices to mine because I was using hot Italian sausage and that was enough for me, but the addition of some red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, curry powder, or whatever you’re feeling that day would work beautifully. Conveniently you can taste the filling before you finish them up in the oven, so it’s easy to play around with the flavors before you stuff the peppers. Try adding zucchini or spinach for an extra veggie boost.

Stuffed Peppers {{Baking Bytes}}

Bake these up, serve with homemade applesauce and a glass of milk and you’ve got all the food groups covered in a healthy and delicious meal.

Note: They reheat pretty well in the microwave but I find it works better if you cut them in half beforehand.

Stuffed Peppers

Inspired by Kalyn’s Kitchen
Makes 4 peppers

Ingredients

1 cup (uncooked) wild rice
4 large green bell peppers

12 oz Italian sausage (or ground meat of choice)
olive oil (for sauteing)

1 bell pepper (any color, I used orange)
1 small-medium onion
1-2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 cup grated mozzarella

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease an 8″x8″ glass baking dish (or any glass baking dish that your peppers will all fit into.)
  2. Cook rice according to directions and set aside.
  3. Meanwhile, cut the tops off the peppers, hollow out the inside, and slice a bit off the bottom so they sit flat (if necessary).
  4. Dice the tops of the peppers (minus the stem of course), onion, garlic, and remaining pepper into small pieces.
  5. Saute meat and a little olive oil in a large pan over medium heat for a few minutes.
  6. When meat is about halfway done, add the diced veggies and continue sauteing until meat is cooked through and veggies are heated.
  7. In a large bowl, combine rice, cooked sausage mixture, and Parmesan cheese, stirring to combine thoroughly. (I found it easiest to use my hands.)
  8. Add spices to taste and stir to combine.
  9. Firmly stuff mixture into the hollowed-out peppers, filling them full and using a spoon to aid in packing it tightly. (You may have a little extra filling, I saved it and used it like a taco filling.)
  10. Bake about 30 minutes, then sprinkle (or pile) mozzarella onto the tops of the peppers and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until cheese is melted and beginning to brown.
  11. Serve hot and refrigerate leftovers for up to one week.

Fresh Peach Crisp & Cinnamon Vanilla Ice Cream

Posted by Lindsey @ Baking Bytes in Baking, Dessert, Ice cream and tagged with , ,

As the days start to get shorter, my thoughts turn to those of fall and how I’m probably not quite ready for that. Fortunately the produce section at Costco is still full of summer flavors. I had a flat of peaches to use up and not enough energy for a pie, so a peach crisp seemed in order.

Peach Crisp & Cinnamon Vanilla Ice Cream {{Baking Bytes}}

Peaches and cinnamon are one of my favorite flavor combinations and this crisp is no exception. Fresh peaches complimented by ground cinnamon is difficult to beat and nixing the pie crust makes it easier than pie. With the crispy topping it’s great on its own but being as I’m an a la mode kind of girl, I made a batch of ice cream to go with.

Obviously vanilla is the traditional choice, but on a whim I kicked it up a notch with a teaspoon of cinnamon. Best idea ever! It’s pairs beautifully with the crisp, and I’m sure it would go great with peach pie, rhubarb pie, or any number of other fruit desserts. It’s also delicious by itself for us cinnamon fanatics. I suggest you make a batch to go with your peach crisp – you’ll be glad you did!

Peach Crisp & Cinnamon Vanilla Ice Cream {{Baking Bytes}}

Full disclosure: I thought this crisp turned out a little runny, so if I make it again I’ll probably add another 1/2-1 teaspoon of cornstarch to the peaches before baking. If you try it that way, let me know what you think.

PS – If you’re cringing at the idea of peeling 6 peaches, check out my peach pie post for an easy and fast way to get it done!

Peach Crisp

Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker
Makes 8″x8″ dish

Ingredients

6 peaches (peeled, pitted and sliced)
1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 salt

1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 tsp cornstarch
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt

Directions

  1. Place peaches in a large bowl and gently fold in the sugar. Let stand for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  2. Meanwhile, make the topping: in a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt until well mixed. Add the butter and mix until completely combined and crumbly. You may want to use your hands. Set aside.
  3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. Whisk together lemon juice, corn starch, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl.
  5. Drain peaches (for at least ten minutes), return to bowl, and stir in lemon juice mixture.
  6. Pour peaches into 8″x8″ glass baking dish, crumble topping over the peaches (pressing lightly to make sure it sticks) and bake for about 40 minutes, or until juices are bubbling and topping is crisp.
  7. Let cool for 15 minutes, or until ready to eat. Serve warm with a scoop of cinnamon vanilla ice cream (below).

Peach Crisp & Cinnamon Vanilla Ice Cream {{Baking Bytes}}

Cinnamon Vanilla Ice Cream

Makes ~6 cups

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup half and half (or milk)
1/2 cup egg substitute
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 – 1 tsp ground cinnamon1

Directions

  1. Whisk together all ingredients until completely combined.
  2. Cover bowl and chill in the refrigerator at least 4 hours, or overnight.
  3. Freeze according to your ice cream maker’s directions, then place in a freezer-safe bowl to freeze for an extra three hours, or overnight.

Notes

1 I love cinnamon so I used the full teaspoon. If you’re not as big of a fan, you’d probably prefer a half teaspoon (or somewhere in between).

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted by Lindsey @ Baking Bytes in Baking, Cookies, Dessert and tagged with , ,

Hope you’re having a delightful Monday! If you aren’t, maybe these cookies will help to improve it. This is probably the recipe I use most often as it’s one of M’s favorites. It’s also very consistent in baking and pops out lovely round cookies every time. Although we’ve been buying Skippy peanut butter ever since Costco stopped selling Jif (jerks), I still prefer my adaptation of the Jif recipe. It makes perfect and soft cookies every time and doesn’t require softened butter, making it a good go-to recipe for any time of the year. It also freezes well, so feel free to make a double batch and save half for later. Geared more toward a peanut butter fan than a chocolate lover, these cookies are the antithesis to the chocolate peanut butter chip cookies I’ve posted previously.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies {{Baking Bytes}}

Spectacularly peanut buttery with a smattering of chocolate chips, I like to make these cookies small for a bite-sized treat. They are chewy and sweet and practically require an accompanying glass of milk, so I like to have the option of eating one or five, depending on how big of a sugar rush I’m looking for. If you prefer larger cookies, have no fear. Use two tablespoons of dough instead of one, flatten slightly, and bake for an extra two minutes or so. I like to bake a test cookie if I’m not using my usual method just to make sure I don’t ruin a whole tray.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies {{Baking Bytes}}

Personally, I think these cookies speak for themselves so I’ll stop here. If you’re in the mood for a peanut butter experience, whip up a batch and have a few warm from the oven; your Monday can only get better from here.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies {{Baking Bytes}}

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies 

Adapted from Jif’s Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies
Makes about 5 dozen small cookies

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups lightly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter1
1/2 cup Crisco shortening
3 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1 large egg

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt

1 cup chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line cookie sheet(s) with parchment paper or silicon baking mats.
  2. In the bowl of your stand mixer, beat sugar, peanut butter, shortening, milk, and vanilla on medium speed until completely blended and fluffy.
  3. Add egg, beating until just combined
  4. Add flour, baking soda, and salt, mixing on low until just incorporated. Dough should not stick to your finger. If it does, stir in extra flour in very small amounts until it’s no longer sticky.
  5. Stir in chocolate chips.
  6. Using a 1 Tbsp cookie scoop, place two inches apart on prepared cookie sheets and bake for 7-9 minutes.2 They will look slightly under done, but should be matte, not shiny.
  7. Cool briefly on cookie sheet, then place on a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Store in an air-tight container on the counter for up to 1 week (or maybe longer, they are always gone by this time), or in the freezer for several months.

Notes

1 I always use creamy, but crunchy peanut butter will definitely work. Both Skippy and Jif work great, but I have not tried a natural peanut butter in this recipe, so use caution if you do. You may need to add a little extra flour at the end, so check the dough before you add chocolate chips.

2 If you’re using dark pans, they will likely be closer to the 7-minute time, if you’re using light pans (or a silicon mat) they will probably need closer to 9 minutes. I use light aluminum pans and silicon mats and 9 minutes is correct for me.

[Psst. Don’t forget to tune in tomorrow morning for a new ice cream recipe! Hint: alcohol ahead. If you missed last week’s ice cream recipe, it can be found here.]

Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Posted by Lindsey @ Baking Bytes in Baking, Cookies and tagged with ,

Hello! I have returned from a delightful trip home to Alaska, so it’s back to normal life for me. Well, technically I’m still on the way back to Montana, but close enough. With my second half marathon now behind me, next on the agenda is to find a third. I have three penciled in for fall, but that leaves the sixth up for grabs. Looking at one around here on July 26, but I haven’t signed up yet.

In any case, today I bring you another classic: oatmeal raisin cookies. I love this recipe because it always turns out soft and chewy, which is how I think cookies should be. (Shortbread, Thin Mints and Oreos are notable exceptions.) It is your standard cinnamon and raisin flavor with the chewy oatmeal base. I sometimes add a cup of chocolate chips, but this time I left them out.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies {{Baking Bytes}}

This particular recipe is the one off the lid of the Quaker Oats container, with some minor modifications. My own oatmeal lid is altered with a Sharpie so I can remember the things I do differently. (We buy oatmeal at Costco so we just refill the same smaller cylinder for kitchen use.)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies {{Baking Bytes}}

Considering it’s such a classic flavor, I don’t think these cookies need much talking up. They are soft with just the right hint of cinnamon and a smattering of raisins throughout. Be careful not to over-bake them, as they get crunchy very quickly. Unless you’re in to that sort of thing, in which case you’re just confusing me.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies {{Baking Bytes}}

Classic Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Adapted from Quaker Oats
Makes about 4 dozen

Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup lightly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

3 cups old-fashioned oats, uncooked
1 cup raisins
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit; line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicon mats.
  2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and both sugars until light and fluffy.
  3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix together first group of dry ingredients.
  4. Beat in eggs and vanilla.
  5. Add in flour mixture, beating until well combined.
  6. Stir in oats and raisins (and chocolate chips) until completely combined.
  7. Roll 2 Tbsp of dough into balls and place on a cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes or until cookies are matte on top (they will look under-done).
  8. Cool for a few minutes on the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Store in an air-tight container on the counter for up to a week.

Banana Bread and Chocolate Spread

Posted by Lindsey @ Baking Bytes in Baking, Bread, Quickbread, Sauces and Frostings and tagged with ,

Summer is here! Not sure I’m quite ready for the heat but I am thrilled that the prospect of snow has dropped to near zero. I recently developed IT band syndrome which put my training on a hiatus. On the one hand, it was kind of terrible, but on the other hand, it was a great excuse to get new running shoes. Because you definitely need a reason for new running shoes. (False. You don’t.) I have since started running again, carefully, so hopefully my half marathon on Saturday doesn’t kill me. I’m heading home to Alaska to run the Skagway Half Marathon, and then skipping back to Juneau for the following week. Hopefully the weather cooperates.

In any case, I’ve been consoling myself with copious amounts of baking. The usual cookies, as well as new ice cream flavors, and a birthday cake for M.

Birthday Cake

Delicious.

I also reverted to an old favorite: banana bread.

Banana Bread {{Baking Bytes}}

Growing up in Alaska the bananas arrive chartreuse in color and sprint past yellow before surrendering to the brown of overly ripe fruit. Maybe you are one of those people who likes the brown ones, or the spotty bananas, but my neon supply has resulted in a preference for yellow with the barest hint of green remaining. Of course this means they move rather quickly past what I call their “edible phase”, and if M isn’t around to eat them I just wait for the inevitable browning that makes for the best bread.

Banana Bread {{Baking Bytes}}

This is a very classic recipe pulled from the Gold Medal flour bags I used to buy. It is not overly moist, slices beautifully, and always turns out perfectly. I opt to use Crisco in lieu of butter, partly because that’s what I’ve always done and partly because you don’t have to wait for Crisco to soften. One of these days I’ll try it with butter just for comparison. Or you can try it and let me know what you think.

This bread is best wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and left on the counter overnight before slicing. It will be substantially dryer if you cut it ahead of time, so do your best to wait awhile. It also freezes beautifully, if you want to make two loaves and save one for later.

Chocolate Spread {{Baking Bytes}}

I happened to be craving something sweet, but not too sweet, so I whipped up a quick chocolate spread to use with this loaf. It pairs beautifully and still leaves the rest of the loaf chocolate free to eat plain or with butter some other hour day. To be honest, I use far less in real life than you see in these pictures, but it looks prettier and yummier with a thick coating.  (If you use this much, or more, I promise I won’t tell.)

I don’t care for nuts in much of anything, but if that’s your thing I won’t judge you too harshly for adding them. Probably.

If you’re a chocolate banana fan, throw in some chocolate chips or make the easy chocolate spread below. It’s a great way to dress up a classic recipe while still sticking to its roots. I would probably use about a fourth cup of mini chocolate chips, but just fold some in until it looks like enough for you.

Banana Bread and Chocolate Spread {{Baking Bytes}}

Banana Bread

Adapted from Gold Medal
Makes one loaf

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1 cup mashed ripe banana (2-3 medium)
1/3 cup shortening or butter
2 Tbsp milk

2 eggs

1 cup walnuts, optional (I never add these)

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. Whisk together dry ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
  3. Using an electric mixer, beat bananas briefly until well mashed. Add shortening or butter and milk, and stir until combined.
  4. Add dry ingredients and stir (2 on a Kitchen Aide mixer) until incorporated, then on high (6) for two minutes.
  5. Add eggs and beat on medium (4) until blended and fluffy.
  6. Stir in nuts, if desired.
  7. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and smooth the top. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  8. Cool for ten minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
  9. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and/or a Ziploc bag, and leave on the counter overnight before slicing.
  10. Use a sharp knife to cut, and serve plain, with butter, or with the chocolate spread below.

Chocolate Spread {{Baking Bytes}}

Chocolate Spread

Makes about 3/4 cup

Ingredients

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup half and half

Directions

  1. Place chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl, and zap for one minute.
  2. Stir and repeat in 30-second intervals until chips are completely melted and smooth.
  3. Let cool for a few minutes, then slowly stir in the half and half until completely combined.
  4. Store in an airtight container, and keep in the fridge if you’re not going to use it right away. (Microwave for 10-15 seconds to make it spreadable if you don’t want to wait for it to warm up on the counter.)