I'm dreaming of a white kitchen

I am a baker. Really. I owned a bakery, and baked every day. I enjoy baking. I think it is fun, fun, fun! Especially when there is no pressure to create maximum product in minimum time.

But, I currently have no kitchen. I may have mentioned that a time or two hundred. I am a baker without a kitchen.

I can dream though. And, this is what I would bake if I were able.

Pumpkin Praline Biscuits.

I would welcome the cool, prematurely dark days with pumpkin.

I love these delicious sweet biscuits. I found them in Better Homes and Gardens years ago, when I still liked Better Homes and Gardens. Make them please, and tell me how delicious they are so I can enjoy them vicariously.

Pumpkin Praline Biscuits:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter or margarine, cold and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
2/3 cup milk
1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1 tbsp. butter or margarine
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup half-and-half or light cream
1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2/3 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/4 cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped

1. Toast pecans, separate and chop. The pecans for the top should be more finely chopped than those in the biscuits.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, and 1/8 teaspoon salt. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut in the 1/2 cup cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the 1/2 cup pecans. Make a well in the center of the dry mixture.
2. In another bowl combine canned pumpkin, milk, and 1/2 cup brown sugar; whisk together and add all at once to dry mixture. Using a fork, stir just until moistened. Drop dough onto greased baking sheet, forming 16 mounds. Bake in a 400 F oven for 12 to 15 minutes or till golden.
3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter or margarine over medium heat. Stir in 1/3 cup brown sugar, half-and-half, and 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice. Bring mixture just to boiling; reduce heat and boil gently for 2 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in powdered sugar. Beat until smooth. If it seems a little runny, let it sit a few minutes. If it seems thick, you can thin it with a little more half and half while still bubbling, but keep in mind it should set up like a praline.
4. Spoon the topping over the biscuits and quickly sprinkle with the finely chopped pecans before the topping sets.

Yum! Please love this!

Location:Hull, Ma

Thinking Green

I'm sitting in the tire store thinking about what to serve for St. Patrick's Day.

I do all my best thinking in the tire store.

Just kidding, that's not true. Or, it might be true, but I have no proof that it's true.

I'm thinking Shepherd's Pie. Because I don't really like Corned Beef and Cabbage, and google assures me that Shepherd's Pie is more authentic.

Google is good that way. Always validating my decisions. Have I mentioned I like google?

And, I can make up for missing Pi day. Which is one of Kami's favorite holidays. She would be disappointed by our lack of observance.

Shepherd's Pie with beef, of course. I think recipes calling for lamb are a bit wrong. Do you really thing a shepherd would eat lamb? I wouldn't if I were a shepherd. Or, if I were me.

I found a recipe online. I googled it.

I will also make Irish Soda Bread. The really delicious, inauthentic kind we made at the bakery.

Here's the recipe if you want to have delicious, inauthentic soda bread like me.

It makes two 8 or 9 inch loaves.

Ingredients:

4 cups all purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
2 cups sour cream
1 cup raisins

This is a simple recipe that can be mixed in one bowl! Hooray! No crazy instructions.

Just stir together all the dry ingredients, except the raisins, in your mixer. Add the wet ingredients and stir just until combined. Stir in the raisins. No intense beating required. Or allowed.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Bake in two 8 or 9 inch loaf pans sprayed with cooking spray.

Bake at 325 F for about an hour. It should test clean with a toothpick.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Hull, Mass.