baking Archives - InspiringKitchen.com

Sep 25
1
coconut cake with slice

Grandma’s Orange Sponge Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream

Posted by | Baking, Desserts, Recipes | 22 Comments

Food and family go together in my world. Memories of happy times come from special meals or dishes cooked by my Mom, Grandmothers, Aunts and Cousins. While many recipes remind me of those days, it is this Orange Sponge Cake with Coconut Whipped Cream that simply “takes the cake”. 

Grandma’s most requested dessert to honor a birthday or occasion. We were wowed by the presentation. Served on a pedestal platter from her china collection. A candle-lit white cloud of sweetness with pieces of coconut trailing her along the floor from the kitchen to the dining room table. The slight citrus smell arrives once the cake is sliced.… Read more

May 02
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Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Easy Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Posted by | Baking, Housewares, Recipes | 7 Comments

The longer we stay quarantined, the more creative I am getting with ingredients. Or at least that is what it seems like! Usually, I am at the grocery a couple times a week without really considering what I already have at home to work with. So when a sweet craving kicked in and no grocery run happening, I began looking at what I have available and found a quick recipe to share for Easy Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls.

Making traditional cinnamon rolls is all about the layers of butter and dough. And time. But when you feel like a sweet treat without all the effort of making the pastry from scratch, using prepared ingredients is a total time saver.… Read more

Apr 15
0
DoubleTree by Hilton chocolate chip cookies

DoubleTree Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Shared for First Time

Posted by | Dessert, Housewares, Recipes, Travel | 2 Comments

If you are a traveler, you now how it feels to finally get to the hotel after a long car ride or running through the airport to catch a flight. The happy memory of when you walk into a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel to be greeted with a fresh-from-the-oven, warm chocolate chip cookie. 

DoubleTree by Hilton Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

As our travels have come to a halt due to the coronavirus, DoubleTree by Hilton wants to help us appreciate the warmth and comfort of our homes by sharing their exclusive chocolate chip cookie recipe. The even better news is you probably have the ingredients in your pantry already like the chocolate chips themselves and rolled oats.… Read more

Apr 08
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Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

Posted by | Housewares, Recipe, Recipes | No Comments

Baking is therapy. You have to measure. Be precise. Focus. Distractions can lead to not the sweetest results. Which is why in this uncertain time we are living in, I have spent so much time in the kitchen! Cooking and baking make me happy. Feeding others is a joyful solution to all the scary news reports. And Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies are the magic result from today’s baking adventures. 

Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

This recipe is made with all the ingredients you already have in your pantry. A good thing given our #stayathome mandate. If you have kids in the house, this recipe would be an activity for them as they get to not only help measure and mix the ingredients but roll the dough into a ball for each cookie.… Read more

Mar 13
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Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe

Easy Irish Soda Bread Recipe for St. Patrick’s Day

Posted by | Entertaining, Entertainment, Housewares, Recipes | No Comments

Leprechauns. Four leaf clovers. A pot of gold at the end of the rainbow….it’s that time of year where Chicago turns the river green to celebrate St Patrick’s Day. There are some food traditions too, in honor of this day. If baking bread is something you’ve always wanted to do but are hesitant to try it, then this Irish Soda Bread recipe is for you.

This simple recipe has just 8 ingredients in it. Chances are you already have them in your home. If not, a quick run to the grocery store and you are back in the kitchen within the hour.… Read more

Dec 10
1
molasses cookie recipe in bag

Holiday Traditions: Chewy Molasses Cookies

Posted by | Baking, Recipes | 9 Comments

Do you have a favorite cookie? I do. I remember them from childhood at my Grandmother’s house. Molasses cookies. The chewy ones. Well, since Gram baked from the heart and left me no recipe, I had to create one. This was a seriously fun project to be on! Holiday Traditions: Chewy Molasses Cookies

After much trial and sort-of error, I have a molasses cookie recipe that I love. It’s so easy and is made with ingredients you have in your spice cabinet, especially this time of year. I use the Brer Rabbit brand of molasses. It has a mild flavor which I like in this recipe.… Read more

Nov 16
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Sweet and Tart Lemon Curd Cookie Cups

Posted by | Recipes | 5 Comments

These Sweet and Tart Lemon Curd Cookie Cups are the perfect dessert to share with your friends, family and guests this holiday season. 

Sweet and Tart Lemon Curd Cookie Cups Inspiring KitchenWe are heading into a crazy fun time of year when you love to entertain. The opportunity to have last minute guests over, let alone planned parties, just means having your pantry full of helpful resources is a really good thing. Which is why I am glad to share my little secret solution with you. The one and only “Baking Queen”, Betty Crocker, has made filling your pantry with cookie mixes to grab for a quick (and creative) dessert so easy.… Read more

Feb 09
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Baking With Nielsen-Massey Vanilla

Posted by | Favorite Finds, Foods, Recipe, Recipes | 14 Comments

Vanilla. Fresh. Fragrant. Rich. Sweet. There is nothing as delicious to me as adding a splash of pure vanilla to dishes to accentuate the flavors of the recipe.

When making a recipe with just a few ingredients, using the highest quality  is always your best decision. There are no masking flavors when a dish has just 4 ingredients. I discovered a brand of vanilla that has wowed me with their depth of flavor, variety of vanilla extracts and family story. It is what I have used for many years and what I want to share with you now.

Baking with Nielsen Massey Vanilla

About 5 years ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Beth and Matt Nielsen from Nielsen-Massey Vanilla at an event in the housewares industry.… Read more

Oct 28
0

Beer and Pretzels are a Perfect Mix

Posted by | Favorite Finds, Foods, Kitchen Tools | 18 Comments

When you are in the mall and you start smelling that sweet, salty baking aroma coming from Auntie Anne’s pretzel store, have you ever stopped to ask yourself: “why can’t I make these at home”? Well, you can now! And Boardwalk Food Company makes it so easy.

They offer three different varieties of pretzels to make: Original, Cinnamon Sugar, Rosemary and Sea Salt. The secret ingredient is just what you would think of when you have a pretzel….beer! Yes, you add your choice of craft, domestic or imported beer to give that extra boost to the already yummy pretzels. If you prefer to not use beer, you can choose a carbonated soda like Sprite for a similar effect.… Read more

May 22
0

Best Southern Biscuits

Posted by | Baking, Bread, Cookbooks, Foods, Recipe, Recipes | No Comments

There is something very warm and inviting when your hostess places a plate of steaming hot, freshly made biscuits in front of you. In the South, this is a tradition that is passed down through families. Not so much here in Chicago. But it should be!

Inspiring Kitchen Best Southern Biscuits

It wasn’t until I received Jackie Garvin’s Biscuits cookbook that I really thought about making biscuits from scratch. As I paged through this cookbook, I discovered so many recipes that I wanted to try. Something great to realize is that most ingredients you need to make homemade biscuits are already in your kitchen. There is a recipe for monkey bread that is always a favorite at celebrations and a double crusted summer vegetable pie that looks ideal following a visit to the farmer’s market.… Read more