Courtney Bakes: Gingerbread Cake!

About a week ago I was watching TV with my dad (or something else, I don't really remember, but the setting isn't super important anyways) and he said "it's been years since I've had gingerbread cake. With whipped cream. Out of a box. That would be delicious." 

And then the conversation progressed to something else, and the idea of gingerbread cake was lost.

Until Wednesday when I went to Jo-Ann Fabrics and saw the cutest gingerbread man cake pan. And I bought it because it was $5 on sale and I couldn't resist. And then I found myself with this adorable cake pan and needed to use it, because otherwise why on earth did I buy the darn thing. So, with my dad's long-forgotten request in mind, I spent a good hour researching a bunch of gingerbread cake recipes. After figuring out what I wanted to do based on the countless recipes on Pinterest, AllRecipes, and more I set off to the store and bought what I was missing.

Then I crossed my fingers and hoped that my self-designed, from scratch, homemade Gingerbread Cake recipe would pass the test of my dad who really just wanted it "out of the box." 

And, I stand here today to tell you it did! (or, rather, sit her and type to you, either way) And it was amazing. So, of course I have to share it with you in time for the holidays. My house smelled amazing, hopefully yours will too when you make this!

Ingredients

1/2 Cup White Sugar

1/2 Cup Butter

1 Egg

1 Cup Molasses

2 1/2 Cups All-Purpose White Flour

1 1/2 Tsp Baking Soda

2 Tsp Ground Cinnamon*

2 Tsp Ground Ginger*

1 Tsp Ground Clove *

1 1/2 Tsp Ground Nutmeg*

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 Cup Hot Water

* These are approximations. I am heavy handed with my spices and used these measurements as a gauge to start with. Next time I'll probably add a little more for a little spicier of a cake. So, spice as you feel necessary. Okay?

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 Degrees F (175 Degrees C, if you're metrically inclined). Grease a 9 inch square pan (or use a really, really cute gingerbread man pan if you can find one like I did. Mine was silicone, and as such required no greasing - but I did it anyways, because I'm paranoid about stuff like that. The short of it is, you know how to deal with your own pans, act accordingly. However, 9" square is about the amount of batter you'll have.).

2. In a large bowl cream together the butter and the sugar (I had to look up what "cream together" meant - here's what I did: I chopped the butter into little cubes and then with my clean, washed hands, smushed it all together until it was a uniform sandy consistancy. Not sure if that's what cream together means, but it worked out perfectly for me. So there.). It will kinda look like this:

3. Beat in the egg and then stir in the Molasses. It will look pretty and goopy like this: 

4.  In another bowl mix (sift, maybe if you have the patience or the mechanics) together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, clove, nutmeg, and salt. Like this:

5. Now, mix the flour mixture into the molasses mixture. It'll get all crumbly (and taste delicious if you want to try a bit. Not that I support eating raw eggs. It's your decision on that front. I'm just saying mine was tasty). It'll look a bit like this after:

6. Here's the weird step. Once all that stuff is mixed together stir in the cup of hot water. It'll look weird and you'll probably be asking me if I have my head screwed on straight. I do, I promise. This works. Remember, end result = delicious. Here is proof of what it will look like after this:

7. Spread it into your chosen pan. Recipes call for up to an hour of baking. I checked at 30 mins (remember, I used a silicone pan) and then every five minutes until a knife stuck in it came out clean. So take it out when it's ready to come out. It'll look like this once you've taken it out and sliced off a piece or two:

So, there you go. Enjoy this okay? It really, really is delicious.

I do think, and you can try this on your first try if you want, but I make no promises, that I am going to either add a 1/2 cup of apple sauce or sour cream next time to make it a little more moist. This was delicious, but I do love a more moist cake. So, that's that if you want. 

All You Need Is Love {Day Four}

A complete list of topics can be found here

You guys are awesome,

you know that right?

You have surprised me with your posts day after day!

I'm so!stinkin!happy! that so many of you are joining us!

I seriously cannot wait to read all the delicious recipes today!

It may just be my favorite day out of this whole challenge...

If only I had a kitchen here and didn't have to wait till June to cook all these things!

Day Four

For Valentine's Day I {LOVE} To Bake/Cook/etc...

Let's be honest, here, for a second.

I LOVE to cook and bake and try awesome new things.

(perhaps a new food blog is in my future, you know, once I have consistent access to a kitchen again).

Actually, I have no idea where my food-adventureness comes from, seeing as my parents (whom I love dearly) are not that adventurous with food. Sometimes they look at me like what on earth are you cooking that for?

So, needless to say, there are a bazillion things I would cook for Valentine's Day if I had the opportunity to cook this year. What I will share with you is a recipe that I found the other day on Love&Olive Oil (my new, most favorite food blog in the world - seriously, I am going to make it a plan to cook EVERYTHING on her website someday):

Nutella Chip Cookies

You need:

½ cup unsalted butter (soft - room temperature)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup Nutella (or other hazelnut chocolate spread)
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

to make:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

- Cream butter with an electric mixer about 1 minute or until smooth. Add in both sugars. Beat on high speed about 3 minutes until light and fluffy, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.

- With the mixer on low, add the egg and vanilla. Then add Nutella and mix until well combined.

- In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and mix on low speed until incorporated. Increase the speed to medium and mix just until the dough is smooth. Fold in chocolate chips.

- Form the dough into almond-sized balls and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 6-7 minutes or until set. Let cookies cool about 5 minutes and transfer to a rack to cool completely

- for fun: frost with chocolate/white chocolate frosting, add sprinkles or chocolate chips, decorate for Valentine's Day - the possibilities here are endless!

Oh my. I cannot wait to get home and bake these.

Someone, please cook them and let me know how amazing they are.

Please?

xoxo,

until tomorrow!

Me & White Chicken Chili

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I started and finished a paper yesterday. Take that, Grad School! And it was good, really good. And I'm not just trying to pat myself on the back, on that one. Though, it all depends on how the professor (who also happens to be my academically-research-obsessed advisor, but more on that later) likes it, in the end. So, we'll see. But it's done and out of my hands, and that makes me happy. Now, 3 more to go and a stack of assorted other work left over from last semester and then I can get started with the work of this semester and my thesis. Sigh.

Did you guys know it snowed in the US yesterday? I know, I know. News of it is everywhere. My mom was sending me picture updates throughout the day and messages and calls about how much snow there was (and how my poor kitten could no longer see out the window in the basement she likes to watch the birds out of - while perched on top of the water heater; she scoffed when I suggested she go shovel out the window for the cat. Maybe dad will when he gets home...).

And you know what? I wish I was home. Sitting in front of my fireplace, cup of Starbucks, and a good book. Just lounging by the (yet-to-be-taken-down-oops) Christmas tree and watching the snowfall. I would much, much rather be there than here. Seriously? It's only been four days and I'm already homesick. Go figure.

So, in honor of those of you stuck out in the snow and the cold I'm going to share my new, favorite masterpiece of a meal. It's delicious, it's hearty and will warm up your insides, and it's actually pretty healthy! I love cooking in a croc-pot. I love how flavorful and rich the food gets from cooking all day. In fact, it's probably my favorite invention ever.

I found this recipe originally on allrecipes.com (a personal favorite site of mine), but I think I've modified it enough that it counts as my own. Originally, for example, this was meant to be cooked on the stove, but with my love for the croc-pot, it has been modified to simmer all day!

You are going to LOVE it, I just know it. Be warned, I love spices (spices, not spicy). So feel free to take out what you don't like, or add more where you see fit. It also makes a lot, but it will be gone SO quickly, promise.

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Courtney's White Chicken Chili

ingredients

- oil (your choice, i prefer extra virgin olive oil)

- 1 red onion, chopped

- 3 cloves of garlic, minced

- 1 red pepper, chopped

- 1 orange pepper, chopped

- 1 yellow pepper, chopped

- 1/2 can chicken broth (~7oz)

- 2 cans white beans, drained (~16oz)

- 2 can diced tomatoes, with the chilis (~16oz)

- jar of salsa verde (i used mild, but depending on your taste, go as spicy as you want)

- 1 can corn, drained (~16oz)

- 1 can corn w/ pepers ('mexican corn' or something similar, it's in the smaller cans)

~ 1 & 1/2 - 2 lbs chicken, cubed

- oregano

- ground coriander seed

- cumin

- italian seasoning

- chili powder

- salt & pepper

(all at least 1/2 tablespoon, but done to taste)

- shredded cheese (the "4-cheese mexican" blend is my favorite)

- sour cream

- salsa

directions

1. heat olive oil in pan, cook onions & garlic until soft

2. put everything in the crock-pot (chicken does not need to be cooked before going into the pot)

3. set on low for 8 hours, or high for 4-6 hours (depending on the time you have before eating)

4. garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream, and salsa as you see fit.

5. Enjoy!

• 
  

COOKIES!

Yep, I skipped yesterday in the 12Bloginng Days of Christmas

And no, I'm not going to make it up -

I don't have Christmas decorations in the dorm.

No time,

plus,

I'll go home and have my fill of decorating there :)

So, maybe you'll get pictures then!

But today,

is...

CHRISTMAS COOKIES!

which, I already gave you one on recipe day,

but you can have another,

'cause I like you that much.

Again,

since I don't have my cookbooks handy,

you're gonna get my favorite allrecipes.com recipe.

But, I've modified it a little,

so it's kinda mine now, right?

Melt-in-your-Mouth Shortbread

Christmas Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 
  
• Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (190 degrees C). No, really. Pre-heat, I usually don't (bad baker, Courtney), but for this it's so much better if you do!
2. Whip butter with an electric mixer (on high, for a few minutes) until very fluffy. Stir in the confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and flour. Beat on low for one minute, then on high for 3 to 4 minutes. Drop cookies by spoonfuls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 8ish minutes in the preheated oven. Watch that the edges don't brown too much. Cool on wire racks.
4. It's also better, sometimes, if you take them out just before they begin to brown, and then let them brown on the sheet outside the oven.
5. For embellishments: sprinkle christmas colored granulated sugar before cooking, or frost after with a simple frosting of your choice :)
6. Make sure you leave out extra for Santa!

And, I know, you're dying to hear about Vienna.

The short of it was: IT'S AMAZING.

I'll devote a whole post, with lots of pictures soon.

SOON, promise!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

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It's snowing in Budapest again!

The sky is grey, and the flakes are tiny;

so, if you live anywhere that gets

a reasonable amount of snow, you know:

this could last all day.

I was going to go fencing tonight,

still may,

but the thought of dragging that bag

down snow covered streets,

really doesn't make me want to go.

I also have a meeting for

the Student Union Board tonight;

oh, I haven't mentioned that

not only am I in the SU for my university,

but on the board?

Oops - well, I got elected while I was

home in October. Funny, right?

No matter, it's been a lot of fun.

I'm getting a little headway made

on all of my papers - I've got a few started

and even one that's close to being done.

But still:

Latin Take-Home Exam [so glad we got it take home!]

5 papers, 5 journals (which are just smaller papers, anyways).

Oh, and that thesis thing I need to get started on.

Lots of work, and with deadlines in January,

Christmas break may involve me with my

nose constantly stuck in a book.

Wednesday HodgePodge with Joyce!

1. What is the most interesting thing you've done in the last year?

Summer camp!

Ha! You thought I'd say Budapest,

but really that started over a year ago :)

2. What is your most meaningful family heirloom?

I honestly have no idea.

There are a lot of things in the family

that mean the world to me,

but heirloom? no idea.

3. What food festival would you most like to attend?

all of them?

There's a great [clam] Chowder Festival

near where I grew up that I love.

But, anything in Italy

involving pizza or pasta would be fine by me :)

4. Snow: love or a 4letter word?

I still love snow,

though, at home it tends to become a 4letter word :)

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5. Can/Do you ski? Are you any good?

I can snowboard!

But I am awful at it.

My family isn't much for the slopes.

6. What quality in your best friend are you most thankful for?

humor

patience

a sense of adventure

7. Describe the coziest spot in your home.

in my dorm room: my bed

at home: curled up in front of the woodstove,

with the cat(s) of course!

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8. Random thought:

I go home in 13 days!

Day 9 with Aly & Molly

Favorite Holiday Recipe

This is really impossible to do from overseas

without my cookbooks :(

As my favorite recipes are for candy-cane cookies

(look like candy-canes, not taste).

But, I can give you another recipe I like:

Molasses Sugar Cookies

• 1 1/2 cups shortening
• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon salt

1. Melt the shortening in a large pan on the stove, and cool. (wood-stoves are excellent for this!)
2. Add sugar, eggs, and molasses, beat well.
3. In a separate bowl, sift dry ingredients together and add to the pan.
4. Mix well and chill for at least 3 hours or overnight.
5. Form into smallish balls. Roll in (christmas colored!) granulated sugar.
6. Place on greased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart.
7. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 8-10 minutes.
8. Store in an airtight container to keep from getting overly crisp.
9. If they do lose their softness, an easy way to restore it is to place one slice of fresh bread in the container with the cookies for a couple of hours or overnight and they will be soft again!