Grilled Pizza!

I know, it's savory. but i hope you'll forgive me for doing something savory from time to time. After all who doesn't like pizza? especially margherita pizza, made with crushed tomatoes instead of soft, slices of fresh mozzarella cheese, and little, home grown basil leaves. Yum!

trader joe's. om nom nom.

cheeeeeese

mug shot!

sweet, chunky and better than any sauce!

deeeeeeeeelicious.

Pizza:

• 1/2 cup crushed tomatoes
• 1 blob fresh mozzarella
• 8-10 fresh basil leaves (optional)
• 2 of your favorite pizza crusts

spread half the tomatoes on 1 crust, repeat with the other crust. slice the mozzarella, and cut the slices in half. place half on one pizza, half on the other. sprinkle basil leaves on top of both. grill or bake in oven on a pizza pan. enjoy!

Kitchen renovation

Hey everyone!

I'm getting my kitchen renovated on tuesday, so I may not have any posts for 3 weeks. i will try to do some no bake recipes, and i will also hopefully have my birthday cake up when the kitchen's done! And perhaps i'll feature an rosh shashana inspired cupcake! can't wait!

Bye for now,
Rhode Island Red

Banana Cream Pie!

Who doesn't love a good old fashioned banana cream pie? It's always been one of my mom's favorites. With a sweet creamy filling, crunchy graham cracker crust, and smooth, airy whipped cream, it's an easy one to love. Especially this recipe, which has a special ingredient added for the slightest tang.

Lots, and LOTS, of whipped cream,

and the cinnamon-y, sweet, crunchy crust,

and thin, sweet banana coins,

and all that pudding-y filling.

Why, yes, i'll have some. Sure.

Banana Cream Pie

Crust

• 14 graham crackers
• 6 tablespoons melted butter
• 1/4 cup sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2-4 tablespoons water

Filling

• 1 pint heavy  cream
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 package (3.4 oz.) vanilla pudding mix
• 1  cup milk
• 1 cup (8 oz.) cream cheese (<-- secret ingredient) 
• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk 
• 1-2 ripe bananas

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. place graham crackers in a gallon sized plastic bag, seal, and crush with a hard flattish object (i use a soap dispenser). in a medium bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs with the rest of the ingredients, adding more water if necessary. when crumbs stick slightly, press into bottom and sides of a pie pan. bake for 8-10 minutes, let cool completely. to make filling, mix together pudding mix and milk (it should be thick and radio active yellow in color). With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until really creamy. with the beater(s) still on, add sweetened condensed milk and pudding. transfer to another bowl, and beat heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until thick and creamy (a.k.a. whipped cream). fold half of the whip cream into the pudding mixture. set the rest aside.

slice banana(s) into coins. spread a thin layer of filling on the pie crust, and press slices into filling. dump filling into crust and top with remaining whip cream. enjoy! 

Stuffed chocolate chip cookies!

Today me and my friend made stuffed chocolate chip cookies.

You heard me.

Stuffed.

With these

magical

candies.

I used my favorite chocolate cookie recipe:

My favorite chocolate chip cookies

I put a half scoop of dough,  then a square of reese's peanut butter candy or half a fun-sized kit kat ( cut it across instead of on the line), then another half scoop. i used my fingers to pat down the edges of the dough around the candy.

Have fun!

Liebster Award answers

My friend Amy Copperman nominated me for this award, and i have to answer some questions.
Here goes.

Why do you blog?: 

 I blog because I like sharing amazing recipes with my friends and other people.

What is your favorite vegetable?: 

My favorite vegetable is the potato because i absolutely love mashed potatoes, gnocchi (amy taught me how to make this!), and a ton of other potatoey things.

What is your favorite utensil in the kitchen?: 

I'm not sure if a kitchen aid stand mixer counts. i wanted one so much i asked for target gift cards for my bat mitzvah to get one. It's green and amazing. If it doesn't count, i have whisk with a purple rubber gorilla (Jim) inside hanging onto the bars. i love him.

What's your closest grocery store?:

There's an indian grocery store down the street called Not Just Spices, but the closest real grocery store is stop & shop.

What were the last three things you cooked?:

Sugar cookies, banana chocolate chip muffins and peanut butter cookies.

Are you a baker or more of a savory cook?:

I'm a baker but i cook sometimes.

Chocolate desserts vs. fruit desserts, discuss.:

Ooh, hard. I'm a total choclaholic, but sometimes all you want is something like banana cream pie. I'd have to go with chocolate though. between smores pie, chocolate roll cake, banana chocolate chip muffins, and mint chocolate cupcakes (I could go on), chocolate just has too much going for it.

Where is your favorite place to visit?:

New York City. There is just so many amazing foods there. Last time i was there i went on a food tour of the lower east side. it was amazing. Also, there are inch-tall cupcakes that are super cute and super amazing at Baked by Melissa's there too.

If money were no object, what restaurant would you most like to try?:

Sweet Leaf Cupcake Company in Seattle, Washington.

Best Food Movie?: 

Kings of Pastry

Last meal, what would it be?:

Home-ade gnocchi with my dad's roasted brussel sprouts and garlic bread on a durum stick from Seven Stars Bakery. And Chocolate roll cake for dessert.

Thanks so much for nominating me!

Peanut Butter cookies!

I needed to bake for my counselors at camp, and one is lactose intolerant. these cookies are amazing because they are dairy free, gluten free and they only have 5 ingredients!

om nom nom :)

Really Easy peanut butter cookies

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

preheat oven to 350. grease a cookie sheet. mix everything together in a bowl. use a cookie scoop to place dough balls 1 1/12 inches apart. bake for 12 minutes. let cool. eat or store in sealed tupperware or gallon bag.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins!

I've been wanting to make these for my blog because all my friends are begging me to post the recipe. These muffins are seriously good; a recipe my mom clipped out of a penzey's magazine and has been making for as long as i can remember. A couple years ago, she decided to make them healthier. She has added awesome substitutions so they are dairy free and whole wheat. They taste exactly the same.

                                                           Instead of butter, we use:                                          

Sunsweet Butter/Oil Replacement (dried plum and apple preserves)

 Instead of white flour, we use:

Whole wheat flour

These things are so good!

This morning I was really lazy and I didn't feel like cleaning, so i used paper liners. you don't have to.

Yummy! I love these liners. I got them at stop & shop for $1.50 for 50! #prettypolkadots!

Side note: I'm sorry. I hate hashtags. I'll never do that again

And please never let your muffin be eaten alone.

Eat two.

Or three. :)

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

• 1/2 cup softened butter or 1/4 cup  sunsweet butter/oil replacement
• 1 1/14 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups white flour or whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 large overripe bananas, mashed
• 1/2 bag of chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Line or grease 1 1/2 muffin pans. If you are using butter use and electric mixer, if you are using sunsweet, use a bowl and a whisk/wooden spoon/spatula. cream together butter of sunweet and sugar. beat in 1 egg at a time. stir in vanilla. in a separate bowl, sift (or whisk if you're lazy like me) together flour, baking soda and cinnamon. mix into wet mixture. fold in your mashed bananas. Fold in your chocolate chips. fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full. bake for 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick/knife comes out clean. Let cool or eat immediately. store in sealed gallon bag or tupperware. makes about 18 muffins.