Create Amazing Meals

Buttermilk Pie (With a Hint of Maple Syrup) ~ Baked Sunday Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:59:12 PDT

Creamy custard filling sits in a nice, flaky crust Ready for the oven This week's Baked Sunday Mornings challenge is for Cornmeal Griddle Cakes but we're hitting the road this morning so don't...

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Provencal Olive Fougasse ~ French Fridays with Dorie

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Wed, 15 May 2013 22:13:47 PDT

Rustic French Bread infused with Olives, Rosemary, and Lemon Zest Rosemary, Yeast, and Olive Oil All bakers need supervision! Meet...

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Chambord Brownies with Fresh Raspberries

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:50:24 PDT

These brownies are so moist and delicious, studded with fresh raspberries, they're sure to please your palate! They'd be great in a trifle or hot chocolate sundae! They're easy to whip...

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Alfajores ~ Baked Sunday Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Sat, 11 May 2013 20:12:50 PDT

Alfajores filled with Dulce de Leche I filled some with little bit of each This week's Baked Sunday Mornings challenge is for Alfajores filled with Dulce de Leche. I've never had...

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Basic Blackberry Cobbler ~ King Arthur Flour

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Thu, 09 May 2013 18:21:12 PDT

Hot from the oven! I love fruit cobblers of all kinds, so I was intrigued by this fruit-on-top version from King Arthur Flour. It comes together so quickly and easily but tastes like a dessert...

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Dinner on the Grill ~ Chicken Foil Pouches, Corn on the Cob, and Parsley Potatoes

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Wed, 08 May 2013 07:22:08 PDT

A perfect dinner in the garden Wow, we've had crazy weather in SoCal! I'm sure you've all seen the wildfires in the news this week. We're only about 15 miles from the fires in...

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Double Rum Black Pepper Cake with Chocolate Ganache ~ Baked Sunday Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 12:31:27 PDT

Hello, Everyone! Sorry we've missed you, but we're back from our vacation. We went on Danube River cruise and visited Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. The weather was...

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Sunrise Key Lime Tarts ~ Baked Sunday Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:34:00 PDT

Adorned with a lime blossom from our garden Key Lime whipped cream This week's Baked Sunday Mornings challenge is for Sunrise Key Lime Tarts. These tarts are really easy to make....

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Chocolate and Blackberry Financiers ~ French Fridays with Dorie

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 06:46:33 PDT

Tiny treats! Ready for the oven This week's French Fridays with Dorie challenge is for Financiers which are a type of petite French pastry. I opted for both of Dorie's Bonne...

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Smoked Pork Chops, Almond Rice Pilaf, and LSU Cauliflower with Hollandaise Sauce

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:06:56 PDT

Ameal fit for an LSU Tiger! On Saturday, we went to the Farmers' Market in Ventura instead of our usual one at the Channel Islands Harbor. Many years ago, before the Sunday market was started...

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2013 Members-only Barrel Tasting ~ Jaffurs Wine Cellars

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:58:49 PDT

Wines for sale We've been members of Jaffurs Wine Cellars in Santa Barbara for a few years now. They're a small-production, high-quality vintner who makes hand-crafted Rhone varietal...

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Aunt Sassy Cake ~ Baked Sunday Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 14:11:44 PDT

Lovely pistachio chiffon cake with honey buttercream Just from the oven This week's Baked Sunday Mornings challenge is for this lovely, 3-tiered Aunt Sassy Cake that's studded with...

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Creamy Chicken & Spinach Enchiladas

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:41:16 PDT

Hot from the oven. This recipe is an adaptation of one that John's sister, Pam, made for us. The original recipe calls for flour tortillas but we used corn - both are great. We make a...

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Bourbon Pecan Brownies

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 22:49:54 PDT

This recipe produces a not-too-sweet brownie infused with Bourbon and topped with Buttercream swirled with Milk Chocolate. They come together quickly and are great for when you need a little...

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Lemon Easter Basket Cake with Fresh Berries

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 23:43:31 PDT

You know how sometimes the simplest idea can be such a revelation? Because we have a 4-hour drive to John's sister's house, it's always a challenge creating a festive dessert for the holidays....

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Cheddar Corn Souffle, Lemon-steamed Spinach, and Pan-fried Pork Chops

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:10:19 PDT

Port Hueneme Beach This week's full moon is undoubtedly responsible for the convergence of Baked Sunday Mornings and French Fridays with Dorie into the makings of a...

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Kentucky-style Barbecued Chicken and Mom's Potato Salad

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:08:00 PDT

Southern Chicken meets SoCal Potato Salad This meal is a perfect blend of our different backgrounds. John's mom grew up in Murray, Kentucky, and he remembers his uncle grilling this chicken...

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Because Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut ~ Almond Joy Tart ~ Baked Sunday Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:44:53 PDT

You'll know I love you if I share this tart with you! And, a tester-taster for us - just to make sure it's good enough! This week's Baked Sunday Mornings challenge is for Chocolate Peanut...

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Ispahan Mini Rose Cakes ~ French Fridays with Dorie

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:07:44 PDT

Rose-scented almond cake filled with raspberries and drizzled with raspberry coulis This week's French Fridays with Dorie challenge is for Ispahan Loaf Cake. It's a delicate almond...

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Tangerine Sorbet

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:04:36 PDT

Bursting with flavor! It's hard for me to resist buying tangerines by the box at this time of year. They are so bright and pretty and they smell so good! Of...

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Lemon Shaker Pie ~ Baked Sunday Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:16:17 PDT

Creamy, sweet, and tangy! Blanched lemon slices in an ice water bath This week's Baked Sunday Mornings challenge is Lemon Shaker Pie. It's part science experiment and part baking!...

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Orange-scented Lentil Soup ~ French Fridays with Dorie

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 22:31:45 PDT

Mmmm...Bacon! We found French Green Lentils at Monsieur Marcel in LA. This week's French Fridays with Dorie challenge is for Orange-scented Lentil Soup. Wow, this soup had so...

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Date Squares ~ King Arthur Flour

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:34:44 PDT

Delicious Date Squares I had coveted the King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion for some time, so when it went on sale for $14.95 and I had a $10 off coupon, I couldn't resist ordering it! As...

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Shrimp & Lobster Macaroni and Cheese with Roasted Asparagus

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:11:55 PDT

It always amazes people when I tell them I don't watch any cooking shows. Although that's true, I find The Cooking Channel website to be a great resource for recipes and ideas. We had...

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Malted Milk Sandwich Cookies ~ Baked Sunday Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (Susan Lester) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 20:39:22 PST

Don't you just want one? Or 2...or 3? Rich malt and brown sugar cookie dough This week's Baked Sunday Mornings challenge is for these remarkable Malted Milk Sandwich Cookies....

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