Today was my big baking day, getting all the deserts and treats ready for tomorrows feast. After I took Killian to school in the morning, I got right to work in the kitchen. On the list to make today was:
Apple pie bread
Chocolate hazelnut thumbprint cookies (the recipe is the second one listed, scroll down)
White chocolate chunk macadamia nut cookies
Apricot and banana nut bread
Chocolate mousse tart with hazelnuts (I could not find this recipe online, its from the Dec. issue of Everyday Food)
And Pumpkin pie (these are Matthews to make)
Having two ovens really came in handy and allowed me to get so much done in a short period of time. I started with the banana bread and I was able to get the thumbprint cookies in and out of the second oven before the first batch of bread was even done cooking. After the cookies were done, Rowan and I started in on the apple pie bread. She got bored with me peeling and shredding apples, so she set up a bubble bath in the sink for some of her bath toys. She was hilarious to listen to, talking to her toys about why they needed a bath, and having a great time creating waterfalls for them to wash under.
Once she got back to work with me, she was still in a silly mood, and we made faces with our cookie ingredients. She came up with the idea for the smiley face after we put in a egg yolk. I guess it did look kinda like an eyeball!
After we got the second batch of bread in the oven, we took a well deserved lunch break. Its harder work that you would think to be in the kitchen dicing, mixing, measuring and baking all day. We had really worked up an appetite!
After lunch, we got back to work, and made the macadamia nut cookies. By this time Killian was home, so he helped by doing all the hand mixing. I love to have him join me in the kitchen, its something he really used to love to do, but doesn't much anymore. So I will take any time that I can get with him. By the time we got those cookies all baked, and spent some time outside, it was time to make dinner, and wait for Matthew to get home.
We still had a couple pies to make though, so after dinner Matthew and I rolled up our sleeves and headed back to work. He makes the pumpkin pies each year, it was a tradition in his family before we got married. Its nice to see him in the kitchen too, like Killian, I cant get him in there often enough ;) While he worked his magic, I started on the Chocolate mousse tart. It has a lot of steps, but was pretty simple to make. I was a little worried at the end by having to "fold" the chocolate and freshly whipped cream together, but I managed to do it correctly, and had a nice fluffy pie filling to show for it. The hazelnuts that I toasted cant go on until right before serving it, but even without the garnishment, it still looked pretty.
We still have one more dessert to make tomorrow, its these cute little Rice Krispies drumsticks for the kids. But for tonight, I am throwing in the towel and getting some rest because we have an even bigger baking day tomorrow!
The finished products:
Apple pie bread and apricot banana bread. These weren't all for us though - the banana breads went to Jeanne and one to Tanya's family. And one of the apple pie breads went to Jess and Wade. The other we will eat in the morning for breakfast:
Chocolate hazelnut thumbprint cookies:
White chocolate macadamia nut cookies:
Chocolate mousse tart with hazelnut topping on the side:
Matthews pumpkin pies:
We totally cheated on all our pie crusts, since I already had so much to make. For the pumpkin pies we got Wholly Wholesome organic frozen crusts, and a graham cracker pie crust for the tart. Maybe next year I will tackle these from scratch!
Apple pie bread
Chocolate hazelnut thumbprint cookies (the recipe is the second one listed, scroll down)
White chocolate chunk macadamia nut cookies
Apricot and banana nut bread
Chocolate mousse tart with hazelnuts (I could not find this recipe online, its from the Dec. issue of Everyday Food)
And Pumpkin pie (these are Matthews to make)
Having two ovens really came in handy and allowed me to get so much done in a short period of time. I started with the banana bread and I was able to get the thumbprint cookies in and out of the second oven before the first batch of bread was even done cooking. After the cookies were done, Rowan and I started in on the apple pie bread. She got bored with me peeling and shredding apples, so she set up a bubble bath in the sink for some of her bath toys. She was hilarious to listen to, talking to her toys about why they needed a bath, and having a great time creating waterfalls for them to wash under.
Once she got back to work with me, she was still in a silly mood, and we made faces with our cookie ingredients. She came up with the idea for the smiley face after we put in a egg yolk. I guess it did look kinda like an eyeball!
After we got the second batch of bread in the oven, we took a well deserved lunch break. Its harder work that you would think to be in the kitchen dicing, mixing, measuring and baking all day. We had really worked up an appetite!
After lunch, we got back to work, and made the macadamia nut cookies. By this time Killian was home, so he helped by doing all the hand mixing. I love to have him join me in the kitchen, its something he really used to love to do, but doesn't much anymore. So I will take any time that I can get with him. By the time we got those cookies all baked, and spent some time outside, it was time to make dinner, and wait for Matthew to get home.
We still had a couple pies to make though, so after dinner Matthew and I rolled up our sleeves and headed back to work. He makes the pumpkin pies each year, it was a tradition in his family before we got married. Its nice to see him in the kitchen too, like Killian, I cant get him in there often enough ;) While he worked his magic, I started on the Chocolate mousse tart. It has a lot of steps, but was pretty simple to make. I was a little worried at the end by having to "fold" the chocolate and freshly whipped cream together, but I managed to do it correctly, and had a nice fluffy pie filling to show for it. The hazelnuts that I toasted cant go on until right before serving it, but even without the garnishment, it still looked pretty.
We still have one more dessert to make tomorrow, its these cute little Rice Krispies drumsticks for the kids. But for tonight, I am throwing in the towel and getting some rest because we have an even bigger baking day tomorrow!
The finished products:
Apple pie bread and apricot banana bread. These weren't all for us though - the banana breads went to Jeanne and one to Tanya's family. And one of the apple pie breads went to Jess and Wade. The other we will eat in the morning for breakfast:
Chocolate hazelnut thumbprint cookies:
White chocolate macadamia nut cookies:
Chocolate mousse tart with hazelnut topping on the side:
Matthews pumpkin pies:
We totally cheated on all our pie crusts, since I already had so much to make. For the pumpkin pies we got Wholly Wholesome organic frozen crusts, and a graham cracker pie crust for the tart. Maybe next year I will tackle these from scratch!