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	<title>Domestic Pursuits</title>
	
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		<title>Most Amazing Cinnamon Buns</title>
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		<comments>http://domesticpursuits.com/2010/02/20/most-amazing-cinnamon-buns/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Feb 2010 16:52:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baked Goods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cinnamon Buns]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=863</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One fine winter morning, I decided I would spend my day lazing about the house reading Northanger Abbey while the smell of baking cinnamon buns wafted through the living room.  Sadly (or not so sadly, in the end) I did not have any pre-fab cinnamon buns in a cardboard tube lying around, so I had to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One fine winter morning, I decided I would spend my day lazing about the house reading Northanger Abbey while the smell of baking cinnamon buns wafted through the living room.  Sadly (or not so sadly, in the end) I did not have any pre-fab cinnamon buns in a cardboard tube lying around, so I had to make a choice &#8211; make cinnamon buns from scratch, or put up with imitation cinnamon bun scent from my favorite Yankee Candle.  I opted for the former, and boy am I glad &#8211; these were the most amazing cinnamon buns I&#8217;ve ever had.  I found <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/almost-famous-cinnamon-buns-recipe/index.html">this</a> recipe initially in my Food Network Tagazine several months ago and had stuck a post-it on it reminding myself to come back and try it out.  It is supposed to be an imitation of some national cinnamon bun store&#8217;s product, but frankly there is nothing like a handmade cinnamon bun coming out of ones&#8217; own oven &#8211; far and away better than any commercially available roll.  I changed a few things out of necessity (not having whole milk or cream on hand, I used skim milk, and also reduced the butter in the filling, as I simply couldn&#8217;t figure out how to get a whopping 12 tablespoons of butter onto a 12&#215;14 rectangle of dough) and they came out as rich and ooey-gooey as you could want.  Try them, you will not regret it.</p>
<p><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_02/cinnamonbun.jpg"><img class="alignnone" title="Cinnamon Buns" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_02/cinnamonbun.jpg" alt="" width="492" height="369" /></a></p>
<h3>Best Cinnamon Buns Ever</h3>
<p>For the Dough:</p>
<li>1 cup skim milk</li>
<li>1 1/4-ounce packet active dry yeast</li>
<li>1/4 cup plus 1/4 teaspoon granulated <a>sugar</a></li>
<li>4 tablespoons unsalted <a>butter</a>, melted, plus more for the bowl</li>
<li>1 large egg yolk</li>
<li>1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract</li>
<li>2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more if needed</li>
<li>3/4 teaspoon <a>salt</a></li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg</li>
<p>Warm the milk in the microwave for 45-60 seconds until it reaches approximately 100 degrees F.  Add the yeast and 1/4 teaspoon sugar (do not stir!) and let sit until foamy, or about 5 minutes.  In the meantime, whisk together the flour, the remainder of the sugar, the salt and nutmeg in the bowl of your stand mixer. (or a regular bowl if you are without a stand-mixer &#8211; just remember to eat your wheaties if you&#8217;re mixing this by hand, the dough gets very thick!)  To the foamy yeast mixture, whisk in the melted butter, the egg yolk, and the vanilla.  Make a well in the center of your dry ingredients, and pour in the yeast mixture.  Mix on low speed on your stand mixer with the dough hook (or arm mixer) until the dough appears very wet and sticky.  Then turn up the speed to medium and let knead for about 5 minutes, until the dough gathers around the hook.  You may need to add a little extra flour (I did &#8211; probably about 3 tablespoons) to get the dough to this point.  Take the dough out of the mixing bowl and form a ball with it.  Before putting the dough back in the bowl, coat your mixing bowl with butter.  Put the dough back in the bowl and roll the ball around so it is coated in butter.  Cover with saran wrap and let rise for 1 hr, or until doubled in size.</p>
<p>For the filling:</p>
<li>All-purpose flour, for dusting</li>
<li>4-6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus more for the pan</li>
<li>1/2 cup granulated sugar</li>
<li>3 tablespoons ground cinnamon</li>
<p> Mix the cinnamon and sugar together before rolling out the dough.  Butter a 9&#215;13 inch baking dish.  Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface.  Flour the top of the dough so it doesn&#8217;t stick to your rolling pin!  Roll the dough out into an approximately 12&#215;14 inch rectangle (I had an oddly shaped ellipse), with the long side facing you.  Spread the butter all over the dough except for about 1/2 an inch on the far side of the dough - the original recipe called for 12 tablespoons of butter, but my dough was well covered with only 4-6 tablespoons.  Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mix over the dough sparing the 1/2 inch bare edge.  Coat this edge with water.  Roll the dough away from you forming a tight roll.  Slice into 1 1/2 inch thick slices using a serrated bread knife with very little pressure so as to not squish the roll!  Place the slices into the baking dish, cut side down, with space in between as they will expand!  Let rise for 20-30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 325 and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown.</p>
<p>For the glaze:</p>
<li>2 cups confectioners&#8217; sugar</li>
<li>1/3 cup skim milk </li>
<li>4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted</li>
<p>Sift the sugar into a bowl and whisk in the wet ingredients until smooth.  Pour over buns after they have cooled in the pan for 15 minutes or so.  (If you can wait 15 minutes for the buns to cool in the pan by all means go ahead &#8211; my husband and I couldn&#8217;t, so we just poured the glaze right on straight out of the oven.  This made the glaze very warm and melty, increasing the gooey-ness factor by a lot &#8211; but if you wait longer it will probably be prettier! )</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Slow-cooker Baked Potato Soup</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DomesticPursuits/~3/nCLcmCKmyDs/</link>
		<comments>http://domesticpursuits.com/2010/01/27/slow-cooker-baked-potato-soup/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:11:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beth</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Soups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Potato]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=860</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
After a long blogging hiatus, I&#8217;m back.  While I haven&#8217;t been blogging regularly, I&#8217;ve been tracking my kitchen adventures and have a number of fun recipes to share.
In the dead of winter, nothing is better than a warm, hearty bowl of soup.   Panera&#8217;s Baked Potato soup is a favorite of mine,  so I was intrigued [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_01/Baked_Potato_Soup.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Slow-cooker Baked Potato Soup" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_01/Baked_Potato_Soup.jpg" alt="" width="442" height="332" /></a></p>
<p>After a long blogging hiatus, I&#8217;m back.  While I haven&#8217;t been blogging regularly, I&#8217;ve been tracking my kitchen adventures and have a number of fun recipes to share.</p>
<p>In the dead of winter, nothing is better than a warm, hearty bowl of soup.   Panera&#8217;s Baked Potato soup is a favorite of mine,  so I was intrigued when I saw a copycat recipe on <a href="http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2009/06/crockpot-baked-potato-soup-recipe.html" target="_blank">A Year of Slow-cooking</a>.   While the flavor differs somewhat from the original, this soup is smooth, creamy and rich&#8230; the perfect meal for a cold winter&#8217;s night.</p>
<p>Honestly, it doesn&#8217;t get much easier than this.  I find potato soups very messy when cooked on the stove &#8211; you need to make sure that things don&#8217;t boil over or stick to bottom of the pan, and clean-up is a pain.  With this recipe,  you just throw everything in the slow-cooker and walk away.</p>
<p>Beware:  this recipe makes a lot of soup &#8211; easily 10 generous servings.   The soup is so tasty, you probably won&#8217;t mind an abundance of leftovers.  <img src='http://domesticpursuits.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':)' class='wp-smiley' />   It filled my 6 quart Crock Pot with only about an inch to spare, so make sure you use a 6-quart or larger slow-cooker if you choose to make a full batch.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_01/Baked_Potato_Soup_Close.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Slow-cooker Baked Potato Soup" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_01/Baked_Potato_Soup_Close.jpg" alt="" width="461" height="247" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Slow-cooker Baked Potato Soup</strong><br />
<em>Yields 10 servings</em></p>
<p>5 lbs potatoes, peeled and diced in 1 to 2-inch chunks<br />
1 small onion, diced<br />
4 cloves garlic, minced<br />
1 tsp salt<br />
1/2 tsp black pepper<br />
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes<br />
2 quarts chicken broth<br />
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese<br />
optional garnishes:  crumbled bacon, green onion, chives, shredded cheddar cheese</p>
<p>1.  After peeling and dicing potatoes, place them in the slow-cooker (use 6-quart or larger).  Add onion, garlic, seasonings and broth.<br />
2.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for four hours.<br />
3.  Once potatoes are fork-tender, use a masher to mash the potatoes.<br />
4.  Break up both packages of cream cheese and add to slow-cooker.  Put the cover back on.<br />
5.  Cook on high for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.<br />
6.  Once cream cheese is completely dissolved, serve with desired garnishes.</p>
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		<title>Chicken Leek Pie</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DomesticPursuits/~3/Nw9FdGG3KG4/</link>
		<comments>http://domesticpursuits.com/2010/01/25/chicken-leek-pie/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2010 03:35:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Meat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chicken]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pie]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=841</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During the torrential rainstorm today, I drove 3 hrs each way to a job interview.  Consequentially I spent most of the day looking like a drowned rat in a business suit.  When I got home (aside from changing into my PJs and drying my hair) all I wanted was some comfort food and a nap.  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>During the torrential rainstorm today, I drove 3 hrs each way to a job interview.  Consequentially I spent most of the day looking like a drowned rat in a business suit.  When I got home (aside from changing into my PJs and drying my hair) all I wanted was some comfort food and a nap.  We had lots of leftover chicken on hand and some leeks, so I decided to make a chicken pot pie.  <a href="http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28657489/">This</a> recipe caught my eye because it appeared fairly straightforward.  I made a few modifications, mostly because I didn&#8217;t have tarragon or grainy mustard (and as I was in my PJs, could not really go out to procure tarragon or grainy mustard&#8230;) and I also used skim milk because we didn&#8217;t have whole milk in the house.  It was a great way to end a very long and damp day.</p>
<p><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_01/chicken_pie.jpg"><img class="alignnone" title="Chicken Pot Pie" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_01/chicken_pie.jpg" alt="" width="457" height="343" /></a></p>
<h3>Ingredients:</h3>
<p>12 oz cooked chicken (I used a combination of boneless skinless chicken breast and thighs)</p>
<p>2 tablespoons butter</p>
<p>1 leek, sliced lengthwise and then into 1/2 inch strips</p>
<p>1 onion, diced</p>
<p>1 tablespoon mustard (I used dijon)</p>
<p>1/4 cup flour</p>
<p>1 cup chicken broth</p>
<p>3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon reserved skim milk</p>
<p>1/4 cup heavy cream</p>
<p>1/2 tsp dried basil</p>
<p>1/2 tsp dried marjoram</p>
<p>Salt &amp; pepper to taste</p>
<p>1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed</p>
<p>1 egg</p>
<h3><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_01/chicken_pie2.jpg"><img class="alignleft" title="Chicken Pot Pie" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2010_01/chicken_pie2.jpg" alt="" width="235" height="314" /></a></h3>
<h3>Directions:</h3>
<p>Melt the butter in a deep skillet over medium heat.  Saute the leek and onion until the onion becomes translucent &#8211; about 4-5 mins.  Add the mustard and the flour.  Cook for about 1-2 minutes stirring constantly.  Add the chicken broth, 3/4 cup skim milk and cream.  Cook for about 5 minutes, until the mixture begins to thicken.  Add the chicken and spices to the skillet and mix well.  Let the mixture cool.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place into a deep pie dish.  Roll the pastry out to a size able to cover the pie dish and press it over top, sealing it to the dish.  I used the extra bits of pastry dough to decorate the top.  Beat the egg and tablespoon of milk together and brush over top of the pastry crust before baking.  Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the crust becomes golden brown and puffy.</p>
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		<title>Snowed In, Part Deux</title>
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		<comments>http://domesticpursuits.com/2010/01/25/snowed-in-part-deux/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:27:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=838</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So we&#8217;re actually no longer snowed in &#8211; thankfully the 23.2 inches of snow we had here have now melted&#8230;but despite the fact that we can now leave the house I&#8217;m still in a baking mood, so here are a few more cookie recipes I tried out that weekend.   The other two kinds [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So we&#8217;re actually no longer snowed in &#8211; thankfully the 23.2 inches of snow we had here have now melted&#8230;but despite the fact that we can now leave the house I&#8217;m still in a baking mood, so here are a few more cookie recipes I tried out that weekend.   The other two kinds of cookies I made that fabulous snowy weekend include Chocolate Meringues and Chocolate White Chip cookies. </p>
<h3>Batch #3 &#8211; Chocolate Meringues</h3>
<p>As I&#8217;ve mentioned before, my mother has celiac disease so whenever I bake cookies I try to include a gluten-free option.  I hadn&#8217;t made chocolate meringues before, so I decided to give <a href="http://www.hersheys.com/recipes/recipes/detail.asp?id=8573&amp;page=1&amp;per=25&amp;keyword=meringues&amp;omnituresearch=true&amp;rectypecat=">these</a> a go and they were amazing.  The outside was crisp and light and inside the filling stayed ever so slightly chewy, which was tasty and delicious.  An added benefit to making meringue cookies is the low-fat healthy nature of these cookies &#8211; as they are made with only egg whites, no cholesterol too!  One piece of advice &#8211; sift the cocoa!  Mine have little bubbles in them, where the cocoa powder got stuck together&#8230;still tasted fabulous, but maybe not quite as pretty!</p>
<h3><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_12/meringues.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Chocolate Meringue Cookies" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_12/meringues.jpg" alt="" width="490" height="367" /></a></h3>
<h3>Ingredients:</h3>
<li>3 egg whites</li>
<li>3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract</li>
<li>3/4 cup sugar</li>
<li>1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, sifted</li>
<h3>Directions:</h3>
<p>Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment. Place the egg whites and vanilla into a bowl &#8211; beat with an electric mixer until the mixture is foamy.  Beat in the sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture becomes glossy appearing and stiff peaks form.  Add about half of the cocoa and fold in gently until well incorporated.  Add the rest of the cocoa in the same manner.  Spoon the meringue mixture into a pastry bag (I used a frosting gun instead) with a large star tip and squeeze dallops onto the parchment-coated cookie sheet.  You can place these fairly close together as they do not expand very much while baking.  Bake for 30 minutes or until they appear dry, then cool completely on a cooling rack.  Store in the fridge.</p>
<h3>Batch #4:</h3>
<p>I had lots of white chocolate chips on hand during this storm, so in the name of pantry space I decided to make a cookie that involved white chocolate chips.  My favorite kind is the ones that have tasty white morsels in a traditional chocolate cookie dough, so I searched for a recipe until I found <a href="http://www.verybestbaking.com/recipes/detail.aspx?ID=18479">this</a> one.  The cookies came out amazingly tender and moist &#8211; we were all huge fans in my household.  Especially wonderful with a glass of nice cold milk.</p>
<p><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_12/chocolate_cookies.jpg"><img class="alignnone" title="White Chocolate Chip Cookies" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_12/chocolate_cookies.jpg" alt="" width="473" height="311" /></a></p>
<h3>Ingredients: </h3>
<ul>
<li><span id="ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_ctl00_MainContent_MainContent_MainContent_MainContent_lblIngredients">2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour</span></li>
<li><span>2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa</span></li>
<li><span>1 teaspoon baking soda</span></li>
<li><span>1/4 teaspoon salt</span></li>
<li><span>2 sticks softened butter</span></li>
<li><span>3/4 cup sugar</span></li>
<li><span>2/3 cup packed brown sugar</span></li>
<li><span>1 teaspoon vanilla</span></li>
<li><span>2 eggs</span></li>
<li><span>12 oz package of white chocolate chips</span></li>
</ul>
<h3>Directions:</h3>
<p>Preheat oven to 350 degrees.   Mix together flour, cocoa, bakin soda, and salt.  Beat together butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy and smooth.  Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each.  Gradually stir in the dry ingredients and add the chocolate chips in.  Drop by the teaspoonful onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake for approximately 10 minutes.  Cool completely on a wire rack.</p>
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		<title>Snowed In!!!</title>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 20 Dec 2009 21:20:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baked Goods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cookies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chocolate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gingerbread]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peanut Butter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=833</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, we got 24 inches of snow in our neck of the woods this weekend &#8211; since my husband and I had no place to go, we stayed in and &#8220;let it snow!&#8221;  While everyone else in the city stocked up on bread, milk and eggs (presumably to make french toast?) I opted for [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Well, we got 24 inches of snow in our neck of the woods this weekend &#8211; since my husband and I had no place to go, we stayed in and &#8220;let it snow!&#8221;  While everyone else in the city stocked up on bread, milk and eggs (presumably to make french toast?) I opted for butter, flour, sugar and other baking implements &#8211; I figured we can always live off of cookies for a few days!  I made four different varieties yesterday, and one more today!!  Here are the first couple &#8211; the rest will follow soon!</p>
<h3>Batch #1 &#8211; Gingerbread Cookies</h3>
<p>I just love these little ginger-colored treats with frosting-piped faces.  Although in my typical fashion I wanted a &#8220;healthier&#8221; cookie recipe if possible, these came out very moist and delicious &#8211; my husband didn&#8217;t even realize they were from <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&amp;recipe_id=1932612">Cooking Light</a>.   They were surprisingly easy to cut and the dough didn&#8217;t crumble on me like the last few batches of gingerbread cookies I made. </p>
<p><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_12/gingerbread_couple.jpg"><img class="alignnone" title="Gingerbread Couple" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_12/gingerbread_couple.jpg" alt="" width="490" height="367" /></a></p>
<p>Cookies:</p>
<li>10.1  ounces  all-purpose flour (about 2 1/4 cups)</li>
<li>1  teaspoon  ground ginger</li>
<li>1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon</li>
<li>1/2  teaspoon  baking powder</li>
<li>1/4  teaspoon  baking soda</li>
<li>1/4  teaspoon  salt</li>
<li>1/4  teaspoon  ground nutmeg</li>
<li>1/2  cup  packed brown sugar</li>
<li>1/2  cup  butter, softened</li>
<li>3  tablespoons  molasses</li>
<li>1  large egg</li>
<li>Cooking spray</li>
<p><span><span>Icing:</span></span></p>
<li>1  cup  sifted powdered sugar</li>
<li>1  tablespoon  water</li>
<p>Combine flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, &amp; nutmeg with a whisk.  In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, butter, &amp;  molasses and beat for 2 minutes.  Add the egg and beat well to combine.  Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients &#8211; I used a heavy duty stand mixer as the dough became quite thick and sticky.  Divide the dough in half, flattening each half into a disc and wrapping tightly in plastic wrap.  Chill the dough for at least 90 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Roll out the dough to 1/8 &#8211; 1/4 inch thickness and cut with the desired cookie cutter.  Place 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes and then cool completely on a wire rack.</p>
<p>For decorating: Mix powdered sugar and water &#8211; if too thick, add drops of water &#8211; I ended up using closer to 1.5 tablespoons in the end.  Spoon the icing into a plastic bag with a tiny hole cut in the corner and decorate away!</p>
<h3>Batch #2 &#8211; Chocolate Peanut Butter Pinwheels</h3>
<p>My husband loves anything that combines chocolate and peanut butter &#8211; so in my baking extravaganza I wanted to make sure I included some cookies he would really enjoy!  This recipe I found was great, although I made a couple minor substitutions &#8211; I didn&#8217;t have baking chocolate on hand, and as there was a blizzard outside I opted to substitute in some cocoa powder.  They came out great &#8211; although the dough softened very fast when out of the fridge.  Cut them speedily!</p>
<p><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_12/pinwheel_cookies.jpg"><img class="alignleft" title="Chocolate Peanut Butter Pinwheels" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_12/pinwheel_cookies.jpg" alt="" width="294" height="392" /></a>Ingredients:</p>
<p>1/2 cup sugar</p>
<p>1 stick of butter (softened)</p>
<p>1 egg</p>
<p>1 tsp vanilla</p>
<p>1 1/2 cups flour</p>
<p>1/2 tsp baking powder</p>
<p>1/4 tsp salt</p>
<p>3 tbsp cocoa powder</p>
<p>1 tbsp vegetable oil</p>
<p>1/4 cup creamy peanut butter</p>
<p>Beat sugar, butter, egg and vanilla together in a large bowl &#8211; scrape the bowl often to make sure everything is well mixed!  Add flour, baking powder and salt and mix together well.  Divide dough into two even portions.  To the first portion, add the cocoa powder and the vegetable oil and mix well.  To the second portion, add the peanut butter and mix well.  Shape the two doughs into rectangles and wrap tightly in saran wrap.  Refrigerate for at least 1 hr.  Roll each dough out between 2 pieces of floured wax paper &#8211; Make sure the doughs are approximately the same size!  Then peel away one sheet of wax paper from each dough.  Press the two doughs together, and roll (jelly-roll style) into a log.  Wrap the log in saran wrap and place the dough into the freezer for 20 minutes.   Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Remove dough and quickly slice into 1/4 inch thick discs.  Place 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined cookie pan and bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes.</p>
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		<title>A Domestic Pursuits Celebration</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DomesticPursuits/~3/kzAYtLRw9zg/</link>
		<comments>http://domesticpursuits.com/2009/11/19/a-domestic-pursuits-celebration/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:05:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beth</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baked Goods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Random Thoughts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brownies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=830</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
This is a very special post.  No, not because it contains the recipe for an amazing dark chocolate brownie.  It marks both the 100th post and the first anniversary of Domestic Pursuits.  I&#8217;ve enjoyed sharing my cooking adventures and look forward to working my way through many more interesting recipes and domestic [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/DarkChocolateBrownie.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Dark Chocolate Brownie" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/DarkChocolateBrownie.jpg" alt="Dark Chocolate Brownie" width="369" height="246" /></a></p>
<p>This is a very special post.  No, not because it contains the recipe for an amazing dark chocolate brownie.  It marks both the 100th post and the first anniversary of Domestic Pursuits.  I&#8217;ve enjoyed sharing my cooking adventures and look forward to working my way through many more interesting recipes and domestic activities in the coming year.  Happy Anniversary to us!</p>
<p>Now onto the delicious part&#8230;</p>
<p>After picking up a container of Edy&#8217;s Slow Churned Pumpkin ice cream last night, I decided that I needed brownies to go with it.  Pumpkin and chocolate is my new favorite flavor combination and you just can&#8217;t go wrong with brownies a la mode!</p>
<p>I love this recipe for <a href="http://domesticpursuits.com/2009/03/04/mint-brownie-cups/" target="_blank">mint brownie cups</a> and decided to eliminate the mint extract to yield traditional brownies.  As I started baking, I realized that I didn&#8217;t have the right balance of chocolate, so these brownies contain more bittersweet chocolate than the originals.  Since I eliminated the mint extract, I decided to add some amaretto to further emphasize the richness of the chocolate.  These changes yielded a decadent brownie with a smooth, dark chocolate flavor.</p>
<p><strong>Dark Chocolate Brownie Cups</strong><br />
<em>Yields 14-16 brownies</em></p>
<p>6 tbsp butter<br />
6 oz  bittersweet chocolate (chopped)<br />
2 oz. semi-sweet chocolate (chopped)<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
2 eggs<br />
1/2 tsp amaretto<br />
1/4 tsp vanilla<br />
3/4 cup all-purpose flour<br />
1/4 teaspoon baking powder<br />
1/4 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips</p>
<p>1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.<br />
2   Line a muffin tin with paper liners. Lightly spray liners with cooking spray.<br />
3.  In a heat-proof bowl, melt together butter and chocolate in the microwave in 30 second intervals stirring after each interval until smooth. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.<br />
4.  In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.<br />
5.  Whisk or beat the sugar into the chocolate mixture.<br />
6.  Add eggs, amaretto and vanilla extract to the chocolate mixture and mix until well combined and smooth.<br />
7.  Add flour mixture and mix until combined.<br />
8.  Gently fold in the 1/2 cup chocolate chips.<br />
9.  Pour batter into prepared muffin cups.  Each cup should be about 2/3 full.<br />
10.  Bake for 18-23 minutes or until a cake tester comes out with a few crumbs.<br />
11.  Allow brownies to cool before removing from muffin pan.</p>
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		<title>Pumpkin Cupcakes</title>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:19:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beth</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baked Goods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cupcakes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pumpkin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=820</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
When I make something new, I don&#8217;t want just a recipe, I want the perfect recipe!  My desire for a tried and true favorite helps explain why I often prefer to get my recipes from blogs and community-oriented cooking websites as opposed to magazine and cookbooks.
A pumpkin cupcake comparison from The Way the Cookie [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Pumpkin_Cupcakes.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Pumpkin_Cupcakes.jpg" alt="" width="369" height="250" /></a></p>
<p>When I make something new, I don&#8217;t want just <em>a </em>recipe, I want <em>the </em>perfect recipe!  My desire for a tried and true favorite helps explain why I often prefer to get my recipes from blogs and community-oriented cooking websites as opposed to magazine and cookbooks.</p>
<p>A pumpkin cupcake comparison from <a href="http://www.crumblycookie.net/2009/09/25/pumpkin-cupcake-comparison/" target="_blank">The Way the Cookie Crumbles</a> popped up in my Google Reader a few weeks ago.  In this post, Bridget details her experiences with three different pumpkin cupcake recipes.  This recipe found on <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/11/pumpkin-cupcakes/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitchen</a> was her favorite, and I have now fallen in love with it as well!  This clearly is <em>the </em>perfect pumpkin cupcake recipe.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Pumpkin_Cupcakes_Slice.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Pumpkin_Cupcakes_Slice.jpg" alt="" width="369" height="309" /></a></p>
<p>While I couldn&#8217;t justify making these for just me and my husband, a dinner at a friend&#8217;s house presented the perfect opportunity to whip up this fun fall treat.  Pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, maple syrup&#8230; you can&#8217;t get much more fall-ish than this!  The cupcakes have a light, airy texture and a flavor reminiscent of spice cake with a pop of pumpkin.  Instead of using the original maple cream cheese frosting, I opted to use a maple butter cream frosting recipe from <a href="http://annies-eats.com/2009/01/24/cranberry-pecan-cupcakes-with-maple-buttercream-frosting/" target="_blank">Annie&#8217;s Eats</a>.  It&#8217;s the perfect companion to the pumpkin cupcakes:  smooth and sweet and fall-inspired.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Pumpkin_Cupcake_Single.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Pumpkin Cupcakes" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Pumpkin_Cupcake_Single.jpg" alt="" width="369" height="362" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<p><strong>Pumpkin Cupcakes</strong><br />
(From <a href="http://leitesculinaria.com/7518/recipes-pumpkin-cake-maple-cream-cheese-frosting.html" target="_blank">David Leite</a> via <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2008/11/pumpkin-cupcakes/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitchen</a>)<br />
<em>Yields 18 cupcakes</em></p>
<p>1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature<br />
1 cup firmly packed dark-brown sugar <em>(I used light brown)</em><br />
? cup granulated sugar<br />
2 cups cake flour<br />
2 tsp baking powder<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1 tsp ground cinnamon<br />
1 tsp ground ginger<br />
? tsp ground nutmeg<br />
? tsp ground cloves<br />
? tsp salt<br />
? tsp freshly ground black pepper <em>(I omitted)</em><br />
2 large eggs<br />
? cup buttermilk mixed with 1 tsp vanilla<br />
1? cups canned solid-pack pumpkin<em> (not pumpkin pie filling)</em></p>
<p>1. Preheat the oven to 350? and line cupcake pans with 18 liners.<br />
2. Using a stand mixer, beat the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar on medium speed until fluffy, about 5 minutes.<br />
3.  In a separate bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and pepper into a medium bowl.<br />
4. Add the eggs 1 at a time to the mixer, blending well and scraping down the sides after each addition. 5.  Alternate adding the flour and milk mixtures, beginning and ending with the flour.<br />
5. Add the pumpkin and beat pumpkin until smooth.<br />
6. Divide the batter equally between the cups. (They?ll be about ? full.) Rap the filled pans once on the counter to release any air bubbles.<br />
7. Bake the cakes until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 to 25 minutes. Cool the cupcakes on racks completely.</p>
<p><strong>Maple Buttercream Frosting</strong><br />
(<a href="http://annies-eats.com/2009/01/24/cranberry-pecan-cupcakes-with-maple-buttercream-frosting" target="_blank">Annie&#8217;s Eats</a>)</p>
<p>1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature<br />
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted<br />
2 tbsp. maple syrup<br />
1-2 tbsp. milk</p>
<p>1.  In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter on medium-high speed until smooth.<br />
2.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the powdered sugar.  Beat on medium speed until well combined, then increase speed and beat until smooth.<br />
3.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl again and add the maple syrup.  Mix until incorporated.<br />
4.  If the frosting is too thick, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk and beat until smooth and desired consistency is achieved.</p>
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		<title>Plain Bagels</title>
		<link>http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/DomesticPursuits/~3/1QL2MQXUDLo/</link>
		<comments>http://domesticpursuits.com/2009/11/08/plain-bagels/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:31:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Beth</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Baked Goods]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bagel]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=818</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
I love to bake.  In recent years, I conquered my fear of yeast and have found the process of transforming basic ingredients like flour, water, yeast and salt into beautiful, flavorful breads to be quite enjoyable.  I did less baking during the summer, but I&#8217;ve been anxious to try new recipes as the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Plain_Bagel_Slice.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Plain Homemade Bagel" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Plain_Bagel_Slice.jpg" alt="" width="369" height="260" /></a></p>
<p>I love to bake.  In recent years, I conquered my fear of yeast and have found the process of transforming basic ingredients like flour, water, yeast and salt into beautiful, flavorful breads to be quite enjoyable.  I did less baking during the summer, but I&#8217;ve been anxious to try new recipes as the cool fall weather has rolled in.  I&#8217;ve had my eye on a few varieties of bagels that <a href="http://www.browneyedbaker.com/2008/07/09/bagels/" target="_blank">Brown Eyed Baker</a> has made during the past several months.</p>
<p>When I told one of my friends that my husband I and I had made our own bagels, she asked me &#8220;Are they hard to make?&#8221;  As with most homemade items, they&#8217;re not hard to make, but they do take some time and a little planning.  Each step is not difficult, but there are several steps that must be followed over the course of at least two days.  You need to prepare the sponge, prepare the dough, divide the dough and allow it to rise, shape the bagels and let them rise, throw them in the refrigerator to rise slowly, boil them and finally bake them.  See?  No single step is overly complicated.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Plain_Bagel_Multi.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Plain Homemade Bagel" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Plain_Bagel_Multi.jpg" alt="" width="369" height="230" /></a></p>
<p>I must admit that while I was boiling my bagels two at a time, I thought &#8220;This had better be worth it!&#8221;    Then, as the bagels baked my house became filled with the warm, yeasty aroma of fresh-baked bread.  When I finally bit into a warm bagel,  I saw the light!   Store-bought plain bagels are good, but these are amazing!  I don&#8217;t know what it is, but they&#8217;re soft (not too doughy) and far more flavorful then their mass-produced plain counterparts.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s true that it takes a bit of time to make bagels at home &#8211;  certainly more time than it takes to grab a bag of bagels at the grocery store.  After my first foray into the world of homemade bages, I can attest that the extra time and effort is well worth it!</p>
<p>You&#8217;ll find the full recipe below the break.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Plain_Bagel_Single.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/Plain_Bagel_Single.jpg" alt="" width="369" height="277" /></a></p>
<p><span id="more-818"></span></p>
<p><strong>Bagels</strong><br />
(Source: Peter Reinhart&#8217;s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bread-Bakers-Apprentice-Mastering-Extraordinary/dp/1580082688%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAJ4CG5YVNSA7NM4KQ%26tag%3Ddomespursu-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1580082688">The Bread Baker&#8217;s Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread</a>)</p>
<p><em>Yields 12 large of 24 mini bagels<br />
</em><br />
<em>Sponge</em><br />
1 teaspoon (.11 ounce) instant yeast<br />
4 cups (18 ounces) unbleached high-gluten or bread flour<br />
2 ? cups (20 ounces) water, at room temperature</p>
<p><em>Dough</em><br />
? teaspoon (.055 ounces) instant yeast<br />
3 ? cups (17 ounces) unbleached high-gluten or bread flour<br />
2 ? teaspoons (.7 ounce) salt<br />
2 teaspoons (.33 ounce) malt powder OR 1 tablespoon (.5 ounce) dark or light malt syrup, honey, or brown sugar</p>
<p><em>To Finish</em><br />
1 tablespoon baking soda<br />
Cornmeal or semolina flour for dusting<br />
Sesame seeds, poppy seeds, kosher salt, rehydrated dried minced garlic or onions, or chopped fresh onions that have been tossed in oil (optional)</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Make the Sponge</span><br />
1. Add the flour to a 4-quart mixing bowl (or the bowl of your electric mixer) and stir in the yeast.</p>
<p>2.  Gradually add the water, whisking only until it forms a smooth, stick batter (like pancake batter).</p>
<p>3.  Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for approximately 2 hours, or until the mixture becomes very foamy and bubbly. It should nearly double in size and collapse when rapped against the counter (the whole sponge may not collapse, but some bubbles will burst).</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Make the Dough</span><br />
1.  In the same mixing bowl, add the additional yeast to the sponge and stir.</p>
<p>2.  Add 3 cups of flour, all of the salt and malt.  Stir (or mix on low speeds with the dough hook) until the ingredients form a ball.  Slowly work in the remaining ? cup flour to stiffen the dough.</p>
<p>3.  Transfer the dough to the counter and knead for at least 10 minutes (or for 6 minutes by machine). The dough should be firm, stiffer than French bread dough, but still pliable and smooth. There should be no raw flour ? all the ingredients should be hydrated. If the dough seems dry and rips, add a few drops of water and continue kneading. If the dough seems tacky or sticky, add more flour to achiever the stiffness required. The kneaded dough should feels satiny and pliable but not be tacky.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Form the Bagels</span><br />
1.  Immediately divide the dough into 4 ? ounce pieces for standard bagels, or smaller if desired. Form the pieces into rolls.</p>
<p>2.  Cover the rolls with a damp towel and allow them to rest for approximately 20 minutes.</p>
<p>3.  Line 2 sheet pans with baking parchment and mist lightly with spray oil. Using your thumb, create a hole in the center of the bagel and stretch it out until it&#8217;s 2 1/2 inches in diameter.  The resulting bagel should have a fairly even thickness all around.</p>
<p>4. Place each of the shaped pieces 2 inches apart on the pan. Mist the bagels very lightly with the spray oil and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let the pans sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes.</p>
<p>5. Check to see if the bagels are ready to be retarded in the refrigerator by using the ?float test?. Fill a small bowl with cool or room-temperature water. The bagels are ready to be retarded when they float within 10 seconds of being dropped into the water. Take one bagel and test it. if it floats, immediately return the tester bagel to the pan, pat it dry, cover the pan, and place it in the refrigerator overnight (it can stay in the refrigerator for up to 2 days). If the bagel does not float, return it to the pan and continue to proof the dough at room temperature, checking back every 10 to 20 minutes or so until a tester floats. The time needed to accomplish the float will vary, depending on the ambient temperature and the stiffness of the dough.</p>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Finish the Bagels</span><br />
1.  The following day (or when you are ready to bake the bagels), preheat the oven to 500 degrees F with the two racks set in the middle of the oven.</p>
<p>2.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil (the wider the pot the better), and add the baking soda. Have a slotted spoon or skimmer nearby.</p>
<p>3.  Remove the bagels from the refrigerator and gently drop them into the water, boiling only as many comfortably fit (they should float within 10 seconds). After 1 minute flip them over and boil another minute. If you like very chewy bagels, you can extend the boiling to 2 minutes per side.</p>
<p>4.  While the bagels are boiling, sprinkle the same parchment-line sheet pans with cornmeal or semolina flour. (If you decided to replace the paper, be sure to spray the new paper lightly with spray oil to prevent the bagels from sticking to the surface.)</p>
<p>5.  If you want to top the bagels, do so as soon as they come out of the water.</p>
<p>6.  When all the bagels have been boiled, place the pans on the 2 middle shelves in the oven. Bake for approximately 5 minutes, then rotate the pans, switching shelves and giving the pans a 180-degree rotation. (If you are baking only 1 pan, keep it on the center shelf but still rotate 180 degrees.) After the rotation, lower the oven setting to 450 degrees F and continue baking for about 5 minutes, or until the bagels turn light golden brown.</p>
<p>7. Remove the pans from the oven and let the bagels cool on a rack for 15 minutes or longer before serving.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Pumpkin Risotto with Chicken</title>
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		<comments>http://domesticpursuits.com/2009/11/04/pumpkin-risotto-with-chicken/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:14:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrees]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=808</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now that fall is upon us, I&#8217;ve been wanting to try some savory pumpkin recipes in addition to my usual standby cookie and quick bread recipes.  I made some tasty pumpkin chocolate chip cookies a week ago and with the leftovers decided to try making some pumpkin risotto.  I decided to try a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Now that fall is upon us, I&#8217;ve been wanting to try some savory pumpkin recipes in addition to my usual standby cookie and quick bread recipes.  I made some tasty pumpkin chocolate chip cookies a week ago and with the leftovers decided to try making some pumpkin risotto.  I decided to try a variety with chicken in it but I am sure this would be equally tasty as a vegetarian dish as well.   It came out really creamy and flavorful, despite the healthy label the original posting <a href="http://www.deancare.com/dhs/recipe/recipe_print/pumpkin_risotto.asp">site</a> gave it.  Risotto always seemed complicated to make &#8211; but aside from taking a little bit of time standing at the stove, it&#8217;s really not hard!  It would make for an interesting addition to Thanksgiving dinner, or a nice tasty dinner for a cold November evening as we enjoyed it!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/pumpkin_risotto.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Pumpkin Risotto" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_11/pumpkin_risotto.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="294" /></a></p>
<p>8 cups chicken broth<br />
2 Tbsp. olive oil<br />
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter<br />
1 small onion, minced<br />
2 cups short grain Italian rice (such as Arborio)<br />
1/2 cup dry white wine<br />
1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree<br />
8 ounces chopped skinless chicken<br />
pinch of nutmeg<br />
1/2 &#8211; 3/4 tsp dried thyme leaves<br />
Salt to taste<br />
1/2 cup grated hard cheese, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano</p>
<p>Instructions:  Bring the chicken broth to a simmer.  In a separate deep heavy duty skillet, saute the onion in the olive oil and 1 tbsp butter until it is translucent but not carmelized.  Stir in the rice and toast the rice while stirring constantly for about 1 minute.  Add the wine and simmer for 1-2 minutes.  Add the pumpkin, chopped chicken breast, nutmeg, and 2 cups of the simmering chicken broth.  Stir until most of the liquid is absorbed.  Continue to add chicken broth, about 1/2 cup at a time and allowing the rice a minute or two to absorb the liquid each time before adding more.  After about 15 minutes of adding liquid, taste the rice &#8211; if it is too hard, keep adding liquid until it is soft.  When the rice is soft, remove from the heat and stir in the cheese and other tablespoon of butter.</p>
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		<title>Zucchini and Sausage Quiche</title>
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		<comments>http://domesticpursuits.com/2009/10/05/zucchini-and-sausage-quiche/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:12:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Lisa</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entrees]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Side Dishes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiche]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://domesticpursuits.com/?p=801</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of my favorite dishes is quiche, yet for some reason we rarely make it!  Lately I&#8217;ve been spending a lot of time studying for a big upcoming exam &#8211; so in order to procrastinate more effectively, I decided to spend a few hours making quiche&#8230;crust from scratch and everything.  I picked up [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of my favorite dishes is quiche, yet for some reason we rarely make it!  Lately I&#8217;ve been spending a lot of time studying for a big upcoming exam &#8211; so in order to procrastinate more effectively, I decided to spend a few hours making quiche&#8230;crust from scratch and everything.  I picked up some zucchini at a local farm stand, and was inspired to find some other ingredients that went with zucchini well.  I used a variety of recipes for inspiration &#8211; although <a href="http://www.fredmeyer.com/great_meals/leigh_ann_recipes/vegetables/Pages/ZucchiniEggBake.aspx">this </a>one does not have a crust, it did have a great combination of veggies and flavors.  My husband usually protests if we have too much vegetarian food, so I threw in a bit of sweet italian sausage for him &#8211; but I imagine this would taste great without it.  I made a pastry crust from Mark Bittman&#8217;s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Everything-Completely-Revised-Anniversary/dp/0764578650/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1254783074&amp;sr=8-1">How to Cook Everything</a>.  I tweaked the amount of eggs included and the cheese a bit, as I didn&#8217;t have any monterey jack on hand.  The quiche was great&#8230;and hopefully I&#8217;ll still pass my big exam!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_09/quiche2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Zucchini and Sausage Quiche" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_09/quiche2.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="294" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Zucchini and Sausage Quiche</strong></p>
<p><strong>Crust Ingredients:</strong></p>
<p>5 oz flour (1 and 1/8 cups)</p>
<p>1/2 teaspoon salt</p>
<p>1 teaspoon sugar</p>
<p>1 stick butter, cut into pieces</p>
<p>3 tablespoons ice water</p>
<p><strong>Filling Ingredients:</strong></p>
<p>2 medium zucchini, sliced thinly</p>
<p>1 medium onion, sliced thinly</p>
<p>2 cloves garlic</p>
<p>2 links of sweet italian sausage</p>
<p>5 eggs</p>
<p>1/2 tsp dried basil and dried marjoram</p>
<p>1/2 cup parmesan cheese</p>
<p>1/2 cup mild cheddar cheese</p>
<p><strong>To make the crust</strong> &#8211; Preheat oven to 425.  place the flour, sugar, and salt into a food processor and pulse to combine.  Add the cut-up butter to the dry ingredients and pulse repeatedly until the butter and flour is well combined &#8211; it will look a little like cornmeal.  Place this in a bowl and sprinkle water over the flour/butter combination and then combine to form a ball.  Chill the ball (wrapped in saran wrap) in the freezer for 10 minutes.  Dust the chilled dough with flour and place the chilled dough between two layers of saran wrap.  If it becomes too soft, chill again!  Put the crust into a pie plate and pierce all over &#8211; cover with foil and fill with pie weights (or dried beans &#8211; cheaper!) and bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes.</p>
<p><strong>To make the filling</strong> &#8211; Set oven for 325 degrees.  Saute the zucchini, onion and garlic in a medium skillet until softened, then put aside.  Remove the sausage casing and brown the meat until no longer pink at all.  In a bowl, beat 5 eggs together with the marjoram, basil and parmesan cheese until combined.  Stir in the zucchini/onion mix, cheddar cheese and sausage.  Place the mixture in the prepared pie crust.  Bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes &#8211; until the center is set.  Enjoy!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_09/quiche1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter" title="Zucchini and Sausage Quiche" src="http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo198/domesticpursuits/2009_09/quiche1.jpg" alt="" width="392" height="294" /></a></p>
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