Birthday Special: Choco-Berry Bread Pudding

Kenan turned 10 on Sunday!  I cannot believe how big he is now.  It was just yesterday that I woke up and they told me that mom had gone to the hospital and that I had another baby brother! :)  We went for a walk through the Harbor and down to the old ferry landing, to enjoy the beautiful sunshine, before heading to church. 

 I love this picture of the Birthday Boy!  His smile just lights up his whole face. :)

 

Nathanael (12) and Phinehas (2) on the path near the old ferry landing. 

The beach!!!! 

 

Nathanael, Kenan, Jared (7), Phinehas, and Timothy (12) throwing rocks into the water. 

 Heading back toward the Harbor to finish our walk. 

 Having fun dragging the stick in the water fountain.

 Phinehas and Timothy cooling their hands off in the water. 

 CHERRY BLOSSOMS!! One of the many things that I love about springtime.

 Jared, Kenan, and Phinehas.

Phoebe Anne (6) daydreaming. 

 More cherry blossoms :D

 Walking on the rock wall...enjoying being taller than everyone else.

After church, we went home and had his birthday dinner of choice:  bacon cheeseburgers and Caesar salad...which was good, but dessert was what we all wanted!! Chocolate Berry Bread Pudding!  There are those in my family that are not too thrilled with bread pudding when I've made it before... but it never had chocolate in it (or topped with it) before. :) Needless to say, it was a hit. Very rich, though.  So rich, in fact that most of us couldn't finish it.  You live and learn, right? Now I know to serve smaller servings next time. ;)

Chocolate + Berries + Bread Pudding + Whipped Cream = DELICOUSNESS!

How can you not resist running to the kitchen to make this? 

Cube 5 cups of whole wheat bread and place in a bowl.

Add to cubed bread, 3 cups frozen mixed berries, 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips,
and 3/4 cup chopped walnuts.

In another bowl, combine 5 eggs, 1 1/4 cups milk, 1/2 cup honey, 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla,
1 teaspoon each cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. Whisk until fully incorporated.

Pour the egg mixture into the bread mixture and stir till mixed together.

Pour into a greased 9x13" pan.  Cover with foil and bake for 40-45 minutes or
until custard is set (eggs are no longer runny/gooey).

In a small bowl, mix together 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup oats, 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts,
3 tablespoons brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons softened butter.

Sprinkle streusel on top and bake-uncovered-for an additional 15-20 minutes
or until golden brown and puffy.

Let cool 15-20 minutes before serving.

While the pudding is cooling, in a double broiler, melt 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet
chocolate chips with 1-2 tablespoons canola oil or Crisco.

Stir until fully melted, smooth, and creamy.

 

Top with whipped cream and about 2 tablespoons melted chocolate. 

The Recipe: 

Choco-Berry Bread Pudding

~MariahCameron~

Pudding:

5 cups whole wheat bread, cubed

3 cups mixed berries

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup walnuts, chopped

5 eggs

1 1/4 cups milk

1/2 cup honey

1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 teaspoon allspice

Streusel:

1/3 cup flour

1/4 cup oats

2 tablespoons walnuts, chopped

3 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons butter, softened

Preheat oven to 375. Grease 9x13" baking dish. 

In a bowl,  combine bread cubes, berries, chocolate chips, and nuts; mix well.

In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Combine both bowls and mix well.

Pour into prepared 9x13" and cover with foil.

Bake for 40-45 minutes or until custard is set (egg is not runny/gooey).

In a small bowl, combine streusel ingredients until resembles coarse bread crumbs. 

Remove foil and sprinkle streusel on top. 

Bake, uncovered, 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and puffy. 

Let cool 15-20 minutes before serving.

While pudding is cooling, in a double-broiler, melt 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate and 1-2 tablespoons canola oil or Crisco.

Stir until fully melted and smooth and creamy. 

Serve with whipped cream and about 2 tablespoons melted chocolate. 

Yield: 12-16 servings-- Remember, this is extremely RICH, so try to serve in small portions. 

Quick and Easy Pizza :)

Everyone loves pizza, right?  The wonderful blends of melted Mozzarella cheese, marinara sauce and pepperoni slices... Although, sometimes it takes too much time out of our hectic day (after fixing breakfast and lunch, teaching your children, do a couple loads of laundry, tackle the pile of dishes in the sink, and change dirty diapers--just to name a few things) to make the dough, let it rise for a couple hours, then roll it out, put the fixings on top and bake it in time for dinner! 

Well, I am here to offer you an easy solution to that dilemma. :)  During your grocery run, drop by Panera Bread or your local bakery and pick up a few "cheese rounds," as we call them, or traditional french bread... and there you have it--easy pizza "dough."  Ready for your favorite marinara sauce and toppings. 

 

For an easy and simple lunch, gather your bread, marinara sauce, cheese, pepperoni, and olives (not shown). 

Try not to make things too complicated when you're running short on time. ;)  

 

My wonderful brother, Simeon (18), was giving me a hand, cutting the bread in half 

length-wise so that we could get things done in somewhat short[er] order. 

We end up laying the bread on the cookie sheet(s) beforehand so that we know how 
much to prepare, but you can totally do it afterwards.

 

Next, spread the wonderful marinara sauce on the bread. 

 

If you are a pepperoni kind of person, then by all means, lay the slices 

so that they are overlapping each other...  we just happened to be running low on pepperoni, 

so we had to do our best to spread it out and use them kinda sparingly. :/

 

OLIVES!!! My family loves them. So we put tons on. :) 

 

Generously sprinkle Mozzarella cheese on top of the olives.  (On this one: we lay 
pepperoni on top of the cheese, as well as layering it below the olives.)

MMMM... looks delicious!!

Bake in 400 oven for 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted. 
Then, broil on LO for 5 minutes or until slightly golden and crispy on top.

Look at that crispy, golden cheese!!  
That is my absolute FAVORITE part of the pizza.   

The Recipe:

Quick 'n' Easy Pizza
~MariahCamero~

Cheese Rounds or your favorite French bread

Marinara sauce

Your favorite toppings, such as:

Olives

Pepperoni

Cheese

Preheat oven to 400.

Cut bread in half lengthwise. 

Lay bread on ungreased cookie sheets cut side up.

Spread marinara sauce on cut side of bread.

Layer your toppings of choice on sauce.

Bake for 10 minutes, or until cheese is fully melted.

Broil for 5 minutes, or until slightly golden brown and crispy on top.

Enjoy!!

<3 MJ

Apple-Pear Cake

This moist and delicious cake is so incredibly easy to make. It took me less than 15 minutes to whip it together and then I was able to finish making dinner while it was baking. And for those of you who like carrot cake, my mother says that it has a similar texture to carrot cake.

 

Preheat oven to 325.  In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of shredded apple (1 large), 

2 1/2 cups (2 medium) shredded or mashed pear, 2 cups honey, 1 1/4 cups coconut oil (or canola oil if you prefer that), 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts, 2 eggs, 2 teaspoons vanilla, and if you like raisins in your cake, you may add 1 cup raisins (there are some in my family that don't care for raisins in baked goods).

In another bowl, combine  3 cups flour, 3 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 
2 teaspoons baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Make a "well" in dry ingredients; pour the apple mixture into the "well." Mix well.

Stir until well combined.

Pour batter into a greased 9x13" baking dish. 

Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Nice golden brown on the top. :) But not crispy.

 Perfection!  

I love my "My Little Helper", 
my baby brother, Phinehas (2)

The Recipe:

Apple Pear Cake
~MariahCameron~

2 1/2 cups apple, shredded

3 cups pear, shredded (or mashed if too soft)

2 cups honey

1 1/4 cups coconut oil (or canola oil)

1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped

2 eggs, beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 cup raisins (optional)

3 cups flour

3 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream cheese frosting or powdered sugar (optional)

In a large bowl, combine apple, pear, honey, coconut oil, walnuts, eggs, vanilla, and raisins, if desired.
In separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.

Stir dry ingredients into wet mixture, until well combined.

Pour batter into a greased 9x13" baking pan.

Bake at 325 for 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center.

Cool on a wire rack and then frost with cream cheese frosting; dust with powdered sugar; or serve as is.

Yield: 12-15 servings

A Change of Plans

I thought what I'd do is share some of my recipes with you all, instead of just posting photos to make your mouths water. :)  I decided not to torture you...but instead be kind and give you the recipes so that you can make them for yourselves! 

Some will be quick and easy, but more often than not, they will be a little more complicated.  For the more complicated ones, I will have step-by-step pictures to help you, if you are just starting out in the kitchen.

For those of you who may not have as much experience in the kitchen or may be endeavoring for the first time to make something on your own (heating something out of the can or making a dish from a box, unfortunately does not count, in my book), my desire is to inspire a love for the kitchen; encourage you to not give up-should the first thing you attempt not turn out as you had wished; teach you some things that perhaps you didn't think you could attempt-simple at first, but then more in depth later on; and share with you somewhat healthy recipes that you will enjoy. 

<3 MJ