Whole Wheat Carrot Bread

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread from A Thought For Food

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread from A Thought For Food

Love is a shelter.

Love is a cause.

Love goes on forever.

Yeah, love will lead us all.

Love! It is our honor.

Love! It is our all.

Love goes on forever.

Yeah, love it is our home.

That's What's Up//Edward Sharpe + the Magnetic Zeros

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread from A Thought For Food

Carrot Bread3.2

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread from A Thought For Food

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread

makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups grated carrot

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.

3. In a bowl, whisk together the oil and eggs.

4. In a separate bowl, sift together the sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Mix in the oil and eggs.

5. Fold in the grated carrot, raisins, and chocolate chips.

6. Pour mixture into loaf pan. Bake in the oven for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies from A Thought For Food - #baking #dessert #recipe

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies from A Thought For Food - #baking #dessert #recipe

I know... these may not look chewy, but they are. I promise. If they weren't, I wouldn't put them up here. Cookies are meant to be served the way salmon or a steak should be prepared, a nice sear on the outside, but raw in the middle. I just don't mess around with cookies. If there's too much crunch, I can't eat them. But what's so great about these is how the rim is crispy, making for the most wonderful sound as you bite into them. Then, you get to the good stuff. The blend of sugar and spice; the festive flavors of ginger, cinnamon and clove. It brings to mind lazy weekends... curled up on the couch with a cup of tea and a book: the lead in for an afternoon nap.  I've been making these ginger molasses cookies for years, altering the recipe slightly as I prepare each batch.  I hate to use the P-word, but I can't help it... these are kind of perfect.

CHEWY GINGER MOLASSES COOKIES

Yield: This recipe will make 3 dozen smaller cookies, if the dough is rolled into 1 inch round balls, as directed below.  However, I also like them a bit larger. In which case, you will get fewer cookies, but they will be bigger (not that size matters or anything)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces crystallized ginger, chopped coarsely
Granulated sugar, for rolling dough balls

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, vegetable shortening, sugar, molasses and egg. In a separate bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.  Add to wet mixture and beat until combined.  Stir in crystallized ginger.

Depending on the size you would like your cookies, form into 1 or 1.25 inch balls.  Roll dough balls in granulated sugar. Place dough balls onto a non-stick cookie sheet (or a sheet lined with parchment paper) two inches apart.  Using a spatula, gently press down the tops of each cookie dough ball.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until outer rim is golden brown.  Let cool for a few minutes before transferring cookies to a cooling rack.

Smoked Salmon and Egg Breakfast Sandwich

Smoked Salmon and Egg Breakfast Sandwich from A Thought For Food - www.athoughtforfood.net

Our weekend was full of some much needed distractions, starting with a dinner to celebrate the 7th anniversary of our first date.  I had thought about canceling our reservation, but when it came down to it, it felt like the wrong response to this tragedy.  Instead of shutting down, I believe that the least we can do is fill our time with as many happy moments as possible and to never forget how quickly it can all be taken away.

The night was marvelous.  We drank glasses (ok, it was a bottle) of champagne, ate a ton, and then ended the evening sipping on bourbon in front of the restaurant's fireplace.  Following our dinner on Friday, we spent the rest of the weekend with family.  First, with Eric's mom, who had just finished renovations on her house.  It's exciting to see it all done and to see her and Ron, her partner, start this new stage of their lives together.

The weekend wrapped up with a party for my niece, Jordan, who turned three.  Being surrounded by family, especially the little ones, was a joy.  There were platters of bagels and gravlax to consume, bountiful piles of presents to open, and lots of games to play.

Once the guests had left, Eric and I stayed for a bit, mainly to get some snuggle time with our two month old nephew.  Looking down at him, I wondered just what the future had in store for him and his sister. What kind of world will they grow up in?  Will things change and, if they do, will they be for the better?  I certainly hope so.

Smoked Salmon and Egg Breakfast Sandwich

makes 1 breakfast sandwich

Ingredients

1 bagel, sliced in half horizontally

Smoked salmon or gravlax

1 egg

1/4 yellow or red pepper, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1/4 small red onion, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon fresh rosemary

Salt

Cayenne pepper

Cream cheese

Directions

1. In a bowl, whisk together the egg with 1 tablespoon of cold tap water and a sprinkle of salt and a pinch of cayenne pepper.

2. In a small skillet, heat the butter over medium heat.  Once it has melted, add the chopped pepper and red onion and season with salt.  Cook for 2-3 minutes.

3. Pour the egg mixture over the pepper and onions and sprinkle the rosemary sprigs on top.  Cook until it is no longer runny.  Fold one end of the omelet over to make a half moon shape. Turn off the burner and remove the pan from heat.

4. Spread a generous amount of cream cheese on both halves of the bagel.  Place the omelet on top of the bottom section and then top the egg with smoked salmon. Place the top half of the bagel over the salmon to make a sandwich.