Fresh Strawberry Bread

Here is an amazing bread that I found from My Baking Addiction. I used yogurt instead of buttermilk along with strawberry cream cheese because it was all I had in the fridge. This is great to do if your strawberries are starting to go bad before you can eat them.

Fresh Strawberry Bread

Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups strawberries, rinse, dried and chopped

Directions
1. Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
2. With electric mixer cream butter, sugar and cream cheese until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla.
3. In separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Blend flour mixture with butter mixture just until blended. Add buttermilk and only stir until just combined; do not over mix.
4. Carefully fold in strawberries. Dough mixture will be thick.
5. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 50 to 60 minutes.

Image taken from My Baking Addiction

baked spinach dip mini bread bowls

That sure is a long name for these small delicious little things BUT I thought I would post because I made them tonight and they were oh so good!

This recipe is from Picky Palate, one of my new fave food websites... check it out!

Baked Spinach Dip Mini Bread Bowls

13.3 oz roll of refrigerated french bread loaf, I used Simply Pillsbury
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 Cups baby spinach, coarsely chopped
1 clove fresh garlic, minced
3 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 Cup light sour cream
2 Tablespoons fresh shredded parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Ancho Chile Pepper
1/8 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Garlic Salt
1/8 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/3 Cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 10 muffin cups with non stick cooking spray. Unroll package of french bread loaf and slice into 10 equal size slices, about 1 inch thick. Press each slice into about a 3 inch round, I did this by pressing in between my hands. Press into the bottom and up sides of the muffin cup. Set aside.

2. Heat oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir spinach until wilted, about 3 minutes then add garlic, cook and stir for another minute then turn heat off.

3. Place cream cheese, sour cream, cooked spinach and garlic, Parmesan Cheese, Ancho Chili Powder, garlic salt, salt and pepper into a medium bowl. Mix until well combined. With a medium cookie scoop, scoop dip into each of the centers of bread bowls. Top evenly with shredded cheese and bake for 15-17 minutes until just turning brown on edges. Remove and let cool for 3-5 minutes before removing from oven.

10 mini spinach dip bread bowls

Beer Bread and Chinese Cheesecakes

For the Super Bowl we wanted to make some fun game day food. After seeing a few recipes online or TV we decided to embark on some new cooking experiences. Scott and I made Chinese Cheesecakes from Guy's Big Bite and Beer Bread from My Baking Addiction with spinach dip.

Chinese Cheesecake

Ingredients

Canola oil, for frying
8 tablespoons cream cheese
3 tablespoons ricotta cheese
2 1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar (1 1/2 for mix, 1 tablespoon for garnish)
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
10 thick egg roll skins
1 cup raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries, fresh preferred
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Heat 1-inch of canola oil in large saute pan, to 325 degrees F.

In a bowl mix the cream cheese, ricotta, and 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar with a whip, until thoroughly blended.

Beat egg and milk together. Place 1 1/2 tablespoons of cheese mix in center back of egg roll skin and place 4
to 6 raspberries in the center of cheese mixture.

Brush egg wash around edges of skin, fold left and right sides of skin in 1/2-inch, and then roll from back to
front, insuring that the roll is sealed.

Place in oil and cook both sides until golden brown. Let drain on paper towels for 2 to 3 minutes.

Dust with cinnamon and sugar. Serve with whipped cream and raspberries, if desired.

Beer Bread

yields | 1 loaf

Ingredients
3 cups self-rising flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
12 ounces beer {I used Sam Adams Winter Lager}
2 tablespoons melted butter

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Butter an 8×4 inch loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt and beer; mix well. The mixture will be sticky. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for about 55 minutes.
3. At the last three minutes of baking, remove from oven, brush the top of the loaf with the melted butter and return to oven for the final three minutes of baking.