Tasty Tools: Bakeware - Mini Muffin Pan and Brownie Bites

Another in Joelen's ongoing Culinary Adventures is Tasty Tools: Bakeware. I chose my new mini muffin pan to make brownie muffin bites. I have been coveting a mini muffin pan for some time now, but have held off since space is at a premium in our tiny kitchen. But I was recently at Bed Bath & Beyond and what did I spy on an endcap? A mini muffin pan. It was a sign so I placed it in my shopping cart.
As for the recipe for this Adventure, I love chocolate. I love baking. I live mini anything. The brownie muffin bite is a way to combine all of these into a tasty treat.

Aren't they too cute? They are just the perfect amount of chocolate for a quick snack. To make sure I don't eat them all in one sitting, most are going into the freezer to be thawed one at a time.


Brownie Muffins

I found this brownie muffin recipe on RecipeZaar.

Ingredients

3/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon [omitted]

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup chocolate chips

1/4 cup cocoa

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup sugar

2-3 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) [omitted]

chocolate chips and chopped nuts (to garnish) [omitted nuts]

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.

In a bowl combine flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a small pot melt butter over low heat.

Add chocolate chips and cocoa while stirring constantly.

Remove from heat when chocolate chips are just about melted.

In a large bowl combine eggs, sugar, and vanilla.

Add in flour mixture and chocolate mixture alternately stirring just until blended.

DO NOT OVERMIX.

Spoon into well greased muffin tin or paper cups that have been lightly sprayed with oil. (muffins tend to stick).

Sprinkle muffins with chocolate chips.

Bake for 12-14 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Joelen's Tea Party Adventure - Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Another cooking adventure for this month courtesy of Joelen's Culinary Adventures is the Tea Party Adventure.

I like tea but give me a good cup of coffee any day. So at an english tea party, I would be the one asking for the skinny vanilla latte. What goes great with a latte? Biscotti. Since I had been wanting to make chocolate chip biscotti for a while now, I thought this was a prime time to make it happen.

I ended up modifying a recipe I found on Cooks.com.

Chocolate Chip Biscotti

Ingredients
1/2 c. butter, room temperature
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips (I used half milk chocolate and half semi-sweet chocolate)

Directions
Combine butter, sugar and eggs, mixing well.
Beat in vanilla.
Combine dry ingredients.
Add to egg mixture.
Add chocolate chips.
Batter will be very stiff and sticky.

Cover dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
With floured hands, divide the dough in 2 loaves about 12 inches long (like French bread).
Place loaves on 10 x 14 inch sheet, leaving at least 3 inches between.
Flatten each loaf slightly, evenly.

Bake in preheated 400 degree oven for 20 minutes, or firm to the touch.
Remove.
Cool slightly; lower oven to 375 degrees.

While still warm, slice loaves in diagonal slices, about 1/3 to 1/2 inch thick.
Arrange on ungreased sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, or until firm.
Do not brown.

Joelen's Culinary Adventures: Food Network Chef Adventure - Salmon with Puff Pastry and Pesto

As part of my ongoing plan to stretch my cooking muscles so that Mr. Gooch doesn't always have to come up with tasty treats for our dinners, I have been reading various cooking blogs. One that I enjoy is Joelen's Culinary Adventures.

She has regular cooking challenges posted on her blog for fellow food bloggers to participate in. One of this month's challenges is Food Network Chef Adventure.

My selection is Giada De Laurentiis' Salmon with Puff Pastry and Pesto.

This ended up being so darn easy. I made some modifications and my version is below. Also, I was able to use pesto made from our own basil. I love it when I get to use things from our tiny garden.

This is a perfect dish for when company is over since it goes together quickly but "looks totally gourmet." (Direct quote from Mr. Gooch)

Salmon with Puff Pastry and Pesto

Ingredients
Purchased puff pastry, each of the pieces cut to be just larger than a piece of salmon
4-6-ounce pieces salmon (We made 3 pieces that were 6 oz. each)
Italian Dressing (I used Fat Free)
1/4 cup sliced almonds (I toasted these in the oven for additional flavor)
1/4 cup pesto (I used homemade pesto)

Directions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

While oven is heating, toast the almonds.


On a foil-lined baking sheet, place the pieces of puff pastry.

On a separate baking sheet, place the pieces of salmon, being careful to make sure they are not touching. Cover each piece with Italian Dressing to keep moist during baking.

Sprinkle each piece of salmon with 1 tablespoon of the sliced almonds.

Bake for 10 to 15 minutes.
To serve, place each piece of puff pastry on a plate. Top each puff pastry with 1 tablespoon of pesto.


Top with the salmon and serve.