In my cave

AVAILABLE OCTOBER-JANUARY
Robust, dry-hopped ale has a malty richness balanced with a complex hop profile and hearty, warming character. 8.1%ABV
Enjoy with:
Roomano, an aged hard Dutch cow’s milk cheese, grilled beef tenderloin, apple crisp with ginger ice cream.

Banana walnut pancakes

What you need:

2 cups gluten free pancake mix

1 1/4 cup rice nog

1/4 cup applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon nutmeg

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 to 2 small bananas

1 cup walnuts for roasting

First start the walnuts:

preheat oven to 300 degrees for 10 mins.

Once preheated spread walnuts on a parchment lined cookie sheet and roast for 10 mins or until you can smell them (once you smell them pull them out of the oven immediately so they do not burn)

Thinly chop bananas.

In a large mixing bowl add the mix, cinnamon and nutmeg and blend with a wooden spoon.

In a separate small bowl mix the applesauce, vanilla, and brown sugar and blend until well mixed.

Add the rice nog and apple sauce to the dry ingredients and mix throughly slowly adding in almost all the walnuts (leave some aside for garnish)

Finally add 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup mix to preheated skillet then place banana slices on top.

Cook for 2-4 mins flip and cook an addition 2 mins.

Stack and add earth balance, walnuts, and pure maple syrup and enjoy!

A beer suggestion.

Currently available at your local Blanchards for a limited time.

Mini cookie baking

So for the first time I did batches to make exactly 1 dozens of cookies (or you could do it as half dozens of large cookies). Why you ask? So we wouldn't have the temptation i suppose! Both recipes are pretty similar with a few alterations to each.

First is oatmeal walnut raisin cookies:

Preheat oven to 375°F.

1/2 cup mixed oats
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons applesauce
1/2 teaspoon bourbon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup raisins

Cinnamon (just for sprinkling on top)

Grind oats in processor. Add flour, baking soda and salt and pulse to mix. Add to mixing bowl.

In mixing bowl add soft butter, brown sugar, sugar, applesauce, vanilla, walnuts and raisins and fold ad blend until well mixed.

Using about 2 tablespoons of dough, form dough into balls and gently shape balls into rounds (cookies don’t spread much). Pace on ungreased baking sheet lined with parchment. Flatten slightly then add cinnamon to taste.

Bake until edges are golden brown, about 10 - 12 minutes (the longer, the crunchier the edges).

Cool on sheets 5 minutes then transfer to racks; cool completely.

Second peanut butter chocolate chip cookies:

Keep oven to 375°F.

1/2 cup mixed oats
1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 tablespoons applesauce
1/2 teaspoon gluten free vanilla extract
1/4 cup unsalted peanut butter
1/3 cup chocolate chips

Grind oats in processor. Add flour, baking soda and salt and pulse to mix. Add to mixing bowl.

In mixing bowl add soft butter, brown sugar, sugar, applesauce, vanilla, peanut butter and chocolate chips and fold ad blend until well mixed.

Using about 2 tablespoons of dough, form dough into balls and gently shape balls into rounds (cookies don’t spread much). Pace on ungreased baking sheet lined with parchment. Flatten slightly.

Bake until edges are golden brown, about 10 - 12 minutes (the longer, the crunchier the edges).

Cool on sheets 5 minutes then transfer to racks; cool completely.

A very Penton Christmas

Thanksgiving day parade.

This year went much better then last since I did not forget our meal fixins at work. So already a huge improvement. Our spread included:

A "turkey" roasted with carrots, asparagus, rosemary, thyme and basil.

Pumpkin spice beer biscuits (thanks trader joes mix!)

Whole cranberry sauce

Pumpkin pie with ricewhip.

Roasted sweet potatoes with cranberries and maple pecans.

and homemade(of course!) mushroom and onion herb gravy. Which is a very simple recipe or sautéing garlic onion and mushroom then adding vegetable stock, braggs and herbs and simmering until thickened adding soy milk or rice milk and flour as needed.

New year....New baking experiments...

So its been awhile since my last post. Being caught up in the holiday season work rush and seasonal aliments didn't leave much time for blog love. Some great things were made and sadly pictures were not taken for:

Gingerbread with lemon butter cream icing.

Gingerbread rounds with sprinkles or candy cane icing.

Cranberry Apple pie.

Sweet Potato and pecan spice pancakes.

Biscuits and homemade gravy with sausage and bacon.

Christmas pepper and pepperoni pizza.

and many many delicious pizzas.

However i will post a thanksgiving run down so don't you worry. Catch up time has begun.