cherries | Mommie Cooks!

Chocolate Cinnaberry Cookies

October 15, 2012 By Julie 12 Comments

I recently read a report on NPR’s website claiming that the secret to winning a highly coveted Nobel Award may indeed be something as elementary as eating more chocolate. Now Seriously. If I had known this at a younger age, I’m certain I would be standing on that podium accepting my award right about now. I can almost imagine it as I type this;

“Fellow members of the academy, I’m honored to accept this award today for successfully breaking up a war over which child deserved procurement of the coveted red plate with the Start Wars yoda picture on top……”

Ok, so maybe not in this lifetime (that would take more chocolate than this body could handle in ten lifetimes), but if eating more of the dark brown sweet goodness means I can at the very least broker a better peace among the inhabitants within my own household then I’m all for it. Baby steps right?

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Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream

July 22, 2011 By Julie 24 Comments

Summer definitely made itself known this week. The heat peaked at record levels in many areas around the country and trying to stay cool became the name of the game. Seeing as I am a frosty weather kind of girl, this swelter can, in my most humble of opinions, take a much needed hike straight outta town. I prefer a sweater to a swimming suit any day of the week but that’s just me. Needless to say, I live in an area that is guaranteed to be steamy this time of the year so I need to create ways to make it through until the cooler weather reappears.

One of my favorite approaches to this is through the creation of homemade ice cream. Seriously, why buy the pre-made stuff with gosh knows what’s in it when you can easily create a delicious, you control your own destiny, homemade version that is not only healthier but tastes miles better. With cherries in season and gracing the front stands of my favorite produce sections, I simply needed to create a cherry inspired dairy treat. Watch out with this stuff; it’s seriously good. You’ll find yourself doing away with the bowl in favor of a spoon and an ice cream bucket.

Start the batch going with a quick and dirty homemade cherry sauce. Add in some of those fresh summer cherries along with a little sugar, lemon juice, and water. Bring it to a boil and cook down.

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Family Friendly Fridays: Cherry Limeade Macaroons

April 15, 2011 By Julie 36 Comments

Wish us luck. Tomorrow Scott and I are driving the boys to Disney World for a week of fun rides, expensive food, and overtired children. Nick, my oldest, has been planning our schedule out for the past week and a half now. See that 123% down there at the bottom? I’ve been told that’s the percentage of fun he’ll have if we ride all his requested rides.

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Family Friendly Fridays: Cherry Almond White Chocolate Scones

April 8, 2011 By Julie 21 Comments

Is it just me, or has Family Friendly Fridays turned into a weekly display of rich and decadent “gotta have it now” desserts? Just thinking back off hand, I can recall a caramel apple cake that threatened to not only put apples back on the map, but permanently launch them to the top of the charts. And then there was the pretzel toffee crusted chocolate cake. Mamma Mia, bring out the milk cuz a second slice of that beauty was inevitable. And let’s not forget the chocolate churros. And I know I wasn’t the only convert to those. My friend Mari over at Mari’s cakes reported back to me that she made them a whopping six times! Seriously sweet.

Not that I’m complaining. I never meet a sweet I don’t like and am quite talented when it comes to engineering an excuse to bake up a meal-ending confection. Especially if it’s a treat like this one.

Now I know that scones are typically a breakfast food, but honestly, who made that rule up anyway. Certainly not me. And with the creation of this recipe, you can bring on the dessert. And hey, if you want to have it for breakfast. I’m all for that too.

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Family Friendly Fridays: Boston “Black Forest” Cream Pie

March 11, 2011 By Julie 25 Comments

Who wants some Boston Cream Pie? How about some Black Forest Cake? How about both? Pie meet cake. Cake meet pie. Don’t they look happy together? I like to think of their relationship as a little slice of heaven.

It’s been awhile since I cranked out a killer dessert so I figured it was high time. That, and I really needed a serious hit of chocolate. Who doesn’t every now and then? Enter into the pie picture my friend black forest cake. Super duper chocolaty goodness with a cherry or two thrown in for good measure. Booyah.

Let’s review. A Boston cream pie is typically a sponge cake with pastry cream in the middle and ganache poured over the top. A black forest cake is a decadently chocolate cake with layers of whipped cream and cherries sandwiched between. Cake. Pie. Cake. Pie. Pake? Cie? Hey, call it whatever you want, I call it good and gone. I’ve dressed this little lady up in a chocolate sponge, added cherries and cream to her middle and ganached her from head to toe. If you thought plain ol’ Boston cream pie was good, prepare to be one up’ed.

Have I got you ready for your own little slice of pie heaven?

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Cherry Orange Bread

February 23, 2011 By Julie 30 Comments

It’s been awhile since I’ve popped up a beautiful ol’ loaf of bread on the blog. Things have been busy and good bread takes time, love, and patience. Lots of it. But I was overdue to share some Panera love again and I figured, why not focus on the bread this go round? Because anyone who’s ever been to Panera knows that one of the best parts about the tasting experience is their fresh baked bread. Am I right? Panera passed me a few links to read regarding their bread making process and in perusing the site I was surprised to learn that all their loaves are made on location each night and every loaf uses unbleached flour. You had me at fresh and unbleached. I can only imagine the passion those bakers must have for the bread they create.

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