I finally got it right! - Banana Bread

I finally got it right! – Banana Bread

December 22, 2011  |  Eats, Recipes  |  2 Comments

So...the very first time I made banana bread, it turned out something like...bread pudding. I was missing some (key) ingredients. Like eggs. So I did a quick google search that told me that I could substitute eggs with a very ripe banana. Which probably would've work out fine, had I not already been adding three bananas in. *sadface* Mistakes are just springboards for learning, though, and this time around, I made CERTAIN that I had all the necessary ingredients on hand. I mean, who actually has buttermilk in their house at the ready?! Luckily, there's peapod.com and home delivery. Seriously, I have no idea how I was living life prior to this. Turned out pretty delish and the office demolished it as soon as I put it out.

Read More Post a comment (2)
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Rolls

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Rolls

December 9, 2011  |  Recipes, Sweets  |  1 Comment

Morning people.

You know who you are. The ones that jump out of bed at the first sound of the alarm, not to slap the snooze button, but to get the day started!

I hate you people.

Ahahaha. Okay, kidding. I more or less envy you. Because I’m more of a snooze-until-I-end-up-turning-off-the-alarm kind of person. Then I drag myself out of bed, with something like 20 minutes to get ready and get out the door. Makeup is usually a last ditch effort to look less tired. White eyeliner, anyone? Hehe.

However, there are a handful of moments that will stir me even before the alarm goes off.  An early morning meeting, a volunteer event, or of course, baking breakfast goodies for the office!  I originally planned to make these the night before, but the idea of them sitting in the fridge and being all cold and frigid on a day that was already something like 40 degrees just didn’t sit right with me.

So I set my alarm, and magically, jumped out of bed at the first sound of the buzzer.

I did manage to prep everything, though. Nothing like rolling out of bed just to flip on the oven and wait while it heats up, then popping in a pan that’s all set to go.  These are ridiculously easy to make, and if you don’t have pumpkin, you can leave it out or swap it out for some cinnamon sugar or blueberry jam or whatever flavor you feel like. Borrowed this recipe from the talented Picky Palate, who can take something as boring as crescent rolls and make them into magical pumpkin goodness. :)

First, the prep work. Mix the filling ingredients, then unroll the crescent dough.

You’ll want to form either one long rectangle or two smaller ones, then smear the filling on it like this:

I was having some major issues keeping my dough together. *Note to future self: do not take dough out when you start mixing filling. You might get sidetracked by the TV and the dough will get unbearably soft.

Once that’s done, roll the dough up:

 

Simple, right? Once that’s done, you can cut up the dough and place it in a pan. I used a 8×8 baking dish, but in Picky Palate’s recipe, she used two pie pans.

 

It’ll look space, out, but they spread out a lot when they’re baking.

Voila!

Mix frosting and cover the rolls in it while they’re still warm. I was in a bit of a rush, so forgot to take a picture post-frosting!

The recipe, from Picky Palate:

2 packages/cans Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

4 0z cream cheese, softened

1/4 Cup brown sugar

1/4 Cup canned pumkin (Libby’s)

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Unroll crescent rolls to form 4 rectangles placed side by side.  Pinch seams together to form one long rectangle.  Place cream cheese, brown sugar, pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg into a mixer; beat until well combined.  Spread mixture over crescents leaving a 1/2 inch border around edges.  Starting at long end, roll up then cut into 1 inch pieces.  Place around 2 9 inch cake pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray.  I left the centers open so the rolls form a circle.

2.  Bake for 28-30 minutes or until rolls are golden brown.  Remove and let cool for 10 minutes.  Frost warm rolls with cream cheese frosting recipe below.

Frosting

4 oz softened cream cheese

1/2 Cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 Tablespoon canned pumpkin (Libby’s)

1.  Mix all ingredients into a large bowl until smooth.  Spread over warm rolls.

 

 

Copy cat-ing Buca's pasta

Copy cat-ing Buca’s pasta

December 6, 2011  |  Eats, Recipes  |  No Comments

Back in Hawaii, we LOVED Buca's. Not because they had the best pasta ever, or because the bread was flaky and buttery, or even because they offered a $10 off a $20 purchase coupon. Nope, none of those reasons. We loved Buca's because of it's close proximity to Dave and Buster's. You see, Ry and I are ADDICTED to games. Those darn coin drop games, FPS games (we've passed nearly all of them, some more than once) and even the basketball shooting games (Granted, my highest score is still a pitiful 32 baskets or something ridiculous. I get put to shame by little girls everytime!)! The thing about Dave and Buster's that we didn't like was their lack of vegetarian options. I mean, there's only so many veggie burgers and french fries you can have before you crave something different! Haha. In any case, Buca's was directly below DnB's and has tons of pasta...and who doesn't love pasta!? Our favorite was the Spicy Chicken Rigatoni. The spicy, tomato-ey sauce with just a touch of creaminess. Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure we never ordered anything else. Ahahaha. So much for not wanting to eat the same thing all the time!

Read More Post a comment (0)
Practice makes perfect, especially with these!

Practice makes perfect, especially with these!

December 4, 2011  |  Recipes, Sweets  |  2 Comments

It's amazing how easy it is to rely on technology. Our oven back home, for instance, was electric. It had the spiffy digital temperature reading and magically baked everything the way I wanted it to. I love that oven. I miss it. I dream about it at night. Especially when good intentions lead to burnt cheesecake bars. Ironically, I've actually blogged about this recipe on Around Hawaii before. A simple recipe with amazing results. This is what they were supposed to look like.

Read More Post a comment (2)
This Jams for you! :)

This Jams for you! :)

May 7, 2011  |  Recipes, Sweets, Updates  |  20 Comments

It's almost been two weeks, and somehow, it's still so surreal. I'm moved by how quickly the community has come together, planned events in his honor and even started a scholarship in Ryan's name! In the midst of all this, of everyone's kind words, of photos being posted, I kept seeing this one pair of shorts. I know he has a bunch of incredibly bright, vivid Jams, but for whatever reason, these were stuck in my head. This week has been ridiculous for me. I've been working crazy hours, studying for finals, writing a paper, and trying to keep up with my work out schedule. Of course, being the procrastinator that I am, I decided that this week would be a great time to get some baking in. Hahaha.

Read More Post a comment (20)
Cake Pops, my new side job

Cake Pops, my new side job

April 25, 2011  |  Recipes, Sweets, Tips  |  8 Comments

So a while back, I made cake pops for my coworker's baby shower. This was the very beginning of my food and recipe blogging attempts, posted almost a year ago, and definitely before Nubcakes was born! In any case, I made a batch for another coworker's house warming... Then someone at the party requested I make them for the upcoming bake sale. And for another baby shower next week. And finally... For someone's wedding. Cross your fingers for me! I'm a bit nervous for that last one. ><

Read More Post a comment (8)
Red rice shenanigans

Red rice shenanigans

February 28, 2011  |  Eats, Recipes  |  2 Comments

Have you ever ordered fried rice from Green Papaya and requested it to be made with brown rice? No? Do it. It's seriously one of the best fried rice dishes I've ever had. Something about the nutty-ness of the brown rice and the crazy mashup of whatever seasoning they use makes it one of our all time favorite places to go. One problem: replicating it is pretty tough. Ironically, as I stared at the plate, trying to figure out why it was so delish, the rice called out to me. "Not brown rice!" Okay, that was actually Ry saying that as he tried another bite. I agreed with him, though. It definitely didn't look brown. So we headed for chinatown, in search of answers.

Read More Post a comment (2)
Save the Chickens! *again*

Save the Chickens! *again*

December 1, 2010  |  Eats, Recipes  |  2 Comments

Instead of turkey, I did it up the TRUE vegetarian way, and saved those chickies with TOFU! Orange tofu, to be exact. Sounds a little off, I know, but be adventurous! :)

Read More Post a comment (2)
Fridge velcro: somen salad

Fridge velcro: somen salad

August 31, 2010  |  Eats, Recipes  |  4 Comments

When it comes to my schedule, I'm close to neurotic. I have various google calendars, color coded and sometimes, I feel like I'm planning out every second of my life. What can I say, busy is better than bored, right? Hahaha. In any case, I am the exact OPPOSITE when it comes to cooking and baking. I usually will decide what to make that day, depending on what I have on hand. I don't really make a shopping list unless I'm planning to make something epic, with those non day-to-day ingredients. This is where "fridge velcro" comes in.

Read More Post a comment (4)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake Bars

August 23, 2010  |  Recipes, Sweets  |  2 Comments

Shopping at costco on an empty stomach usually ends up with ridiculous purchases. You know, like 3 pounds of cream cheese. Which would be fine if they were individually wrapped, but no such luck. This was more or less a three pound block of cream cheese, that apparently needed to be used within 10 days of opening.

Read More Post a comment (2)