BWD....Catching Up

So...I know it's not a requirement, but 1. I love baking, and 2. I have the cookbook...plus, 3. I want to feel like I'm REALLLLLY part of this project.  With that being said, I'm going to try to play catch up with the rest of the club and bake (in no particular order) the recipes that they've already prepared in the past year!

And...Husband's been working out of the house quite often these days and this makes me feel like I'm contributing in a home-maker-ish way. :)

No staging, as I prepped and baked this off pretty quickly...

Coffee Break Muffins---super easy, Dump and Go Method and an excellent way to use that last cup of cold coffee!

BWD #1 Brrr-ownies

Note to self---don't substitute York Pieces for anything.  Ever.

This was my first BWD experience---I've made a version of these brownies before, but in larger portion and slightly different ingredients.  I'm going to have to say, I prefer the version I've used in the past---Dorie's version seems to be a little fudgier---I prefer brownies that are more cake-like.  Also...ended up using the York Peppermint Pieces that William picked up from the store.  Unfortunately, they have a candy coating (blue and white) which isn't visually appealing, and doesn't stand up to oven temperatures!  Live and learn!  Conveniently packaged for large handfuls of minty goodness, though!

Maybe these deserve a second chance---with patties. :)

Baking with Dorie Group!

So, one of the items on my bucket list this year is to join a book group...but with the amount of reading I'm required to do in school paired with schedules and other commitments, I've found the perfect alternative---an online club! 

I'm very excited to start the Baking with Dorie Group---baking our way through Dorie Greenspan's "Baking:  From My Home to Yours."  The link to the book is here:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_3_44?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dorie+greenspan+baking+from+my+home+to+yours&x=0&y=0&sprefix=dorie+greenspan+baking+from+my+home+to+yours

I did a little more investigating, and there are TONS of groups like this out there!  This will help me expand my culinary experiments, love of photography, and meeting other foodies!  Can't wait for the first challenge this coming Monday...it's a recipe that's very familiar to me---Brrrownies (they're very similar to the York Peppermint Brownies I bake every holiday season).  Look for pictures to follow this weekend!