Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding with Maple Doughnut Glaze

dressed for success...

To wrap up this series full of maple I've made a very common dessert - bread pudding. But you know I can't leave well alone. So, I've dressed this apple cinnamon bread pudding with a maple glaze made for doughnuts. Yeah, this dessert is serious - seriously easy to make, seriously comforting, seriously unhealthy for you, but seriously delicious.

Cubes of French bread and apple are coated in a sweet custard totally transforming these staple ingredients. This is then baked till set, brown, and crispy on top. The simple maple glaze can be made while the bread pudding bakes. And, even better, each of these things can be made ahead. Make this dessert when you want to indulge...here's how.

Ingredients - Serves 8
Bread Pudding
1 3/4 C Whole Milk
1 C Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/2 Stick Unsalted Butter
Pinch of Salt
2 Eggs, beaten
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 Large Loaf French Bread, approx. 8 C
2 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and diced
2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon

Glaze
1/2 Stick Unsalted Butter
1/2 C 100% Pure Maple Syrup
1 C Powdered Sugar

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium sauce pan combine the milk, brown sugar, butter, and salt. Cook over medium low, stirring constantly, until the butter is melted, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Whisk in the beaten egg and vanilla. Set aside.

In a large baking dish evenly distribute the cubed bread and apples. Pour the custard over top and stir to coat everything well. Sprinkle the cinnamon all over the top.

Then place the bread pudding in the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, or until set and the top is browned. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving. This can also be served at room temperature.

While the bread pudding bakes, make the glaze. In a small sauce pan over medium low heat melt the butter and maple syrup together, whisking occasionally. Remove from the heat and whisk in the powdered sugar. Set aside to cool and thicken.


Finally, scoop heaping spoon-fulls of the bread pudding onto plates and dress with the maple doughnut glaze. Serve immediately warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

Maple-Bourbon Glazed Salmon

first day of fall feast...

It's official. The first day of fall is finally here. I'm so excited! If you know me at all (or have followed my blog) you know I'm seasonal with my recipes. This one is no exception and is quite the fall feast. I made this dish Sunday night to celebrate my second wedding anniversary (it's today actually) so it was only appropriate.

This is a very traditional recipe, and as I've said, at times it's best not to mess too much with perfection. I've made a simple reduction by combining maple syrup, bourbon, soy sauce, and orange juice and cooked it down. This is then served over top of oven broiled salmon on a bed of rice. Make this dish when you want to impress. Here's how...

Ingredients - Serves 4
1/3 C 100% Pure Maple Syrup
3 T Bourbon
2 T Soy Sauce (low sodium)
2 T Fresh Orange Juice
1 1/4 lbs. Salmon (skin on)
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Cooking Spray
For Serving: Cooked White Rice

Directions
Preheat the broiler. Move the oven rack up to two slots from the top.

Make the glaze: In a small sauce pan combine the maple syrup, bourbon, soy sauce, and orange juice. Cook, uncovered, over medium heat while preparing the salmon.

Prepare the salmon: Place the salmon on a lightly greased broiler pan (or a cooling rack placed on top of a baking sheet). Season with a bit of salt and pepper.

Cook the salmon: Place the salmon under the broiler and cook for 4 minutes. Remove and brush the glaze (still reducing) on top. Return to the broiler and continue to cook until the fish flakes easily, about 3 more minutes.

Finish the glaze: As the fish finishes cooking, bring the maple-bourbon mixture to a boil. Allow it to reduce to a syrup, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Plate the salmon: Put down a bed of rice. Top with the salmon and drizzle with the glaze. Serve with your favorite vegetables and a glass of wine. Welcome fall with this fabulous feast. Enjoy!

Maple Goat Cheese Canapés

it's ba-ack...

Fall that is (or almost) and so am I. My favorite time of the year will finally be here next week. And along with fall comes football, mums, pumpkins, apples, cinnamon, and one of my favorite flavors - maple. For this series I'm focusing on maple syrup and all its glorious dark amber color. It seemed to be the perfect flavor to welcome fall.

I made this recipe last night when my husband and our friend James were just hanging out having a "man's" night. There was football, some beer, a lot of burping, and way too much food. These canapés might seem too delicate to be considered man's food. Enter the ultimate man food - bacon. Yep, I added crumbled maple bacon to their canapés and they were rightfully dubbed "manapés". Try these out for your next game day get together. Here's how...

Ingredients - Makes 12 Canapés
1 Whole Wheat Loaf of Bread, sliced
8 oz. Goat Cheese, softened
2 1/2 T 100% Pure Maple Syrup
1 T Fresh Rosemary, chopped
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
2/3 C Golden Raisins
3/4 C Smoked Salted Almonds, chopped
Optional: Maple Bacon, crumbled

Directions
If using the bacon, cook 3 slices until crisp. Then crumble and set aside.

Toast the bread: Preheat the broiler to high. Line the bread up on a large baking sheet. Toast for 1-2 minutes. Flip and toast for another minute. Set aside.

Make the maple goat cheese: In a medium bowl combine the softened goat cheese, maple syrup, and half the rosemary (1/2 T). Add a pinch of salt and pepper and mix well. Set aside.

Build the canapés: Spread each slice of bread with the maple goat cheese mixture. Top with the golden raisins, smoked almonds, and crumbled bacon (if using). Garnish with the remaining 1/2 T rosemary. Serve immediately! Welcome back fall!!

Short Break

Hello! Just a quick note that I'm going on vacation for a bit. I'll be back in action with more colorful and easy recipes on September 15th! For the time being, enjoy the 100+ other recipes I've posted!!

Basil Mojitos

a labor of love...

Yesterday was Labor Day. I spent most of it in the car coming back from a trip to Pittsburgh (posts to come on that visit). But the time I spent at home that evening was filled with laundry, dishes, and various preparations for the week. I also spent time on this post. I researched it in the car, stopped at the store to grab a few things on the way home, and then made the recipes (yep, their are two!). So many things in life require labor - mental and physical - but we rarely stop to notice it.

This drink, while quite easy, still requires time and energy. It was tough to muster it yesterday after the drive. But, isn't it always worth it? Some things you have to show for the labor you do - money, a clean house, a bountiful garden. And, others you don't - relationships, success, happiness. Or, at least not physical things. Let's raise a glass (a basil mojito perhaps) to all our hard work. Here's how to make this drink...


Ingredients - Makes 2 Drinks
10 Large Basil Leaves, more for garnish
1/4 C + 4 tsp. Granulated Sugar
2-3 Limes
4 oz. White Rum
Cold Club Soda

Directions
Zest one of the limes. Then juice the limes to 1/4 C.

Begin by making the basil-lime sugar: In a small processor combine the sugar, lime zest, and 2 basil leaves. Process and put on a plate.

Make the drink: In a cocktail shaker combine the remaining basil, sugar (4 tsp.), and lime juice. Muddle until the sugar dissolves and the basil is well bruised. Add the rum and some ice. Shake until really cold and mixed well.

Serve: Rub a lime wedge around the edge of a tall glass. Press into the sugar. Add a few ice cubes to the glass and divide the drink between two glasses. Top off with a little club soda. Cheers!

Variation: Lemon-Basil Mojito
Make this fun variation for something even more different. I found this recipe on Cookie + kate, a blog that I've found inspiration on a time or two. Here's how to make it...

Ingredients - Makes 2 Drinks
10 Large Basil Leaves, more for garnish
10 Fresh Mint Leaves, more for garnish
2 tsp. Raw Sugar
3 oz. White Rum
3 T Lemon Juice
Cold Club Soda

Directions
Divide the basil, mint, sugar, and lemon juice between 2 low-ball glasses. Muddle each until the sugar dissolves and the herbs are well bruised. Top with some ice, 1 1/2 oz. each rum, and a little club soda. Stir and garnish with a sprig each of basil and mint. Cheers!