Our Personal Baker

H & H Bakes and Cakes

by David Hammer

Today I'm featuring a local baker, David Hammer. He creates all the wonderful goodies we sell at 'The Foundry'. He makes fresh cakes, flavored breads, ghiradelli brownies, lemon squares and the best apricot bars you ever tasted! 

We have very loyal customers that happen to buy coffee when they come by because they want his creations so intensely! 

Come by or give him a call @(210)-834-6177 and get something made just for you! 

Enjoy your treats!

Shadia 

Little Aussie Bakery

Sunday Brent and I decided to take the day for us. I wanted to spend time doing something different from our usual routine.

So we visited Little Aussie Bakery. A Gluten Free bakery in downtown San Antonio. We like to visit new places and find those small businesses to support!

Prior to entry they request you leave behind any glutenous products. This is a courtesy for those who have allergies or intolerance to Gluten. A very thoughtful request.

The food was yummy and healthy! We spent a ton but I don't feel guilty because it was for a great local place!

If u ever come to SA, make sure you eat brunch at 'LAB'!! Try the french toast!!

Ciao!

Bean Sprout Stir Fry

Today I was roaming the pantry for dinner possibilities when I came across the Water Chestnuts I bought last trip to HEB. I decided that I could whip up a simple and quick stir fry recipe.

Bean Sprout Stir Fry 

Ingredients:

One can of water chestnuts - chopped 

One can of baby corn - cut in 1/4 inch pieces

Fully Cooked Medium size Shrimp - about 15 

2 Handfuls Fresh Bean Sprouts

1/4 brocoli head

1/4 cauliflower head - 

1/2 medium sized Yelow Onion - chopped

1/4 cup of soy sauce

4 tbl spns extra virgin olive oil

Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions: 
* Start by heating up a wok or deep frying pan w/ 2 tbl spoons of extra virgin olive oil
* Add the Chopped onion and bean sprouts when pan is hot ( they can cook longer b/c the are kind of bitter and hard)
* Drain water chestnuts and baby corn - then add to pan
* Chope the stems off the broccoli and cauliflower then tear into small pieces and add to mixture in pan.
* add your last 2 tbl spns of olive oil and mix well.
* add Salt and Pepper to taste
* lastly add the Soy sauce of your choice - La Choy is naturally gluten free!
** I used fully cooked frozen shrimp since i was in a hurry but you can grill chicken or use sausage too. its up to you! - add now.
**let fry for about 5 minutes or until the veggies are slightly tender.

You probably shouldn't add the shrimp until the end if it is already cooked. you just want to warm it up enough because if it cooks too long it gets tough.

This recipe can be changed to match your own personal preference of taste and texture but this one really hit the spot. Veggies can be swapped out or traded as you like. Have fun cookin'! 

treat yourself to something different once in a while. 

Shadia <+><

# 33 Complete!

This year was a great time of holidays and celebration. I have some wonderful opportunities to create lovely meals for family and friends and we decided to put our family strength to the test. 

Thanksgiving 2010 was held at the Phillips Home here in Good 'Ol Uvalde, Tx. 

We had both sides of our families present, including my dad who flew in from Missouri just for the weekend! It was beautiful. We had our Christmas Tree put up, lovely paisely table cloths and gorgeous centerpieces to add a touch of holiday charm.  

Technically we all brought different things to eat but Brent and I were loving the Hosting. We Deep-Fried the turkey and had a yummy Greek Salad and much more. We had so much leftovers from what everyone brought, we had to redistribute and send it home with family. :-) 

I know it says cook thanksgiving all by myself. But let's face it. Thats never going to happen because i love spending holidays with family. We wont probably ever be just the two of us on thanksgiving...Christmas is a Totally Different Story. Alone time. yes. 

Well i guess thats one more thing down in this roller-coaster we call life. 

Bucket List #33 Complete.

What's on your Bucket List? 

Shadia <+><

Lemon Herb Roasted Chicken..

YUM! My house smells like heaven and I have made a delicious slow cooked chicken, with potatoes and steamed veggies. This is the very first time I have used my crock pot, so I wanted to share the experience with everyone. 

Ingredients: 

1 regular sized crock pot. important b/c your chicken must fit. 

1 - 4-6lb chicken

1/3 tspn paprika 

2 tbspn butter- One is plenty IMO

2 tbspn fresh parsley - I used dried 

1/2 tspn thyme

1/2 tspn salt 

1/2 cup onion, chopped

2 medium sized red potatoes- chopped into fourths- I added this because I love red potatoes!

Instructions: 

1. place chopped onion in the cavity of the chicken

2. rub skin of chicken with the butter, then place chicken in crockpot

3. pour some water in the bottom for steam - will help cook potatoes later

4. sprinkle remaining seasonings on the chicken and cover

5. cook on the high setting for 4-5 hours.

** if you want to add the potatoes, put them in about 40 mins before the chicken should be done.

Tip: check your chicken about once an hour to make sure it isn't over cooking, smaller ones will cook faster.

My chicken was done in four hours because it was a smaller 4lb. 

I took some before and after shots of the slow cooked chicken and potatoes.

mm mm good! 

Before

After

You can't tell but the chicken was so tender that it fell off the bone! I used a wooden ladle to scoop, and the chicken would just fall apart. Slow cooking deliciousness!! 

I also made cornbread muffins, still working on that recipe...they were kind of hard. 

Well happy crock pottin' and let me know if you have ideas for other slow cooked foods. 

one of my favs

So today I was planning lunch, and since I hadn't been to the grocery store in a while, I was a bit weary.
I opened my fridge and decided I had just enough to make one of my favorite dishes.
MEATLOAF! It tastes great!

here is a simple and easy recipe...

Recipe: 

1 lb lean ground beef/ground turkey

1 egg

1 cup oatmeal

3 tablespoons of ketchup - you can adjust to your own taste

salt and pepper to taste

1 large onion

Instructions:

mix everything in a bowl 

fold into a 9 in bread pan

bake at 375 for 30 minutes or until it has hardened to a loaf