30 Jul
Strawberry Mirror Cake
Posted by Michelle as Layer Cakes | 20 Comments
I joined the Daring Bakers in September 2007 with my inaugural recipe being Cinnamon Rolls & Sticky Buns, but prior to my joining, the group had already made 10 fabulous, daring recipes. It is my goal to eventually tackle all of them, as well as the few that I had some trouble making since I joined. When my friend Annie said that she was interested in making the Strawberry Mirror Cake that was chosen by Culinary Concoctions by Peabody in July 2007, I figured it was a great way to jump start my way to completing all of the ones I had missed. And true to Daring Baker form, this was certainly a challenge! But I stuck it out, and it was definitely worth it, both for the sense of accomplishment and flavor of this wonderful cake.
25 Jul
Beef Wellington
Posted by Michelle as Meat | 16 Comments
I know, I know, I said that this blog didn’t have “fancy” recipes, but consider this one of my exceptions. I was first introduced to Beef Wellington when I went to Fleming’s Steakhouse a few years ago. While browsing the menu, it jumped out at me:
Filet mignon? Check!
Mushrooms? Check!
Wrapped in flaky puff pastry? Check!
It didn’t take me long to figure out what I was ordering, and I was in love. I hadn’t thought about it recently but then it was featured as a challenge on The Next Food Network Star competition, and I started craving it again, this time resolving to make it at home. The classic preparation of this dish involves searing a beef tenderloin and topping it with mushroom duxelles, a slice of goose or duck liver, and wrapped in puff pastry. I made individual servings by wrapping single servings of filet mignon in the puff pastry, and it was definitely one of the most gourmet meals I have made at home, and absolutely worth it! Served with garlic smashed potatoes and green beans, it was a fabulous meal. And to top it off, I can now cross Beef Wellington off of my “Top 100” list!
20 Jul
American Sandwich Bread
Posted by Michelle as Yeast Breads | 21 Comments
Otherwise known as, white bread. I know, you’re probably wondering to yourself, isn’t this the umpteenth “classic white bread” recipe this chick has posted? Well yes, admittedly, I think this is now the third different loaf that I have blogged (there was the Better Homes & Garden version, then the Peter Reinhart recipe, and now this). It’s not that any of the previous loaves have been bad or have disappointed me in any way. It’s quite simply that I.LOVE.BREAD. I don’t come from the land of low carb, folks. And given the opportunity to try a new recipe when I need to restock the kitchen with a fresh loaf of bread, I run with it! And this loaf, let me tell you, is definitely worth running for!
16 Jul
Pasta Fagioli
Posted by Michelle as Soups, Stews and Chili | 21 Comments
Well, after not really getting sick for two years, I’ve been hit with a whopper of a cold, in the middle of a July heat and humidity wave, no less. Regardless of the heat, what do most people crave when they’re buried under blankets on the couch all day (assuming there is central A/C involved)? Soup! And so soup is what I made tonight, and let me tell you – it soothed me just as I hoped it would. Pasta Fagioli reminds me of a small little cafe on the campus of my college (which I attended all too long ago) – I always used to stop there if I had a night class and get a cup of pasta fagioli. This soup is the ultimate in comfort – full, hearty, and paired with the garlic herb breadsticks I made, totally deserving of being a complete meal.
15 Jul
New Feature: Printer-Friendly Posts!
Posted by Michelle as Brown Eyed Baker Site News | 9 Comments
I am excited to announce an enhancement that I think everyone will find great use for. You are now able to print off any of my blog posts in a printer-friendly format. No more lugging your laptop into the kitchen and getting flour and crumbs into all the little crevices. I, personally, have no idea what that’s like ::wink, wink::
Now a quick tutorial on how to print (it’s really not hard, you just press a button, but tutorial sounds very cool, don’t ya think?):
When you click on an individual blog post you will see at the top of the post, right underneath the post header, a little printer icon with the link “Print this post”:
Once you click the link to print you will see a preview of the printer-friendly text you are about to print, which looks like this:
To print, just scroll down to the bottom of that page, and click the link to print:
I hope you all enjoy the new functionality! 
If there is anything you’d like to see on the blog that currently isn’t available please leave me a comment or shoot me an email and I’ll look into it!
13 Jul
Welcome to Brown Eyed Baker!!
Posted by Michelle as Brown Eyed Baker Site News | 16 Comments
Welcome, everyone, to my new space! I hope that you enjoy my blog, the new look, and the new name! Here you will find the same content that you came to love at Sugar & Spice, with hopefully even more content and pictures, as well as helpful advice and tips as you navigate the kitchen waters.
If you had previously subscribed to posts via email (you receive all new blog posts in your email inbox), please be sure to use the box to the right to subscribe to the new site!
RSS readers, whether you use Google Reader or another site, use the buttons below to easily update your reader with a subscription to Brown Eyed Baker:
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Also, if you have linked to my blog in the form of a blogroll or somewhere on your own website, please be sure to update the link with my new blog!
Now that you’re all settled in, spend some time poking around the site and let me know what you think! There’s a brand new About page, as well as a big list (My 100) of all of the culinary conquests I hope to make by the end of 2009, a peek at which cookbooks I keep on my shelf, as well as those I hope to acquire. You’ll also notice My Store, which links to an Amazon store full of recommendations, my favorite kitchen tools, and the ability to browse through many things kitchen, food, and home related.
13 Jul
Hearty Whole Wheat Bread
Posted by Michelle as Yeast Breads | 2 Comments
The journey to a great loaf of whole wheat bread took a bit longer than I had originally anticipated. After having great success with classic white bread and bagels from Peter Reinhart’s The Bread Baker’s Apprentice
10 Jul
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
Posted by Michelle as Quick Breads | 2 Comments
This installment of the Barefoot Bloggers comes courtesy of Sabrina and Alexander of Cooking with the Kids, who have chose Ina’s Jalepeño Cheddar Cornbread, which is featured in the Barefoot Contessa at Home
More talk about the cornbread, the recipe, and maybe another picture or two after the break.
09 Jul
Bagels
Posted by Michelle as Yeast Breads | 12 Comments
Look out Panera, there’s a new bagel maker in town! I do love Panera bagels and usually always get one whether I’m there for lunch or dinner, and I’ve really wanted to try my hand at making them from scratch. I put it off for a couple of months until I found myself with an extra block of cream cheese and it gave me the nudge I needed to make a batch of bagels to slather it on. My friend (and new baking buddy) Annie baked these with me, and although our KA mixers almost died a fiery death, we had a great time comparing notes and then partaking in what was a truly satisfying accomplishment!
Much more on the process, recipe, and pictures after the break.
07 Jul
Fresh Blueberry Pie
Posted by Michelle as Fruit Pies | 6 Comments
Everyone seems to go crazy for blueberries and strawberries around the 4th of July holiday, so it seemed like the perfect weekend to whip up a blueberry pie with one of my favorite people, Annie. Annie, by the way, appears to be superhuman – she gave birth only a little over 2 weeks ago and has been in the kitchen whipping stuff up left and right. She is definitely my hero! I have only made pies twice before and was anxious to give it another go and, more importantly, I wanted to try making a lattice top. After finally settling on a recipe, we were off to gather blueberries and assemble this beautiful pie!
More about assembling the pie and recipes after the break.
