RecipeMuncher

Having completed 3 years as a Daring Baker, I must admit that that the monthly challenge announcements no longer have the same effect they did when I first joined the group. Being someone with very basic baking skills, I still remember the first year of challenges used to leave me quite confused. Challenges I had never heard of that usually ran to at least 3 or 4 foolscap sheets, ingredients

I think this is one of the most Exciting and Elegant Daring Bakers I have done.
The moment I saw what the Challenge this month was I was in a total high, this pastry is really popular here and you see in all the bakers here and we buy it often but I never thought of making them myself, especially I always thought the design on the sponge was really difficult one.
And I was surprised how easy

Just random notes, as I wander through this day…. ~~~ I decided, spur of the moment, to take down all the Christmas decorations today. To be honest, I’ve had enough of the holidays this (past) year. I try to feel…

I’ve got to tell you, I’ve been so inspired by other bloggers lately. They’ve come up with such incredible recipes, it amazes me. A lot of people in our life think we are excellent cooks, the truth of the matter is that we’re just really good at following recipes. There have been a few duds, but for the most part, most of my “recipes” that my friends and family have come to know and love have made their way into our recipes files through simple trial and error. So I hope you find some inspiration in these recipes, I know I sure as hell did.

In sweet recipes, Peaches and Cream Oatmeal from $5 Dinners, Cinnamon Roll Muffins from A Feast for the Eyes, Strawberry Banana Oatmeal Brulee from Annie’s Eats, Cara Cara Orange Curd from Apartment Therapy: The Kitchn, Chocolate Amaretto Trifle from Bakers’ Banter, Meyer Lemon Bundt Cake from Baking Bites, Kit Kat Squares from The Changeable Table, Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treats from Laws of the Kitchen, No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars from Stylish Cuisine, and Lightened Tiramisu from Sweet Peas and Pumpkins.

In savory recipes, Pretzel Dogs from A Dash of Sass, Shredded Pork Taquitos from A Feast for the Eyes, Eggs Florentine Casserole from A Pookie Pantry, Southern-Style Peas with Shiners from A Southern Grace, Keftedes (Mom’s Little Meatballs) from A Year in the Kitchen, Glazed Meatloaf from Adventures in Home Cooking, Dijon Pork Tenderloin from Adventures in the Pioneer Valley, Roasted Pork Belly with Garlic and Char Siu Sauce from Almost Bourdain, Rock Shrimp Cobb Salad from Always Order Dessert, Scallops with Cauliflower Puree & Crumbly Bacon from Anne’s Food, Uova da Raviolo (Ravioli with an Egg Inside) from Apples and Butter, Healthy Chicken Tortilla Soup from Back to the Cutting Board, Golden Lentil Stew from BitterSweet, Egg Drop Ramen Soup and Chicken Monte Cristo from Bread + Butter, Quiche Lorraine Scones from Brown Eyed Baker, Chicken Tequila Burgers from Cara’s Cravings, Black Aged Garlic Risotto with Chanterelle and Oyster Mushrooms from Chez Us, Butternut Squash Carbonara and Caramelized Pear and Gorgonzola Omelette with Bacon and Pecans from Closet Cooking, Salisbury Stroganoff from Cooking for My Peace of Mind, Sun-Dried Tomato Cottage Cheese Muffins from eat me, delicious, Spicy Italian Sausage Quiche from Equal Opportunity Kitchen, Risotto alla Gorgonzola from The Experimental Gourmand, Frikadelle from Freestyle Cookery, Linguine with Tartufata (Truffle Sauce) from Gourmet Traveller 88, Chicken, Sausage and Leek Pasta Bake from Jam and Clotted Cream, Rogue River Blue with Pear and Walnut from Jason Truesdell: Pursuing My Passions, Baked Chicken Kiev from Joelen’s Culinary Adventures, Fonduta Crab Mac ‘n Cheese from Judy’s Kitchen, Southwestern Omelet with Easy Guacamole and Salsa from Kalyn’s Kitchen, Fennel and Blood Orange Salad from Kitchenography, Cauliflower Stilton Soup and Greek Nachos from Macheesmo, Bistro Chicken from Never Enough Thyme, Barbacoa Beef Recipe (Chipotle Copycat) from Nibbles of Tidbits, Individual Baked Omelets from One Perfect Bite, Veal Scallopini with Garlic Cream Sauce from Pham Fatale, Homemade Chicken and Noodles from The Pioneer Woman Cooks, Jane’s Wild Mushroom Risotto from Restaurant Girl, Cheesy Reuben Appetizer from The Sporadic Cook, Beetroot Tortelloni with Wild Mushroom Medley from The Sugar Bar, Roasted Chicken and Brie Panini with Hot Raspberry Jam from Supermarket Serenade, Italian Chopped Salad from Sweet and Saucy, and Mulligatawney Soup from What Do I Want To Cook Today?.

I was quite happy to find out this month’s challenge was to make Nanaimo bars from scratch, including the crackers that make the base of this Canadian confection. For the first time since I joined the Daring Bakers 2 years ago, the challenge is to make something that I’d already made before!
A Nanaimo bar is a 3-layered bar where the bottom layer is made of graham crackers/ digestive biscuits,

And thus begins the long process of getting caught up with the monthly rounndups. Expect February through May in the coming days…

In sweet recipes, White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Bars from 3 B’s…Baseball, Baking & Books, Brown Bread Muffins from A Year From Oak Cottage, Light Vanilla-Marsala Trifles from A Year in the Kitchen, Roseann’s Poppy Seed Cake from Alice Q. Foodie, Oreo Cookies and Cream Cupcakes from alpineberry, Peaches and Cream Pound CakeVanilla Custard Tart with Coconut Macaroon Crust from At Home in Alaska, from Bake-a-holic, Overnight Oatmeal with Almonds and Dried Cranberries from The Bitten Word, Blueberry and Mascarpone Turnovers from Blog Well Done, Neapolitan CupcakesPeaches and Cream Muffins from Bonnie’s Bakery, from Bunny’s Warm Oven, Orange Yogurt Cake from Butter & Sugar, Cherry Almond Jelly Cookies from Cast Sugar, Angel Food Cake and Honey Tangerine Bavarian Trifle from Culinary Concoctions by Peabody, Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes from Delicious Meliscious, Very Spicy Caramel Pears from Eggs on Sunday, Warm Pear Ginger Upside-Down Cake with Amaretto Whipped Cream from Ezra Pound Cake, Meyer Lemon Custard Cakes from Half Baked, Self-Saucing Brown Sugar Spice Cake from Hey, That Tastes Good!, Crescent Cinnamon Rolls with Buttered Milk Glaze from Honeyed Hashette, Banana Walnut Chocolate Chunk Cookies from How To Eat a Cupcake, Strawberry Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast from I Found Happy, Tasty French Apple Cake from Je Mange la Ville, Black Forest Trifle from la boheme cherie, Browned Butter Oat Bars from Lori’s Lipsmacking Goodness, Raspberry Breakfast Bars from Lottie + Doof, Margarita Cupcakes from Love Big, Bake Often, Nesquik Neapolitan Pound Cake from Moogie & Pap, Balsamic Strawberries with Whipped MascarponeTangerine Creme Brulee Tartelettes from Passionate About Baking, from Tartelette, and Rapsberry Glazed Lemon Pound Cake from The Unrepentant Carbivore.

In savory recipes, Crab and Corn Chowder, Pork Tenderloin with Mostarda di Frutta and Crock Pot Cassoulet from A Good Appetite, Malaysian Market Noodles from A Mingling of Tastes, Chorizo Potato Crush from A Year From Oak Cottage, Country Style Ribs from Accidental Hedonist, Crock Pot Cacciatore with Polenta and Kale from Alanna Risse: Artist Blog, Zucchini-Carrot Frittata from All About Konkan, Mustard Chicken with Bacon and Cream from The Amateur Gourmet, Mustard Pork Chops with Creamy Risoni and Blood Orange Halloumi Salad from Anne’s Food, Tortilla Española from Antics of a Cycling Cook, Warm Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Fontina and Florida Butter Beans with Caramelized Onions and Bacon from Apartment Therapy: The Kitchn, Chorizo, Poblano and Yam Fajitas with Lime-Marinated Red Onions from Arctic Garden Studio, Bacon, Cheddar and Scallion Mini-Quiches from The Arugula Files, Chicago “Red Hot” Poppyseed Buns from At the Baker’s Bench, Greek Youvesti with Lamb from Authentic Greek Recipes, Fresh Corn Souffle with Bacon and Comte from The Bacon Show, Whole Wheat Fusilli with Swiss Chard and Balsamic-Roasted Onions from Baking and Books, Alsatian Quiche from Baking Delights, Fluffy Frittata with Potatoes and Paprika from Batter-Splattered, Chicken Liver Pate from Bay Area Bites, Chicken and Tomatillo Tacos with Queso FrescoPoached Egg over Polenta with Truffled Breadcrumbs from Bird Food, from bitchencamero, Samosa Stuffed Baked Potato from Bitchin’ Vegan Kitchen, Latin-Style Chicken and Rice from The Bitten Word, Hungarian Mushroom Soup from Blazing Hot Wok, Chinese Chicken Wings from Blog Chef, Sausage Farro and Bean Soup from Body and Soul Food, YaYa’s Potatoes from Buff Chickpea, Crawfish Monique from Cajun Chef Ryan, Moroccan Chicken and Orzo from Cheap Healthy Good, Gnocchi with Lamb Ragu and Sheep’s Milk Ricotta from Chefs Gone Wild, Pork Ragu alla Bolognese from Chez Pim, Gus’s Pastichio from Cinnamon Spice & Everything Nice, 7 Layer Dip and Sweet Potato Poutine from Closet Cooking, Five Minute Artisan Bread from [cogito, ergo creo], Honey Baked Chicken from Confabulation in the Kitchen, Catfish Fingers from Confessions of a Cardamom Addict, Roasted Garlic and Feta Appetizer from Cooking, Dunkin Style, Maui Chicken from The Cookin’ Sisters…& Friends, Vietnamese Honey Ginger Chicken from The Crepes of Wrath, Chicken Ravioli Soup and Buffalo Chicken Pizza from Culinary Cory, Creamy Potato Leek Soup with Pancetta and Swiss and Cheddar Potato Bake from The Cutting Edge of Ordinary, Pozole Rojo from The Days are Just Packed!, Rachael Ray’s Cold Chicken Satay Noodles from Diary of a Glad Housewife, Maple Glazed Salmon with Roasted Brown Sugar Sweet Potatoes and Oven Fried Chicken from Dinners for a Year and Beyond, Sweet Potato, Red Onion and Cotija Stacks from The Duo Dishes, Murgh Makhani from ELRA’s Cooking, Harlem Meatloaf from Ezra Pound Cake, Short Ribs Braciole from Feeding Groom, Hot Crab Dip from Foie de Vie, Pasta with Prosciutto and Spinach from Food alla Puttanesca, Braised Escarole with Sopressata from Food for the Thoughtless, Moroccan Lamb Stew from food from books, Bread Machine Challah from Food Speak, Acorn Squash Ravioli and Sage Butter from The Garden Apartment, Idaho Trout with Macque Choux and Meyer Lemon Beurre Blanc and Honey Tamarind Chicken with Rice Vermicelli from Gild the (Voodoo)lily, Homemade Pita from Greg Cooks, Indian Potato Pancakes from Kahakai Kitchen, Chicken & Halloumi Souvlaki and Ragu of Braised Lamb from Kalofagas - Greek Food and Beyond, Chicken Scampi from Kenzie’s Kitchen, Savory Parmesan-Rosemary Shortbread Rounds from The Kitchen Sink, Michelle’s Queso Dip and Hungarian Pot Roast from LadyConcierge, Red Cooked Pork from Lily’s Wai Sek Hong, Justin Wilson’s Hush PuppiesPan Fried Duck Breast with Sweet Potato Mash and from Lisa’s Cookbook, Greek Salsa from Lobster and Fishsticks, Beer and Cheddar Risotto from Made by Melissa, Creamy Italian Dressing from Made With Love, Fried Sauerkraut Cakes with Kielbasa from mango missives, Salisbury Steak with Onions and Mushroom Gravy from Mennonite Girls Can Cook, Crayfish Linguine in Bisque Sauce from Pig Pig’s Corner, Scallops with Tarragon Cream and Wilted Butter Lettuce from pinknest, Spanish Tortilla (Tortilla de Patates) from Pithy and Cleaver, Four Flavor Pasta from The Practical Gourmet, Chorizo and Garlic Mini Quiches with Smoked Cheddar Sauce from Rock Recipes, Roasted Corn Poblano Chowder from Sammyw, Loaded Baked Potato Potato Chip Nachos from Serious Eats, Braised Lamb Shanks with Turkish Apricots, Cipolline Onions and Fresh Ginger from SpiceLines, Savory Vegetable Noodle Kugel from Sticky, Gooey, Creamy, Chewy, Chicken and Cheese Enchilada Chowder and Pierogi with Brown Butter from Taste and Tell, Roast Chicken with Meyer Lemon and Roasted Shallot Gravy from Well Fed, Patacones Supremos from What’s Cooking?, and Dungeness Crab Tater Tots from Wives with Knives.