Uncategorized

Mama Steph’s Cinnamon-chocolate chip cookie bars

My cinnamon-chocolate chip cookie bars are so simple to make, and they feature ingredients which you likely already have in your kitchen, which everyone appreciates, of course. The lovely result of the easy, no-mixer-needed preparation is a pan of nicely dense, chewy bars with a lovely cinnamon flavor, accented by nuggets of velvety smooth, chocolate… Continue reading Mama Steph’s Cinnamon-chocolate chip cookie bars

Uncategorized

Mama Steph’s “quik” frozen banana coffee smoothie

Williams-Sonoma, a favorite longtime culinary resource, is celebrating smoothie week this week! Smoothies are perfect for busy, hungry, or impatient people, because they’re easy to make in a hurry, they fill you up with creamy goodness, and they can be as decadent or as healthful as you like. I often enjoy being creative and making… Continue reading Mama Steph’s “quik” frozen banana coffee smoothie

baking

Fruit and nut-stuffed baked apples, and a visit to Sesame Street

One of my favorite childhood memory-related scents is that of plump apples baking in the oven on a cold day. My mother would core the apples, drop some butter, cinnamon and a bit of brown sugar in the centers, and bake them until the house filled with that perfect, delicious scent. I remember sitting on… Continue reading Fruit and nut-stuffed baked apples, and a visit to Sesame Street

baking · desserts

Five sweet ideas for Mother’s Day treats

So, you don’t know exactly what to get your mom for Mother’s Day? I can tell you. Unless she’s told you something specific that she would like to have (you’ve been paying attention, haven’t you?) I can tell you right now what she wants. First, she wants to be told that she is loved. Not… Continue reading Five sweet ideas for Mother’s Day treats

desserts · Farmers Market recipes · Uncategorized

In a slump? Try these berry desserts!

It’s the time of year that I begin looking forward to the reawakening of farmers markets in every town, with baskets full of greens, peas, berries, tomatoes and squash. What a pleasure to see the colorful sights, smell the scents of the fresh produce and the baked goods, and listen to the people chat with the farmers about what they’ve brought to the market and how “their mama and them” are doing.

When the summer progresses and the berries come in, make sure you make a few different things with them. I enjoy frozen blueberries added to Greek yogurt for breakfast, and of course muffins and pancakes.

Below, I’ll share several links to berry recipes I love, right after I share this, a favorite Martha Stewart recipe for a mixed berry slump that cooks right on the stovetop!

Make this easy, stovetop version of cobbler in a cast iron skillet, or any skillet with steep sides, and have dessert ready in no time. Serve with whipped cream or ice cream for an extra-delicious treat.

berry slump

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mixed-berry slump
From MarthaStewart.com 

3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup plain flour
3/4 tsp. baking powder
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/3 cup milk
2 TBS butter, melted
3 pints berries (blackberries and raspberries)
2 TBS lemon juice
2 TBS water.

for topping:
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Method:

1.Combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in mixing bowl. add milk and melted butter, and stir into a thick batter. Set aside.
2. Place berries in large bowl, and sprinkle with lemon juice, ginger, water and sugar. Gently stir to coat berries.
3. Place berries in skillet, cover, and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring several times.
4. Drop six to eight dollops of batter on top of berry mixture, not allowing dumplings to touch.
5. Sprinkle dumplings with the cinnamon-sugar topping.
6. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low, continuing to gently simmer. Cook about 15 minutes, until dumplings appear to be cooked through and the juices of the fruit are bubbling around them.
Serve warm with a drizzle of heavy cream, whipped cream or ice cream.

Other berry recipes you might like:

Strawberry-blueberry breakfast bread

Zucchini-blueberry cake with lemon-cream cheese frosting

Rustic blueberry-peach galette
Rustic blueberry-peach galette

Rustic blueberry-peach galette

Raspberry-lemon “brownies”

I hope you enjoy these recipes and find a new favorite! Get out there and get those berries as soon as they’re ready in your area!

Copyright 2014 Stephanie Hill Frazier. All rights reserved.

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baking · desserts · holidays · Quick recipes

Pumpkin pie muffins with homemade whipped cream – An easy recipe

I made a treat for a work friend whose last day at our tv station was Friday. Brad is moving on to further his education, which I applaud! However, since he’s been someone I’ve enjoyed working with as he cheerfully ran camera for my cooking segments, helped me post stories to our website, and other… Continue reading Pumpkin pie muffins with homemade whipped cream – An easy recipe

baking · chocolate · desserts · holidays

Easy-to-make and deliciously decadent turtle bars

Are you ready for a decadent sweet treat that is easy to make, sturdy enough to travel well, and completely chewy and delicious? Then today is your lucky day! Here is a simple version of turtle bars…no candy thermometer needed, just bake up the crust, pour over it the easy filling and yummy toppings, and… Continue reading Easy-to-make and deliciously decadent turtle bars

desserts · Farmers Market recipes

Tangy Springtime Lemon Squares

There’s no dessert that seems more like springtime to me than lemon squares. They’re so bright, fresh, and old-fashioned.  They’re the kind of dessert I picture Aunt Bee in Mayberry taking to church dinner on Easter. They’re cool and bright, which is just what I want in a warm-weather dessert. The lemon curd filling is… Continue reading Tangy Springtime Lemon Squares

comfort food · desserts

Moist lemon bundt cake

Lemons are simple. They’re bright, tart, happy, sunny. They make me think of a Sicilian housewife in white apron and her hair piled up on her head, stepping out of her kitchen door on a sunny day, out to the lemon tree to pluck a juicy citrus orb from the tree. They bring a sunny… Continue reading Moist lemon bundt cake

chocolate · comfort food · desserts

Mama Steph’s sour cream-chocolate chip pound cake

(Note: this is my 200th blog post! Thanks for being here to celebrate that with me!)  Some years ago my husband and I worked in  youth ministry. We worked with all kinds of lovely, love-hungry teenagers; many from broken homes, poor homes, abusive homes, as well as some from strong, loving families. We embraced them… Continue reading Mama Steph’s sour cream-chocolate chip pound cake