Homemade Pita Pockets

If you read my post from a couple of days ago, you know that Audrey the Birthday Chef made homemade pitas as part of her celebratory meal. She found the recipe at Tammy's Recipes: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/ That links is to Tammy's main page. If you want to cut to the pita recipe, try: http://www.tammysrecipes.com/homemade_pita_pocket_bread.

Audrey's note: she cut back the cooking time to 3 minutes, from Tammy's 4-5 minutes, in order to keep the pitas pliable.

Rachel said in her blog that she had substituted whole wheat flour for half of the white that is called for, and apparently they turned out just fine.

Bon appetit!

Chocolate Mint Dreams

These cookies are so light, dreamy, and soft, they nearly float.

Audrey made some to take to the field where John was harvesting. I wonder how many farmers get to munch on gourmet cookies amidst the roar of bin fans and the swirl of corn dust in the air. It may not be quite as relaxing as taking high tea at the Brown Palace, but I'm sure the treats here are every bit as good.

Be careful how many you eat, lest you become as pillowy as they are.

Chocolate Mint Dreams makes approximately 30 dreamy cookies

3/4 c. butter, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

2 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled (can substitute 6 T. cocoa mixed with 2 T. oil)

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup chocolate chips or mini chocolate chips

Icing

2 T. butter, softened

1 cup powdered sugar

1 T. milk

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

1 to 2 drops green food coloring

Drizzle

scant 1/2 cup chocolate chips

1/2 tsp. shortening

In a large bowl, cream butter and powdered sugar. Beat in chocolate and mint extract. Gradually add flour. Stir in chocolate chips. (Dough will be soft.) Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten with spoon. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes, or until firm. Cool for 4 minutes before transferring to wire rack to cool completely. Meanwhile, mix together icing ingredients. Spread over cooled cookies. Let set. In microwave, melt chocolate and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over cookies.

Basil Cherry Tomatoes

This is a very fast and tasty sidedish using grape or cherry tomatoes. The only other ingredients are butter, almonds, fresh basil and fresh garlic.

Melt a little butter in a frying pan. Add freshly chopped garlic, some slivered or sliced almonds, and a generous handful of freshly chopped basil. Cook and stir until the almonds are a nice, toasty brown--not very long.

Turn off the fire and add some cherry or grape tomatoes. Stir for a moment, then let sit until ready to serve. Can be made early in the meal preparation, left to sit on the stove while you cook other things, and reheated very briefly (30 seconds?) just before the meal. Or serve at room temperature.....easy and excellent.

Inspired by the Colorado Collage cookbook and a bowl of grape tomatoes.

Sweet 'n Easy #2 - Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits

This tasty breakfast idea can pop up while you're pouring your coffee, and before you hit your second cup, these whole wheat biscuits will be out of the oven...voila! If you don't speak French, look it up and let me know. Try not to get cinnamon raisin glaze on the dictionary----mama won't like it.

Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour

4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinammon

3/4 cup cold butter

1/2 to 1 cup milk

1 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 450. Cut butter into flours, baking powder, salt & cinnamon. If you have one, use the very best pastry cutter in the whole wide world. Add enough milk for the proper consistency - more for drop biscuits, less for rolled & cut. Add raisins, shape into biscuits. Bake at 450, 10 to 13 minutes.

Cinnamon Raisin Glaze

2 Tbs. soft butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 cup powdered sugar

1-2 Tbs. milk

Combine and beat until fluffy. Spread over slightly cooled biscuits.

Sweet 'n Easy

Cherries are on sale! Pair them with a bit of chilled orange for a very fast and refreshing snack or accompaniment to your summer supper. Fun to make, fun to photograph, fun to eat.