Scones: Daring Bakers' Challenge

First, let me point out that this challenge is for what we Americans call biscuits.  Our biscuits are what the English and Australians call scones.  I used the recipe on the challenge, and found that they were quite good, though I still think I prefer the cream biscuits I usually make because they are a bit lighter.  In the challenge, the host points out that letting the dough rest refrigerated may actually improve the scones, so I am trying that with my usual recipe.  I think it would be wonderful to find a way to make them that would include overnight refrigeration.  The ones I have tried so far have actually been pretty good, but they were not quite as good as those I have made fresh.  If I am able to perfect that I will post it here when I do.


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Hoisin-Glazed Chicken with Cabbage Slaw

Ok, so I'm trying to eat healthy, so I will be trying some recipes out there that I can post a link to so that you can try them to.  If I adapt them, I will post that here too.  Don't worry, not everything I am posting will be healthy.  I doubt I can stay away from baking entirely or for very long, but you are going to be getting a dose of good for you stuff too.  This recipe can be found here:  Hoisin-Glazed Chicken with Cabbage Slaw.  It is a Real Simple recipe.  I didn't change it, though I did make about 1 1/2 of the recipe to account for the males in the house wanting a bit more.  It is good, inexpensive and quick - perfect for a weeknight.  I cut up my vegetables a good bit more than what they have pictured.

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Oreo Brownie Birthday Cake

This is a birthday cake I made recently.  It is absolutely yummy.  I made it using two layers of these brownies without the nuts.  To do this you need to double the recipe and bake it in a 9" x 13" pan, twice.  Yes that is right, four recipes altogether.  And, yes that is two whole pounds of premium chocolate.  I didn't say it was cheap or low calorie... And, I have made it with a sandwich cookie pan using one recipe for each layer, but we needed more this time.  In between the two layers is one recipe of the center filling you find in Oreo ball recipes.  Really it isn't a recipe, it is just one package of oreos blended in the food processor with one 8oz. package of cream cheese.

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Tamales - Daring Cooks' Challenge

I love tamales, but I've never made them, so I was really excited about the challenge this month!  They really were not difficult to make at all, though they were a bit time consuming.  I made the Green Chile Chicken without any variation (well, except having to use canned tomatillos and parchment because our rural grocery store didn't have fresh tomatillos or corn husks) because I had never made tamales before, but now I can see tons of possible variations.

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Green Bean Casserole

This is easily the best green bean casserole I have ever eaten.  I made it for a family Christmas gathering last month, and everyone loved it.  I doubled the recipe because we were having a crowd and ended up with two casserole - one a very full (too full) 9" x 13" baking dish and the other an 8" square baking dish.  The photos are not very good because I was honestly more concerned with getting everything ready for the party instead of taking pictures.  And, I am not a huge fan of green bean casserole, so I wasn't really expecting to post it.  But, even I loved it, so I have to share.  It is a recipe I adapted from The Pioneer Woman.  Basically, I left out the onions because I don't really like them, added mushrooms, some butter to the panko, and changed the procedure a bit.  I'm sure the original is wonderful too, but I am one of those people who have a hard time not doing things my own way.  Next time you need a vegetable casserole, you should try this!

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