Roll Tide Roll........

It has been way to long since I have added something new to Rozlynn's Homemade Goodness. The reason for my absence you ask? I started a new job which required me to work full-time and we are moving.

But with the hint of fall in the air (which is my favorite season) and the beginning of football season, which I love, I felt the need to send each of you a shout out in the form of a sugar cookie, so here you go, Roll Tide Roll. To start off fall and football season right I have also included the official Bama fight song. If this does not get your blood pumping then I don't know what will!

"Yea, Alabama!"

Yea, Alabama! Drown 'em Tide!
Every 'Bama man's behind you;
Hit your stride!
Go teach the Bulldogs to behave,
Send the Yellow Jackets to a watery grave!
And if a man starts to weaken,
That's a shame!
For 'Bama's pluck and grit
Have writ her name in crimson flame!
Fight on, fight on, fight on, men!
Remember the Rose Bowl we'll win then!
Go, roll to victory,
Hit your stride,
You're Dixie's football pride, Crimson Tide!

Also to make these amazing sugar cookies click on this link to see the recipe for Bradford Sugar Cookies.

Enjoy and Roll Tide!

Whipping Cream Cake

We have a friend named Will who is in school here in Tuscaloosa and who we love dearly. I swear since I have lived here in Alabama, even before we were married I would make food for Will and Thad. Will also mows lawns and does a dang good job at it. Life has been crazy for us these last 9 months and doing basic things like mowing the lawn seems to be impossible. So this is the second time Thad has offered my food in exchange for our front and back lawns to be mowed by our friend Will. This last time Thad gave Will the option of money or a meal and he chose.....a meal.

So the pressure was on. I ended up making chicken enchiladas with all the "fixins'" and I wanted something pretty wow for our Will. I had a couple cartons of strawberries and had some blueberries in the refrigerator, so I wanted something yummy to put them on. I came across this Whipping Cream Cake in my mom's book of recipes and had wanted to try it for some time. It was quick and easy to make and I could tell by a quick taste of the batter that it was going to be delightful. My assumptions were correct and it was an amazing cake that really did not need much added to it and could stand alone because of its rich and dense flavor. So good.

Whipping Cream Cake
1 cup butter softened
3 cups sugar
6 eggs
3 cups cake flour
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon lemon extract

Start off by preheating oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan and set aside.

Using a medium size bowl (I use my Kitchen Aide), combine the softened butter and sugar. Mix on medium until light, fluffy and creamy. Next add the eggs, one at a time beating for 30 seconds each. Then add the cake flour and cream until mixed well. Lastly, stir in the vanilla and lemon extracts, until combined.

Once mixed well and all ingredients are incorporated, using the previously greased and floured bundt pan, spoon the batter in to the bundt pan, making sure the batter is evenly distributed. Then place in oven. Bake the cake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. I start checking the cake about 45 minutes into the baking time by using a butter knife and inserting it into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean or has some crumbs on it, then it is down.

Once done baking, take out of oven and let cool for about 10 minutes in bundt pan on a cooling rack. After 10 minutes, invert the pan onto a cooling rack and cool completely. For garnish you can use any type of seasonal fruit with a little bit of whipping cream to top it off.

This cake is a delicious summer dessert, rich and light, topped off with some fresh fruit and cream, you seriously can't go wrong. I promise you won't be disappointed with this one.

Bon Appetit!

Banana Whoopie Pies

I am always looking for recipes to make with bananas because I feel like I always have ripened bananas hanging around. I think I have told you before that I always have bananas on hand even when I am not a big banana eater. It just makes me feel healthy and makes my kitchen feel homey to have them sitting there on top of my microwave. Since living in the South I have heard more about whoopie pies and seen them sold more than I have anywhere else. There are red velvet whoopie pies, chocolate, vanilla, coconut, raspberry, peanut butter........any flavor you could ever want.

So as I was browsing through some of Martha Stewart's recipes on her website, I typed in the word banana and it gave me an array of recipes involving bananas and there in front of me was a recipe for Banana Whoopie Pies. Since I was a Whoopie Pie virgin I knew that I had to try them and enter into the world of Whoopie Pies. These cake-like sandwiches were originally made by Pennsylvanian Amish woman, who placed them in farmer's lunches and it is said that when they would find these pies in their lunches they would shout "whoopie". After making these delicious little treats, I was taken with the moistness of the recipe, and how good the banana cake was with a creamy cream cheese frosting.....divine is all I can say about this recipe, divine.

Banana Whoopie Pies

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup mashed banana (from 1 large ripe banana)

1/2 cup sour cream

4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a small bowl sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a bowl. Set aside. Combine banana and sour cream in another bowl. Set aside. Beat butter and granulated and brown sugars with a mixer on medium-high speed, until pale and creamy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, beating until incorporated. Add banana mixture in 2 additions, alternating with flour mixture. Mix until well blended.

Transfer batter to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/4-inch plain tip. Pipe batter into 1 1/4-inch rounds on baking sheets, spacing rounds 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden, about 9- 12 minutes (mine were done in 9 minutes). Slide parchment, with cookies, onto wire racks. Let cool. (Unfilled cookies can be stored for up to 1 day.) While cookies are cooling make the cream cheese frosting below.........

Cream Cheese Frosting (for filling)

8 ounces cream cheese

1/2 cup butter, softened

16 ounces confectioners sugar, sifted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a stand mixer combine cream cheese, butter and sugar. Mix at high speed for 5-6 minutes. The longer you mix frosting, the smoother the texture will be. Then lastly, add in the vanilla. Mix until completely blended.

Once cookies are cooled, pipe or spoon 1 tablespoon cream cheese mixture onto the flat sides of half the cookies. Sandwich with remaining cookies. Dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve immediately.

I have been converted to Whoopie Pies and I am a lover of banana bread, so banana bread with cream cheese frosting is nothing short of heavenly. So easy to make and is a perfect finger food for any gathering. You will not be disappointed by this amazing comfort food!

Enjoy!

Mississippi Mud Brownies

The other day I was sitting in a mechanic shop waiting for Thad''s truck to get serviced. I knew that I had about an hour to wait and wondered how I would spend that hour. I looked over and on a magazine rack were Better Homes and Gardens, Southern Living and Peoples magazine. Once I saw the magazines, I knew there was going to be plenty to keep me entertained. I started off with the Peoples magazine because, who can resist some salacious gossip? Next I moved on to Better Homes and Gardens and drooled over the gorgeous homes and great recipes. I am sure the receptionist could hear me taring out pages as I found some must try recipes. I then moved onto Southern Living and found some more great recipes. I tore out a page that read "Best-Ever Bar Cookies" and listed on the back side of the page I ripped out, were Mississippi Mud Brownies.

Now I know that it is Spring/Summer and that maybe I should have gone with a fruity treat but these looked too scrumptious to pass up. And after making the beauties I was not disappointed at all. They were amazing. There is something about a dense brownie, topped with marshmallows, toasted pecans and ooey gooey frosting that is hard to resist.

Mississippi Mud Brownies

1 (4 oz.) unsweetened chocolate baking bar
3/4 cup butter
2 cups sugar

4 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 cup flour
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans

3 cups mini-marshmallows

Start off by preheating the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 13 x 9 in pan, set aside.

Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan for 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, set aside.

Using a microwave-safe bowl microwave chocolate and butter at HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Once melted, whisk in sugar and eggs until well blended (I used a large spoon). Lastly stir in flour until completed mixed. Spread batter into greased 13 x 9-inch pan and place in oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Bake the brownies until a wooden pick or butter knife inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs

When there is about 5-10 minutes left in the baking of the brownies, start on the frosting.....

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup milk

6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 (16 oz.) package sifted powdered sugar

Once done baking, remove the brownies from oven and place on a cooling rack. Immediately pour the marshmallows onto the warm brownies. Next place the toasted pecans on the brownies. Once pecans and marshmallows are added, pour the frosting onto the warm brownies, spreading frosting to the edges. Let brownies cool for 1 or more hours on wire rack. I find that if they sit overnight they set better and once cut come out prettier.

Brownies lovers, this recipe is for you, a chocolaty brownie with marshmallows, pecans and chocolate frosting, you can't go wrong, so give these try, you will not be disappointed.

Enjoy!

Happy 30th Birthday Mark!

Today is my brother-in-law's Mark's 30th birthday and although he is not here, we still are able to celebrate him and the man that he was and is. We have our happy birthday sign hanging on the mantle and cupcakes ready to eat.

Yesterday, Thad and many of Mark's family, friends and comrades walked 30 miles in honor of his birthday. It was so neat to see these men walking together, the whole way taking each step in honor of Mark. There were 5 rest stops and one of the stops was at the Forester residence. In honor of Mark's birthday I was in charge of making cupcakes for the walkers to eat. What a sight to see, all of the 35 walkers holding cupcakes and singing happy birthday to Mark.

I wanted to make the best cupcakes I could for Mark and I have found that the best yellow cake cupcake I can find is a dressed up yellow cake mix. Now I am not one for cake mixes and was raised to believe that in some way I was committing a sin using a boxed anything but in this case I feel that it is okay to do so. What dresses up this cake mix you ask? Yogurt/sour cream and pudding mix. Take my word on this one, I have looked long and hard for the most moist and light yellow cupcake recipe and this one is it. So give these a try and take my word for it.

Dressed Up Yellow Cake Cupcakes

1 box yellow cake mix (I use Betty Crocker)
1 package (3.4 oz) Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding
4 eggs
1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream (I used yogurt)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon rum extract

Begin by setting the oven to 350. Grease and flour two 9" cake rounds and set aside. Combine the cake mix, jello, eggs, yogurt, vegetable oil, water and rum extract. For mixing instructions follow the back of the cake box. Once completely mixed, I like to use an ice cream scooper to dish my batter into the cupcake pan to make a uniform cupcakes. I Fill the cupcakes about three-fourths full. Place cupcakes in the oven, letting them bake for about 13-20 minutes. Mine are usually perfect at 15 minutes.

Once done baking, take out of oven, remove from cupcake pan and cool completely. While cupcakes are cooling, start making this delicious buttermilk frosting....

Peggle's Buttermilk Frosting
1/3 cup butter (I usually overshoot on this measurement, more butter never hurts)
4 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
*I add 1-2 tablespoons more of milk to give it a creamier consistency.

This frosting is the best. So easy. Just mix all ingredients together until smooth and fluffy.

Once frosting is made and cupcakes are cooled, frost cupcakes with Peggle's Buttermilk frosting and then voila, you have the most moist and delicate cupcake in town.

Mark today we are missing you more than ever but we also know that you are not far from us. Love you Markie Mark and happy 30th birthday.

Cheers!

Lavender Chocolate Chip Cookies at the Farmer's Market.....

It feels like forever since I have last posted. It has been a crazy month and I just got home from visiting my family in Utah yesterday. It is great to be home but also had a great time in Utah. One of the reason I went home to Utah for a few weeks was to help my mom. She was recently accepted into the Salt Lake City Farmer's Market. The Salt Lake City Farmer's Market is well known and hard to get into, so this is an amazing opportunity but also a lot of pressure to make sure she sells the best products.

What is she selling at the Salt Lake City Farmer's Market? Well my mom has over 1,000

lavender plants on a 5 acre farm in Millville, UT. She grows and harvests all her own lavender. With her lavender she makes field bundles, which are bundles that are put together when harvested (this bundle looks more rustic). She sales cleaned bundles which are neater in appearance, lavender infused apricot jelly, lavender infused honey, Herbs de Provence, culinary lavender, oatmeal lavender sea salt, lavender sachets made out of vintage hanker chiefs and napkins and lavender soap.

So this past Saturday we went and set up a table at the Logan Farmer's Market. She has sold there before and we wanted to see how well her lavender bouquets and products would sell. To our delight they were all a complete success. Since I was visiting, I thought I would use my baking skills and make some chocolate chip cookies using her culinary lavender and also sell them at the farmer's market.

I took a recipe that I love and is one of my very favorites for chocolate chip cookies called New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies (for the recipe click HERE) and incorporated lavender. The end results was nothing but a culinary delight. We packaged them pretty and sold them for $1 a piece. My nephew and the love of my life Max, was my main salesman and he sold them hard by offering every person who passed by a sample of a Lavender Chocolate Chip Cookie and they sold out.

Many people are surprised by the idea of using lavender in food but the lavender adds a neat flavor that is unlike any other herb in its taste, color and texture. The lavender adds a unique taste that is distinct and delicious.

Lavender Chocolate Chip Cookies

To make Lavender Chocolate Chip Cookies, follow the New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe and after adding the chocolate chips, add just under a 1/8 cup of ground culinary lavender into your cookies. To grind lavender I use a mortar and pestle and grind up the lavender until it is as fine as possible, almost a powdery substance. Then add the lavender to the dough, mix until just blended and then you are ready to bake.

You will love this lavender treat, that will make you go back for seconds.

To learn more about lavender and to purchase lavender please visit The Purple Apple

Bon Appetit!

Vintage Cake Stands...................

Do you have something that you always search for on-line when you are bored or just dreaming? Well I do. Cake stands! I love old and vintage anything. I have always loved collecting "things" since I was young. I always loved rocks and collected them when we would travel. I also collected Barbies of all sorts and was known as the Barbie Queen. I would and still get them for birthdays and Christmas because I loved loved loved playing Barbies growing up, now I leave them unopened but still love receiving them. I also collected Madame Alexander Dolls, my grandma would give us one each year for our birthdays. As I got older I started collecting cute tea pots.

As of late, since I love to bake I love old vintage cake stands, to hold not only cakes but cupcakes, chocolates, cookies or lemon squares. So here is to dreaming and wishing. Check back with me in ten years and hopefully I will have an extensive collections of vintage cake stands.