Knock-off Starbucks Lemon Loaf

John is addicted to everything Starbucks and I've been on a copy-cat recipe kick... which has turned into the perfect combination in our house! (If you take a peek at my Pinterest, you'll see an accumulation of tons of knock-off recipes that I'm just itching to try.  So there will most definitely be more knock-off recipe posts!)

I found this absolutely delicious recipe on On Sutton Place (which is a delightful cooking blog) and had to try it. I've added a few tweaks (but mostly because Ann's recipe was for mini-loafs, and I made a gigantic one).  When I made it, I doubled it and sent one loaf in with John to his command. We had just moved into our temporary apartment (because yes, we are moving so very shortly) and needed a microwave. One of John's coworkers offered to trade a basically new microwave for another loaf of lemon bread.

No, I'm not joking, and yes, it really tastes that good!

You'll Need

Loaf:

• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons softened butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 teaspoons lemon extract
• 1/3 cup lemon juice (I used freshly squeezed)
• 1/2 cup of oil
• zest of one lemon

Glaze: 

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
• juice of 1/4 lemon

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
3. In a mixing bowl combine eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla and lemon extracts, and lemon juice with the whisk attachment.
4. Pour dry ingredients. into the wet. Blend smooth.
5. Add oil and lemon zest. Mix well.
6. Pour into 9x5 pan and bake for 45 min. or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven and let cool.
8. Combine glaze ingredients an
9. Use a butter knife to gently loosen the edges of the loaf. Remove the bread and place on a wire rack (I had to bypass this because my wire racks are currently packed and ready for our PCS move.) Place a cookie sheet under the rack and pour glaze over loaf. 

Cutting tip: The loaf cuts much better and cleaner when refrigerated. 

Crispy French Bread Recipe

A few posts ago, I shared a quick recipe for really delicious Bruschetta Pizza Slices. In case you forgot about that post, go ahead and drool a little over this picture. Even writing about it makes me want to make that for dinner!

Today, I'm sharing the French Bread recipe I used for those bruschetta slices. I've been on a bread kick recently-- quick breads, sandwich breads, artisan breads-- and I've had a blast doing it.

You'll Need:

• 2 Fleishman's packets of yeast
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons salt
• at least 5 cups of flour

Directions:

1.  In a mixing bowl, combine and let foam:  2 packets of yeast, 2 cups of warm water, 1 teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 tablespoon of flour. The mixture, when foaming properly will look off-white and thick. 
2. Add to the yeast mixture, 4 1/2 cups of flour and mix. (I used the bread hook on my Kitchen Aid.) Add 1/2 cups of flour at a time until the dough comes together.
3. Knead by hand and place dough back into mixing bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and let the dough rise until it doubles.
4. After the bread has doubled, punch down and shape into loaves. Place on a cookie sheet. If you like, dust the sheets with cornmeal. Let rise again (about 30 minutes). 
5. Preheat the oven to 400 F. 
6. Brush the tops of the loaves with water and salt and bake for 20 minutes or until the loaves begin browning. 

Et voila! Mange avec la beurre!  (And that's as far as my three semesters of French can get me.)

5 Quick and Easy Fall Recipes

I tried these recipes out last year to include in John's care package and couldn't resist pulling them out to share again. They're tasty, and they feature the absolute best flavors of the season: pumpkin, caramel, and apple. And, by the way, they travel in care packages really well too!

100 in 365 Wrap-Up

Last year I created this list of things that I wanted to do while John was gone. Looking over this list, I'm pretty surprised that I got so much done. I'm disappointed with what I read, but in all fairness, I read a ton last year-- just not the books that I said that I wanted to. Go figure! My new list for 2013-14 is residing at the 100 in 365 tab, now. Check it out and see what's on my plate for a new year. Here's what I accomplished, September 2012-September 2013!

Wedding Stuff

1.       Learn how to cardas.

2.      Make centerpieces. (28/25ish) 

3.      Plan a wedding.  

4.      Go to a Bridal Expo.

5.      Find the perfect wedding gown.

6.      Research what we need to set up our house.

Reading

7.      Read the Bible in a year. 

8.      Read Louisa and Marmee.

9.      Read Bossypants.

10.  Read Les Mis.

11.  Read The Count of Monte Cristo.

12.  Read Candide.

13.  Read The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

14.  Read Up from Slavery.

15.  Read The Three Musketeers.

16.  Finally finish the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

17.  Read Deliverance From Evil

18.  Read all of Geraldine Brooks’ fiction. March.  Year of Wonders. People of the Book. Caleb's Crossing.

19.  Read all of Tony Horwitz’s books. A Voyage Long and Strange. Confederates in the Attic. One for the Road. Blue Latitudes. Midnight Rising.

20.  Read This is How You Lose Her.

21.  Read the Age of Miracles. This is the kind of book I want to write. So poignant and beautifully written.

22.  Read American Sphinx.

23.  Read the new JK Rowling book. It didn't change my life, but it was certainly wonderful to read another book by JK. And it gave me hope that she'll be writing and releasing another one!

Health

24.  Run the Baltimore half-marathon. Ashley and I walked/ran it on 10-13-12!

25.  Get to my high school weight and stay there until the wedding, and preferably longer. 

26.  Run or walk another half-marathon in the spring. I ran an 8k with Ashley on 3-16-13! It's not a marathon, but I ran the WHOLE thing and it's gonna have to do!

John’s Deployment

27.  Send John a care package at least once a month. (36/12)

28.  Make John something homemade or handmade at least once a month. (12/12).

29.  Write John a letter every day he's gone. (359/360)

30.  Be at the airport when John comes home for leave.  We said hello on 01-06-13!

31.  Be at the airport when John leaves after his leave. We said goodbye one 01-23-13

32.  Be at the airport when John comes home for good.

33.  Make the cutest sign EVER for when John comes home for good.

34.  Start looking for housing for us when we know John's orders.

Learn Something New

35.  Take French lessons at JHU.  Sadly, not happening this year.

36.  Learn how to cook Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter dinner the way Mom does. Thanksgiving.

37.  Re-learn how to sew.

38.  Earn another certification this year. (Pending on program and cost...) Not happening this year.

39.  Study for the GREs (?) and/or start on application materials for MFA or PhD. programs. Not happening this year.

40.  Take a cake decorating class.

41.  Learn how to actually play pinochle.

42.  Learn a new song with Becky while she plays ukulele.

43.  Learn how to make sushi.

44.  Go to the Glass Grill and learn how to blow glass with Becky.

45.  Take a self-defense class.

46.  Learn  the Wobble.

Writing

47.  Write 6 short stories (0/6).

48.  Enter at least 2 more short story contests or submit at least 2 more short stories for publication somewhere. (1/2) 

Making Stuff

49.  Make a Christmas present for everyone in my and John's families. (10/10) (Proof here!)

50.  Make 12 new dinner recipes over the next 12 months. (1/12)

• Cajun Chicken Pasta

51.  Make homemade marshmallows.

52.  Complete two of the cross stitch wall hangings I bought for our first place together. (2/2)

53.  Make cookies for my students just for fun.

54.  Make a quilt with Mom. Worked on one, but it won't be finished by the end of this year.

55.  If it snows, build a snowman. No snow this year. Sadness.

56.  Make something for the English Department. 

57.  Try to make salted caramels. Here's the recipe!

58.  Make at least two cross stitched Santas for my Santa tree. (2/2)

59.  Cook an entirely organic meal.

60.  Find a delicious recipe for and make fried green tomatoes.

Going Places and Seeing People

61.  Visit VA Beach and Katy at least once this summer.

62.  Go to International Village in PGH this summer.

63.  Attend the church picnic.

64.  Go to as many PSU football games as possible and get a picture with Becky in uniform every time.  And the evidence is here!

65.  Visit PSU on a non-football game weekend. We went while John was home on leave!

66.  Visit PSU on a non-football game weekend. Spent an awesome weekend with Becky on 2/16-18.

67.  Visit PSU on a non-football game weekend. Cheered Becky on in her directorial debut on 2/22-24.

68.  Visit PSU on a non-football game weekend. Blue and White Weekend on 4/19-21.

69.  Visit the BMA.

70.  Visit the Walter's Art Museum.

71.  Meet Ms. Eger for sushi this fall.

72.  See the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC this year. For realsies. I did it! 

73.  Hang out with Lebanon County friends at least once during the summer.

74.  Visit Vicki.

75.  Visit a cute town on the Eastern Shore.

76.  Vote in the Presidential Election.

77.  See Baltimore's Christmas celebration in Mt. Vernon, or have a viewing party and watch it on TV.

78.  Plan a sister's weekend sometime during the school year.

79.  Go to a quilt show with Mom.

80.  Attend and participate in a Holi Festival of Colors in Baltimore.

81.  Hike Mt. Nittany.

82.  Eat at Petite Louis in Roland Park.

83.  Lindsay, Vicki, and Donna at Penn State in August.

84.  Visit Lindsay.

Financial

85.  Do 77 phone interviews for TFA. This is not going to happen since I missed the first round of interviews. New goal: do at least 25 phone interviews for TFA. (24/25) (Ah, so close!)

86.  Shore up my IRA.

87.  Start a new car fund.

88.  Start an apartment/moving fund.

Miscellaneous

89.  Do some kind of nail art thingy.

90.  Do something ridiculous in my classroom (teach without talking, rap, etc.). Lesson with authentic Salem Witch Trials texts, spoke in a goofy, ye Olde Newe Englande dialect.

91.  Read in the bathtub with cookies and candles. On a school night.

92.  Spend election day doing something completely fun that has nothing to do with school.

93.  Play an April Fool's prank.

94.  Go to karaoke with my sisters.

95.  Get Baltimore crabs with my sisters. We opted for sushi.

96.  Go to an author’s book reading either at JHU or the Enoch Pratt Library. Saw Junot Diaz at UMBC on 11/7/12.

97.  Volunteer at the USO at BWI. This was something I thought I had the emotional capacity to do, but I don't think I can be a good, competent volunteer if I cry at every guy in a uniform that I see...

98.   Run the Poetry Out Loud club at my school again this year.

99.  Volunteer for a political campaign (preferably Obama’s).  Phone banked with Shannon on 11/3/12.

100.                      Do 20 random acts of kindness that are out-of-my-way—not just holding a door open, etc. (3/20)

Delicious Amish White Bread

You need to stop what you're doing and make this recipe. Wait, no. Continue what you're doing--since you're reading about the recipe. Then, once you're finished with the post, stop what you're doing and make this recipe. It is absolutely delicious, especially right out of the oven. Especially with a generous amount of butter melting on a warm slice. You will not regret your decision.

You'll Need:

• 2 cups warm water 
• 2/3 cup white sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast (I used Rapid Rise)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/4 cup oil 
• 6 cups flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
2. In a mixing bowl, dissolve the sugar into warm water and stir in the yeast. An off-white foam will form on top of the sugar water mixture.
3. When foam is creamy, mix salt and oil into the mixture. Add one cup of flour at a time until dough comes together.
4. Knead dough on an oiled or floured surface until smooth. Cover with the bowl and allow to rise until mixture has doubled (1 hour). 
5. Punch down and knead. Divide in half. Place each half into 9x5 non-stick (or oiled) pans. Cover with damp cloth and allow to rise for 30 minutes. 
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Note: I originally found this recipe on the internet, jotted it down on a piece of paper, and have since lost the citation. The directions are rewritten and I have added and subtracted directions where necessary for what worked in my kitchen. 

10 Minute Bruschetta Pizza Slices

John and I were in a predicament one evening this summer-- we had a loaf of delicious, homemade French bread (recipe forthcoming) and... Okay, that was the predicament. We just wanted to eat bread for dinner.  To assuage my guilt over just having a whole loaf of bread to eat, I whipped up these little morsels of goodness!  (And yes, we made the entire loaf and ate it in one sitting. Whoops. What a delicious mistake!) 

You'll Need:

• French or Italian bread (sliced at least 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick)
• mozzarella cheese
• Italian dressing
• diced Roma tomatoes
• basil and salt to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350. 
2. Place the slices of bread onto a non-stick cookie sheet. 
3. Layer diced tomatoes and cheese.
4. Spread basil, salt, and Italian dressing on each slice.
5. Bake for 10 minutes or until cheese melts and slightly browns.

13 Care Package Approved Recipes

We're off on our honeymoon! I will be far away from the computer (although I promise I've got a lot of awesome, new posts in store upon my return.) While I'm gone, I've got scheduled posts for you! 

I began blogging at the end of August last year. For the first few months, I had a readership of, oh, my Mom.  (I love you, Mom! Thanks!) Suddenly, around December, my readership began to take off (thanks, Pinterest!). So, while I'm away, I'm bringing back some of the oldies-but-goodies that you may have missed if you haven't been reading along since the beginning.

Here's a round-up of all of the recipes I sent John while he was deployed. These are the ones that made it to him, fresh, not smashed into a thousand crumbs, melted, or otherwise inedible. Of course, you can just make them for yourself, if you don't have anyone to send them to!  

Click on each photo to view the recipe! Bon appetite! 

Cinnamon Sea Salt Roasted Walnuts

It's summer and you need beach snacks! What better snack than something that doesn't need to be refrigerated, is healthy, and gives you that punch of protein? 

Here's a recipe I've experimented with and created, that I sent to John while he was deployed. He loved them, and I think you will too!

You'll Need:

• 3 cups raw walnuts (pecans also work)
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• cinnamon to taste (at least 2 tablespoons)
• sea salt to taste

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 300 F. 
2. In a large bowl, beat egg white until it is bubbly and the white is broken up. Add nuts to bowl and mix until nuts are evenly coated in egg white.
3. Mix in cinnamon until nuts are evenly coated.
4. Spread onto a cookie sheet, sprinkle sea salt over mixture, and bake at 20 minutes without stirring. 

Jess's American Flag Seven-Layer Dip

This week, we're having a red, white, and blue spangled celebration! I'm feeling particularly joyful and rah-rah-go-America since John will be home soon. But, because he'll be home soon, I've got tons of things that need to be done-- including quite a few trips across four states over the next two weeks. 

Of course, I didn't want to leave my wonderful readers and friends high and dry  I've got some amazing bloggers for you to meet! They're all awesome at what they do-- whether it's crafting, baking, cooking, creating-- and I'm positive you're going to love them!

Check out all of the Made in America Week posts here.

Hi Jo, My Gosh readers! My name is Jess and I blog over at Flying on Jess Fuel. I'm a foodie, home cook, and proud Navy wife, and I've been reading Jo's blog ever since I first spotted one of her adorable care package ideas on Pinterest! I've always loved cooking, and on my blog I share my recipes and adventures in the kitchen. Jo asked me to share a patriotic recipe with her readers today and I was really excited to share one of my favorites!

 I love any excuse to make fun themed food (holidays!), but I find that most of the ideas floating around the internet are dessert ideas. I love dessert more than most people, but sometimes I want to find something more unique to make. I came up with the idea for this dip after eating many berry flag cakes. Blueberries and strawberries make good stars and stripes, so why not tomatoes and beans!? I made this recipe for the 4th of July last year, but it would also be great at homecoming parties or any other patriotic event! I hope you enjoy the recipe and come check out my blog for more delicious food including another patriotic idea: Revolutionary Berries.

American Flag 7-Layer Dip

You'll Need:

• 1 (16 oz) can refried beans
• 2 cups shredded white cheddar cheese, divided
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 1 (2.25 oz) can sliced olives (optional)
• 1 (16 oz) jar salsa
• 1 (16 oz) container sour cream
• 1/4 cup black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 pint grape tomatoes, halved

Directions:

Spread the refried beans on the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking pan or casserole dish. Sprinkle 1 1/2 cups of the cheese, the scallions and olives on top. Then spread a layer of salsa over top, then a layer of sour cream.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup cheese on top. Carefully decorate the surface as a flag, using the black beans and tomatoes. Serve cold or hot (pop in the oven at 375 degrees until the top is bubbly) with tortilla chips!

Julie's Patriotic Bread

This week, we're having a red, white, and blue spangled celebration! I'm feeling particularly joyful and rah-rah-go-America since John will be home soon. But, because he'll be home soon, I've got tons of things that need to be done-- including quite a few trips across four states over the next two weeks. 

Of course, I didn't want to leave my wonderful readers and friends high and dry  I've got some amazing bloggers for you to meet! They're all awesome at what they do-- whether it's crafting, baking, cooking, creating-- and I'm positive you're going to love them!

Check out all of the Made in America Week posts here.

Julie Moore is a wife (married for 12 1/2 years) and mother of 3 (ages 10, 9 and 2). She is also the author of Natural and Free, which provides allergy-friendly recipes and helpful information for those who suffer from or care for those suffering from one to all of the top 8 allergens. She also authors Fibro, Fit and Fab! where she chronicles her journey to becoming fit and fabulous in all aspects of her life despite having Fibromyalgia. Posts about her life in general and topics she is passionate about pop up there, too.

Hello, all!  I am so thrilled to be a guest on Jo, My Gosh! and share a patriotic recipe with you today!

When I thought about what type of recipe I could share with you that fit the patriotic theme Jo asked for, I have to admit that at first I was stumped.  I wanted to keep with my theme (allergy-friendly food), and most of the patriotic foods I had seen in the past were not so allergy-friendly.  I thought about modifying some of those recipes, but then I realized they would end up being more than a little complex, and I really wanted to share a simple recipe with y'all, because what good is a recipe unless you're going to try it, right?  Right. :)

It was then that I remembered an ultra simple recipe that I have on my blog called Blueberry Bread that could easily be modified to fit the patriotic-theme!  I already had the blue in the blueberries, I could add strawberries for the red and use white whole wheat flour for the white and walla!  Delish, allergy-friendly (it is soy-free if you use all soy-free ingredients, fish/seafood, egg and tree nut/peanut-free, and can be wheat and milk-free (see variations below)) Patriotic Bread was born!

This recipe is beyond easy and so, so good!  I mean, it has a streusel top and strawberry and blueberry goodness inside, people!  What's not to love!?!?

Though you can't see the red, white and blue throughout it (it kinda gives off a brownish-purple vibe), I hope that you will enjoy the spirit of the recipe and that it becomes a tradition for your patriotic holiday meals! :)

Patriotic Bread

You'll Need: 

• ½ Cup salted, full-fat butter
•  1 Cup white sugar 
• 1 ½ Cups soy-free flour
• (I recommend using a white wheat flour such as King Arthur brand but all-purpose is fine.) 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• ½ - 1 teaspoon salt 
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
• 1/2 to 3/4 Cups mashed blueberries
• (This is about 1 to 1 1/2 Cups blueberries before you mash them.) 
• 1/2 to 3/4 Cups mashed strawberries
• (This is about 1 to 1 1/2 Cups strawberries before you mash them.)

Streusel topping:

• 1/4 Cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 Tablespoons soy-free flour (use the same type you use in the bread)
• 2 Tablespoons salted, full-fat butter, softened 
• 2 Tablespoons soy-free rolled oats (I use quick cooking)

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 325^oF.
2. Grease 8x4 or 9x5 inch loaf pan.
3. In a large bowl, cream the 1/2 Cup butter and white sugar.
4. Add the 1 1/2 Cups flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Mix well. (Note: The amount of salt and cinnamon is based on personal preference.  I find that 1/2 teaspoon of salt is plenty.  I enjoy the flavor of cinnamon, so I use the full teaspoon. If you do not, use the 1/2 teaspoon or leave it out entirely.)
5. Blend in mashed blueberries and strawberries. (I like to use a potato masher.) (Note: You can use frozen berries if you thaw them, just make sure you drain off any excess liquid before mashing them. Amount of mashed berries you use depends on personal preference and how liquidity your mashed berries are.)
6. Pour/scoop into prepared pan.
7. Prepare the streusel topping in a small bowl, by mixing 1/4 Cup brown sugar with 2 Tablespoons flour, then stir in 2 Tablespoons butter with a fork until crumbly before adding the 2 Tablespoons oats.
8. Sprinkle streusel topping onto bread.
9. Bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Variations (Please remember to keep your particular allergen needs in mind when using substitutions!):

• Gluten/Wheat-Free Version: Substitute Gluten-Free (Such as King Arthur Brand) flour for the flour. You may also have to add up to 1/2 teaspoon ground flax seed or xanthan gum to the mix as well for texture issues.
    
• Milk-Free Version:Substitute olive, corn or canola oil or dairy-free butter (like Earth Balance) for the butter in the bread and grease the pan with olive, corn or canola oil or dairy-free butter. It works wonderfully! You will have to use a dairy-free butter in the streusel or leave it off, as well.
    
• Berry Bread: Use any type of berry (i.e. raspberries, blackberries, cherries) in place of the blueberries and strawberries, or use any mix of berries that you wish, just do not exceed 1 1/2 Cups total of mashed berries.
    
• Mix In Fruit/Nuts: You can always add some dried or fresh berries/ cherries and/or nuts to the bread, too, but no more than 1 Cup total mix-ins. Make sure that any fruit is either dried or fresh, though. Extra frozen berries/cherries make a mush mess!
    
• Less/No Streusel: If you are not fond of streusel, just leave it off. If you like it but think the amount is too much, reduce the ingredients in the streusel by 1/2 and make as directed.
    
• Patriotic Muffins: This recipe would be great as muffins! Just divide the batter equally among 12 to 18 paper-lined muffin cups, top batter with streusel topping and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of one of the center muffins comes out clean.