Double Batch

Before I get a sweet comment asking about when the next post will be coming, I’ll share with  you that I’m taking a break from Double Batch.

The blog will remain up, available for you to access any recipes you’d like to create.

I’m just taking a blogging vacation.  Maybe a month more, maybe six months more, maybe I won’t blog at all…although I doubt that.

And I’m not committing to a complete vacation.  If there’s a MUST SHARE recipe, well, you might find me taking a break from that vacation.  For now though, I just want a break.

Thanks so much for reading, and thanks especially to you email subscribers.  It means a lot that SO many people want updates and new recipes from this simple baker.

My measuring cup runneth over.

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My accountant/auditor husband supervised as Random.org picked a number.  The comments were numbered as they came in and the lucky winner is STEPHANIE who wrote:

Denise, our family calls those thumb pies! i have never heard of anyone else that made them! we fill them with pudding and we don’t do the sugar on the outside. yours sound much more “gourmet” we’ll have to try it next time!

it’s hard to choose a favorite camping meal! here are some great ones: dutch oven potatoes (bacon, onion, potatoes, cheese), tri tip, sloughhouse corn on the cob.
for breakfast we like cowboy breakfast: cooked in a dutch oven (sausage, tatertots, eggs and cheese) or throw it in a tortilla with salsa for breakfast burritos.

have a great trip!

Stephanie, the bundt pan is on it’s way as soon as I get your address. 

A HUGE thanks to all who entered and gave really great suggestions for camping food.  I’ll be reporting back on the fun, food and adventures with the little one.

There may be another giveaway coming soon.  Stay tuned!

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In fact, friends, it was a batch time SIX.

At my sweet husband’s request I baked up LOT of our favorite brownie recipe for a little event.

Have you made these yet???

The recipe ended up going something like this:

9 cubes of butter

13 1/2 cups sugar

18 eggs

6 cups dutch process cocoa

…and it goes on.

If ever I had reason for an industrial sized KitchenAid, it was today!

If you’re one of the local readers who are sending your menfolk off to the father/son campout tonight, well, I hope they enjoy.

As for me and the little one, we’re pretty satisfied with the lingering baked brownie aroma and quite content to be relaxing at home.

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I know, it’s been a while.

But I’ve been busy.

You see, this sweet treat has been baking for quite some time.

Noah Nathan was born on December 8.

All 9 pounds and 3 ounces of him were deliciously darling.

We want to just eat him up.  I mean, look at that cinnamon swirl hair!

He’s pretty much the sweetest thing we’ve ever baked up, that’s for sure!

2011 is definitely going to be full of a new kind of busy, but also with lots of recipes.  Thanks for sticking with me!

Stay tuned for something a little chocolatey tomorrow.

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It just doesn’t seem quite right that National Library Week should go by without even a mention. I mean, I’m a teacher for heaven’s sake.

Here’s how it connects to baking.

Did you know that along with a gazillion other items (like all of the seasons of 24) you can also check COOKBOOKS out from the library?

I don’t know about your local library system, but, I’m telling you, mine is amazing. All I have to do is request a cookbook online and, before long, it’s delivered to the library of my choosing. Doesn’t matter if it’s in another library or even another county. They’ll get it for me.

I’m loving it because who really wants to make every recipe in a particular cookbook?

Yes, there is a small armload of  cookbooks that I call on regularly as great resources, and I’m so glad they are ALL mine. But, for the most part, I just want to sample a few good culinary creations. Agree?

Oh, and did I mention I actually like reading cookbooks? Cover to cover, my friends. I’ll leave you to guess what Nate thinks about that. 🙂 Anyway, if you hear about a cookbook that sounds interesting, or if you like a particular recipe I blog about and are interested in the cookbook it came from, check your library. Of course, they don’t have EVERYthing, but pretty close.

Here’s a round-up of my favorites that I’ve check out in the past year:

Sky High Cakes (checked out twice and renewed it the maximum of three times each.  This is one I NEED to buy!)

The Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

More from Magnolia

The Cake Bible

Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day

The Perfect Cake

Baked: New Frontiers in Baking (also checked out twice…I couldn’t help it!)

Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey: Desserts for the Serious Sweet Tooth

The Cake Book

The Modern Baker

One more thing: in honor of National Library Week you should check out one of my most favorite food bloggers, The Food Librarian.  She’s the real deal — a librarian and fabulous baker. Oh, and she happens to be having some great giveaways this week too!

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