Inspire. Create. Bake.: August 2011

Aug 20

Jalapeno bacon bites

I found this recipe through Pinterest. It's a quick and easy snack to make when you need something for a get together. To really save time I bought the precooked bacon. It's not as flavorful, but works best in a time crunch. I'll have to try peppered bacon next time. I like that some of filling came out during baking. It gives you a little glimpse as to what's inside.

Jalapeno Bacon Bites
RECIPE FROM AISLE TO ALOHA
INGREDIENTS
Package of crescent dough
4 oz. cream cheese
2 jalapenos
5 strips of bacon

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Slice the jalapenos in half lengthwise. Clean out the seeds, rinse and chop into 1/2 inch pieces.

For the bacon - If using precooked, cut into small pieces. If your bacon needs cooked, cut into pieces before frying up. This will give you a consistent shape.

Roll out the dough. I found it easiest to cut a piece of the dough off and reshape it into a circle. (see picture below)

On each dough circle, add a dollop of cream cheese, a piece or two of jalapeno and bacon. There is no exact science to this. Place as much on the circle as you think will fit.

Bring the corners of the dough together and twist them at the top so the filling doesn't come out.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. Serve warm.

I linked up at:
sweet shot tuesdays - life with my 3 boybarians
tuesdays around the world - communal global
tasty tuesdays - for the love of blogs

Read More 7 comments | Posted by Anonymous |

Aug 09

Black Tea-Blackberry Sorbet

Check out the site where I found this recipe, honeyandjam. Her photos are incredibly gorgeous. (I need to step up my game). Honey and Jam also talks about the inspiration for this recipe. Sorbet is very easy to make. My first was cherry sorbet, and this recipe was next in line. The addition of black tea really enhances the flavor profile of the sorbet. The only boiling involved is for the tea. The blackberries are pureed, pushed through a sieve and added to the tea. The hardest part is waiting on the ice cream maker to freeze the sorbet. I was tempted to drink the mixture. If you're curious - vodka is added to the mixture to keep it from freezing too hard.

Black Tea-Blackberry Sorbet

RECIPE FROM HONEY AND JAM

INGREDIENTS
2 cups water
2 regular tea bags
1 cup sugar
3 cups fresh or frozen blackberries (if frozen, let thaw completely)
1 tbsp. vodka
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

DIRECTIONS
Bring water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat, add tea bags and allow to steep for five minutes.
Remove tea bags, add sugar and heat until the sugar dissolves. Allow to cool completely.
Puree blackberries in a food processor, then push through mesh sieve to remove seeds. Add vodka and lemon juice. Add to tea, then pour back through sieve.
Process the mixture in an ice cream maker, according to manufacturers instructions.

black tea + water

macro shot of blackberries

pureed blackberries

I linked up at:
sweet shot tuesdays - life with my 3 boybarians
tuesdays around the world - communal global

Read More 5 comments | Posted by Anonymous |

Aug 08

Roasted okra

I love okra but only know of a couple ways to prepare it. The potential slimy texture I avoid at all costs. I came across a roasting recipe that stated the high cooking temps will get rid of the okra slime. Slime really isn't a great word when it comes to cooking. It should only be mentioned when speaking of the movie Ghostbusters. Back to the okra. I was pleasantly surprised after preparing this batch. It has a slightly crispy skin and full of okra flavor, and the spices give it a nice kick of heat. Overall, a healthy snack choice to have around the house.

Roasted Okra
INGREDIENTS
1/2 lb. fresh okra
olive oil
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
A few dashes of cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp. Chesapeake bay style seasoning

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Rinse okra and pat dry. Slice off stems from the okra. Place okra in baking dish. In a small bowl, combine the spices and mix well. Sprinkle over the okra followed by a drizzle of olive oil. Using your hands, mix okra together making sure the spices and oil cover the entire surface of the okra. Make sure okra is in a single layer before placing in oven.
Bake in oven for 15 to 25 minutes or until browned, stirring a few times during baking. Remove from oven and sprinkle with a bit of salt. Best served warm but can also be enjoyed at room temperature.

Read More 3 comments | Posted by Anonymous |

Aug 03

A few of my favorite things

There are two sites that I go to every single day. I love everything about them, and I want to share them with you. Fab.com and Pinterest.com

"Daily design by everyone."

I came across this site a few months ago before it launched. I wasn't really sure what to expect but the small glimpses I saw were intriguing. Now I am hooked. Everyday at 11am ET different items are posted and I check them out ... every single day. Fab.com offers daily design inspirations and sales up to 70% off retail. This is innovative, modern design. Some items are very pricey but I still enjoy browsing through them. The items offered are anything from modern furniture, Milton Glaser prints, lighting to high tech toys, wallpaper and jewelry. The list is endless. It's a similar concept to Etsy, but items are discounted and most of the items I've never seen before. It's inspiring design. The catch is, you have to be invited. But have no fear. Here is a link from me to you so you can get in on the action. You will not be disappointed.

http://fab.com/ibzxp1

A glimpse at some of the items listed from yesterday.

The sales generally last for three days, unless they sell-out before then.

A quick view at some of the items that will be listed in the next few days.

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"Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Collect the things you love."

I have spent many hours on this site. Such a simple idea and well executed layout. I have so many blogs/recipes/ideas that I've came across and saved them a bookmark folder on my Mac for years. But it's just a list of URLs. A list that I really don't want to go through, especially when I am trying to find a specific recipe. Then Pinterest came along. I can categorize all my bookmarks, but most importantly, WITH PICTURES. I am a visual person and love to see what I've pinned/bookmarked. Not only can I visually see my pin, but I can see the people I follow pins and pins in specific categories. So addicting. You should join me on this ridiculously awesome site. The catch is, you have to be invited, and I would love to send you an invite. Just list your email in the comment section below or send me an email at "inspirecreatebake at gmail dot com". Happy Pinning!

A small snap shot of my category boards. Currently I'm up to 24.

This is what it looks like in one of the boards. This category is DIY & Crafts.

You can post comments to go with the picture as well.

Read More 1 Comment | Posted by Anonymous |

Graphic designer, baker and a photo taker. Inspired by Jesus, photography, stellar design, all things creative, cooking, the arts and funny stuff. I prefer to visually tell stories through photographs; whether a trip I was on, a dessert I made or a recent vintage find. Art is all around me, and I capture it whenever I can.

Jalapeno bacon bites

Black Tea-Blackberry Sorbet

Roasted okra

A few of my favorite things

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