treats - pumpkin bread (30 before 30)

as much as i love a warm summer day, i truly enjoy a cozy fall evening. when i think of fall, i think of changing leaves, crisp breezes, spiced treats and college football!!

one of the items i was excited to cross of my list was "host a theme party." at the time, i didn't know what kind of theme party i would host, but as fall rolled it in only made sense to host a watch party for the red river shootout. if you're from the south and love the big 12, then you're well aware the biggest game of the season is the annual rivalry game between texas and oklahoma at the texas state fair in dallas.

the breakfast spread

i planned out a menu featuring red and orange treats on a fall tablescape. one of the more popular menu items included my pumpkin bread. this bread is dense, spicy and super soft. i hope it brings you back to some of your favorite fall memories.

the goods:
- 1 15oz can pumpkin puree
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/3 cups sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves

the equipment:
hand mixer or stand mixer, 9x9 glass baking dish

the how to:
- mix pumpkin, oil, sugar and eggs on medium low for 4 minutes

- mix in remaining ingredients on medium until incorporated and fluffy

- pour into greased baking dish
- bake at 350F for 45 minutes - 1 hour (depending on depth of pan)

the lunch spread with pumpkin bread

treats - carrot cake

i've never been a huge fan of carrot cake, but it just so happens to be my boyfriend's favorite dessert. with that in mind, i decided i needed to create a recipe that we could both enjoy. one of my favorite things about this recipe is how different the cakes turn out depending on the final product. the cupcakes come out light and fluffy, but the full sheet cake comes out much more dense. experiment with the recipe and see what works best for your palate.

enjoy!

the goods:
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp baking spice
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 12 oz grated carrots (approx 5 carrots)

the equipment:
food processor, hand mixer or stand mixer, cupcake pan / 9x9 glass dish / cake pop pan, sifter

the how to:
- process carrots until finely grated
- sift flour and combine with sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and baking spice
- mix ingredients in large bowl
- add eggs, one at a time while mixing on medium low

for easy clean up, place egg shells on paper plate while mixing

- once eggs are incorporated, slowly pour in oil on low
- once incorporated, mix on medium for 2-3 minutes until completely smooth
- mix in carrots

batter will look runny, but will set in oven

for cupcakes - bake at 350F for 18-20 minutes
for cake - bake at 350F for 30-40 minutes
for cakepops - bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes

cool cake on rack and top with cinnamon cream cheese frosting

enjoy!

treats - white chocolate cheesecake

i'm one of those weirdos that isn't a huge fan of cheesecake. maybe it's my disdain for cream cheese, but that's just a guess?

however, my boyfriend is a cheesecake fanatic and i thought i would gift him his favorite dessert for this lovely easter holiday.

this recipe is super creamy and fluffy, with hints of white chocolate and almonds. if you want to get super fancy, i recommend stirring up some whipped cream and adding berries.

the goods:
the base
- 2 cups vanilla wafers
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
the filling
- 1 1/2 lbs cream cheese
- 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- 3 eggs
- 12 oz white chocolate (melted)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp almond extract

the equipment:
9" spring foam pan, food processor, hand mixer or stand up mixer

the how to:
- preheat oven to 300F
- grease bottom and edges of pan
- mix all base ingredients in food processor until combined
- press base ingredients evenly onto bottom of pan

*hint - add foil to bottom and outside edges of pan to avoid any leaking

- combine cream cheese and 1/4 cup of sweetened condensed milk on medium speed until fluffy
- gradually add in remaining milk
- add eggs one at a time, beating well on medium speed after each addition

- blend in melted chocolate, vanilla and almond
- add filling into crust

- bake 1 hour 15 minutes - 1 hour 30 minutes at 300F, until cheesecake is set in the middle
- remove cheesecake from oven and rest on wire rack for 1-2 hours, before removing rim of pan

*hint - go around pan edges with thin knife before removing outer rim of pan

- once cooled, remove outside rim of spring foam pan and chill cheesecake in refrigerator inside of airtight container for 4-6 hours

Enjoy!

intro

here i am, entering the blogosphere; making my small splash in the ocean that is the internet.

i know we all have our own personal interests, so i have decided to dedicate this blog to mine: tunes, trails and treats.

i really want this to count. i want to be helpful. i want to provide tips to all of the things i find amusing.

here’s the word:

tunes - i love music. i love concerts. i love discovering new artists. i love supporting local musicians.

in this section i will highlight some of my favorite bands, feature up-and-coming artists, give you the scoop on must-see local los angeles shows and showcase my latest mix tapes. there may even be a free download or two, if you’re lucky.

trails – i love being outside in the sunshine. i love walking barefoot in lush, green grass. i love having a bird’s eye view. i like escaping from the city and exploring all that nature has to offer.

in this section i will give a rundown on recent trails i’ve explored. i will share handy information like distance, duration, difficulty, and any helpful hints i discover along the way.

treats – i love baking. i love gifting baked goods. i love experimenting with traditional recipes and putting my own spin on things. i love creating tasty food from scratch.

in this section i will share some of my favorite recipes i’ve created or have discovered over the years. i’ll be focusing on baked goods and desserts, but will feature the occasional savory item. be on the lookout for healthy recipes, too. you gotta have a balance, right?

cheers!

@sparsells