This is the end.... But not really...

It has been a great run on blogger. In the spirit of change and new beginnings, Life, The Universe, and Everything Delicious is experiencing an uplift, a change, a move, a 3.0 version.

That is right. So far there are a few recipes posted to the new site however it is still under construction. You can find it here: www.atypicalbaker.com

Additionally, atypicalbaker is also on Instagram. I know what you are thinking, "Oh, you fancy now?" The answer is sort of, but more so, because I want to start taking this a little more seriously than I have in the past and I found a name that I loved that could last and develop into something more with an open domain.

As my birthday just passed, it seemed like a good time to talk myself into a year of yes; where I do the things I have long since placed on the back burner and the evolution of this blog has been one of those things.

Life is short. Eat the cookie. Enjoy!

Millions of Peaches, Baked Peaches for Me!

Peaches have always been one of my favorite fruits. When I saw this recipe on Pinterest, it was a no brainer that I would inevitably try it, and let me just say, totally worth it. If you want something sweet, but not in the mood for chocolate, try this out.

Ingredients:
- 1 peach - cut in half and pitted
- 1/2 tsp butter, divided
- 1/2 tsp brown sugar
- pinch of cinnamon
- Salted Caramel Gelato

Method:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Put 1/4 tsp of butter into each side of the peach
- Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon
- Place peaches open-side up into a baking pan
- Bake for 30 minutes
- Serve warm with a scoop of gelato


So simple and you have such a delicious treat.

I will be so bold to say it, better than apple pie! Enjoy!

Banana Crumble Cake with a Bourbon Buttercream

Sometimes, I buy bananas with every intention of making smoothies. As days go by and the bananas turn to a lovely shade of brownish yellow, I usually make a banana bread. This week, I wanted to do something a little different; more exciting, yet still equally as delicious. So, the banana crumble cake was born.

Ingredients:

Cake:
- 2 cup flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1/2 cup buttermilk, divided
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed

Topping:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 cup butter

Buttercream
- 1 cup butter; softened
- 2 cups powered sugar
- 1/3 cup bourbon
- 1/3 cup (almond) milk
- 1 tbsp vanilla

Method:

- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar. Blend in melted butter until moist. Then add 1/4 cup of buttermilk and combine. 

- In a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup of buttermilk and egg then add to the flour mixture.

- Add vanilla and mashed banana.

- Place batter in a greased 9x13 pan. I used a 9x9

- To make topping, combine sugars, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter.

- Bake for 35 to 40 minutes if in a 9x13, or about 50 minutes for a 9x9 pan. 

- Allow 5 minutes cooling time before removing from pan. Cool completely on wire rack. 

For buttercream, beat butter until creamy then gradually add powdered sugar alternately with bourbon and milk. Stir in vanilla. 

Once cake is cool, add a dollop of buttercream and enjoy! 

Baked Goodness: Cinnamon Sugar Donuts

I have always been a donut fan. When I was little, I would try to give up donuts for Lent and never really proved to be successful. It seemed as though my parents would torture me by getting donuts every week on Sundays, which I do not think is actually true, but it FELT that way. I would look on, with a sappy expression of longing on my face, my chin in my hands, wanting nothing more than to taste the sugary-sweet sensation that was the donut. I would tip-toe into the kitchen late at night, unable to fight the temptation any longer to search for the treat my heart desired, only to find my father would hide them – he knows me a little too well. 

So when I found this recipe on Pinterest, all I could say to myself was "YES". The original blog is Bakerbettie.com. They are a little doughier than manufactured, chain-store donuts, but they are still worth trying for yourself! 

Ingredients: 

donut:

- 5 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

- 1/2 c sugar

- 1 egg
- 1/2 c almond milk

- 1 tsp vanilla

- 2 tsp baking powder

- pinch of salt

- 1 1/2 c flour

topping: 

- 1/4 c butter, melted

- 1/4 c sugar

- 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Method: 

- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

- Lightly grease mini donut pan. If, like me, 

you do not have a donut pan, line a cupcake tin.

- In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar.

- Add egg, milk, and vanilla until combined.

- Mix in baking powder, then salt.

- Mix in flour until combined.

- Transfer mixture into a piping bag fitted with a large round tip, 

or a ziplock with the tip cut off. Pipe into pan. If using a cupcake tin, 

pipe in a circle to replicate the "donut" shape. 

- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes.

While donuts are cooling, combine the cinnamon and sugar for the topping. 

- Dip each donut lightly into the butter then roll in cinnamon-sugar. 

Last, but not least, Enjoy!

Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Dates

No, you do not need to adjust your eyes. Yes, that does say Bacon Wrapped Cheese Stuffed Dates. It's okay, you can take a moment to let it sink in.


My sister and her boyfriend had a get together to celebrate the anniversary of the adoption of their dog, Lucas. I decided that I would bring an appetizer to the party because, well, why not? Then I thought, why not make that appetizer have two of the most delicious savory elements: cheese and bacon.

Because I found the recipe on WholeFoods.com, I went there to get the ingredients. What I did not know, was there were two different types of dates, one they sell pitted and the other they don't. The guy who worked there was very helpful, but he kept trying to get me to try the coconut crusted dates, which I did not want or need. 

Ingredients: 

– 24 Dried Dates, preferably Medjool Dates. 

– Goat Cheese, or cheese of choice. 

       The Whole Foods version calls for 2 ounces of Manchego cut into 1/2 inch cubes. 

– 12 strips of medium thickness bacon, cut in half crosswise. Hickory smoked bacon works well.

– Toothpicks 

Method:

– Preheat broiler 

– Make a slit in the side of each date and remove the pit.

     If you purchased pitted dates, skip this step

– Place a piece of cheese in the cavity of each date. 

– Wrap date in half slice of bacon. 

– Spear with a toothpick to hold together.

– Arrange dates on a baking sheet. And broil for 4 to 6 minutes

– Turn the dates over and broil for another 4 minutes until 

bacon is crisp and cooked through. Serve immediately.

These savory morsels of deliciousness went pretty quickly, to say the least, at the party. especially because, you can't just have one. Enjoy!

I lied

I lied.

An anecdote on fear.

My chihuahua, Flash, is territorial. Apparently, this is common for this breed. Whatever he deems "his space" he will defend to the death. And by that, I mean he will growl, then bark, while hopping backwards until he is safely tucked behind the toilet. He will continue to bark from there.

So, as I said before, I lied. Not about the behavior of my dog. I lied to myself. In order to follow through with any form of transformation, one must abandon all fear. I was in a euphoric state of relief during my last post; a weight was lifted that I voluntarily placed back upon my shoulders. As the realization of my action set in, I was terrified; I backed behind the toilet, and barked from there.

It is all very abstract anyway. One concrete image that does not truly explain anything at all.

It is just important for me to get it out there.

I lied. It happens.

But everything happens in due time.

Transitions

It is cliche and tacky, but here it is. Change is inevitable. Some changes are good, and others are hard to swallow, but the end results in growth and knowledge.

Since January, I have personally been in a transitional place in my life. For a while, I tried to fight some of it, make due with where I was, but in the end I was not happy; I was stagnant, bored, and feeling unchallenged. 

Now that a weight has been lifted, released, my feelings towards multiple aspects of my life were truly exposed. I have never felt so bare and willing to show myself in all of my glory. 

So, I went out and adopted a dog. This was the first step in my overall transition. That, and I saw the most adorable face that accompanied a sad story of abandonment in the Florida Everglades. My heart melted from the instant I saw his photo; he had to be my little man, and now he is. 

I also decided that it is long passed time for me to leave South Florida. Over the last few years, I have appreciated the life that I have led, the friends I have made, and all the other sappy shit that you really don't want to read about. But, my life does not feel rooted here. 

Therefore, with Flash in my arms, I am finally ready to take on the world; yes, the whole damned world. See what there is out there; outside of the safe haven of South Florida and my friends and family. To do something for myself. To get back to baking and writing so I can share my love of food and talking about food and talking about life and sharing my crazy misadventures. 

2013 is the year of transition, and what a beautiful transition it will be. Enjoy!