Spice A Day: Allspice

This week my blog will focus on a "Spice A Day," specifically spices used for baking.
Allspice is the spice for today.  I'll start off with a little history about Allspice.  
Columbus found allspice (the symbol of compassion) in the West Indies in 1493. The Physician on his ship noted that the tree had the “finest smell of cloves” he had ever encountered.   Allspice is a member of the pepper family.  In Caribbean cooking, it’s known as Jamaica pepper, and in Poland, it’s called kubaba.

Recipe with Allspice

• Allspice Spice Cake:
• 2 1/3 cups flour
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons Allspice
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon Ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups milk
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• Caramel Glaze:
• 1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup butter
• 4 to 5 teaspoons heavy cream
   
• 1/8 tablespoon salt
• 3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  
  Directions

• Preheat oven to 350°F. For the Cake, mix flour, sugars, allspice, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda and salt in large bowl. Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla; beat with electric mixer on low speed just until ingredients are moistened. Beat on high speed 2 minutes.
  
  
  • Stir in raisins and walnuts. Pour into greased and floured 10-cup Bundt pan.
  • Bake 55 minutes or until sides of cake pull away from pan. Cool in pan 20 minutes. Invert cake onto wire rack. Cool completely.
  • Meanwhile, for the Caramel Glaze, mix brown sugar, butter, cream and salt in 2-quart saucepan. Bring to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low. Stir in confectioners' sugar and vanilla until well blended and smooth. Simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat. Cool slightly before spooning over cooled cake. Let stand until glaze is set.

Cinnamon Streusel Bread

The smell of this breakfast bread baking made the house smell so wonderful.  I added
cinnamon chips to the inside and a cinnamon streusel to the top of this wonderful bread, and of course I enjoyed it with a cup of Pumpkin Spice Coffee this morning.

Gingerbread Loaf

I made this wonderful Gingerbread Loaf which taste great with a cup of coffee in the morning.
I usually prepare Gingerbread during the holiday season, but couldn't wait another year for the
great taste of  the wonderful spices that are in Gingerbread.  I managed to eat two slices, the rest is
history.

Happy Holidays

Happy New Year!!! With my mother passing towards the end of last year it made bringing in the new year a little challenging for me, but I couldn't let that slow me down because I had a lot to celebrate.  We celebrate Christmas Eve with all of my family and friends at my home every year. The burners of my stoves are covered with large pots of Gumbo and different types of stews and of course there is also dessert.  This year we prepared for our guest a big pan of cookie brownies.  This is a combination of chocolate brownies with sugar cookies baked on the inside.  Let's just say this dish didn't last very long.

The day after Christmas is my sister's birthday, we usually take her out to eat to celebrate.  For her gift I made cinnamon spice cupcakes.  I placed them in cute little decorative boxes for her and gave them to her as a birthday gift.  Her face lit up when she opened them and enjoyed the fresh baked smell of her gift.  My celebrations don't end there.

Below is a picture of my beautiful daughter.  We celebrated her birthday on December 29th.  She enjoyed dinner and hanging out at the mall with her family and friends, and later having a sleep over.  That morning I prepared biscuits for her and the girls, which they made breakfast sandwiches with.

 I brought in the new year with my wonderful husband, family and friends.  We sipped on holiday cocktails, danced, ate, and listed to music.

What wonderful memories I have made with my family and friends.  This year I will make more memeories in memory of Sweet Hazel.  Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Party

We just recently had our Christmas Party and my co-worker requested my cupcakes.  I made carrot spice cupcakes and chocolate chocolate chip cupcakes both with vanilla buttercream frosting.  There were also some other store bought and franchise desserts there as well.  Let's just say my cupcakes were the first to go.

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cake with vanilla butter cream frosting.  As you can see it was a hit for Thanksgiving.  Little fingers tasting frosting and a missing piece before Thanksgiving dinner.  With a scoop of ice-cream, you can image how long the rest of the cake lasted.

Gingerbread Cheesecake

Christmas Gingerbread Cheesecake

I made a Gingerbread Cheesecake and my husband described it as, "It's not a cheesecake its' heaven"   My daughter began turning flips after she tasted it. I really enjoyed making this cheesecake because I added several rich ingredients such as, molasses, ginger, nutmeg, cloves , and vanilla extract.  The crust was made from gingerbread melted butter and sugar that I mixed together to form a crust at the bottom of the springform pan.  I top the cheesecake with a cute pair of Christmas Gingerbread men.  As usual I enjoyed this with my favorite pumpkin spice coffee.