Mini Pain au Raisin Pastries

I love big breakfasts on lazy Saturdays, when you have nothing to do and nowhere to hurry to, and you can make a special breakfast to enjoy. One of my favorite parts of this big breakfast are the fresh(ly bought) pastries. I LOVE good pastries... Croissants, Pain au Chocolat, Pain au Raisin... and I finally tried making some at home for the first time! These mini Pain au Raisin pastries make a great addition to your breakfast table! They are buttery, flaky and really delicious! Now, just be prepared, this isn't the kind of recipe that takes thirty minutes to make and you can whip up for breakfast any morning. No, this literally takes HOURS to make and you need to let the dough chill and rest overnight. As intimidating and time consuming as it may look though, it's really not that hard to make these if you just follow the steps carefully and set aside enough time to make them. Here's exactly what I did...

PAIN AU RAISIN

*Makes 12 pastries*

(Recipe adapted from Brown Eyed Baker)

YOU WILL NEED:

RAISINS:

1 cup raisins

1 1/2 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

PASTRY:

2 tsp instant dried yeast

1/4 warm water

1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup milk

1/6 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 tbs unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

PASTRY CREAM:

1 cup milk

3 large egg yolks

1/4 cup sugar

1/6 cup cornstarch

3/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 3/4 tbs unsalted butter, diced

EGG WASH:

1 egg

2 tbs milk

DIRECTIONS:

1. First, prepare your raisins. In a small bowl, cover them with boiling water and let them sit for a couple of minutes, until they are plump. Once they are plump, drain them and set them aside. In a little dish, mix together the sugar and cinnamon and set it aside.

2. Next, start working on the dough. In your electric mixer bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 5 minutes. Once dissolved, add flour, milk, sugar, salt and melted butter, and mix for a couple minutes, until a solid dough begins to form. If it's still too sticky, add a little more flour. Using your hands, form it into a ball, then cover and let it rest for half an hour.

3. After the half hour is up, roll the dough into a 10x15 inch rectangle, then cover it and let it sit for another half hour. Now spread the 1/2 cup of softened butter over the rectangle evenly (you can brush it on top or just use your hand) and fold the dough into thirds, like you would a letter. Once you have the folded "letter", roll it out into a 10x15 inch rectangle again. Once again, fold it into thirds like a letter, then wrap it in plastic wrap and then refrigerate it for an hour.

4. Repeat this process ONE MORE TIME now! So roll it out again, fold it into thirds, roll it out again, fold it into thirds, then wrap it up in plastic wrap and let it chill in the fridge overnight! Yes, this is a very time consuming and repetitive baking process, but this will ensure that your pastry is wonderfully buttery and flaky once it's baked!

5. The next morning, when you are prepared to continue the baking, prepare your pastry cream. In a small pot, bring the milk to boil. In another pot, whisk together egg yolks, sugar and cornstarch until they you get a thick, smooth mixture. Pour in half of the milk WHILE WHISKING vigorously (very important!! Otherwise your eggs will curdle!!!) Still whisking, slowly pour in the rest of the milk. Turn the heat on medium at this point and bring it to a boil, while whisking constantly, and let it boil for about a minute or until it thickens (this will happen VERY quickly, and you need to whisk constantly!), then remove it from heat. Stir in the vanilla extract and let it sit, then a couple of minutes later, stir in the diced butter. Pour the cream into a bowl, and cover it with plastic wrap (cover it directly on its surface so it doesn't form a skin), and refrigerate it until it's cool.

5. Roll the dough into a 10x20 inch rectangle (if you want nice smooth edges, trim the rectangle with a knife), and spread your pastry cream on evenly, leaving an inch bare on one of the long sides. Scatter the raisins on top and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar. Roll the dough up jelly roll style, starting with the long side nearest to you. Make sure you roll it tightly and evenly.

6. Prepare your baking sheets by lining them with parchment paper. Then, slice the roll into 1 inch wheels, and place the slices onto your baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches between each piece. Cover the pastry lined baking sheets with a kitchen towel and let the pastries rise until they are doubled in size (about an hour).

7. Preheat the oven to 375 deg F, and brush the pastries with the egg wash. Bake the pastries for 14 - 16 minutes, until they are golden brown! Then transfer them to a cooling rack and let cool for a couple of minutes!

Now, after all that work you just did, sit down in your favorite armchair with one of these Pain au Raisin pastries, a nice cup of tea and your favorite book or magazine and relax!!! Since my newest Vogue just arrived, that's what I'll be reading today!

Happy Baking, Everyone, and have a great weekend!

I will be linking to:

Melt in your mouth Mondays, Made by you Mondays at Skip to my Lou, and Mangia Mondays.

Tea Lover's Bookmarks

Hi Everybody! I have a really cute craft for you today - My Tea Lover's Bookmarks! Don't reading and tea just go together perfectly? It's like you can't really enjoy a book or a magazine properly without a really good cup of tea! I love cute bookmarks and have lots of them, all marking special and favorite pages in different books. Just like every book holds a special memory, so does the bookmark! Here is how you can make your own Tea Lover's Bookmark!

All you need for this craft is some colored felt, thick thread and regular dark thread, thick card stock, and a hot glue gun. Out of colored felt, cut out these pieces: two identical mug shapes, and two identical handle shapes, polka dots/stripes/any other shapes you want, the tea piece to look like the tea in the mug, and two identical tea bag tags. Cut out a mug shape (slightly smaller than the felt mug shapes) out of card stock (this will go inside the bookmark to keep it flat) and using a glue gun, stick it on top of the back mug piece. Stick on the two handle pieces one on top of the other, then attach them to the back mug piece. Decorate the top mug piece with cut out shapes, and attach it on top of the back piece using a glue gun and sealing all the edges well. Stitch the word "tea" onto the tea bag tag using some dark brown/black thread. Then, using the hot glue gun, attach thick white thread to the back of that tag, and stick the bottom tag piece onto the back. Thread the other end of the white thread through the middle of the tea piece that will be stuck onto the top of the mug, to look like the tea bag is floating in the mug.

And that's it! Place the mug into your book and let the tea bag tag hang out to mark your page! So easy, and so cute! And if you know any tea lovers, these would be a cute little gift to give with a book! I hope you have some time to curl up with your favorite book and a nice cup of tea in your favorite mug (or teacup!!) this week! Especially when it's cold outside, there's nothing more comforting!

Have a great week, Everyone!

Happy Crafting!

I will be linking to:

Silk Ruffle Wreath Tutorial

I love anything with ruffles. Clothes, table linens, pillows, bedding... anything! They create dimension, add texture and an illusion of movement, and just make everything prettier, I think! I've seen and admired so many beautiful fabric ruffle wreaths, and finally made my own! I looked at how other people made them, and adapted the technique to what was easiest for me to do, and hopefully you will find it easy to do too! It's a really simple project, it looks a lot harder than it actually is, and the end result is very impressive! All you need is a yard of fabric (mine was a light, silky type), a foam wreath form, some sewing pins, scissors and a hot glue gun! Follow my tutorial to make your own wreath!

SILK RUFFLE WREATH TUTORIAL

1. You will need a yard of fabric for this project. Begin by cutting strips of fabric along the length of your 1 yard piece. Each strip should be about 2 inches wide, make sure all the strips are about the same width. Once you've cut up all the fabric, cut each strip in half, so that you have double the amount of fabric strips.

2. Next, wrap strips of fabric around your foam wreath form until it is all covered in fabric, as the pictures below show. Stick the beginning and end of each strip to the wreath with hot glue to make sure that it doesn't unfold.

3. Now begin making the ruffles and attaching them to the wreath using pins. What you do is take a strip of fabric, and begin folding it over to create layers, holding them all together in the center. Once you have your ruffle done, pin it to the wreath (you should only need one pin for each ruffle, but use more if one isn't enough). Keep making ruffles and pinning them onto the wreath, so they overlap slightly, as the pictures below show.

4. Once you get to the last one, gently fold up the first ruffle you pinned, and pin your last ruffle underneath it, so that there is no gap. Now attach some ribbon to the back using hot glue so you can hang it up, or use a wreath holder to hang it. You could also attach a big bow to the top of the wreath if you wanted, or use two different colored pieces of fabric, and alternate the colors of the ruffles! The possibilities are endless...!

Here are some more pictures of my wreath:

I hope I've inspired you to make your own wreath! All you need is some fabric, a wreath form and some pins, and you can make it yourself! So easy, so pretty, and all under $10! Hope you all have a great week! Happy Crafting, Everyone!

I will be linking to:

Frugal Friday at The Shabby Nest, Made By You Mondays at Skip to my Lou, Tip Me Tuesday at Tip Junkie and Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring Decorating.

S'mores Cookies - Summer in a Cookie!

These S'mores Cookies aren't exactly seasonal cookies - it was snowing outside while I was baking them, and s'mores don't say anything more than they do summer! They are basically summer in a cookie - the taste, the smell, the happiness, all in one little cookie! The recipe is a basic cookie recipe decorated with S'mores toppings - chocolate, graham crackers and mini marshmallows that melt and get beautifully toasted in the oven while they bake! So if you're ever dreaming of warm summer days this winter (especially on a snowy day like today!) or are just looking for a new cookie recipe, give these S'mores Cookies a try!

S'MORES COOKIES

(Recipe adapted from My Baking Addiction)

YOU WILL NEED:

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1/4 cup and 2 tbs granulated sugar

1 large egg

1/2 tbs vanilla extract

1/2 tsp kosher salt

3/4 tsp baking soda

2 oz chocolate bar

1 1/2 full graham crackers

Handful of mini marshmallows

3/4 cup chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. In your electric mixer bowl, cream together the softened butter and both all the brown sugar and the granulated sugar until nice and fluffy. Then add your egg and vanilla, and mix until the mixture is smooth.

2. In a second bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking soda, mix well. With the mixer running, slowly begin adding the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and mix until all flour is well incorporated. Add chocolate chips and mix until they are mixed in with the rest of the dough.

3. Preheat your oven to 350 deg F, and line your baking sheet with parchment paper. Begin forming your cookies (as you would a regular cookie, you can make them a little larger if you like), and place them on the baking sheet, gently flattening them out a little bit (they won't spread out too much while baking).

4. Break your graham crackers and chocolate bars into chunks, and gently decorate the top of each cookie with some pieces of chocolate, graham cracker and marshmallows. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes, or until the edges start browning. Let cool for a couple minutes, and then serve with milk!

Happy Baking, Everyone!

Have a great weekend!

I will be linking to:

Made by You Mondays at Skip to my Lou and Melt in your mouth Mondays.

Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Hi Everybody! One of my new year's resolutions this year was to cut back on store bought snacks that contain crazy amounts of sugar, salt, preservatives and fat, and substitute them with homemade food, where I can regulate exactly what I put in. Although it's not always easy to prepare quick and healthy meals and have healthy snacks on hand to satisfy those terrible midnight cravings, a little bit of planning and preparation at the beginning of the week helps me stick to my resolution! I started making homemade granola bars a couple of weeks ago, and now I make a batch every week to have ready for breakfast every morning. I'm not a big cereal eater, and these granola bars, whether eaten in the car in the morning or crumbled over yogurt, honey and fruit for a bigger breakfast, are very satisfying and filling! I've made different variations of these granola bars and have posted two other versions on my blog (Raisin and Peanut Granola Barsand Coconut, Chocolate and Almond Granola Bars), and wanted to share these Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip ones with you today!

Crunchy Peanut Butter and

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

*Makes 10 - 12 Granola Bars*

YOU WILL NEED:

2 cups rolled oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter (you could use smooth, the crunch gives it better texture though)

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

*You can add peanuts for extra crunch

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, sugar and salt and mix well. Preheat your oven to 3250 deg F. Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture now (honey, egg, oil, vanilla and peanut butter) and make sure that everything is well incorporated. Add in 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips.

2. Next, prepare your baking pan. Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with parchment paper and transfer the granola mixture onto it. Pat it down with your hands to form an even rectangle, and leave about an inch around the edges of the pan.

3. Bake for 15 - 18 minutes (usually I bake the granola bars for 18 - 20 minutes, but the peanut butter has a tendency to make them a little more crumbly, so I decreased the baking time). Take them out once the edges are browned a little bit.

4. Let cool for 5 minutes, then using a sharp knife, cut into bars. Don't wait to cut the bars once they have cooled completely, it is much easier to cut them up when they are still warm! Store them in an air tight container so they stay soft and chewy!

If you love granola bars, I hope you give these Crunchy Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chip Granola Bars a try! I promise you won't be disappointed! They are the perfect breakfast on the go! If you'd like to try my other granola bar recipes, you can find them here:

Raisin and Peanut Granola Bars and Coconut, Chocolate and Almond Granola Bars.

Happy Baking, Everyone!

I will be linking to:

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Balsamic Strawberries

This Vanilla Panna Cotta has to be one of my favorite desserts! It is delicious just by itself, but paired with the Balsamic Strawberries, it is just out of this world! It's rich, smooth, and creamy but light at the same time, and so elegant. The strawberries add fresh, sharp flavor to it! This is a lighter version of the original dessert (the original recipe calls for 3 cups of heavy cream!!!) since I'm trying to keep up those new year's resolutions! It is still just as delicious, you just don't have to feel as guilty! If you've never tried Panna Cotta before, it's basically an eggless custard dessert that's served cold, often paired with berries, caramel or chocolate. And don't be scared of using the balsamic vinegar on the strawberries, it's just a small amount, and it brings out amazing flavor in them! If you're looking for a special Valentine's Day dessert, or just feel like having something sweet, give it a try! Here's the recipe...

Vanilla Panna Cotta

with Balsamic Strawberries

*Makes 4 to 6 servings*

(Recipe adapted from The New York Times and Ina Garten)

YOU WILL NEED:

PANNA COTTA:

1 1/2 cups half and half

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1/4 oz (1 package) unflavored gelatin

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup sugar

BALSAMIC STRAWBERRIES:

1 pint (2 cups) fresh strawberries, sliced

1/2 tbs powdered sugar

1 1/4 tbs balsamic vinegar

(Optional - dash of pepper)

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of heavy cream and the gelatin, and let it sit for 5 minutes without the heat on, then turn the heat to low and cook until the gelatin has dissolved.

2. Now add the remaining heavy cream, half and half, and sugar, and cook until all the sugar dissolves, then add the vanilla and continue stirring for a while.

3. Divide the mixture between four to six custard cups or shallow glasses, and chill the Panna Cotta for about 4 hours, until it has set (serve it within 24 hours).

4. To make the Balsamic Strawberries, slice them in halves or quarters and place them in a medium sized bowl. Add balsamic vinegar and sugar (and pepper if you are using it) and toss, until all the strawberries are coated with the sugar and vinegar. Let the strawberries sit for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, so they soak up all the flavor! (The longer you let the strawberries sit, the darker they will become, and the more intense their flavor will be. I only let mine sit for half an hour.) Once you are ready to serve the dessert, spoon the strawberries into Panna Cotta dishes (garnish with mint if you have some!) and enjoy your dessert!

I hope you all love this dessert as much as we did!

Happy Cooking, Everyone!

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A Day in Washington DC...

One of our favorite things to do is to travel and see new places and do new things! Yesterday, my husband and I drove down to Washington DC. It's only about two hours away from us (that is, when there is no traffic. Driving back home in rush hour last night took a lot longer than just two hours!) and although I've been there before, there were lots of things there that I hadn't seen before! My absolute favorite thing of the day was the National Gallery of Art. I majored in Art History in college, I love art and museums, and this museum is a great one! The weather was so beautiful, I don't ever remember it being this warm in February ever before! Here are some pictures of our day...

Standing by the National Gallery of Art

The beautiful fresh flower display in the grand entrance hall of the gallery. The display was filled with tulips and hydrangeas and lots of other gorgeous flowers, and it smelled wonderful! I love the idea of bringing in something fresh and new like flowers into a space that houses the old and ancient.

Standing in the Modern Art wing.

The museum has a great collection of art, and has several beautiful paintings by Monet, Renoir, Cezanne, Van Gogh and too many others to name! My favorite was definitely Van Gogh's self portrait. This photo really doesn't do it any justice, but the colors are so vibrant and striking!

The exterior of the National Gallery of Art. If you've never been to any of the Smithsonian Museums, you should definitely visit them! This one is my favorite, but the Natural History Museum and American History Museum are also amazing! (Plus, if you've ever seen the Night at the Museum movies, it makes it even more fun to go to these!)

A glimpse of the White House.

The Washington Hotel by the White House.

We walked to most of the monuments in the afternoon, not realizing how much walking that was! My workout for the WEEK!

I hope you all have a great weekend and get to do something fun and maybe take a trip somewhere! I have lots of fun posts coming up soon! Come back and check them out over the next couple of days! Have a great weekend, Everyone!

Love Birds Tree

Happy February, Everybody!!! Today I want to share my "Love Birds Tree" with you! A couple of days ago, I showed you my Valentine's Day Love Tree and I got so many sweet comments on it (Thanks everyone!) and loved the way it looked in the living room, so I wanted to make a "spring" version of this little tree! One of the first things that come to my mind when I think of spring are birds chirping, and so that's what I decorated my tree with! Here's what you will need and how you can make your own "Love Birds Tree"!

LOVE BIRDS TREE

To make a "Love Birds Tree" like this one, you will need some pastel colored felt, dark brown/black (for eyes) and white thread (for sewing on wings), white ribbon, pretty patterned fabric, and some polyfill to stuff the birds! Cut out a stencil for the bird and the wing, so all the birds are the same size, and once you sew on the wing, attach the beak and a piece of ribbon (using a glue gun) and stitch the bird's eye using some dark colored thread. Attach the front and back piece of the bird using hot glue, and stuff it with polyfill!

Here are some more pictures of the Love Birds Tree:

Happy Crafting, Everyone!

I will be linking to: