Date (Nut) Loaf (TWD)

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I last posted! Where does the time go? I really need to get better about posting, especially since I have some great good eats to post about!

This week's Tuesdays with Dorie (TWD) recipe was chosen by Mary of Popsicles and Sandy Feet: Date-Nut Loaf. I love dates, but I'm not so keen on nuts so my cake was a Date Loaf sans nuts.  The recipe was straightforward and easy.  While I was creaming the butter, cream cheese, and sugar together, I chopped the dates up.  After that, it was just a few more minutes to add in the eggs, extracts, and dry ingredients.  My loaf was done baking about 10 minutes early, so I was glad I checked on it, because it was just a tad on the dry side as it is.


Thanks Mary, for hosting this week.  I just finished baking the loaf today and I've only had a few bites so far, because I wanted to wrap the loaf and lets the flavors "ripen" overnight, as Dorie suggests.  The dates were delicious in this loaf, and I imagine dried apricots would be quite nice, too.  I'll have to report back later on the final verdict after I try it again tomorrow!

If you would like the recipe, you can find it here. Make sure you check out the TWD Blogroll, to see how everyone else enjoyed this sweet treat! Also don't forget to enter my giveaway here before it ends on June 24th.

* Recipe notes - 

- I checked my loaf and it was done 10 minutes early, though next time I'll probably start checking it 20 minutes out to make sure the loaf doesn't dry out.

Almond Powder Puffs (TWD)

I'm supposed to be posting about a coffee ice cream tart today (chosen by Jessica of Domestic Deep Thought of the Day) but seeing as the recipe calls for store bought ice cream, that pretty much just leaves the tart to be made from scratch.  I read in the P & Q (problems & questions) that the tart gets frozen so hard that by the time the tart thaws out enough to be eaten, the ice cream is melted :(  So, I considered using Dorie's sweet tart dough instead, but in the end just ran out of time and motivation.  My apologies to Jessica for not baking along this week.  Instead, I have for you today last week's recipe, which I neglected to post seven days ago!

Last week's Tuesdays with Dorie (TWD) recipe was chosen by Tianne of Buttercream Barbie: Pecan Powder Puffs. I made these well before the posting date, but then I totally forgot about them until now! I'll blame it on "mommy brain" ;)

Looking at the name, I thought these were some type of cream puff, until I looked at the recipe and realized that they're actually cookies! They are Mexican wedding cookies, which are made from ground nuts, flour, sugar, and butter and then rolled in confectioner's sugar.  I didn't have any pecans on hand, so I made almond powder puffs instead.  I don't usually like whole nuts in my desserts, but I do enjoy things made with ground nuts (like this awesome chocolate dipped macadamia nut shortbread).


These cookies were super easy to make, the only hard part was waiting for the dough to chill in the refrigerator for two hours before baking! They aren't too buttery and the salty nutty flavor balances out quite well with the sweet sugary coating.  My husband had one and I fully expected these to be 'not his thing,' but instead he immediately exclaimed, "What are these?! They are good!"  So, I guess these will be making another appearance in our household in the near future :) I haven't had too many Mexican wedding cookies before, but I think the general opinion among other TWD bakers was that these are far better than any other Mexican wedding cookie encountered!

Thanks Tianne, for a great pick.  If you would like the recipe, you can find it here. Make sure you check out the TWD Blogroll, to see how everyone else enjoyed these nutty, crumbly treats!  And, if you haven't already, head on over here to enter my current giveaway.