Chai Spiced Bread

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1/2 cup prepared, room temperature black tea

1/3 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp cardamom

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 tsp cinnamon, divided

1/8 tsp cloves

1 cup powdered sugar

3-5 tsp milk

Grease loaf pan (or use muffin papers to make 12 muffins). Cream granulated sugar and butter. Beat in eggs, tea, 1/3 cup milk, and vanilla (mixture will appear curdled). Wisk in flour, baking powder, cardamom, salt, 1/4 tsp cinnamon, and cloves just until smooth. Pour into loaf pan or spoon into muffin pan. Bake loaf 50-60 minutes at 350 degrees (18 minutes for muffins) or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan and then remove and cool 30 minutes more. For glaze, stir together powdered sugar, remaining 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and enough milk just to make it spreadable. Spread glaze over bread or muffins and let cool completely.

Tasties from Jen

Cherry Almond Bars

10/2/10

Pumpkin Zucchini Bread

9/26/10

Tasty Photos

Cinnamon Raisin Bread 9/7/09

White Chocolate Cake with Strawberries 4/4/10

Light Cheesecake 2/20/10

Turkey Pot Pie 1/10/10

Whole Wheat Carrot Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting 3/19/09

...and from long ago...

My first apple pie as a Riedl 12/1/07

Pictures

So...I hate blogging. I feel a little bad, since Aaron loves it so much. But, we have made a compromise. I will post, but I don't have to write anything. :) From now on, I will take pictures of things that I cook or bake (since I like that hobby better than blogging) and then I will post them here. Sounds good to me! Here are some pictures to get started:

Strawberry Shortcake 5/20/09

Strawberry Jam 6/14/09

Apple Pie 10/24/09

Applesauce 10/27/09

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie 11/26/09

Christmas Eve Pumpkin Cheesecake 12/24/09

Christmas Dinner for Two! 12/25/09

I hope this makes you feel better honey! This is how much I love you! XOXO

Baking

I really enjoy baking! Last weekend I made pinwheel cookies (picture). I think it's kind of like art to me--I don't enjoy making art in ways you would normally think of, like painting or drawing, but I LOVE to cook and bake. There is nothing better to me than being in the kitchen on a rainy day (even in July). My baking is also like art because it tends to come out as an expression of myself. For example, I felt like making something fun and unique this past weekend because I was in a fun, happy mood. On a day that feels cozy to me (like a crisp, sunny fall day) then I would make something cozy with cinnamon and nutmeg in it. Or at Christmastime I feel festive and I go overboard with baking and decorating! I guess in a way, I am an artist!