recipe Archives - Linda Nelson

EAT MY BLOG!

December 27, 2016

Now that I’ve got your attention, and, no, I haven’t gone mad, I’d like to share with you a decadent little chocolate lover’s dessert I made for Christmas, a brownie log, or “blog”, for short. Perhaps you’d like to serve blog for New Year’s.

©Linda Nelson 2016

This is what you’ll need –

a simple fudgey brownie recipe (for an 8″ square pan)
chocolate-hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)
confectionary sugar
rolling pin
parchment paper

Begin by baking your fudgey brownie recipe for the minimum time allowed. It’s very important that it’s a fudgey brownie recipe, not a cake-like one. When it has cooled to room temperature, invert the pan onto a sheet of parchment paper roughly 16″ long. Remove the pan and place another 16″ length of parchment paper on top of the brownie. Using your rolling pin, roll the brownie out to a thickness of about 1/4″ thick and to roughly measure 10″x13″.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Peel the top piece of parchment paper off and trim away the irregular edges of the brownie so that you have a nicely shaped rectangle. Use the trim pieces to “spackle” any areas as needed. Using a cake icing spatula or butter knife, cover the entire surface of the brownie with a thin layer of the chocolate-hazelnut spread (about 1/2-3/4 cup). Use the bottom sheet of parchment paper to assist you in rolling up your brownie into a tight log (do not roll the paper up with it!). Now, wrap the log up in the paper and gently squeeze it on all sides to secure the brownie’s contact with itself. Set aside until serving time.

©Linda Nelson 2016

When you’re ready to serve the blog to your guests, simply dust it with confectionary sugar and slice.

That’s all there is to it.

So, to ring in the New Year, eat my blog!

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CHALK PAINT-ISH: A QUICKIE TUTORIAL

March 3, 2016

Hey chalk paint lovers, how many DIY recipes of this kind have you tried? Well, you can chalk this one up to super simple and successful. This recipe is suitable for small scale work batches and requires only two ingredients – gesso and powdered pigment. Not only that, the final step of buffing your object for a smooth, touchable finish is achieved with your hands! Yep, no paste wax – just a vigorous rubdown using the natural oils from your hands.

©Linda Nelson 2016

Doesn’t this clay pot’s surface look gorgeous? It’s ready to join my symphony of spring decor.

To achieve this look simply mix a plop of white gesso with a sprinkling of powdered tempera paint. I have the basic primary colors on hand (red, blue, yellow) and custom mix my own hues. I made a lemony hue for the first layer, and a limey one for the second layer. Apply paint with a brush and let dry before applying your next coat. Sand the surface smooth with fine grit sandpaper or sanding block, then give it the rubdown. That’s it!

©Linda Nelson 2016

In my next post I will share with you how to make chippy eggs using a variation of this recipe. Stay tuned……….

©Linda Nelson 2016

And, get creative!

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IT’S A BREAD MAKING KIND OF DAY, CHARLIE BROWN.

January 23, 2016

Do you remember ordering Scholastic books from school as a child? My sister and I looked forward to the monthly brochures our teachers would hand out. We’d check off our wish list of books, mom would put the money and completed form in an envelope, and we’d deliver it back to our respective teachers. Then….. we would wait, and wait…………………………. and wait. It seemed like a lifetime before the shipment would come in and the books would be distributed to the students. Both of my children delighted in ordering from Scholastic when they were young, and I hope the youngsters of today are enjoying it, too.

Well, this little book (one of my sister’s picks) has stood the test of time in our family, and all because of one memorable recipe – CHARLIE BROWN’S ALL-STAR WHITE BREAD. It does not disappoint. I promise. Scout’s honor.

Check out this recipe’s cartoon. How befitting as we ride out this blizzard, no?

Do give this recipe at try. I assure you…….. you won’t be feeding it to the birds!

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