Dessert

Meringue-Topped Baked Grapefruit

Meringue Topped Baked Grapefruit from A Thought For Food #recipe

Image from Meringue Topped Grapefruit from A Thought For Food

Meringue Topped Baked Grapefruit from A Thought For Food #recipe

We need a bigger bed! That's the first thought that pops into my head almost every morning; the first thought after a restless night of little to no sleep.  I don't have many regrets in life... but not getting a king-size mattress is one of them.  Because here's the thing: two good-sized guys fit on a queen comfortably. Throw a 52 pound boxer pup into the mix, though, and it's really tight.  Maki also has a tendency to spread herself out, positioning her body in a way that's perpendicular to ours, making it so her head and butt are pressed right up against our backs or legs.  In many instances, this results in one of us (usually me) getting pushed off the bed.  And I can't forget to mention the many times I've awoken to her moans, groans, ear scratching, and butt licking (her butt... though, once in a while she'll find an exposed foot or knee to go to town on).

Mornings can be a bit rough.  Coffee is always brewed and, depending on the amount of rest I got the night before, I'll go for one to three mugs.  When I'm in need of a special treat, I bake up some grapefruit topped with meringue and smear pats of butter on toast.  It's the fastest way to bring a smile to this face... and with the limited quantity of sleep I've been getting, I need it.

Meringue Topped Baked Grapefruit from A Thought For Food #recipe

Baked Grapefruit with Meringue

serves 4

Ingredients

2 red grapefruits, cut in half

2 large egg whites

1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar

Tools

Grapefruit knife

4 Ramekins, large enough to hold grapefruit halves (see notes below)*

Stand mixer or hand mixer

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Using the grapefruit knife or sharp paring knife, cut the segments away from the membrane, but keep them held within their sections.  Place grapefruit halves in the ramekins and then transfer ramekins to a baking pan.  *The ramekins will hold any liquid in and will make it easy for serving.  If you do not have ramekins, you can place the grapefruit directly on a baking pan lined with aluminum foil.

3. Place the eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (alternatively, a hand mixer can be used).  Whip the eggs at high speed.  Once they become foamy, gradually sprinkle the sugar in (maybe a few tablespoons at a time).  Whip the mixture until it forms stiff peaks.

4. Top each grapefruit halves with heaping spoonfuls of the meringue.

5. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the meringue is golden brown.  If you want a bit more color on top, broil the grapefruit for an additional minute, being careful not to burn it.

6. Remove and let sit until they are cool enough to handle.  Serve.

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread from A Thought For Food

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread from A Thought For Food

Love is a shelter.

Love is a cause.

Love goes on forever.

Yeah, love will lead us all.

Love! It is our honor.

Love! It is our all.

Love goes on forever.

Yeah, love it is our home.

That's What's Up//Edward Sharpe + the Magnetic Zeros

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread from A Thought For Food

Carrot Bread3.2

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread from A Thought For Food

Whole Wheat Carrot Bread

makes 1 loaf

Ingredients

2/3 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 cups grated carrot

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.

3. In a bowl, whisk together the oil and eggs.

4. In a separate bowl, sift together the sugar, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Mix in the oil and eggs.

5. Fold in the grated carrot, raisins, and chocolate chips.

6. Pour mixture into loaf pan. Bake in the oven for 50 minutes, or until a toothpick is inserted and comes out clean.

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies

Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies from A Thought For Food - #baking #dessert #recipe
Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies from A Thought For Food - #baking #dessert #recipe

I know... these may not look chewy, but they are. I promise. If they weren't, I wouldn't put them up here. Cookies are meant to be served the way salmon or a steak should be prepared, a nice sear on the outside, but raw in the middle. I just don't mess around with cookies. If there's too much crunch, I can't eat them. But what's so great about these is how the rim is crispy, making for the most wonderful sound as you bite into them. Then, you get to the good stuff. The blend of sugar and spice; the festive flavors of ginger, cinnamon and clove. It brings to mind lazy weekends... curled up on the couch with a cup of tea and a book: the lead in for an afternoon nap.  I've been making these ginger molasses cookies for years, altering the recipe slightly as I prepare each batch.  I hate to use the P-word, but I can't help it... these are kind of perfect.

CHEWY GINGER MOLASSES COOKIES

Yield: This recipe will make 3 dozen smaller cookies, if the dough is rolled into 1 inch round balls, as directed below.  However, I also like them a bit larger. In which case, you will get fewer cookies, but they will be bigger (not that size matters or anything)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup dark molasses
1 egg
2 1/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ounces crystallized ginger, chopped coarsely
Granulated sugar, for rolling dough balls

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375°F. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter, vegetable shortening, sugar, molasses and egg. In a separate bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients.  Add to wet mixture and beat until combined.  Stir in crystallized ginger.

Depending on the size you would like your cookies, form into 1 or 1.25 inch balls.  Roll dough balls in granulated sugar. Place dough balls onto a non-stick cookie sheet (or a sheet lined with parchment paper) two inches apart.  Using a spatula, gently press down the tops of each cookie dough ball.

Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until outer rim is golden brown.  Let cool for a few minutes before transferring cookies to a cooling rack.