UNDER CONSTRUCTION

30 Acts of Kindness

As I continue working on the re-launch here at Creandé I thought I would give you a post. This is a special post and part of the reason the re-launch is delayed. Over the course of the last month I've been racking my brain, researching and putting together a somewhat secret project to celebrate my 30th birthday. While a few things started early, on April 16th I spent the entire day doing acts of kindness. 30 acts to be exact. I did what I could to make this a social project because I wanted to inspire people and share this grand day as I went along. If you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you saw the pictures. 

April 16th 2014 was the best day of my life thus far. It wasn't the best day because it was my birthday, but because I spent my birthday with so many people. Let me rephrase that, so many happy people. It was truly rewarding to share happiness with others. I can't express enough how wonderful the day was. I highly recommend taking some time and resources to do good for others. The reaction from people will be the most priceless moments in life. The world needs more kindness. I have decided this will not be a thing I just did once. The amount in one day was a one time thing, but I will do acts of kindness randomly and often. :-)

Since I've been gone from Creandé for a bit and I'm working on the "come back" I thought I would share a little something. Here are the acts of kindness!

1. I sent/handed out 30 notes of thanks to the 30 most influential people in my life.

2. Tape money to a vending machine.

3. Pay for someone's coffee. I purchased a $5 gift card and had the barista put it towards the next persons order.

4. A letter and flowers (delivered by my best friend) to my parents.

5. Pay for someone's lunch. I almost didn't think this was going to happen. No one came behind me in the drive through. Thankfully the person in front of me had to wait a few minutes for their food. A man pulled up behind me and I paid for his lunch. The cashier was thrilled that I was doing something so nice.

6. Give 30 hugs and pass out cards asking them to pay it forward. I started this on Tuesday at work. People were thrilled to get a hug. Sometimes that's all someone needs to make their day great.

7. A special "Thank You" to someone who has become a very important and special part of my life.

8. A special letter and treat for my best friend. Her and I have been through thick and thin. We've changed, but out love for one another has only gotten stronger. One of her favorite cravings is this Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Chambord Ganache.

9. Donate clothing.

10. A letter and flowers (delivered by my best friend) to Grandma R.

11. A special thank you to my parents for the world to see. ;-) For their 25th wedding anniversary a few years back I created a video. This is a snapshot from that video. I posted the actual video for my friends and family. 

12. A letter and flowers to my Grandma and Grandpa D.

13. Post an inspirational quote in a public place. This one was posted on a washer door at a local laundromat. 

14. Post an inspirational quote in a public place. This one was left on someone's car. :-)

15. Post an inspirational quote in a public place. This one chosen by my best friend, was posted on a Redbox kiosk. Fitting, right?

16. Post an inspirational quote in a public place. This one was left on a gas pump.

17. This quote was left in a book that I donated.

18. One last quote was left in the ladies room, posted by my best friend. ;-)

19. Hand a stranger a bouquet of flowers.

20. Donate books. I don't own many physical books so I donated what I could. 

21. A special thank you to everyone for all the follows, like and comments. This included everyone who reads this blog. Thank you!

22. Donate to a local homeless shelter. For this I baked two Dutch Apple Pies for their Easter Dinner this weekend.

23. Donate to the AIDS Task Force Pantry. A friend of mine had a Pantry Party and I made this small donation.

24-27. I visited a local nursing home to hand out some bouquets and baseball caps.  As a bonus to me I got to spend the time with many people including my two beautiful cousins! 

28. I visited a local organization called Turnstone. This was my first stop of the day. This was the highlight of my day. I donated this vase of fresh flowers and bowl of fresh fruit to the Adult Services program. I was greeted by a small group of clients/staff. I briefly talked about how I was spending my day. They sang Happy Birthday to me and said how thankful they were. It was priceless. Thank you SO much to them!

29. This was a random act that left two ladies very happy and thankful. I walked in and got change for a $5 bill. Handed it to two ladies who were just about to put money in the washing machine. :-D

30. To end the day I had planned a get together for friends over martinis. After they sang Happy Birthday, since I had their attention, I gave a toast to all of them. Those present and those that weren't. My friends are the best so they deserved an act of kindness! 

And that is it. All 30 acts of kindness. I am so very thankful to have spent the day making others happy. It goes down as the best of my life. Never hesitate to give, share happiness and live!

Cheers to the future!

Stay tuned here at Creandé for the re-launch on May 1st!

A Canning Adventure: Homegrown Tomatoes

Lusciously red and fresh picked, these tomatoes deliver that signature homegrown flavor. 

Every year for as long as I can remember my Grandparents, Dad's side, have had these massive gardens that produce some of the best vegetables. Even with a big family such as ours there is too much produce! The solutions was simple to them, create a stand and allow people to share in the goodness from the earth. 

This is not the best photo, but it shows the two gardens this year. I'm simply amazed.

Here is a close-up of the tomatoes. In the photo above, they are the jungle to the left. The plants got MASSIVE this year.

While I thoroughly enjoy these fresh picked tomatoes sliced and sprinkled with salt and pepper, canning them is another way to enjoy their unique flavor throughout the Fall and Winter months. As much as I’m not ready for the Summer to be over, I’m ready for the chili I make every year. Last year I finally got it near perfection, in other words, I got it near to Gma D’s recipe. The key is her canned tomatoes, tomato juice and hot red peppers. A few weeks back I got a chance to help can the juice. What fun! I still don’t feel confident enough to do it on my own, but I will get there. Someday I’ll be growing my own tomatoes and need the know how. I couldn’t help but snap some photos along the way. 

This little machine is a beast!

The tomatoes stewed to perfection. I kind of just wanted to ladle these into my happy smiling face. They smelled simply delicious. 

Alas, we had to make juice so I couldn't eat the tomatoes.

Time for the juice to get a reheat before it hits the can.

Batch one is ready for the jars. Ladles up!

Look at that natural red beauty! Gma D does the work while Gpa D stands in the background doing what he does best, supervising.

Gma D puts that last bit in before capping them off for the hot hot bath to seal them.

Once the canning is done Gma D stores them in the basement until it's time for her to make her amazing dishes or until someone needs a jar or two (raises his hand). I do have a few cans here waiting for me to get creative. I think it's time to do that!

Ciao for now,

Chad D.

Toasted Coconut-Walnut Banana Bread

I find it fitting that the first post I return with includes bananas. Why? Because that's how I feel my life has been over the past few months. It's been going bananas! And the end doesn't seem near. (Insert BIG SMILE here)

When I say "going bananas" it's meant in a good way. There has been a ton of change in my life over the past few months. For that I am thankful. Not all changes have been exactly easy, but Life's lessons rarely come easy. Overall it's been wonderful change. 

One big change was stepping away from this blog. If you follow me on Instagram you will have noticed I have still been cooking and enjoying my time in the kitchen. I'm not going to lie, I needed a break from the blog. That said, the break was far toooooo long. Apologies. Without going into all details of my life, let's focus on the fact that Creande is coming back. I will be dealing with the blog a bit different, however. 

Anywho, let's get back to those silly bananas! 

Banana bread is always a favorite of mine. Bananas on the other hand...I always buy a bunch thinking I'll eat them before they brown. Never the case. That's not a bad thing, right? It just means I get to make Banana Bread more often. Yum. 

Last week I had another bunch of bananas brown. Funny thing is, I got a recipe email the day I decided to use them for Banana Bread. But, it was no normal Banana Bread. The email was for Toasted Coconut Banana Bread. I MAY have gotten just a bit excited. Slightly sad that I didn't think of the idea before that email, but still quite excited. So I grabbed coconut, walnuts and a few other ingredients. (A sentence and recipe loaded with nuts. Ha!) Anywho, I sat down with the recipe and it told me just what it needed to become better. To be the best Banana Bread it could be! I applied the alterations and...BOOM. Amazing things happened in the kitchen!

First and foremost, when toasting the coconut and walnuts you get a splendid sweet and then toasty aroma to awaken your senses. Mashing those bananas, hello dancing tastebuds. Get those three ingredients mixed together… pure happiness. (I think I really did a happy dance.) When those loaves (loaf) hit the oven it's like an explosion of banana aroma. I just wanted to sit in front of the oven and watch that bread bake and crust perfectly. Alas, I had things to do. The aroma was enough to torture one's stomach. I could barely get through the photos when the bread was done. I wanted that bread! Once I did manage to get a slice, it was near perfection. This will be my go to recipe for Banana Bread, coconut or no coconut.

I guarantee you will love this bread. Guarantee. Now, print this recipe and get to baking. 

Until the next food-venture! 

Chad D.

Toasted Coconut-Walnut Banana Bread

Yields: 1 9x5x3 or 4 mini loaves

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup light brown sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 mashed overripe bananas

1/3 cup olive oil

2 eggs, room temperature

2 Tablespoon milk, room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla

1 1/2 cups toasted coconut

1 cup toasted walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350º  and grease pan(s) and set aside. 

2. To toast the coconut and walnuts; add them to a skillet over low-medium heat. Toast until walnuts begin to release their oil and the coconut is golden brown.

3. In a large mixing bowl combine dry ingredients, whisk. 

4. Mash bananas in a medium bowl and add oil, eggs, milk and vanilla.

5. Combine wet and dry ingredients by folding them together. 

6. Fold in coconut and walnuts. 

7. Pour batter into prepare pans and bake 30-40 minutes for small loaves or 50-60 minutes for large loaf or until a toothpick come out clean. Cool slightly, about 10 minutes.

8. Remove from pan(s) and enjoy.

Recipe adapted from: http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/Toasted-Coconut-Banana-Bread-recipe-345.aspx#axzz2cT9s0GfA

Vanilla Lemon Cupcakes and Vanilla Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

I think it's safe to say that I am going through a lemon phase. I can't seem to get enough. I can't seem to stop thinking of dishes or treats that will somehow involve LEMON! Today I bring you two new recipes. Vanilla Lemon Cupcakes and Vanilla Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting.

I can say in full foodie confidence that these two recipes, the frosting in particular, are the best lemon treats I've had. EVER! The cupcakes offer a near perfect texture and a light lemon flavor. The frosting is sweet but packed with a delicious tart lemon flavor. In all honesty, I could sit and eat the frosting from the mixing bowl. I have never been so excited to share a recipe as I am to share this frosting recipe. 

I found these recipes after a quick look around the internet for some inspiration. After a quick look over the recipe I realized there was no vanilla. I had one of those Foodie Freakout moments in the kitchen. Vanilla is my favorite flavor. I know it's plain, simple and boring to some. Why do I love it so much then? It's SO versatile and can add just the perfect little hint of flavor to compliment so many other flavors. If one uses vanilla beans, one can add some serious pure vanilla flavor to compliment anything. If you haven't used vanilla beans or vanilla bean paste, I highly recommend it. Anywho, I obviously found it necessary to add vanilla to these recipes. I chose to add a little more than normal so that it could stand right beside the power of the tart lemon flavor. I think it was a success!

Another change I made, which is a small change but yields a big result, is lemon juice. I added more. The recipes needed it. I just knew they would be better! And...I was right. 

Now is the point where I stop chatting and you start baking. You should print these recipes and get lost in Foodie Heaven. ;-)

Vanilla Lemon Cupcakes      [Printable Recipe]

adapted from: http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/lemon-layer-cake-with-lemon-cream-cheese-frosting/

Makes: 24 cupcakes

Ingredients:

2 1/4 Cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

3 large eggs, room temperature

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1/4 cup lemon juice

zest of 2 lemons

1 cup buttermilk

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

2. In the bowl of a mixer beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.

3. Add eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. Add vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest.

4. Alternate adding the flour mixture and butter milk. Mix until just combined. Do NOT over mix.

5. Scoop batter into cupcake pans lined with cupcake papers.

6. Bake at 350º for 15-20 minutes.

Vanilla Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting       [Printable Recipe]

adapted from: http://www.cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com/lemon-layer-cake-with-lemon-cream-cheese-frosting/

Ingredients:

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1-2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3-4 cups powdered sugar

Note: Lemon juice and powdered sugar are really to your taste. I used 2 Tablespoons juice and about 4 cups powdered sugar.

Directions:

1. In the bowl of a mixer beat the butter until smooth. Add the cream cheese and beat until well mixed.
2. Add the lemon juice and vanilla.
3. Slowly add the powdered sugar until desired taste and consistency.
4. Place frosting in the refrigerator if it's too soft. If not, ice cooled cupcakes.

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps and Cilantro Lime Rice

At the first sign of warm weather I started thinking about quick dinners perfect for warm nights during the week. The first dish I made was one I've made several times, but never shared here on the blog. It was inspired by one of my favorite restraints, Red Ginger. I rarely get to enjoy the perfect mood lighting, fine decor and amazing food of Red Ginger as its located 6 hours away in Traverse City, Michigan. After my first visit there I knew I had to find a way to recreate an appetizer I thoroughly enjoyed at the restaurant.


Asian Chicken Wraps. Delicious! I googled like a mad man to find something close to the magnificent and fresh flavors I had experienced. After a few tests I came up with something very close to the original. I couldn't have been happier!

I serve these wraps alongside Cilantro Lime Rice. It's add a perfect side dish and slight pop of flavor to go with the main dish. While I had these as an appetizer, I serve them as a meal. I make a large amount of the filling and buy a three pack of Romaine Lettuce. Trust me, you'll want to make the recipe in the quantity below if you're feeding a few people. It will be eaten!

I have posted a recipe that is along the same lines as this, but I used shredded chicken instead. (You can find that recipe here.) Either way, it's a perfectly delicious meal guaranteed to please the hungry stomach any night of the week.

Enjoy!

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients:

2-4 Tablespoons Olive Oil

3 pounds ground chicken

1 onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger

2 Tablespoons fresh Cilantro, chopped

3 Tablespoons soy sauce

3 Tablespoons rice vinegar

3-4 Tablespoons hoisin sauce

2 heads Romain Lettuce, minimum

Direction:

1. Prepare Romain Lettuce by cutting off the ends and cleaning thoroughly. Set aside.

2. Whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and hoisin sauce in a small bowl and set aside.

3. Cook chicken, in oil, until done. Add onion and cook until onions are tender.

3. Add garlic, ginger, and cilantro and cook until heated thoroughly.

5. Mix in sauce mixture and heat though. Serve along side Cilantro Lime Rice and Romain Lettuce.

6. Enjoy!

Cilantro Lime Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup white rice
2 cups water
Juice of one lime
1-2 Tablespoon fresh Cilantro, finely chopped

Directions:

1. Cook rice as directed.
2. Halfway through cooking add the lime and cilantro.
3. Finish cooking and serve warm.

Simple Veggie Pasta

Spring 2012

When I set out to cook a simple, healthy and quick dinner the other night this photo was the inspiration. I was dead set on remaking this dish even if I couldn't remember exactly how I made it. I bought the ingredients I knew I used with hopes I could recreate the dish. It didn't happen and I'll still be damned if I can remember how I made that dish above! I will try again! 

I came across these beautiful yellow tomatoes so I had to give them a try.

Even though the dish didn't turn out as I wanted, it was still delicious. Once I realized it wasn't going to turn out like I wanted, I got creative. I substituted the Feta cheese for Parmesan because I had some to use up. I also decided to add some other ingredients I had sitting around in the kitchen. What I created was a simple, somewhat healthy and quick dinner that was delicious. 

Without further ado here is the recipe for a taste bud party with fresh tomatoes and asparagus being the VIP guests. 

Simple Veggie Pasta

Ingredients:

10 ounces Sunburst or Cherry Tomatoes
1/2 lb Asparagus
1 medium Onion 
1 clove Garlic, minced
juice of 1 Lemon
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, extra for topping
4 Tablespoons Butter or Olive Oil
1/4-1/2 cup dry to semi-dry white wine 
1 teaspoon dry parsley or equivalent fresh
dash of salt
dash of pepper
2 cups dry pasta, cooked

Directions:

1. Saute onion in 1 Tablespoon Butter. Cut tomatoes in half, chop asparagus and mince garlic while onion cooks. Add garlic and cook for a few minutes.
2. Add white wine, lemon juice and asparagus. Cook until asparagus is almost done.
3. Add tomatoes and cook just until tender. Add cheese, remaining butter, parsley and salt/pepper.
4. Cook until cheese is melted and serve over pasta. Top with cheese and enjoy!

Simple Veggie Pasta - Recipe coming soon.

I can't tell you how much I'm loving my Nikon. I usually have a good eye for photos (I take more than photos of food) and I've made my iPhone camera work well for a few years now, but WOW does a nice camera help. I still have plenty to learn in the food photography biz, but these photos are great! For more exclusive photos check out Creandé on Facebook!

Candied Pecans

Oh nuts! Who doesn't just love nuts? They make almost everything better. Almost. 

Sometimes I just humor myself. I hope you at least smiled. :-) On a serious note, I love pecans, walnuts, cashews and so on. Pecans are by far my favorite. They can go in brownies, cookies, ice cream and they make a great snack all on their own. How can you not just love them? I know some people are allergic and some (I just don't get it) don't like nuts. Those of us that like/love them know what it's all about.

Anywho, back to the reason I bring you this post today. Candied Pecans. I use Candied Pecans in a few different recipes. Most recently I've used them in a super scrumptious ice cream I created. Browned Butter Candied Pecan Ice Cream (photo below). They also make great toppings for a salad and a perfect sweet snack. 

A bonus tip! When adding nuts to a recipe, especially baking, roast them in the oven or toast them in a sauté pan for just a few minutes. Doing so will bring out a more pronounced flavor and aroma from the release of essential oils. When baked into cookies, brownies, or whatever your heart desires they have an added crunch. Perfection, guaranteed!

To candy pecans or whatever nut you choose is quite simple so don't be intimidated. The recipe along with pictures to show just how simple it is can be found below. Give them a go! I promise you won't be disappointed.

As always, feel free to leave comment and let me know how they turn out! Ciao for now!

Use whole or coarsely chopped pecans.

Melt butter, add brown sugar and cook until sugar is almost dissolved. Add pecans.

Once the sugar has dissolved and pecans are coated evenly, place on parchment paper.
Cool completely.

Candied Pecans

Ingredients:

1 cup whole or coarsely chopped pecans or nut of choice
3 Tablespoon butter
1/4 cup dark brown sugar

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a saute pan and add brown sugar.
2. Once the sugar has almost dissolved, add the pecans.
3. Cook until pecans are evenly coated and sugar has dissolved.
4. Cool on parchment paper. When they are cool, break them apart and enjoy.