Props to Our 1st Guest Baker, Mrs. Carolyn Murphy!

We've been sharing our new blog and booze-infused goodies with friends and co-workers.  Our friend and co-worker, Colleen, is SO LUCKY because her mom, yes her mom!, bakes yummies for Colleen's office at least TWICE a week.  I've sampled a few of Mr. Carolyn Murphy's exceptional baked goodies and am proud to present her as our 1st Guest Baker at BIWB. 

Her rendition of my

Drunken Monkey Bread:

Kahlua Man Fudge Cookie Sandwich

It's been one hell of a week for me.  I made these last Saturday, in a "stir-crazy" frenzy (not really) attempt to do something that would keep me busy for a while.  I had gum surgery on the previous Thursday, and I couldn't do yard work, go to the gym, or do anything like heavy chores.  Sitting around on a beautiful and sunny day?  Just couldn't embrace that concept.

So, I got all excited about making these cookies, measured out the dry ingredients, went to Sur La Table to buy just the right size cookie scoop.  It was like Goldie Locks: I have a scoop that was too big and one that was too small.  Now, I have one "just right."  Get home, mix these bad boys up, place perfectly-sized scoops on the lined cookie sheets and turn on the oven. 

Notice the oven wasn't heating up, seemed to be gasping for fuel.  Prayers folks and I generally don't pray unless it's really, really important.  Who to call to borrow their oven?  How to transport the sheets?  I tried the oven one more time...Thank god!  This was the last batch that oven will ever see.  It's being replaced as soon as is possible!  Kinda sad because it's made a lot of really great meals and made a lot of folks really happy over its 8 year life.

I found this recipe at one of my new favorite blogs, Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.  I have a few of her recipes in the baking queue, so keep an eye out.  :)  The cookies I made were a version of this recipe for her Homemade Fudge Rounds, hence the name change of my own.

And you wonder, why "Kahlua Man"...well, let's take a quick look...

He looks pretty proud!  Got this bottle years and years ago from a good teacher friend, Cheryl.  Notice the customs tag as it's from the source: Mexico! 

Of course, in keeping with our theme, I made modifications to the recipe for the incorporation of booze, both in the cookie and in the frosting.  For the cookies, I added 1 tsp creme de cocoa for part of the vanilla.  For the frosting, I substituted 2 Tbsp Kahlua and 2 Tbsp coffee for the water.  Next time it'll be ALL Kahlua in that frosting!!  I also rolled them in "jimmies" the technical term for those little colored chubs of sugar.  Found a new and very, very cool baking supply website.

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Peach Upside-down Cake

A sure sign that it's finally summer is the myriad of beautiful, fresh produce at the farmer's market. I'm fortunate to have one right outside my building once a week. Every Wednesday, the office smells like strawberries and kettle corn, and the elevators are full of cheerful folks clutching reusable canvas tote bags filled with organic treasures, and sharing tips about which booth has the best prices on cherries and what, exactly, to do with bok choy.


I ventured down to the market last Wednesday on the excellent advice of my fabulous coworker Nancy, in search of my very favorite summer yield: peaches. After my pineapple upside-down cake post, Nancy suggested a creative (and boozy) variation: peach upside-down cake, with brandy.

All the more reason to Bake It With Booze!

From my enviro web magazine, Grist:

http://inhabitat.com/whisky-power-by-rothes-distillers-and-helius/
Whiskey wastes turned into biofuels...Home distilleries? 

So, see, it really IS good for the earth and good for us!!!

Ellen

Mojito fruit salad

A festive twist on basic fruit salad. I think these would be fun for a summer bridal shower.

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I know, this really isn't a baked good, but it's boozey - and good - and sometimes it's just too darn hot to turn on the oven, but you still need something sweet. I tried this out as an experiment, and was very pleased with the results. I served this "mojito fruit salad" to friends at a BBQ, and it was a hit. I cut up pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberries - but you can use any fruity combination you like.

I made the mojito glaze out of one part lime juice to two parts rum, with sugar to taste (depending on how much fruit you're using). I chopped up a couple tablespoons of fresh mint leaves and whisked it all together, then tossed with the fruit, and chilled until time to serve. There was just enough of everything to give a basic fruit salad a refreshing twist.

Tequila-Lime Pound Cake with Vanilla (Lime) Glaze

I found this recipe while looking for a tre leches cake recipe.  I tried the tre leches cake recipes...Mushy mess.  Threw it out after the initial taste.  Someday I'll try that one again and hopefully I'll find the right cake to liquid ratio.  I wanted a cake with tequila and thought with the addition of lime (and lots of it!) that I'd get a great combo.  I can't drink tequila anymore, so it just sits in the house.  I used a cheaper version and didn't use the Patron, which I save for my SIL.  And, yes, I still drink margaritas, I just use rum!

Here's the finished product (who on earth would have EVER thought I'd "stage" food!):

Drunken Monkey Bread

The Dough Boy would feel righteous at this moment...I know I just posted a recipe, but this morning I was inspired.  It's a Saturday, it's raining, only 2 days left of my vacation, and I missed the new spin/sculpt class, uh oh!  I've had this recipe on the kitchen counter for weeks, waiting for a time when there weren't enough baked goods for breakfast.  Here is my ~just~ finished product:

But, wait!  Here is the recipe, please note the name: Pastor Ryan's Monkey Bread:
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/05/monkey-bread/

And, I'm not sure Pastor Ryan would approve of my modifications, but it's not Sunday and this blog is about bake it with booze...So, I pulled out the cheap, Old Crow bourbon and decided to liven-up my monkey!  Do you see all that oozing goodness all over those little chunks of biscuit?  Here's another shot just so you can see it again...

Chocolate Stout Cupcakes with Bailey's Frosting

Jacqueline's Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes

I found this recipe via a friend of a friend of a friend's blog. I honestly don't even know this woman, nor could I find her blog again! That's what it's like to "mine" blog sites. So, I'm providing a few recipes. I used the first one from FoodNetwork:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/chocolate-stout-and-irish-cream-liqueur-cupcakes-recipe/index.html

This recipe is from Cupcakes Wars, and if you haven't watch an episode, I highly recommend it. They come up with some interesting combinations, and it's a very competitive business this baking of cupcakes. ;-)
http://theculinarychronicles.com/2011/03/09/chocolate-stout-cupcakes-with-irish-cream-buttercream-slainte/

Read on for our recipe review...

Whiskey *Hiccup!* -O-Cake

Pardon me!  ;-) 

In March, I felt inspired by the grand Irish men's holiday for the guy who drove the snakes out of Ireland.  As much as I love my nephew, Nick, the herpetologist in the family, snakes I do not like.  Probably one of the few things I have in common with my mother, the loathing of snakes. 

Okay, so back to the Irish Holiday, St. Patrick's Day.  I saw this recipe, where else?, on Sprinkle Bakes and wanted to try it for two reasons: one, I'd have to buy whiskey, and two, I liked the idea of a sugary-booze-infused-liquid-drenched-cake.  You will see from the recipe that it also uses two baking pan options: jam jars or bundt pan.  I've been making jam for about 10 years now, and I opted for the second baking pan method as I just couldn't and wouldn't sacrifice empty jam jars.  Plus, the clean up would have been a royal pain in the arss.  :-)