Bread Machine Turtle Bread

Caramel, chocolate chips and pecans are together once again in this delectable dessert bread.


Prep Time: 10 min

Total Time: 3 hours 40 min

Makes: 1 loaf (1 1/2 lb), 12 slices
 
1 cup plus 1 tablespoon water


10 caramels

2 2/3 cups Gold Medal® Better for Bread™ flour

2 tablespoons dry milk

1 tablespoon sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons bread machine or quick active dry yeast

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1. Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except chocolate chips and pecans in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Add chocolate chips and pecans at the Raisin/Nut signal or 5 minutes before the last kneading cycle ends.

2. Select Sweet or Basic/White cycle. Use Medium or Light crust color. Remove baked bread from pan, and cool on wire rack.





Did You Know...

Salt adds flavor to baked goods, and it has yet another role in bread baking. Salt helps control yeast growth, preventing the bread from rising too high. This is especially important in sweet breads, such as this one, that contain plenty of sugar for the yeast to feed on.

Substitution

You won’t have a turtle anymore, but sliced almonds make a yummy stand-in for the chopped pecans.

Brie and Cherry Pastry Cups

Top bite-size puff pastry with creamy Brie, sweet cherry preserves and crunchy pecans for an easy, elegant appetizer.


Prep Time: 30 min

Total Time: 55 min

Makes: 36 appetizers
 
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (from 17.3-ounce package), thawed


1/3 to 1/2 cup red cherry preserves

4 ounces Brie cheese, cut into 1/2x1/2-inch pieces (36 pieces)

1/4 cup chopped pecans

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

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1. Heat oven to 375°. Spray 36 miniature muffin cups, 1 3/4x1 inch, with cooking spray. Cut pastry into 36 (1 1/2-inch) squares. Slightly press each square into muffin cup; press center with finger.

2. Bake 10 minutes. Press center with handle of wooden spoon. Bake 6 to 8 minutes longer or until golden brown. Immediately press again in center. Fill each with about 1/2 teaspoon preserves. Top with cheese piece, pecans and chives.

3. Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve warm.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No changes.





Substitution

If you like spicy foods, try substituting red or green jalapeño jelly for the cherry preserves. It's a delicious touch of sweet and spice!

Do-Ahead

Go ahead and assemble the cups and bake up to 4 hours in advance, omitting the final bake time for melting the cheese. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to bake. Right before serving, heat at 375° just until warm and cheese is melted.

Special Touch

Arrange these pretty appetizer cups on tiered serving plates with fresh rosemary and cherries.

The Proper and Fun way to Move a Piano

Thai Coconut-Ginger Sticky Rice Jumbles

Servings: 5 dozen

Ingredients:1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 cup candied ginger pieces, diced*
4 cups crispy rice cereal
Optional: 2 tablepoons sesame seeds

*Candied ginger (also called crystallized ginger) can be found in many supermarket produce or spice sections or in a health or gourmet store.

Cooking Directions:Preheat oven to 350°F.


In a mixing bowl, beat together butter, sugars, vanilla and salt until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat until smooth.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and beat until blended. Stir in coconut, ginger and cereal, mixing until just blended. Using a teaspoon, drop the dough onto parchment-lined cookie sheets about 1/2 inch apart. Sprinkle the top of each cookie with sesame seeds, if desired.

Bake until edges just start to turn golden but centers are still moist, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Store in an airtight container for up to one week.