Archives for June 2016

Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread #FreshFromFlorida

This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.


Fresh from Florida Sweet Corn and Blueberries combine into a delicious and moist cast iron skillet cornbread – perfect for any Summer meal.

Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread from LoveandConfections.com #FreshFromFlorida #IC (ad)

The weather this Summer is quite warm, with days in the mid-90s recently. We have been doing a good amount of grilling and hanging out by the pool. I love using seasonal ingredients and Summer in Florida is one of my favorite seasons for fresh Florida food.

Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread from LoveandConfections.com #FreshFromFlorida #IC (ad)
Blueberry and Sweet Corn season are among my favorites, in addition to tomatoes, watermelon, and the abundance of fresh Florida seafood during the Summer months. Just as important as it is to use local Florida ingredients, I think it is equally important to get the family involved from the ingredients through cooking. 
Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread from LoveandConfections.com #FreshFromFlorida #IC (ad)
I love taking my toddler to farms and farmer’s markets so she can see where the food comes from and have a greater interest in the food she eats. She loves picking blueberries. We pick buckets every year, and freeze a bunch, so we can enjoy them until the next blueberry season. She also enjoys helping me pick and shuck the sweet corn we buy from the farm or farmer’s market.
Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread from LoveandConfections.com #FreshFromFlorida #IC (ad)
I decided to combine two of my favorite Summer ingredients, blueberries and sweet corn, into one amazing dish – Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread. While we do a lot of grilling outside, I love having a side dish, like cornbread, available for mealtime. This bread is extremely moist, with just the right amount of sweetness. 
Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread from LoveandConfections.com #FreshFromFlorida #IC (ad)
I even tried a new way of cooking the corn. I read online to fill a large pot halfway with water, bring it to a boil, then add a cup of milk, 1/2 cup of butter, and corn. Then cook it for 8 minutes and you have a juicy and delicious corn on the cob. For this cornbread recipe, I simply cooked the corn in milk and butter, then cut the kernels off of two medium-large cobs. 
Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread from LoveandConfections.com #FreshFromFlorida #IC (ad)
I also baked the cornbread in a cast iron skillet. I am still new to the cast iron cooking world, but have fallen in love with it. The skillet created a delicious crust on the cornbread that you wouldn’t normally get when using a regular baking dish or cake pan. I will definitely be using my cast iron skillet for more recipes this Summer.
Fresh From Florida and the Florida Department of Agriculture, promotes locally grown Florida produce and fresh seafood, and guarantees fresh and delicious food to inspire healthy and wholesome meals that the whole family will love. Visit the Florida Department of Agriculture to learn more about all the delicious seasonal produce and seafood, as well as the Fresh From Florida recipe page for more great ideas on using all the wonderful ingredients Florida has to offer this Summer. I hope you enjoy my Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread!

Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread #FreshFromFlorida #IC (ad)

Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread

By Love and Confections
Published 06/24/2016
Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread

Fresh from Florida Sweet Corn and Blueberries combine in a delicious cast iron skillet cornbread

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons Vegetable Oil
  • 1 cup Cornmeal
  • 1 cup + 2 tablespoons All Purpose Flour, divided
  • 2 teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 2 Large Eggs
  • 1 cup Buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 cup Florida Blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • 1 cup cooked Florida Sweet Corn Kernels

Instructions

  1. Pour vegetable oil into cast iron skillet. Place skillet into cold oven, then heat to 400F, making sure the oil is hot. Once hot, take out of the oven and using a pastry brush, brush the bottom and sides of the cast iron skillet to coat.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the cornmeal, 1 cup of flour, baking powder, salt, and granulated sugar.
  3. In a smaller bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk and butter together. Pour into dry ingredients and mix to combine. In another bowl, add the blueberries, corn, and 2 tablespoons flour. Toss to combine, then gently fold into the batter.
  4. Pour the batter into the hot cast iron skillet and level the top with a spatula. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the cornbread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

Yield: 12-16
Prep Time: 00 hrs. 20 mins.

Cook time: 00 hrs. 30 mins.
Total time: 50 mins.
Tags: Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread, Fresh from Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture, Sweet Corn, Cornbread, Blueberries, Skillet, Cast Iron

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!


Skillet Sweet Corn Blueberry Cornbread from LoveandConfections.com #FreshFromFlorida #IC (ad)

TAZO® Chai Latte and Cinnamon Tea Cookies #SweetMeetsSpicy #ChaiLatte

This post was sponsored by Starbucks as part of an Influencer Activation. I received compensation and complimentary products to facilitate my review.

Cinnamon Tea Cookies are the perfect accompaniment to TAZO® Chai Latte K-Cup® pods for sweet and spicy perfection.

TAZO® Chai Latte and Cinnamon Tea Cookies from LoveandConfections.com #SweetMeetsSpicy #ChaiLatte

Lattes are one of my favorite hot drinks. Every morning before culinary school my friend and I would trade off going to the local coffee shop for coffee and lattes. My usual order was a vanilla latte, because I had yet to discover my love of chai.

TAZO® Chai Latte and Cinnamon Tea Cookies from LoveandConfections.com #SweetMeetsSpicy #ChaiLatte

Fast forward a few years and I became the proud owner of a Keurig® brewer. One of my guilty pleasures is sipping a warm beverage on cold days, especially when a good movie is on the television or I have a good book to read. With a busy toddler, those days of relaxing and reading are few and far between. I do get relaxing moments to myself every so often, and TAZO® Chai Latte K-Cup® pods, with it’s rich, creamy taste of authentic TAZO® Chai Latte, help provide a spicy and sweet escape with every sip. The minute I smell it brewing, and taste the warm sweet and spicy chai latte, it becomes such a comfort.

TAZO® Chai Latte and Cinnamon Tea Cookies from LoveandConfections.com #SweetMeetsSpicy #ChaiLatte

If you’re not familiar with Chai, it is a blend of black tea, milk with a mix of spices, or “masala” in Hindi, the Chai spice mixture of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and vanilla flavor.  The new TAZO® Chai Latte K-Cup® pods allow you to explore a world of flavor from the comfort of your home. If that description doesn’t entice you enough, try a TAZO® Chai Latte for yourself, and you will definitely become a fan. It’s a little sweet, a little spicy and totally unexpected.

TAZO® Chai Latte and Cinnamon Tea Cookies from LoveandConfections.com #SweetMeetsSpicy #ChaiLatte

It was definitely hard to narrow down what recipe I wanted to create to go along with the TAZO® Chai Latte. After tasting both the TAZO® Chai Classic Latte and TAZO® Chai Vanilla Caramel Latte, I knew I had to make a recipe that compliments the sweet, spicy, and bold flavors. Bestselling author and host, Padma Lakshmi, developed a Cinnamon Tea Cookie and other recipes for TAZO®, and I knew it would be perfect. The soft cinnamon cookie paired well with the sweet cinnamon, fragrant cardamom, and spicy ginger of the Chai Lattes.

TAZO® Chai Latte and Cinnamon Tea Cookies from LoveandConfections.com #SweetMeetsSpicy #ChaiLatte

I can’t wait to create more recipes that highlight the cinnamon, cardamom, ginger and vanilla. Chai muffins, scones, cake, cupcakes, and ice cream are all on my baking to-do list now. I think my next chai goodie will be a doughnut – imagine a warm spicy doughnut with a sweet chai glaze – I can hardly wait! My whole family is sure to love it, and I can’t wait to have one with a warm chai latte, snuggled under a blanket, with my new book.

TAZO® Chai Latte and Cinnamon Tea Cookies from LoveandConfections.com #SweetMeetsSpicy #ChaiLatte

Grab a Cinnamon Tea cookie, TAZO® Chai Latte, and relax as your taste buds take you on an imaginary journey through exotic lands, invigorate you by the aromatic flavors, and leave your ready to travel around the world. You can find out where to buy TAZO® Chai Latte K-Cup® pods here, as well as follow TAZO® on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

I hope these cookies inspire you to celebrate the flavors of chai with TAZO®. Grab a cup!

Cinnamon Tea Cookies
From Padma Lakshmi for TAZO®
Yield approximately 30 cookies

Cinnamon Tea Cookie Ingredients:
– 1 & 1/3 cups flour
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
– 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder
– 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
– 1 cup sugar
– 10 tablespoons butter, softened
– 1 egg
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cinnamon Tea Cookie Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Sift all dry ingredients except the sugar together in a bowl. In another bowl, combine sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Combine contents of both bowls together to form a cohesive cookie dough.
3. Now, using your hands, make small balls about 1 inch in diameter with the dough. Place these balls 2 inches apart on a nonstick baking sheet or line a shallow sheet pan with aluminum foil and fill.
4. Bake these in the oven for 12–15 minutes or until just medium brown. Cool on a rack and store in airtight containers. Should last for up to 2 weeks.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Chocolate Eclairs

Chocolate Eclairs are one of my favorite pastries, with vanilla bean pastry cream and chocolate glaze. I created these delicious beauties for National Dairy Month with Florida Dairy Farmers and Sunday Supper.

Chocolate Eclairs from LoveandConfections.com #SundaySupper #JuneDairyMonth #FloridaMilk

One of the things I often ask people I meet is “what is your favorite dessert or pastry?” As a pastry chef, I love knowing what sweets other people like. When asked about mine, I don’t really have a favorite, but eclairs are definitely at the top of the list. Pastry cream is one of my favorite things to make. It’s amazing how milk, sugar and eggs, and a few more ingredients, can be transformed into something so rich and delicious.

Chocolate Eclairs from LoveandConfections.com #SundaySupper #JuneDairyMonth #FloridaMilk

I am partnering with Sunday Supper and Florida Dairy Farmers because June is National Dairy Month. For generations, Florida’s more than 130 dairy farming families have remained true to their values & committed to producing a fresh supply of wholesome, quality milk. These hardworking men & women are caretakers of their cows, stewards of the land, & leaders in their communities. I have never been able to visit a Florida dairy farm, but hope to one day, so I can see what it’s like to be on a Florida dairy farm and meet the farmers.

Chocolate Eclairs from LoveandConfections.com #SundaySupper #JuneDairyMonth #FloridaMilk

The state’s more than 130 dairy farms are primarily owned and operated by second and third-generation farmers. Most of the dairy cows living in Florida are Holsteins – the black and white cows. Lafayette and Okeechobee are Florida’s leading dairy counties and most Florida dairy herds range in size from 150 cows to 5,000 cows. With all those cows, Florida dairy farmers recycle about 170,000 tons of byproducts such as citrus pulp, brewers’ grain and whole cottonseed that are consumed by the cows instead of ending up in landfills. There are about 123,000 dairy cows in Florida that collectively produce about 2.34 billion pounds of milk a year. The total represents 277 million gallons of Florida-produced milk in the grocery store.

I absolutely love dairy, and we enjoy it every day. #ToddlerLnC starts her day with a sippy of milk, and I use milk in my morning cup of coffee. We use milk in smoothies and other recipes for lunch or dinner. Three cups of milk a day is recommended to get your daily allowance for dairy. Milk contains 9 essential nutrients and vitamins: protein, vitamins A, D, and B12, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, riboflavin, niacin, zinc, and magnesium.

Chocolate Eclairs from LoveandConfections.com #SundaySupper #JuneDairyMonth #FloridaMilk

Did you know that each Florida dairy cow produces about 6-8 gallons of milk each day and is milked 2-3 times per day? You can find out more about Florida Milk in the kitchen, in schools, and in the news at these links and by following them on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Chocolate Eclairs from LoveandConfections.com #SundaySupper #JuneDairyMonth #FloridaMilk



Chocolate Eclairs
Adapted from a culinary school recipe

Pastry Cream Ingredients:
 – 500 grams Whole Milk
 – 100 grams Granulated Sugar
 – 100 grams Egg Yolks
 – 100 grams Granulated Sugar
 – 40 grams Cornstarch
 – 75 grams Unsalted Butter
 – Seeds from 1 Vanilla Bean or 1 teaspoon Vanilla Bean Paste

Pastry Cream Directions:
 1. In a stainless steel pot (not aluminum) heat Milk and first measure of Sugar until sugar is dissolved and the milk is hot but not boiling.
 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the Egg Yolks, Sugar and Cornstarch. Temper* milk mixture into yolk mixture.
 3. Pour tempered egg mixture back into the pot and return to a boil, cooking about 2-3 minutes or until nappe**
 4. Strain the pastry cream through a fine mesh sieve into the bowl of your stand mixer and beat on the lowest speed. Add in the Butter and Vanilla Bean Seeds or Paste after it has cooled for a few minutes.
 5. Pour into a clean medium-sized bowl, cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface and allow it to cool to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator.
– It is best made the day before the Pate a Choux, so it has time to fully chill.

Pate a Choux Ingredients:
 – 240 grams Whole Milk
 – 113 grams Unsalted Butter (1 stick)
 – 2 grams Sugar
 – 2 grams Salt
 – 110 grams All Purpose Flour
 – 225 grams Eggs
 – 1 Egg for egg wash
 – Powdered Sugar (optional)

Pate a Choux Directions:
 1. Heat oven to 400F. Prepare sheet pans with parchment or silicone mats.
 2. Bring the Milk and Butter to a boil. Add in Flour, Salt and Sugar and cook on medium-high, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until a paste is formed. The mixture should form a ball or leave a film on the bottom of the pot.
 3. Remove from the heat and place in the bowl of your stand mixer with the paddle attachment. Beat on low for a minute then add in the eggs, one at a time, making sure the previous one is incorporated before adding the next one.
 4. Once all the eggs have been added and the mixture is a bit cooler, put in a piping bag fitted with a large circle tip. Pipe strips of choux on the sheet pans, trying to not create a point when lifting off. Using a pastry brush, or your fingers, gently brush the egg wash over the eclairs, trying to make sure there is no point sticking up.
 5. Bake at 400F for 5 minutes, then turn the oven down to 375F for the remaining time. It should take about 30 more minutes, or until the puffs are dry and golden brown. Do not crowd the oven. You might need to bake these in two batches.
 6. Let them cool completely before filling. To fill, gently pipe the pastry cream into the eclairs. Refrigerate or freeze until glaze is done.

Chocolate Glaze Ingredients:
– 5 ounces chocolate chips
– 1/2 cup heavy cream
– 1/2 tablespoon corn syrup

Chocolate Glaze Directions:
1. Place chocolate chips in a medium bowl. Heat Heavy cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan until it just starts to boil.
2. Pour the hot cream over the chips and let it sit for a minute. Whisk the chocolate and cream to make a ganache.
3. Gently dunk each eclair into the glaze and shake off any excess. Place onto baking sheet or serving tray. Chill until serving. Can be made ahead and chilled.

*Tempering: eggs are tempered when a hot liquid, usually milk, is slowly streamed into them, while whisking constantly, to bring the eggs up to a warm temperature without cooking them.
**Nappe: French term referring to a liquid “coating the back of a spoon”. With pastry cream, if you run your finger through the (hot) pastry cream on the back of a wooden spoon, the lines will stay separate.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!

Milk in the Morning:

Milk during the Day:

Milk in Desserts:

Sunday Supper MovementJoin the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement



Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Florida Dairy Farmers in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.

My #FreshFromFlorida Summer!

This post was sponsored by Fresh From Florida as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

Summer brings an abundance of Fresh From Florida fruits, vegetables and delicious seafood for everyone to enjoy!
My #FreshFromFlorida Summer by LoveandConfections.com


I was born and raised in the Sunshine State and love celebrating Summer. When I was a kid, Summer meant no school, pool parties, celebrating my birthday, barbecues, and catching lightning bugs after dark. Family cookouts, lazy days by the pool, and watching the sun set are still some of my favorite Summer activities.

Summer in Florida also brings an abundance of seasonal ingredients, seafood and fresh produce. Farmers’ markets and u-pick fields and orchards are a great way to find local fresh Florida produce. I love strolling through the market, picking up the tastiest fruits and veggies. Tomatoes and watermelons are delicious and juicy and cold watermelon is amazing on a hot Summer day.

My #FreshFromFlorida Summer by LoveandConfections.com

When tomatoes are in season, we eat them every day. Green salads and pasta salads get dressed up with vibrant tomatoes, and we usually have tomato and mozzarella caprese too. I love to make Eggplant, Tomato and Mozzarella Stacks with fresh Florida tomatoes and spicy arugula.

My #FreshFromFlorida Summer by LoveandConfections.com

I eagerly await blueberry season, and it is one of the most delicious and fun times during the year. My family and I load up on buckets of plump and juicy, sun-kissed blueberries. We eat them as-is, use them in baked goods, and freeze a bunch, so we have them available until the next blueberry season. I always have blueberries handy to make parfaits, sangria, crepes, and so much more.

My #FreshFromFlorida Summer by LoveandConfections.com

I have been blueberry picking with #ToddlerLnC since she was a baby. We go every year, and this year was so much fun. She picked, showed me each one, then promptly ate them, disregarding the bucket and my instructions to fill it up with blueberries. She probably ate her weight in blueberries.

My #FreshFromFlorida Summer by LoveandConfections.com

Sweet corn is another Summer treat. Grilled corn, with butter and a dash of salt is my favorite way to eat it. Farmers’ markets carry delicious corn, but it is always fun to go out into the fields and see where it is grown. We have one local farm that grows sweet corn, and also has a giant corn maze in the Fall. It can take anywhere from 1-4 hours to complete this maze.

My #FreshFromFlorida Summer by LoveandConfections.com

Fresh From Florida and the Florida Department of Agriculture, which promotes locally grown Florida produce and fresh seafood and guarantees fresh and delicious food to inspire healthy and wholesome meals that the whole family will love.

My #FreshFromFlorida Summer by LoveandConfections.com

I love cooking and baking with seasonal and local ingredients. What are your favorite Fresh from Florida ingredients?

You can find delicious Fresh From Florida recipes on their website, as well as follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Until next time,
LOVE & CONFECTIONS!