I am astonished and proud at how many of my friends are in the process of publishing or have published cookbooks over the past few years. Lucy’s book made me want to travel the country, Todd and Diane’s photographs in this book made me want to be a better photographer, and Helene’s book forced me to look at light in a whole new way.

When Heather asked me if I would be interested in checking out her new book, Generous Table, my answer was an exuberant, YES. Heather and I have been reading each other’s blog for years and witnessing the birth of her new “baby” was a wonderful journey to watch her go on. After drooling over her recipes, it was a toss up as to what I was going to make first. It was between the Chocolate Caramel Mousse, Blackberry Jalapeno Margarita, and this caramel sauce.

Anyone who knows me, knows that caramel “anything” is my drug of choice. On the dessert menu it is the dessert with the word caramel in it that I gravitate toward and a Sees Scotch-Mallow is all I really need to take me to that happy place.

With some homemade ice cream in the freezer and a batch of freshly made dark chocolate almond bark, caramel sauce seemed like the perfect accessory. And the perfect accessory it was, especially with that little bit of a tequila kick!

Heather’s book is filled with stories, rich recipes, and super easy entertaining ideas. I am so in love with this book that I want one of my readers to have a copy of this timeless treasure in their home library. It’s easy to enter and only takes a few minutes.

How to Enter

You have until Sunday, May 4th, 12 midnight PST to enter this giveaway. The Winner will be chosen via random.org and will have 2 days to respond or a new winner will be selected. U.S.A. residents only.

You can enter multiple times by leaving a separate comment for each of the following steps listed below:

• tell me your favorite ice cream accessory.
• go to Heather’s Facebook page and like her page.
• go to The Urban Baker’s facebook page and like me!
• tweet about this giveaway. make up one of your own or tweet this sample message: pls RT @theurbanbaker has a copy of @heatherchristo new #cookbook #giveaway  http://su.pr/2VjfKF• follow @susansalzman on Twitter
• follow Heather on Twitter
• follow my pin boards on Pinterest
• follow @susansalzman on Instagram
• sign up for my RSS feeds and receive my blog posts each week
• Stumble this post and follow me (and see who I follow) @theurbanbaker on StumbleUpon.

Good Luck!

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 42 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Caramel sauce, dessert, Giveaway, ice cream, tequila

I am a morning person. Regardless if one is a morning person or not, getting 5 people ready in the morning and out of the house on time can be a bit chaotic. Thank goodness I am organized. By the time my eldest wakes at 6:00 a.m., lunches are packed, I have read the latest news on the Huffington, and have had my first and only cup of coffee.

Eli likes his breakfast. Usually oatmeal, pancakes, eggs and omelets, and the occasional protein shake. Isaac could care less(generally a piece of fruit with almond butter or a protein shake) and Levi is easy; oatmeal or pancakes ( he LOVES his carbs). Weekends are my opportunity to make special breakfasts and baked egg dishes are high on the list. The invitation to Kitchen PLAY’s ”Breakfast Duo” challenge came at the perfect time. It came during the week of Passover and during those eight days, eggs, cheese, fruit (avocado), and veggies become a huge part of our repertoire. It’s either that or matzoh and as we are primarily a gluten free home, matzohs are kept at a distance.

The challenge was to create something using Avocados from Mexico and Jarlsberg cheese. In our house, eggs and cheese go hand and hand, and can be found in an omelet at least one morning during the week. Baked eggs are great for a crowd and this recipe, inspired by my friend Nancy, is one of those dishes. Every year she hosts “Break Fast” on Yom Kippur for 100 people. Forget the bagels and lox, instead it is this dish that I most look forward to as I break my 24 hour fast for atoning for my “sins”.

The original recipe called for jack cheese which was easily swapped out for the Jarlsberg. I introduced the use of avocados two ways. Simply on their own (perfectly good, sprinkled with a bit of Celtic sea salt) and added to a homemade, spicy tomatillo sauce. I, personally, liked the avocado-tomatillo combo, but my kids liked their avocado naked.

A Sunday morning breakfast feels extra special when it is served in individual cast iron skillets. Fresh squeezed orange juice and some baked bacon on the side was a great beginning to a lazy Sunday.

In addition to offering more tasty breakfast ideas, Avocados from Mexico has an amazing Giveaway!

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 10 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: avocado, Baked Eggs, Breakfast Duo, Chilis, Jarlsberg Cheese, Kitchen Play, Tomatillo Sauce

Last night was the first night of Passover (this is a cute video Isaac’s Hebrew school teacher sent us). It’s tradition that you create a Seder meal the first two nights of Passover. This year, for the first time in a long time, we are only doing one. Like most holiday’s, Passover is a time to gather with family, honor our heritage and traditional foods, and show gratitude to those that sacrificed before us. In the past, Passover was the holiday dreaded by my boys. Giving up foods, for one week, was almost as bad as shutting off the satellite for two weeks (yes, I really did that). Since giving up gluten, Passover is much less of a challenge than it has been in years past.

This year, the first night of Passover will be celebrated in our home. This is not a holiday that I generally host. But with my sister-in-law’s house under construction, I offered to create the meal. As you know from previous posts(read here, here, and here), I like to plan, so cooking for 22 and not just the usual 5, is not as daunting to me as would be for others. I always make it a point to make a few new dishes. This year I made my friend, Lisa’s Matzoh Kugel (deli-sh!), gefilte fish, and a feta cream spread for the patties.

The first thing I did was create the meal plan. I knew I didn’t want to serve soup this year, instead I focused on the sides. With a bit of planning and a lot of prepping, list making, and time management, my meal was pretty much complete by Sunday evening. My goal on Monday was to simply bake off the desserts (ingredients were measured and organized Sunday night), make the feta spread, assemble the matzoh kugel and farfel, and pan fry the patties. By 9:00 a.m., I was free. A hike, lunch with my mom and Levi, and a short cat nap was all accomplished before everyone arrived at 5:00 p.m.

I have made these Leek + Turkey Patties in the past, but this time I made a feta cream spread to accompany it. What a beautiful combo!

I do admit to eating the Gefilte fish that comes in a jar. I know, it’s kind of gross. Making it yourself, using Ungar’s frozen loaves is my newest Passover must have and obsession. I read a bunch of chat rooms on how best to cook it and for me, simply placing it in a small dutch oven with some carrots, onions, celery, Celtic sea salt, pepper, and paprika, and covered with water was the path that I took. Baked in the oven for about 1 1/2 – 2 hours and refrigerated overnight – it’s that easy. This is one of those dishes that I could become addicted to.

My grandma Rose’s matzoh farfel was something I grew up on and couldn’t get enough of. I cannot remember the last time I made it and this year I was craving it. Jewish food, in my opinion, can be a bit monochromatic (yellow and brown). Adding spinach to her original recipe gave me what I miss most on these holidays – GREEN!

Desserts have never been a fan favorite on this particular holiday. After much research and lots of trial and error, I have come up with a few that will be passed on to my grandchildren one day. This chocolate cake, these cookies, and some of our favorite homemade ice creams (accessorized with chocolate sauce and caramel sauce) was a dessert table that made both the kids and the adults shout with praises. Red wine, homemade lemonade, and green iced tea was on the beverage menu and I can honestly say, no one left our home hungry.

Passover is all about setting yourself free. How are you going to set yourself free in the coming year and challenge yourself to tasks that you might be too fearful to otherwise tackle? I would love to hear from you!

More Passover Dishes around the Web:
Kale Matzo Brei Recipe – Ingredients Inc.
Lemon Honey Cheesecake – The Shiksa
Rosemary Almond Cake – Meal and a Spiel

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: farfel, feta cheese, holidays, kugel, leeks, matzoh, Passover, turkey patties

If my kids had their way our pantry would be loaded up with spicy chips, frozen pizza snacks, noodles with freeze dried whatever – packaged in a Styrofoam container, cream filled sandwich cookies, and fake meat packaged in plastic with a piece of candy on the side. They see their friends eating this stuff, so why can’t they? My general response, “because it’s crap”. End of conversation.

I spend a lot of time trying to come up with snacks that can not only be a wonderful addition to their lunch box, but can also satisfy hunger pangs or a sweet tooth craving. Having healthy options both in the cupboards and the fridge allows my kids to make smart choices. Ice cream is only in the house if I make it (and usually for a special occasion), and chips have been almost omitted completely. We still like these with our tuna or just on their own.

What I do keep on hand are nuts, all kinds of nuts. Raw cashews, almonds, peanuts, hazelnuts, walnuts, and pistachios can always be found in the freezer. Turning them into a sweet and spicy snack is something I love to experiment with. Not only are they delish on their own, but they great in baked goods, salads, and sprinkled on top of my morning oatmeal.

Our local farmer’s markets has a few vendors that I love. When berries are in season, I buy lots and flash freeze them. Berries make wonderful handpies, smoothies, and jams.

I have been really, really hard to eliminate sugar from my diet. So hard. These vegan date nut truffles are helping me overcome my addiction. The kids love them in their lunch box and they seem to be the perfect afternoon pick me up. Chocolate sauce can always be found on the door of our fridge, cocoa hazelnut spread is a house hold favorite, and these fruit skewers are so cute that no one can resist them.

When my kids get home from school they want a meal. After greeting me when they walk in the door with a kiss and a hug, the first words they utter are, “I’m STARVING”. I can’t always whip up a meal, especially since dinner is simply 2 hours away, but I can offer them dips, savory hand pies, and an occasional grilled sandwich. Salsa, hummus or white bean dip, guacamole, and homemade pizza sauce translates into a welcome savory snack.

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Read the rest of Kitchen Prep + Meal Planning: Step 4 ~ Unprocessed Snacks + Maple Glazed Almonds (587 words)

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Gluten Free, maple syrup, nuts, snacks, unprocessed

Yesterday was Sunday. My favorite day of the week. No lunches to pack, no sporting events to race to, and no errands. It is my day to organize, clean, and prep for the busy week ahead. Sweat pants is the outfit of choice and if I am lucky, the kids go on their merry way and I am left, alone, to enjoy a nice quiet house.

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Read the rest of Kitchen Prep + Meal Planning: Step 3 ~ Breakfast Prep + Gluten Free Muffins (944 words)

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: chocolate chips, dessert, Gluten Free, muffin, vegetarian, walnuts, zucchini

Yesterday was the “big game”. It’s was also Sunday, the day that I spend my morning prepping for the week ahead. Knowing what needs to get done allows me to not stress over the double batch of chili that simmered on my stove. Because I am organized, it didn’t throw me off my normal game.

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Read the rest of Kitchen Prep + Meal Planning: Step 2 ~ Sunday Prep + A Big Bowl of Chili (746 words)

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: beef, chili, Gluten Free, main course, one pot meal

The key to getting whole, unprocessed weeknight meals on the table in 40 minutes or less comes down to prep and organization. I am always met with awe and a “how do you do that” when talking about what shows up on our weeknight dinner table. It’s time consuming, but it is so worth it. Meal planning and knowing what’s on the menu each night helps keep me on task. Having veggies washed, dried, and chopped, stocks, marinara’s, and sauces frozen in 1 quart containers, and condiments like teriyaki sauce and homemade barbecue sauce bottled and ready to use makes weeknights in the kitchen almost effortless.

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Read the rest of Kitchen Prep + Meal Planning: Step 1 ~ Baked Turkey Quinoa Meatballs (627 words)

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 14 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: dinner, easy weeknight meal, Gluten Free, marinara, meatball, organic, Pasta, turkey

Sometimes, Thursday’s role around and all I really want to do is grab a friend and sneak out to a 10 a.m. movie. Eat popcorn for lunch and then come home and take a nap before the kids get home. This is merely a fantasy (aside from an occasional nap) and dinner on this particular day of the week can be easily coined, “use it up, Thursday”.

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Read the rest of Crispy Polenta Bolognese (540 words)

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

For those of you that have children, I am sure you (like me) spend your Saturday’s and Sunday’s at the park or gym, watching children, small and large, playing with balls. Basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, baseballs, and lacrosse balls. Three boys, 3-6 games(depending on Isaac’s travel basketball schedule), spent at the park and gym.

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Read the rest of Gluten Free Chocolate Almond + Orange Tea Cakes (686 words)

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2013. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: bite size, Cake, chocolate, dessert, Gluten Free, muffin, orange, tea cake, unprocessed

It’s New Years Eve. A new year is about to begin and new beginnings are on the horizon. Two weeks ago, Eli started a new school and he is a completely new person. One of confidence, maturity, and someone I love spending time with. Middle school has empowered Isaac in more ways than one. He’s enjoying learning(and thriving), playing on all the team sports, and runs the neighbors dogs, 3 times per week, and he gets paid. Levi is growing and soaring, continuing to surprise me with the things he says, the way he thinks, and his humor. M is expanding his business. And my mantra “I AM” (rather than the opposite, “I am not”) has opened up so many new and wonderful business and personal opportunities. I am very excited about what is around the corner.

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Read the rest of Homemade Hazelnut Chocolate Cream + A Cake (568 words)

© Susan for The Urban Baker, 2012. | Permalink | 15 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: butter, chocolate, Gluten Free, grain free, hazelnut, homemade nutella, paleo