Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Crispy Fruit Chews



Oh, yes, I was a whirling dervish in the kitchen this weekend. I baked up a storm and then some! I don't even want to think about the number of hours my oven was on, but I'm sure next month's gas bill will be a bit higher than usual. I have a feeling this coming weekend will be similar, so it's a good thing that I truly enjoy baking and cooking.

Like many of you, I find my time in the kitchen to be therapeutic at best or a fantastic distraction at the very least. Sometimes, I'll just turn the TV up in the other room to have some background noise. More often, I rock out while I'm cooking and baking. Of course, sometimes, I just need to be alone with my thoughts and my recipes.

The entire process is so satisfying to me; meticulously reviewing a recipe and then following the steps, messing up the kitchen along the way, but cleaning it as soon as the hands-on preparation is complete. I love the feeling of looking around my once-again spotless (well, close enough) kitchen just as my meal or baked good is ready. Above all else, though, the most pleasurable part of cooking and baking is sharing the final product with someone else. While it's not often that I have the opportunity to cook a meal for another, I always share my baked goods. It's a great way to create good will in the office or to show someone I care.

These outrageously delicious Crispy Fruit Chews were the result of a test recipe for the upcoming Sweet Freedom cookbook. I shared them with my mom and my guitar teacher (after I sampled them, of course). They were a huge hit!

I have so much more to share with you from my weekend baking extravaganza. Don't worry; I made a few savory dishes, too!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh, my, you make them look so good! (Sorry about the gas bill) ;)

I'm like you when it comes to baking--I find it incredibly therapeutic (though I must admit I don't do the immediate cleanup--our place sometimes looks like the back of a restaurant kitchen!!).

Looking forward to seeing all the savory goodies, too. :)

aTxVegn said...

Those look great! I loved them and I can't wait to make them again.

Jen Treehugger said...

Oh that's such a lovely post - you took the words right out of my mouth. Those look totally scrummy and I can't wait to see what else you been up to.
:)

Sheree' said...

I agree my kitchen is my place of peace. I think these bars look really good. A healthy version of rice krispie treats. Way to go!

Anonymous said...

I looooved these bars! I don't like bills, though. I'm glad you found solice dans ta cuisine...je fais souvent pareil. :)

Liz Ranger (Bubble Tea for Dinner) said...

oh, I love hearing you describe your time in the kitchen! I regard it as similarly precious me-time, and yes, I do rock out and really enjoy cleaning everything up once the stuff's in the oven. I even enjoy watching the clock tick down until the food is ready, yes, I'm weird.

oh, and those bars = crispy wow!