Financiers with a Summer Berry Salad for #SundaySupper

Jun 2, 2013 by lovelypantry

I’m so excited to be joining #SundaySupper again after what seems to be a very long time. I have missed you all, and all the interaction that comes along with blogging! Life has a funny way of forcing you to slow down, so I did the  best thing for me – I slowed all the way down. I’m getting stronger and well enough to get back into the blogging spirit and share some wonderful recipes with you. Today’s recipe is a good one. So simple and light, you’ll love it. The theme for today’s #SundaySupper is Summer Berries and well, lets just say that we haven’t been short on berries around here recently. Whether fresh or frozen, we have berries for either a quick snack or for smoothies. Our host today is Nicole from Daily Dish Recipes!

One  thing that I would love to accomplish this summer, is taking my children berry picking. I don’t have a preference of what berry…I just really want to pick! I am getting excited at the thought of picking strawberries and freezing them for smoothies, or baking with them. I know my kids will absolutely love that experience. I’m also looking forward to my first trip for the season to my local Farmer’s Market! I went the year before last and had a blast! I’ll let you all know when I get to go, because no doubt, I will have my camera with me to capture all the beautiful Ontario produce.

So back to todays recipe, Financiers with a Summer Berry Salad. The salad is so easy to make and such a wonderful way to enjoy your berries.  Financiers are French in origin and are basically mini cakes made with almond flour. They are very light, moist and every time I make them, they always seem to be finished too soon. The berries are the perfect accompaniment to the sweet, almond infused mini-muffins.

 

 

 

I truly adore summer berries. I have such an appreciation for them because growing up in Jamaica, these berries are imported and are quite expensive. I only enjoyed and indulged in these fruits when I travelled to the U.S. for summer holidays. I personally prefer baking with blueberries. I like raspberries as prepared in this recipe. But I will eat strawberries all day long. This season, I will get my heart’s desire!

 

 

I prefer to make my fruit salad in advance and have it chilled so it can be served once the financiers are cool.

 

 

I recommend using silicone mini-muffin cups for this recipe. I tried making it directly in the muffin pan twice, and got poor results each time. The edges were slightly overdone and became rather hard once cooled. I got the best results using the silicone cups.

 

 

These financiers are excellent on their own, but they go so nicely with fruit. We have also had financiers with raspberry jam, and it is just as nice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find inspiration for summer berries from the #SundaySupper members in the links below. Pin the ones you know for sure are keepers. Share your favourites on Facebook! Lets get into the summer spirit!

I hope you enjoyed today’s recipe. It’s a favourite in my home and I hope you’ll enjoy it too.

 

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Breakfast & Brunch

• Angel Food French Toast with Blueberry Lemon Sauce by Neighborfood
• Blueberry Lemon Baked Doughnuts by Small Wallet, Big Appetite
• Blueberry Rhubarb Baked Oatmeal by Pies and Plots
• Overnight Strawberry Stuffed French Toast by In The Kitchen With KP
• The Best Blueberry Muffin by Supper For a Steal

Sweet & Savory Berry Recipes

• Herbed Pork Tenderloin with Wild Blueberry Sauce by Noshing With The Nolands
• Red, White, and Blue Chicken Salad by MarocMama
• BBQ Strawberry Pizza by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner

Jams, Jelly, Sauces & More

• Blackberry Ketchup by Healthy. Delicious
• Four-Berry Jelly by Blueberries and Blessings
• Mixberry Jam with Merlot by The Urban Mrs
• Roasted Strawberry Tarragon Butter by Gourmet Drizzles
• Strawberry Freezer Jam by Growing Up Gabel

Desserts

• Strawberry Crumb Bars by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
• No-Bake Frozen Berrylicious Cracker Cake by Shockingly Delicious
• Strawberry Cream Cheese Dessert by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Sugar Chips by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Lattice-Top Blueberry Pie by Hip Foodie Mom
• Caramelized White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake by Vintage Kitchen
• Strawberry Shortcakes by Juanita’s Cocina
• Berrylicious Ice Cream by NinjaBaking.com
• Stove Top Berry Crumble by Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Strawberry Yogurt Popsicle by Mama’s Blissful Bites
• Peggy’s Cove Blueberry Grunt by Kudos Kitchen By Renee
• Chocolate-Raspberry Yoghurt Cookies by What Smells So Good?
• Strawberry Ice Cream by Basic N Delicious
• Financiers with a Summer Berry Salad by The Lovely Pantry
• Strawberry Pretzel Salad by Curious Cuisiniere
• Strawberry-Chocolate Frozen Yogurt Parfaits by The Weekend Gourmet
• Summer Berry Salad with a Honey Citrus Dressing by Runner’s Tales
• Strawberry Pop-Tart Ice Cream by Foxes Love Lemons
• Strawberries with Cannoli Cream  by Comfy Cuisine
• Almond Cake with Blackberry Mascarpone Filling by Ruffles & Truffles
• Oregon Strawberry Sundae {Dairyfree} by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
• Blackberry Pie w/Brandied Whipped Cream by Webicurean
• Vo-Vo’s Famous Strawberry Cheesecake by Family Foodie
• Raspberry Mousse by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Mini Strawberry Cheesecake with Walnut Crust by Soni’s Food
• Salted Caramel Strawberries With a Crunchy Nut Coating by Sue”s Nutrition Buzz
• Strawberry Blueberry Stuffed Monkey Bread by Daily Dish Recipes

Cocktails, Drinks & Smoothies

• Berry Berry Smoothie by Momma’s Meals
• Blueberry Infused Vodka by Big Bear’s Wife
• Blueberry Moscow Mule with Homemade Ginger Beer by I Run For Wine
• Goji Berry Martini by Magnolia Days
• Irish Cobbler by girlichef

Party Planning

• Recipes + Tips to Create A Summer Berry Cocktail Bar by An Appealing Plan

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Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday, April 14th to talk all about movies that have inspired us to head into the kitchen – and the food that comes from that inspiration (7pm EST)!  We’ll tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world.   Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag, and include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.

 ** Look what we’re sponsoring! Come join us in sunny Orlando, this July! **

Learn more at www.foodandwineconference.com

 You really DON’T want to miss it!

 

 

 

 

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Peach and Berry Cobbler for a Movie Inspired #SundaySupper

Apr 14, 2013 by lovelypantry

Today’s #SundaySupper is so cool! We are all doing a post inspired by a special or favourite movie. Have you been able to think of a food or beverage and immediately connect it to a movie? You know, like how Carrie has her special Cosmopolitan and Bond has his Martini “shaken, not stirred.” You get the idea. Our host today is none other than Heather from GirliChef! Check out Heather’s awesome recipes on her blog.

I chose the movie Soul Food. I loved the movie so naturally, I loved the series too. I watched every single episode. I laughed. I cried. I crushed. Yes, Boris Kodjoe is the ish! I’m over him now, but back then….just looking at him made my day. I loved the series so much that I jumped at the chance to be an extra in one of the episodes. That’s right. I was on set for about 12 hours, mostly doing nothing – but I was there. It’s too bad I have no idea what season or episode it was. Ha! Ah well.

In the movie, I loved that every Sunday the family got together and had a big meal that everyone would enjoy. It was a time to catch up, work out issues, and share joys. You see, I believe I loved it because the values portrayed in the movie were similar to mine. The focus, aside from all the drama and family bickering, was always on family and bringing them back together after tremendous turmoil. Family first. I love a good drama. If you haven’t seen Soul Food (1997), it’s definitely an oldie but goodie.

It’s too  bad that the idea of Soul Food generally means something deep fried, sugar filled or unhealthy but incredibly tasty. Today I’m sharing a recipe that is a cleaner version of a Soul Food dessert. I wanted to try it because 1. I have never made a cobbler before and 2. I’m coming off a juice fast and I need a sweet treat that won’t throw me off my goal. I love that there are fruits and that the cake is made with spelt flour. Totally my kind of dessert!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the links to some wonderful recipes. Check them out!

Toast (bready things)

• Scones (inspired by Tea with Mussolini) – Country Girl in the Village
• Croque Monsieur (inspired by It’s Complicated) – That Skinny Chick Can Bake!!!
• “Eat Me” Blueberry Lemon Scones (inspired by Alice in Wonderland) – The Messy Baker
• Dog Bone Breadsticks (inspired by Frankenweenie) – The Urban Mrs.
• Individual Deep Dish Pizzas (inspired by Mystic Pizza) – Momma’s Meals
• Basic Bread Recipe (inspired by Agora) – Masala Herb
• Mystical Double Cheese Pizza (inspired by Mystic Pizza) – Webicurean
• Vanilla Cinnamon Pancakes (inspired by No Reservations) – Pies and Plots

No Reservations (soups and salads)

• 10-Minute Potato Ham Soup with Pesto Swirl (inspired by Julie & Julia) – Shockingly Delicious
• Alaska Smoked Salmon, Celery, and Apple Salad (inspired by Salmon Fishing in the Yemen) – Pescetarian Journal

Today’s Special (fish, chicken, beef, and pork)

• الدار البيضاء Fish Tajine (inspired by Casablanca) – Maroc Mama
• Beef and Onions Braised in Beer (inspired by Julie & Julia) – Magnolia Days
• Spicy Seared Tuna with Balsamic Reduction (inspired by Big Fish) – I Run For Wine
• Slow Cooker Braised Short Ribs (inspired by Brave) – Big Bear’s Wife
• Puerco Pibil (inspired by Once Upon a Time in Mexico) – From the Bookshelf

Forks Over Knives (veggie-heavy dishes and sides)

• Eggplant in Garlic Sauce (inspired by The Joy Luck Club) – Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Beet Chips (inspired by Food Matters) – girlichef
• Ratatouille (inspired by Ratatouille) – Noshing With The Nolands
• Mushroom and Asparagus Mini Quiches (inspired by Sixteen Candles) – Home Cooking Memories
• Veg Samosas (inspired by Monsoon Wedding) – My Cute Bride
• Not So Fried Green Tomatoes (inspired by Fried Green Tomatoes) – Mama.Mommy.Mom
• Roasted Taters with Bacon (inspired by Lord of the Rings) – Curious Cuisiniere
• Goat Cheese Basil Grits (inspired by Fried Green Tomatoes) – Diabetic Foodie

Udon (pasta and noodles)

• Big Night Timpano (inspired by Big Night) – Kimchi Mom
• Better Baked Mac & Cheese (inspired by Soul Food) – What Smells So Good?
• Spaghetti with Meatballs and Gravy (inspired by Lady and the Tramp) – Juanita’s Cocina
• Spicy Sichuan Noodles (inspired by Eat Drink Man Woman) – Food Lust People Love
• Chicken Tchoupitoulas Pasta (inspired by Last Holiday) – Gourmet Drizzles

Just Desserts (sweet treats)

• The Best Chocolate Cake (inspired by Chocolat) – The Foodie Army Wife
• Chocolate Almond Torte with Raspberries (inspired by Chocolat) – Vintage Kitchen
• Iocane-Dusted Brownies of Unusual Size (BOUS’) (inspired by The Princess Bride) – The Cooking Actress
• Minny’s Chocolate Pie (inspired by The Help) – Daily Dish Recipes
• Pao de Lo | Portuguese Bundt Sponge Cake (inspired by My Big Fat Greek Wedding) – Family Foodie
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie (inspired by Life of Pi) – No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
• Fantasia Cakes (inspired by Disney’s Fantasia) – NinjaBaking. com
• Chocolate Dipped Almond Coconut Bars (inspired by Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) – Kudos Kitchen By Renee
• (Gluten Free) Orange Soda Pound Cake (inspired by Joe Vs The Volcano) – Blueberries and Blessings
• Peach and Berry Cobbler (inspired by Soul Food) – The Lovely Pantry
• Golden Ticket Peanut Butter-Pretzel Truffles (inspired by Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) – Weekend Gourmet
• French Macarons (inspired by Marie Antoinette) – Happy Baking Days
• Pistachio and Cherry Cannoli Cups (inspired by The Godfather) – Peanut Butter and Peppers

Bottle Shock (beverages)

• Raspberry Cordial (inspired by Anne of Green Gables) – NeighborFood
• Grapefruit Flirtini (inspired by Sex and the City) – Ruffles & Truffles
• Wines To Pair With #SundaySupper Movie-Inspired Recipes (inspired by Sideways) – ENOFYLZ Wine Blog

 

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Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday, April 14th to talk all about movies that have inspired us to head into the kitchen – and the food that comes from that inspiration (7pm EST)!  We’ll tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world.   Follow the#SundaySupper hashtag, and include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more delicious recipes and food photos.

Announcing the Food & Wine Conference sponsored by Sunday Supper! It’s being held July 19th – 21st in beautiful, sunny Orlando, FL. It’s a must for food bloggers. Check it out by clicking here → Food & Wine Conference

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Blueberry Muffins with Cinnamon Streusel & Blog Appreciation

Apr 1, 2012 by lovelypantry

One night late last week, I stayed up late to make muffins for my husband and his co-workers. They are doing an internal course in order to advance within the organization. Let me tell you. The work load is what I consider “University INTENSIFIED”. It’s a lot of work and pressure, especially for those who have families and responsibilities. Time management and balance is key. I thought it would be a nice gesture to send something home-made and not some sugar spiked junk from the coffee shop. They need nourishment as well as encouragement over the next few months and beyond. I figured blueberry muffins were portable and universally enjoyed.

I made these muffins for the first time over a year ago and my husband really liked it – we all did. I actually misplaced the recipe that I had found online. Do you know how many Blueberry Muffin recipes are online???? Luckily I found it (phew) and got to baking around 1am.

Yes, 1 AM.

I wanted to have the muffins as fresh as possible since this Diva doesn’t do early very well. Everyone enjoyed the muffins and my husband totally appreciated me making them for the guys. I’m sure he must have been very happy to wake up to that wonderful aroma of muffins at five o’clock in the morning. Thank you dear husband, for leaving a few muffins behind for the family to enjoy 🙂

 

 

 

This recipe is slightly adapted from a recipe found at The Family Kitchen on Babble

 

I prefer Blueberries cooked rather than fresh. Or in a smoothie. However I end up having them, I always enjoy it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know, we don’t eat muffins with a fork. Well, I kinda do…sometimes.. 🙂

 

 

Take a Big Blueberry BITE!

 

 

Hey, speaking of appreciation… I’ve had some really awesome food bloggers give me some wonderful awards! I’m so humbled and thankful that my online foodie friends thought of me to give me these awards. So very humbled. I love what I do here at The Lovely Pantry and as I continue to grow, it’s really encouraging to know that there are people out there who understand what it takes to do this. We blog for many reasons including the love of food, the art of cooking, the love of sharing, the love of community and my personal favourite – photography. It feels great knowing that there are people cheering you on! I’m going to share the love in my next post.

 

Have a wonderful Sunday!

~Lyn

 

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Buttermilk Quick Bread

Mar 7, 2012 by lovelypantry

I’m quite fond of quick breads. I love how easy they are to make and the wide variety and variations of each recipe that I come across. I have yet to make a quick bread that I did not like. Granted, I scrutinize the ingredients very carefully before I decide to make it. Please allow me to formally introduce you to Buttermilk Quick Bread. A very simple bread that I have been making on the weekends if I have any buttermilk in the fridge. I found this recipe on one of my daily sources of inspiration: The Kitchn, and knew as soon as I saw it, that I was going to make it. I’ve made it 4 times already – twice plain, once with raisins and this past weekend, with blueberries. Versatile little quick bread, isn’t it? The original post, has a few other variations that look interesting to try too – like Pesto Loaf. (Are you imagining a green quick bread?)

I love that this plain bread is like a canvas. You can tweak it to your liking and chances are, it will turn out great.

 

The consistency of the batter is quite thick, so you have to gently spread into the corners with a spatula.

 

 

Ah! Perfection!

 

 

It’s best to use a serrated knife to cut this bread since it is a bit delicate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like that because the batter was so thick, the raisins didn’t have the chance to sink to the bottom of the pan 🙂 For some recipes with a batter of thinner consistency, like the Ginger Carrot Bread, you have to toss the raisins (or small fruit like blueberries) in flour before folding them into the batter. So nice that I was able to skip that step.

 

 

Finally, with Blueberries. I wanted to cut the loaf to take a quick photograph however, I was entertaining so I did not want to cut it before we were ready to eat it. Everyone loved it!

 

 

Happy Wednesday! I hope the week has been off to an awesome start! I’ll be back soon.

Cheers for now.

Lyn

 

 

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Banana Berry Smoothie

Feb 23, 2012 by lovelypantry

I haven’t posted a smoothie to The Lovely Pantry in a while. My first (and only) smoothie post thus far was the Banana Nutmeg Smoothie. I think its safe to say that every smoothie that I make will have a banana in it. Everything else is purely optional. For  the past week, I’ve been eating soft foods and so smoothies almost became mandatory – which is great. I’ve been whipping up smoothies for me and the kids, and even allowing them to choose some of the ingredients. Great!

 

 

I generally keep smoothies pretty simple. Occasionally, I’ll add vegetables or a flavoured protein powder (if I’m making just for me).

 

 

 

Frozen berries are always in my freezer specifically for smoothies. That way I have them on hand throughout the year and also I don’t have to add ice. I’ll use frozen bananas too if I don’t have fresh on hand. Whatever works, right?

 

 

My cousin told me that she adds spinach to her smoothies. I’ve been putting it in my smoothies ever since. You don’t even know it’s there. But I let my son put it in the blender so that he knows there is goodness his smoothie.

 

 

 

 

 

And here you have a healthy and refreshing breakfast drink!

 

 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Take good care of yourselves 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

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