Month: April 2016

Fresh Red Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Bread

/ Jodi / 65 Comments

Fresh Red Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Bread

I obviously cannot get enough of the red raspberry and semi-sweet chocolate combination as evidenced by today’s AMAZING recipe – Fresh Red Raspberry & Chocolate Chunk Bread.

You may recall my “almost-famous” Fresh Red Raspberry and Chocolate Chunk Cookies.  If you haven’t tried these – you seriously do not know what you are missing.

I’ve also shared my recipe for Chocolate Chunk and Fresh Red Raspberry Muffins – TO DIE FOR!  And the outrageously extraordinary Chocolate and Raspberry Custard in a Jar that I copy-catted from Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill Restaurant for my son, Nick’s birthday recently.

But I must say – this bread is rocking my world right now.  I could not believe how awesome it turned out.  It is pretty much just like the cookies, but in the form of bread (which means you can more easily justify eating it for breakfast – if not any other time of the day!)

Fresh Red Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Bread 2

I sliced the end off for the photo thinking I would take a little taste to make sure it is edible and then just toss that tough old crusty end to avoid the calories – but…  I just couldn’t do it.  Even the crusty end was delicious beyond words!

Fresh Red Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Bread 3

I’m telling you friends – you really want to try this one!

For yourself – for the people you love – and for those that you want to love you!

I can’t wait to hear what you think.

Get baking!

Fresh Red Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Bread

Ingredients:Fresh Red Raspberry Chocolate Chunk Bread

2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch of salt (6 shakes!)
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk (to make easy buttermilk – mix 1 Tbsp vinegar with 1 cup milk and let set 5 min)
1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups fresh red raspberries
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips (I used Nestle Chunks)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray one 9×5-inch loaf pan with floured cooking spray, or grease and flour the pan; set aside.

In a large bowl, add flour, sugars, baking soda, salt, and whisk to combine; set aside.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt butter about 45 seconds on high power. To the butter, add the egg, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and whisk to combine.

Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until just combined.  Do not over mix or dough will be “tough.” It is ok if batter is lumpy.

In a medium bowl, add the raspberries and 2 tablespoons flour.  Toss lightly to combine Coating the berries in flour helps to reduce their sinking while baking.

Add the raspberries to the batter and fold very lightly to combine.  Gently fold in chocolate chunks.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for approximately 1 hour.  You may want to cover halfway through with tented foil to prevent top from becoming too brown.  I did.

Allow bread to cool in pan for about 15 minutes before turning out on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing and serving.

*Original Recipe Found and Slightly Adapted from Averie Cooks

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Compassion

/ Jodi / 69 Comments
world love abstract

“Compassion” Original Watercolor – Jodi McKinney

Skip the religion and politics,
head straight to the compassion.
everything else is a distraction.
                                                                   – talib kweli

A while back, I read this quote shared by Beth at I Didn’t Have My Glasses On ,
and it hit me like a brick!
Went straight to the heart, and stuck with me.

I recently did this little abstract watercolor.
To me, it resembles the world surrounded by a heart.
And I call it, “Compassion.”

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

The Rusty Old Bridge in Watercolor

/ Jodi / 62 Comments
rusty old bridge watercolor original matted

The Rusty Old Bridge and Fisherman Original Watercolor, Pittsburgh, PA

I did another watercolor painting this past weekend of a photo I shared recently.

I am challenged with this big of a piece and so many details.  The painting is 8 x 10, and I did it on Arches Hot Press, which I rather love for it’s fluidity.  So fun to experiment with different types of paper.

I think the fisherman really stands out in the painting more so than in the photo.

It was a challenge.  I completed it.  I will continue trying!

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

 

A Little Birdie Told Me

/ Jodi / 62 Comments
goldfinch

Male Goldfinch, Mars, PA

A Little Birdie told me….

Stop waiting

for tomorrow,
or the weekend
or a rainy day,
or a sunny day.

Joy is found

when you stop waiting,
and start realizing
the joy in the moments
of every day life.

Cherish the moments

of a gentle breeze,
a warm smile,
a soft embrace,
a kind word.

A little birdie told me

life is short,
grief and hatred and sorrow exist,
but love conquers all,
joy exists,
happy moments must be grasped.

Cherish the moments.

A little birdie told me.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

In Honor of the Ole’ Dogwood Tree

/ Jodi / 66 Comments
dogwood blossom watercolor

Original Dogwood Blossom Watercolor Jodi McKinney

On Sunday I posted a photo I took of a blossom on one of the beautiful old dogwood trees in our front yard.

So, that same sunny, happy Sunday afternoon, I painted it, still glowing with the news we were allowed to share from the day.

The old dogwood tree, I honor you.
Thank you for blossoming each year,
hard as it may be.
You give hope of new life
as we celebrate the hope of a new life.

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi

Rocking Into GRANDparenthood

/ Jodi / 114 Comments

baby mckinney sign

It is with GRAND excitement that I share the GRANDest news of all!

Our son, Jake, and Daughter-in-Law, Colleen are expecting a baby!

Which means hubby and I are rocking into GRANDparenthood!

rocking into grandparenthood

The GRANDest handmade GRANDparent Card – custom made by Jill

We could not be more GRANDly excited and happy!

You may remember my bestie Jill’s daughter just had a baby a month ago – the first McHendy GRANDbaby….

ben and jodi

Ben and “McHendy GRANDma” Jodi

Well – now Baby Ben is going to have a McHendy GRAND brother or sister!

And Jill made this GRAND rockin’ card, which she and Todd gave to Marty and I this weekend to go with a GRAND rocking chair for our front porch to rock our new GRANDbaby!

Marty Rocking

The Happy GRANDpap-to-be, Marty

We went out to dinner to celebrate, and they surprised us with this chair right in the restaurant parking lot!  (We sure have the GRANDest of friends!)

So if you haven’t figured out, I am GRANDly excited!

My Grandma was the greatest role model in my life, and I feel she has prepared me to be a GRAND Grandma.  If I can be only a fraction to our new GRANDbaby of what she was to me, it will be my GRANDest honor.

Cheers & Hugs,
Grandma-to-be, Jodi

 

Fresh Orange Date Walnut Bread

/ Jodi / 46 Comments

Orange Date Walnut Bread 3

I was looking for something new to try baking early yesterday morning before I settled into work for the day.

It was a cool, rainy day after a wonderful stretch of warmth and sunshine.  I was in the mood for a nut bread, but after traveling most of the week, I didn’t have a lot of fresh ingredients on hand.

Orange Date Walnut Bread 1

I found a bag of dates, but I wanted to “Springify” a date and nut bread recipe up a bit, so I thought fresh orange flavor might just do the trick.  Adding a bit of freshly squeezed orange juice and fresh orange zest was just the ticket to brighten up this lovely bread.

Orange Date Walnut Bread 2

It’s nice to have something like this on hand for a quick breakfast with coffee, a nice little treat for a guest or a late night or after dinner urge for something just a bit sweet, but not too.

I’m sure this would freeze well and be great to pull out when needed.

Hope you enjoy your weekend!

May it be bright and fresh and Springy, but a little nutty too!

Fresh Orange Date Walnut Bread

Ingredients:Orange Date Walnut Bread 3

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1 Tbsp freshly grated orange zest
2 eggs
1  3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
 3/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped walnuts

 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease bottom only of 9×5-inch loaf pan. Set aside.

Beat sugar and butter at medium speed with mixer, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add sour cream, orange juice, orange zest and eggs; continue beating until well mixed. Add flour, baking powder and baking soda; beat at low speed until well mixed. Gently stir in dates and walnuts.

Pour into prepared pan. Bake 45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes; remove from pan. Cool completely.

*Adapted from LandoLakes Recipe

Cheers & Hugs,
Jodi