creative cooking ⋆ All Things B.A. Art

BA’s Basic Basil Pesto Recipe

October 16, 2023

I have fallen in love with this Basic Basil Pesto Recipe. I made a huge batch and have been pulling it out of the freezer over the year. It is simply wonderful.

Basic Basil Pesto Ingredients

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves (place in processor)
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts (or walnuts) (place in processor)
4 cloves of garlic, minced (place in processor)
1/2 cup grated high quality parmesan cheese (preferably parmigiana -Reggiano) (place in processor)
1/2 teaspoon of salt (yep, place in processor)
1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground pepper (again, place in processor)

process away, then add 2/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil till mixture becomes a paste. Makes two cups.
If you are not going to use right away cover entire surface of pesto with a thin coat of olive oil to prevent discoloring. Will keep in refrigerator several weeks and will freeze up to two months.
FOR ADDED WAPOW….. add two tablespoons of tomato paste!

FOR XXX WAPOW THEN ADD HOT PEPPER FLAKES. It’s holy cow good!

Thank you so much for taking the time to check out my B.A.’s Basic Basil Pesto Recipe. If you used it, I hope you enjoyed it. Did you make changes to it? Please leave a comment and let me know. If you liked this recipe, you may want to look at my LAVENDER & LEMON COOKIES, You can check out my other recipes on my blog; COOKING ON THE FLY WITH BA. My recipes are super simple and really deliver in taste. Also, please take a min to peruse my STOREFRONT. I’m actually an artist, who loves cooking. Finally, I would love to see you on my FB PAGE. Feel free to reach out and join me there.

Have a splendid day in the kitchen!!

Peace, Love and Rocks

B.A.

Cooking On The Fly With B.A.

Hibiscus Bliss Cake Recipe

August 31, 2023

Hibiscus Bliss Cake, Cooking On The Fly With B.A.

Hibiscus Bliss Cake Recipe with

Cranberry Buttercream Frosting by B.A.

The neighborhood and the household have spoken! This Hibiscus Bliss Cake Recipe, hands down, surpasses all cakes I have ever made. The texture, the moistness, it will be half gone before you are done rolling your eyes in bliss.

A side note; if you are watching your sugar intake, this cake is so amazing, you don’t need the icing. The icing will blow your mind but the cake can stand on its own, it is that amazing. Cranberry Recipe , Cooking On The Fly With B.A.

The more important side note is; you will need my family cranberry sauce recipe for the frosting. And… I have not posted it yet. OOPS, sorry about that. Honestly, even if I did have it posted, you would be hard pressed to find cranberries this time of year (August). The only reason I have it made is, every year I freeze a batch or two. I have a fix though! All you have to do is take a favorite marmalade and use it in its place. The cranberry recipe will be up very soon.

What you will need for the Hibiscus Bliss Cake ( frosting instructions will come later)

2 cups of sugar (I use turbinado)
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of crushed dried hibiscus flowers
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of canola oil
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 cup of tea (I used a cranberry based tea. Pick something in the family of… NOT peppermint. You get the idea.

(Continue to Instructions)

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B.A.’s Sweet Potato Mash, (Whole 30 Compliant)

March 23, 2023

B.A.'s Sweet Potato Mash

B.A.’s Sweet Potato Mash

yes, folks, this is a “Whole 30” compliant recipe.

No sugar, No Dairy & Gluten free!

It’s so delicious, you won’t have to tell them it’s healthy.

This recipe really needs no spices added but sometimes I will change this up a bit using spices. Tonight I added curry but you may want to try out cinnamon, cardamom…. or just whatever you fancy. Be creative!

What You Will Need;

4 large sweet potatoes. I personally think the organic ones taste sweeter

1/4 cup of coconut milk

3 – 4 teaspoons of ghee (you can use butter if you are not doing Whole 30)

salt, to taste.

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Lemon & Orange Shortbread Cookies with Lemon glaze

January 30, 2023

Lemon & Orange Shortbread Cookies, Cooking on the fly with BA

Lemon & Orange Shortbread Cookies with Lemon Glaze

Well, when lettuce has been banned by the CDC, what is a girl to do but bake!

Continuing my theme this winter of cooking with ingredients that brighten my day, I have added Orange and Lemon to my shortbread recipe. I originally wanted to do all orange but my extract had gone dry. I dropped back for a punt and used a Meyer lemon instead.

B.A.’s cooking tips:

For these Lemon & Orange Shortbread Cookies, spend the money and use Meyers Lemons. They burst with flavor. Also, I like textures and I prefer to use sugar in the raw. It adds a little molasses hit and does not break down like white sugar, so there is an added crunch. You can use white sugar if you want. ALSO…. cooking shortbread is like watching an avocado ripen. You have about one min. to go from perfect to touch of burn. So… pay attention and watch those timers. I also like a smaller drop (two bite) cookie but if you prefer a larger one, go for it.

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BA’s Split Pea Soup Recipe

March 4, 2022

BA’s Split Pea Soup Recipe

Every cook knows; every dish is only going to be as good as the ingredients that have been used! Hey, I’ve seen Chef’s Table!!! I joke but it is a rule I live by and it has proven me a winner time and time again and this BA’s Split Pea Soup recipe is no different!

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Cuban Coffee Espresso Cake with Chocolate Espresso Buttercream Frosting by B.A.

March 24, 2020

Cuban Coffee Espresso Cake with

Chocolate Espresso Buttercream Frosting by B.A.

The longest name in the world is meant to slow you down while you are eating it. The texture, the moistness, it will be half gone before you are done rolling your eyes in bliss.

A side note though; of course my mind is always set to morphing something. While I was eating this with my husband, I devised what I think would be an even better frosting to go with this cake. Honestly, this cake was created out of necessity . For my husband’s birthday, I had baked his favorite double chocolate espresso cake and had a ton of frosting leftover. I decided to create this recipe and use the remainder of the frosting. While this was fabulously decadent, I think the new improved frosting would be better. I will post both and you can pick and choose what one you would like to use. So without further adieu, let’s get cooking!

What you will need for the Cuban Coffee Espresso Cake ( frosting instructions will come later)

2 cups of sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of espresso powder
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 cup of milk
1/2 cup of canola oil
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 cup of cuban coffee (No espresso pot? No worries. Just use coffee & brew it stronger, I won’t tell!)

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B.A.’s Coconut Cream Whip

January 29, 2020

Whole 30 compliant coffee creamer recipe B.A.’s Coconut Cream Whip

yes, folks, this is a “Whole 30” compliant recipe.

No sugar, No Dairy & Gluten free!

You can use this in your coffee as a creamer replacement. You may use this as a topping for your fruit, sweet potatoes, beets or anything else you can think of, the sky’s the limit!

I hope in the future to create a tasty little desert with this but until that time arrives, let’s just keep it compliant.

What you will need;

4 chopped, pitted dates

1 can of coconut cream (not milk)

2 tablespoons of rx almond nut butter

cinnamon

a blender, hand held or counter top

medium sized bowl

Read on for more info. (more…)

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Easy Ghee Recipe, Cooking on the Fly with B.A.

January 13, 2020

Easy Ghee Recipe, Cooking On The Fly With BA Easy Ghee Recipe from Cooking on the Fly with B.A.

Truth is, all Ghee recipes are easy! However, after making this, I am inclined to morph it a bit and add my own herbs to it and give it a bit of a B.A kick. I encourage you to do this as well.

After starting a round of “Whole 30”, I am learning so much about food. Ghee, in stores, is a little pricey and I have ventured out to make my own. It is super easy and the taste far exceeds butter. Ghee is a form of clarified butter, the difference is, it has simmered a bit longer on the stove and the milk solids have browned and sunk to the bottom of the pan.

Continue reading for recipe…

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Bourbon Ranch Calabrese Tuna Steaks with Sweated Purple Cabbage

November 4, 2017

Bourbon Ranch Calabrese Tuna Steaks Recipe, Cooking On The Fly With BA — Bourbon Ranch Calabrese Tuna Steaks with Sweated Purple CabbageZBourbon Ranch Calabrese Tuna Steaks with Sweated Purple Cabbage

Bourbon Ranch Calabrese Tuna Steaks with Sweated Purple Cabbage

The picture isn’t all that but I need a reminder that bourbon ranch calabrese Tuna with sweated purple cabbage with garlic and a little calabrese thrown in …. Is the mother lovin bomb!!! Even John gave it five stars!!! And that purple is to die for!!!

Marinade tuna steaks.

garlic, 1 -2 cloves (to your taste)
3 tablespoons, maybe more, your call. olive oil,
packet of dry ranch dressing
half a cup of bourbon. (For those of you worried about John’s AA status, no worries, the alcohol cooks off and really, there is no bourbon taste. )
Let the meat hang out in that for a day.

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“BA’s gonna be world Famous BAnana Breakfast Bread”

September 13, 2017

World Famous BAnana Breakfast Bread Recipe

“BA’s gonna be world famous BAnana breakfast bread” is finished and cooling. Chili is cooking. The house is as clean as it’s ever going to be. Fresh flowers cut (my mom taught me that). Landscaping done to the best of our ability thanks to Irma. Now …. We wait. Parental units… Any second now. I am going to take a min. to blog out about my soon to be world famous BAnana breakfast bread recipe

My BAnana Breakfast Bread Recipe…

This recipe is for a denser bread. It will not be light and fluffy. I can’t stand breads that crumble a part. I think this recipe resembles a pound cake consistency. John is diabetic and I can’t stand breakfast, so I am always looking for a way to meet the needs of these two issues. I invented this bread as a quick breakfast for me and a tasty “treat” for him. If you follow it they way I wrote it, it is pretty darn healthy. Omit any of the seeds or nuts to your liking. I use them to up the fiber, protein and nutrients.

Preheat your oven to 350 and prepare your cake/ loaf pans. I use butter and flour and 2 9 in. baking pans.

Ingredients my BAnana Breakfast Bread

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup of rolled oats
¹⁄₂teaspoon salt
¹⁄₂teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoon vanilla extract (or to preference)
¹⁄₂cup butter, softened
³⁄₄cup brown sugar, packed (I use 1/4 less due to living with a diabetic”
2 room temperature eggs
3 medium bananas, ripe & mashed (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons of chia seeds
1 tablespoon of pumpkins seeds (or not)
2 scoops of vanilla plant based protein powder
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Walnut pieces to preference

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