Winstead Wandering

Prone to Wander

Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette

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When it comes to cheesy, spicy, crowd-pleasing, freezer-friendly appetizers, it doesn’t get more perfect than this Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette.

When it comes to cheesy, spicy, crowd-pleasing, freezer-friendly appetizers, it doesn't get more perfect than this Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette.

Y’all, this is bread stuffed with cheese and bacon and jalapeños and more cheese. It’s the ultimate in mouthwatering appetizers. Okay, fine, full disclosure: I might have baked up a section of this stuff for myself for lunch the other day. But to be far, I needed to get some photos of it, and then I couldn’t just not eat it.

If you watch many of those addictive food videos on Facebook, you’ve likely seen a few that feature stuffed bread-related recipes. A lot of those involve carving out the top of a loaf, though, like a boat, and I couldn’t picture that method being conducive to appetizer- or snack-size portions. So instead I hollowed out the center of a baguette, stuffed it with a jalapeño popper-inspired filling, and cut it into party ready rounds. I took this Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette to two different get-togethers in the last month and it was a hit both times.

When it comes to cheesy, spicy, crowd-pleasing, freezer-friendly appetizers, it doesn't get more perfect than this Jalapeño Popper Stuffed Baguette.

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mexican cornbread

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Not your grandma’s pasty cornbread, Mexican cornbread is stuffed with bacon, jalapeños, corn and, of course, plenty of cheese. It’s light and spicy and the perfect side to just about anything you serve.

Not your grandma's pasty cornbread, Mexican cornbread is stuffed with bacon, jalapeños, corn and, of course, plenty of cheese. It's light and spicy and the perfect side to just about anything you serve.

First, for the record, my grandmother makes phenomenal cornbread, the way any woman born and raised in The South should. Granny’s is fluffy and flavorful and not at all packy or pasty. I’ve sampled plenty of cornbread, though, that was dense and bland.

I’m not sure why my mother-in-law first mentioned making Mexican cornbread a couple weeks ago, but I’m really glad she did. She had a recipe she’d made  before, but it was exactly the kind of packed mess she didn’t want. When she came across this recipe in an old church cookbook, made by a friend’s mother, she knew it was the one.

This Mexican cornbread recipe is perfectly balanced with sweet corn, spicy jalapeños, and salty bacon. Earthy cheddar cheese is layered in the middle and sprinkled on the top; substituting pepperjack cheese would add a nice kick of heat. The cornbread is best served warm, with the cheese melty, but it’s also tasty straight from the refrigerator. [Read more…]

better for you triple chocolate banana bread

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Better for you triple chocolate banana bread has no butter, oil, or added sugar- except for the chocolate, of course- while still delivering big on flavor. With sweet, moist bananas and three kinds of chocolate, this bread tastes decadently indulgent.

Better for you triple chocolate banana bread has no butter, oil, or added sugar- except for the chocolate, of course- while still delivering big on flavor. With sweet, moist bananas and three kinds of chocolate, this bread tastes decadently indulgent.

Several years ago, when we were still living in Oregon, I had a favorite better for you banana bread recipe. When we came back from the beach a couple weeks ago with several overripe bananas, I went in search of that recipe, only to discover that the website had been removed.

Removed.

The author of my absolute favorite all-time best ever better for your banana bread deleted her blog without consulting me. The nerve.

Not to be deterred, I decided I was up to the challenge of re-creating the recipe. After all, I’ve made my share of quick breads– a lot of quick breads– and I remembered the basics of the original recipe.

It took two tries to get things just right, but I had no shortage of willing recipe testers. My sources tell me that this one is a keeper.

Better for you triple chocolate banana bread has no butter, oil, or added sugar- except for the chocolate, of course- while still delivering big on flavor. With sweet, moist bananas and three kinds of chocolate, this bread tastes decadently indulgent.

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quick and easy cinnamon roll bread

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Sweet quick bread is topped with rich brown sugar cinnamon swirl & drizzled with sweet powdered sugar icing; classic cinnamon roll flavors without the work. Cinnamon roll bread is a quicker, lighter, healthier alternative to traditional cinnamon rolls. No yeast required- it's so easy! It’s no secret that I love an easy take on a classic cinnamon roll. My cinnamon roll bars with cream cheese frosting are one of my favorite treats. They’re dense and chewy and smothered in a decadent amount of fluffy frosting. Sometimes, though, I want something a little lighter, both in calories and in texture. When I do, I make this cinnamon roll bread. It’s a light bread with a touch of cinnamon and a rich brown sugar cinnamon swirl. Instead of traditional cream cheese frosting, it’s topped with a powdered sugar glaze. While I wouldn’t try to classify this bread as healthy, it is much lighter than most alternatives. The bread itself contains no butter or oil; it uses plain Greek yogurt and just a half cup of sugar. The ribbon of rich cinnamon and brown sugar adds just the right level of sweetness without overpowering the subtle flavor of the bread. And then- because, let’s be real, we can’t call it cinnamon roll anything without frosting- the whole thing is drizzled with a powdered sugar glaze. Cinnamon roll bread is a quicker, lighter, healthier alternative to traditional cinnamon rolls. No yeast required- it's so easy! [Read more…]