Silly Cakes Bakes

When your daughter suggests making brownies, and picks out the mini bundt pans 😍
Triple chocolate brownie, half with roasted pecans in them as well. And of course serve it a la mode 👩🏽‍🍳

Need to make these again (once my kitchen sink gets fixed) 😋🤤

Browned butter ... brown sugar ... chopped chocolate chunks ... mini chocolate chips ... and a sprinkle of sea salt (not shown here) ... They're a labor of love but always worth it! I've been editing this recipe for years and am so happy with it now!You will be too if you order some 😉 Packaged up a dozen to deliver to @platinumpheonix over at Gullo Ford of Conroe! @sillycakesbakes #sillycakesbakes #chocolate #chocolatechipcookies #chocolatechunk #cookies #chocolatelover #cookielover #smallbusiness #momownedbusiness #mombaker #homebaker #homemade #htx #houstontx #houstonhomebaker

The Magical Chocolate Luggage 🧳! Do you like the costume? 🎩 #amauryguichon #chocolate

Wow!

Which is your favorite cake of 2023? #cake

Next up on cooking like my Gramms: broccoli cheddar soup. I found a recipe that was similar to what I remember, although it did use cream. I simply replaced the cream with more stock, and it is delicious! After the was done with its soup cycle, I used an immersion blender to thicken it a bit, then threw in an extra head of fresh florets and simmered it a few more minutes before adding to my bowl. Might add a couple dashes of Everything Bagel seasoning. Yum!!

Didn't have tuna, but I have shredded chicken breast. Added the other half of my minced red onion, minced up a couple pickles, added mustard, sour cream (I don't like mayo), garlic salt, coarse black pepper, and a splash of pickle juice to get it to a spreadable thickness. Then my new spin on Gramms classic: added Everything Bagel seasoning.

When you're missing your Gramms so much lately that you start reminiscing about the veggie garden, picking fresh squash: green, crookneck, pattipan ... and you remember you have green and crookneck in your fridge, chop that up, scorch it with some ghee in the pan, toss in some chopped red onion and finely minced garlic, and the smells bring back more memories ... put on a plate with a "healthy pinch" of Kosher salt and some coarse black pepper, and I could eat this daily.

Next up, tuna salad sandwich to use up the other half of the red onion.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me in the contest! I held 4th place for a long time, but dropped to 5th place on Tuesday and couldn't make the climb to 1st place by last night's vote close.

I appreciate every single vote, as that was time you spent on something for me that you could have spent doing something else. I'm so very grateful you chose to spend some time on the contest votes, and feel so blessed to have you support !
Please note that if you made a monetary donation for childhood cancer costs and research, it is TAX DEDUCTIBLE.

I've dropped down to 5th place in my group, and the cut to top 1 of each group is this Thursday ... it's a long shot! But they're doing 2-for-1 votes right now, so that might help!

https://greatestbaker.com/2023/melinda-wedgewood

Is Melinda Wedgewood the Greatest Baker? You decide! One baker will take home the title, a feature in Bake From Scratch Magazine, and $10,000!

One of my most cherished recipes, written in my grandmother's handwriting ❤️ Her Depression Era version has minimal ingredients and does not have dairy, making it super budget friendly (and accidentally vegan 😂).

When it has been cold and you're feeling nostalgic for your grandmother's potato soup, but you want it quicker ... use an to modernize this classic.

Press Saute. Add butter (margarine was also part of the non-dairy aspect) and aromatics. Saute a few minutes until soft. I threw in about half a head of freshly minced garlic as well. Add in about 2 lbs of potatoes (she used russet, I used gold) and water (or veggie stock) to top off plus a bit more for wiggle room.
Lock lid into place and make sure it's on Sealing. Select Soup, change to 15 minutes, and let it start. When done, do a Quick Release. Add salt, pepper, and any other seasonings to taste.

Optional: mash up or use an immersion blender to thicken, if desired.

Other ideas to add to soup:
Dash of cream
Shredded cheese
Dollop of sour cream
Chopped green onions
Chopped sauted bacon pieces

Less than 8 hours left 😲

Voting for TOP 5 ends Thursday the 28th of December at 7PM PST!
If you have a free moment to vote for me, you can vote daily to help me advance through the competition.
I'm currently in 4th place in my group, I'd love to start pulling ahead since they only take the top 1 of each group to go into the final set of contestants 🙏

https://greatestbaker.com/2023/melinda-wedgewood

Voting for TOP 5 ends Thursday the 28th of December at 7PM PST!
If you have a free moment to vote for me, you can vote daily to help me advance through the competition.
I'm currently in 4th place in my group, I'd love to start pulling ahead since they only take the top 1 of each group to go into the final set of contestants 🙏

https://greatestbaker.com/2023/melinda-wedgewood