Monthly Archives: January 2009

Roasted Beet, Arugula and Goat Cheese Crostini

  Winter has been getting me down lately.  I'm craving sunlight and vegetables, and feeling more than a bit lethargic and broke. I think things began a downward turn when I returned to work after the Christmas holiday to find, not a bonus or a holiday greeting, but a note from my employer stating that, […]

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ToKissTheCook - I constantly order beet salads etc when I’m in restaurants but have never roasted them on my own. You don’t make it sound terribly difficult so I’m thinking this is the weekend- thanks for the transit tips as well!

Lisa - I love the combination of beets and goat cheese – this sounds lovely!

Joelen - I could easily make this a meal – yum!

kickpleat - I love the look of these bites. It’s like a fancy salad put on toast. Yum!

AmyRuth - Totally agree with the salad on a toast comment. A very pretty starter. Who doesn’t love the combo of sweet beets and creamy tangy goat cheese. Thanks for sharing.
AmyRuth

Gemma - Thanks for the nice comments everyone. You’re right kickpleat, it is like a salad on toast. It is perfect for a light meal.

Katie (Richardson, from Highschool) - Hey Gemma,
I made this and I loved it. Thanks so much for putting it up.

Irene - Roasted beets and goat cheese – what a perfect pairing! I love how beets can be dressed up or dressed down according to preference. My mom makes a fantastic roasted beet salad with grated beets, a bit of mayo and a few crushed walnuts.

Gemma - Hello Katie! Good to hear from you. I’m glad you enjoyed this one. These ingredients help get me through the winter – and Nick has started to make us homemade goat cheese!
Hello Irene, that salad sounds intriguing. I rarely meet a beet dish that I don’t like!

Semolina Crackers

It’s no secret that I love cheese.  While a good, crusty bread is typically my preferred accompaniment, I’ll occasionally find myself staring at four dollar cracker boxes wondering if the selection is worth the money.  Making my own always sounded like a good solution, but the various recipes I tried yielded unexciting results — until […]

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Susan - Wow those are thin. You can obviously wrangle a rolling pin much better than I. I’m glad you like the recipe — your crackers are gorgeous and I especially like the sound of the cracked pepper.

kickpleat - i’m so tempted to try this! i have no baking stone, but i don’t think i’ll let that stop me. i’ve never made crackers and i’m sure they’re way better than anything you can buy in store.

Liz C - These look wonderful! I’ve had not-great luck with crackers in the past but I think the pasta roller & baking stone combo will solve my problems.

Joelen - They look so perfectly light and airy! Nice job!

Gemma - Thanks Susan. It is a great recipe and I am very grateful you posted it!
You should give it a try even without the baking stone kickpleat. I bet it would work just fine. Maybe throw a baking sheet in the oven to heat up first.
Thanks Joelen!

Chocolate Beet Cupcakes with Goat Cheese Frosting

Today marks the fourth year of Pro Bono Baker.  Through a pleasant path of various apartments, relationships, jobs and adventures, I can't think of anything in my adult life that I've stuck with quite as long — except perhaps college — and even then I transferred. I've gushed about all the wonderful friends, recipes and […]

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Joelen - Congrats and wishes for many more years to come! I love the creativity of flavors and ingredients here!

Joelen - Congrats and wishes for many more years to come! I love the creativity of flavors and ingredients here!

Evan Petrie - Congratulations on entering your fourth year with Pro Bono Baker! You’ve posted a lot of great recipes and beautiful photos. Keep posting, I definitely enjoy it!

Evan Petrie - Congratulations on entering your fourth year with Pro Bono Baker! You’ve posted a lot of great recipes and beautiful photos. Keep posting, I definitely enjoy it!

Joanna - This looks delicious! Congrats on another year!

Joanna - This looks delicious! Congrats on another year!

Genevieve - congratulations on 4 years! the beet cupcakes look fantastic.
i wanted to let you know that the URL for my food blog – Bribe Me with a Muffin – has recently changed. the new address is http://www.BribeMewithaMuffin.blogspot.com
do you mind updating your side bar when you have a chance?
and i am still linked to you from my blog.
thank you! :)

Genevieve - congratulations on 4 years! the beet cupcakes look fantastic.
i wanted to let you know that the URL for my food blog – Bribe Me with a Muffin – has recently changed. the new address is http://www.BribeMewithaMuffin.blogspot.com
do you mind updating your side bar when you have a chance?
and i am still linked to you from my blog.
thank you! :)

Lizzie - this sounds so interesting and delicious! and the first photo is just darling. congrats on your blog turning 4, too!

Lizzie - this sounds so interesting and delicious! and the first photo is just darling. congrats on your blog turning 4, too!

Rita - Congratulations! Four years and I just found out your site! Love it.

Rita - Congratulations! Four years and I just found out your site! Love it.

Gemma - Thank you for the kind words Joelen, Evan, Joanna, Genevieve, Lizzie and Rita!

Gemma - Thank you for the kind words Joelen, Evan, Joanna, Genevieve, Lizzie and Rita!

Zarah Maria - No longer a baby, your blog, but still as lovely as ever to follow. Congrats Gemma :)

Zarah Maria - No longer a baby, your blog, but still as lovely as ever to follow. Congrats Gemma :)

Gemma - Thank you Zarah!

Gemma - Thank you Zarah!

Corrinne - This is amazing! So unique, I love it!.. I work with Chavrie (the pyramid shaped goat cheese) and I love to see recipes like this! I was looking for dessert recipes that incorporate goat cheese and this is at my top of the list. Thanks for the post!

Corrinne - This is amazing! So unique, I love it!.. I work with Chavrie (the pyramid shaped goat cheese) and I love to see recipes like this! I was looking for dessert recipes that incorporate goat cheese and this is at my top of the list. Thanks for the post!

Gemma - Hi Corrinne,
What a lovely job! I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Thanks,
Gemma

Gemma - Hi Corrinne,
What a lovely job! I hope you enjoy the recipe.
Thanks,
Gemma

Jane - I can always depend on you for recipes that will make me look good. I’m adapting this one for a “Cake of the Proletariat” contest at a party tonight. You are the rockstarriest person I know.

Jane - I can always depend on you for recipes that will make me look good. I’m adapting this one for a “Cake of the Proletariat” contest at a party tonight. You are the rockstarriest person I know.

Gemma - So glad to hear it worked out well for you. I miss you Jane!

Gemma - So glad to hear it worked out well for you. I miss you Jane!

Gen - Is it possible to make a goat cheese frosting without actually putting any regular cream cheese in it? I’m basically looking for a recipe that doesn’t contain any cow’s milk products.
Many thanks. Beautiful photography by the way!

Gen - Is it possible to make a goat cheese frosting without actually putting any regular cream cheese in it? I’m basically looking for a recipe that doesn’t contain any cow’s milk products.
Many thanks. Beautiful photography by the way!

gemma - Gen, I think that would work fine. Just be sure to balance as needed with the sweet flavors, perhaps even adding more maple syrup rather than powdered sugar to make sure the texture is still creamy. Good luck and thanks for the nice comment!

gemma - Gen, I think that would work fine. Just be sure to balance as needed with the sweet flavors, perhaps even adding more maple syrup rather than powdered sugar to make sure the texture is still creamy. Good luck and thanks for the nice comment!

Faith - I love your blog-so cute.
I recently used this recipe, and while I forgot/traded a few ingredients, it was AWESOME.
http://happylifewithfood.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/peaches-beets/
Thank you!

Faith - I love your blog-so cute.
I recently used this recipe, and while I forgot/traded a few ingredients, it was AWESOME.
http://happylifewithfood.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/peaches-beets/
Thank you!