Monthly Archives: January 2010

Maple Pecan Bars

When I agreed to join other Chicago cooks and bakers tonight for the Hideout Haiti Benefit & Bake Sale, I knew I needed a recipe that I could make the night before and that would be easy to individually wrap for sale in compact, but rich quantities. While I'm not a big pecan pie fan […]

View full post »

show hide 18 comments

Sally - WOW! I just ate the pecan bar I bought at the hideout an hour ago and I have never eaten anything so delicious. Really. wow.

Sally - WOW! I just ate the pecan bar I bought at the hideout an hour ago and I have never eaten anything so delicious. Really. wow.

Sally - How many Weight Watchers points do you think they have?

Sally - How many Weight Watchers points do you think they have?

Kalynskitchen - Hi there,
It looks like you won my prize for Menu for Hope, woo hoo! (I always like it when it’s someone I know who wins.) As soon as you get the official e-mail from Pim, send me your address and I’ll get it ordered for you.
Congratulations!
Kalyn

Kalynskitchen - Hi there,
It looks like you won my prize for Menu for Hope, woo hoo! (I always like it when it’s someone I know who wins.) As soon as you get the official e-mail from Pim, send me your address and I’ll get it ordered for you.
Congratulations!
Kalyn

Gemma - That’s so flattering, Sally! I’m thrilled to hear that. I sincerely hope no one sits down to crunch the nutrition data on these…
I just saw that in the wrap-up, Kalyn. I’m so happy! I’ve been trying for that raffle item for a few years now! I’ll be in touch as soon as I hear from Pim. Thank you!

Gemma - That’s so flattering, Sally! I’m thrilled to hear that. I sincerely hope no one sits down to crunch the nutrition data on these…
I just saw that in the wrap-up, Kalyn. I’m so happy! I’ve been trying for that raffle item for a few years now! I’ll be in touch as soon as I hear from Pim. Thank you!

Samantha - Oh my. I wish I had one of these RIGHT now.

Samantha - Oh my. I wish I had one of these RIGHT now.

All Recipes - I’ve got to try this one out :)

All Recipes - I’ve got to try this one out :)

smilinggreenmom - That is awesome – way to go! I would like these but would have to omit the pecans due to nut allergies in our home. I would also love to make them with Kamut Khorasan Wheat flour for all the added nutrients! This looks fantastic – thanks and again “kudos”

smilinggreenmom - That is awesome – way to go! I would like these but would have to omit the pecans due to nut allergies in our home. I would also love to make them with Kamut Khorasan Wheat flour for all the added nutrients! This looks fantastic – thanks and again “kudos”

kickpleat - This is killing me. Looks amazingly rich and sweet. My kind of treat.

kickpleat - This is killing me. Looks amazingly rich and sweet. My kind of treat.

Gemma - Thanks Samantha and All Recipes. Give them a try! Baking with caramel can be slightly tricky at first, but the results are so good.
Glad you like them smilinggreenmom. I bet substitutions would work well here, but I’m not sure what a good pecan replacement would be. Let me know if you try them without the nuts.
Thanks kickpleat! They are so rich and lovely. I might have to make more this weekend.

Gemma - Thanks Samantha and All Recipes. Give them a try! Baking with caramel can be slightly tricky at first, but the results are so good.
Glad you like them smilinggreenmom. I bet substitutions would work well here, but I’m not sure what a good pecan replacement would be. Let me know if you try them without the nuts.
Thanks kickpleat! They are so rich and lovely. I might have to make more this weekend.

Hideout Haiti Benefit & Bake Sale

Chicago readers, please join me this Monday night (January 18th) for the Hideout Haiti Benefit featuring music from the Waco Brothers and Eleventh Dream Day, a poster sale by Judgeworks, and a bake sale organized by Joanna of My Vegetable Blog and The Kitchn with volunteer contributors: Janine of Rustic Kitchen, Andrea of Forkable, Kathy […]

View full post »

show hide 4 comments

Joy - Good for you!

Joy - Good for you!

Gemma - Hi Joy, it was a lot of fun. The Hideout has some great fundraising events throughout the year for many different causes. I hope to be involved with a few again this year.

Gemma - Hi Joy, it was a lot of fun. The Hideout has some great fundraising events throughout the year for many different causes. I hope to be involved with a few again this year.

Lemon & Olive Oil Cake

Five years ago I started this website with an earnest love of sharing good food with dear friends. It is a happy coincidence that Pro Bono Baker's anniversary shares calendar space with the birthday of one of my oldest and most treasured friends, Eileen. I joined her this weekend for a birthday brunch in her […]

View full post »

show hide 20 comments

Dave -nibbleanibble - Time with friends is good. Add food into the equation and it gets even better.

Dave -nibbleanibble - Time with friends is good. Add food into the equation and it gets even better.

kekstester - Happy Birthday! Looking for cake recipes mith olive oil, I am more than happy I found this one!

kekstester - Happy Birthday! Looking for cake recipes mith olive oil, I am more than happy I found this one!

dan - Congratulations. I can’t seem to make it five months; five years is nothing to sneeze at.

dan - Congratulations. I can’t seem to make it five months; five years is nothing to sneeze at.

Nishta - Congratulations Gemma! I for one have benefited from Pro Bono Baker’s existence for a large part of those five years…thank you for what you do to bring inspiration into my life.

Nishta - Congratulations Gemma! I for one have benefited from Pro Bono Baker’s existence for a large part of those five years…thank you for what you do to bring inspiration into my life.

shannalee - Happy blog birthday – five years is actually a pretty amazing accomplishment, I think. Here’s to many more delicious recipes and good things to eat!

shannalee - Happy blog birthday – five years is actually a pretty amazing accomplishment, I think. Here’s to many more delicious recipes and good things to eat!

Joanna - Congrats on five great years! Also, that cake is gorgeous.

Joanna - Congrats on five great years! Also, that cake is gorgeous.

Anali - Happy Anniversary Gemma! Love the simple cake and the cherry glaze for that special something extra. ; )

Anali - Happy Anniversary Gemma! Love the simple cake and the cherry glaze for that special something extra. ; )

Gemma - Very true Dave!
Glad you found kekstaster, enjoy!
Thanks Dan! I have to admit, I find the clear focus of your blogs very admirable though.
Nishta, you are so sweet, thank you!
Thank you shannalee, Joanna, and Anali!

Gemma - Very true Dave!
Glad you found kekstaster, enjoy!
Thanks Dan! I have to admit, I find the clear focus of your blogs very admirable though.
Nishta, you are so sweet, thank you!
Thank you shannalee, Joanna, and Anali!

buy r4 ds - Ok I made this cake twice over the holidays and it was a huge hit! I used a round cake pan to bake it instead so the cooking time drops to 25 minutes. I served it with some balsamic vinegar macerated strawberries and fresh whipped cream. Thanks again for the recipe.

buy r4 ds - Ok I made this cake twice over the holidays and it was a huge hit! I used a round cake pan to bake it instead so the cooking time drops to 25 minutes. I served it with some balsamic vinegar macerated strawberries and fresh whipped cream. Thanks again for the recipe.

Gemma - Balsamic strawberries would be an excellent topping. I will have to try that next time!

Gemma - Balsamic strawberries would be an excellent topping. I will have to try that next time!