LINDA B

I lost my old gazpacho recipe and this one sounded similar -- and I'm glad I tried it! I adjusted amounts only to reflect I had more tomatoes to use up. I added some purple onion because my old recipe used it and I like the flavor. The combo of green AND purple adds a great flavor complexity! I have some for the freezer for a light Thanksgiving starter and plenty for now. Thank you Chef John!

For anyone confused by the cake mix, the recipe needs one 2 layer chocolate cake mix. The way its typed as "1 2-layer" can look like a 12 layer. The - indicates that 2-layer is connected.

Yes, there IS a difference between chipotle chili powder and chipotle chili pepper. Chili powder of any variety is a blend of peppers, herbs (usually oregano), spices (usually cumin), salt, and garlic. Chili pepper is just that - dried ground up pepper. So if you don't have the chipotle chili POWDER, you definitely need to use a lot less and add some cumin, oregano and more garlic powder to get the right flavor and heat level. :-) The recipe as written is very tasty, certainly spicy, and has the most flavor when grilled.

I chopped whole almonds instead of using expensive pre-sliced almonds, and they worked very well. Bars are easier to slice if you remove the entire "block" from the baking dish. My 8x8 pan was already in use so I used an aluminum pan, and removal was super easy. Overall, a very nice cookie!

Good banana flavor, moist, dense. A winner! I used 4 very large very ripe bananas, which mashed = 2 cups, and the cake turned out perfectly. I also added 1/2 teaspoon salt, for as an experienced baker, I know baked goods taste best with a bit of salt added. Note however that I only baked the cake for 45 minutes in an oven calibrated to 350 degrees via my trusty oven thermometer. I have found that substituting 1/4 cup of the butter with applesauce does not change the flavor or texture of the cake one iota, and does cut down the fat a smidge. I also didn't put the topping on, as I don't like really sweet toppings. A cream cheese frosting would be lovely. I love this cake unfrosted -- a great and healthy snack cake, and a yummy breakfast alternative too.

Very tasty! My favorite variation is with blueberry yogurt and blueberries. Add 3-5 minutes to cooking time when using frozen berries. Because this is a nice thick batter, the berries don't all fall to the bottom in any version. Best to let muffins sit for a while in the pan before removing, as this lets them "settle." Muffins are great warm (but not hot) or at room temperature. Enjoy!