Tasty Tuesday - chocolate chip oatmeal cookies

½ cup coconut oil/butter/margarine (you pick)

½ cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

Vanilla – I don’t measure… just splash some in

Cream together

Add:

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup flour

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

Mix

Add chocolate chips or whatever other goodies you’d like and stir

Bake @350 until just barely golden around the edges.

I’m not saying a time because it depends on how big you make your cookies.

For me, my small cookie scoop takes 6 min…. big cookie scoop takes 9 min.

I just keep an eye on them.

These are hugo’s favorite!

a welcome back to Tasty Tuesday! Banana Bran Muffins

i have not posted a recipe in AGES

not because i've stopped baking/cooking but because i never think to do it.
baby brain? can i still use that as an excuse? i sure hope so... otherwise i guess i just have to admit that i'm slowly losing my mind? that just won't do!

so this recipe is my latest creation.

i actually just remember it and its a favorite for hugo and i.
apparently at the office too.
by the time i remembered that i wanted to blog about these damn muffins this was all that was left.

here's my recipe

mix together:

1/4 cup sugar (brown or white or a mix of the two... or coconut sugar)

1/4 cup oil (i usually use coconut but today i used canola)

1 egg

2-3 overripe bananas (mashed) - aprox 1 cup

1/2 cup bran

splash of vanilla

sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

let sit for 5 min

mix together in separate bowl:

1/2 cup AP flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1 tsp BP

1 tsp BS

pinch salt

Add dry to wet, stir to combine... don't mix the heck out of it or your muffins will get tough.

yes they do get tough. 

my assistant sometimes gets a bit crazy for the mixing portion of baking... so take it easy! if they look kinda lumpy you're doing it right!

if you like you can add chocolate chips, coconut, chopped nuts... whatever you like in banana bread really...

i prefer just straight up banana  but that is just my preference.

bake at 375 for 20 minutes aprox.

makes 12 medium sized muffins

or...

 if you like giant muffins, i did 6 Jumbo sized muffins today and they needed to bake for 25 min plus another couple minutes before i got to my beeping oven. so 27 minutes was perfect.

watch them though and use your judgement and take them out when they're done.

or...

if you like mini muffins i do 24 mini muffins in non stick mini muffin pans and they take no longer than 10 min to fully bake.

yum! ham and cheese biscuits... a bit healthier

well not really that healthy... but i added whole wheat flour so i think they're healthy.


recipe:

3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/4 cup margerine
pinch salt
3/4 cup milk
chopped ham (i just chopped up some leftovers - aprox 3/4 cups)
grated cheese (i grated it straight into the bowl but i'd guess about 3/4 cups)

preheat oven to 450

mix flour, baking powder, and salt in large bowl
cut in margerine until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
add milk and stir with a fork until soft dough forms
add cheese and ham
knead 20 times or until smooth.
pat or roll lightly until dough is about 1" thick
cut out rounds with biscuit cutter or cookie cutter (or whatever you have handy)
re roll scraps as necessary.
place on ungreased baking sheet





























bake 10 minutes or until golden brown.

enjoy!

yum! oatmeal pumpkin loaf

it has been a while! my blog is dusty again.
oops.

tried this recipe the other day... slightly modified from the muffin recipe it came from but we all loved this version of it.

ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup quick oats
1 egg lightly beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
3 tbsp vegetable oil

optional: chocolate chips!
of course i added these... chocolate is a must!

mix everything together just until blended.
pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 325 until toothpick comes out clean. mine took about an hour.

tasty tuesday... its back!

well i have been seriously slacking in the tasty tuesday posts.
hopefully the dry spell is over.

i'm going to start with a classic.

buttercream icing.

this is what you'll need:
2 cups butter. (the whole block)
4-6 cups icing sugar (depends on how stiff you need your icing to be)
1 tsp vanilla
4 tbsp heavy cream (you can use milk)
pinch of salt

toss your softened butter in the mixing bowl and whip until fluffy. i like to leave the butter out overnight so its nice and soft.
add 4 cups icing sugar, 2 tbsp cream, and vanilla and incorporate on LOW. if you go any faster than that you will have a dust storm of icing sugar to deal with.
once thats incorporated see how the consistency is and add more icing sugar/cream as needed to reach desired thickness.

here is the cake i did on last weekend with this recipe.

tasty tuesday - cowboy cookies

COWBOY COOKIES

ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 cups oatmeal

directions:
preheat oven to 350
cream together butter and white and brown sugar
beat in 2 eggs
mix flour with baking powder, baking soda and salt
add gradually to wet mixture
add oats

drop teaspoons full onto lightly greased or non-stick cookie sheets
bake about 9 minutes or until lightly browned

i made these on the weekend and i used margerine instead of butter and they turned out great. mine were a bit bigger than a teaspoonful and it made 4 dozen chewy delicious oatmeal cookies.
super delicious basic cookie that i plan on making regulary!

tasty tuesday - bacon wrapped jalapenos

these i have made several times... sometimes i use goat cheese... sometimes i use feta... sometimes i follow the recipe and use the cream cheese...
sometimes i bake/broil them...
no matter what, they're ALWAYS delicious!

bacon wrapped jalapenos

tasty tuesday - red velvet bundt with cream cheese frosting

i LOVE bundt cakes.

this cake is next on my radar.
OMG it looks delicious!!

click here for the red velvet bundt recipe

i found it on pinterest (if you're not on pinterest you totally should be!) and one day when hugo is cooperative i will definitely be making this!!

tasty tuesday christmas almond cherry bars

what you'll need...

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips
1 cup maraschino cherries coarsely chopped and drained
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup shredded coconut

what you need to do...

preheat oven to 350
cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy
beat in egg and almond extract
stir in flour, baking powder and salt until just blended.
stir in chocolate chips, cherries, almonds and coconut
spread into a lightly greased 9x13 pan
bake 25-30 minutes
cool completely before cutting.

what i sometimes do differently...
i skip the chocolate. don't get me wrong. i LOVE chocolate. but i love almond and maraschino cherries all by themselves. the consistency is a bit different without the chocolate but i like them better without.
i eat enough chocolate. one recipe without it is ok. i will not lose my chocolate lovers club membership for it. i'm sure.

tasty tuesday - chocolate cookie bark

this one is pretty easy... but delicious!

this is what you'll need:

1 pkg (8 squares) semi sweet chocolate
1 pkg (6 squares) white chocolate
2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
10 oreos


what you need to do:

melts chocolate in separate bowls over double boiler
add peanut butter to the white chocolate and stir until well mixed
crumble 5 cookies into each bowl and mix well

drop spoonfuls of the chocolate mixtures onto a wax paper covered baking sheet alternating chocolates.
cut through chocolate on sheet with a knife for marble effect.


refrigerate for at least 1 hour then break into pieces.
store in an airtight container.


variation:
instead of cookies and peanut butter add crumbled candy canes to the chocolate and sprinkle red sugar sprinkles on top for some delicious peppermint bark.

tasty tuesday- blueberry lemon muffins

normally i am not a huge fan of blueberry muffins... these ones my mom started making while we were still in school and i have to say this is still one of my favorite blueberry recipes.

ingredients

mufins:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp BP
1/2 tsp salt
zest of one lemon
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter/margerine
1 cup blueberries

topping:
1/2 cup butter
1tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup white sugar
(this is a ton of topping.. i usually only use half the butter and half the sugar and still have lots for a single batch)

directions

muffins:
mix dry ingredients together
beat egg, add milk and butter
stir until mixed
stir in blueberries

scoop into lined muffin tins.
i find that the blueberries stain my silicone pans so i just use muffin cups.

bake at 425 F for 20 minutes

topping:
combine lemon juice and butter
dip muffins in butter and lemon juice mixture and then into the sugar.
let cool uncovered on baking rack

tasty tuesday - nuts n' fluff

i think i got this recipe off of a shreddies box years ago.
super delicious and easy to make.

ingredients:

6 cups popped popcorn
6 cups shreddies
1 cup salted peanuts (i like the ones without skin)
1/2 cup margerine/butter
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1 package of large marshmallows (250 g)

mix it up:

toss together popcorn, shreddies and peanuts.
set aside
melt butter and peanut butter in a large microwave bowl (about a minute)
add marshmallows and microwave for another minute until marshmallows puff.
stir in cereal mix until well coated
pour into 2 greased 15"x10" (or whatever's handy - i know i've used random sizes)
bake at 250 F for 10 minutes
cool
break into bite sized pieces and store in an airtight container.

happy munching!

tasty tuesday - mint spritz

ok, i know its nowhere near time to get started on christmas baking, but i couldn't help but start thinking about it when i was shopping on the weekend and saw christmas displays popping up all over the place.
these are my favorite christmas cookies that i ALWAYS make.

Mint Spritz With Chocolate Centers

2/3 cup sugar


1 cup butter -- softened

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 teaspoon mint extract

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

green food coloring (optional - but i always add it... it's festive!)

mint chocolate chips - one per cookie

 
Heat oven to 400F. In large mixer bowl combine sugar, butter, egg, salt, vanilla, and mint extract. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture is light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add flour. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed, 2 to 3 minutes. Mix in green food coloring, adding just enough to acheive the desired color. If dough is too soft, cover and refrigerate until firm enough to form cookies, 30 to 45 minutes. Place dough in cookie press. Form desired shapes 1 inch apart on cookie sheets. I always make pointettas. Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Immediately after removing cookies from oven place one mint chocolate chip upside down in the center of each cookie then let cool on a cooling rack until the chocolate is set.
 
variations -
 
don't add the mint extract or food coloring and instead add some almond extract and a piece of candied cherry in the center of the flower. super delicious.
 
i usually use margerine instead of butter just because i always have blocks of margerine in the fridge... works just fine.
 

tasty tuesday

Cinnamon Sugar Muffins




picture and recipe borrowed from HERE


















what you'll need:

1/3 c. butter, melted


1/2 c. sugar

1 egg (preferably room temperature)

1 1/2 c. AP flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/2 c. milk



Topping

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. butter, melted

1 tsp. cinnamon



Preheat oven to 350F.



In a medium-large bowl, sift together all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir until combined, but still a bit lumpy. Don't overmix. Scoop batter into muffin tins that have sprayed with cooking spray. Using a large ice cream scoop, I got 8 medium-large muffins out of this batter; I think you could get 10-12 muffins by distributing the batter a little less generously. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until they just start to turn a bit golden at the edges.



For the topping, mix sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Place melted butter in another small bowl. Dip the warm muffins in melted butter, then in cinnamon sugar.

YUM!!
 
I love this recipe, but there are a few things i do a bit differently.
 
i don't sift my dry ingredients. i don't have a clue where my flour sifter do-ma-hicky is and i am in no condition right now to search the back corner of the cupboard i know its in. that will be a post baby rescue mission.
 
i also don't use an ice cream scoop. i just use the spoon i stirred them with. one less thing to wash! 
 
i'll be honest... i don't trust my muffin pans to let the muffins out if i spray them... so i either use silicon pans, or muffin papers.

tasty tuesday

today's tasty tuesday is just a link to a recipe that i REALLY want to try.
i've seen it twice already today and since i was without internet this morning i have a lot to do in a little time.

i just started following this blog and here is the recipe!

http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/2011/08/soft-pretzels.html

maybe i'll give these a try on the weekend!

they look delicious!

tasty tuesday

well i am posting another non-recipe for your enjoyment....

that is just how i roll.

today's topic:

the Banana Boat

well.... that's not really what it looks like but i don't have a picture of a banana boat that i made and i didn't want to steal some random picture of a banana boat that was not mine because i would just know. and it wouldn't be as delicious looking as my own banana boat creations.

the banana boat is a pretty forgiving and flexible treat.... there are endless possibilities!

sunday at the grocery store i picked out the biggest bananas i could find (the more banana, the more room for goodies) and now i'm just patiently waiting for the damn things to ripen enough for me to want to eat them.

first things first...
you can make these over a fire, or if that is too much effort (which it is for me right now) you can use your bbq.
easy peasy.

what you're going to need:

foil
a banana (or multiples if you're sharing the deliciousness)
goodies - the sky is really the limit here.

what you're going to do:

wash the banana (that sounds dirty when i read it but maybe thats just me) because you're leaving the peel on.
slice the banana lengthwise and pry it open a bit (you need someplace to stash the goodies)
stuff the thing with your chosen goodies.

my next boat is going to include the following:
dark chocolate
marshmallows
skor bits
smushed graham wafers
a sprinkle of cinnamon and brown sugar.

next you're going to wrap it up in foil keeping it right side up or you'll end up with a burnt mess.
if you're feeling ambitious you can make it into a fun shape

now put it on the bbq (i cook it on high - but i cook everything on high for the most part)
or if you're doing this on an open fire find a nice spot in the coals or on a grate if your fire pit has one

cook it until its a bit squishy (yes that is the technical cooking time... until its squishy)
its not an exact science.

variation:
get your boat drunk... once you've dressed your banana and gotten it almost wrapped up it is quite delicious to throw in a shot of spiced rum, butterscotch schnapps.... or some other random delicious liqueur of your choice.
i will not be enjoying this variety of banana boat in the near future, but that doesn't mean that you cant!

enjoy
xo



tasty tuesday - Whoopie Pies - an easy recipe.

i have seen a lot of recipes for these guys but they are REALLY complicated and call for ingredients that i don't keep on hand. these ones are pretty darn tasty and a lot easier than most of the recipes i see for them.

this is not a picture of my whoopie pies (thank you google images) but i haven't made them for a few months and didn't regularly take pictures of my food prior to stepping up to the plate and maintaining my blog. next time i make them i will take some pictures for an update post.

what you'll need...

Cookie Dough:2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
1 cup(s) sugar
3/4 cup(s) milk
1/2 cup(s) unsweetened cocoa
6 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine, melted
1 teaspoon(s) baking soda
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
1 large egg

Marshmallow Creme Filling:

6 tablespoon(s) butter or margarine, slightly softened
1 cup(s) confectioners' sugar
1 jar(s) (7- to 7 1/2-ounce) marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 2 large cookie sheets.

2.Prepare Cookie Dough: In large bowl, with spoon, mix all dough ingredients until smooth.

3.Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 2 inches apart, on each prepared cookie sheet. (There will be 12 rounds per sheet.)

4.Bake 12 to 14 minutes, rotating sheets between upper and lower racks halfway through baking, until puffy and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. With wide spatula, transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

5.Prepare Marshmallow Creme Filling: In large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat butter until smooth. Reduce speed to low; gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Beat in marshmallow creme and vanilla until smooth.

6.Spread 1 rounded tablespoon filling on flat side of 12 cookies. Top with remaining cookies.

keepin cool....

again....
not a real recipe.

i'm not a big fan of recipes.

they're just a guideline.... right?


mojito sun tea

this is super tasty and refreshing.

what you'll need:

a couple limes
some mint
a big jar/jug with lid (to keep bugs out if you're brewing outside)
simple syrup (i'll be honest... sometimes i just dump some sugar in)
teabags (i use 5 for my 2 L jug)
club soda (optional)


what you're going to do:

cut up the limes into slices. if i only have ugly limes (you know the ones that were in the drawer that you forgot about) i will just squeeze them because i don't like ugly stuff in my tea.
throw some fresh mint in - as much as you like. i put at least 6 stems (depending on how big they are)
add simple syrup to taste(or sugar if you don't have it on hand and you're like me and don't feel like making simple syrup sometimes)
take a wooden spoon (or a muddler if you have one) and smush it around a bit until it looks a bit crumpled.
add your teabags. i like to use either white tea or green tea. the trusty orange pekoe works too.
if you actually can leave it out in the sun you just need to fill it up with water, put the lid on and leave it for at least a few hours. if its not sunny out or you're brewing this on the counter just add hot tap water and you'll get almost the same results. sometimes you'll have to leave it a bit longer to get it steeped strongly on the counter (if that's how you like it)
once its ready fill a glass with ice, fill 3/4 full with tea and then top off with club soda.
sometimes i realize that its not sweet enough so i'll add a bit more syrup... sugar at this point will just make you a crunchy beverage so i don't recommend cheating here.

garnish with sprig of mint and a lime.

delicious and refreshing!


ENJOY!
just like fernando with his green tea mojito after a LOOOOOOONG night at Lesley and Kurt's wedding. he was hurtin.

if you don't want the bubbles then skip the club soda.

tasty tuesday

Breakfast "Cupcakes"

these are super easy and you can easily modify the recipe by adding your favorite egg toppings.

again - not a real recipe, but more a guideline.
sorry for anyone who wants exact recipes... that's just not how i roll.

what you'll need:

eggs (one egg for each cupcake you'll be making)
toppings - i like bacon and cheese but really you can toss whatever you like in there!
biscuit mix (optional)
S&P
splash of milk or cream

how to do it:

cook bacon so it is not soggy. i won't pretend that i don't sometimes cook it in the microwave.
crack eggs into bowl and whisk with some salt and pepper and a splash of milk
add in your bacon
pour/spoon into greased muffin pan
add grated or cubed cheese to the center of each cupcake (it will sink in and make a gooey delicious cheese center)

optional:
prepare the biscuit mix as directed (or make from scratch if you're feeling ambitious) and roll out
cut circles to fit on the top of each cupcake and carefully set on

bake at 325 for 20 minutes or until tops are golden and eggs are set.

i don't think i have ever made these for fernando (he's usually sleeping for breakfast) but i have made them for myself more times than i can count. i can guarantee that if i made these for fernando he would "ice" them with ketchup.

some possible mods:
sausage and peppers
jalapeno and cheddar
bacon, mushroom and cheese...
and on and on and on...

they're nothing fancy but they're fun!

tasty tuesday

i am finding tasty tuesday to be a bit more difficult as of late. i'm not making many super delicious things. my lame salads and steamed vegetables with rice are not the things that great blog posts are made of.

so... here is my least lame one this week.
its not really a recipe.
guidelines really...

Citrus Steamed Basa

what you'll need:

2 limes or 2 lemons (i prefer limes - fernando likes lemons.... last time i won)
2 basa filets
cilantro (as much or as little as you like)
salt and pepper - to taste
frying pan with tight fitting lid

what you need to do:

cut the citrus into circles and lay flat in the bottom of the pan.
make sure you cover the whole pan. when i made this on sunday i ended up using 1 and a half limes.
throw your cilantro on the limes. i use the whole thing. stem and all. you're not eating it, its just for flavor
lay the fish on top of the limes and cilantro
salt and pepper the top of the fish
add water to the pan to the top of the lemons/limes
put the lid on and cook at medium until the fish is done (depends how thick/big it is).

somehow i only managed to save one of the pictures on my phone... there was supposed to be more. OOPS.
this is what it looks like before you put the salt and pepper on.



variations:
put all the same ingredients in foil and throw this in the BBQ. delicious, healthy, and no dishes!
use other kinds of fish. i've tried a few but basa is fernando's favorite. prawns are also good.