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.

Bread. Take that!

I have the worst luck making bread. It's either a brick or pretty much tries to take over the oven/bread maker.

Drum roll please....

I made a baguette!!!
It worked.
It was delicious!
I ate half of it fresh out of the oven. And this was not a small baguette.

It was also not the most beautiful, but for my first attempt I thought it was pretty good.

Next I am going to attempt pretzels.

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 - banana bread oatmeal

i have eaten oatmeal nearly every day since hugo was born in an attempt to help keep a good milk supply. i'll be honest, sometimes i get pretty sick of it.
last week i discovered/invented a new "recipe"
it was so good i'm going to share it on here.

super simple and reminds me of banana bread.

for a single portion (its a pretty big portion because i'm trying to keep my pants from falling off these days)
slice half a banana into your oatmeal before you cook it, add a some shredded coconut, a pinch of cinnamon, and i added a tablespoon of chia seeds because i'm told they're good for me. i don't notice them in there so meh, why not?

and the clincher....
sprinkle a few chocolate chips on top and VOILA! oatmeal that tastes like banana bread.

i would have taken a picture but it's nothing special to look at. maybe if i remember next time i'll take a picture and add it to this post. probably won't though... so just use your imagination.

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.

its tasty on friday too...

since it's the christmas season and there is just so much baking and cookie eating that needs to be done i thought i'd throw in a few extra recipes here and there...

this basic german cookie can be adapted in SO many ways. for the most part you can add whatever you want! spices, cocoa, flavor extracts... whatever you're feeling like when you make them.

Basic Spritz

2/3 cup sugar
1 cup butter (i sometimes use margerine if thats all i have in the fridge)
1 egg
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 1/4 cups all purpose flour


heat oven to 400F
in a large mixer bowl combine sugar, butter, egg, salt, and vanilla.
beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often until mixture is light and fluffy (2-3 min)
add flour (if you want to add food coloring add it now)
beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (2-3 min)
fill your cookie press and press cookies onto ungreased cookie sheets about an inch apart.
decorate with colored sugar or sprinkles!
bake for 6-8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

this recipe makes about 60 cookies give or take (depending on your cookie press - mine makes closer to 80 because it makes itty bitty dainty cookies).

these are delicious with almond extract instead of vanilla!

enjoy!

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 - no recipe for you

i've been super busy the last week and didn't really have a chance to make anything fun or exciting so i thought i would do a quick recap of the sea monkey's favorites.


here's a top ten list of the cravings i've had:

1. steamed broccoli

2. grilled zucchini

3. corn on the cob

4. asparagus sauteed with garlic and black pepper

5. cucumbers

6. cilantro and hot sauce mixed on rice

7. a dish of pickles (mixed varieties - usually some dill, some sweet, maybe some olives or bean pickles)

8. sate chicken sub from the vietnamese sub place by my work.

9. poutine

10. plain waffle cones (not with ice cream)


i feel like i've had the most ridiculous cravings ever. this is supposed to be when i want to eat crazy junk food and random weird things. i don't. none of this is new. these are all things that i would eat before i was pregnant on a pretty regular basis. only change is that i eat larger/more portions of vegetables now.

take last night...

for dinner i had a small potato, a big pile of asparagus (about half a bunch) and a cob of corn. that was what i felt like.

i guess i should be grateful since i'm guessing my rabbit tendencies are a big factor in me not gaining huge amounts of weight.

a few more fun cravings thrown in would have been nice though.

tasty tuesday

 wait until you see all the technical words and fancy terminology i use for today's non-recipe.



Raspberry Soda

start with a nice big cup, a quarter or third of that cup filled with fresh raspberries.

next you're going to want to add grenadine and some simple syrup (however much you like)

i used sugar because i was too lazy to make simple syrup at 6:30 in the morning before work.

i used about a tablespoon of grenadine and a half a teaspoon of sugar

get a long handled spoon or a muddler (normally i use a muddler but it was not as handy and the spoon did the job) and smush it all up

i'll be honest here.... this is a super blurry picture. i took it while i was smushing. not my best idea.

if you don't smash it all up well enough it will be hard to drink through a straw.

next you're going to add your ice.

this step didn't really need its own picture, but why not.

fill your cup with club soda.

again.... not really needing a picture.... but damnit i want to be thorough! i never take pictures step by step so i'm taking the simplest thing ever and making it seem important.

voila!