Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recipes. Show all posts

9.12.2012

the roommate bakers.


Amanda and the vegetables from the backyard garden!
With zucchini, tomatoes, and squash out of our ears, Amanda and I embarked on a baking journey on Saturday.
First, we used zucchini for brownies. Yes, brownies. And they are delicious. You can't even taste the zucchini, so don't stick your nose up at the idea.

Then, we made zucchini spice bread. Also delicious. In turn, I was way too excited for fall after the smells filling our kitchen Saturday afternoon.

We had buckets of tomatoes. Salsa? Good idea. After a quick trip to the store for a can of black beans & a can of corn, we made a variation of "cowboy caviar" & also a spicier salsa with jalapeƱo peppers, but also peach. They were both delicious. And now they are both gone.

Finally, we cooked up a spaghetti squash for dinner. I had never had it before ... um, yum! Who doesn't like veggies? You are really missing out on some finer things in life.

Hours of baking, chatting, and laughing with one of my best friends ... and some great food too? It was a perfect Saturday. Amanda is moving to Las Vegas in the near future (to be with her sweet fiance), and I'm embracing all these last, little bonding moments before she leaves.

This might be a tangent from being Betty Crockers, but I feel so lucky to have such a great friend & roommate. It's those nights that, even when I intend to fall asleep before 11, we end up talking until midnight. It's those half delirious comments. It's the little heart-to-heart conversations we have that make me realize how blessed I am for having amazing friends.

And sometimes, it's the moments when you have a friend who will mix up recipes, not measure everything exactly, and allow you to substitue wheat flour for the white flour :)
cowboy caviar & jalapeno/peach salsa
trying out the zucchini brownies. yum!

7.02.2012

that time i baked cookies with quinoa.


I've been on a quinoa kick -- well, I've only had it a handful of times, but I've pinned many recipes! When I came upon a recipe for cookies that used quinoa, I had to try it. And they became a quick favorite. And, they are actually pretty healthy (as far as cookies are concerned).

Ingredients:

2 c. whole-wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 c. brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 c. applesauce (I used unsweetened)
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 c. raisins
2 1/2 c. old-fashioned oats
1/2 c. cooked & cooled quinoa
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips (I didn't have semi, so I used milk chocolate)
from start to glorious finish

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper (or spray, in my case).

2. Whisk together flour, salt, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and baking soda. Set aside. Cream together butter and brown sugar until smooth (about 3 minutes). Add in eggs and vanilla. Add the applesauce & mix. Stir in raisins.

3. Slowly add dry ingredients to the liquid ingredients & mix until combined. Stir in oats, quinoa, and chocolate chips.
 
4. Spoon about a tablespoon of dough onto baking sheet. Bake cookies 12-14 minutes, or until cookies are just barely set (for me, this was 10 minutes). Remove cookies from sheet & cool on wire rack. 


Try to resist eating the whole batch. You can even freeze some for later!  

**I made 24 cookies, chilled the dough, and then made the rest into bars (I might have eaten one for breakfast). I think it would yield around 36 cookies. I am also going to try this again, using less brown sugar, and perhaps adding white chocolate chips, walnuts, almonds, etc. Oh, the possibilities!

6.22.2012

cake batter pudding cookies

The name alone sounds like a party, right? And that's the perfect way to describe these little treats.

I needed to make cookies for a Relief Society activity & I cast aside the usual tendency I have to make something with chocolate in favor of a "more festive" summer treat.

I took the recipe from Chef-In-Training via Pinterest. They were a hit!

cake batter pudding cookies.
If you want to make them, here's the recipe:

1 1/2 sticks of butter (I used unsalted)
1/4 c. white sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 (3.4 oz) package instant vanilla pudding mix (I used sugar free)
3/4 c. yellow cake mix
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
2 1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
sprinkles (I used the nonpareil kind but I think the rainbow jimmies would be fantastic too!)

Preheat oven to 350 F.
Stir together flour, salt, and baking soda. Set aside.
Cream butter & sugar together in a large bowl.
Add in pudding package and cake mix. Beat until blended.
Add eggs and vanilla and mix until smooth.
Add flour mixture until well incorporated.
Mix in sprinkles. (There was not a given amount of sprinkles ... I just poured them in to my liking)
Roll into 1" balls and place on greased baking sheet.
Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

I love excuses to try new recipes!

3.13.2012

key lime bars

I made delicious key lime bars over the weekend for a family dinner. I was excited to have an excuse to make this recipe I saw on Pinterest a while ago. Here are some pictures of the process...although you really should try it out for yourself ;)
crust made with graham cracker? NO. animal crackers. trust me. it's good. 
Press the crust into an 8x8 pan & bake approx. 15 minutes
Then you make the yummy filling & pour it in the crust.

Bake that baby for 15-17 minutes.
Sprinkle with toasted coconut...and chill 
Enjoy. And try to eat just one... ;)
Full recipe (from Mel's Kitchen)
*Makes 16 bars
INGREDIENTS:
Crust:
5 ounces animal crackers (about 2 1/2 cups animal crackers)
3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
Pinch salt
4 tablespoons butter, melted
Filling:
2 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
1 tbsp grated fresh lime zest (from about 2 limes)
1 can (14-ounce) sweetened condensed milk
Pinch salt
1 large egg yolk
1/2 cup fresh lime juice (from about 3-4 regular limes or 20 Key limes)
Garnish (optional)
3/4 cup shredded coconut, toasted
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F, adjusting an oven rack to the middle position. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, letting two opposing edges hang over at least an inch or so. Grease the foil with cooking spray.
For the crust, process the animal crackers, sugar and salt together to fine crumbs in a blender or food processor. Drizzle the melted butter over the crumbs and pulse to incorporate (or stir together in a bowl with a fork). Sprinkle the mixture into the prepared pan and press the crumbs into an even layer. Bake the crust until fragrant and golden, about 15-18 minutes.
For the filling, while crust bakes, in a medium bowl, stir the cream cheese, lime zest and salt together until combined. Whisk in the sweetened condensed milk until smooth (you can use a handheld electric mixer, if you want). Whisk in the egg yolk and lime juice until combined.
Pour the filling evenly over the crust. Bake the bars until the filling is set and the edges just slightly begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, 15-17 minutes.
Let the bars cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack, about 2 hours. Then cover the pan with foil and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours. Remove the bars from the pan using the foil overhang and cut into squares. Sprinkle with toasted coconut if desired. 

3.01.2012

thursday eats.

Today's recipes are pretty random, but all things I have been craving lately. No, I'm not pregnant.

"Healthy" Corndogs


recipe found here

Oatmeal Pancakes (I made these yesterday — delicious! And they use whole what flour and have no sugar)


recipe found here

Banana Oatmeal Bread (craving: oatmeal)


recipe found here

Key Lime Bars (Can you make these for me & let me know how they turn out?)


recipe found here

That's all for this week! I am having fun finding these delicious recipes to share with you. I wish my pictures looked better when I make recipes & I'd post them ...but they look atrocious usually.

Happy Thursday!


2.23.2012

thursday eats.

Another week & another batch of recipes...here we go :) Since I'm not eating sweets for the next month...and some, I thought today could be a post about delicious lunches or dinners to make. Even though it's 9 a.m., some of these recipes sound pretty darn good right now.

Spicy Chicken & Pepper Jack Pizza

Source: yummly.com via Cheri on Pinterest

recipe found here.

Quick French Dip Sandwich


recipe found here.

Spinach Artichoke Pizza

Source: boboli.com via Cheri on Pinterest

recipe found here

Crockpot Chicken Parmesan


recipe found here.

Creamy Chicken Pockets


recipe found here.

I seriously must be craving spinach, pizza, or chicken...see a theme? Sorry there isn't a great variety here today. Would you rather see desserts, dinner, snacks, simply crock pot, or a mix? Guess I'll be going to the grocery store later... :)


2.16.2012

thursday eats:

southern style.
crock pot pulled pork


this recipe (found here) has only three ingredients.

or maybe crock pot bbq chicken is more to your liking?


recipe found here.

a good side of baked beans


recipe here.

cornbread is my favorite.


this recipe has nearly 900 positive reviews. or you can just buy a mix at the store...

hush puppies. seriously. love these.


recipe from Paula Deen

if you have never tried fried pickles, please do. i was a skeptic. but i like them. a lot.


again, recipe from Paula Deen

country biscuits & gravy 

so tasty for breakfast...or dinner.  recipe here. I love when my mom makes these :)

finally, some southern dessert:
crock pot cherry cobbler (you can do this with peaches as well -- i made one with canned peaches and cake mix. so simple)

Source: laaloosh.com via Kelly on Pinterest

recipe here

What are your favorite types of food? I really miss good southern cooking & real southern barbecue. But, these can give me a taste of the south. It's worth a shot! It's way too early to be craving this!

2.10.2012

friday eats.

Who is ready for another post full of good food & some tasty treats? Me! Yum. As usual, click on the picture to be taken to the recipe (thanks, Pinterest).

apple & gorgonzola cheese salad



chicken cordon bleu ... crock pot style ;)



tasty banana pancakes (I made these Wednesday morning & was happy to find a good recipe using whole wheat!)



butterscotcharoos (one of my still-favorite treats...that i have a HARD time resisting!)



i love fruits & veggies & there are some great snack ideas here



homemade oreos (i like them without being dipped in chocolate too)



do you have any traditions for valentine's day foods? heart-shaped pancakes? milk that was dyed pink? my mom used to always make me heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast! and we always had heart-shaped sugar cookies with pink frosting & sprinkles...yum!
happy friday, all!

2.02.2012

thursday eats.

I'm not a huge sports fan, but I love entertaining. So, here are some great recipes if you're hosting or need to take food to a Superbowl party (or if you just want to make it for fun):

Mini Corn Dogs (YUM)



Valentine Chex Mix



Cinnamon Cookie Crunch Popcorn



No Bake Nutella Cheesecake (making this weekend? Super simple. And probably tasty.)



Symphony Brownies (brownie mix + symphony bar ... easy!)



Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip (had this at Thanksgiving. YUM!)



Do you have any favorite party/snack foods? Are you going to a Superbowl party or hosting one? Leave a message in the comments about your weekend plans!




1.27.2012

friday finds.

Instead of doing the Top 10 finds from Pinterest this week, I decided to do 7. Believe me, it's not because I couldn't find 10 things to show you all. But, 7 is a fresh number ;) Enjoy!

1. Framed "LOVE" letters for Valentine's Day.



2. If I owned colored pants, they'd look like this:



3. Goal for future home:



4. This looks tasty:



5. So do these (who doesn't love peanut butter & chocolate??)



6. I love a good braid. Can't wait to try this when my hair is a little longer:



7. One day, I hope I can be clever like this:



Do you have a Pinterest? If so, send me a link in the comments!