Mug Cakes

  

  Hi! No, I haven't disappeared into the frozen tundra of the North, but it has been a while!  I got kinda busy with the rest of summer, and then school started, and .....  well I could continue, but I won't bore you with the details.  I have come to a decision though.  Originally I thought I would try to post three times a week.  But the business of my life has caused me to reevaluate that.  So I will try to post once a week.  I think that will be a little more manageable for now.


     Today's post is a recipe I found today.  It is so delicious, but a little dangerous because it's so easy.  You'll see what I mean in a minute,  but first...
      I have to justify my reason for posting recipes on a blog supposedly dedicated to crafting.  Cooking and baking are ART forms.  Ask any chef (professional or otherwise), I'm sure they'll agree!  So when I find a good one, I love to pass it on.  Food is just something that brings people together.  I bet if I asked you what your favorite childhood memory was, it would include food in some form or another.  Many families (including mine) eat certain foods on certain occasions.  I mean what's Thanksgiving without Pumpkin Pie?

Chocolate Mug Cake (Image from Table for Two)

     Have you every heard of a Mug Cake?  I hadn't until today.  But what a fabulous (and dangerous) :-) idea!This recipe is from "Table for Two".  I tried it today.  My kids saw it and I made each of them one.  Still faster than baking a regular cake.  It was taste tested and approved by all.  Here's the link to the recipe. The Moistest Chocolate Mug Cake Since it's apple season,  I'm also going to try her Salted Caramel Apple Spice Mug Cake!

Salted Caramel Apple Spice Mug Cake (Image from Table for Two)

I hope you enjoy these recipes!  I'd love to hear from you!  If you have a favorite mug cake please share!!

Mmm....Monday - Granola

Pictured granola is made with Grape Nuts, Corn Chex, and dried apples.

Happy Monday and last day of June! :)
Today I'm going to share with you my recipe for granola!  I usually put off making it,  and I don't know why, because it's easy to make and really yummy.  The best part is you can get really creative and make the recipe to your own taste! It's super adaptable!  So here goes!

HEATHER'S GRANOLA

6 cups Old Fashioned oats

1 cup cracked wheat (or your choice of substitute)

1 cup nuts (whatever is preferred)

2/3 cup honey (may substitute with karo syrup, or maple syrup)

1/3 cup brown sugar (may be omitted,  we like ours a little sweeter)

3/4 cup orange juice

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 cups coconut

Mix oats, cracked wheat, nuts, and coconut in large bowl. Mix honey, brown sugar, and orange juice in pan.  Heat until just boiling,stirring occasionally.  Add cinnamon to pan and stir.  Pour over dry ingredients and mix well until evenly coated.  Spread on cookie sheets and bake in 325° oven for 20 minutes,  stirring every 5 minutes. Granola should be a nice golden brown.  Let cool and store in airtight container.   Serving size is a 1/2 cup.  Makes lots! May be frozen.
Good on yogurt!
Some other ideas on things to add...sunflower seeds,  grape nuts, rice crispies, dried fruits...
Leave me a comment on how you got creative with your granola! 

Mmm.......Monday - Crock Pot Goulash

Summer is officially here! I am enjoying the warmer weather after freezing all winter, but sometimes it gets a little too warm in the house, especially as we do not have our central air installed.  So I'm trying to find ways to make meals without turning on the oven. Normally I would cook on the grill, but it is currently in need of repair.
Enter the crock pot! I put it outside on our front patio, and it cooks all day without heating up the house!
    Today I made Goulash.  Here's the recipe:
1 lb ground beef, cooked
2 - 24 oz cans of pasta sauce
Parsley, dried onion, garlic, salt, and pepper
(Add to taste - I never measure) :)
2 1/2 cups farfalle, uncooked (bow tie noodles)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
Combine all ingredients in crock pot.  Stir to mix well. Sprinkle top with additional shredded cheddar.
Cook on low 4 - 5 hours.
Enjoy!  :)

Mmm.....Monday - Trifles

Howdy! I can't believe it's been two weeks since my last post!  I was on vacation (much needed and very relaxing), and then you know how it is, it takes a week to get back into routine after! :)
For today's post, I thought I would share this trifle! Doesn't it just shout "summer"!!!!!
Yum!
I'm going grocery shopping later today, so I think I'll round up the ingredients and surprise my family!
You can find all you need to make this desert at http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/strawberry-angel-trifle
Leave a comment and let me know what your favorite trifle recipe is! :)

Mmm...Monday - Goldfish Crackers

Don't these look yummy!?  I've been wanting to try homemade crackers.  These caught my eye! To buy a 10 oz box of goldfish crackers in the store will cost you around $3.  I haven't done all the math, but a quick guesstimate puts you at $1.50 a batch! Granted, time is money, so you be the judge. But if you're looking for something fun to bake, try it with me!  I don't have a mini fish cutter, but there's a fun tutorial on how to make your own cute fishy here.  Or, if your lazy (like me), cut into small squares with your pizza cutter. I guess you couldn't really call them fish crackers then, maybe we can call them "cheesy goodness"!
Here's the link to the recipe.  http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2010/03/homemade-goldfish-crackers.html
Enjoy!  I'd love to hear if you try them.  Tell me what you think by posting a comment below! :)
Happy baking!!

Mmm...Monday!

Remember that I said I'd tell you how to make your own self-rising flour?  Well today's the day!  :)
It's very easy! All you need is regular flour, salt, and baking powder.  Put 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder into a one cup measuring cup, add 1/2 teaspoon of salt, then fill the rest with flour to make one cup of self-rising flour.  See, easy! :) Now you know!  :) Have fun baking!

Mmmm....Monday!

I know it's late, but it's still Monday!

Today I'm going to try my hand at a baking tutorial!  Here goes nothing! 

We're going to bake some chocolate chip scones. First measure 3 cups of self rising flour (I"ll cover how to make your own in another post.) into a bowl.

 Whisk together with 2/3 cup sugar and 3 tsp. baking powder. 

 

Cut in 1/2 cup (one stick) of cold butter.

With pastry blender, mix till crumbly.

Pour in one cup of buttermilk, or sour milk until blended.

Pour in one cup of chocolate chips.

Mix until blended.  your dough will clump together and be kind of sticky. Like this:

Place on floured mat and knead 8-10 times.

Cut into squares, triangles or quadrilaterals like this: (Yep, been helping my son with Geometry) :)

Bake in preheated oven.  450 degrees for 5 min.  I like to do one sheet at a time. 

 Place right in the center of your oven. 

Here's how they looked before baking:

Here's how they look after:  Nice and puffy.  They don't really brown much on top.  Be careful of this.  It can deceive you into thinking they aren't done, but the bottoms will burn.  Perfect, just like this! Notice the one turned over in the front so you can see how much the bottoms brown compared to the tops.

Next, the glaze:  Mix in a large mug or small bowl: one cup powdered sugar and one teaspoon vanilla. Mix.  Add one Tablespoon of water add a time, up to 3 Tbls.  Mix after each addition. You want it to be thick but runny.

Here are my finished scones with the glaze on top!  Glazing is kind of messy, it helps to put wax paper or something down to catch the drips, then you can roll it up and throw away the mess! :)

 

These disappear pretty quickly around here.  Here's the recipe in a nutshell:

 Chocolate Chip Scones:

Preheat oven to 450.
3 cups self-rising flour
2/3 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup cold butter
Combine first three ingredients and cut in butter until crumbly.
Add 1 cup buttermilk or sour milk and 1 cup of chocolate chips.
Turn dough and knead 8-10 times.  Roll out in a circle and cut. 
Bake for 5 min.
Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1-3 Tbls. water

Enjoy!!  :)

Mmmm...Monday

From this.....

...to this!

Who doesn't love the taste of fresh-out-of-the-oven cookies?   Here's my little trick for always having fresh cookies.  Shape into balls and freeze on a cookie sheet. After they are frozen, ( I usually leave mine overnight), transfer to a container or freezer bag and bake as needed.  This trick works well for cookies with stiff dough.  I do this frequently with my chocolate chip cookies and my snickerdoodles. Also a great way to double, triple the recipe.... less work over time.  You will always have a delicious snack/dessert ready for unexpected guests!
Keep your oven temp the same and bake for only one to two minutes longer than the original recipe.
They always taste wonderfully fresh! Glass of milk anyone?

Easy Cinnamon Bread

Happy Tuesday!  I made my favorite quick bread today.  It's super yummy, super easy, and super good looking!  I can't remember where I found the recipe.   Next time I think I'll try adding in a few nuts or chopped chocolate! I'll share the recipe with you!  Just write " recipe please" in the comment line below. :)