Monthly Archives: September 2015

Apple Pumpkin Muffins

16 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by in Autumn, Breakfast, Muffins

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Fall is in the air…somedays! These sound yummy…

Ingredients-

Muffin batter-
2 1/2 cup flour
2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice or a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup melted butter
2 cup finely chopped apples

Streusel Topping-
2 /3 cup flour
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Method-
Whisk the flour, sugar, soda, salt and spices together and set aside. Then combine the eggs, pumpkin and oil together. Stir in the flour mixture until just combined. Gently fold in the chopped apples. Using 1/4 measuring cup or scoop fill muffin cups. Mix all the streusel ingredients together until well combined and crumbly. Sprinkle the streusel on top of each muffin and light press it down so it will stick. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes and test with a toothpick.

Red, White and Blue Potato Salad

14 Monday Sep 2015

Posted by in Salads, Side Dishes

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This past weekend we were in Washington for Megan’s wedding. After the ceremony we had a fabulous dinner! Best wedding food ever! Megan and Tyler hired a guy who has a BBQ food truck. Only it’s not really a truck, it’s a really awesome trailer. It was real Texas barbecue and the sides were the best ever. We all really liked the Red, White and Blue potato salad. I spent a little time on the internet searching for a recipe and this one sounds like it might come close.

Ingredients-

  • 2 lbs very small red potatoes
  • 1 teaspoon coarse sea salt
  • 1 package of bacon cooked to a crisp and roughly chopped
  • 5 ounces of blue cheese
  • ½ cup chopped green onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

Method-

  1. Bring a large pot of water to boil over medium heat.
  2. Chop the red potatoes into 1 inch cubes, place into the boiling water, add in the sea salt. Boil for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
  3. Remove the pot from the heat and pour the potatoes into a strainer to drain out all the water.  Allow to potatoes to cool to room temperature. Once cooled add the bacon, cheese, green onion and celery.
  4. In a small bowl combine the mayonnaise, salt, and onion powder. Stir to combine. Add to the potatoes and stir until completely coated.
  5. Serve immediately and enjoy!
  6. Can be stored in refrigerator in a sealed container, you may need to add more mayonnaise mixture to the salad as it will soak into the potatoes over time.

Ten Minute Macaroni and Cheese

05 Saturday Sep 2015

Posted by in Comfort Food, Lunch, Main Dishes, Pasta

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Super easy and much better than the kind from the blue box!

3 T of butter
3 T of flour
1- 12-13 oz.  can of evaporated milk
1-16 oz. box of macaroni
1 cup of milk
2 cups of grated cheddar cheese
Salt & pepper to taste

Cook the macaroni according to package directions. While the macaroni is cooking, melt butter in a saucepan and once melted, add flour and cook for 1 minute. Add the can of evaporated milk and the other cup of milk. Stir occasionally until it coats the back of a spoon (about 5 minutes). Remove from heat and let sit, add salt and pepper. After a minute, add grated cheddar cheese and stir until creamy. Add to drained pasta and serve. This recipe makes the equivalent of two boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese.

Chocolate Banana Zucchini Muffins

05 Saturday Sep 2015

Posted by in Breakfast, Chocolate, Muffins

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I found this muffin recipe at Chef-in-Training. YUM!!!

Ingredients
  • 1 cup mashed bananas
  • ⅓ cup oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1½ cups zucchini, grated and well drained
  • 1¾ cups flour
  • ¼ cup cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 cup mini chocolate chips
Method
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, combine bananas, oil, egg, and zucchini.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking soda, baking powder. Add to banana/zucchini mixture. Stir in mini chocolate chips.
  4. I used my 1/4 cup scoop to put batter into cupcake paper lined muffin tins.
  5. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes at 350 degrees F. I baked for 18 minutes. My current oven runs a little hot. Just test with a toothpick to make sure they are done.

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Apple Streusel Muffins with Glaze

03 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in Autumn, Muffins, Talking Food

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IMG_5785Sally’s Baking Addiction has some great recipes.

I prepared many of the ingredients the night before I needed these. I made the crumb topping and stored it in a plastic container on the counter. I really like fresh muffins and didn’t want to bake them the night before, but needed them to come together quickly in the morning. I measured out the two sugars and left them in my Kitchen Aid overnight. I measured all the dry ingredients and combined them with a whisk. I measured out the sour cream that I used in place of the yogurt and stored in the refrigerator.

Ingredients:

CRUMB TOPPING

  • 1/3 cup (67g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon (15g) granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2/3 cup (84g) all-purpose flour

MUFFINS

  • 1/2 cup (115g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (100g) packed light or dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature preferred
  • 1/2 cup (120g) yogurt1
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 and 3/4 cups (220g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup (60ml) milk (any kind)
  • 1 and 1/2 cups peeled, chopped apple (2 small apples)

GLAZE

  • 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 3 Tablespoons (45ml) heavy cream (or milk for a less creamy texture)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

The next morning I preheated the oven to 425 degrees.

First, I chopped the apples and set them aside.

Then I put the butter in my mixer with the sugars and combined them using the paddle attachment. I didn’t take time to soften the butter and usually don’t, my Kitchen Aid is the pro model and it powerfully softens butter in no time. I do think that I could leave the butter out to soften overnight except in the warmest weather.

Next I added the eggs, vanilla and yogurt/sour cream and mixed until everything was well combined. With the mixer running on the lowest speed I added the flour mixture a cupful at a time alternating with the milk. I added the flour quite quickly. I don’t want to run the mixer on too high of a speed or for too long. The gluten becomes activated and the texture of the muffins is not as good if baked goods are beaten for too long and at a high speed.

Finally, I stirred in the chopped apples by hand.

Line a muffin pan with muffin papers. Using my 1/4 cup scoop I filled each one. Then I put about 1 tablespoon of the crumb mixture on each muffin and pushed it down lightly. I had a lot of crumb mixture leftover. It’s my favorite part so next time I think I will either get the taller bakery type papers or put a little less batter in each cup so I can use 2 tablespoons of the crumb mixture per muffin.

****Bake for 5 minutes at 425 degrees and then lower the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 12-15 minutes. It all depends on your oven. I took mine out at 12 minutes. Test them with a toothpick.

I completely forgot to drizzle them with the glaze and they were still very yummy.

Crumb topping: In a medium bowl, combine both sugars, the cinnamon, and melted butter. Using a rubber spatula, stir in the flour. The crumb topping will be thick and crumbly. Set aside.

Make the glaze: whisk all of the ingredients together and drizzle over warm muffins.

Make ahead tip from Sally’s Baking Addiction: Muffins stay soft, fresh, and moist at room temperature for up to 5 days. Muffins freeze well for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and heat up (if desired) before enjoying.

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