Soft Chewy Molasses Cookies

I have been in full-blown Christmas cookie baking mode the last few days.....I have been making the dough, scooping it, and freezing it so that on Christmas Eve all I will have to do is pop the dough balls into the oven, bake and VOILA! A wide array of delicious cookies to bring to our Christmas Evening Festivities!

Along with the usual sugar cookies and chocolate chip cookies (I have been told by many people "these chocolate chip cookies are the best I've ever had and where can they get the recipe?" and I usually say, "the back of the Toll House bag!" because that's the simple truth.....but I do tell them, as I always tell you all, that I chill the dough for at least three hours......so I'll say it again, please chill your cookie dough! Google the science of why!), I am also bringing the Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies that I blogged the other day, and then these, Soft Chewy Molasses Cookies. They are really delicious and have that distinct gingerbread taste that we all love so much during the holidays.  I am all for a crisp gingersnap, but I really do prefer soft molasses cookies and this recipe definitely delivers flavor and chewiness all in one.

I scoured Pinterest looking for a recipe that didn't involve using shortening (aka Crisco, YUCK!).....it was hard to find....but I did! This recipe comes from the blog Great Grub, Delicious Treats. It is shortening-free and completely delectable!

And now my holiday baking is complete!

Here is Great Grub, Delicious Treat's recipe word for word:

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic sugar
• 3/4 cup butter softened
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 egg cage free
• 2 1/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• Sugar for coating optional

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. In a large mixing bowl, beat sugar, butter and molasses together.
3. Beat in egg until light and fluffy.
4. Mix in flour <I sifted my flour>, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger, cloves and nutmeg together until well combined.
5. Cover dough and refrigerate for about an hour. This makes handling the dough much easier.
6. Roll dough into 1 - 1 1/2 in balls.
7. Roll each ball in sugar to coat.
   <And this is the time when I chill my cookie dough. Sometimes I chill it overnight, but you really should chill it for at least 1 to 3 hours. Google the science of why chilled cookies look and taste better>
8. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart.
9. Bake for 10-12 minutes. <I baked mine for 9 1/2 minutes>
10. Remove from oven and let sit for 1 minute before removing cookies and placing on wire rack to cool.
11. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Double Chocolate Peppermint Crunch Cookies

Every Christmas I scour Pinterest looking for fun Christmas cookies to bake and then blog for you, my friends and readers. These cookies caught my eye right away because of the candy canes and I know you will all love them! The kids helped me make them and they had a blast crushing all the candy canes!!! The verdict - 100% DELICIOUS!!! The soft crunch from the cooked candy canes was really yummy - and the peppermint extract in the dough had a great, subtle taste. We gave these cookies two big thumbs up! I will be bringing them to our family party on Christmas Even (I froze the rest of the dough in pre-scooped balls for convenience). 

***Two notes : 1. Please chill the dough for at least two hours. Chilling cookie dough makes a huge difference in how they bake (Google if if you want the science behind it). and 2. I used way more candy canes then the ingredients state. I put a cup of crushed candy canes in the dough, then I rolled the top of them in about 1/2 cup of crushed canes. When the cookies bake, the candy canes melt - they are delicious, but they do not look as pretty. So, if you care about presentation, sprinkle the baked cookies with extra pieces of crushed candy canes just before serving. They will most likely roll off, but they will look pretty! ;)

This recipe comes from the blog A Pumpkin & A Princess. Here it is word for word with my changes and notes in italics:

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp peppermint extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups chocolate chunks
• 1/2 cup candy cane pieces (I used a total of 1 1/2 cups, plus more for sprinkling after they baked. See my note above***)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Beat butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and peppermint until light and fluffy.
3. In a large bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Slowly add flour mixture to butter mixture until well combined.
5. Stir in chocolate chunks. <I mixed in 1 cup of crushed candy canes>
6. Use cookie scoop to drop cookies onto ungreased baking sheet.
7. Press candy cane pieces on top. <I rolled the top of my dough balls in 1/2 cup of crushed candy canes>
8. <I chilled my cookie dough, like I ALWAYS do, for two hours before baking>
9. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.
10. Cool slightly then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. 
11. <Sprinkle with extra candy cane pieces before serving just for looks>

No Bake Nut Butter, Banana & Chocolate Krispie Treats

I REALLY wanted Rice Krispie treats today (yes, I said, "I," not "my kids," but, "I")......I have seen recipes like this on Pinterest before so I thought I would whip up my own version. I had some nice, ripe, brown bananas on the counter (I have to admit I'm always waiting for my bananas to get spotty because then I know I can start baking with them - they also make my smoothies taste better!).  I wanted to incorporate the banana into the treats.  So I threw a few things into my mini food processor (don't forget the vanilla and cinnamon! Yum!), added melted chocolate (always a good idea)....and just to be extra healthy, I threw in some protein packed hemp seeds (which if you haven't ever tried hemp seeds you really need to - they are so tiny and have a mild nutty flavor - they are almost undetectable in baked goods, smoothies and salads - which makes them easy to sneak into foods!).

Let me tell you, it's a miracle these even turned into treats because I was scarfing them like a mad woman straight from the mixing bowl - WOW!!! They are that yummy! Makes a great snack, makes an even better dessert (yes to these Krispie Treats and no to that huge bowl of ice cream!). Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1 very ripe banana
1/2 cup peanut butter or any nut butter (I used 1/4 almond and 1/4 peanut....if allergies, use sunbutter)
2 Tbl coconut oil, melted
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
3/4 cup chocolate chips
4-ish cups of Rice Krispies
2 Tbl hemp seeds, plus more for sprinkling, optional

Directions:

Place banana, nut butter, melted coconut, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and pure maple syrup in a food processor or blender. I used my mini-food processor and it was big enough. Blend ingredients until completely smooth.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips until they are completely smooth (check after a minute, stir, and then cook 30 seconds more).

Place banana mixture and melted chocolate chips into a large bowl. Add the Rice Krispies and hemp seeds, if using. Add until you like the consistency....mine were not super wet.  Stir until completely coated.

Use coconut oil to lightly grease an 8X8 square baking dish. Press Rice Krispie mixture into greased dish and flatten the top with a spoon. If you like you can sprinkle more hemp seeds on top. Place in the 'fridge for at least 30 minutes or until the treats are set. Turn the treats on to a clean cutting board and cut into squares. Enjoy!!

Cranberry Bliss Smoothie

I saw these beautiful, fresh cranberries in the grocery store and I knew I had to put them into a smoothie! I was a bit nervous the smoothie would be too tart, but the orange and very ripe banana evened the flavors out and the whole thing was actually quite sweet! Very yummy and a great way to give you body an immunity boost during cold and flu season!

1/3 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1 medium orange, peeled
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1 ripe banana
1 cup of your favorite milk, I used an almond/coconut blend
1 Tbl honey (optional)
1 Tbl hemp seeds (optional)
Ice cubes

Place all ingredients into a high power blender. Blend until smooth. Add a couple of ice cubes if desired. Enjoy!

Peanut Butter Blossoms with Hershey's Kisses

This recipe is definitely an "oldie" but it still reigns as a "goodie, goodie, goodie" in my book.  My boys were asked to bring in cookies for all the middle school teachers this week....I was about to make my go to chocolate chip cookies, but decided to be a little more festive and make these Peanut Butter Blossoms with Hershey's Kisses.  I'm not sure why this cookie is always associated with Christmastime, but it definitely brings up great memories for me as a child during the holidays.

I made the dough a day in advance (I do this often when I have the time and know I will be busy the night before the cookies actually need to be baked). But chilling your cookie dough for at least an hour (and in my case, one whole day) actually gives you a better tasting cookie. The science behind it has to do with the fat in the chilled cookie dough taking longer to melt while it's cooking...this helps the cookies to spread less during baking. Further, the cookies become more golden as they bake and their flavor more pronounced.  Doubts? Google it!

Anyway, I always chill my dough - it really does make the cookies taste better! 

This recipe is old school Betty Crocker- here it is word for word:

Ingredients

1/2  cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 egg 

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Additional granulated sugar

About 36 Hershey's Kisses milk chocolates, unwrapped 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375F 

In large bowl, beat 1/2 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, peanut butter, butter and egg with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in flour, baking soda and baking powder until dough forms.
 

Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in additional granulated sugar. On ungreased cookie sheets, place about 2 inches apart. 

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Immediately press 1 milk chocolate candy in center of each cookie. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling rack. 

Goat Cheese Polenta with Roasted Veggies

Have you checked out the blog Cookie & Kate yet? It really is an awesome place to find great vegetarian recipes - dinners, desserts, healthy, decadent....she does an awesome job creating a large variety of recipes. I subscribe to her posts and the day I got this one in my inbox I went to the store and made it the next evening. I just knew it would be delicious and it truly was.

I just love polenta so much - and when I saw there was goat cheese IN the polenta, I was sold. The roasted veggies (I used sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts) were amazingly delicious. And I was surprised that I really enjoyed egg as well (I cooked ours "fried over hard"). Two out of three of my kids gave this a big thumbs up (and really, I can't expect more than that since I have one who eats like a typical kid and two that are quite adventurous). This was a scrumptious vegetarian meal that was super filling.

Here is Cookie & Kate's recipe word for word (and make sure to explore her blog when you have a minute):

Ingredients:

Roasted vegetables

• About 2 pounds mixed vegetables, i.e. small butternut squash, red onion here, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potato, bell peppers <I used one peeled and cubed sweet potato, and Brussels>
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Fine sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Goat cheese polenta

• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 leek, white parts only, thoroughly cleaned and chopped <this was my addition>
• ½ teaspoon fine-grain sea salt, to taste
• 3 to 4 cups water, according to package directions
• 1 cup corn polenta (also called grits)*
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 to 3 tablespoons mild salsa verde (homemade or store-bought)
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup crumbled)

Eggs, etc.

• 4 eggs, cooked as desired <I cooked mine "fried over hard" bc we don't like runny yolk>
• Finely sliced green onion, for garnish
• Additional salsa verde and/or hot sauce (I love Cholula)

Instructions

1. To roast the vegetables: Preheat the oven to 400°F. On a large, rimmed baking sheet, combine the vegetables with 2 tablespoons olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Toss until they are lightly coated in oil, then arrange the vegetables in a single layer across the pan. Bake for 25 to 40 minutes (timing will depend on your choice of vegetables), tossing halfway, until the vegetables are tender and deeply golden on the edges.
2. To cook the polenta: In a medium saucepan, warm 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the chopped bell pepper and ½ teaspoon salt <I added the leek with the peppers>. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pepper is tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the amount of water specified on your package of polenta, crank up the heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Pour in the polenta, whisk to combine, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cook until thickened, which can take as little as 5 minutes depending on your polenta, whisking often to remove any clumps. Remove the pot from the heat, and stir in the butter, salsa verde and freshly ground black pepper, to taste. Add additional salt, if necessary. Gently fold in the crumbled goat cheese, just until combined. Cover and set aside.
4. Cook your eggs as desired. Divide the grits and eggs into 4 bowls. Divide the vegetables into the bowls and finish them with a light sprinkle of green onion. Serve with additional salsa verde and/or hot sauce on the side.

Holiday Spiced Warm Almond Milk

I have never been a coffee drinker and over the years I have dabbled in tea.....I think I WANT to like tea more than I actually do.....and maybe I just want to also be holding a mug of something warm and toasty while everyone else sips their lattes and coffees. I do like warm chai lattes - but the truth is they are so caloric that I just don't drink them very often. Enter this super easy Holiday Spiced Warm Milk. It is inspired by a similar blend I tried this week at one of my favorite neighborhood organic grocers. It is satisfyingly warm on this brisk December morning, has all the flavors of the Christmas season, and has much less calories than a chai latte from Starbucks. My kids just tried it and they were in love. I probably should have doubled the recipe to make them a cup too.....next time, kids....this mug is for moi!

This glass of warm spiced milk is also full of health benefits. Protein and calcium from the almond milk, anti-inflammatory properties from the cinnamon, ginger & turmeric, and cardamom helps with digestion.  A little spice goes a long way....but the health (and flavor) benefits are great!

I drank mine with a Gingerbread Muffin (click for recipe).... a delicious mid-morning breakfast (and I think I might have another mug before bed tonight). Enjoy!

Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk (or regular milk if you have an allergy)

1 Tbl raw honey or pure maple syrup

1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp turmeric

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1/8 tsp ginger

Less than 1/8 tsp cardamon (optional) - just the tiniest pinch, as this has a strong flavor

Place all ingredients into a small saucepan. Warm over low heat until desired temperature.

Alternatively, place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Drink cold or warm in the microwave. 

Enjoy!

Gingerbread Muffins with Chocolate Chips

Hello, December (well, almost!) and Hello, Gingerbread! The two go hand-in-hand in my mind....along with peppermint....they are the flavors of the season. When I saw this recipe on My Whole Food Life blog I knew I had to make them STAT.  They had me at gingerbread (and then the chocolate chips sealed the deal).

These muffins are sweetened with maple syrup (I think you could also use honey), are gluten free and have no butter, just coconut oil. So they are pretty healthy as far as muffins go (but FULL of amazing flavor from all the spices)! The kids LOVED them. They make a super easy, grab-and-go breakfast or snack. 

*I didn't have oat flour so I ground whole oats in the food processor....measure the oat flour AFTER it's been ground down.

Here is the recipe word for word from My Whole  Food Life blog:

Ingredients:

• 2 1/4 cups gluten free oat flour*
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 2 flax eggs <I used two regular eggs>
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1 - 1 1/2 tsp ginger (depending on how spicy you like it) <I used 3/4 tsp ginger>
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup almond milk <use regular milk if nut allergy>
• 1/3 cup chocolate chips <I used 1/2 cup>

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix all dry ingredients in one bowl .

Mix wet ingredients in another.

Add wet to dry and mix until combined.

Spoon batter into lined or greased muffin pans. <I used a 1/4 cup full measuring cup for each muffin>

Bake for 10-12 minutes. <I baked for 12 minutes>

<This made 14 muffins for me>

Butter Leaf Salad with Dates, Apples & Pomegranate Seeds

I made this salad the other night while my dad was in town visiting and he said it was the tastiest salad he's had in a very long time....He asked me to blog it STAT so that he can make it for Thanksgiving dinner! So, here it is, Dad!

Hope you all enjoy this recipe as much as my family does - it's a super easy salad that I serve as a side all the time. The flavors are very bright (thanks to the pomegranate seeds), sweet (dates and apples), and salty (the blue cheese). I use Brianna's Poppy Seed Dressing because it is just flat out amazing. You can also use a vinaigrette (3 parts oil, 2 parts vinegar, 1 part honey is a quick whip up dressing from scratch). But if you can find the Brianna's, get it!

Salad Ingredients (I don't really have exact measurements - just use as much or as little as you like):

• 1 or 2 heads of butter leaf lettuce, washed, dried and torn into bite sized pieces (one head will be enough for two people as a side salad, two heads will be right to serve two full sized dinner portions - my husband and I eat a giant salad for dinner at least once a week.....if you want to add protein try chopped chicken or roasted tofu)
• pomegranate seeds 
• walnuts, chopped
• diced crisp sweet apple (like a honeycrisp, jazz or pink lady)
• dates, pitted and chopped (do not omit the dates, they honestly are the heart of this salad)
• blue cheese
• pepper & salt (easy on the salt as the blue cheese is quite salty)
• Brianna's Poppy Seed Dressing or vinaigrette of your choice (but try to use Brianna's)

Directions:
Place ingredients in separate serving salad bowls (try to arrange them side by side around the bowl, alternating colors - presentation means so much). Top with salad dressing and serve immediately.

Flourless Pumpkin Blender Muffins

So..... I have been totally obsessed with making blender muffins over the past two weeks - they are just so easy and they are incredibly tasty! Plus, when I have muffins made, my kids have a quick-as-they-can-grab them breakfast.....which makes my mornings so much easier than asking them all what they want and getting three different answers.

After a quick Pinterest search for pumpkin blender muffins I found these (they also happen to be gluten free) on the blog Averie Cooks (btw this blog has SO many yummy looking desserts I cannot wait to explore and try more of her recipes!). I knew after a quick scan of the ingredients they would be amazing (I mean, look at all those spices!!).....and they are!

Here is the recipe from Averie Cooks word for word with my changes in italics:

**The recipe says these make mini muffins. I actually doubled the recipe and made 12 regular muffins. I baked them at 350F for 19 minutes**.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup old-fashioned whole-rolled oats (not quick cook or instant; use certified gluten-free if necessary or desired)
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream (lite okay)
• 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil <I used liquid-state coconut oil>
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice <I didn't have this so I used 1/4 tsp ground ginger instead>
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus more for sprinkling <I used regular sized>

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F. Prepare mini muffin pans**<see my note above or below about making regular size muffins> by spraying very well with floured cooking spray, or grease and flour the pans; set aside. If keeping gluten-free for health reasons, simply use cooking spray or grease the pan.
2. To the canister of a high-speed blender, add the oats, and blend on high speed until fine and powdery, about 15 seconds.
3. Add all remaining ingredients except the chocolate chips and blend on high speed until smooth and incorporated, about 1 minute.
4. Add chocolate chips and stir in by hand; don’t use the blender because it will pulverize them.
5. Using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, turn batter out into the muffin cavities, filling each to a solid 3/4 full.
6. Evenly sprinkle the top of each with a generous pinch of chocolate chips (about 8 to 10 chips each).
7. Bake for 8 to 11 minutes, or until the tops are set, domed, springy to the touch, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter.  Due to their small size and oven variance, make sure to watch your muffins closely, and bake until done. Allow muffins to cool in pans for about 10 minutes, or until they’ve firmed up and are cool enough to handle. Muffins are best fresh, but will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months. 

**The recipe says these make mini muffins. I actually doubled the recipe and made 12 regular muffins. I baked them at 350F for 19 minutes**.

Chocolate Black Bean Blender Muffins

 

Last week I made the Flourless Peanut Butter & Banana Muffins that I blogged earlier this year for my kids. They just devoured them for breakfast and snacks. I was really digging how easy it was to put all the ingredients into the blender, press start, and basically be done. So I went onto Pinterest to find more blender muffin recipes and I came across these little protein-packed yummies.  I had a can of black beans in my pantry and just enough oats....so I gave them a try. Results were a super easy muffin to throw together, moist, dense chocolate flavor, and quality, healthful ingredients. I would say that's a win-win-win. 

This recipe comes from the blog Kristin's Kitchen Blog:

 

Ingredients

• 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 3 eggs
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
• ½ cup pure maple syrup or honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 tsp cinnamon <this was my own addition>
• ½ cup bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions:

 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin tin with silicone (or paper) liners.

Place all ingredients, except for the chocolate chips, in a blender. Blend until smooth.

Pour the mixture into the prepared muffin tin, filling each muffin cup almost to the top. Drop 4-5 chocolate chips onto the top of each muffin.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes in the pan and then remove to a wire rack to cool completely. (Silicone liners can be removed once muffins are cool.)

Miss Ann's Fairy Tea

My friend, Ann, shared this recipe with me and my children over the summer. I have been waiting for the weather to turn cold before I blogged it.....and after our high of 32F on Friday, I think the time has come!!

I think it's so funny that my kids like tea because I have only become a tea lover over the last few years. But they ask me for hot tea all the time and they especially ask me for Miss Ann's Fairy Tea! Ann was quick to tell me that there really isn't anything to this (and she's right, it's super simple) but the kids just LOVE it (I mean, it's full of sugar so why wouldn't they?) and it's a fun, hot drink to have when it's cold outside.

Sometimes I put sugar in it, but mostly I use honey.  Ann uses whole milk (which truly tastes better) but I only ever have 1% on hand - it works, too!

Let me know if your kids like this tea as much as mine do! Thank you for sharing with me, Ann!

Ingredients for Fairy Tea:
1 peppermint tea bag of your choice
1 tsp to 1 Tbl sugar or honey (again, your choice on how much sugar you are willing to give your child- haha!)
1 Tbl milk, whole milk is the most decadent, but 1% or 2% works, too

Place tea bag in a mug. Add hot water and let seep for three minutes. Add sugar or honey and milk. Enjoy!

The Ultimate Party Snack Mix

5 Tbl butter, divided
1 Tbl Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbl pure maple syrup
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
3 cups Wheat Chex
3 cups Cheerios
6 cups popcorn (I used my air popper- you can used lightly salted bagged popcorn, but I would not use microwave popcorn as it's got such a distinct fake butter flavor)
1 cup mini pretzels or thin sticks
1 cup cheese crackers (like Cheez-Its)
1 cup dry roasted peanuts or smoked almonds, optional
Salt to taste

Preheat oven to 300F.

In microwave-safe bowl melt 4 Tbl of butter, Worcestershire sauce and maple syrup in the microwave for 40 seconds.  Stir. Add the onion powder and garlic powder. Stir again.  Pour Wheat Chex and Cheerios into a medium sized bowl. Pour butter mixture over the Chex and Cheerios; stir until evenly coated. Pour mixture onto a foil-lined baking sheet and spread evenly with a wooden spoon. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes total - stirring every 15 minutes so that the mixture is evenly baked.  Remove from oven and let cool.

Pour the popcorn, mini pretzels, cheese crackers, cooled Chex & Cheerio mix and nuts, if using, into a large bowl. Melt the remaining Tbl of butter in the microwave and drizzle over the snack mix; use your hands to toss. Add salt to your taste and toss again using your hands. Serve within a day or so.

This makes enough to fill about one and a half gallon sized ziplock bags.  Double the recipe if you need more. Enjoy!

Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad with Crunchy Panko Topping

This salad was super yummy - thumbs up from the hubby and kids!! I actually made it the day before to save myself the hassle the night of and was so glad I did!!! The veggies and tortellini marinated all night and had great flavor - and I was also so happy after a day of work to not have to make a big dinner! Win-Win! What was everyone's favorite part of the meal? The crunchy panko topping!!! The kids went wild over the topping - I'm so glad I added it last minute. Also, if you make the salad the day before, do not add the topping until just before serving or it will get soggy.

Hope you all enjoy this as much as my family did!

 Blistered Garlic Cherry Tomatoes:

• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 Tbl olive oil
• 1 tsp dried basil or 3 Tbl fresh basil 
• 1/4 tsp salt

 Dressing & Tortellini Salad:

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 Tbl red wine vinegar
• 2 tsp maple syrup or honey
• 1 Tbl Dijon mustard
• 16 ounces (2 cups) cheese tortellini
• 2 bell peppers, chopped (preferably one orange and one red)
• 1/2 cup fresh basil, roughly torn
• 3/4 cup fresh "pearl" mozzarella balls (the little tiny balls)
• 3-4 ounces salami, roughly chopped, optional
• 2 cups of fresh arugula
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

 Crunchy Panko Topping:

• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 Tbl olive oil
• 1 Tbl dried parsely
• 1/8 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 400F 

Toss the halved cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, olive oil, basil and salt in a medium bowl.  Spread on to a foil lined baking sheet and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the tomatoes are blistered and bursting. Stir with a spatula and set aside to cool. Don't worry that they fall apart - that will happen. Just make sure you don't lose any of the seeds and juice- all that yummy-ness adds lots of flavor to the salad.

While the tomatoes are roasting boil a large pot of water and cook tortellini to al dente. Drain water, place tortellini back into pot and drizzle with a little bit of olive oil to prevent sticking. Set aside.

To make the dressing combine 1/2 cup olive oil, red wine vinegar, syrup or honey and Dijon mustard. Whisk until smooth.

To make the panko topping, turn the oven down to 350F. In a small bowl add panko bread crumbs, olive oil, parsley and salt. Mix with your fingers. Evenly spread the bread crumb mixture onto a foil lined baking sheet. Bake for only 3 - 4 minutes - don't go anywhere because this cooks quickly and you do not want it to burn. Remove from oven, stir the cooked panko with a spoon and set aside. 

To assemble the salad add the cooked tortellini, chopped bell peppers, blistered tomatoes and their juice, dressing, mozzerella balls, chopped basil and salami (if using) into a large bowl. Toss until everything is nicely coated. Taste for salt and pepper. 

To serve, place a handful of arugula at the bottom of each serving bowl. Spoon on the tortellini salad. Evenly divide the shredded Parmesan and baked panko crumbs to the top of each salad. Enjoy!!

**This is a great salad to make ahead of time! However,  add the arugula and the panko topping JUST before eating or the arugula and panko will get soggy. The rest of the ingredients will marinate together in the fridge overnight! Easy Peasy!

Three Bean Chocolate Chili

I have been following this blog, Vegetarian Ventures, for awhile now.....this gal makes really delicious meals, often with surprise ingredients (like the cocoa powder in this chili) that really intrigue me as a cook and get me excited about experimenting with new flavors. I treated myself to her cookbook when it came out this year and I have been enjoying her recipes quite a bit!! Her photos (on her blog and in her cookbook) are gorgeous, by the way - they definitely make me hungry!!!

Here is the recipe word for word from Shelly Westerhausen's beautiful cookbook Vegetarian Heartland:

Ingredients:
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 large yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded, de-ribbed and chopped
3 large garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbl chili powder
1 Tbl Dutch-process cocoa powder
2 tsp dried oregano
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 - 15oz can black beans, drained
1 - 15oz can kidney beans, drained
1 - 15oz can pinto beans, drained
1 - 14oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
1 cup frozen corn <I omitted this because I don't care for corn in chili>
1 Tbl maple syrup* <this was my own addition - I think it balanced out the flavors>

sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese or nutritional yeast, chopped fresh cilantro or chopped avocado for serving, all optional

Directions:
In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic and saute until the vegetables soften and the garlic is fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the chili powder, cocoa powder, oregano, cumin, and cayenne, stirring to coat, and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds more. Add the beans, tomatoes with juice, stock, *maple syrup <if using> and corn.

Turn the heat to medium-high, bring to a boil, and then turn the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the vegetables and beans are completely soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer until the chili thickens and most of the liquid has cooked off, about 5 minutes more. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Ladle into bowls or mugs. Serve warm and pass sour cream, cheese, cilantro and/or avocado (if using) around the table. Leftovers will last up to 3 days refrigerated in an airtight container or up to 3 months in the freezer.

The Very Best Pumpkin Bread Ever

This bread is OUT OF CONTROL AMAZING!!! So so so yummy! Pumpkin, cream cheese, buttermilk and a cinnamon topping?! The answer is YES to all! I have made this bread twice in the past two weeks. Yep, two times! It is so delicious I do not think I will ever make another pumpkin bread....I don't think it can be topped!!

This recipe is from America's Test Kitchen. If you aren't familiar with this blog/cookbook then you should check it out! They try each recipe many many times using different ingredients and cooking methods before they decide on the perfect one - and they always get it right. This one is certainly no different. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Here is the recipe verbatim (and follow all the steps including cooking the pumpkin down on the stove top):

Topping:
5 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt

Bread:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 (15‑ounce) can unsweetened pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon salt
1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup (7 ounces) granulated sugar
1 cup packed (7 ounces) light brown sugar
1/2  cup vegetable oil
4 ounces cream cheese, cut into 12 pieces
4 large eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped fine

1. For the topping: Using fingers, mix all ingredients together in bowl until well combined and mixture resembles wet sand.

2. For the bread: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two
8 1/2 by 4 1/2‑inch loaf pans. Whisk flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in bowl.

3. Cook pumpkin puree, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves in large saucepan over medium heat, stirring constantly, until reduced to 1 1/2 cups, 6 to 8 minutes. Off heat, stir in granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, and cream cheese until combined. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes. Whisk until no visible pieces of cream cheese remain and mixture is homogeneous.

4. Whisk eggs and buttermilk together in separate bowl, then whisk into pumpkin mixture. Gently fold in flour mixture until combined (some small lumps of flour are OK). Fold in walnuts. Scrape batter into prepared pans, smooth tops, and sprinkle evenly with topping. Bake until skewer inserted in center comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes, rotating pans halfway through baking.

5. Let loaves cool in pans for 20 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack and let cool for 1 1/2 hours before serving.

Cinnamon Apple & Banana Bread with Walnuts

Every weekend my husband makes our family pancakes and waffles from scratch - it's his thing. He takes his sweet, sweet time making them and they are always a highlight of our weekend!! This past Saturday he gave us a surprise by also making his cinnamon apples cooked in brown sugar and butter to spoon on top - when he does this, we know we are all getting an extra dose of love. They are so delicious and smell amazing!!!!

My husband's cinnamon apples inspired this banana bread. You all know how much I love to bake banana bread. When I see those spotted black and brown bananas on the counter I just can't wait to mash 'em up!! This time I thought I would take my husband's cinnamon apples and add them.....well, it was a fabulous idea because this bread is just pure yummy-ness! I hope you enjoy!

Apples:
1 Tbl butter
2 Tbl brown sugar
2 crisp apples, cored, and diced (I do not peel my apples, but you can)
½ tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp salt

Bread: 
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour*
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick of butter, room temperature
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped, optional

*If you do not have this, you can just use 2 cups of all-purpose flour

To make the apples:
Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and brown sugar and heat until bubbling. Add the apples and cinnamon and sauté about 5 or 6 minutes. Add the 1/8 tsp salt, stir. Set aside.

To make the bread:
Preheat oven to 350F

In a medium bowl combine flours, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger and salt.

In a separate bowl cream the soften butter and sugar together until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add the sour cream and vanilla. Mix well. Add the mashed bananas and stir until all combined.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, stir. Fold in the cinnamon apples. Fold in the walnuts, if using. 

Pour the batter into a greased and floured loaf pan. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and let cool for about an hour. Turn bread out onto a clean cutting board. Slice and serve. It won't last longer than 3 days, I'll tell you that! But that's about how long you can leave it sitting out on the counter.

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

It's that time of year again - pumpkin spice everything! I thought I would put a healthy spin on the pumpkin spice trend and whip up a fiber filled smoothie that is great for your skin, gives your immunity a boost and tastes delicious, too!  Enjoy!

This makes enough for one smoothie:

1 apple (I used a honeycrisp because yes, I'm worth it!)
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup of almond milk or regular low-fat milk
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 small nub of fresh ginger (or 1/4 tsp ground if you don't have fresh)
1/2 tsp to 1 tsp pure maple syrup or honey (optional, but yummy!)
5-6 ice cubes
1 Tbl hemp seed (optional)

Blend all ingredients in a high speed blender until smooth. Drink immediately.

Greek Buddah Bowl

I know this Buddah Bowl has a lot of ingredients and dressings in it.....but I promise you, it isn't a hard salad to put together. Let my ingredient list be your guide.....you don't have to put it all in and you can add any of your favorite veggies that I didn't include here. Just have fun with it!

I made enough for two giant dinner sized salads. I made roasted tofu and baked chicken and my husband wanted the tofu! What can I say, I make the best tofu! Haha! Honestly, though, my husband said this was one of the best salads I have ever made! I agree - it was super yum!!

I didn't do this, but thought of it after - pita bread slices would have been a great addition! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

romaine lettuce, washed, dried and chopped
cooked brown rice, seasoned with salt & pepper (you could also use quinoa instead)
cucumbers, chopped
cherry tomatoes, halved
hemp seed
roasted chickpeas (recipe below)
avocado, perfectly ripe and sliced
bell pepper (red, yellow or orange) chopped
green or black olives or capers
pita bread slices for serving

Choose one of the following for added protein:
marinated and roasted tofu (which is what is pictured above), cubed
marinated and baked chicken, cut into cubes
falafel (you can get some killer falafels in the frozen food section or make your own)

Sauces (I used a combination of ALL of these in the salad - so glad I did - YUM!)
hummus (store bought)
tzatziki sauce (I made my own, recipe below - but you can use store bought)
tahini sauce (recipe below - this took all of three minutes to put together- don't skimp. In case you don't know, tahini is made from seasame seeds)

Roasted Chickpeas Recipe:

1 can of chickpeas, drained, rinsed and patted dry
1 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp of any or all of these spices (I used them all! YUM!)

• cumin
• cinnamon
• garlic powder
• onion powder
• paprika
• brown sugar
• salt

Heat the oven to 400F

Place chickpeas in a bowl, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with spices and spread on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes and then stir. Bake for another 10 minutes (until desired softness or crispness) and remove from oven and let cool.

Tzatziki Sauce:

Greek yogurt
lemon juice to taste
small drizzle of maple syrup
salt to taste
dill or parsley, optional
finely chopped cucumber

Mix the first four ingredients together. Fold in the chopped cucumber. Done!

Tahini Dressing:

2 Tbl tahini paste
lemon juice to taste
small drizzle of maple syrup
water - enough to make it smooth

Mix all ingredients together. Add water as needed to make it smooth.

Assemble the Salad:

Put all the ingredients in a large bowl. Make it look pretty by sorting the colors and layering each veggie and protein side by side. Don't forget they say you eat with your eyes first!! Add a dollop of hummus, tzatziki sauce and tahini sauce.  You can serve this salad with some pita bread slices if you like! Enjoy!

Carrot and Pineapple Cake

I can honestly say this carrot cake is one of the best baked goods I have ever made.  It. Was. THAT. Good!! So moist, super flavorful and the cream cheese icing - AMAZING!  And I knew it would be all those things because it's a Barefoot Contessa recipe - and she has, in my opinion, never put out a recipe that doesn't taste like solid gold. I love love love her recipes and her baked goods are the best of the best!  This cake was slightly involved and on the website is says "intermediate" level - so keep that in mind....it is time consuming....but it is certainly worth the effort. 

Here is the Barefoot Contessa's recipe word for word (and please do follow it carefully):

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
• 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup raisins 
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 pound carrots, grated (approx 3 1/2 cups)
• 1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple <I actually used a can of crushed pineapple, drained>

For the frosting:

• 3/4 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 pound confectioners' sugar, sifted

For the decoration:

• 1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

Butter 2 (8-inch) round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, then butter and flour the pans.

For the cake:
Beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until light yellow. Add the vanilla. In another bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups flour, the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Toss the raisins and walnuts with 1 tablespoon flour.

Fold in the carrots and pineapple. Add to the batter and mix well.

Divide the batter equally between the 2 pans. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes <I baked my cakes for only 52 minutes and they were perfect>, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool completely in the pans set over a wire rack.

For the frosting:
Mix the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until just combined. Add the sifted confectioners sugar and mix until smooth.

Place 1 layer, flat-side up, on a flat plate or cake pedestal. With a knife or offset spatula, spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer on top, rounded side up, and spread the frosting evenly on the top and sides of the cake. Decorate with diced pineapple.

Mushroom & Hummus Soup with Rice

Oh my goodness, hummus in soup??? YES! And it is SOOOO good!!! When I came across this recipe on the Food Network website I knew I had to make it immediately. The ingredients and steps were simple, it has no cream in it (yet it's creamy), it's full of flavor, and it's filling -  it's a win-win-win! After reading some of the comments on their website, I decided to add cooked rice....definitely add the rice! I also decided to skip the lemon juice and only added lemon zest to the yogurt topping - I think this was a smart move, as well. Finally, I don't care for thyme much, so I did what I always do when a recipe calls for thyme, I used sage instead - it was great! I really loved the yogurt topping, but I think I might sub sour cream next time I make this for an even creamier topping.....just an idea!

I served this yummy soup with my Fennel & Apple Salad and a side of crusty bread. Enjoy!

Here is the recipe (with my changes in italics) from the Food Network:
 
Soup Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 1/4 pounds cremini mushrooms, sliced <I used a combo of baby bellos and button mushrooms>
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons madeira wine or brandy <I used regular white wine>
• 6 cups low-sodium chicken or veggie broth
• 2 sprigs thyme <I used 6 chopped sage leaves instead of thyme>
• 3/4 cup hummus 
• 1 1/2 cups of cooked brown rice <my own addition, but highly recommended>

 Yogurt Topping: 

• Grated zest of one lemon (no juice)
• 2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh parsley
• 2 scallions, roughly chopped
• Greek yogurt

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and cook until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the liquid from the mushrooms evaporates, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute. Add the madeira wine and cook 2 minutes, scraping up any browned bits. Add the broth and thyme; simmer gently, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.

Discard the thyme sprigs (if using the sage like I did, do not discard). Stir the hummus into the soup. Transfer half of the soup to a blender and puree (remove the filler cap to let steam escape), then return to the saucepan and simmer 15 more minutes. Remove from the heat, season with salt and pepper. Mix the lemon zest, parsley, scallions and Greek yogurt in a small bowl. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the yogurt and lemon-parsley mixture. Serve immediately.