Mix things up! Yeehaaa… yum yum… it’s Cowboy Cookies. Or, in this case, Cowgirl Cookies. A friend introduced these to me and I love them. Especially the name. Cowboy Cookies. But why stop there. They’re smooth Ball jars made especially for crafts. But which one should I give her? Oh and note to self: Use a ruler when attaching labels next time. Luckily, the first test batch I made, worked. So, here’s the recipe: Cowgirl Cookies 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1/4 teaspoon salt1 cup cooking oats3/4 cup m&ms3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips1/2 cup brown sugar, packed1/2 cup white sugar1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans Stir all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add 1 slightly beaten egg1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)1 teaspoon vanilla Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Here’s how they came out. Pretty and tasty. Want to make some cute cookie mix gifts, too? Start with a 1 quart smooth Ball jar. See.
Life can be cruel….. So it is cruel irony that I made this cake and don’t get to eat it(dreaded diet). Fortunately this is something my husband will gladly eat. But enough about my sorrows. One of my favorite chefs of all time is Marcel Desaulniers. He is most known for his one cookbook, Death By Chocolate. And as much as I love him he does have a downfall…he makes really complicated desserts. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cake 2 ounces unsalted butter 1 cup all purpose flour 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 cup tightly packed brown sugar 3 ounces creamy peanut butter 1 large egg 1 egg yolk 1/4 cup sour cream 1/4 cup hot water 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 325F. Grease three 9 x 1 1/2 inch pans. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix together brown sugar, peanut butter and butter for two minutes. Add half of the flour mixture and mix until incorportated about 20 seconds. Chocolate Peanut Icing 1/2 cup heavy cream 2 TBSP peanut butter
C+C Marriage Factory: Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin This was a cinch to make and seriously delicious. Casey and I both loved it and it will definitely be a regular on our menu. It made a fabulous meal served with Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Walnuts. It was one of those meals that left me completely satisfied and happy but without feeling like I overdid it. Recipe from Let's Dish. Ingredients: 1 (2 pound) boneless pork tenderloin (or regular pork loin) 1 teaspoon ground sage 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 clove garlic, crushed 1/2 cup water Glaze 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons soy sauce Directions: Combine sage, salt, pepper and garlic. Servings: 6-8
Pie Favors in a Jar {Recipes} Just like “on a stick”, everything gets infinitely cuter when layered inside a mason jar and tied with a simple ribbon or tag. Favors are no exception! So make these delicious fruity pies in mini mason jars (or regular size!) then sit back and listen to your guests “ooh” and “aah” over how darn cute you are! Pie Crust Dough 2 12 oz. cans of cherry, apple or your favorite pie filling (Or mix blueberry and cherry!) 6 4 oz. mason jars, cleaned with lids and labels removed 1 baking sheet Preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Fill your jars with your filling. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until pie dough is golden brown. image via: Related Watermelon Cake in Mason Jars: Perfect Summer Dessert Watermelon Cake If there is one food synonymous with summer in my opinion, it’s watermelon!
Creamy Grilled Chicken Piccata A few weeks ago, I saw The Pioneer Woman make another lemon pasta dish and I immediately thought "Yuck! Lemon & Pasta sounds nasty!" BUT, I took a minute and thought about how much we love chicken piccata, so why not try a Creamy Chicken Piccata. The experiment paid off big time. Creamy Grilled Chicken Piccatainspired by The Pioneer Woman(Printable Recipe)Chicken Juice of 1 lemon (3Tbsp) 3 Tbsp olive oil 1 Tbsp minced garlic 1 tsp salt 1/4 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp basil or oregano 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts Pasta 2 cups dried penne pasta 2 Tbsp butter Juice of 2 lemons (6 Tbsp) 1 Tbsp minced garlic 1/2 cup half and half (or heavy cream) 2 tsp dried basil 2 Tbps capers 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese Chicken Combine first 6 ingredients and mix well. Pasta While chicken is grilling. Serve in pasta bowls with grilled chicken on top.
stick a fork in it: cheddar and herb biscuits ummm... we made these twice last week. that should tell you how good they are... or how obsessed i am with any kind of cheesy bread. cheddar and herb biscuitsadapted from here (along with picture above) Biscuits:2 cups all-purpose flour1 tablespoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon garlic powder1/2 teaspoon salt2 tablespoons shortening3 tablespoons butter, cold (or room temp works too)1 cup buttermilk (i never have buttermilk so i use 1 c milk and 1 1/2 tsp vinegar... let them sit together until little bubbles appear on the top, about ten min.)1 1/4 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese (i pretty much do 2 cups) Buttery Topping:3 tablespoons melted butter1/4 teaspoon dried parsley flakes (not necessary... just pretty)3/4 teaspoon garlic powderpinch of salt Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Perfect Pie Crust=Great Apple Dumplings With the holidays approaching ever so quickly, I thought now was as good a time as any to talk about the art of a perfect pie crust. Yes, yes, I know it is so easy to trot down the refrigerator isle and plop a couple pre-made ones into your cart…….BUT…..It is so fun to eat a pie that was made with love and a HOMEMADE pie crust! Pie crust has a bad reputation for being difficult or touchy. I would have to agree only in the area of being touchy. The recipe is my mom’s, and it is no secret that she makes a great pie.
Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Yes, that's a cheesecake layer in the chocolate chip cookie bars. Does it look delicious? It is. Believe me. Like the stuffed bell peppers, this is a recipe that my mom and I made together when she was visiting. Unlike the stuffed bell peppers, this isn't healthy at all. I think they balance each other out, though. Except that I eat them in equal proportions. You should, too. Cheesecake Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars HeatOvenTo350 Published 04/30/2011 Ingredients 1/2 cup unsalted butter1/2 cup butter flavored vegetable shortening1 cup brown sugar1/2 cup granulated sugar2 teaspoons vanilla extract3/4 teaspoons salt1 tablespoon cider vinegar1 large egg1 teaspoon baking soda2 cups all purpose flour2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, at room temp1/2 cup sugar1 egg1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Instructions In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, shortening, sugars, vanilla, salt and vinegar. Yield: 20 servingsPrep Time: 20 minCook time: 45 min
Cheese Biscuits recipe from food52 Author Notes: Frequently on Tuesdays, Kristen shows up to our photo shoot bearing an armload of goodies from Bluebird Coffee Shop. All of the baked treats from this tiny gem of a place in the East Village of Manhattan are delicious, but our little cadre has pinpointed a couple of particular favorites: the doughnuts (more on those later this week from Amanda), and the cheese biscuits -- impossibly tender and almost melting within, the subtle bite of cheddar woven throughout. The other week, Amanda and I went to visit Adam Baumgart in his pastry kitchen in the basement of Bluebird, and he taught us how to make both of our top picks, sharing his tips and tricks along the way. Makes 10 to 12 large biscuits This recipe is a Community Pick! Popular on Food52 and Provisions