apple muffins

Happy National Farmers Day! I baked these apple muffins for two of my favorite farmers to enjoy! 

Fall is a favorite season of mine to bake... especially with apple, pumpkin, or oatmeal. 

3 cups        flour
1 1/2 cups        sugar
1 teaspoon        salt
4 teaspoons        baking powder
4 teaspoons        cinnamon
1 1/3 cups        milk
2        eggs
2/3 cup        unsweetened applesauce
3        apples [ peeled, cored, chopped ]

Mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Mix the milk, eggs, applesauce together in another bowl. Peel, core, and chop the apples. Combine the two bowls together. Fold in the apples. Spray the muffin tin with cooking spray. Spoon in the batter into the muffin tin. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove the muffins from the oven and let cool. 

a sweet birthday treat

Swedish Dream Cookies ♥

it is my birthday! here is a sweet to celebrate with me!

1 1/2 cups      butter
1 1/2 cups      sugar
1 teaspoon      vanilla
1/3 cup      canola oil
2 cups      flour
1 teaspoon      baking powder

Combine the butter, sugar, and vanilla together in a bowl. Beat until light and fluffy. Slowly stir in the canola oil. In another bowl, add the flour and baking powder. Mix thoroughly. Add slowly to the creamy mixture. Mix until dough forms. Roll the dough into one inch balls. Place them on a cookie sheet. Bake at 315 degrees for 20 minutes.

 

lavender lemonade

Inspired by a road trip to Texas...

On my way to visit my friend, Keri, I stopped at the Magnolia Market and the Silos Baking Co in Waco, Texas. Soaking in the warmth of the sunshine, I decided to order a lavender lemonade from the Magnolia Table food truck and enjoy the afternoon. It was so so good! { of course, I had to try a lemon lavender cupcake, too!  }

1 tablespoon        dried lavender
1 cup        sugar
2 cups        boiling water
1 1/2 cups        lemon juice
2 cups        water

In a measuring bowl, add the dried lavender. Pour the granulated sugar over the lavender. Gently press the lavender into the sugar. Pour two cups of boiling water over the lavender sugar. Stir until the sugar has melted. Cover the bowl and let it infuse for 30 minutes. Strain the lavender from the syrup. Stir in the lemon juice. And, add two cups of water. Serve with a desired amount of ice.

baked cavatelli

[  Happy Fall  ]

Here is a warm casserole to enjoy this fall!

1.5 pounds      beef
1 [24 ounce can]      tomato sauce
1 teaspoon      garlic salt
1 cup      mushrooms
1 [12 ounce box]      rotini pasta
4 cups      mozzarella cheese

Brown the beef and drain off the fat. Slice fresh mushrooms. Add the sauce, garlic salt, and mushrooms to the beef. Let it simmer. Use a light coat of cooking spray on the bottom of the 9 x 13 pan. Place half of the pasta and meat sauce in a 9 x 13 pan. Add half of the cheese. Use the remaining pasta and meat sauce. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

iced mocha latte

I love chocolate. And, I love the flavor of coffee. Enjoy this recipe for iced mocha lattes!

2 cups      coffee frozen into cubes
2 cups      milk
1/4 cup      chocolate
1/4 cup      sugar

Brew your favorite coffee. Let the coffee cool then pour into ice trays to freeze. Add the frozen coffee cubes, milk, chocolate, and sugar in the blender. Blend until ready.

* whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and shaved chocolate for garnish

vanilla iced coffee

{  love an iced coffee!  }

Brew your favorite coffee. Stir in a sweetener of your choice. Add in one teaspoon of vanilla. Pour the brewed coffee into an ice tray and freeze. Once frozen, place coffee cubes into a freezer bag for easy use.

 

Add 5 to 8 coffee cubes in an adorable glass. Pour in milk over the coffee cubes. Enjoy!

 

 

* Blend the frozen coffee cubes and milk for a frozen coffee drink!

Strawberry Rhubarb Cake

Today is my dad's birthday! He loves rhubarb. So, I decided to make him Strawberry Rhubarb Cake! As a farmer, he spent the day planting soybeans.  After a day of working in the field, I hope he enjoys it!

 

 

1 tablespoon      butter

1/4 cup      brown sugar

1 cup      strawberries

1 cup      rhubarb

 

1 2/3 cups      wheat flour

1/4 teaspoon      salt

1 teaspoon      baking powder

1/4 teaspoon      baking soda
1/2 teaspoon      cinnamon

6 tablespoons      butter

2/3 cup      brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon      vanilla

2/3 cup      nonfat yogurt  (optional)

1 zested lemon
 

 

Melt 1 tablespoons of butter and cover the bottom and sides of a 9 inch cake pan. Sprinkle 1/8 cup of brown sugar over the butter. Arrange the sliced strawberries on the bottom of the pan, then the sliced rhubarb. Squeeze some lemon juice over the strawberries and rhubarb.

 

Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Mix butter, and brown sugar together. Beat in the egg, and vanilla. Add dry mixture together. Mix in the yogurt for a dense, moist cake. Add the lemon zest. Spread over the strawberries and rhubarb.

 

Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Let the cake cool for 10 minutes. Invert cake onto a plate to serve.

 

 

The strawberry-rhubarb cake is so beautiful to enjoy during the summer! Enjoy!

 

Pumpkin French Toast Bake

8 cups      bread
7      eggs
2 cups      1% milk
1/2 cup      pumpkin
1 1/2 teaspoons      pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon      vanilla

4 tablespoons      brown sugar
1 teaspoon      cinnamon
1 teaspoon      pumpkin pie spice
cranberries
walnuts

Coat a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Cut bread into one inch cubes. { i used marble rye } Use enough bread to fill the pan.  Whisk eggs, milk, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla together in a large bowl. Pour over the bread. so it is entirely soaked. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Sprinkle brown sugar, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, cranberries, and chopped walnuts. Set the oven at 350 degrees. Bake for 40 minutes until golden brown.

 

Enjoy!

Cranberry-Orange Coffee Cakes

4 cups       whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon       baking soda
3 teaspoons       cinnamon
1/2 cup       butter
1/2 teaspoon       salt
1 cup       brown sugar
1 cup       granulated sugar
2 cups       vanilla yogurt
2       eggs
1       orange zested
4 tablespoons       orange juice
1/2 cup      walnuts coarsely chopped
1 cup       fresh cranberries chopped

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together. Add egg, orange juice, orange zest, and yogurt. Combine minxture with dry ingredients. Fold in chopped cranberries and walnuts.

Spray muffin tin with cooking spray. With a spoon, fill muffin tin 2/3 full with batter. Set the oven at 350 degrees. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Makes 2 1/2 dozen coffee cakes.

orange glaze:
1 cup      powdered sugar
2 tablespoons      orange juice
1/2 teaspoon      vanilla
1 teaspoon      finely shredded orange zest

An orange glaze may be drizzled on the coffee cakes. Drizzle orange glaze over coffee cakes once cooled. Sprinkle extra orange zest over coffee cakes.

These zesty coffee cakes are perfect for fall! Enjoy!

Italian Beef

May is BEEF month! Enjoy this recipe for Italian Beef!

 

Prepare a beef roast in a crockpot. Let cool. Shred the beef roast. Mix (water, onion salt, garlic salt, oregano) and simmer for 20 minutes. Add shredded beef to the mixture and warm in the crockpot.

 

2 cups    water

1 teaspoons    onion salt

1 teaspoons    garlic salt

1/2 teaspoons    oregano

 

Celebrate BEEF month with delicious and nutritious beef!

 

 

'coal'

Coal...for those on my 'naughty' list!

 

3 tablespoons      butter

6 cups      marshmallows
1 teaspoon      mint extract
5 cups      cocoa krispies
1 cup      crushed chocolate oreos
black food coloring

 

Crush the chocolate Oreos. Add the crushed Oreos with the Cocoa Rice Krispies in a large mixing bowl.

 

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add marshmallows and melt on low heat. Stir marshmallows until melted. Add mint extract and black food coloring. Stir until thoroughly mixed.

 

Pour the marshmallow mixture over the Cocoa Rice Krispies and Oreos. Stir until thoroughly covered.

 

Coat hands with cooking spray. Form lumps of various sizes. Place on waxed paper to set. Place lumps into a bowl to enjoy. Or, give as a gift. Label a paper lunch bag, 'coal'. Arrange the lumps of 'coal' in the bag.

 

a little bag of 'coal'

 

The lumps of 'coal' were really cute as a gift for my family! A little fun for Christmas :)

Chili... heartwarming for fall

Fall is perfect for making chili in the crockpot. I love how the aroma fills my house. There are many crisp days that are great to enjoy chili after a day of work on the farm. Warm up with my chili recipe!
 

 

1 pound    ground beef

2  (46 ounce) cans    tomato juice

1 (15 ounce) can    kidney beans

1 (14 ounce) can    fire roasted tomatoes

1 cup    corn

12 ounces    salsa

2 teaspoons    chili powder

1 teaspoon    garlic powder

 
Brown the ground beef in a pan and drain off the fat. Combine the beef with the tomato juice, kidney beans, tomatoes, corn, and salsa in the crockpot. Stir in the chili powder, and garlic powder. Let the chili simmer for 6 hours.