Monday, October 31, 2011

Chocolate Cut-Out Cookies

My favorite recipe blog has done it again!  They've provided me with another fabulous recipe that I know I 'm going to be using over and over again!  This time it's a cookie recipe!  When I saw this post on the chocolate gingerbread shaped skeleton/mummy cookies I knew I had to try it!  So today my second grader's class gets to make mummies for a Halloween treat during their Halloween party.  But, because I couldn't take cookies to school that had not been properly taste-tested, I've already eaten a sufficient number of cookies to be able to say that these chocolate cookies a delish!  And super simple to whip up too!  I got 24 gingerbread men out of one batch of cookie dough, because I wasn't quite sure if that was enough (dang big classes at our school), I made a second batch and made a few extra gingerbread men then put the rest of the dough in the freezer for another day.  Hopefully it freezes well!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Muffins that Taste Like Donuts

Cake donuts are some of my favorite treats and this recipe tastes very similar.  I found this yummy recipe on a blog somewhere.  I finally got around to mixing them up a week or so ago and the kids loved them--so did I.  We'll definitely be making these over and over!  Oh...I would be happy if I could have muffins for breakfast everyday!

Muffins:
1 3/4 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup milk

Topping:
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup sugar
2-3 tsp. of cinnamon


Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.Combine oil, sugar, egg, and milk. Add dry ingredients to wet and stir til just combined.  Spray muffin tins or use cupcake liners and evenly distribute batter between 12 spots. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a bowl.  Combine sugar and cinnamon in another bowl.  Remove muffins when done and shake from pan while still hot.  Dip muffins in butter, then in the cinnamon sugar.  Let cool a bit then eat and enjoy!

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

French Bread or Buns

I'm in love with this easy bread recipe from my Our Best Bites cookbook!  I've been making it to eat with BBQ chicken sandwiches this summer and they taste great together!


French Bread, Hoagies, and Buns
1 Tbsp. yeast
1 1/2 c. warm water
1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
4-5 1/2 c. flour
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 egg, separated
2 Tbsp. cold water

Go to OurBestBites.com for the instructions!  My only notes are that I don't let it rise anywhere near the amount of time mentioned in their instructions.  Every time I've tried, it's fallen when I put it in the oven and that does not make for great bread.  So I just let it rise in a warm place until it has risen to a bit more than double each time. Secondly, I don't think I've ever come close to using the 5 1/2 cups of flour.  My dough is usually just past sticky at about 4-4 1/2 cups, so be careful and add the flour slowly.  Finally, I can get a lot of hamburger buns out of this recipe.  Anywhere from 12-24 depending on the size.  24 is great for kids and just a cute little sized sandwich.  Bigger works great for adults with bigger appetites. I have yet to try to make a loaf of French bread with this recipe.  Maybe I'll try that next!

Shredded BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

Who would have known that I would be such a BBQ chicken lover?  But I am after trying this yummy chicken!  I love this easy and yummy recipe for BBQ chicken sandwiches.  I also LOVE that it makes a lot of chicken and I can have leftovers for lunch the following day and still have enough to freeze some for dinner another day.

5-6 lbs. of chicken
1 12 oz. bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce (my husband likes more!)
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup Italian dressing
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 large yellow onion, diced
2-3 tsp. oregano

Put all ingredients in the crockpot and cook on high for 4 hours.  Remove chicken and shred.  Return chicken to sauce and cook for at least one hour before eating.  Serve on your favorite buns.  I like to make my own buns using this recipe!  YUM!