I'm in a baking mood.
I make the best banana muffins. Seriously...there's blogs about them.
Disco Mom's VGP
My Cousin's take
If you didn't check the sites, here's my Recipe:
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 1/2 c. oats
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 tsp. almond extract
2 eggs beaten
4 over ripe bananas, mashed
Preheat oven to 350
Mix flour, oats, salt, and soda.
In separate bowl, cream butter and sugar.
Stir in bananas, eggs, and almond until well blended. Add flour mixture.
Bake for 25-30 minutes.
I'm making them without eggs, but rather flax seed. I'm a little nervous considering I wasn't thrilled about the texture of those cookies, BUT I haven't had them the traditional way, so maybe the texture is because of the ricotta. I'll know for sure about the flax after this family favorite. And talk about a fiber explosion!
I'll make these when the kids are in bed, we made quite the mess with those cookies. Can't wait for breakfast! :)
Monday, August 24, 2009
Lemon Ricotta Cookies
I bought 2 tubs of Ricotta thinking I was going to make lasagna. But in this never ending heat, I never found the energy. That's an all day project that I'm just not in the mood for. SO I have to do something with this ricotta before it spoils. I scoured the internet trying to find a recipe and I think I found one.
This will be my first time baking with ricotta. They sound good, if they are, a recipe will follow tonight. I'm also tweeking the recipee with ground flax. This will also be a first. I hope I don't screw these up!!
Well, here's the recipe, LOVED the taste, but I'm not sure about the texture...I wonder if it's the flax??
Ingredients
Cookies:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs (1Tbsp flax seed meal + 3Tbsp water [whisked and let sit for 2 min] = 1 egg)
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 lime, zested
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cookies:
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs (or flax), 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.
Glaze:
Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours.
This will be my first time baking with ricotta. They sound good, if they are, a recipe will follow tonight. I'm also tweeking the recipee with ground flax. This will also be a first. I hope I don't screw these up!!
Well, here's the recipe, LOVED the taste, but I'm not sure about the texture...I wonder if it's the flax??
Ingredients
Cookies:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs (1Tbsp flax seed meal + 3Tbsp water [whisked and let sit for 2 min] = 1 egg)
1 (15-ounce) container whole milk ricotta cheese
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 tablespoons lime juice
1 lime, zested
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Cookies:
In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
In the large bowl combine the butter and the sugar. Using an electric mixer beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs (or flax), 1 at a time, beating until incorporated. Add the ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients.
Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Spoon the dough (about 2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto the baking sheets. Bake for 15 minutes, until slightly golden at the edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.
Glaze:
Combine the powdered sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small bowl and stir until smooth. Spoon about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie and use the back of the spoon to gently spread. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Trader Joe's "Pizza"
All TJ items
Garlic Naan
Fresh Mozarella
Marinara
Meatballs...they have Italian style, Turkey and Veggies
toast naan on both sides
add marinara and cheese, bake til cheese melts
meatballs quartered on top.
~~~
Yesterday, I gave Kaitlyn her plate of couscous and chicken.
In a very whiny voice, "Couscous? I didn't want couscous, I don't like couscous."
Me very matter of factly, "Sorry, that's what you're eating. Don't worry, it's just a little bit."
She ate it and asked for seconds!
Garlic Naan
Fresh Mozarella
Marinara
Meatballs...they have Italian style, Turkey and Veggies
toast naan on both sides
add marinara and cheese, bake til cheese melts
meatballs quartered on top.
~~~
Yesterday, I gave Kaitlyn her plate of couscous and chicken.
In a very whiny voice, "Couscous? I didn't want couscous, I don't like couscous."
Me very matter of factly, "Sorry, that's what you're eating. Don't worry, it's just a little bit."
She ate it and asked for seconds!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Curry Chicken
I love this recipe. It's so easy and super delish! I used to serve it with rice, but recently found this whole wheat couscous at Trader Joes that has wonderful flavor, so I opt for the healthier grain. Besides, it cooks in 5 minutes, can't beat that!
oil for frying
bone in chicken, the bones add flavor...so buy the bones!
large onion
garlic...lots
water
2 rounded tbsp curry
tomato, divided
flour and cold water
yogurt
parmesan cheese
brown both sides of chicken in oil.
add onions, garlic, half of tomatoes, cover with water.
add curry. cook til tender and meat falls off bone.
remove chicken and set aside. bring sauce to a boil. mix flour and cold water (think, gravy.) slowly add to sauce stirring constantly to make sauce thick. Bring to desired consistency. keep in mind, sauce will thicken as standing.
add rest of tomato, some yogurt. give a quick stir and your chicken is ready.
For the couscous or rice, I add a chicken bouillon cube. If I'm serving from the hot pans, I add the peas, frozen. They'll cook from the heat off the chicken and couscous, but also cool it down for the kids.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and Enjoy!
TIP #1 Try to find some imported Indian curry. McCormick spices just aren't the same, you'll have two completely different meals depending on what you use. Lucky for me, living here in Brooklyn, I just have to walk a few blocks this way or that to find myself in another part of the world. These spices are spicier, thus we add yogurt.
TIP #2 My kids don't normally eat couscous, so I puree spinach and mix it to their servings. Let's hope today they at least try it.
oil for frying
bone in chicken, the bones add flavor...so buy the bones!
large onion
garlic...lots
water
2 rounded tbsp curry
tomato, divided
flour and cold water
yogurt
parmesan cheese
brown both sides of chicken in oil.
add onions, garlic, half of tomatoes, cover with water.
add curry. cook til tender and meat falls off bone.
remove chicken and set aside. bring sauce to a boil. mix flour and cold water (think, gravy.) slowly add to sauce stirring constantly to make sauce thick. Bring to desired consistency. keep in mind, sauce will thicken as standing.
add rest of tomato, some yogurt. give a quick stir and your chicken is ready.
For the couscous or rice, I add a chicken bouillon cube. If I'm serving from the hot pans, I add the peas, frozen. They'll cook from the heat off the chicken and couscous, but also cool it down for the kids.
Sprinkle with Parmesan and Enjoy!
TIP #1 Try to find some imported Indian curry. McCormick spices just aren't the same, you'll have two completely different meals depending on what you use. Lucky for me, living here in Brooklyn, I just have to walk a few blocks this way or that to find myself in another part of the world. These spices are spicier, thus we add yogurt.
TIP #2 My kids don't normally eat couscous, so I puree spinach and mix it to their servings. Let's hope today they at least try it.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Keeping it simple
What? No smoothies? Not tonight! Well maybe after dinner.
It was chicken cutlets and juicy nectarines tonight. I wish I could say I conquered my hatred of cooking in the heat but no. Trader Joe's yet again came to my rescue. All I had to do was throw those panko breaded cutlets in the toaster.
Have I ever expressed how much I LOVE TJs?
It was chicken cutlets and juicy nectarines tonight. I wish I could say I conquered my hatred of cooking in the heat but no. Trader Joe's yet again came to my rescue. All I had to do was throw those panko breaded cutlets in the toaster.
Have I ever expressed how much I LOVE TJs?
Monday, August 3, 2009
Confused
I thought I just made the best smoothie. By far, MY favorite. The girls, barely got through a few sips before they gave up.
Dare to indulge:
12 ounces of chocolate milk (I used Blue Diamond Chocolate Almond Milk)
1 ripe banana
1/2C shredded carrots
1/2C oatmeal
3 tbsp Peanut Butter
Tip #1
I freeze some bananas for recipes like this, that lack frozen fruit, thus I can keep the drink cold.
Tip #2
The oatmeal gets thick, so this one shouldn't sit for too long. I realized this when I finally put their cups in the sink to be washed. I turned them to pour it out, but that stuff did not want to move!
Dare to indulge:
12 ounces of chocolate milk (I used Blue Diamond Chocolate Almond Milk)
1 ripe banana
1/2C shredded carrots
1/2C oatmeal
3 tbsp Peanut Butter
Tip #1
I freeze some bananas for recipes like this, that lack frozen fruit, thus I can keep the drink cold.
Tip #2
The oatmeal gets thick, so this one shouldn't sit for too long. I realized this when I finally put their cups in the sink to be washed. I turned them to pour it out, but that stuff did not want to move!
Spinach Smoothies
1C Apple Juice
1C grapes
1C strawberries
1 banana
1 1/2C spinach
6oz yogurt
a few black raspberries (for color)
the kids liked 'em....I didn't.
1C grapes
1C strawberries
1 banana
1 1/2C spinach
6oz yogurt
a few black raspberries (for color)
the kids liked 'em....I didn't.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
