Easy No Bake Energy Bite LOVE

all into food processor 

MIX TILL LOOKS LIKE THIS

 

you should be able to roll this mixture into a ball that stays together.

if it doesn't. . just add a little bit more peanut butter till it does.

 

 we tried using this heart shaped silicone mold

and they came out SUPER cute.

if it hadn't worked though

we would have rolled the mixture into balls.

 these will keep almost any way. . 

room temp

fridge or frozen

depending on how fast you think they will 

disappear. 

:)

this recipe was inspired by one 

i found while desperately looking for something 

easy and fun to make with and for my 

three year olde son who can really never

eat quite enough fiber poor guy.

im super thankful to fannetastic food for 

the overall outline and method of this recipe. 

it was a HUGE hit.

comfort shmumfort. . . food.

oooooooooooooo. . . k

These. . . were.

gooooooooood

 meltinyourmouth

good.

there is honestly nothing quite as yummy as a hot

fresh doughnut sprinkled with fresh nutmeg, cinnamon 

and sugar. . . 

on a crisp cold fall day.

wash it down with a cold icy glass of eggnog and you can take on the day. . . 

. . and you're gonna have to because you just ate three whole days worth of calories!

:)

happiness.

The Sun has got it's hat on . . hip hip hip hooray!

My Brood of hens :)

Our favorite crusty bread that i now make
about twice a week so there's always some
in the house for toast.

i don't have the link but it's
called "almost no kneed bread"
from the Cooks Illustrated
website.

Make your own . . .

Graham Crackers
:)
A dear friend of mine recently passed on this
recipe and it is just FABULOUS.
My almost two year old and i made
a bunch this afternoon and he could not stop
eating them.
They are so rustic and tasty
and make a wonderful giftie food.
Do try it and see!

Staying Warm and . . .

Our new wood stove which we couldn't love more.. .keeping us
ever warmer then years past both day and night.

Getting started baking baking baking for the holidays season
ahead and these are one of our
favorites . A traditional Maine
Treat . .. properly called Needhams but we
are still trying to come up with
a modern name. . that is perhaps easier to know how to pronounce.
:)
Suggestions are welcome. :)

Here is the recipe should you want to make some of these delicious
goodies yourself. They freeze amazingly well
and are darling for a quick Christmas Giftie.

I will tell you first that i HALF the sugar from the classic recipe
AND add more potato and coconut. This leaves you with
a more flavorful then too sugary treat.

1 c mashed potato
1/2 tsp salt ( added to potato while being mashed )
1 stick of butter totally melted
1 pound powdered sugar
1 pound of grated coconut ( i use unsweetened organic almost granular coconut )
( you might have to look for this in a health food store most likely sold loose in a bin. )
2 tsp vanilla

melt butter, add all the other ingredients and mix well with your hands.
press with a firm spatula into a buttered cookie sheet ( i use about half the sheet because i like them to be
nice squares once cut )

chill for a bit in the freezer till firm
cut into small squares
( press the flaking coconut back into squares with your fingers )

dip into chocolate

For chocolate. . in a metal bowl set into a skillet of hot but not simmering water
( i just read that this is a better way to melt chocolate since in a double
boiler you can't see what the water is doing and it can scorch
the chocolate very quickly. )
melt 12 oz choc chips , 4 oz bittersweet or unsweetened choc, and
half a cake of paraffin wax
keep rewarming as you need to while you dip the coconut squares.

after the squares are set a minute or two on wax paper
i may drizzel a few drops of choc on top and /or
add some more flakes of coconut. .
you can also add roasted nuts on top before the
choc has set.

all good.
. . and i can't tell you how delicious these are so do try to make them yourself.
Everyone you share them with will be very impressed :)

Do stay warm friends.
Warm and Cozy

Lemon Lime

I LOVE anything having to do with citrus fruits . esp cookies made with them
so finding this recipe made me especially happy.

Lemon Lime Butter Waffers
especially best with a nice hot cup tea or coffee

2 1/4 C flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 C unsalted butter room temp
1 Tbsp finely grated lemon zest ( from about 1 large lemon )
1 Tbsp lime zest ( from about 1 large lime )
1 1/4 C white sugar
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Sift flour and salt. . set aside

Beat butter and zests on low for about two minutes
Add one cup of the sugar in a steady stream and mix for another
two minutes
until well blended

Blend in lemon juice, lime juice and vanilla.

Reduce speed to low and add the flour in two additions
mixing just until blended.

Shape into logs that are about 1 1/2 inches thick
and roll in remaining sugar
then wrap in plastic wrap
and chill for at least two hours
or can freeze for up to three months.

Cut with thin sharp knife 1/8 inch thick
slices and place on parchment paper lined cookie
sheet about 1 inch apart.
Bake for about 10 minutes in a 375 oven till slightly golden edges.

Let cool on pan for a few minutes before moving to
cooling rack.
Store between sheets of wax paper in air tight container
for approx a week or freeze for up to three months.

Great Christmas cookies to make ahead of time!

Comfort Cookies

My sister makes these all the time.. . the BEST
cookies of comfort
She always makes big batches but wrote out this recipe for
a smaller one.

Whip till nice and fluffy
1/2 cup soft unsalted butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 3/4 cup brown sugar ( not packed down at all )
Add
2 eggs
and
Lots of vanilla. . at least a tbsp
Add
1 1/2 - 2 cups flour ( add the last half cup a little at a time
till not so sticky )
2 tsp b powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp b soda
( kinda mix these into the flour before mixing
all in )

Add approx 1 cup of
choc chips and white choc chips
And 1/2 cup each of crazins, raisins,
and golden raisins. ( or whatever you want really.. . coconut is also good )

Mix in. Mix in!

Bake at 350 for approx 12-15 min.. . depending on how you like them.
My sister likes them soft but the rest of us make her bake them longer
to they're a little bit crunchy on the outside.

Oh MY are they good! you will eat too many of them. . i
promise :)

Never Throw out your Waffle Iron!

I recently read about this mother who . . for the sake of simplifying
her kitchen got rid of her waffle maker. . and i'm all for keeping it simple
trust me.. but my waffle maker is here to STAY! It
made me sad actually. . how could anyone
say goodbye to homemade waffles!

Also because of that article i've been craving waffles
. . so i whipped some up this morning
just to check and see if i still loved them.

yup.

here is betty crocker's super easy delicious recipe . . with an extra egg from me.

Three fresh farm eggs ( if you have never had a real egg. . this is another
subject i could go off on. . but DO run out and find
your most locally hatched farm eggs. . you won't ever eat store bought eggs . . even the one's that say cage free .. again! )

so. . 3 fresh eggs
1 3/4 c organic milk
1/2 cup oil
( i use extra virgin olive if making one batch. . and veg for mult.batches. )
Whisk this up in good shape.
Add
2 cups any flour
1 tbsp sugar
( i use brown but any will do )
4 tsp b powder
1/4 tsp salt

just kinda mix in the b powder and salt into the flour with your fingers
and then proceed to whisk whisk whisk till all is
mixed well.

Add a little more milk if you want thinner batter

Cook 'em up and serve hot hot hot with tons of butter and real maple syrup!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. . .

Good Morning ! have you seen the dentist lately?

I really don't have much to say today. Feeling slightly abused after having a root canal
yesterday. Side note. . take care of your teeth and have your cavities filled before
you NEED a root canal. No . . . really.
I was stupid..
So last night i started to post this and that and realized it was all so
disjointed and that it must be the drugs i was on and
the pain i was still in cuz nothing was coming together.
but i wanted you all to have SOMETHING this morning.
I found This Place recently and it is just so
much fun to look through if you Love Good Food as much as we do.
Enjoy!. . .and do take care of those teeth!

Get Chocolate. Get Organized.

Chocolate Biscotti

1/3 cup soft butter
2/3 cup sugar
beat on high a few minutes till well mixed.

add 2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
beat well.

sift into separate bowl
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp b. powder
1/3 cup cocoa powder

add flour mixture to wet in small batches while mixing on low
mix in
1/2 cup choc chips
1/4 cup chopped nuts

oven 375

lay parchment paper on cookie sheet
and shape dough into a loaf and flatten out a bit till its about
3/4 of an inch thick. you can really make them
any size you want. i made them small for gifts at Christmas
but very large this time around.

Bake for about 25 minutes ( again. . adjust for size )
or till feels firm.

Take out and let cool for 15 minutes and then
with a serrated knife slice diagonally and lay back on
parchment. Bake for another 15 to 20 minutes
or till nice and "dry" .

Cool completely before storing.
Enjoy best with a nice mug tea or coffee or a dish of ice cream!

This is the way i started organizing all my random recipes
a few years ago and it is fantastic. If you are like me
and you collect recipes from all over on any and every
scrap of paper. .or napkin. . or envelope! .. .this makes it easy to
keep such things in an organized fashion.

More Muffins!

I suddenly thought this recipe up the other morning and they
came out sooooo well i just HAD to share them. :)

1 can of pineapple chunks roughly chopped and juice strained out
1 cup cottage cheese
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs beaten
1/4 c oil
1 tsp vanilla
mix all this together

separately mix well with hands
2 cups flour , 2 tsp baking powder and 1/2 tsp salt.

fold gently the dry into the wet.

fill greased tins to top and then some and bake
at 375 for about 20 min or till toothpick comes out clean.

very moist and sweet and tastes almost like
a pineapple upside down cake!
yum!!

Muffin Mama

Morning Mama Muffins

Into a Large bowl Grate 2 green apples
add 1 c sugar , stir and set aside

In a small bowl measure out
2 c whole wheat graham flour
1/2 c wheat germ
2 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
mix well with hands
and set aside.

Grate 1 c of carrot and
add to apples along with
1 c crazins, raisins, or cranberries. . or a little bit
of both. . thats what i do. the more the merrier muffin!
AND 1 c of chopped walnuts.
mix mix

then mix well the wet into the dry

lastly beat 2 eggs and 1/2 c oil in a small bowl then
fold gently into the muffin mixture.

scoop into greased muffin tins and bake
15 - 20 minutes in a 375 oven.

Goodmorning Scones

Hubby surprised us by staying home today AND making us these
delicious scones . . the recipe for which you can find HERE.
They are lite and have a nice crunchy bottom
and are drizzled with a tangy citrus glaze.

Most Basic Crisp and ever so delicious!

We three collected more wild strawberries this evening
and as soon as we got home i whipped up
this very simple crisp.
All you do is put ANY fruit in any amount you want
in any baking dish :) toss with enough flour and a little sugar to lightly coat

For the topping take some soft butter. . (room temp. . which in this summer heat
has meant practically melted! ) and flour and brown sugar ( and a pinch of salt if you used
unsalted butter) mix with your hands till the consistency is right. .add more of
any of the three ingredients till it tastes good and sticks together when you squeeze it.
crumble on top

bake at 350 for about 1/2 hour or longer if larger crisp.
till lightly browning on top and nice and bubbly!

serve at any temp with or without vanilla ice keeem!

Best Quick Carrots with Garlic and Olive Oil

This is the way i cook carrots if i want to just add them as
a delish side dish to our meal.
They always get eaten ALLLLL UP by my sister and my baby boy :)

Slice up about 6 big carrots
Toss into pan with about 1/2 c water and about 2 tbsp
extra virgin olive oil ( i don't measure but that seems about right . . whatever seems good
to you in proportion to how many carrots )
Add a few cloves of diced garlic
Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes or until carrots are tender
Turn off heat
Add coarse salt and fresh ground pepper
Toss and let set for about 10 minutes.
you could also add fresh herbs if you have them or for a little bit of orange juice
with the water for a citrus version.
all so good!

Best Summer Salsa

This amazing recipe is perfect for all summer long. So easy. Sooooo delish.

2 kiwis diced
2 golden apples diced
8 oz raspberries
1 pound strawberries diced
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp rasp or straw jam
mix mix mix . chill for a bit.

Sweet chips to dip
brush with oil and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar mix 10 flour tortillas
cut into wedges and bake at 350 till lightly toasted on edges. approx 10 to 15 min.

everyone will L O V E this. :-)