Balmoral Scones {Dried Currants}

These look pretty darn good, don't they? Well, they were. Dan wanted scones for breakfast, and I wanted pancakes. We had a small debate. He won. I am so glad that he did, because it was a delicious breakfast.
Super easy & quick. Makes about a dozen.

Mix together all of the following ingredients. First the dry then add the wet.

• 1 1/3 cup of flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup of skim milk
• 1/4 cup of softened butter
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• 1/3 cup of dried currants

Preheat your oven to 425F. Drop a heaping tbsp of the dough onto your greased baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack.

Serve warm & indulge!

xo

{FAST} Vermicelli with Spicy Sausage & Spinach

Good day! It is a rainy May day here. I am going to spend the day relaxing, working out with a friend and packing for my Edmonton trip tomorrow! What are you all up to today? I am very happy to be sharing this recipe with you all. It was excellent. This is the second time we've made it & we will probably make it again.
Here is what you need:

• 1 pound of  cooked or uncooked spicy sausage, cut into 1/2 inch slices
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 large cloves of minced garlic
• 2 tsps olive oil
• 2, 14 ounce cans of reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1/4 cup water
• 8 ounces of dried vermicelli (about 1/2 a pkg) broken in half
• 3 large handfuls of baby spinach
• 1 cup of sliced mushrooms
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/3 cup of whipping cream

Step one:

In a large pot heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic, onion & sausage. Cook until the meat is fully cooked. Stir so that nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot.

Step two:

Add the chicken broth & water. Bring to a boil. Add the vermicelli & cook for about 3 minutes. Stir frequently. Add the spinach & mushrooms. Cook for about 5 minutes. Keep stirring. Stir in the cream, pepper & serve! mmmmm

Enjoy!

xoxo

Bran & Currant Muffins

Here I am with yet, another muffin! The cookbook I'm putting together should be just muffins I think! haha. I made these bad boys today & LOVED THEM! I have been wanting to make bran muffins for quite some time..and now that I did I shall be making them ALL THE TIME! Today has been quite the productive day. Laundry {check}, 4 loaves of bread made {check), clean bathroom {check}, read 1/4 of the Catching Fire book(the hunger games are HIGHLY addictive), delicious muffins baked {check} gardening {check}, dishes done...um..not so much. haha I hate doing the dishes. Whenever I bake (which is often) I have to do the dishes like 3 or 4 times. uggggg who in the world likes devoting that much time to dishes. If one of you reading this happens to be that person who LOVES dishes, please feel free to come over anytime ;) haha. I will pay you!
Muffin time:

• 3 tbsps oil (preferably olive oil)
• 1 cup unprocessed wheat bran
• 1/2 cup of skim milk
• 1/2 cup of unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/2 cup of dried currants
• 3 tbsps molasses
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup of flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• a little bit of brown sugar to sprinkle on top

Preheat oven to 400F. This recipe makes 9-12 muffins. I made 9, but you can make 12 small muffins.

Step one:

In a bowl or mixer combine the wheat bran, oil, milk, apple sauce, currants, molases, egg, & vanilla.

Step two:

In a separate small bowl mix together the flour, baking powder, salt & baking soda. 

Step three:

Add the small bowl of dry ingredients & mix. Do not over mix.

Step four:

Spoon the muffin batter into muffin cups. Sprinkle a bit of brown sugar and wheat bran on top of each muffin. It will make it look pretty! Bake at 400F for 20 minutes (or until fully baked).

enjoy.

ps: Ohhh I almost forgot to tell you all! I am going to Edmonton next week! I have never been out west & I am super stoked! I am going with my friend Victoria to my friend Katie's wedding! yayy! 

QUESTION:
What did you guys bake this week? Please feel free to comment! I would love to hear from you guys!

xo

Bobotie {African dish}

Bobotie is a South Africa dish made with spiced ground beef, raisins and a special egg-based top. This was the first time I have ever eaten Bobotie! It for sure won't be my last. I can't wait to eat it tonight for leftovers!    With the beef and the raisins it has great flavour! I have never tasted anything like it. Sweet and delish. Feeling like cooking something different tonight, try this out! Also don't be intimidated by the curry, it's not spicy at all.
You need:

• 2 onions finely choped
• 1 tsp oil
• 1 kg ground beef
• 1/4 cup of milk + 3/4 milk
• 1/2 cup of bread crumbs
• 1 1/2 tbsps sugar
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tbsp tumeric
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 3 tbsp peach or mango chutney
• 4 bay leaves
• cooked rice to eat on the side
• 2 eggs

Step one:

Put the chopped onions in a pan with the oil. Fry on medium-high heat. Add the ground beef & cook until brown all the way through.

Step two:
Add 1/4 cup of milk, breadcrumbs, sugar, curry powder, salt, pepper, tumeric, lemon juice, raisins, & peach chutney to the ground beef.

Step three:
Place the beef mixture into a baking dish. Place 4 bay leaves on top. Bake at 350F for 15 minutes uncovered.

Step four:
While the beef is baking beat together 2 eggs & 3/4 cup of milk in a small bowl. Once the beef has been baked for 15 minutes, take it out & pour the egg/milk mixture on top of it. Bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Serve with white rice. Also add chutney, chopped apples, chopped pears, dried apricots, peaches, coconut & peanuts. I know it sounds different, but it tastes really good. It is always fun to try something new!

xoxo

Spiced Apple, Cranberry & Almond Muffins

Oh muffins. I actually have some muffins in the oven RIGHT NOW. I love them just a little too much :)
These were oh so scrumptious. I started out to make spiced apple muffins, then I noticed the slivered almonds & cranberries in the cupboard and I just couldn't help but add them! This recipe makes 12 muffins. Here is what you need:

• 1 cup white flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 3 tbsps of ground up flax seeds
• 1/4 cup of sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsps cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 2 eggs lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup of unsweetened apple sauce
• 3/4 cup of skim milk
• 2 tbsps of olive oil (or any other oil, I just prefer olive)
• 2 small/medium apples cut into small pieces 
• 1/2 cup of dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup of slivered almonds

Step one:

In a bowl mix together all of your dry ingredients. Flours, flax seeds, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg & salt. 

Step two:

Now add your wet ingredients. Stirring with each addition. Sugar, eggs, apple sauce, milk, & oil. Once all combined you can stir in the apples, cranberries & almonds. 

Step three:

Spoon the muffin batter into a greased muffin tin. (Or you can use muffin cups) Bake at 400F for 15 minutes or until done. 

** I sprinkled a little bit of brown sugar on the tops of the muffins** 

Cool them on a wire rack. TADA! The perfect snack awaits you..

Enjoy! xoxo

{YUMMY} Classic Potato Salad

Hello, hello, hello! It has been awhile my friends! It has been several weeks since I've posted...but no worries I have good reasons for the little break & lots of great recipes to make up for it! I hope you all have had a great few weeks! I know I sure have! I spent last week in Ontario visiting both my family & Dan's family! Dan was also in a his close friend's wedding. I love weddings! It is hard to believe that our wedding was almost a year ago! It's crazy how time flies. I am so excited for our anniversary..Dan has something special up his sleeve, but he's keeping it a surprise!! :) Anywho, I will do another post showing you guys the pictures of our time in Ontario!
What was I talking about?.....oh right.. potato salad! Well, I want you all to know that you should never buy potato salad at the grocery store, it doesn't even come close to being as good as the home made stuff. For all my friends out there who don't like to cook, trust me this is super easy. Let's get started!
 You will need each of these things per person that you are serving. So if you are serving 4 people multiply all of the ingredients by 4:

• 1 boiled & chopped potato(for each person)
• 1/4 red onion chopped into very small pieces
• 1/4 of a green pepper chopped 
• 1/4 of a red pepper chopped
• 1/2 a celery stalk, chopped
• 2 tbsps light mayo
• 1/2 a hard boiled egg

If you make the recipe for 4 people hard boil 2 eggs. Once the water starts to boil, let them boil for about 5 minutes until they are done. 

You will also need

• salt & pepper to taste
• fresh chopped parsley to make it look pretty :)

Step one:

Put all of the chopped veggies, and chopped boiled potato into a medium-large bowl. 

Step two:
Mix in the mayo, chopped up boiled eggs, salt & pepper, and fresh parsley.

Enjoy! We ate this with some yummy hamburgers. Nice summer meal...I just want the summer to start already!
xo