Orange Cranberry Dark Chocolate Muffins

These are WONDERFUL! I am slowly mastering the perfect muffin...and this one is coming close! With Dan coming home and my friend Kelly visiting I wanted the kitchen stocked with yummy homemade goodies! Its funny that even after an 8 hour shift in the restaurant I STILL want to be in the kitchen. I just really enjoy baking...It always puts me in a good mood! ( unless something goes terribly wrong...which it does sometimes..haha)
Okay I was looking for a cranberry orange muffin recipe online and I came accross a recipe on the food network. I will just share the link with you because I really didn't change anything. Here it is..
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/cranberry-orange-muffins-recipe/index.html

Of course...for anyone who knows me i had to add one thing. Chocolate! Hahha. I bought a bar of dark chocolate, broke it up and added it to the batter. Definately worth it.
I hope youenjoy these muffins as much as we did!

xo

Chicken Pizza made on the BBQ

BBQ Pizza is such a great summer meal! I love grilled veggies...grilled chicken and pizza so to mix it all together is the ultimate! *I also realise that the picture is sideways and I have no idea how to fix it! haha*
To start you will need :
-Veggies...and lots of them.
-Chricken breasts
-olive oil
-oregano
-pepper
-tomato sauce
-cheese
-simple pizza crust recipe

Whole Wheat Pizza Crust Recipe:

In a large bowl pour 1 cup of lukewarm water
ADD
-1 tablespoon of sugar
-1 teaspoon salt
-1/4 cup oil
-1/2 tablespoon yeast
 Gradually add 1 cup of white flour. Then add 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour. Stir or use stand mixer.
Kneed the dough until ready. but in a bowl lightly greased. Let the bread sit for about 30 minutes..it should rise until doubled.
PIIIZZZZZAAAA TIME!
Roll out your pizza dough into one pizza or a few small ones. Brush both sides of the pizza with olive oil. I added pepper and oregano to the olive oil.

In the mean time... while your bread was rising... Bbq your chicken. Brush the chicken with a bit of olive oil, oregano and pepper. Also BBQ your veggies.
This is what I had once everything was bbq`d.

mmm grilled veggies.

fresh basil from zee garden.

To start you place the pizza crust dough onto the bbq. Let it brown on the bottom..but not too much! Once it is a desirable brown colour flip it and let the pizza making begin!

Enjoy your bbq pizza tonight!

xo

Roasted Garlic and Tomato Quinoa

I have fallen in love with Quinoa!Although I struggle every time I say the word because I doubt I am saying it right. haha. It has been a great addition to alot of our summer meals! For those of you who have never made this grain, here is why you should! It contains essential amino acids and good quantities of calcium, iron and phosphorus. You cook quinoa the same way that you cook rice!
What I did to make this yummy side dish was I roasted garlic and tomatoes in the oven. I normally roast them at 400F and add olive oil, salt and pepper. I normally roast them for 40 minutes.

I love roasted garlic and tomato! mmm
After i took the garlic and tomato out of the oven i emptied them into a bowl! The tomatoes were still juicy but they have a wonderful flavour! I added 1 tsp of balsamic vinager and I mashed them altogether to make a sauce or dressing.

During this time I added the cooked quinoa to the bowl. I cooked 1 cup of it because we didn't need too much of it for dinner!
Also I added cut up grapes and cucumber to the bowl. Next I added sunflower seeds and dried cranberries to the salad. I mixed it all up and set it in the fride until dinner! Get creative and make it yourself! It is good for you and a nice addition to any meal!! Get cookin and enjoy!

xo

Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Buns

We were in the mood for some cinnamon buns and I found this great recipe online! Unfortunatly I was up until about midnight making them! ( I started them late) But they were a great breakfast the next day! Here is what you will need:

1 teaspoon white sugar

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup butter

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs, beaten

4 cups all-purpose flour

 

3/4 cup butter

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans, divided

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup melted butter

Step One:

In a small bowl, dissolve 1 teaspoon sugar and yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Mix in 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup butter and salt; stir until melted. Let cool until lukewarm.

Step Two:

In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture, milk mixture, eggs and 1 1/2 cup flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.

Step Three:

Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Step Four:

While dough is rising, melt 3/4 cup butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir in 3/4 cup brown sugar, whisking until smooth. Pour into greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Sprinkle bottom of pan with 1/2 cup pecans; set aside. Melt remaining butter; set aside. Combine remaining 3/4 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup pecans, and cinnamon; set aside.

Step Five:

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, roll into an 18x14 inch rectangle. Brush with 2 tablespoons melted butter, leaving 1/2 inch border uncovered; sprinkle with brown sugar cinnamon mixture. Starting at long side, tightly roll up, pinching seam to seal. Brush with remaining 2 tablespoons butter. With serrated knife, cut into 15 pieces; place cut side down, in prepared pan. Cover and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in volume. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

This is what they look like once they have risen.

Step Six:

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool in pan for 3 minutes, then invert onto serving platter. Scrape remaining filling from the pan onto the rolls.

Mine turned out a little darker than I had hoped. I am bad for that!

enjoy this ooey gooey treat! xoxo

Best Ever Molasses Sugar Cookies

Dan had a craving for these cookies so I went out and bought the molasses. I wasn't in a rush to make them so the molasses sat in the cupboard for about two months. Seriously, do not let your molasses sit in your cupboard any longer..these cookies are AMAZING! so soft and chewy, and delightfully delectable! Make them today, you will be so happy you did!

THIS RECIPE MAKES 4 DOZEN. 

Here is what you will need!

1 1/2 cups shortening (MELTED)

2 cups white sugar

1/2 cup molasses

2 eggs

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon salt

Step ONE

-Preheat your oven to 375F.

Step TWO

-In a medium bowl mix the shortening, sugar, eggs, and molasses. Beat well.

Step THREE

-In a separate bowl mix the dry ingredients together. Flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and salt.

Step FOUR
Add the dry ingredients to the wet.

Step FIVE
-Roll the dough into walnut size balls and roll them in sugar. Place them on a greased baking sheet about 2 inches apart.

Step SIX

-Bake for 8-10 minutes..

xo enjoy!

Easy Homemade Bread

We make our own bread every week. Dan eats about 4 or 5 loaves a week!  Homemade bread is worth the time. Here is an easy recipe for you if you want to make your own bread at home! This recipe makes 2 loaves.

IN a large bowl pour 2 cups of lukewarm water
ADD:
-2 tbsp of sugar
-1 tsp salt
-1/3  cup oil
-1 tbsp of yeast


Gradually add 5 cups of flour.  stirring with a fork, or using a large mixer with the kneading attachment. We use about 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour and 2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour. EXTRA: I add about 1/2 cup of oats and a handful of flax seeds to the mix.

If you do not have a mixer you need to knead the dough yourself. Work in the last of the flour in a rotating motion with your hand. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8-10 minutes.

Next shape your dough into a round ball and place in a greased bowl, rotating the ball to grease all of the surface. Cover bowl with seran wrap and let it rise until its doubled in size. (about 1/2 and hour)

Once doubled take dough and punch it down into loaves and place them into greased loaf pans. Keep the dough out of drafts and allow it to rise until it is above the edge of the loaf pan.

Bake at 400F for 26-28 minutes or until golden brown.

xo enjoy!

Make your own Granola Bars

I was in the mood for a granola bar one day so I decided to look up recipes and try to make them myself! This was a first time for me ( as most of the recipes on my blog are my firsts) and I think I will continue to make them and find a recipe I really like! I will share with you this one! The purpose of my blog is not to show off how I am a fabulous cook, because I am not. haha. This blog is to show a journey of a young wife( crazy to say that I am a wife now!! eeee!) learning how to cook new things and find great recipes! Even make some of her own recipes along the way! Also this blog is to inspire the people in my life, young and old to try new things and for me to learn from those who know MUCH more than I do. Anyways, my point was to say that I am not in love with this recipe and I am on the hunt to find a better, more healthy one! So if you have any recipes, send them my way! Thats what this blog is about :)
Okay lets get started!
You shall need:

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2-3 cups of whatever you want to put in it! -Raisins, chocolate chips, seeds, peanuts, almonds, walnuts, craisins...etc.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325F. Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in the 2-3 cups of assorted chocolate chips, raisins, nuts etc.
3. Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.

enjoy! xo