Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Read Your Recipes!

So, this morning I put the baby down for his nap and decide to make coconut macaroons...6 simple ingredients and one bowl for what is suppose to be a quick and easy recipe. I have used this recipe before and must say that these cookies are amazing!

Today I learned that having a child changes everything...even my baking skills! I was rushing to get the cookies stirred and in the oven before nap time ended that I was just skimming the recipe and yep, I totally messed up and instead of adding 4 egg WHITES, I added 4 entire eggs. I should have known better!

Anyways, the cookies weren't a total loss; I threw in a handful of flour to thicken them up a bit. They are a bit yellow looking, but other than that they are edible! Haha!

Here is the recipe I use if any one would like to try them:

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/bakers-one-bowl-coconut-52586.aspx

*I use vanilla instead of almond extract

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Granola Bars

I'll admit first off that the base for this recipe was not mine, although after trying out the original recipe and having my granola bars come out dry, I decided to make a few modifications and tailor this recipe to be my own. This is one of my most requested recipes, and I have to admit it really saves the dollars in the department of lunch time snacks!

Em's Granola Bars

  • 4 1/2 cups old fashion oats (NOT QUICK!)
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup corn syrup
  • 1 stick or margarine or butter, melted
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/2-3/4 cup peanut butter chips
  • 1/2-3/4 cup milk chocolate chips

* You do not have to use peanut butter and chocolate chips, Just use a cup of something else. Some examples of what I have also used in this recipe include: dried cranberries and white chocolate chips, dark chocolate and coconut, chocolate chips and walnuts, dried cherries and dark chocolate...the possibilities are endless!

Mix all ingredients together...make sure it is mixed VERY well. Pour into a greased 9x13, press bars into pan with greased hands then bake at 325 degrees for 18 minutes. Immediately after you take them out of the oven, take a flat spatula and press the granola bars into the pan, this makes them hold together well. Cut into bars after cooling for 10 minutes.

Carrot Cake

Simply put, my family loves carrot cake. Even Uncle Jimmy, who picks carrots out of everything, claiming them to be too boring to eat, will eat carrot cake.

Despite everyone's love of carrot cake it occurred to me that we really didn't have a good carrot cake recipe amongst my family, s0 I decided after chatting with my dad about what makes a good carrot cake, to create my own.

This carrot cake is pretty dense, the way we like it, and has a rich cream cheese frosting. I am usually pretty appalled by the amount of oil that goes into a cake such as this, so I used applesauce to cut some of the oil out yet preserve the moisture.

Em's Carrot Cake

Ingredients
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cups vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup apple sauce
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 3 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup drained crushed pineapple
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped dates (depends on how much you like dates)

Frosting:

• ½ cup butter, softened
• 2 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F . Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.

In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, applesauce, pineapple, brown sugar, white sugar and teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon and cloves. Stir in carrots, dates & pecans. Pour into pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. I check my cakes at 30, and then every 10 min. after that to be sure not to over bake!

Frosting - In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Do not frost cake until cooled! Store in refrigerator.

Enjoy!