Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Have a Picnic



During our family vacation in July, we stopped at a Montana state park to have a picnic on our way from Glacier to Missoula.  We found this large lake with some picnic tables along the coast.  Even though it was the end of July, it was very cold.  Mom and dad had to get jackets and I was wrapped up in 2 towels.  It was actually pretty funny to see us cuddled up together, eating deli sandwiches in summer.  Far from what happens back home.  But it was so nice to get out of the car, and have some quiet family time.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Visit the Northwest



When I wrote this item I orginally had going to Washington Sate in my head.  But that didn't happen (and most likely won't happen on this 101 list).  But that's ok.  Becasue we went to Glacier National Park and that is very much in the northwest part of the country.  And it was absouletely beautiful!  We so want to go back!  Hopefully we will!




(P.S. I still want to visit Washington State!)

Friday, August 22, 2014

Peanut Butter Brownie Bites



Recipe Source:Pinterest
Made: August 3, 2014

Ingredients:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon water
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips, plus about 1/3 cup more for garnishing
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray or grease 12 muffin cups.

In a medium sized microwave-safe bowl combine sugar, softened butter, and water. Microwave on high for about 45 seconds or until butter is melted. Stir in 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips until melted. Stir in egg and vanilla extract, mix well. Add flour and baking soda, stir until combined. Allow the batter to cool to room temperature (doesn’t take very long). Then, stir in 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips and remaining 1/4 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips. Spoon batter evenly into muffin cups.

Bake for 13-15 minutes or until top is set and a toothpick inserted into center comes out slightly wet. After brownies are out of the oven, wait for centers to fall. This will happen upon cooling. If not (they did not for me) then tap the centers with the back of a teaspoon to make a hole for the peanut butter.

Place peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on high for 45 seconds then stir. While brownies are still war spoon about a tablespoon full of peanut butter into the center of each brownie. Top with remaining 1/3 cup of milk chocolate and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Cool completely in pan.

Thoughts:  AMAZING!  So good.  Definitely keeping the recipe and doing again.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Go on a Family Vacation

Badlands National Park
Mount Rushmore
Crazy Horse
Devils Tower
Yellowstone
Glacier National Park
Missoula, MT
Grand Teton

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Bran Muffins


Recipe Source:all-bran.com
Made: July 14, 2014

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cup Kellogg's All-Bran Original cereal
1 1/4 cup fat-free milk
1 egg
1/4 cup vegtable oil

Directions:
Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In large bowl, combine cereal and milk.  Let stand about 2 minutes or
until cereal softens.  Add egg and oil.  Beat well.  Add flour mixture,
stirring only until combined.  Portions evenly into muffic pan cups
coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 400 degrees F about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Thoughts:  I don't like bran muffins.  I made these for D's co-workers.
But D and mom tried them and said they weren't bad for bran muffins.
So that's good.  Guess I'll use this recipe if I ever need to make bran
muffins again.

(Sadly, I forgot to take photo of muffins...fail.)

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts



Recipe Source: Pinterest
Made: July 13, 2014

Ingredients:

  • ⅓ cup milk + 2 tbsp.
  • 1½ tsp. white vinegar
  • ¾ cup flour
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tbsp. butter, melted
  • For the cinnamon sugar topping:
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp. melted butter

Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Grease your donut pan and set aside.
  2. In a large measuring cup, combine the milk and vinegar and set aside.
  3. In a medium sized bow, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
  4. Stir in the egg and melted butter into the milk and vinegar mixture. Then pour the milk mixture over the flour mixture and whisk until just combined.
  5. Transfer batter to donut pan. You can use a spoon to spoon the dough into the individual cavities or put it in a ziploc bag, cut the corner of it, and pipe it into the cavities.
  6. Bake for 7 minutes. Let cool in pan for 1-2 minutes when done and remove from pan and set on wire rack to cool completely.
  7. In the meantime, in a small microwave safe bowl, melt 2 tbsp. of butter.
  8. In another small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon and mix together.
  9. When donuts are done cooling, brush one half of the donut with the melted butter and dip that side into the cinnamon sugar. Place back on wire rack. Repeat until all donuts have been covered with cinnamon sugar.
  10. These donuts taste best the day of but you can still eat them the day after. I wouldn't keep them longer than two days.

Thoughts:  Not good.  The dough was awful.  I liked the concept of donuts, but we will definitely be trying new recipes.