Pumpkin, White Chocolate, Cherry Muffin with Streusel

I have girls--my girls are great cooks. I'm proud to be their Momma. Amber sent an early morning text--she had just created a delicious muffin. I'm sad I live 1000 miles away, it would have been a perfect breakfast. This recipe was inspired by a recipe on Smitten Kitchen. Pumpkin is always a good choice, streusel makes it better. The addition of white chocolate chips and dried cherries sent this muffin out of the park. Amber's hubby, Tadd (who has a palate for fine food) said this was a $5.00 muffin.

I will make them very soon. Amber who is also a fine photographer was kind enough to take a photo or two. Thanks Amber.

Pumpkin, White Chocolate, Cherry Muffin with Streusel

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1 1/3 cup solid pack pumpkin

1/3 cup vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup chopped dried tart cherries

1 cup white chocolate (chopped)

Streusel Topping

3 tablespoons 

1/3 cup flour

1 tablespoon sugar

Rub together until pea size.

Heat oven to 350. Spray muffin tin with Bakers Joy, put 1 teaspoon sugar in each sprayed cup. Shake the tin around to coat each cup with sugar.

Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spice in a bowl, add the cherries and white chocolate.

I a large bowl whisk together the pumpkin, oil, eggs and 1 1/4 cup sugar. Add dry ingredients ad stir until just combined. Divide batter among muffin cups filling about 3/4 full.

Sprinkle Sreusel Topping over muffins.

Bake until puffed and golden. A wooden pick should come out clean, about 25 minutes.

Cool in pan for five minutes. Remove muffins and cool on a wire rack.

Most muffins have a short shelf life. This muffin does keep for two days. It also freezes well. 

Printable Recipe

Lemon Tartlets

The best thing about January is the availability of Citrus Fruit. Beautiful grapefruit, several types of juicy oranges and bags of lemons. Yes, one can get lemons any time of the year but they are the best in January. These little lemon tartlets are a burst of citrus in your mouth. This recipe comes from an old Pampered Chef cook book. It is a recipe that was good years ago and is still excellent. It gives you a reason to use that 'tart tamper' that has been rolling around in your kitchen drawer. I don't use it often but when I do I love it! These little dainties are a positive addition to any dessert tray.

Lemon Tartlets
Tart Shells
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg white
1 1/4 cups flour
Filling
2 eggs
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon butter, melted
1 large lemon
Powered Sugar
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray mini muffin pan with Pam.
For tart shells--beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg white, blend well. Add flour and blend until just combined. Using small cookie scoop drop level scoops of dough into muffin pans. Press dough into cups with a well floured Mini Tart Shaper--tart tamper.
For Filling--Lightly whisk the eggs in a small bowl add butter and sugar, whisk together. Using a rasp grate the lemon peel, measure 2 teaspoons of lemon zest. Juice lemon and measure 3 tablespoons of lemon juice. Add zest and juice to egg mixture. Mix well. Pour filling evenly into tart shells.
Bake for 20-22 minutes, edges will just begin to brown. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Carefully remove tartlets from mini muffin cups. Cool completely. Refrigerate. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving. Makes 24 tartlets.
Printable Recipe

Peanut Butter Temptations--Cookies for Santa

Sometimes the best place to look for recipes is on the back of the product package. These delicious little gems come right off the back of the Reese's Miniature Peanut Butter Cup package. They are easy to make, the perfect treat to leave for Santa--and Santa will love them. I know!


Peanut Butter Temptations
about 40 Peanut Butter Cups Miniatures
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Have little helpers remove wrappers from candy. Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, peanut butter, egg and vanilla until fluffy. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt. Using Pampered Chef small scoop shape dough into a ball and place in an ungreased mini muffin pan. Do not flatten. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes until puffed and lightly browned. Remove from oven. Immediately press peanut butter cup in center of each cookie. Cool completely in pan. Remove, put on a plate and leave for Santa!
Printable Recipe

 

Mini Puff Pancakes

EJ is not a difficult child to please. She is happy and generally excited about all we do. But...if I really want to make her day I whip up a quick batch of Mini Puff Pancakes.
Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch or a Snack--this will certainly please. There is something wonderful  about anything in miniature. These little gems are no exception.
Toppings? Fruit, powdered sugar, syrup, Nutella and of course a bit of whipped cream. Let your child choose their favorite. EJ loves raspberries and whipped cream, great choice.
.

Mini Puff Pancakes
3/4 cup flour
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1/8 teaspoon salt
2-3 tablespoons melted butter
Place a mini muffin pan in the oven and heat to 400 degrees. While oven is heating mix together flour, milk, eggs and salt. I use my Immersion Blender, blend till smooth. Remove hot pan and quickly brush each well with melted butter. Fill each well 3/4 full. I used a mini muffin scoop. Bake at 400 for 15-20 minutes till puffed and golden. Serve immediately with your favorite topping.
Makes 24 Puff Pancakes
Printable Recipe

Great Grains Mini Muffin

I love muffins for breakfast/brunch, they are just a good thing to wake up to. But often muffins are frosted or glazed and really just shout 'dessert', this is fine by me. Occasionally I want something a bit more 'healthy'. Now these probably don't count as health food but they do have whole grains, dried fruit, nuts and yes butter. These 'better for you muffins' are delicious.
The recipe comes from my favorite cookbook,  Baking: From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan. I have made over 60 recipes from this cookbook and only had one failure--and that was my error. This is a great basic cookbook--Dorie is a wonderful teacher.
My favorite dried fruit mix comes from King Arthur Flour. It is their 'fruitcake mix', don't let the word fruitcake scare you. I like it because the dried fruit is chopped so you get little bits of goodness in every bite. It is delicious in cookies, granola, breads and yes, fruitcake. I also like a Berries and Cherries mix sold in the grocery store. But you have to cut the fruit and dried fruit is difficult to chop! Now you know way to much about dried fruit!

Great Grains Mini Muffins
1 cup flour
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/3 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
2 large eggs
1 stick butter, 8 tablespoons, melted and cooled
3/4 cup dried fruit
3/4 cup chopped nuts
In a large bowl whisk together the first 8 ingredients. In another bowl whisk together the buttermilk, syrup, eggs and melted butter. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix quickly but gently with a rubber scraper. Batter may be a bit lumpy, please never over mix muffins.Stir in the dried fruit and nuts. Using a small scoop fill mini muffin tins that have been sprayed with Pam. Bake at 400 degrees for about 13 minutes. Makes about 36 mini muffins. Twelve regular size muffins bake for 18-20 minutes.
Printable Recipe

Mini Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

I really don't need a reason to make muffins but it is always nice to have someone to share them with. We had a church brunch. I knew there would be children present so I opted for a mini muffin. Dorie has a great lemon poppy seed muffin recipe in her book Baking, From My Home To Yours. I made a few minor changes. I added more lemon flavor and replaced some of the sour cream with non-fat Greek Yogurt. I made minis and I replaced the 'drizzle' with a frosting. I had one yummy muffin. I think you will like it!

Mini Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
2/3 cup sugar
zest of one large lemon
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sour cream
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
juice from 1 large lemon
1 stick butter, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
Frosting
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons butter or cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon lemon zest
fresh lemon juice--to desired consistency

In a large bowl rub the sugar and lemon zest together with your fingertips. This will smell wonderful! Whisk in the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl whisk together the sour cream (or Greek yogurt), eggs, vanilla, lemon juice and melted butter. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and, with a rubber spatula gently but quickly stir to blend. When mixing muffins a few lumps are better than over mixing. Add poppy seeds.
Scoop muffin in tins that have been sprayed with Pam. This recipe makes 12 regular size muffins or about 42 mini muffins. I use a large Pampered Chef Scoop for the large muffins and a small Pampered Chef Scoop for mini muffins. Bake muffins at 375. Regular muffins take about 18-20 minutes, mini muffins are done in 11-12 minutes.
Cool muffins and drizzle with frosting. To make frosting mix powdered sugar, butter and lemon zest. Add lemon juice till it reaches desired consistency.
Printable Recipe

Coffee Cake Muffins

Muffins are always a great way to start ones day. These muffins really do taste like Coffee Cake--only they are easier to serve/share. The recipe comes from America's Test Kitchen Quick Family Cook Book. I trust ATK and they didn't let me down. These muffins come together quickly thanks to my kitchen workhorse-- The Food Processor. I think they will become a family favorite.

Coffee Cake Muffins
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup dark brown sugar (3.5 ounces)
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12 tablespoons chilled butter--cut into 1 inch pieces
3 large eggs
1/2 cup sour cream--I used Greek Yogurt
1/4 cup toasted pecans
Pulse granulated sugar, 1/2 cup flour and 1/4 cup dark brown sugar in food processor until combined--about 5 pulses. Transfer 3/4 cup mixture into a bowl for streusel, leave remaining mixture in processor bowl. Add cinnamon and remaining 1/4 cup dark brown sugar to the bowl of streusel, whisk together and set aside.
Add remaining 1 cup flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt to mixture in bowl of food processor. Pulse until combined, about 5 times. Scatter butter evenly over mixture in food processor. Pulse until mixture breaks down into small pebbly pieces about 10 pulses. Add eggs and sour cream or yogurt; pulse about 8 times until mixture is well combined and thick
Heat oven to 350. Spray muffin tins with Pam. Portion a generous tablespoon of batter in the bottom of each muffin cup. Then top each muffin with 1 1/2 tablespoons of streusel and 1 teaspoon of chopped toasted pecans. Spoon remaining batter evenly into cups. Bake until golden brown and toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out clean, about 20-25 minutes. Rotate pan halfway through baking.
Let muffins cool slightly before removing from pan. When cool drizzle with Quick Glaze.
 Quick Glaze
1 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
pinch salt
1-2 tablespoons cream
Mix sugar, vanilla and salt together. Gradually add cream it get the right drizzle!
Muffins a good slightly warm but they we the best after about 2 hours. Gives the streusel time to set up. This was one yummy muffin. Thanks ATK!!
Printable recipe

Double Chocolate Zucchini Mini Muffins

Tis the Season--for Zucchini! Now this is probably the best way to eat zucchini ( and maybe breaded and fried)! These mini muffins pack a lot of flavor, cocoa and mini chocolate chips combine with zucchini, of course, for one delicious bite. This recipe comes from King Arthur Flour--one of my favorite recipe sites and online baking shops. The original recipe makes a loaf of Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread, but I really don't have the patience to wait 70 minutes for a loaf of bread to bake. Mini muffins cook in about 12-15 minutes and are much easier to share--trust me.

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
2 eggs
1/3 cup honey
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar (3.5 ounces)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup baking cocoa
1 2/3 cup flour
2 cups shredded, unpeeled zucchini, gently pressed
1 cup mini chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl beat the eggs, honey, oil , sugar and vanilla until smooth.
Add the salt, baking soda, baking powder, cocoa and flour. Mix until just combined.
Stir in the zucchini and chocolate chips.
Now you have a choice!
Spray an 8 1/2 x 4 inch loaf pan or muffin cups or mini muffin tin.
Bake at 350 till a pick comes out clean. Loaf will take about 65-75 minutes, muffins about 22-25 minutes and mini muffins about 12-14 minutes. Don't over bake. Cool in pan for about 10 minutes and remove. Enjoy! It really says to cool completely before slicing--but I can never wait!
Now I love to frost, drizzle and glaze but these stand on their own, I promise! 
Printable Recipe

1 Year Ago------Reeses Mini Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread
2 Years Ago-----Summer Fruit Galette
3 Years Ago-----Skillet Chicken Tikka Masala
4 Years Ago-----Pasta Chicken Cashew Salad
 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites with Nutella Swirl

 Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites with Nutella Swirl

1/2 cup butter, soft

1/2 Crisco

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 eggs

1 tablespoon water

2 1/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup mini chocolate chips

3/4 cup finely chopped pecans

Cream butter and Crisco till smooth, add sugars, vanilla and eggs beating after each addition. Add water.

Mix together flour, salt and baking soda. Add  to creamed mixture, stir gently. Add chocolate chips and pecans. Using a small Pampered Chef Scoop put a level scoop of cookie dough in each cup of a sprayed mini muffin tin.  Bake at 325 for 8-10 minutes till top appears light brown. Cool in tin and remove when just cool. Frost with Nutella Swirl!

Nutella Butter Cream Swirl
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) softened  butter

1/2 cup Nutella
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk (I used 1%)
1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar

Mix butter and Nutella add vanilla and milk, add powdered sugar. Whip and pipe onto cookie bites.

Frosting recipe comes from Tracy's Culinary Adventure

Sometimes you just want a winner. I know these cookie bites are delicious and get rave reviews wherever I take them. I like them because I always have everything in the house to make them. They come together in a jiffy, they are portion controlled and it is easy to change them up a bit.

Last time I made them for a 'garden party' for adults--so I went with an Almond Butter Cream Swirl. This batch was for kids so I went with my grandson, Gregory's favorite flavor--that would be Nutella!

The Nutella Butter Cream was silky smooth and was a dream to pipe. I used a disposable pastry bag fitted with a very large star tip. They are fancy and delicious. Perfect for summer gatherings.

Kids will love them but adults will make sure they get a couple!

Lemon Biscones

This is just a different version of my Cinnamon Biscones from Back in the Day Bakery Cookbook. I added lemon zest and a delicious lemon glaze to a basic Buttermilk Biscone recipe. It was delicious, I served them for girls weekend and everyone agreed they were perfect. A Biscone is a combination of a scone and a biscuit. It marries the ease of the biscuit with the buttery flavor of the scone--a match made in Heaven! Light and delicious.

Lemon Biscones
3/4 cup cake flour
3/4 cup all purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
zest from 1 lemon
1 tablespoon baking powder
3/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
1 stick cold butter, cut in 1/2 inch cubes
3/4 cup buttermilk or more as needed
1 egg beaten for wash
2 tablespoons sanding sugar
Rub zest into sugar with your fingers--it will smell wonderful! Add flours, baking powder and salt, mix well. Cut in cold butter with 2 knives or a pastry blender. You will have various sizes of butter from pea size chunks to sandy patches.
Gradually add the buttermilk and gently fold the ingredients together until you have a soft dough with no flour at the bottom of the bowl. You should still see lumps of butter in the dough--this makes the flaky goodness. If the dough seems too dry add a tablespoon of buttermilk. the dough should seen slightly sticky and moist.
Scoop mounds of the dough on a parchment lined sheet pan. I like stoneware. I also use the Pampered Chef large Scoop. This is the perfect size. You will get 12 maybe 13 biscones. Brush gently with egg wash and sprinkle generously with sanding sugar. Bake at 375 for 18-20 minutes. Rotate pan half way through. Keep a close eye on them. You want a very light golden biscone. Do not over bake.
Remove to a cooling rack and when cool glaze.
Lemon Glaze
1 cup powdered sugar
zest from 1 lemon
lemon juice to desired consistency
Printable Recipe

One Year Ago-------Chocolate Iced Cookie Bars
Two Years Ago------Blueberry Brown Sugar Plain Cake
Three Years Ago----Idaho Party Cookies
Four Years Ago------Broccoli Salad

Corn Bread

I do love a nice slice of corn bread, layered with honey butter or butter and fresh strawberry jam. Corn Bread is the perfect accompaniment with chili and stew. So why has it taken me 5 years to post a Corn Bread recipe? Simple--I couldn't find one that I loved. They were either too sweet (not a bad thing but I don't really want corn bread to count for dessert), too crumbly and dry, wrong texture etc.
I was determined to find a corn bread recipe that I could call my favorite. I often go to The Joy of Baking when I want yummy recipes--she does not disappoint. This site has great recipes and many video tutorials if you want to actually see someone making the recipe. Great for beginners.
Well The Joy of Baking came through again. She has many variations to this recipe and a great video. Here is the recipe I made. 

Corn Bread
Turn oven on to 400 degrees and put a cast iron skillet or a 9 inch cake pan in the oven with 4 tablespoons butter. When the butter melts remove from oven--don't burn the butter, although browned butter just might tasted good??
In large bowl whisk together:
1 cup corn meal
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
 In a smaller bowl whisk:
1 large egg
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup milk (I used 1%)
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid ingredients add 2 tablespoons of the melted butter. Gently stir just until combined--don't over mix. Swirl the remaining butter around in the pan making sure the sides get buttered. Pour the mixture in the buttery pan and bake at 400 for 18 minutes. A pick should come out almost clean. Don't over bake--no one likes dry corn bread. I made this in a 9 inch cake pan. It was delicious. I will bake it in a cast iron pan next time and see if there is any difference.
Serve warm with honey butter. This is one delicious comfort food!
Printable Recipe

Molten Lava Cakes--my way!

I love hosting Book Club. Who doesn't like a reason to make a special treat for good friends. Tonight we discussed the book The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman. This books has been around for awhile but it is one that you can read and reread. I always like to read books on improving relationships. This book has plenty of food for thought. I decided my love language is desserts!
We enjoyed this dessert with chocolate covered strawberries. Strawberries are sweet and delicious right now so enjoy--with or without chocolate.

Molten Lava Cakes--my way
3 tablespoons butter
heaping 1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Melt the butter and chocolate chips together in the microwave. Add the flour and powdered sugar--mixture will be thick. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Mix until smooth. Pour into 4 or 5 muffin tins that have been sprayed with Pam. Bake at 425 for 8 minutes. Let cakes cool in the pan for a minute or two. Remove and serve with whipped cream, vanilla ice cream and berries. This is one decedent delicious dessert. It is so quick you can mix it up while your oven heats and in 8 minutes you have the best dessert. It is too easy!
I cut the recipe way back and make smaller portions. But one cake with ice cream is a perfect dessert.
Printable Recipe
Inspired by a recipe on Savory Sweet Life.

 

One Year Ago------Apple Cinnamon Bites
Two Years Ago-----Ham and Bean Soup
Three Years Ago----Fresh Cranberry Scones

Lemon Yogurt Muffins

It is cold in Utah, very cold! It is also pretty smoggy so don't take a deep breath when you are outside! What has this got to do with muffins?? Well somewhere it is sunny and warm and lemons are at their peak. These little citrus morsels are about as good and sunny as it gets in January! They come together quickly and are delicious. The original recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe is for lemon loaves. But I'm quite impatient--loaves takes so long to bake. These little mini muffins are ready in minutes. Whatever pan you bake these in they are sure to brighten your day!

Lemon Yogurt Muffins
3 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar
3 tablespoons lemon zest--from 3 large lemons
4 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
1/2 vegetable oil
1/2 cup applesauce
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
Glaze
1/3 to 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from the lemons you zested))
4 tablespoons sugar

Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a large bowl combine the sugar and lemon zest--rub between your fingers until the sugar is moist and smells out of this world. This is one of my favorite cooking activities! Stir in the eggs, vanilla, oil, applesauce and yogurt. Add the dry ingredients and mix till just combined. Never over mix muffins or quick breads they will become tough--who wants a tough muffin??

Pour batter into pans that have been sprayed with Baker's Joy. This makes plenty. I would probably make some mini loaves and mini muffins. I really can't say how many it will make as pans vary so much. I do know that I have muffin recipes with 1 cup of flour and they make 24 mini muffins. Mel said she makes 2 loaves that are 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch pans and has some batter left over for a few muffins. Sorry I can't give you better guidance here! Make them and see what works with your pans!

Bake at 350 till a toothpick comes out clean. A loaf pan will be 45-55 minutes and muffins will be 14-25 minutes. Watch closely you don't want an over baked dry muffin!
While the bread/muffins are baking combine the glaze ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. While muffins are still warm brush glaze over tops. You may want to poke holes in your muffins so the glaze will soak in. Brush muffins several times until all glaze is used. Enjoy your bite of sunshine!

TWD/BWJ Buttermilk Crumb Muffins or Grand Canyon Cakes

My apologies to this wonderful baking group. Something went wrong, terribly wrong. I followed the recipe I didn't mind that the recipe called for Crisco, I didn't mind that it seemed to have plenty of sugar. I just feel bad that they look like the Grand Canyon! I'll blame it on the altitude. When you live at 5000 feet you can do that. It's nice to have somewhere to place the blame. But they did taste wonderful!
Will I make them again and try and figure out what went wrong? Probably not. I'll just move on, there are so many recipes to try. But to all those who think everything I make is wonderful--here is proof, sometimes scary things come out of the oven!
Please check the TWD blogroll, I'm sure there are better photos of this recipe. Alisa will have the complete recipe on her blog. Like I said--they do taste good!

Great Pumpkin Bread

Last week I made a raised pumpkin bread, it was delicious but when I think of pumpkin bread I think of quick pumpkin bread. Made with lots of sugar, oil, spices and chocolate of course. So I did some research and found a recipe on the King Arthur Flour blog. It was just what I wanted and had many great reviews. I read thru the recipe, made a few changes to suit my tastes and came up with one Great Pumpkin Bread. It is moist, delicious and is dotted with chocolate and nuts. It's delicious. I found myself wanting to spread a layer of butter on it but it really doesn't need it. This bread stands on it's own. It's better the second day--so hide it!

Great Pumpkin Bread
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup applesauce
2 2/3 cups sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups pumpkin
2/3 cup water
2 cups flour
1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup mini chocolate chips
In the bowl of your mixer beat together oil, applesauce, sugar, eggs, pumpkin, vanilla and water. Mix well. Add flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Stir in nuts and chocolate chips.
This recipe made two 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 pans and one mini loaf. Bake in pans that have been sprayed with Pam for Baking. Bake at 350 degrees. Check the small pan at about 30 minutes the large pans will take at least 60 minutes. Bread is done when a tooth pick comes out clean. Let rest in pans for 10 minutes and remove bread to cool on cooling rack. I had no trouble removing my bread from the pans. I had just purchased new pans from KAF--they are wonderful. If you are worried about bread sticking grease and flour pans or line pan with parchment paper and grease. I also think using mini chocolate chips prevents sticking. Sometimes regular chocolate chips sink and cause problems when removing bread, experience is a great teacher. I only use mini chips in quick breads.

 One year ago--Basic Biscuits
Two years ago--Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
Three years ago--Basil Pesto

Popovers--TWD/BWJ

I can't believe I've been cooking for over 40 years and have never made Popovers. They are a magical dish that any child would love and sophisticated enough for an adult. I deem Popovers the perfect food!

A few simple ingredients and a hot oven are all you need to create Popovers. They can be made in a muffin tin or custard cup. You can also buy a special Popover pan--I could be tempted.

They are so simple, don't wait any longer to make this yummy dish.

Our hostesses this week are Amy and  Paula, check their blogs for the complete recipe. 

Orange Glazed Blueberry Scones

I do love blueberries, they don't grow in Utah but thanks to Costco I have blueberries. These scones were delicious, I had plenty of company to share them with. This recipe was give a full 5 stars by my eager testers.

Orange Glazed Blueberry Scones
2 cups four
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups blueberries
1/4 cup frozen butter--grated
3/4 cup buttermilk or cream--I used half buttermilk half cream
1 egg
 In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Add frozen butter that has just been grated. Mix with your fingers, you should have a nice mix of different size pieces. Or use a pastry blender.
In a small bowl mix together buttermilk and egg. Add liquid to dry mixture and gently mix. Add in blueberries and gently stir. The more you stir the tougher the scones. Gentle is the word.
Using a large Pampered Chef Scoop put scoops of batter on a parchment lined pan. Bake at 400 for about 18 minutes.

Orange Glaze
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups powdered sugar
zest and juice of 2 oranges
In a small saucepan mix all ingredients and simmer until sauce starts to thicken. Once thick stir well and brush or spoon on scones. This glaze should slightly harden.
I wanted to make an orange butter cream frosting--which would be yummy. The glaze added a fun dimension.
This recipe is adapted from Tyler Florence

Orange Date Muffins

This recipe has been in my file for years. I have no idea where it came from I only know that is is delicious. Oranges are plentiful, sweet and juicy right now. It is the perfect time to enjoy this brunch delight.
This recipe comes together in minutes using a food processor or Pampered Chef Chopper. Orange, dates and pecans combine to make one delicious muffin.


Orange Date Muffins
Mix together and set aside:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup chopped dates
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
In food processor chop 1 whole orange measure 1 cup, if you are lacking a bit add orange juice or milk to fill cup. Add 1/3 cup melted butter and 1 egg. Combine wet and dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Bake in greased muffin tins for 14-16 minutes at 400 degrees. Cool and frost with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting.

Apple Cinnamon Bites

I love Pinterest, so many possibilities. I was excited to make a cinnamon muffin for my kids to eat as they left for home. The muffin I made had many positive reviews. It had a cinnamon filling, cinnamon chips and a strusel topping. It had to be delicious. But it wasn't wonderful, just ok. Not even blog worthy.
My son said, "Mom, why do you mess with perfection? Just make the Cinnamon Apple Muffins that we love."
So friends--here is the Harris Family's favorite muffin recipe. It is perfect!

APPLE CINNAMON BITES

1 ½ cup flour
1 ¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
½ cup sugar
Buzz together in Food Processor about 20 seconds.
Add 1/3 cup cold butter process a few seconds

Mix together:
1 egg
1/3 cup milk
½ cup grated apple
Add to food processor and just buzz a few seconds. Please don't over mix.

Lightly spray  a 24 mini muffin pan—use small scoop of rounded batter in each cup. Bake 350 degrees for about 12-13 minutes. While warm dip muffin top in melted butter and then in cinnamon sugar mixture (1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon).

Orange, Cranberry Pecan Muffins or The Best Muffin I've Ever Made!

We are not coffee or tea drinkers so Starbucks is not somewhere we frequent. We recently spent too many hours in the O'Hare Airport. Our terminal happened to be next to a Starbucks. Out of boredom and hunger I looked at the yummy pastries in the glass window. Finally I could resist no longer and purchased a Cranberry, Orange Scone. It was delicious. I dream about food and that yummy scone has been in my dreams often!
Hubby and I were ready to find a Starbucks so I could have another scone. But thanks to Pinterest I made my own Cranberry/Orange treat in a muffin form. This muffin was perfect. Cranberry and orange are meant to be together, I added some chopped pecans because I love pecans. This is the perfect holiday muffin

Orange, Cranberry, Pecan Muffins
3/8 cup milk
3/8 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fat free Greek Yogurt
1 egg
1/2 cup butter melted
1/2 cup sugar
Zest of 1 large orange
1 3/4 cups flour
2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ginger
1/2 cup fresh cranberries, chopped (I used my Pampered Chef Chopper)
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
Preheat oven to 350 and spray muffin tins with Pam.
In medium bowl combine milk, juice, yogurt, egg, and butter. Whisk until well combined. In a large bowl add sugar and orange zest, rub together with your finger tips. This is the best smell in the world! Add in flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and ginger. Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients. Mix gently. Add cranberries and pecans. Do not over mix. I use a cookie scoop to portion batter in muffin tins. Sprinkle coarse sugar on top of each muffin.

Bake muffins for 18 minutes, mini muffins 12 minutes. I got 12 regular muffins and about 8 minis.
This recipe is adapted from Homemade by Holman. Thanks Pinterest!