Recipe: Chilled Cider Punch

Seriously, don't walk, run to the store to buy the ingredients for this punch. I have made many cocktails over the years, but this was the best one yet. I may or may not have had four or five of these on Thanksgiving. I promise you'll thank me after just one sip of this awesome punch.


SERVES 15-20

INGREDIENTS

8 cups apple cider
1 750 ml. bottle of dry hard cider (such as Farnum Hill's Dooryard)

3 12 oz. bottles of ginger beer (such as Reed's)

1 1/2 cups whiskey (such as Jameson)
Juice of one lemon
Several dashes orange bitters
1 orange sliced into rounds, for garnish
Cinnamon sticks, for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine the ciders, ginger beer, whiskey, lemon juice, and bitters in a large punch bowl or pitcher. Stir to combine. Top with orange slices and cinnamon sticks. Ladle into ice-filled punch glasses.

Recipe: Healthy Banana Oatmeal Muffins

So I found a recipe online for some Healthy Muffins that I just had to try. The ingredients list wasn't too long so I went to pick up the few things I needed after I got off work today. The thing that drew me to this recipe is that it is both flour and sugar free. I have been trying to focus on low to no sugar options lately as everyone knows I am sugar addicted. I haven't given up added sugar completely, but I have really embraced sugar free options such as sugar free shortbread and no sugar added Blue Bell vanilla ice cream. The muffins I made tonight were pretty good, although I would add to the recipe up a bit.

The recipe is as follows:
2 1/2 cups 100% whole grain oats (not quick cooking)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 single serving size plain, nonfat greek yogurt
2 eggs
2 bananas
2 tablespoons artificial sweetner (I prefer Truvia)

In your food processor, blend the oats until they are a fine powder consistency. Then add all other ingredients to the food processor and blend. Make sure and grease your muffin tin cups really well as paper muffin liners don't work with these flourless muffins. Fill muffin tin cups about 3/4 full with the mixture, as they do rise. Bake for 15 - 17 minutes on 400 degrees.

It's that easy! Next time I would add a little bit of salt, cinnamon and vanilla extract. The muffins are pretty good, but lack a little flavor. I think the addition of these three ingredients would add the flavor these muffins need. The only other drawback was that these turned out a little gummy. I am not sure that is avoidable without the addition of flour. For muffins that have whole grain oats and fruit, with no flour or sugar, these are pretty much the best thing around.

Recipe: Quarter Pound Bacon Cheeseburgers

Today I decided to make Quarter Pound Bacon Cheeseburgers for dinner. They were some of the best burgers I've ever had, save In & Out. Let's just say they were some of the best homemade burgers I have ever had. The recipe goes a little something like this:

1 lb lean ground beef
1 1/2 tsp. chopped garlic
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1 egg yolk
3/4 cup bread crumbs
10 shakes liquid smoke (approx. 1/2 tsp.)

I mixed all of the above together with a large spoon. I then used a 1/4 lb. burger press I had given Ryan for Christmas to make four even patties. Although I think they might have tasted a bit better if I had done them on the grill outside, it was just too hot. So, instead I used our griddle indoors.

Just listen to that sizzle!

Toasted bun, melted cheese, fresh cooked bacon, tender and flavorfilled patty. What a beautiful burger!

Recipe: Homemade Georgia Peach Bread

Tonight, after getting back home after four days away, I just had to get back into my kitchen to bake.  This bread sounded perfect to make as Ryan and I had just picked up some fresh peaches which were on sale at our local grocery store. If you like fresh peaches, you'll want to give this recipe a try!

Georgia Peach Bread

• 3/4 Cup White Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Shortening
• 1 Egg
• 1 1/2 Cups Peaches
• 1 Cup All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon
• 1 Tsp. Baking Soda
• 1 Tsp. Baking Powder
• 1/8 Tsp. Salt
• 1/2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
• 1 Tbsp. Honey

Blend the sugar and shortening until it is a smooth consistency. Once it is, blend in the egg. Chop up the peaches into square centimeter size chunks and add half of them to the wet mixture. Reserve the other half of the peaches. Stir gently to coat the peach pieces with the wet mixture. Add the dry ingredients: flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Blend well. Add vanilla extract and honey. Blend again, just until the vanilla and honey are integrated into the mix. Add the reserved peaches and stir gently to coat the peaches with the wet mixture. Grease and flour one 9x5 loaf pan. Pour the mixture into your pan. Bake in a 325 degree oven for 50 minutes or so, depending on your oven. (I put foil over the bread pan at about the 40 minutes mark, because I don't like my bread too dark.) Let cool and enjoy!

Recipe: BBQ Cups

I made an old family recipe tonight for dinner.

The short and sweet pictorial version follows.

Recipe: Microwave Bread Pudding

I found another recipe I just have to try! I am really into the microwaveable dessert trend lately. These are the ingredients for Microwave Bread Pudding.

You'll need:
- a microwaveable coffee cup or bowl
- bread (stale ok!)
- 1 egg
- 1-3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons of yogurt or milk
- 1-2 tablespoons of butter / margarine

Optional ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla
- dash of cinnamon

Pretty much you just rip the bread up and place it in a mug, mix up all the wet ingredients, and then pour it all over the bread. Then you just have to microwave the mixture for around 2 minutes.

Sounds yummy!

Recipe: MugCake

So Ryan has started school again which leaves me home by myself a lot. Unfortunately, I cannot just sit back and rest like most would, I have to find little projects to do. I think it is part of me channeling Kate Gosselin. You know how she always comes up with these stupid little projects for her brood to do? Well I think I pulled tonight's project straight from her play book. If you can't tell from the picture, which I am 100% sure you can't, that is MugCake. Yes, you take cake ingredients, mix them together in a mug and microwave it for three minutes. The cake makes this tall column which I was sure was going to fall over and make a huge mess, but it really did sink back into the mug after the microwave went off. Overall, it didn't taste great, but it was way better than I ever imagined.

All you need ingredient wise is:
4 Tablespoons flour
9 Tablespoons hot chocolate mix
1 pinch of salt
1 egg
3 Tablespoons water
3 Tablespoons oil
Cooking Spray

Then all you do is:

1. Spray a little cooking spray into the mug.
2. Measure out the flour, hot chocolate mix and salt into the mug. Stir.
3. Crack the egg into the mug. Stir a bit after adding the egg so the cup doesn't overflow.
4. Add water and oil.
5. Stir until thoroughly moistened. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the mug with your spoon to avoid any leftover pockets of dry ingredients.
6. Put the mug in the microwave on high and set the timer for 3 minutes.

So although it may seem nuts, I am enjoying doing some crazy little projects like this one. I guess I may make a pretty good mom when it comes to keeping little ones busy. We'll see...