Rice Krispy Treat Balls - Christmas Cookies

One of the many things I love about Christmas is Christmas cookies.  I just can't get enough.  I make a lot of cookies around this time of the year.  Lots of old favorites, like Russian Tea Cakes and Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.  I also like to try a few new ones, you know, mix it up a bit.

Well, in my over abundance of cookies, I always tend to gain a little weight over the holidays, and then work to take it off after my birthday.  But, this year we are headed to Costa Rica mid January, and won't be able to get any extra weight off before we go, so I joined my bootcamp's "No gain Holiday Challenge."  the point is not to gain any weight over the holiday, and if you don't you get a cash prize...money is always a good incentive (the too tight pants should be too, but when cookies are right in front of you and the summer pants are put away...)  Yea, the first week of the challenge...not so much.  Thank goodness I have 5 weeks left and I'm sure to get better at saying no.

The kids "fluffing" the tree while two of the dogs supervise.

So, just to test my will power, I made rice crispy treat balls with cherries and pistachios.  Yum!  They are very Christmasy looking and delicious...and I made them small so they don't have very many calories, that way I can eat extra!

Merry Christmas.

Rice Krispy Treat Balls with Cherries and Pistachios
I saw these somewhere, but can't remember so I made up the amounts of nuts and cherries

3 Tbsp. butter
5 1/2 cups of mini marshmallows (one bag)
5 cups puffed rice cereal (yes, I use Rice Krispies)
1/2 cup dried cherries, chopped (I used scissors to cut them)
1 cup pistachios, chopped

Butter a cookie sheet.

Melt butter in a large pan, add marshmallows and heat until melted.  Add rice cereal, cherries, and pistachios, mix until well coated.  Quickly scoop cereal mixture and roll into balls.  Place onto prepared cookie sheet.
Makes 24-36 balls depending on size.

1 year ago:    My new Nativity
2 years ago:  Nutella Filled Cookies

Jack sitting at the table, just hanging out.

Feeling a little special since he is at the table.

December 11, 2013   Daylight 3 hrs. 57 min. 10 sec.   Temp H -7/ L -14 °F

Cherry/Peach Fizz and Bathroom Troubles

The Christmas season is in full force in our house.  Christmas cookies, Christmas carols, and Christmas parties are in full force for the next three weeks.  I have started planning the food for our annual Christmas Eve Open House, stop by Dec. 24 from 8:30-11:00 pm, if you are in town.  It is always fun to catch up with friends we don't get to see often enough.

Dave's Christmas party was last Friday.  It was at a local restaurant that is pretty casual, but Dave insisted we dress up...we walked in and I was the ONLY one in a dress, let alone an evening type dress, everyone else was in jeans...so I was feeling a little uncomfortable.  Dave works with a fun, rowdy crowd and they were all having a good time.  The restaurant was pretty quiet, except for us (a very good thing because we were anything but quite).  The big group was playing a game and I was watching from my corner.  I decided that was a good time to run to the ladies room.  I quickly walked all the way through the restaurant, feeling very self-conscious in my long dress, and ducked into the restroom.  Walked into the first stall and thought "That's weird, the seat is usually not up in the ladies room." Closed the door, took care of my business, washed my hands and walked out...and saw the Ladies room sign to the left as I walked out of the MEN'S room.  Yep, I used the men's bathroom.  There were no urinals on the wall to give it away, and luckily no one else walked in while I was there so, no harm - no foul.  In my defense, I was not drinking (in case that was what you were thinking), I was the DD that night (it was Dave's party after all), the signs were a little confusing, and I was just trying to hurry because I was so overdressed.

The good news is we did leave the party with a few prizes, my favorite a nice bottle of Grey Goose Cherry Noir Vodka.  So of course drink of the week HAS to come early, and it would be a type of vodka drink!  Now, since I am not driving, and I have my own bathroom at home, I can have two.

Merry Christmas!

Cherry/Peach Fizz

1.5 oz. Grey Goose Cherry Noir vodka
.5 oz Grand Mariner
3 oz. peach nectar
1 oz. fresh lemon juice
seltzer


In a shaker full of ice add vodka, Grand Mariner, peach nectar and lemon juice.  Shake until very cold, strain into a pretty glass it is the holidays after all.  Top with a splash of seltzer.
Enjoy

One year ago:   Fruitcake
Two years ago: Meatball Subs
December 9, 2013   Daylight 4 hrs. 3 min. 50 sec.   Temp. H 20/ L 15 °F

Biscuits and Gravy

I have the most awesomest sister in law in the world.  She is not really smart though, she did marry my baby brother.  I really enjoy my time with her, which is only every couple of years when one of the kids graduates from high school.  I have made a commitment to change that and the next time Cal comes up hunting, she is coming with, or better yet, maybe we will meet at some spa someplace!

Lisa has a great sense of humor, and a good memory.  It might have been my idea to trick Dave with the Tornado siren but Lisa is the one who remembered and led Dave down the cellar stairs.

She is also an excellent cook.  She made these biscuits one morning for breakfast when we were visiting in May.  I love biscuits and gravy and never make them at home.  It was such a treat.  The biscuits were tender, flaky (kinda like me), warm, and delicious.  They were the perfect bed for her delicious gravy.  I ate my weight in biscuits and gravy that morning.

These are good, but Lisa's were better. I'll have to keep practicing...or better yet go get a lesson from her and hold the new baby!

She did give me the recipe for the biscuits, they are wonderful.  I had to make my own sausage gravy.  I made these for dinner, Dave loves breakfast food, just not before 1:30 in the afternoon, he is not much of a morning person.

Biscuits and gravy for dinner.  Dave is getting used to dairy free everything.

Lisa's Biscuits

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the board
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder (use one without aluminum)
1 teaspoon kosher salt or 1 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, very cold
1 cup buttermilk (approx)
Directions:


Preheat your oven to 450°F.

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, or in the bowl of a food processor.

Cut the butter into chunks and cut into the flour until it resembles course meal.

If using a food processor, just pulse a few times until this consistency is achieved.

Add the buttermilk and mix JUST until combined.

If it appears on the dry side, add a bit more buttermilk. It should be very wet.

Turn the dough out onto a floured board.

Gently, gently PAT (do NOT roll with a rolling pin) the dough out until it's about 1/2" thick. Fold the dough about 5 times, gently press the dough down to a 1 inch thick.

Use a round cutter to cut into rounds. (I pat into a square and cut my biscuits)

You can gently knead the scraps together and make a few more, but they will not be anywhere near as good as the first ones.

Place the biscuits on a cookie sheet- if you like soft sides, put them touching each other.

If you like"crusty" sides, put them about 1 inch apart- these will not rise as high as the biscuits put close together.

Bake for about 10-12 minutes- the biscuits will be a beautiful light golden brown on top and bottom.

Do not overbake.

1 year ago:  Roasted Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Oregano
2 years ago: Frog Eye Salad

December 6, 2013  Daylight 4 hrs, 15 min, 39 sec.  Temp. H 18 / L 16 °F (above!)

Words with Friends and Dutch Apple Pie

It is funny how you learn things about your spouse every day, even after years of living together.  Dave and I have been married for over 14 years and I'm still learning...like how he is a poor loser in Words with Friends.

We play a lot of Words with Friends.  I think I have 9 games going right now.  I do lose most of them and I always lose to Dave, almost always.  So the other night, when I won, and scored over 400 points I was pretty pleased with myself.  I didn't even rub it in, because it was the first game I beat him in since, like, July!  He said,  "Good game." I said, "One in a row!" and our rule is the winner starts the next game.  We figure it gives the second player a slight advantage with their first move because they have the extra letters to work with.

So I started the next game.  It was an o.k. word, only 12 points.

"Oh, sorry honey, I accidently hit don't accept.  Start another game." he laughs from the sofa.

"What, you didn't accept?  I win one game in 6 months and you have a problem with that?" I was a little irritated, but started the next game.  I knew God was helping me out, because this time I had a Z and I could play it on a double word score!  I played and hit send.

"Oh shit!"  He laughs, "I did it again.  I hit the wrong button on accident.  I didn't accept the game."

Don't let the smile fool you, he is seething inside because I beat him in Words with Friends!

REALLY.

One time I can understand a mistake, but two times...

I went to bed claiming I would never play Words with Friends with him again.

Sore loser.

So, he started a game and skipped his turn.  He is trying to suck up, but it won't work.

I made a Dutch apple pie.  I don't know what makes it Dutch, except it has a crumble top, not a crust.  I made it for the Chick, she said it was her favorite kind of pie.  I think I ate half of it.

Dutch Apple Pie
1 pastry crust, I totally used the store bought rolled up kind
8 granny smith apples, peeled and sliced thinly
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1-2 Tbsp. cornstarch, depending on how juicy your apples are

Topping
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
6 Tbsp. butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350
°F.

Line pie plate with crust (use your favorite or a store bought if you are lazy like me).

Mix sliced apples, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cornstarch.  Lay apple sliced in the pastry, laying them snuggly.

In a medium bowl mix flour, brown sugar, salt, mix well. Add the melted butter and mix until well incorporated and it makes little clumps.  Top apple slices with the crumble.

Place pie plate on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the crumble is nicely browned.

Random picture of the Bboy and the Chick.

1 year ago:  Coquito - Drink of the Week
2 years ago: Bar-B-Que and Bird Feeders

December 4, 2013  Daylight 4 hrs, 24 min, 35 sec.  Temp. H 8/L 3°F

Tucker on the Sofa and Pumpkin Brownies

We are a little over-run with dogs now.  Our five and the kid's two are just overwhelming...I don't even like dogs that much, at least not seven dogs worth.

The kid's dogs kennel in their own little kennels in the kid's room, and our dogs kennel in the garage when we leave.  All our dogs kennel, except Tucker.  Tucker is just a little crazy.  He has some anxiety about kenneling and he was eating the wood part of the kennel, the walls of the kennel and just being overall crazy.  So we started leaving him in the house and the rest of the dogs kenneled.  It worked just fine...until I realized that he was sleeping on the sofa while we were gone.

So, last Friday we were headed to the UAF hockey game.  We had kenneled all the dogs, except Tucker, walked out to my car and I looked through the front windows and Tucker was already on the sofa.
"Look at that damn dog, he is already on the sofa." I reported to Dave.

Dave looks up, whips out his phone, calls the house and says, "TUCKER GET OFF THE SOFA." over the answering machine.

Tucker jumps up, hops off the sofa and lays down on the floor.

"Good boy, Tucker." Dave says and hangs up the phone.

So now, at random times during the day, I'm going to call the house and tell Tucker to get off the sofa.  We will see how long that works.

My friend Donna, brought these brownies over on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  It is our annual drinking pie making evening.  These brownies were delicious!  And perfect with our coffee, Kahlua, pumpkin creamer combo we always drink that night.  I had to make more (of the brownies) so I could take some to work and share.  It is the season of eating  sharing, you know.

Pumpkin Brownies
from my friend Donna who got them from Allreipes

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, melted
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 eggs

1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.
   Stir the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
   
2. In another bowl, stir together the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract; beat in the eggs one at a time with a spoon. Gradually add the flour mixture, and stir the batter until it's evenly moistened. Divide the batter in half in two separate bowls.
   
3. Into one bowl of batter, blend the cocoa powder and chocolate chips. In the second bowl of batter, stir in the pumpkin puree, walnuts, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.
   
4. Spread 1/2 of the chocolate batter into the bottom of the prepared baking pan, and follow with 1/2 of the pumpkin batter. Repeat the layers, ending with a pumpkin layer, and drag a kitchen knife or small spatula gently through the layers in a swirling motion, to create a marbled appearance.
   
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the brownies begin to pull away from the sides of the pan, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pan, cut into squares, and serve.

1 year ago:  Cranberry and Pistachio Shortbread Cookies 

2 years ago: Chinook Winds- Drink of the Week

December 2, 2013  Daylight 4 hrs, 34 min, 15 sec.   Temp. H -1/ L -3°F

Fig Bars

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.  They are all in," the Chick exclaimed as the dogs came running in from the cold.

We have a new game at our house.  It is called "Count the dogs as they run through the door into the house at -20."  It is a game born of necessity.  With three big dogs and four little dogs running into the house all at the same time, it is easy to lose track of who is in and who isn't.  And, at -20 or colder, it could be a real problem for a dog who doesn't usually bark.

This game started after I left Lilly outside.  All the other dogs were in, but Lilly is a sniffer and she was busy sniffing around behind the storage shed because other dogs live on the other side of the fence there.  It was one of those -25° days. We were all in the house and about 5 minutes later I said, "Where's Lilly?" thinking she was upstairs chewing something up...

Nope, she was still outside, looking at the door, lifting one paw and then another because they were so cold, but she never barked.  She is the smallest of the big dogs, but a big dog none-the-less, so no harm- no foul.

Then one morning I left Hershey outside.  He is a small dog, again no bark and colder than -20.  That is a problem.  After I told everyone what I had done, the Chick starting counting the dogs, ALOUD, as they ran in.  So now everyone does it.

Over the weekend the Hippy boy (our oldest) came for a visit and took Tucker home for a sleep-over.  The next morning, the Baby boy spent a while looking, calling and getting his coat on to search for Tucker in the back yard.  When the dogs ran in he only counted to 6.  He forgot Tucker was gone!

Changing topics...

So, one of my favorite winter fruits is figs.  I love figs, but in Fairbanks the best way to get them is dried, fresh figs just don't make it well up here.  So these cookies are made with dried figs.  If you have a good supply of fresh figs you could use those (I'm guessing here), just cook the figs longer and evaporate the extra moisture until they are good and jammy.  These are not very sweet.  The Bboy and the Chick didn't care for them because of that, you could add more sweetener if you like a sweeter cookie.

A simmering pot full of deliciousness.

Orange and Fig Bars
Family Circle, Dec. 2013

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
4 cups dried figs roughly chopped
1/2 cup orange juice and 2 tsp. orange zest (from one large orange)
2 Tbsp. honey

Pre heat oven to 350°F.  Line a 13X9 inch baking pan with aluminum foil.

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.  In another bowl, beat butter and 1/2 cup of the sugar for 2 minutes, until fluffy.  Beat in vanilla extract.  Pour in flour and beat on low until well combined.  Press firmly and evenly (the flat side of a measuring cup works well) into the foil lined pan.

In a medium lidded pot, combine figs, orange juice and zest, honey and remaining 2 Tbsp. sugar.  Bring to a simmer, cover, reduce heat to medium-low and cook 15 minutes.  Using a spatula dipped in warm water, carefully spread fig mixture over cookie layer (re-dip spatula as necessary to prevent sticking).

Bake for 25 minutes.  Cool completely.  Remove from pan by lifting foil and place on cutting board.  Cut into 36 pieces.

1 year ago: When my husband tried to kill me with Cold Medicine and Cinnamon Toast
2 years ago: Caramel Rolls and Black Friday Shopping

November 29, 2013   Daylight 4 hrs, 49 min, 53 sec.  Temp H -15/ L -17°F

Pumpkin Granola

On Thanksgiving morning, we get up and go to Pie Breakfast.  I eat my fill of Wendy's chicken pot pie and I'm in heaven.  Knowing I had a wonderful breakfast to look forward to, I thought I would make a healthy breakfast for my co-workers.  A little way to say I was thankful for working with them and, hey, cut me some slack I know I'm annoying but I'm new around here (and it is only going to get worse!)Well, maybe not the second part, just the thankful part.

What better way to start a day of feasting than with something good and good for you.  I made pumpkin granola.  I love granola.  I usually have a container of homemade granola in my cupboard. I like lots of nuts and dried fruit in mine, but I saw a recipe for pumpkin granola on Pinterest and I thought it would be the perfect Thanksgiving snack.  If you search pumpkin granola on Pinterest, you will come up with about 9, 453 different ways to make pumpkin granola.  Here is my version, it is a combination of about 6 of them.  I love pumpkin pie spice so I added a lot.  Add what makes you happy.  This is so good with milk, on oatmeal, with yogurt, on top of pumpkin muffins, or just by the handful.

The raw ingredients

Toasty goodness: after a turn in the oven

Add the dried fruit and coconut after it cools

Ready for treats at work.

Make this, eat a bowlful and be thankful for all your blessings.  We have way too many to count.

Pumpkin Granola
thanks to the pinners on Pinterest

4 1/2 cups thick cut old fashioned oats
2 1/2 cups Rice Krispies Cereal
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped
1 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup apple sauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup reduce sugar craisins
1/2 cut dried apricots, diced
1/2 cut dried plums, diced

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Lightly spray large baking sheet with cooking spray, or butter pan lightly.

In a large bowl, mix together oats, rice krispy cereal, pumpkin seeds and nuts.

In a smaller bowl mix together salt, sugar, pumpkin puree, apple sauce, maple syrup, and vanilla.

Pour wet ingredients over the oat mixture and mix well.  Spread onto prepared baking sheet.  Bake 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.  Let cool.  Add coconut, craisins, dried apricots, and dried plums, stirring well.  Store in airtight container.  Makes about 9 cups.

1 year ago: Warm Cabbage Slaw with Bacon
2 years ago: Carrot Cake and New Silver Cups

Our two new furry house members...we are working on house training and the shirts help.

November  27, 2013   Daylight  5 hrs, 0 min, 58 secs,   Temp. H /L °F

Pomegranate Martini

I can't really call this drink of the week because I'll have more than one kind of drink this week...and I'm starting early.

My friend Donna comes over the Wednesday before Thanksgiving every year, to keep me company while I make pies for our Thanksgiving dinner.  We always drink coffee with Kahlua and pumpkin creamer.  I used to make about 7 pies, our dinner crowd was so large, but I'm down to just a couple pies since there will only be 6 of us around the table this year.  It just gives us more time to drink.

For our Thanksgiving day drink I'll be making this martini. I have to practice today to make sure it is just right for our guests on Thursday (I am a thoughtful hostess!).   It has just the right amount of citrus to make it fresh, and the pomegranate promises of great holiday memories to come...just don't drink too many or those memories will be ones you regret - or don't remember at all!

Pomegranate martini
2 oz citrus vodka
1 oz Grand Marnier
2 oz pomegranate juice
lemon wedge
orange rind for garnish
pomegranate seeds for garnish, optional
Ice

In a shaker filled with ice, add vodka, Grand Marnier, and pomegranate juice.  Shake well.  Strain into martini glass, top with juice from the lemon wedge, twist orange rind over glass, garnish with the rind and pomegranate seeds.

1 year ago:  Baked Eggs in Potatoes
2 years ago:  Spiced Apple Cider

November 25, 2013    Daylight 5 hrs, 12 min, 29 secs.   Temp. H  / L  °F

Pork Medallions with Chickpeas and Cabbage & Blowing Bubbles at -30

It is our first real cold snap.  -30 and getting colder. The house creaks as the cold seeps into the siding and the studs.  Plugging you car in is a necessity. You need to drink more water because it is so cold the air won't hold any humidity.  Everything you touch shocks you.  Your skin looks like alligator scales....  The chick is not sure she should have moved.

At 30 below, the bubbles don't pop, they shatter!

But I had a fun activity to help ease the cold.  I had her bundle up and blow bubbles.  Bubbles at -30 is an interesting event.  You can blow them and they immediately freeze.  When you go to pop them, they don't really pop, they shatter.  We spent a couple cool minutes on the porch blowing bubbles, then came inside to warm up with this delicious dinner.

Pork Medallions with Chickpeas and Cabbage
adapted from Fine Cooking, Oct/Nov 13

2 1lb. pork tenderloins
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 med. yellow onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
1/2 small head Savoy cabbage, thinly sliced (6-7 cups)
2 cups Chickpeas (from here   ) or one 15 oz. can
1 cup chicken stock
6 thin slices prosciutto di Parma
6 oz. coarsely grated Italian fontina (about 2 cups)

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 425°F.

Trim and slice each tenderloin on the diagonal into 3 thick medallions.  Place each medallion on a cut side, and using your hands, gently press on each to flatten slightly.  Season on both sides with salt and pepper.

Heat butter and oil in a 12 inch oven proof skillet over medium-high heat.  Working in batches, cook the pork, flipping once, until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side.  Transfer to a plate and set aside.

Turn the heat down to medium and add the onion and 1/4 tsp. salt.  Cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, 5-6 min.  Add the cabbage, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/2 cup chicken stock.  Stir, cover, turn the heat down to medium low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, 15-20 minutes.  Stir in the chickpeas and the rest of the chicken stock and season taste with salt and pepper. Arrange the pork over the cabbage and the chickpeas and top with the Prosciutto and fontina.  Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook until the pork reaches 145°F, 12-15 minutes.  Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serves 6

1 year ago:  Ranch Pretzels
2 years ago: Cranberry Salad

November 22, 2013   Daylight 5 hrs, 30 min, 27 sec.    Temp. H -2/L -11°F

Spice Muffins with Apple Butter Filling

I do as much as possible the night before to get ready for the morning, we are kind of having an issue about this at my house.  I am always running late and it drives my husband crazy.  So, I try to make my lunch the night before, I have my clothes picked out and ready for the week, I set up the coffee so all I have to do is pour the water in and hit the start button.  I try really hard, but then I start reading...

So the other morning, I stumbled downstairs, started the coffee, built the fire and poured myself my first cup.  I love strong coffee so I try to get the first cup out of the pot before it is diluted too much.  I took a sip, eechhhh!  It tasted like dish water (I don't really know what dish water tastes like, but I imagine it tastes like that coffee I just drank).  I checked the coffee pot and I realized I hadn't put fresh coffee grounds in the coffee basket the night before.  I had washed the coffee pot, filled the pitcher with water, but forgot to toss the old grounds and grind new one.  Yeck!

I dumped the "coffee", ground some fresh beans, refilled the coffee pot and waited for it to brew.  I had a little extra time, so I started the oven and threw these together.  They were delicious with my second cup of real coffee, and Dave wasn't too mad about me reading a little too long that morning.  You can't be irritated with your wife while you are eating one of these muffins.

Spice Muffins with Apple Butter Filling
recipe adapted from my Muffin Box

Whisk together in bowl #1
1 3/4 cups unsifted flour
1/4 cup sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Mix in bowl #2
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup melted shortening
3/4 cup applesauce

About 16 Tbsp. apple butter, homemade or storebought.

Preheat oven to 400°F.  Line 12 muffin cups with paper liners or grease cups well.

Add liquid ingredients from bowl #2 to dry ingredients in bowl #1 and stir until just blended.  Fill muffin cups 1/2 full, top with a tablespoon of apple butter, top with more muffin batter to fill muffin cups about 3/4 full and covering apple butter.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Makes 12 muffins.

1 year ago:  Bar-B-Que Ribs
2 years ago: Caramel Sauce

November 20, 2013   Daylight 5 hrs, 42 min, 48 sec.    Temp. H -16 /L -21  °F

Sunday morning and a Pot of Beans

I love Sunday morning.  I'm the first one up by a long shot.  Everyone else is sleeping in so I get a little more quiet time.  I can reflect on the last week (and last week was a doozy!), plan for the next week, read some recipes and cook.

So if you are a regular reader, here is an update of what has been going on...

Our little Miss Leah is home from the hospital.  Mom, Grandmas, Grandpas, Great-Grandmas and Great Grandpa are all fighting over who gets to hold her next.  Everything is going well and the problem with the seizures was due to a calcium and magnesium deficiency, she has had no problems since they leveled her out with a cal/mag drip and she is happy at home.

Fairbanks had a wonderful winter storm; snow, rain, ice, power outages (some people are going over 90 hours without power and heat today and the temp. is dropping), trees fell on houses and cars...it was a real mess.  You can read about it here at Fairbanks Daily News Miner.  We were very lucky, no trees, no electrical outages, and Dave drove me to work.

The Bboy and his chick arrived Monday night.  They made it without a hitch and are settling in.  Adding two more dogs to our pack is a little exciting, but we all will adjust.  Lucky for us, the kids drove from Haines to Fairbanks between snowstorms and were tucked in at home safe and sound before the rain hit.

So, here I sit, Sunday morning, extremely thankful for a healthy baby, a safe family at home, heat and electricity, and more dogs than you can shake a stick at.

I have my happy light going, the fire crackling, and a pot of beans on the stove.  I like to make a big batch of beans, portion it, freeze it and then I always have a variety on hand to throw into soup, on top of a salad, in taco meat, or to make a dip.  Fine Cooking had a master recipe this month for chick peas, and I'm trying to add more fiber to the Bboy's diet (he has diverticulitis) and reduce salt (he also has high blood pressure.  I'm sure he would be so happy to know I am sharing this with you!) Chick peas are not something we use a lot of, so I thought I would experiment a little.  Short of hummus (you know the white stuff you serve at holidays (inside joke)), I don't really use them too much.  I'm cooking the dried beans today, I'll roast some for a snack later, use some for a puree with our chicken, and add some to cabbage later this week.  Recipes to follow.

Chickpeas with bay leaves and herbs
adapted from Fine Cooking Oct/Nov 13

1 lb. dried chickpeas (about 2.5 cups)
1 small yellow onion, peeled and quartered
3 large springs of fresh flat-leaf parsley*
3 large springs fresh thyme*
2 bay leaves
Kosher salt

Put the chick peas in a large bowl, cover with cold water by a couple of inches, and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to 24 hours.

Drain and rinse the chickpeas.  Transfer to a 6-quart pot.  Tie the onion, herbs and bay leaves in a piece of cheesecloth and add the bundle to the pot.  Add 10 cups cold water and bring to a boil, skimming off any foam.  Turn the heat down to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until just tender, about 1 hour.

Add 2 tsp. salt and continue cooking until the chickpeas are fully tender and creamy on the inside but retain their shape, 15-30 minutes more.

Drain the chickpeas, reserving the cooking liquid; discard the herb bundle.  Let the chickpeas and the reserved liquid cool to room temperature.  Refrigerate in separate airtight containers for up to 5 days.

*Fairbanks did not have fresh thyme or parsley when I went to the store, so I had to use dried.

Roasted Spicy Chickpeas
15 oz. chickpeas, from above recipe (about 2 good cups) or 1 can
1 tsp. Tabasco original hot sauce
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
2 tsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Line baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, stirring to coat well.  Pour onto baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake for 25 minutes, shaking pan every 10 minutes or so.  Chickpeas are done when they are crunchy.

1 year ago: Gingerbread Biscotti
2 years ago: Hard Apple Cider

November 18, 2013   Daylight 5 hrs, 55 min, 23 sec   Temp. H 0/ L -7°F

Folded Nutella Cookies and the Happy Light

In my ever increasing attempts to insure the baby boy and his chick are happy, productive, and love Alaska while they are here, I purchased a "Happy Light" for them.  This light is recommended for some people who live in areas where sunlight is limited (Hello Fairbanks).  It is supposed to help reverse the symptoms of winter blues such as depression, lethargy, and sluggishness.  I don't want the Bboy and his chick to be depressed and I really don't want them lethargic or sluggish since they will be working and going to school.

My plan was to put it on the shelf in the dinning area, right next to the table.  I am hoping it will get turned on in the mornings, everyone will benefit from it (Dave needs it too, but he would never admit it), and we all will go on with our day in a happy, productive way.

So I bought it (over $100!), set it up and began to read the directions.  First of all the directions say, "place lamp 6 inches from face."  6 inches, you have got to be kidding me.  How can I sit with that overly bright thing in my face only 6 inches away?

Then it says "Use lamp for 30-60 minutes daily."  Really, I'm going to sit with that lamp shining in my eyes, bright enough that they are streaming tears, they are watering so much, 6 inches from my face for 60 minutes...you have got to be kidding me, the first time I tried it I didn't last 4 minutes.  How am I going to get the chick and the Bboy to do this?  It's not going to happen.  I just spent over $100 for this damn light and all it is doing is pissing me off.

So I made cookies.  Nutella fixes everything.  I made these cookies, I sat down with a cup of tea and a plate full a couple of cookies and reread the instruction manual.  O.K. it says 6-36 inches and 30-60 minutes, not directly in front of your face.  So the shelf with the cookbooks next to the table will work after all.  I'll turn it on when I get up and Dave can turn it off before he goes to work and we can all benefit.

I should have saved us some money and just bought a couple jars of Nutella for the Bboy and the chick, we all would have been happier.

Nutella Folded Cookies
adapted from Taste of Home, November 2013

1 Tbsp. finely chopped hazelnuts
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
3/4 cup cold butter, cubed
2 Tbsp. Nutella, plus more for eating while you make these cookies
1 egg, lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350°F.  In a small bowl, mix hazelnuts and sugar.  In a large bowl, whisk four, confectioners' sugar and cornstarch.  Cut in butter until crumbly.  Transfer to a clean work surface.  Knead gently until mixture forms a smooth dough, about 2 minutes (dough will be crumbly but will come together).

Divide dough in half.  On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion to 1/8 inch thickness.  Cut with floured 2 inch round cookie cutter.  Place 1/4 tsp. Nutella in center.  Fold dough partway over filling, just enough to cover.

Place 1 inch apart on greased baking sheets.  Brush with beaten egg; sprinkle with hazelnut mixture.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are light brown.  Remove to wire racks to cool.

November 15, 2014   Daylight  6 hrs, 14 min, 38 sec.   Temp. H 13/ L 3°F