Little Jelly Bean

I'm back after a long hiatus. I've happily been busy with my first born. Yes I've had a baby! I know I'm prejudiced but he's the cutest thing ever!

I kept thinking about blogging but I was busy working on a nursery (I have lots to share!)

After nine wonderful weeks of motherhood I ventured back into baking. A new cookie recipe tempted me (jelly bean cookies). If you know me, you know I have a weakness for cookies! You can find the recipe here. 

My husband, J was doing yard. He came in the kitchen surprised to find me baking (I haven't in months - with a newborn who has time?!). Well I finally found a recipe crazy enough that he wasn't trying to sneak a taste before the cookies were done! We'll see how the kids like the cookies tomorrow!

Cream shortening & sugar (I substituted butter).
Add egg, milk & vanilla.

Whisk together (seperately) flour, salt & baking powder.

Add flour mixture into sugar mixture.

Mix completely.

Stir in jelly beans.
I used Starburst jelly beans.

Side note: I love this scraper spatula that my mom got me for Christmas.

Place on cookie sheet.

Bake & enjoy!

This is how I bake with a newborn!
Baby L is the cutest reason for not blogging!

Happy Easter!

DIY Buttermilk

Have you ever gone to bake something and realize the recipe calls for buttermilk but you don't have any? Did you know you could make your own??? I was amazed when my uncle taught me how to make my own buttermilk! It has been a life saver since buttermilk is not a staple in our house. However, we normally always have milk & lemon juice (or white vinegar)  and that's all you need to make your own buttermilk!

You'll need:

- Liquid Measuring Cup

- Tablespoon

- Milk

- Lemon Juice / White Vinegar

{For this tutorial I used white vinegar.}

First, measure your milk. Pouring it just under the actual amount you need.

My recipe called for 3/4 cup milk.

Next mix in 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar.

 

Let stand at room temp for 5-10 minutes.
Use immediately.

It is that easy! Seriously!

So if you're like me and don't use a ton of buttermilk, don't buy it! Make it!

Happy Crafting!

Sweet Valentines Treats

Looking for the perfect Valentine's Day treats? Well look no further!

I made these for Christmas (with red and green m&ms) and they were such a big hit I've made them again! I found my pinspiration here. 

What you'll need to make your own:

-Baking Sheet

-Parchment Paper

-Snaps Pretzels

-Hershey's Kisses

-M&Ms

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
and spread out the pretzels.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Unwrap the kisses and place them on the pretzels.

Time in the oven depends on the type of kisses:
-White chocolate = 5 minutes
-Milk chocolate = 8 minutes
-Dark chocolate = 10 minutes

After taking the pretzel kisses out of the oven,
place an m&m in the middle of the kiss
and push it down.

After all of the m&ms have been placed,
refrigerate for 5 minutes.
(We like to keep ours in the fridge and eat them cold.)

Serve in a cute bowl....

and enjoy!

Happy Crafting!

Back To School - Labor Day of Love

Today on this labor day I'm showering my husband with love! He's slept in, gone to the shooting range with our friend L, while I stayed home and did laundry. We've had breakfast/lunch courtesy of L. Now I'm making my husband his favorite granola bars! Of course I'll help him enjoy the granola bars as well hehe.

For us back to school is a little different then most. I'm not rushing around trying to make sure my kids have all of the supplies they need on their list or finding the perfect backpack. We don't have kids yet but we are still going back to school (my husband is anyways). These granola bars are the perfect balance of fruity and sweet and are a great on the go breakfast.

What you'll need to make your own:

-3 1/2 Cups oats

-1 1/2 Cups peanut butter (I used smooth)

-1/2 Cup honey (local honey is always great if you can)

-1 TBSP vanilla extract

-1 Cup add ins

(I used 1/2 cup organic trail mix [which includes almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, dried apples, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, & yogurt chips], 1/4 cup dried berries & cherries, 1/4 cup chocolate chips)

-1/4 Cup toppings (I used the organic trail mix to top it off)

Step 1: Measure peanut butter (1 1/2 cups)
and microwave for about 30 seconds to soften.

Step 2: Add honey (1/2 cup)
(I prefer local honey because it's great for our allergies)

Step 3: Add vanilla extract (1 TBSP)

Step 4: Mix together ingredients.

Step 5: In a large bowl measure out oats (3 1/2 cups)

Step 6: Add the peanut butter/honey/vanilla mixture into the oats
& mix well.

Step 7: Mix in your add in ingredients.
All add in ingredients should add up to 1 cup.

Mix well.

Step 8: Press mixture into your pan and add your toppings.
Press toppings into granola mixture.

Step 9: Bake @ 250F for 10 minutes.

Step 10: Let granola cool and cut into bars
(I love my plastic server so I don't scratch my pan!)

Enjoy!

Download your granola bar recipe card here.

Happy Crafting!

Salt River Bars

My good friend T came over to "bake" these... they sounded so good I broke my gluten free diet to eat some! The recipe can be found here. Of course I changed it a bit for my bars (Surprise!).

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

-1 box Club crackers (I used saltines)
-1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
-1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
-1 cup peanut butter chips
-1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
-Coarse sea salt (I used fine sea salt)

First, line your baking pan with aluminum foil and grease it with cooking spray or you could use coconut oil. Line the bottom with a layer of crackers.

Next, melt the butter and then add the brown sugar, stirring constantly.

Sprinkle some of the peanut butter chips over the crackers.

And pour butter/sugar mixture over the crackers and pb chips.

Next, add another layer of crackers.

Repeat this layering two more times (Crackers, pb chips, butter/sugar syrup).
You should have three layers total now.
Add your final layers of crackers on top and melt the chocolate chips.

After adding the last layer of crackers spread the melted chocolate over the crackers and sprinkle with sea salt.
I used a combination of peanut butter chips and chocolate chips for my final layer (because peanut butter makes everything better!).
Refrigerate for about 20 minutes, cut through the chocolate layer and put back into the fridge.
Serve and enjoy!
(By the way they're delicious and SO worth breaking my diet!)

Happy Crafting!

Homemade Granola Bars

How can you go wrong when the first word is homemade? Homemade anything is always better!

Even though it's just my hubby and I, we still tend to shop at Costco and buy things in bulk. When it comes to paper towels I'd rather have a ton and not run out. However, buying granola bars in bulk was not my smartest idea. I've been wanting to try making my own granola bars but want to wait till we finished jumbo box.

I found the basic recipe I used here. I added in dried fruit and chocolate chips.

Here are my ingredients plus vanilla extract.

Mix together 1 cup peanut butter and 1 cup honey. (After tasting the end result my husband and I agree that we want to cut back on the honey next time.) Add in vanilla extract, whatever you're adding (for me fruit and chocolate chips) and the oats.

Press the granola mixture into a pan. If it's sticking to your fingers you can use wax paper to press it down. I then put it in the oven at 250 for 5 minutes to let the chocolate chips melt into the bars. Cut them into bars or bite size and enjoy!

Happy Crafting!

Super Bowl Football Cookies

If you ask me the best part of the Super Bowl are the commercials and the snacks aren't bad either. In honor of tomorrow I've turned my chocolate cookies into footballs with a little frosting! Hope you have a great Super Bowl Sunday!

Ingredients:

1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter (room temp),

1 cup granulated sugar,

½ teaspoon salt,

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract,

2 large eggs, room temperature,

3½ cups all-purpose flour,

½ cup cocoa powder,

optional: assorted sprinkles or jimmies for decorating

How To Bake Them:

Preheat oven to 375F. In stand mixer beat together butter, sugar and salt.

Add eggs & vanilla one at a time, beat until smooth.

Gradually add  in flour and cocoa powder 1/2 cup at a time. Mix until a soft dough is formed.

Spoon into cookie press and choose your shape disc. Press dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on rack and enjoy!

Chocolate Spritz Cookies/Cookie Press Cookies

After some minor out patient surgery yesterday I haven't been feeling much like crafting. As part of my recovery I felt I was in need of chocolate today. So I decided to try out my new Christmas present (a cookie press) and bake some cookies.

Here is my brand new cookie press!

Here is what you'll need for the recipe: 1½ cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter (room temp), 1 cup granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract, 2 large eggs, room temperature, 3½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup cocoa powder,
optional: assorted sprinkles or jimmies for decorating

Preheat oven to 375F. In stand mixer beat together butter, sugar and salt.

Add eggs & vanilla one at a time, beat until smooth.

Gradually add  in flour and cocoa powder 1/2 cup at a time. 
Mix until a soft dough is formed.

Spoon into cookie press and choose your shape disc.
 Press dough onto an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on rack and enjoy!

Happy Crafting!