Easy Pumpkin Scones

Happy Thursday!!!

My Thursday just got much better after I tasted these scones!  I was a bit nervous about making pumpkin scones, but I am so happy that I gave it a shot.  These scones were easy to make a taste great delicious!!!

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour (plus some for kneading)

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup Greek yogurt (I used non-fat vanilla)

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1/3 cup milk 

Preheat your oven to 400.

Lightly grease a baking sheet.  I spray foil with non-stick cooking spray and put it on a pizza pan.

Dice up the cold butter.

In a mixing bowl, add flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and diced butter.  Mix until it resembles coarse cornmeal. 

Add in Greek yogurt and pumpkin puree.  Once that has is just starting to incorporate into the dry ingredients, SLOWLY, add the milk.  Immediately stop the mixer once the batter has just come together.  

DO NOT OVER MIX!

Lightly flour a surface and pull out you dough.  

Roll the dough around (really, it is not so much of a knead, as it is 'playing' with the dough).  Continue to lightly roll it around until the dough is not so sticky, and pat it down into a circle.  Just use your hands for this, there is no need for a rolling pin!

Spray a butter knife with non-stick cooking spray, and cut the dough into even triangles. 

Place the triangles on your prepared baking sheet, and place in your preheated oven.  

Let them bake for 15-18 minutes.  They should be golden on top.  I also poke mine with my finger to make sure they don't feel wet on the inside.

I hope you all get a chance to enjoy this recipe!

~Best Wishes~

Alison

Almond Cookies

Hello Everyone!

I am so excited because Chris and I just moved to the Bay Area!  Yay! There is so much to do (and eat) here that my enthusiasm is hard to contain.  Already, we have had the best Thai food that my tastebuds have ever encountered.
I am also ecstatic to once again have my own kitchen!  This means that there will be more recipes to post, so you guys should be excited about that too.

Today, I am making cookies.  These are my favorite cookies to make, and go fabulously with hot tea (especially Earl Gray or Sweet Orange Spice).

I fell in love with these cookies as a little girl because my aunt always made them for her Christmas open house.  She even adds food coloring to make them red and green...very festive.

Ingredients:
1 cup softened butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup canola oil
2 tsp almond extract
4-1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt

Here is what you do:

Preheat your oven to 350

Cream together the butter and sugar.
Add the oil (and food coloring if you wish)
Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. Add to mixture.
I use a 1-1/2 Tbsp cookie scoop to get nice, even amounts of dough. My aunt rolls them into balls and presses the middle down with her thumb.  Either way you prefer, they will turn out deliciously.

Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake for 15-20 minutes. The bottoms should be starting to turn a nice golden color.

That's all there is to these scrumptious cookies.  I hope you all give them a try!

~Best Wishes~

Coconut Bread

Hello all!!!

I hope your week is going splendidly so far, and just remember that tomorrow is Friday!  I have a new recipe to share with you all, and I am pretty excited about it.  I first made this back at the end of August, but it was eaten too fast for me to get a picture...and I just couldn't post the recipe with no picture, because that is just boring.

Here it is...Coconut Bread.  It is a sweet, moist bread that will just melt in your mouth.

The best part is that it is super easy to make.

Here is what you need:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar (I used splenda)

1 - 13.5oz can of coconut milk

1/2 tsp coconut extract

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

3 cups flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 cup shredded coconut

What to do:

Preheat oven to 375.

Cream together butter and sugar.  Mix in the coconut milk, coconut extract, vanilla extract, and eggs.  Once everything is combined well, mix in flour, baking powder and shredded coconut.  Mix until just combined (DO NOT OVER MIX).

Pour batter into greased bread pan and bake for 1 hour, or until inserted knife comes out clean. 

I love coconut, and this bread makes a great dessert.  Slice yourself off a piece and eat it plain, or top with fresh berries; I do not think it can get much better that that.

~Best Wishes~

Cinnamon Raisin Beer Bread!!!

Are you guys ready for the three day weekend?  I know I am!!!

I have been in the mood to bake this past week, and finally went to the store to get some more flour today to  make all of the yummy things that I have been dreaming up.  I am so glad I did!!!

I have been craving cinnamon raisin bread, but am too cheap to buy the crummy stuff at the store.  I also figured I could make a really good version if I mixed it with my other favorite bread...Beer Bread!!!

That is right folks, today I successfully made Cinnamon Raisin Beer Bread!!!!  Oh my goodness, it is so delicious!!! I am taking typing breaks right now so that I can keep eating it.

This is also the easiest bread to make!  I don't think it is possible to mess it up.

What you will need:

3 cups All-Purpose Flour

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

1 Tbsp Cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar

1 cup Raisins

1/2 cup butter, melted

1- 12 oz beer 

What to do:

Preheat your oven to 375.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and sugar.  Now pour in the beer and mix together with a rubber spatula until most of the flour is gone (there may be just a few spots here and there, but don't worry about it...I promise).  I do want to say that if you want good beer bread, you should MUST use a good beer.  I used a season ale from Big Sky Brewery called 'Summer Honey'.  I have also found that wheat beers make excellent beer bread, specifically 'Wailua Wheat' from Kona Brewing Company.  Do not be afraid to try different beers every time you make this bread.   

Scoop the dough into a greased bread pan (I just use cooking spray).  Finally, pour the butter on top of the dough and place the loaf into the oven.

Bake 40-50 minutes.

I really hope that you all enjoy this recipe.  Do not be afraid to try different a different beer each time you make this recipe.  Each time I make just regular beer bread I try and use a different beer.  The good thing about this is it only takes one bottle, so you can enjoy the other five bottles while eating your bread!

Have a wonderful week y'all!!!

~Best Wishes~

Pistachio Pudding Cookies with White Chocolate Chips

Happy Hump Day!

I hope you all are well today!  And, I hope you are ready for some delicious cookies!

Pistachio Cookies with White Chocolate Chips

They are soft, chewy, delicious cookies!

Here is what you need to make them

1 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 box pistachio pudding mix

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

2-1/2 cup flour

1-12 ounce bag white chocolate chips

What to do

Preheat oven to 350

Cream together butter and sugar.  Then add the eggs and vanilla.

Mix in pistachio pudding mix, flour and baking soda.

Fold in white chocolate chips.

Scoop out the batter (about the 2 Tbsp worth) on ungreased cookie sheet...

 and bake for 8-10 minutes.

These are a fabulous summer cookie because they are so light and flavorful!!!

Try these for your next potluck or party, and enjoy all of the compliments you receive!

~Best Wishes~

Chocolate Pudding Cookies

Hello Everybody!!!

So, how was your weekend?
Mine has been fabulous!!!  I was able to go the California Mid State Fair yesterday, and although I have visited this fair almost every year since I was born, I still had a great time!  I also picked up this sweet wooden sign!

They had to customize the saying for me.  Originally, this sign was missing the word 'beer' and that just did not feel right to me.  So, for an extra $5 they added the word 'beer' and it is now perfect for me!

Today, I made some great chili and cornbread for our lunch/diner, but that is not what this post is about.  This post is about the amazingly delicious cookies I made for dessert.  How does chocolate pudding cookies with peanut butter chips sound?

Sounds wonderful, right?!?!

They are even more delicious than they look!  They are soft, chewy, and the creaminess of chocolate pudding comes through.  This cookie is definitely a crowd pleaser!

Here is what you will need:

1 cup butter

1/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 box chocolate pudding

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

2-1/2 cup flour

1 cup peanut butter chips

1 cup walnuts (optional)

What to do:

Preheat the oven to 350.

Cream together the butter, sugar, brown sugar.  Add the eggs and vanilla.

Mix in chocolate pudding mix, flour and baking soda.

Fold in the peanut butter chips and walnuts (if adding walnuts).

Scoop on to ungreased baking sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

These cookies are super simple and very delicious.  

Add these to your recipe box and whip them out the next time you need a delicious, different cookie in a short amount of time.

~Best Wishes~

Pumpkin Cookies with Butterscotch Chips

I love baking!  The endless possibilities entices me to try and create simple goodies that taste great!

Now that I am back in California, I am back to baking multiple times a week because I have people around to give all of the goodies to, so I do not eat them.

Over the weekend, it was all about chocolate chip cookies and lemon bars, and today I made pumpkin cookies with butterscotch chips.  The best part is that it takes only 4 ingredients to make these cookies!  That's right, 4 ingredients total for great cookies!

You will need:

1 box of cake mix (I used vanilla because that is what I had.  I know yellow will work too, since I have made pumpkin cupcakes with yellow cake mix and it is tasty)

1 - 15oz can pumpkin (not pie filling!!!!)

1 - 12oz bag butterscotch chips

1/2 tsp baking soda

What to do:

Preheat your oven

Next, mix all of the ingredients in a bowl.  I just used a rubber spatula, but I am sure a mixer would work too.

Drop about 2-Tbsp of the batter onto a cookie sheet at least 2-inches apart.  They will not spread too much.  

These are what they look like going into the oven.

Set the timer for 10 minutes and wait for the goodness...

These are the most simple cookies that I have ever made!

They are kid approved!

I hope you enjoy!

~Best Wishes~

Apple Pie Bites

Hello All!

I know, I know, I have been gone for a little over a week now....my bad!  I got caught up with my road trip to California and now on making plans and getting everything together to move to California.  Yes, that is right, I get to move back to California!!!!  I am so excited to move back!

Well tonight I was inspired by Pinterest to make an apple pie type dessert.
They are mini apple pies of goodness!

You will need
1 package of refrigerated crescent rolls
1 medium/large granny smith apple
A little bit of brown sugar
A little bit of cinnamon
Some coconut flakes (optional, but delicious!)

Preheat your oven to the specified temperature on the package of crescent rolls

Roll out the crescent rolls....am I the only one that has trouble getting them rolled out and torn so they look nice?!?

Place about 1/2tsp of brown sugar on each crescent roll, sprinkle cinnamon on each crescent roll and sprinkle on some coconut flakes if you have it!

Cut the apple into slices. My slices were about 3/4 inch.  Place one apple slice on each crescent roll.

I put covered my pan in foil to make cleanup easier.

Then roll them up, and place them in the oven.

Don't forget to set the timer!  Use the time the package calls for.

I have one that looks aesthetically good :)

They are so yummy!  

Just look at the inside!  Don't you just wish you can reach out and grab it and eat it?!?!

They would be so good with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!  Or cream cheese frosting drizzled over them!!

Go, have some fun and eat good food!

~Best Wishes~

I'm Hungry...Want a Snack?

Happy Hump Day!

I was just sitting here crocheting an afghan for my cousin, when BAM! it hit me.  Yup, I was struck by the afternoon munchies!  I decided to make an easy snack that is one of my and Jixer's favorite...roasted edamame.

All you will need is:
 - 14oz package of frozen and shelled edamame
 - 2-3tsp of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
 - 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Pre-heat your oven to 425.  Open the edamame package and pour into a bowl with oil and seasonings.  Mix together and spread on a cookie sheet.

I layer my cookie sheet with foil.  It makes clean up easy!

Now put it it in the oven for 12 minutes.

Mmmmmmm, look at that roasted goodness!

The foil also makes it easy to put all that goodness in a bowl, just fold it in half and pour in!

That is it folks! It is now ready to enjoy!!!

Jixer is showing off and waving to me to earn some edumame.

Jixer cannot get enough fruits and veggies (they are the only human food I let him eat).

I hope you enjoy eating the edamame as much as we are right now!

~Best Wishes~

Everything Cookies

Hello Everybody!

I hope you all are hungry because today it is time to make Everything Cookies!  I made a batch last night to send to Christopher and I thought it would be good to share the recipe with everyone since they are just too good.  I know they are Christopher's favorite cookie, so when I asked him what treat he wanted me to send, I already knew what the answer was going to be.

This is what we will be shooting for today.

You will need

 - 1 cup butter, soft

 - 2 cups brown sugar

 - 2 eggs

 - 2 cups flour

 - 1 tsp baking powder

 - 1/2 tsp salt

 - 1/2 tsp baking soda

 - 4 cups Oatmeal (I use the old fashioned type)

 - 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 - 1 cup butterscotch chips

 - 1 cup coconut flakes

 - 1 cup chopped pecans

First pre-heat your oven to 350.  Cream together the butter and brown sugar and then add your eggs.  Next mix in your flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.  Finally fold in all the goodies (oatmeal, chocolate and butterscotch chips, coconut and pecans).

You should have something that looks like this

If you haven't invested in a cookie scooper yet, I suggest you do that now.  This recipe will make a lot of cookies!  Last night I made over 6 dozen with this one batch.  The first time I made these I doubled the batch and was up all night baking cookies!

Now just scoop out some dough onto your ungreased cookie sheets.  Although they will not spread out, I still do not advise overcrowding the cookie sheet.  I put on 6 balls of dough per sheet.

Bake them in the oven for 10 minutes.  Let them cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes and then take them off to a cookie rack to finish cooling completely.

I know this is weird but do not eat them straight out of the oven....these are the only cookie I have ever had/made that are way better once completely cooled!  So be patient, I promise you it is worth the wait.

Have fun!

~Best Wishes~