3.23.2009

#50) Cocoa Nana Cookies


Wow! My 50th post :) Seems like I should have tried out a more intricate recipe for this blogging landmark, but cookies it is!

At school we are taking our homeroom skiing on Thursday. They are very excited and asked for me to bring in something sweet. One student in particular asked for my Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies. I said yes, but once I got to making them I decided they needed something new, their own identity.... And now we have a chocolaty banana cookie filled with chocolate chips...

They are much better than the originals in my opinion, but you be the judge :)

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup rolled oats
2 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda (next time I will lessen this to about 1/2 tsp)
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar (remove or crush any large chunks)
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/4 cup mashed bananas
2 cups chocolate chips

Steps

-Spray cookie sheet (or line with rubber mat) and preheat oven to 350°F.
-Beat butter and sugar. Add eggs, bananas, and vanilla. Set aside.
-Stir together dry ingredients. In three additions, stir the dry mixture into the banana mixture.
-Stir in chocolate chips.
-Drop by tablespoonful onto pan.
-Bake for 7-10 minutes.

*Makes about 60 cookies!

3.18.2009

#49) Chocolate Orange Crunchies



These little guys were an after-thought, really. I was in the kitchen waiting and waiting for my Mega-Orange Muffins to come out of the oven, and all the while I was getting more and more enticed by the citrus aroma filling the room. I got to thinking - what can I do next with some orange zest? Well, chocolate goes great with orange, but I wasn't in the mood for a cupcake or cookie... I wanted 100% chocolate. But, I couldn't make candy with just chocolate and orange zest? Well, really I could have (chocoholic, remember?!?!), but I thought it would be better to load it up with some crunchy extras!

Ingredients

2 cups chocolate chips (good quality)
zest of one very large orange
1 cup toasted almonds, chopped
1 cup coconut, toasted

Steps

-Melt chocolate.
-Stir in zest.
-Add almonds and coconut. Let cool slightly.
-Drop by tablespoonful onto parchment paper until hard.
-Eat, crunch, and be merry :)

3.14.2009

#48) Mega-Orange Muffins



These giant muffins were quite a surprise when I took the first bite!!! I never imagined the orange flavour would be as prominent as it was and the texture was simply perfect. The orange flavour can be attributed to the orange juice and more so to the amount of zest included. The texture can be credited to the use of cake flour and the addition of whipped egg whites. Although I love these muffins as is, next time I am planning on adding some orange jam to the middle before baking :)

Ingredients

2 egg whites
1 3/4 cups cake flour
1 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup orange juice
zest of one large orange (my orange was the size of a softball!)

Steps

-Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a jumbo muffin pan.
-Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form.
-Whisk together dry ingredients. Add oil and juice. Mix until combined.
-Gently fold in egg whites.
-Divide between muffin wells and bake for 20 minutes.

3.12.2009

#47) Minty Midnight Bars



I have mentioned before my uncontrollable craving for brownies, and this past week has been no exception. I guess knowing that I am off the whole week for March break has convinced my baking conscience that I can spend all day in the kitchen whipping up sinful treats... Too bad my hips don't have a conscience :)

Anyway, back to the bars - they have a surprisingly chewy brownie base covered with a minty buttercream, then the whole thing in encased by a delicious chocolate shell.

I used food colouring in the buttercream to highlight its minty flavour (from extract), but next time I want to leave it white and use fresh chopped mint. I know that sounds like a mild request, but in Goose Bay finding any fresh herb is a challenge, never mind one like mint HaHa.

I know, I have gabbed enough. Here is the recipe!

Brownie Base

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup flour
2/3 cup cocoa
1/4 tsp baking powder

Steps

-Grease 8x8 dish. Preheat oven to 350°F.
-Melt butter. Add sugar and vanilla. Mix well.
-Add eggs and beat until mixed well.
-Add dry ingredients and beat just until blended.
-Pour into prepared dish and bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
-Let cool in pan completely.


Minty Buttercream

Ingredients

1 1/3 cups icing sugar
1/4 cup butter
1/2 tbsp water
3 tsp mint extract
4 drops green food colouring

Steps

-Cream together all ingredients until smooth.
-Spread over cooled brownies.
-Refrigerate until cold and set.


Chocolate Shell
Ingredients

4 tbsp butter
1 cup chocolate chips

Steps

-Melt together in double boiler.
-Let cool slightly.
-Pour over frosted brownies.
-Refrigerate until chocolate hardens (about 1.5 hours).
-Cut in squares and enjoy :)

3.07.2009

#46) Banana Bites & Cinnamoney



I made these mini cupcakes a few days ago in a bit of a rush. I was attending a get-together and had procrastinated on making something to bring along. Then I found a bag of frozen ripe banana in the freezer and these wonderfully coloured mini liners in the cupboard - it was like fate! Okay, maybe not fate, but a very strong suggestion.

They were quite a hit and I would definitely use this recipe again, but next time I might dress it up with some chocolate chips or raisins!

Banana Cupcakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups mashed banana
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla

Steps

-Preheat oven to 350°F.
-Sift together dry ingredients. Make a well in middle.
-Add wet ingredients and hand mix just until blended.
-Divide amongst liners and bake until a toothpick comes out clean.

Cinnamoney Frosting

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 tbsp honey
2 tsp cinnamon

Steps

-Add all ingredients to one bowl and mix until smooth and of spreading/piping consistency.
-Dress up cooled cupcakes :)

3.03.2009

#45) Chocolate Chippies 3 Ways



You know, I love being in the kitchen trying out new recipes. There is always something exciting about baking the unknown... a sense of anticipation. That being said, I still have some recipes I love dearly, but as mentioned in a previous post, because baking time is precious I want to always do something new and interesting. For that purpose I have started re-inventing some old favorites (see my Minty Brownie Drops).

I know everyone must have that special chocolate chip cookie recipe hidden away in that drawer in the kitchen - oh you know what drawer I mean!!! To make mine a bit more interesting today I decided to make the basic dough and divide between three bowls. Each bowl turned into a new and exciting sweet treats :)

Basic Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

2 1/4 cups + 2 tbsp flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs

Steps

-Preheat oven to 350°F.
-Cream sugar, vanilla, and butter. Add eggs. Beat well.
-Sift together dry ingredients and add in fourths to butter mixture.
-Divide between three bowls.

Variation #1 - Old Faithful

Milk chocolate chips

Variation #2 - Chocolate Orange

Milk chocolate chips
Zest of one large orange

Variation #3 - Cinnamon Swirl

Milk and white chocolate swirled chocolate chips
2 tsp cinnamon

-Spoon onto baking sheet with a tablespoon and bake for 8-10 minutes. Let cool on wire rack :)

Another Award :)

Thanks to Maria over in The Goddess's Kitchen I can add another award to my new collection - the Adoralbe Blog Award...



In Maria's words:

"I visit many adorable and cute blogs that are filled with bright colours, innovative and inspiring pictures and best of all absolutely delicious food, which inspire me daily! I would like to thank all of you who visit my blog and leave such encouraging comments. Passing on this award is my thanks to you and your friendship."

When I sat down and considered all the blogs I visit on a daily basis I simply could not choose a handful that fit this criteria... They are all too wonderful. So instead of choosing a list of adoralbe blogs to pass this award on I will pass it on to one of the most inspiring blogs I follow, one with great photography and wonderful narratives...

Hélène of Tartelette

Please:


- include the award logo in your blog or post
- nominate as many blogs which show adorability, cuteness and charm
- be sure to link to your nominee(s) within your post.
- let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog
- share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

3.01.2009

#44) Fudgey Brownies



As much as I love cookies, cakes, and cupcakes, brownies are my true favorite - the fudgier the better :)

It is a well known fact I am a true chocoholic, and these rich and chewy brownies are like heaven on a plate. Made with decadent 70% cocoa chocolate the flavour is divine, and the reduced amount of flour allows the batter to bake into a chewy, fudgey brownie that will stick to your teeth! YUMMY!

Ingredients

1 cup 70% cocoa chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup + 2 tbsp butter, cut into pieces
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 cup + 1 tbsp flour

Steps

- Line a 9" baking dish with foil and spray with oil. Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler. Set aside.
- Beat eggs, sugar, salt, and vanilla until pale in color (2 minutes). Whisk in chocolate mixture.
- Fold in flour, mixing as little as possible. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick comes out of the centre with a small amount of sticky batter on it.

*Any brownie is better with a scoop of ice cream and caramel sauce :)



PS - Don't forget to vote for my Caramel Macchiato Cuppas here! Thanks :)