Cinnamon knots!

I really like cinnamon. I mean, a lot. It's a strong flavor and I love strong flavors. I have been sprinkling it on my coffee for a long time, which I read recently has some great health benefits. Who was ahead of the crowd? This girl!

Anyway, I wanted to make something cinnamony, again. I am using up all my flour before I go on a health kick. If you could all pray for me that would be fantastic.

I made these cinnamon knots Sunday. They were a really nice, lightly sweetened treat and very easy to make.

I thought I would share them as a part of Take it On Tuesday. Betsy was nice enough to feature the Mason Jar Tumbler I made last week.

What you'll need:

4 cups AP flour. You can use whole wheat if you like

1 1/4 tsp yeast or one package rapid rising yeast

1 1/2 cups HOT water - but not boiling

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp kosher salt

2 tsp vanilla (or more if you just want to dump in as much as you want)

2 tbsp cinnamon

topping:

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350.

Combine your yeast and warm water. Let thicken. It will look like dirty water when it's ready.(Yuck!)

In a bowl stir flour into the yeast/water one cup at a time.

Then add your sugar, vanilla and cinnamon.

Mix until it pulls apart like elastic.

Flour a surface and roll your dough into a tube.

Shape. 

In a bowl mix your tbsp brown sugar and 1 tbsp cinnamon.

Sprinkle the dough with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes.

Sour Cream Cinnamon muffins

Sour cream cinnamon muffins? That doesn't sound good. Girl, you're crazy! That sounds great. And they were great. They were so moist and fluffy. Almost like angel food cake but more sturdy. 

I saw a recipe for sour cream cupcakes. But I have been over doing it with the cupcakes lately. So I wanted to make a lighter base and call it a muffin. Yeah, you can do that. Who is going to tell? 

Beardface loved these. I made him some in my muffin top pan. He ate all of them!

Okay, this is what you'll need:

1/14 all purpose flour 

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 cup sugar, spelnda, stevia or sugar substitute. Note: If you use splenda you will need to add 1/4 baking soda.

1 stick butter or margerine or a cup of coconut oil at room temperature.

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tbsp cinnamon. I really love lots of cinnamon, so I am guessing that 1 tbsp might be enough. 

Preheat your oven to 350 and spray and line a muffin pan. This would probably also make a killer bunt cake. 

In a mixing bowl combine your flour, salt and baking powder. If you're going to need baking soda add it here. 

In your mixer start creaming your softened butter and your eggs. 

TIP: I learned this the other day, it's a great way to tell if your butter is soft enough. Touch your forehead, your nose, and your cheek. If the butter is as hard as your forehead it isn't soft enough, if it is as soft as your cheek it is too soft, if it is the same softness as the tip of your nose it is golden!

Once your butter is soft and workable start adding in your sugar and vanilla. Don't you love the color of creamed butter? It's gorgeous. 

Then add in your flour mixture in small increments. 

Add in your half cup of sour cream. I added more than half a cup. It was still amazing. 

Add your cinnamon. 

Look at that! Isn't it great? Fill muffin pan and bake for about 20 minutes. 

Baked blueberry, banana oatmeal!

Baked banana, blueberry oatmeal! Yes, it's worth an exclamation point. I am literally exclaiming about baked oatmeal.

It is creamy and hearty and delicious and pretty healthy. The banana and blueberry pairing balance each other out very well.

To make it even better I made mine with blueberries my Daddy grew. Why do free blueberries taste better?

2 very ripe bananas, cut into pieces
1 1/2 cup blueberries, divided
1/4 cup honey, divided (I used local, so delicious)
1 cup uncooked quick oats
1tbsp cinnamon, divided
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup fat free milk (or any milk you desire)
1 egg

Preheat your oven to 375 and grease a pan. Layer the bottom of your pan with bananas and half your blueberries. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. Place in your oven and let bake for 15 minutes.

In a bowl combine your oats, the rest of your cinnamon and baking powder. Mix. Sprinkle over blueberries and bananas.

Then, you can use the same bowl your oats were just in, mix your milk, eggs, and the rest of your honey.

Pour over the fruit and oats mixture as evenly as you can. Then sprinkle with blueberries. Bake for 30 minutes.

It will serve 4 - 6 and be so warm, moist and delicious. This is a great recipe for company or brunch or just breakfast for the family.

Fudgy, pecan pie bars

I did something terrible. I did something I shouldn't and now there is no going back. My life will never be the same.

Wait for it. I am not sure I should share because if you do what I did then your life will also never be the same.

I made fudgy, pecan pie bars. Gasp! I know. I know. What's more I made them with bourbon! I know. So. Much. Shame. Delicious, delicious shame.

Remember when I told you here that I had all those pecans my GDaddy gave me? Yeah, well I used them for chocolate evil!

I have told you before that we are not big drinkers in this house. Ever once in a while there will be a glass of wine or a fruity drink, but that is fewer and fewer and far between. We would much rather eat our alcohol than drink it.I bought some bourbon to make a sauce for some bread pudding I made my husband. (I loathe bread pudding. It's soggy bread people.)

So I combined the pecans and the bourbon and it resulted in something so good it can only be truly bad.

You have been warned.

What you'll need:

Fudgy chocolate crust:

3/4 cup cocoa powder

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup flour

Pinch salt

10 tablespoons butter, melted

2 eggs

Preheat oven to 325 and grease a pan.

In a bowl mix your butter, cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt. In a seperate bowl beat your eggs and then add them to the cocoa mixture. Mix, mix, mix.

It will be thick. It's supposed to be.

Place the mixture into a your pan and bake for 20 minutes.

Pecan pie:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup light brown corn syrup

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, melted

2 tablespoons bourbon

2 cups chopped pecans

Whisk together your syrup and sugar until it is good and smooth. Add in your eggs. Then add your butter and bourbon. Once everything is good and mixed add your pecans.

You will pour this mixture over your baked brownies. Place back in the oven for another 30 minutes.

You will need to let this cool in the fridge for an hour, just like an honest to goodness pecan pie. Then prepare yourself. It is so good your heart will explode.

Baked Oatmeal Chocolate Banana Muffins

I love, love, love oatmeal. When I was pregnant it was one of the few foods I could tolerate. My husband on the other hand hates it. 

But I am not willing to buy two sets of breakfast food every week. So I tasked myself with coming up with a way to make him love oatmeal. 

"Have you tried baked oatmeal?" my sister asked. I was interested. However, a lot of the recipes amounted to dessert. I am all about dessert, but not for breakfast... everyday. ;)

So I scoured the internet and I found a recipe, that with very little tweaking, I loved. And it was enough to make 12 muffins now, and have enough left in a pan to freeze for company. 

 Note: I used palm sugar in this recipe. It comes from the coconut and is believed to have a lower glycemic index, so it is a smidgen better for you than refined cane sugar. Who knows... it falls under the category of sexy ingredients. So if you don't feel like paying $.18 an ounce for it from Amazon, just use brown sugar. 

What you'll need:

5 cup old fashioned oats (not quick cook!)

3 eggs

1 cup palm sugar (or brown sugar)

1 cup unsweetened apple sauce (or 2/3 cup unsweetened apple sauce and 1/3 cup butter melted)

1 cup chocolate chips 

1 small banana cut up into pieces 

1 teaspoon kosher salt

3 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup ground flaxseed (this is surprisingly cheap when purchased in your grocer's bulk section - $1.99 a pound at Publix)

1 Tablespoon cinnamon or more. I really like cinnamon

2 1/2 cups skim milk 

Preheat oven to 350 and get your muffin pan ready. 

Mix your apple sauce (and butter if your using butter) and sugar, eggs and banana. Mix, mix, mix. 

Stir in your oats, flaxseed, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add in your milk and chocolate chips and stir, stir, stir. 

Once everything is all melded together fill your muffin cups and slide into the oven. This will make either 2 dozen muffins or one dozen and enough to freeze in a 9 by 13 pan. 

(If your freezing you will need to thaw it completely before baking later.)

Focaccia Bread: World's Easiest Bread Recipe

I have already expressed to you my love for baking bread. But it is a long process and I don't have a lot of time.

There is the kneading and the waiting, the bulking and the punching. I don't have time for that mess. Do you?

But, I have discovered Focaccia Bread! It isn't just for snobby little downtown bistros. It does require a little kneading and a little waiting, but it takes a fraction of the time a loaf of bread would take. 

It is so simple and you use few ingredients and it makes a delicious bread. 

What you'll need:

1 teaspoon honey (or sugar)

1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast 

1/3 cup warm water 

2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1/2 whole wheat and 1/2 unbleached)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

In a small bowl dissolve your yeast in the warm water and add in your honey and let sit for 2-3 minutes. 

In a larger bowl combine the yeast mixture with your flour. 

Flour a clean surface and knead for about 2 minutes. 

Spray a bowl with cooking spray and place your dough in the bowl. Roll it around to make sure it is coated with Pam. Cover with a dark, wet cloth and let sit for about 30 minutes. 

Preheat your oven to 375. Roll the dough out onto a floured pan and poke little dents in the top of the dough with the handle of a wooden spoon. Sprinkle with a little olive oil and dried onion, herbs or garlic salt. 

Bake 10 - 20 minutes

Easy, crispy peach cobbler

It's almost summer. Yes, I know, summer is a month away, but here in south Alabama summer came in February. It is 82 degrees today. The baby and I are melting in our flip flops. 

Nothing says, "hello summer, please come in and make yourself at home" like a little peach cobbler. I buy all my produce at our local farmer's market. But I have to be honest. This year's peaches have been leaving much to be desired. I blame our lack of winter... or spring. 

Anywhoo- last week I was shopping at the Dollar Tree. Yes, I love it. When I happened across some frozen peaches. Frozen fruits and vegetables are a great alternative when you're on a budget. Because they are picked and frozen at the peak of the season you are getting a high quality product pretty cheap. It's a lot of bang for your buck.

So, alas, here is a quick, easy, crispy cobbler using frozen peaches. And no, you can't use canned. Trust me.

What you'll need:

One stick unsalted butter melted

1 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup milk

one bag frozen or fresh peaches.

Preheat you oven to 375. 

Melt your butter and pour it in a 9 by 9 pan. In a bowl mix your dry ingredients. Add your milk and stir until smooth. 

Pour your batter in to your buttered pan and then place the peaches on top. Slide in the oven and bake for 30 minutes. It will be delicious and not overly sweet. Let's taste the fruit, not sugar coat it. 

Honey Whole Wheat Bread - Great for Those days you need to punch something

Are you feeling stressed and overwhelmed? Do you feel some pent up aggression you are just dying to get out? Do you want to punch something and be productive at the same time? Might, I suggest bread making? 

I can't think of any other activity where you are encouraged to punch, pound and abuse something and you get to eat carbs when it is over.

This is a simple, delicous Honey Whole Wheat Bread I made the one time my son napped recently. 

It is time consuming, I'm not going to lie, but if you like to bake this is a good recipe for you. And, it only costs about $1.10 to make. 

What you'll need:

1 cup hot water

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 tablespoon active dry yeast

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 tbsp honey

2 tbsp cup vegetable oil (or coconut oil if you prefer)

2/12 cups all-purpose flour

Cooking spray for your bowl

1 cup oats

First things first. Make sure you have a surface that is super clean that you can use to knead the dough when it comes time. 

Now, in a small bowl mix your hot water, yeast and honey. Stir this really well and let it sit for a couple minutes. 

Then mix in your whole wheat flour add in your salt and oil. Then mix in your all-purpose flour 1/2 cups at a time until you have dough.

 

Flour your surface.

Knead for 10 minutes. 

When your dough is smooth and stretchy place in a greased bowl and spray with Pam. Then cover with a dark, damp cloth. 

It will take about 45 minutes to double in bulk. Then you will punch it back down.

Shape the dough in to a loaf and roll in oats. Preheat your oven to 375. Place dough in the pan and let sit until it rises 1 - 1 1/2 inches above the rim of the pan. Slide into the oven and bake for 25 minutes. 

Three (or four) ingredient bread

This week we are all about simplicity. We have had a simple smoothie, a three ingredient cake and now a three (or 4) ingredient bread.

I have mentioned before that my husband and I are not big drinkers. Drinking isn't something we have a moral or spiritual issue with, we just don't do it very often. So a bottle of wine or beer will last for months in our fridge.

My husband bought a sample six pack at Publix a few months back and was trying this beer - Yeti. It didn't quite suit his tastes. He was about to pour it out when I made him stop.  I don't like to see anything wasted, but I don't drink beer at all. So I scoured the internet until I found this recipe. Okay, it's got to be more simple than that, right?

Why yes, yes, it is. Just Google Beer Bread or Soda Bread and you will find a host of recipes. I just tooled with this one a bit to make it fit what I had in my cabinet 

Let's get started.

What you'll need:

3 cups flour*

1 tbsp. baking powder 

3 tablespoons brown sugar or honey

1 - 12 ounce bottle of beer. 

* if you use three cups self-rising flour then you won't need the baking powder.

Preheat your oven to 350 and grease a bread pan.

In a bowl sift or whisk your flour and baking powder. Add your honey and stir.

Then add your beer and mix, mix, mix.

It will be clumpy. That is good.

Spread into your pan and pop it in the oven for about 55 minutes until it passes the knife test.

This is really great with a little honey. (My husband put butter and honey on it and it was amazing.)

Three Ingredient Pineapple Ugly Cake

Picture this: It was Easter Sunday. We had to all be dressed and at church in a pinch and I was in the kitchen cutting potatoes and making sweet tea for Easter dinner when I realize we had no dessert. This is South Alabama! That won't do!

But what was I supposed to do? I still had to shower, dress, feed the baby and get him in his Easter outfit. And I had nothing to bake.

But I did have a box of cake mix I got BOGO at Publix, (Seriously, I love Publix) a can of Pineapple (also from Publix) and some I Can't Believe It's Not Butter (Guess where I got that? Yup. Publix.).

So I threw them all in a casserole dish and hoped for the best. When I pulled it out of the oven I had buttery, flakey, sweet, tangy goodness.

What you'll need:

A boxed cake mix

A can of fruit or pie filling - any will work

Some butter - or in my case fake butter (which I rarely use because well, it can't be good for you)

Preheat your oven to 350 and grease that pan.

Drain your can of fruit and dump it in the pan.

Then dump the cake mix on top of the fruit.

Add some butter and place in the oven for 15-20 minutes. That's just enough time to shower and dress mama and baby!