Jumbo Blueberry Muffins

Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to brainstorm what new kinds of recipes I can put up on the blog, I forget the simple and delicious ones that we all enjoy - like blueberry muffins.

After being given a JUMBO muffin pan with liners to fill them with this past week, I couldn't wait to use it!! So I called up my cousin Alicia who is a blueberry muffin connoisseur and asked her for some of her favorite recipes. They turned out just fantastic. They were moist, contained only basic ingredients, and looked and tasted great. Thanks Alicia!

Also, thank you 10,000 fold to the individual who gave me the pan and liners.. You know who you are, and it meant so much to me :)



Recipe:
1 1/2 c. Wheat Flour
2 c. Flour
5 tsp. Baking Powder
2 Eggs (beaten before incorporated)
1 c. Milk
2/3 c. Oil (Veg, Canola, Olive, OR use applesauce)
1 c. Honey
2 c. Blueberries


Mix wet & dry ingredients separately and then combine.
Oven @ 375 for 25-30 minutes

*Muffins are ready when they start to appear golden on the top and around the edges.


Also, don't forget that this recipe is meant for muffins that are baked in JUMBO pans!
If you are baking regular sized or mini muffins, increase heat to 400• and decrease bake times.

Cake Batter Rice Krispie Treats

Sometimes, I feel like eating an entire pan of rice krispie treats.

Other times, I feel like eating just straight up cake batter.

But more often than not, I feel like eating them both at the same time because I can. And because I am a chubbs. And because we live in America, and it is our RIGHT.

They are gooood..




Recipe:
1 Stick of Butter
1 - 16 oz. Bag of Marshmallows
1 c. Cake Mix (I used Funfetti)
Sprinkles (Preferably ones where the colors won't 'run' when added)
8 c. Rice Krispies

Directions:
Melt butter over medium/low heat in a large pot. Add marshmallows. When mixture is smooth, add cake mix. Turn off stove and remove pot from heat. Add sprinkles and rice krispies. Spread onto a large cookie sheet. Top with additional sprinkles if desired for looks.

Eat uppp.

Chair Makeover

This cute chair has been "in the works" for the past 2 years. Yes, I am embarassed to say that it has taken me TWO whole years to finally finish it! I painted it this pretty green probably a year and a half a ago and it has sat in our home in a closet ever since. I purchased this chair at Goodwill for 4$ - score. ...with a little help from this cutie......it is finally finished!

Bran Muffins

If you're anything like me, you're always trying to find some way to implement "healthy" into your diet. My great friend Jacquie got me hooked on bran muffins in junior high and I've been craving them for a while - probably since I ate my health away during Christmas! These muffins do have some sugar and a little bit of butter but are also very good for you and taste amazing. The bran is loaded with fiber. Say hello to a healthier year and make these today!




Recipe:

In a small medium sized bowl combine..

2 1/2 c. All-Bran Cereal (original)
1 c. Buttermilk

*Warm up buttermilk for 30 seconds in the microwave and then pour over cereal. Let sit for 10 minutes
------
Combine, in order, in a large separate bowl the following ingredients..

2 c. (White or Wheat) Flour
1/2 c. White Sugar
1/2 c. Brown Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Soda
5 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Ginger
1 tsp. Molasses
2 tsp. Vanilla
2 eggs
1 c. Milk
1/4 c. Melted Butter

*Combine the bran/buttermilk mixture into the second mixture. Stir until just combined so you don't come out with tough muffins.

Oven 375• for 17 minutes or until muffin tops bounce when lightly pressed

Yummy served with butter and/or honey or jam!

Winners!

Well...we had a (not so) great number of entries for our first giveaway...but none the less, we have 2 winners! We used www.randomnumbergenerator.com to determine the winners.
#2 and #7 -
which means the winner for the mini cupcake maker is CAMILLE and the winner of the Christmas baking mitts is MALLORY. We will be sending you an e-mail to find out when we can deliver them to you! Thanks for playing friends and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

First Date Cookies

Peanut Butter Kiss cookies have been one of my favorite cookies probably since the first time I made them. Love at first bite. I've tried many different recipes for them - ones I've found online, in books, made up myself.. This recipeI is my favorite. The cookies come out chewy yet slightly crusty in all the right places. You've got the initial first crunch that, as you continue to bite, turns into something chewy, and then once you get to the kiss, melts in your mouth.

It's ridiculous.

The name I have for them, "First Date Cookies" comes from the first date that Brett Porter and I ever went on together. It was a group date, and also a blind date for the two of us. We all watched the Easter Pageant performance at the temple and snacked on cupcakes and some peanut butter kiss cookies that I made and brought along. I wooed him with these cookies and every time I make them can't help think about that very first date! Ooh.. Here they are.



Recipe:
1/2 c. Butter
1/2 c Peanut Butter
1/2 c. White Sugar
1/2 c. Brown Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 Egg
2 T. Milk
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 1/2 (heaping) c. Flour
------
1/3 EACH of powdered, brown, and white sugar in a separate bowl to roll cookies into before placing on baking sheet
1 Bag of Hershey's Kisses

Bake @ 375• for 10 minutes

Mix ingredients together in order. Roll by the tablespoon in sugar mixture. Press cookies very slightly before baking. Have Hershey's Kisses unwrapped and ready to place on cookies right after they come out of the oven.

GIVEAWAY

In honor of the Lakewood Birds' first Christmas, we are hosting
a giveaway of two items!
And they are..

1- A mini cupcake maker

2- A Santa Claus potholder and oven mitt set

--------------------------------------

{How to win:}
1. Post about us on Facebook and make us aware that you have done so! (in a comment)

2. Post a comment on our blog stating that you are a follower OR become a follower if you are not already.

(One giveaway entry PER way to win, which gives everyone TWO chances each!)


** The 2 winners will be chosen randomly and announced NEW YEARS. Thanks for your support and good luck!


Merry Christmas and happy crafting and baking!

Peppermint Chip Cookies!

Holiday baking is one of my favorite times of the year.. People baking treats for their friends and neighbors, holiday parties, and decorating cookies with children.. There's something adorable about little kids decorating a sugar cookie that just makes me so happy inside..

Anyways - with or without children, these cookies are a holiday delight.



Recipe:

1/2 c. Butter
1 c. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1 egg
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Cream of Tartar (optional.. Makes the cookies "smoother")
1/8 tsp. Baking Powder
1 1/2 c. Flour
1/2 heaping cup of Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking Chips and/or crushed candy canes

Oven @ 350•
12 minutes


Mix melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and egg together well. Mix soda, tartar, powder, and flour together in a separate bowl. Combine the 2 mixtures. Add Andes Chips/ crushed candy canes. Scoop by heaping tablespoons onto cookie sheet (cookies came off well without the sheet being greased).

Before Blogging

Before starting a family blog for my husband and I (and now mostly just the baby...) and way before this craft blog, pinterest, and any other internet "craftiness," I had a LOVE for scrapbooking. I think Justin appreciates the fact that blogging is a lot cheaper... Anyhow,I worked at a scrapbook store in high school and spent most of my nights after beauty school scrapbooking for hours. I do miss it and maybe someday I will get an incredible scrapbooking/craft room and will pick it up again...but for now its photo albums and blogging. I was just reminiscing through old scrapbooks and was missing friends that I used to scrapbook with, so I decided to do a post of our wedding "ABC" scrapbook. It is a lot of green, black, and white haha - so enjoy taking a little glimpse of my past (and maybe future) hobby.

Change Your Diet - Improve Your Life

Today I was thinking about the differences in whole wheat flour and just plain old white flour. I know that the wheat is better for my health, but I couldn't muster up any solid evidence for myself why that option was more beneficial. So, I decided to search online about the technical differences in whole wheat flour and white flour when I stumbled upon this useful article. It's very informative and just might make you think twice the next time you're out shopping for your choice of bread. Don't be afraid to check it out and be informed about details the food companies won't always go public about! I am a firm believer in knowing what is best for my body and that includes what kind of fuel, or food, I decide to put into it. Doing something as simple as changing the type of bread you buy could save you a variety of potential health risks.


Here's the link:

http://annie-tumlin.suite101.com/white-flour-vs-whole-wheat-flour-a203963