Pumpkin Muffins

Pumpkin Muffins

In this house we love all things pumpkin! And we will stretch out the pumpkin "season" for as long as possible. I know that it is considered a Fall taste but I simply cannot bear to put the pumpkin away as soon as Thanksgiving is over.

So I made these pumpkin muffins one last time. Kind of like a final farewell to Thanksgiving and all things Autumn before we put up the tree, turned on the twinkle lights, and hung the mistletoe.

Pumpkin Muffins

Source: eatathomecooks.com

Course: Breakfast

 

Ingredients

• 3 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 cup raisins heaping
• 1 stick unsalted butter melted
• 1 15 ounce can pumpkin puree
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs

 

Directions

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl.

Melt the butter and add to the dry ingredients. Mix in the remaining ingredients just until blended. Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

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Perfect Pumpkin Muffins

The Verdict:
These were amazing! I doubled the recipe (recipe shown is doubled) so that they would last longer than a day. The next time I make them I'm going to freeze one and see how they hold up in the freezer and then I may triple the recipe! 

Banana Bread

I had some bananas that had gone bad on the top of the frig and so I decided to make some banana bread.

Bad bananas (you know the ones that are black and yucky) make the very best banana bread! I don't know why (and I probably don't want to know either) but they do. So if you have bad bananas don't despair. You can whip them into moist, delicious banana bread and be the "Best Mom Ever!"

Homemade Banana Bread

Banana Bread

Source: eatathomecooks.com

Course: Breads

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• ¹⁄₂ cup butter softened
• 2 eggs
• 3 bananas mashed
• 2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt
• nuts or chocolate chips optional

 

Directions

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. 

Cream the sugar and shortening with a mixer. 

Add the eggs and mashed bananas; mix well. 

Add the dry ingredients and mix until well blended. 

If adding chocolate chips or chopped nuts fold them into the batter. 

Pour into loaf pans that have been greased. Bake 50 minutes to 1 hour at 350 degrees. 

Take the loaves out of the pan while they are still hot. Cool on a cooling rack.

Makes 2 loaves.

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So very good!

The Verdict:
This banana bread was very good. I added chopped up walnuts to it and we really liked the added flavor that they gave the bread.
The next time I am planning on adding some mini-chocolate chips to one of the loaves and seeing if we like that also.
I would also like to try these as muffins. But I will wait on that until I decide if I will be adding chocolate chips. 

Big Batch Cinnamon Rolls

We have a special family tradition for birthdays. The birthday boy/girl picks all of the meals for the day. They can have almost anything they want (I say almost because this year my son asked for Lobster which is definitely not in the grocery budget). But other than that I don't think I have ever said No to a request before.

Sometimes their choices are simple, like coffee for breakfast (since I do NOT let the children drink coffee). Of course this was my sweet-tooth child so it was not just coffee but dessert coffee. You know with chocolate and caramel and whipped cream. And sometimes their choices are a little tough - like Krispy Kreme Doughnut Hamburgers with Bacon and Cheese Fries.

But my prayer is that these special meals that they pick will allow them to realize how important the day of their birth is to us and how special they are to our family. I spend almost the entire day in the kitchen cooking and cleaning so we don't usually do it on their actual birthday but within a few days of the actual day.

My middle son turned 17 this month (he is my sweet-aholic) and so Tuesday was the day I made his meals. For breakfast he wanted homemade cinnamon rolls. And so homemade cinnamon rolls he got!

Yummy! Cinnamon Rolls!

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls!

Big Batch Cinnamon Rolls

Source: amysfinerthings.com

Course: Breakfast

Ingredients

• 3 cups water warm
• 3 tablespoons yeast
• ³⁄₄ cup sugar
• 2 cups Bread Flour
• ³⁄₄ cup oil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 eggs
• 7 cups bread flour
• 2 sticks butter melted
• brown sugar
• white sugar
• cinnamon
• ICING:
• ¹⁄₂ cup butter melted
• 2 tablespoons vanilla
• 6 tablespoons whole milk
• 6 cups powdered sugar sifted

Directions

Mix water with yeast and sugar. Let sit about 5 minutes to activate yeast.
Add 2 cups flour. Mix.
Add oil, salt, and eggs. Mix.
Add 7 cups flour, a couple at a time. Mix and then knead until all flour is incorporated and dough isn’t sticky.
Set dough in a LARGE greased bowl. Let rise until double. It took about an hour for my dough to double. I ALWAYS LET MY DOUGH RISE IN THE MICROWAVE.
Divide dough in 1/2. Roll out one 1/2 into a long rectangle.
Spread rectangle with 1 stick melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon. Roll up.
Cut the roll into 18 pieces.
Let the rolls rise again, for about 30 minutes!
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
Icing:
Mix ingredients together until easily spreadable. Adding more milk if needed to get to a spreadable consistency.

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The Verdict:
These were very good! A little time consuming but I think all cinnamon roll recipes are! I will be making them again but not before I try the Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls.
The recipe makes a TON! Two pie plates and my biggest glass baking dish stuffed full! The icing was okay (I like the cream cheese kind better). But it did not make anywhere near enough for the entire batch. I guess we like more icing on our cinnamon rolls than the recommended amount. So next time I'm going to double the icing recipe (already changed).
Also, next time I'm going to buy some disposable pie plates (at the dollar store) so that I can freeze some of these rolls before baking.

Too many for just us

And because I had cinnamon rolls everywhere. And I mean everywhere. I loaded up a tray of them and took them down to the guys working on the house.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I made these muffins on Saturday as a special treat for the kids. This was the first time I had made them and they were very good! I do have a few things that I will be doing different next time (don't I always). But overall this is a great recipe and fine as is.

The recipe says that these can be frozen and so the next time I make them I will be freezing a few to see how the flavor and texture hold up after being frozen. I would have tried that this time but I made BIG muffins instead of regular sized (my regular muffin tin was dirty - keeping it real) and the recipe only made 6 so there were none left to freeze. 6 muffins + 5 people = Only Crumbs

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Source: moneysavingmom.com

Course: Breakfast

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Miracle Whip
• 3 ripe bananas mashed
• Chocolate chips and/or nuts (I used mini chocolate chips)

Directions

Mix dry ingredients together. Beat egg in a small bowl. Stir in the mayo. Add to the flour mixture. Stir until just moistened. Stir in bananas.
Spoon batter into 12 greased or paper-lined muffin tins. Sprinkle with chocolate chips and/or nuts.
Bake in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.
Makes 12 muffins. Freezer-friendly.

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The Verdict: I will be making these again. Next time I will be adding both nuts and mini chocolate chips. I also will be making "normal" size muffins instead of Jumbo size. And I will be freezing a few of them to see how they hold up to being frozen.

Simple Pancakes

We had a fantastic 4th of July weekend. Low key and relaxing! We made no plans and didn't really do much of anything. Because of the strict budget we are on (due to the house) I kept the menu simple and frugal. I plan on having a much GRANDER Independence Day celebration next year in our Port Jubilee!

We had planned on going to a pancake breakfast on the 4th but after talking to some of our neighbors we decided against it. The price seemed a little high (5 dollars per adult) and a few hinted that the food might not have been worth the cost. So I decided to whip up our own pancake breakfast that cost less than 5 dollars for the whole thing and there was no doubt that the food would be good!

Simple Pancakes

Simple Pancakes

Source: mommahenskitchen.blogspot.com

Course: Breakfast

Ingredients

• 2 egg
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 4 tablespoons butter melted
• 2 cups flour
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 6 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Beat eggs until fluffy. Add milk and melted margarine. Add dry ingredients and mix well. I cook my pancakes on a griddle so I do not need to butter or spray a pan with cooking spray, just preheat the griddle and I'm good to go.

Pour about 1/4 cup of batter onto griddle and spread into desired shape. When bubbles appear on surface and begin to pop, turn over and cook other side. Repeat until all batter is used.

I have doubled this recipe because our family of 5 loves pancakes. I usually have 3 or 4 leftover. I am going to freeze these and see how well they hold up! I'll update and let you know if it was a success.

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Blueberry Streusel Muffins (AKA The BEST Blueberry Muffins EVER)

Blueberry Struesel Muffins

 We had our Pre-Construction meeting on Wednesday and I made some muffins to share with our PM (project manager). I made Chocolate Chip Muffins, Banana Nut Muffins (recipe coming soon), and these AMAZING Blueberry Muffins.
 

Blueberry Streusel Muffins

Course: Breakfast

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• whole milk
• 1 cup blueberries fresh or frozen
•  
• TOPPING
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup flour
• 1/4 cup butter very cold
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and either grease muffin tins or use liners.

Sift flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Place vegetable oil in measuring cup, add egg and vanilla. Now add milk until you have one cup of liquid. Mix with the flour mixture. Fold in the blueberries. I use frozen blueberries so that they maintain their shape during stirring and baking.

Fill muffin cups and sprinkle with topping

TOPPING:
Mix together sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the butter, either using a fork, two knives, or a pastry blender. Sprinkle the topping onto the muffins. If I am making normal muffins (Not the large muffins) I slightly press the topping mixture into the muffin batter.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

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These really are the very best blueberry muffins I have ever eaten or made. They are fairly simple but they have great flavor.

Chocolate Chip Muffins

I made Chocolate Chip Muffins on Saturday, as a special breakfast for the kids. I like to make them something special on Saturdays because during the week things are so hectic (I’m still asleep) in the mornings I barely get the cereal in the bowl.

These muffins were very good and I will be making them again. I think next time I will double the recipe and make some BIG muffins and some normal size muffins.

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 cup chocolate chips (I USED MINI-CHOCOLATE CHIPS)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°. Grease pan or use 12 cupcake liners.
2. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar.
3. Combine egg, milk, and oil add to dry mixture and stir until moistened.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake muffins for 15 minutes.

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Melt In Your Mouth Buttermilk Biscuits

I have finally found a biscuit recipe that I can make (EVERY TIME) and they always turn out GREAT! I have also learned a few "secrets" to making fluffy, soft, EDIBLE biscuits that I will share in the recipe!

I am not sure if it's the recipe that is "fool" proof or if the "tricks" are what make this recipe work but either way it has taken me 17 years of marriage to be able to make a Homemade Biscuit that is worth eating.

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits (original recipe) 

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

2 cups bread flour
8 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 heaping tablespoons sugar
1 stick COLD butter, cut into pieces
1 - 2 cups buttermilk (may need more or less, depending on flour)


Mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together in bowl of Kitchen-Aid Mixer. (If you do not have a Kitchen-Aid, or some other type of stand mixer, you can try this recipe using a hand held mixer).

Using your Kitchen-Aid mixer cut the butter into the flour mixture. Mix just until the butter becomes "pea" size.

Add just enough buttermilk to make a heavy, workable dough. I have found the drier the dough the more stable the biscuit.

Knead the dough lightly (still using your Kitchen-Aid), only enough for everything to stick together. DO NOT OVERKNEAD!

Dough Folded Over

Pat dough out onto a well floured surface to around 3/4-inches thick. Fold dough over so that it makes a "double" biscuit.

Use a floured glass or mason jar ring to cut dough into circles.

Place on an un-greased baking sheet (I use one of my Pampered Chef Stones). If you leave the edges touching it will make for a softer biscuit. If you want your biscuits to have a crunch, space them out a bit more.

Bake in a preheated 425 degree oven for between 10 and 12 minutes.

Cool on a wire rack (we actually eat them straight from the oven)!

Buttery, Flaky, Goodness

MAKE SURE YOUR BUTTER IS COLD!
HANDLE THE DOUGH AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE, LET YOUR MIXER DO THE WORK!
DO NOT OVER-BAKE, SET YOUR OVEN TIMER AND KEEP CHECKING THEM!

Doughnut Muffins With Chocolate Glaze

Doughnut Muffins. So Yummy!

These were DELICIOUS! And really they were not all that much effort either! The glaze was made in the microwave (easy peasy) and the muffins came together rather quickly too.

The next time I will double the muffin recipe (but not the glaze as I had plenty leftover) and I will also double dip the muffins. The glaze did take longer to set up than I expected so next time I will need to remember that and start them a little earlier so that the glaze is not quite so runny when we sit down to partake of the GOODNESS!



 Doughnut Muffins (original recipe)

Doughnut Muffins (plain)

3/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees and grease muffin tins with cooking spray.
In a large bowl beat together sugar and egg until light and fluffy.
In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Pour flour mixture into egg mixture and stir until well combined. (the next time I make this I am going to wait and add the flour mixture until after I have added all the wet ingredients because it was very hard to get the lumps of flour out of the batter).
Add in vegetable oil, milk, and vanilla extract. Mix well!
Pour into greased muffin tins, filling each about 3/4 full (I probably over filled mine).
Bake for about 15 minutes or until tester comes out clean.

Melty Chocolate!

Doughnut Glaze (original recipe)

6 tablespoons butter, melted
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup hot water
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

 Combine the butter with the powdered sugar and mix until well blended.
Add the vanilla and the hot water. Mix until smooth.
Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, then microwave another 30 seconds and stir again. Continue microwaving for 30 seconds at a time and stirring until chocolate is completely melted. Add the chocolate to the butter mixture. Blend until smooth.
When the doughnuts have cooled, dip each top into the glaze and then flip over and cool on a plate until the glaze firms up, about 15 minutes.

Bread, Egg, and Potato Breakfast

Bread, Egg, and Potato Breakfast

I made this for breakfast on Sunday morning and it was very good. It took a little bit of prep work (I baked the potatoes on Saturday night and kept them in the refrigerator over night) but it was totally worth the extra effort.

I do have some changes in mind for the next time I make this (I will usually follow a recipe exactly the first time I make it and then start tweaking it each additional time that I make it). But here is the recipe in it's (almost) original form:

Cut up baked potatoes

Bread, Egg and Potato Breakfast (original recipe) 

4 Baked Potatoes, cut into small bites (I did not peel the potatoes and I think they held up better in the pan because of that)
1/2 cup butter
3 pieces bread, torn into bite size pieces
6 eggs, lightly whisked together
salt and pepper to taste
 

Fried potatoes and bread

Melt butter in skillet and fry potatoes until lightly browned.

Add the bread and toss with the potatoes. If bread is not moist enough you may need an extra tablespoon of butter (I did not need this). Fry for several minutes.

Add salt and pepper to whisked eggs and then add eggs to potato mixture. Cook until eggs are done.

Baked Oatmeal

We call this "Oat Bread" in our house and when the kids find out I'm making it their screams wake the neighbors.

It is a quick and easy breakfast! Probably not the healthiest thing to fix (which is why I do not make it that often) but for special occasions and just a fun treat it cannot be beat.

Now I will say that my husband does not like this recipe. He thinks that it is way too sweet to start the day with. And so I have experimented with using the leftovers as a dessert.


Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 cups oatmeal (I use instant)
1 cup milk
Any mix-ins that you want (I typically make this sweet, using nuts, chocolate chips, M&M's, things like that)

Mix all ingredients together and bake in a greased 9" x 13" pan at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

 You can make this recipe "healthier" but replacing the chocolate and candies with nuts and fruits. But I am pretty sure my children would run away from home if I did that!



UPDATED: I experimented this morning and I was able to get this mixed up and ready to go into the oven before the oven preheated! So I would say that it is a super quick "special" breakfast!
I made Smores Oat Bread this morning! I mixed in mini-marshmallows and some semi-sweet chocolate chunks. It was very good and the kid's loved it! 
 





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