Brown Sugar Apple Cookies

I have been ignoring you.  I'm sorry, you don't need to yell!  Listen up, my little brother is GETTING MARRIED this weekend!  The little brother of Sirious Sips, by the way, whatever happened to those?  Anyway, my focus has been elsewhere.  But yesterday, my focus was on making a scrumptious fall cookie, and you should totally use the word "scrumptious" more often.  No seriously, try saying it out loud, right now.  Scrumptious!  Doesn't it make you feel joyful?  I found this recipe for Brown Sugar Cookies and I thought, why not add some apples?!  Two peeled, diced Honeycrisp apples to be specific.  I also added 1/2 tsp of vanilla to the recipe and a cup of oatmeal.  I had EVERY intention of drizzling caramel on top and sprinkling them with sea salt (Salted Caramel Apple Cookie anyone??) but my focus faltered.  YOU'RE YELLING AT ME AGAIN.  They were delicious on their own.  

Scrumptious!  

Speedy Strawberry Ice Cream

It's hot.  It's hot everywhere.  The country is on fire.  The mosquitos are having a field day.  I moved away from the Midwest 10 years ago and haven't had a mosquito bite until this summer.  What, is, going, ON Southern California?!?  I wake up every morning with bites in the most god forsaken places.  Like, the tip of my toe????  Or this morning... in between two fingers.  Thanks for that mosquito.  It's hot.  And no one wants to cook.  So when a friend sent me this recipe for a quick and easy strawberry ice cream, I knew it was something I had to share with you people.  My method doesn't even require an ice cream maker!  Just a quick stir every hour or so in front of the freezer, which is where you want to be anywhere, isn't it?  FREEZE TO DEATH MOSQUITOS!

p.s. This ice cream is creamy, refreshing and delicious.    

Speedy Strawberry Ice Cream

Makes 1 1/2 quarts

Source: Star Tribune

(Printable Recipe)

1 lb. strawberry - washed, trimmed and halved (or quartered if strawberries are big)

1 cup powdered sugar

1 1/3 cup heavy cream

1 T lime zest  

Place strawberries, sugar, cream and lime zest in a blender.  Blend until well combined.  Transfer mixture to a freezer-safe bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and place in freezer.  Stir with spatula, scraping down sides, every hour until ice cream reaches desired consistency - usually about 4 hours later.

Blueberries + Goat Cheese

Take a log of goat cheese, top with a jar of blueberry jam, serve with crackers.  You fancy.  You tasty.  

Shortest.  Post.  Ever.  

Meyer Lemonade

Well folks, I did it, I made it one full week of posting something everyday.  I get a cookie, right?  As my reward??  Or maybe this little brownie I found in my pantry for breakfast?  Ok good.  My daughter is now 4 months old and this is the first time since her birth that I managed to post everyday!  I am proud, and I am in real life eating a brownie as I type this.  A reader - a fellow mother of two - asked me yesterday how I find time and/or energy to cook or bake and the answer is I don't, most of the time.  But lately, I tend to wake up when Carson leaves the house for his radio show, at 5:30am, and while the house is quiet (if you have kids - I HIGHLY recommend waking up before them if possible - at least once a week), I can do crazy things like make muffins or drink coffee and watch THE NEWS or peruse J Crew online.  Or, make a batch of fresh lemonade with those lemons growing out of my eyeballs.  I saw this lemonade on A Cup of Jo over the summer and have been meaning to try it out since - the addition of honey to the simple syrup sounded so appealing (and it is).  So what that it's winter - vodka and lemonade is not a seasonal drink, if you ask me.    

Meyer Lemon Muffins with Lemon Glaze

My thumb is not green.  Not even a little bit.  In fact, my thumb has red gel nail polish from before Christmas that NEEDS TO BE REMOVED.  Anyway, no green thumb... I murder plants.  It always seems like such a good idea... ooo, I'll plant an herb garden or, ooo, I'll buy and care for this basil plant, or ooo, how hard can it be to grow tomatoes.  And then weeks or months go by and I remember things that grow need water.  Fail.  However, in Southern California, it's pretty impossible to screw up a lemon tree.  We have a Dwarf Meyer Lemon Tree in our backyard, and apparently it's thriving with or without my help... 

So I picked some, and yes my Christmas tree is still up.  SOMEONE COME AND TAKE IT DOWN.

I decided to make muffins - a somewhat healthier alternative to lemon bars or cookies.  I think?  I suppose when you dredge each muffin in a lemony, sugary glaze all "health" is thrown out the window.  Once again, sorry if you've made resolutions (but these are worth it).  

Meyer Lemon Muffins with Lemon Glaze

(Makes 12 muffins)

Slightly adapted from Let Them Eat Cake

Printable Recipe

Muffins:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 T fresh lemon juice

1 T lemon zest

2 eggs

3/4 cup greek yogurt

1 3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

Glaze: 

3 (or more) T lemon juice

2 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 400.  In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar with a mixer until smooth and fluffy.  Add vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest and mix until combined.  Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until well incorporated.  Add greek yogurt and mix until just combined.  In a smaller bowl, whisk together flour, salt and baking soda.  Add to wet ingredients and mix until just combined, do not over-mix (this will result in a dense muffin).  Place in muffin tins lined with paper (or greased).  Bake for 15-20 minutes, until lightly golden on top.  

While baking, whisk together ingredients for glaze.  It will be slightly thick, which is ok because it will melt slightly over your warm muffins.  Once baked, let muffins cool for a few minutes before spooning glaze over.  Serve warm or at room temp.  

Homemade Strawberry Fruit Leather

Can I whine?  Ok, I'm going to, my blog, thanks.

I had a post ready to go yesterday - a slow cooked shredded pork for Taco Tuesday - went to get my computer and found it SWIMMING in a puddle of water.  Yes, 3-year-old, accidents happen, it's okay, giant fake smile on my face.  My computer won't turn on.  Was it backed up?  I don't know.  Will I lose all the recent photos of my daughter's birth?  Quite possibly.  CRISSCROSS APPLESAUCE!  (That's what my son's preschool teachers say when they're upset, which is much more pleasant than the words floating around my brain.)

Also there has been a confirmed case of lice at my son's school.  I know, I know, you have 3 kids and you get these emails all the time and I should not panic.  But I'm panicking.  Help.  How do I prevent him from getting it?  Send him to school in a swim cap, a friend suggested.  A Spiderman mask?  CRISSCROSS APPLEBUTTHEAD!  (I'd make a great teacher.)     

Fruit leather...

Now that my son attends school everyday in lice-land, I've been obsessing over the site Weelicious.  Catherine offers an infinite amount of healthy and creative lunch ideas.  I will admit, I'm slightly overwhelmed trying to find the time to make most of them with two kids, but this fruit leather was absurdly easy.  Puree some strawberries with honey and bake.  Done.  Recipe here.  

Thank you Catherine!  

Check out that cute head.  See any lice????

M Loves M Guest Post ~ Favorite Healthy Snacks

by Mara at M Loves M...

Hi everyone!  My name is Mara and I blog over at M Loves M.  I'm so happy to be here guest posting for Siri as she's busy welcoming her baby into the world.  Siri has been such a great blog friend since the beginning and I'm so excited for her and her growing family : )  This baby is going to be so loved, and fed a lot of amazing food!  I thought I'd share with you some of my favorite, easy and healthy snacks with you today:

Growing up in California I've always loved avocados.  I've found that they are extremely delicious with goat cheese so my favorite little concoction is mixing 1 avocado with 2 ounces {or more if you like!} of goat cheese.  Spread that on some whole wheat bread and it's delicious!  If you're going to take it to work, or give it to the kids, add a tiny bit of lime so that the acid prevents the avocados from turning brown.

Greek yogurt is so rich and creamy, it's almost like a dessert.  While I eat ice cream a few times a week {maaajor sweet tooth over here!}, on the other nights I'll have some greek yogurt with fresh diced strawberries and honey.  It's so satisfying! 

As we're getting into fall I'm starting to make this roasted nut recipe that my Dad created.  It's always at my parents' house and it's the perfect midday snack because it's so flavorful!  To make: roast almonds for 10-15 minutes depending on size {turn and check frequently}.  Once toasted add olive oil, salt and lots of rosemary.  Make sure you have enough olive oil on to make the salt and rosemary stick.  For 1 cup of nuts I used a little less than 1/4 cup olive oil, 1/2 tablespoon of salt {you can always add more!}, and 2 tablespoons of rosemary {because it's so good!}.  

For the apples I cut them open, scoop out the centers, fill with peanut butter and top with granola.  So easy and so yummy!

These snacks are really easy and healthy, too.  If you try them let me know what you think!  I'm sure there are a bunch of great variations on all of them, as well.  Thanks for letting me keep you company today!  Feel free to stop by my blog and say hi anytime : )

Lemon Cake

I am the only idiot who decides to bake in this heat.  I should be lounging around with cucumbers over my eyeballs and cold washcloths wrapped around my ankles but instead, I'm baking.  I want brownies and cookies and cakes and I will want them for the next 19 plus or minus days.  And I will continue to bake like an idiot, because there's nothing that a cold shower can't cure.  Am I right, guys?  

I saw this recipe and whenever something is doted "the best ever" you kind of have to try it out, don't you?  This lives up to its name - perfectly moist cake with that sticky, lemony syrup coating every last bite.  The perfect pairing with coffee, if only it were cool enough to drink it hot.    

Coconut Cake with Berries and Cream

As I was waiting for the doctor the other day, sitting in the lobby reading outdated magazines, I came across a recipe for Coconut Cake that sounded delicious.  I looked around me, noticing how crowded the room was.  Blimey, I thought in a British accent, I must have this recipe but everyone will notice if I rip it out of the magazine!  I could loudly cough as I tear?  But that will just draw unwanted attention my way.  Ooo, I know, I could ask for a pencil and paper and copy it down!

Pencil.  What am I, a British grandmother?  

It was then I realized it's 2012, and I was reading Martha Stewart, and I could most likely find the recipe online.  Like here.  So that's what I did, and I made it last night for an after dinner treat.  Um, it is sinful.  A lightly whipped cake batter with finely ground toasted coconut folded in, baked and then soaked in coconut milk and cream.  Topped with homemade whipped cream and fresh berries.  Not exactly as "light" as it looks, and delicious.         

Bisquick Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping

Ever since I made this banana bread, I've been wanting to try out other recipes with Bisquick.  Sure, maybe it's cheating a little, but who cares?  Bisquick lends that familiar, somewhat sweet flavor AND IT'S EASY.  A word I'm more than comfortable with these days.  I found this recipe, adapted it ever so slightly by adding vanilla and more blueberries, and added the crumb topping from this recipe.  Easiest muffins you'll ever make.  And deeeee-licious.  Happy Weekend.

        

Bisquick Blueberry Muffins with Crumb Topping

(Makes 12)

Printable Recipe

Muffins:

2 cups Bisquick

1/3 cup sugar

2 T vegetable oil

2/3 cup milk

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

Crumb Topping:

3/4 cup flour

2 T brown sugar

2 T granulated sugar

4 T unsalted butter, melted

1/4 tsp vanilla

Pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 375.  Combine all ingredients for crumb topping in small bowl with fork until it resembles a crumble.  Set aside.  

In a large bowl, combine Bisquick, sugar, vegetable oil, milk, egg and vanilla.  Stir with spoon until just combined (careful not to over mix).  Gently fold in blueberries.  Place in a paper-lined muffin tin, filling almost to the top.  

Spoon crumb topping on top of each.  Bake for 14-17 minutes, until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Peach and Pecan Ice Cream

For the final day of Peach Week, I'm over at The Post Social with a delightful new ice cream recipe.  If you are a fan of sweet and savory, you will love, and if you are a fan of wonderful blogs, you must go to TPS and stay awhile.  They "postmark" great blogs from across the web, as well as create original content - everything from food, fashion, beauty, even something for the kiddos and the dudes.  

Hope you enjoyed Peach Week!  And Zucchini Week!  Next week is just going to be a week, ok.  Just a regular old week.  I hope you're ok with that friends.      

You're a peach.

I'm cheating a little...

Tomato and Peach Salad with Corn and Feta

Peach Collins

Peach Cobbler Scones

Bourbon Peach Cobblers

...because I didn't have time to create a peach recipe for you today.  But if I DID have time, I would have made one of the above because they all look/sound fabulous.  Instead, I am busy making my S'more Cookies for Fancy Camping 2012.  Come back tomorrow for one final icy cold peachy treat, created by yours truly.  Goodbye!  

Peach and Arugula Caprese

This is one of my favorite dishes to make in the summertime.  I got the idea from a magazine years ago - THANKS MAGAZINE!  Sliced peaches, sliced buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, good olive oil and balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.  Yesterday I used arugula because I didn't have basil, and the peppery leaf was a great companion to the creamy cheese and sweet peach.  Perfect side dish or light lunch.

Hope you're enjoying Peach Week - 2 more days left!    

Peach Brown Butter Shortbread

Many of you have requested a crumble for Peach Week, but I wanted to try something a little different. This shortbread with brown butter, sliced peaches and a crumble on top is delicious.  The perfect light dessert or accompaniment to coffee in the morning.  Because shortbread is like breakfast, right?  In Scotland maybe?  I'll wear a kilt if I can eat this for breakfast.  

Recipe HERE.  I used four peaches vs. two but mine are on the smaller side.