Recipes and Resolutions

Today I made Butterscotch Chocolate Chunk Muffins. As I post this, I am waiting for them to cool. The recipe was modified, as always, from something I found. I used the 'Epicurious On the Go' app on my Droid phone, and searched "Chocolate Chip Muffins." What I found was a recipe for Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. Since I wanted to use the last of the butterscotch chips, I made a few substitutions. Here's how I made them:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 tsp cream of tartar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chunks
• 1 cup butterscotch chips

Preheat oven to 350. I always spray my muffin pan with Bakers Joy before I insert the cupcake liners.

Mix flour, sugar, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Mix egg, melted butter and milk in a medium bowl. While mixing, I also added 1/2 cup of applesauce. The original recipe called for bananas, and I was afraid the mixture would be too dry without something as a substitute.

Stir wet mixture into dry ingredients, just until blended (do not overmix). Stir in chocolate chunks and butterscotch chips.

Bake about 32 minutes, until pale golden in color.

NOW on to my resolutions....

• Be on time, all the time.
• Be healthier.
• Spend more time with family.
• Find a job that allows me a better quality of life.
• Stop wasting time and money on things that don't matter.
• Worry less, enjoy more.

What are your resolutions? What do you hope to accomplish in the new year? Happy New Year!

*SJ*

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Two-fer Tuesday, Take 1

Oops! The holiday weekend sort of knocked my regular posting schedule for a loop! To make up for it, today I bring you "Two-fer Tuesday"...two, two, two recipes in one!!!

Jeremy and I had a fantastic Christmas - our first together. I've written extensively over the past month about planning my menu and decorating his apartment. What I hadn't planned for was the surprise we got on Christmas Day. I got up early to make breakfast - Banana Butterscotch Muffins. He got up shortly thereafter and talked to his mom on the phone. During the conversation, she mentioned they had a freezer full of deer sausage and still had some left over. They were trying to figure out how to get the sausage to us so it wouldn't go to waste.

The conversation ended with them coming up from Houston to share Christmas dinner with us! The plan was for them to bring the sausage, stay for dinner, and stay the night. They returned to Houston Sunday morning after a great day spent together eating, laughing, talking, and drinking.

I hope your Christmas was as fun and full of love as ours was. After all that cooking, though, I'm ready for a break! Tonight we're keeping it simple with deviled eggs, leftover chicken 'n dumplins, and spinach salad. For part one of this post, I'm sharing the deviled eggs recipe I'm using. You'll need:

• 12 eggs
• 1/2 cup mayo
• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1/2 lb bacon, cooked and chopped
• 2 Tbsp shredded cheddar
• paprika, and Cayenne pepper or cajun seasoning to taste

Begin by hard-boiling your eggs. Once cooled, cut eggs in half and separate the yolks into a medium sized bowl. Add the remaining ingredients to the yolks, and stir until well-blended. Pipe the filling into the egg halves, overfilling slightly. Garnish with paprika or seasoning of your choice.

I assume everyone knows how to make deviled eggs, but this is my recipe. I realized while I was writing this that I forgot to include the bacon and cheddar cheese in the photo - I left them in the fridge! Also, while preparing the filling, I decided to omit the apple cider vinegar I had originally included in the picture. As you can tell, my method in the kitchen is to keep things fluid!

Enjoy, and stay tuned for Two-fer Tuesday, Take 2!

*SJ*

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Let the Countdown Begin!

In approximately 96 hours, I will be with my sister, Steph, my niece, Zoe, and my mom in San Antonio. I can hardly wait! It's been a really long time since I've seen my mom, and I miss her terribly.

I'm also excited to spend some time with my sister and my niece. When Zoe was first born, I spent a lot of time with her baby-sitting, playing, teaching her to shop... In the last couple of years, though, things have changed, we've all gotten busier, and I haven't been able to spend as much time with my family as I would like.

We're going to see the Alamo, ride a boat down the river, and be tourists. I plan to take a ton of pictures and will try to upload some when we get back. I'm so ready for a vacation, and ready to see my family.

What are you looking forward to? Any special summer plans?

*SJ*