Apple Walnut Raisin Cookies

Yes, it is that time of year. Just last week I went to the apple orchard, had some cider, ate a donut and dreamed of all things apple.

I found this recipe at Food.com which is one of my favorite spots to look for new recipes.

Here is my overindulgent version!

INGREDIENTS

3 cups crisco
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 cups quick oats
1 cup peeled and diced apple (I needed about an apple and a half but the other half was already diced so it went in the batch as well!)
1 cup raisins
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Combine crisco, egg, milk, sugar and vanilla in a mixer until creamy.

2. Add in cinnamon, salt, soda and nutmeg. Slowly add in the flour until well combined.

3. Fold in oats, apples, raisin and walnuts by hand.

4. Drop onto a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes for a softy doughy cookies, 12-13 for firmer cookies.

These definitely smelled like heaven when they were baking. Next time I might press them down a little bit. They didn't spread very much, but they tasted amazing!

They were naturally sweet, had a crunch with the nuts and the oats made a nice firm "muffin" type cookie.

The best way to eat them... microwave them for about ten seconds and enjoy with your morning tea... or coffee!

PS Isn't my cookie jar too cute?!

25th Anniversary!

So this is pretty similar to a previous post except for the colors and occasion. 

It was my BF's parent's 25th wedding anniversary and I was asked to make the cake with purple and silver accents. 

I started by making some purple fondant flowers and dusting them with silver luster dust. Perty! 

And I found this really pretty and simple topper (silver!) and surrounded it with more flowers and leaves. 

So it's quite pretty isn't it? Well I'm not done yet!

I tinted the cake purple too! Too cute! 

Love it! 

Grand Hotel French Toast

When I was young my parents took my brother and I to The Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island every few years or so and one of the best things about the Grand is the food.

Something I remember vividly is the french toast. This is my rendition with... what I had on hand. I'll put some additions and suggestions at the bottom!

Remember the cream cheese frosting from two posts ago? This is a great way to use the rest of it!

INGREDIENTS

3 eggs
a splash of milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
a few shakes of cinnamon
4 pieces of whole wheat bread
cream cheese frosting
chopped walnuts
pure maple syrup

1. First whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon.

2. Heat a skillet to medium high. Dip bread in egg mixture and put in the skillet. Brown on each side.

3. "Fill" the toast with frosting and walnuts. Put the other piece on top and drizzle with syrup!

YES I used a piping bag to fill the french toast! So sue me!

These were delicious but here are some Grand Hotel ideas and changes you can make to jazz them up...

*use cinnamon raison toast
*add dried cranberries to the frosting
*who doesn't love a little powdered sugar?!
*any kind of fruit you just love
*toast the walnuts in a pan with some cinnamon

Oh the list could go on!

It's October!

It's October! And it's time for everything pumpkin, apple and Halloween! First order of business... getting the trifecta of Halloween cereals!

I kid not. This is a serious matter. I have to get these every October and eat them for breakfast up to Halloween!

Yes, I'm 5 ;)

Stay tuned because the next order of action involves apples!! Mmmm sweet Michigan apples!

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting!

So for my dad's **th bday he requested some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Now for his **th bday, I wanted it to be special so I pulled out my Martha book!!!

I had to modify both recipes because, well, I'm picky... and I forgot an ingredient... but the cupcakes were the best I've made thus far!!

Red Velvet Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS (makes 12 cupcakes)

1 1/4 cups cake flour
1 tablespoon cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cups vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon red gel food coloring
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup buttermilk* (I had to make my own. 1/2 cup of milk, 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice, let sit five minutes.)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. In an electric mixer whisk together sugar and oil. Add egg, food coloring and vanilla. Scrape down the sides as needed.

2. Reduce speed and gradually add in the salt, cocoa and flour (mix together in a bowl first). Add buttermilk half way through the dry mix and then the rest at the end.

3. Stir together, in a separate bowl, vinegar and baking soda until it foams. Add to batter and mix for 10 seconds.

4. In a cupcake pan, put in cup liners then fill 3/4 with batter.

5. Bake for 20 minutes.

6. Let cool. :)

Cream Cheese Frosting

INGREDIENTS (you will have extra)

1 cup butter, room temp
12 ounces cream cheese
1 1/2 pound powdered sugar
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. With a mixer, cream together cream cheese and butter until fluffy.

2. Reduce speed and slowly add in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Mix until smooth, scraping down sides as you go.

3. Put in on a freakin cupcake!!!

And watch them be devoured!

60th Wedding Anniversary!

It's hard to comprehend being with the same person for 60 years isn't it?! My grandparents celebrated just that and I was honored to make the cake!

This is their original wedding cake.

And this is what I did! Same topper too!

I made dark chocolate cupcakes and my usual frosting recipe.

Now something I'm not the greatest at is flowers. I'm ok with roses but I need more practice so check these out...

White roses bought from Michael's! Much less stressful!!!!

Shrimp Scampi

One of my favorite things with pasta is shrimp. Actually I just love shrimp with anything. Rice, pasta, on a skewer, wrapped up in bacon or dough, in soup... you get the idea. 

So, again, flipping through Rachel Ray: 365 I found another recipe I had to try. Here is my version: 

INGREDIENTS

1 Pound whole grain penne

6 TBSP chopped garlic

Pepper and salt

1/2 Cup parsley

1/4 Cup olive oil

24 Medium shrimp, cooked, peeled deveined and tails removed

1 tsp red pepper flakes

1/2 cup chicken stock

5 TBSP butter

1. First, cook the pasta in boiling water. 

2. While that's doing its thing, heat a skilled to medium high heat and add the garlic, pepper and salt (a few grinds of each), olive oil and parsley. Cook until the garlic is a golden brown. Just a few minutes. 

3.  Add the shrimp and butter and saute another 4-5 minutes until the shrimp is heated through

4. Next, add the chicken stock and a small ladle of the pasta water. Continue to cook for about 3-4 minutes.

5. Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet. Toss to coat the noodles.

It was soooo good and NOT dripping in greasy butter. The sauce was garlicy and the red pepper was my favorite part. I think I might add even more next time.

I practically inhaled that bowl, and then another!

Enjoy!