Kitchen Adventures: Whole Wheat Bread

I believe I mentioned before that Husband got a fancy new breadmaker for christmas.  We've made a few different recipes in it, but had yet to find a bread that resembled an everyday sandwich bread.  Well, I think we may have found one, and just incase you too have been searching for a more sandwich-like bread recipe, I thought I would share!

You can click here for the recipe! You will see in the recipe that you can choose honey, maple syrup or molasses as a sweetener, and we chose honey.  The bread isn't too sweet, and it is soft and dense... perfect for peanut butter and jelly (my favorite)!   I am excited to make it again and try adding ground flax and steel cut oats.

If you try it, I would love to know what you think!
~Charlie

Kitchen Adventures: Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

If you're in need of cookies this weekend, these may be up your alley. I tried out this chocolate peanut butter cookie recipe from Picky-Palate, originally named "When the Chocolate Cookie Went Rolling With the Peanut Butter Cookie".  I didn't love the consistency of the cookie, but my husband liked it and so did others.  The cookies came together easily... my only tip would be to half the chocolate batter because you are left with lots of just chocolate batter. 

While making the cookies, I thought up this little trick to keep the measuring cup clean (I am sure it is not a new idea, but it was new to me!).

If you try them, I would love to know what you think, and if you have any recipes you think I should try, please let me know... I would love to!

~Charlie

Kitchen Adventures: No Bake Cookies

I love baked goods, but since I hate making a warm house hotter by using the oven in the summer, I am testing out some no bake recipes!  I came across this one from browneyedbaker and had to try it.

Let me tell you... they are devine!! Super easy to make as well, because truth be told, I didn't make them.  I printed out the recipe one night, and my super sweet husband surprised me by making them in the morning before he went to work!  I will caution you, these are super addicting! I can't wait for our floors to be done so I can make more... the two pictured here are the last two and that is very sad.

You can find the recipe here.  I think next time I may add more oats, but it is definitely not needed for them to be good... I just love oatmeal :).

~Charlie

Kitchen Adventures: Apple Cinnamon Granola

This is my new go-to granola recipe.  It's pain-free and packed with a lot of flavor!

3 cups of rolled oats
1/4 cup of sugar-free apple sauce
1/2 to 3/4 cup brown sugar (depends on your taste)
1 tbs of cinnamon (feel free to add more if you love it)
1 teaspoon of vanilla
Honey or Agave
1 cup of nuts (walnuts, pecans, almonds)
Handful of flaxseed (optional)
Dried apple slices (optional)
Large Bowl
Cookie sheet

Preheat oven to 350
1. Measure and add all dry ingredients to a large bowl and mix. (oatmeal, cinnamon, brown sugar, nuts, fruit)
2. Add in your vanilla and apple sauce.  Mix together well, making sure that all of the oats are covered. (Using your hands here is always best... I know its sticky, but it is the best way)
3. Now, add in honey/agave a little at a time until clumps start to form.
4. Spread evenly on a cookie sheet and place in the oven for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. I stir mine every 5 minutes until its done (once I didn't and it burnt bad... learned from my mistakes).
5. Remove from oven, let cool and enjoy! Store in an air tight container.

Feel free to add to or take away from this recipe.  If you don't have dried apples, its no big deal... I often don't either.  If you only have plain old Mott's apple sauce in the fridge, just use it... it will be fine! :)

~Charlie

Kitchen Adventures: Roasted Cauliflower

I was on the hunt for different ways to prepare veggies when I came across this recipe. I used the recipe as a guideline, but as you will see I veered from the course!

You will need:

-1 Large head of cauliflower cut in to medium chunks (try to keep them similar sizes for more even cooking)

-Olive oil

-Curry powder

-Cayenne pepper

-Onion powder

-Salt 

-Minced garlic

-Cookie sheet/ Roasting pan/ large baking dish

-Large bowl

-Tin foil

1. Preheat oven to 425.

2. Cut up cauliflower and place it in a large bowl.

3. Drizzle with a good amount of olive oil, making sure all pieces are covered.

4. Add the spices to your liking (feel free to add or omit what you like). Mix well, making sure you have an even coating.

5. Make an even layer on a cookie sheet and cover the pan with tin foil. Roast covered for 15 minutes (the covering of the pan isn't necessary, but I find that it helps soften and caramelize the cauliflower).  

6. Uncover the pan, and continue to roast for about 25-30 minutes.  While it is roasting, you may want to toss them around to ensure even color. 

I really enjoyed this...I ate almost the whole thing myself! To me, it tasted like baked season fries... Needless to say, I am hooked!

If you try this recipe out, let me know what you think... and if you have any other awesome ways to cook veggies, I would love to know!

~Charlie

Kitchen Adventures: Brownies

This is my all-time favorite go to brownie recipe!  I think I have perfected the perfect gooey, not-to-cake-like brownie!  I adapted this recipe from Hershey's Chocolate Lover's Cookbook.  I'm not sure if this cookbook is still in circulation or not... I got it as a gift when I was a child, and it's always been my favorite baking book!

What you need:
1 Cup of unsalted butter
2 Cups of sugar
2 Teaspoons vanilla extract
4 Eggs
3/4 Cup of Cocoa powder (I use Hershey's)
1 Cup all-purpose flour
1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
1/4 Teaspoon salt

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 13x9 pan. ( I mean really grease- Crisco, butter, a little oil)

2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, heat butter until melted.

3. Stir in sugar and vanilla. Add in eggs one at a time and mix well after each addtion.

4. Add Cocoa and mix well. Add flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix until batter is smooth. (Once batter is smooth, you can add in a nut of your choice if you like- about 1/2 a cup).

5. Pour into greased pan, and shake the batter down so it is even.

6. Bake until the batter starts to pull away from edges, about 30 minutes.

7. Enjoy!!!

If you make them, let me know how you like them!

~Charlie

Kitchen Adventures: Amazing Hot Chocolate

• I always wondered if making hot chocolate from scratch instead of from a packet really made a difference... and it really does! I modified this recipe.
• 
  
• What you need:
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Marshmallows (optional)
• 
  

1. Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan

2. Add in the boiling water.

3. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while stirring.

4. Let simmer while continuing to stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn't scorch. 

5. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk, and heat until very hot, but do not boil! 

6. Remove from heat and add vanilla. 

7. Pour into your favorite oversized mugs, top with marshmallows and enjoy! (once it's cooled a bit of course)!


Do you have a hot cocoa recipe? I would love to try it!
~Charlie

Kitchen Adventure: Coffee Cake Cupcakes

I found this recipe over at the Sweet Tooth blog.  If you haven't been there, you should definitely check it out. She has a lot of intriguing recipes. I had attempted to make a similar version of these and they didn't really turn out... these did!!

These cupcakes turned out okay.  I really loved the texture of the cake and the glaze is amazing, but my crumbles on top were a little too powdery for my liking.  If I make them again, I am definitely going to use this recipe for the topping. In my opinion,  it is what would put these over the top!

1-1/2 stick Butter, Softened
3/4 cups Flour
1-1/2 cup Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Cinnamon
1-1/2 cup Pecans, Chopped


Cut everything together with a pastry knife and top your muffins. I have used this recipe on all of my coffee cake type cakes since I found it here.


~Charlie

Kitchen Adventures: Pizza Bites

When I came across this recipe, I knew we had to try it. Yep, I said "we"... Anything that has to do with dough is a together project, cause me and dough... we don't get along!  Plus, husband is the one that got the fancy new bread maker for Christmas. (I'm not jealous at all:))

We followed the recipe the best we could.  We didn't have cubed mozzarella, but shredded worked just fine, and we were also out of honey, but agave nectar did the trick.  Look how pretty they turned out!

This recipe was very solid, and they tasted great.  My only tip would be to stuff them more full than you think you should... the more filling the better!  I am excited to try this again and fill them with other pizza-like toppings (we stuck with pepperoni and cheese). 

Have you found any good recipes lately?

~Charlie

Kitchen Adventures: Hot Chocolate Cookies

One of my goals for 2012 was to try out new recipes, and what better way to hold myself accountable than to share these new recipes with you!  It's always good to ease into things... and what's easier than cookies?  Hot chocolate cookies to be exact!

I found the recipe here.  I didn't make any changes to the recipe except that I didn't have mini-marshmallows so I cut up the big ones.  I'll also warn you that the dough gets very very tight after the marshmallows are added, so dont break your spatula like I did (but if you do, it will be totally worth it!).

Have you found any recipes that you love?  I'd love to try them!
~Charlie

Fun nights at home!

Last night Thomas' sister came over and we carved pumpkins... and I made homemade applesauce!

What you will need:

• 3-4 lbs of apples
• A strip of lemon peel
• Juice of one lemon 3Tbsp
• 3 inches of cinnamon stick
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1/4 cup of white sugar (adjust this based on your taste and the sweetness of the apples)
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

1. Core and peel all apples then cut them into quarters.

Tip!

If you use a veggie peeler like I do... place your thumb in the hole where the core was, it will keep the apple from slipping.

2. Combine all ingredients in a large pot, bring to a boil and the simmer for 20-30 minutes.

It should look something like this when done...

3.  Remove the lemon peel and cinnamon stick.

4.Mash with a potato masher if you like it chunky.... or put it in the blender for it to be smooth.. and you're all done. (if you like a lot of cinnamon add some ground while you mash/blend).

Look at the cute pumpkins we carved!!

~Charlie