Recipes Only for Christmas

I've been doing some baking this week but since we are going away for Christmas, I don't have to do as much and what I do make, has to travel well!

Last year I discovered "Cuban Lunch" on Instagram - we loved these and quickly became one of our favourites.  People have said this was a chocolate bar, I had never heard of it - it really was, it was mostly a Western Canadian bar, made in Winnipeg by Paulin's or so I've read.    This recipe was the first one I googled, so I chose that, there are other variations, I won't be changing, we like this one!

Cuban Lunch

2 c. peanut butter chips

2 c. butterscotch chips

2 c. chocolate chips

1 1/2 c. crushed ripple potato chips

1 1/2 c. peanuts (salted or unsalted)

Melt together the peanut butter, butterscotch & chocolate chips in top of double boiler (I used the microwave)

Add crushed potato chips and peanuts.

Mix together with melted chips.

Spoon into mini cupcake  paper cups.

Keep in refrigerator.

This next recipe is one of my daugther's favourites - they're easy and they're good - they're Peppermint Meltaways!

Peppermint Meltaways

1 c. butter, softened

1/2 c. icing sugar

1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

1 1/4 c. flour

1/2 c. cornstarch

In small bowl, cream butter & icing sugar until light and fluffly.  Beat in extract.  Combine flour & cornstarch, gradually add to creamed mixture, mix well.

Shape into 1 inch balls.  Place 2 inches part on ungreased pan ( I use parchment).  Bake 350 - 10-12 minutes.

Frosting - 

2 tbsp. butter, softened

1 1/2 c. icing sugar

2 tbsp. milk

1/4 tsp. peppermint extract

2-3 drops of food colouring.  I use very little as I want them to be a very light pink.

In small bowl, beat butter until fluffy.  Add icing sugar, milk, extract and food colouring.  Beat until smooth.

Delicious - both of them!!!

Peanut Butter Squares

I posted this pictures on Instagram last night - the recipe was requested, so, here it is.  I've been making these no bake squares for years, but only at Christmas and maybe once during the summer - no bake is the way to go in the summer!!!

Peanut Butter Squares

1 1/3 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. margarine

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. Rice Krispies

2 c. icing sugar

Melt peanut butter and margarine together.  Add vanilla, Rice Krispies and icing sugar.  Press into greased 9 x13 pan.

Topping:

1 c. chocolate chips (add a little more if you like)

4 tsp. margarine

Spread chocolate topping on top!  Refrigerate.

If you like Peanut Butter Cups, you'll love these!!

Time to Bake - Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Bundt Cake

I know, I haven't blogged in ages, but I don't think I'm the only one, there are just so many other things to keep our attention these days, my vice is Instagram, which I have mentioned on here before.  I posted this on Instagram this afternoon, so I'm sharing the recipe for those of you who might be interested.

Today I was searching the internet for a coffee cake recipe, I found this one, made it and loved it.  The original recipe comes from the blog " Baked by Rachel" - click here for her recipe, I will type it out as well.  It was delicious and makes the house smell so good.  I didn't make any major changes to the recipe.

Cinnamon Streusel Coffee Bundt Cake

Topping:

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

6 Tbsp. flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Cake:

5 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened

3/4 c. white sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

6 Tbsp. sour cream

1 c. flour

Icing:

1 c. icing sugar

1 1/2 Tbsp. milk (I added a bit more)

Preheat oven to 350.  Lightly grease your bundt pan, don't forget to do the middle!!

In a medium bowl, combine topping ingredients with a fork until crumbly.  Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine filling ingredients, also set aside.

I used my Kitchen Aid mixer for the next step - cream together butter and sugar.  Mix in egg and vanilla until smooth.  Add remaining dry ingredients, mixing until combined.  Finally,  add sour cream, mixing well.

Divide batter between two bowls.

Scatter topping ingredients in the bottom of the greased bundt pan.  Carefully spread one half of the batter over streusel topping.  Sprinkle with brown sugar filling and top off with remaining batter.

Bake for 50-55 minutes.  I set my times for 52 minutes, I think 50 minutes would have been sufficient.

Invert onto wire rack to cool.

Whisk together the icing sugar and milk. Drizzle over cooled cake - enjoy!!

It really hit the spot!!!

Made from Pinterest - Maple Pecan Salmon

I never set out to do a blog post from something I make so I apologize for not a great picture, but I wanted to share this really tasty recipe with you,  I had pinned it from Pinterest and tried it yesterday.  It's delicious - don't be put off by the picture!!  It's going to be my new salmon recipe - it might be yours too!!!

The original pin came from the blog I Love My Kids,  I didn't make any changes to the recipe.  

Maple Pecan Salmon

1/2 cup Maple Syrup - the real stuff, not Aunt Jemima

1/4 cup soy sauce

2-4 cloves, garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Salmon

1 cup chopped roasted pecans - I didn't roast them

In the baking dish, mix the maple syrup, soy sauce, garlic, salt and pepper.  Place salmon in the dish, skin side down.    Coat with maple syrup mixture and then after 15 minutes flip over on the other side and coat with the pecans.  

Cover the dish and marinate the salmon in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, bake salmon around 20 minutes.  Do not overcook!!  

Made from Pinterest - Country Apple Fritter Bread

It's funny how some recipes just catch your eye, I was browsing on Pinterest the other day and found Country Apple Fritter Bread, I made it right away, the picture is my loaf.   It's really good, even better a day after.  I'll definitely make it again and maybe add a little extra apple the next time.  The pin originated on this blog Baking Chocola Tess - just click on that link and it will take you to the recipe.  Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!!

Grandma's Corn Chowder

Cold winter days are the perfect days to make a pot of soup - I made Grandma's Corn Chowder the other day, it was really delicious!    Right off the top, I have to say this is not my Grandmother's recipe or anybody's recipe that I know, it's from All Recipes, I don't care who it belongs to, it's a good one!  Another thing, I never plan a food post so if I have a picture and it's something worth sharing, I'll write about it, therefore, the picture may not be the very best!!

Grandma's Corn Chowder

1/2 c. diced bacon

4 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped.  ( I used three nice sized red potatoes and left the peeling on, for some color)

1 medium onion

2 cups water ( I used chicken broth)

3 cups cream style corn ( I used one can of cream corn and two cups of frozen corn)

2 teaspoons salt

Ground black pepper, to taste

2 cups half and half

Place the bacon in a large pot over medium high heat and cook until crisp.  Drain and crumble, reserving about 2 tablespoons drippings in the pot.   Bacon would not have to be used at all, or you could just crumble some on the top, for whoever desires it!

Mix potatoes and onion into the pot with the crumbled bacon and reserved drippings.  Cook and stir 5 minutes.  Pour in the water or broth and stir in corn.  Season with salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and cover pot.  Simmer 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until potatoes are tender.

Warm the half and half in a small saucepan until it bubbles.  Remove from heat before it boils, and mix into the chowder just before serving!

I froze the leftovers, after each having a nice size bowl, there are two more soup meals in the freezer for us.  I have been trying to make soup ahead and not buy canned soup any more, right now I have three kinds in the freezer.  It's so much better!!  

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Last week I stopped in at a Mennonite farm to check out their produce - they had a lot of squash as you can see by this picture - for the first time, I made a squash soup that I first saw on Instagram,  if you are looking for a great squash soup recipe, check out Rosinda's recipe on her blog, With Love From the Kitchen  - it's delicious!!!

I bought a huge zucchini when I was there - I made Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins - what a perfect fall muffin - delicious!  The original recipe is from All Recipes,  I have very seldom tried one of the top rated recipes on that site that hasn't been good.  This one doesn't disappoint!!

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

1 1/2 c. flour

3/4 white sugar

1 tsp. b. soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg, slightly beaten

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1/4 c. milk

1 tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 c. shredded zucchini - I squeezed the liquid from the shredded zucchini.  

1/2 c. miniature chocolate chips

1/2 c. walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 12 muffin cups or one with paper muffin liner cups.  I always use the Reynolds type, the muffin or cupcake slides out perfectly.

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.  Mix egg, oil, milk, lemon juice and vanilla extract in a bowl; stir into dry ingredients until just moistened.  Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts.  Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick  comes out clean, 20-25 minutes.  

I made no changes to this recipe!!

Pumpkin Bread

I made a pumpkin pie the other day and had half a can of pumpkin left so I started scrolling through allrecipes.com for some way to use it.  This was not one of the recipes that popped up at the beginning, it was buried further down, I'm glad I kept going, it's a great recipe.  If you want to check out the original recipe here it is.   

Pumpkin Bread

2 c. flour

2 tsp. b. powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp. b. soda

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1 c. brown sugar

1/3 c. butter flavored shortening ( I used margarine)

2 eggs

1 c. pumpkin puree

1/4 c. milk

1/2 c. raisins (optional) (I did add the raisins)

1/4 c. chopped walnuts (I used pecans)

In a mixing bowl combine flour, b. powder, salt, pumpkin pie spice, b. soda and cloves.  

In a separate bowl, cream together shortening(margarine) and brown sugar.  Mix in eggs, pumpkin and milk.  Stir flour mixture into wet mixture until just combined.  Fold in raisins and nuts, if desired.  Pour into a greased and floured 9x5 loaf pan.  I used my yellow Pyrex desert dawn loaf pan.  

Bake at 350 for 1 hour.  

Enjoy!!  It's delicious!!

Summer Food

Last week I hit the strawberry field - two baskets for me, one for an older lady I know.  The berries are plentiful and the picking was easy.

I made my usual two batches of jam when I got home.  

My little rhubarb plant actually had enough to pick yesterday so I made a rhubarb strawberry crunch dessert and was it good!!  I pinned it a few days ago, the original recipe comes from All Recipes - you can see it right here - I didn't make any changes to it, it's delicious.

I bought a new small kitchen appliance that is going to be so great for summer - Yonanas- The Healthy Dessert Maker - have you heard of it?  I hadn't until a few weeks ago when Joann wrote about it on her blog - Woman in Real Life, I took the plunge last week and bought one - we tried it out yesterday - it's going to be great and so nice for a hot summer day.  

It uses all frozen fruit, the main base is the frozen banana - it makes a fat free dessert, a dairy free dessert and it's all fruit - what could be better!  The worst part is waiting for the bananas to get to the cheetah stage - at that point, you freeze them and then wait....

We made banana strawberry - we shared it for lunch - it was just enough and so cool and refreshing.  

I bought mine at Walmart, it was $29.94CDN - it was less expensive than when I looked at them in June.  I think we'll get our money's worth - peach, raspberry, pineapple, chocolate - I want to try them all!!!

Try Some Double Chocolate Muffins!!

I wanted to use up some of the buttermilk I had in the fridge, so I just typed in buttermilk muffins, yummm, some chocolate muffins sounded good to me, actually double chocolate muffins!  It's an easy recipe and more than likely you have the ingredients on hand, well, maybe not the buttermilk, put it on y our grocery list!!  It's great for baking and homemade buttermilk pancakes are the best!   The recipe originally comes from Jen at Jen's Favorite Cookies.

1/2 c. vegetable oil, I used canola

1 c. buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. white sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. cocoa powder ( I didn't have any regular cocoa so I substituted the dark here, the only cocoa I buy now is a darker variety at Bulk Barn)

1/4 c. dark cocoa powder 

1 c. chocolate chips

Mix ingredients in order - how easy is that???

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full.  Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.  

Give them a try - I don't think you'll be disappointed!!!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I was so sick of the look of those last few Christmas cookies that were still hanging around, I just had to bake something new, and I did, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies.  I like this recipe because it's easy, they're good and it makes a small batch.  This recipe comes from my Company's Coming Cookies Book from 1988.  I bet you'll like them too, if you try them...

1 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 1/4 cups rolled oats

1 c. raisins

Cream butter and sugar together.  Beat in egg and vanilla.

Add remaining ingredients.  Mix well.  Drop by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet(I always use parchment paper, no greasing involved)  Bake in 350 oven for 8-10 minutes. Makes 3 1/2 dozen.  

Linking up with Junkin Joe

Chocolate Chipit Bread

Can't you tell by the look of this book that I've been making this recipe for a while?  I've had this book since 1992 and to be truthful, this recipe and the bottom one on the same page might be the only things I've ever tried in it.  I'm sure there are lots more great recipes, it's a cookbook from  Prince Edward Island, good food and good cooks abound there!!

This page looks even worse than the cover!  It's a great recipe for anytime but might be nice for Christmas since it does have some cherries in it.  Just click on the recipe and you'll be able to see what you need!

It's so good!  Just in case you're interested, here's the link to the banana bread recipe that I posted back in April.  Enjoy!!  These are two great loaves!!

I'm linking up with Weekend Potluck today.

Homemade Goodies in the Mail

We're back from our Florida getaway and it was glorious - sun and warm days, what's not to like - right now I am staring at a yard full of snow - green grass and flowers are way nicer....

I had some fun mail waiting for me when I got home - Holly from Life on the Rock sent me a few goodies - I had commented on her bunting, well, she made me one and here it is...

How cute is that??

She crocheted me these two hearts and sent along a vintage Valentine too - I'm so lucky  - thanks, Holly...