My First Madeleine Cookies!

I bought a Madeleine Pan a couple of months ago and haven't had a chance to use it yet. I always thought making Madeleine Cookies would be so difficult to bake but they're actually not too bad. You just have to make sure to follow the steps exactly and make sure not to over-mix. These cookies smelled SO yummy and buttery! I'm sure they'll become one of my fav cookies! :)

Ingredients: (12 cookies)

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 powdered sugar

1 c + 3 Tbp all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 c (1 stick) butter, melted and cooled

Prep:

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease a 12 3-inch Madeleine Pan.

2. In a large bowl, combine eggs and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed for 4 minutes. Gradually beat in pwdered sugar, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat about 5 minutes more or until thick and satiny.

3. In a small bowl, stir together flour and baking pwder. Sift about half of the flour mixture over the egg mixture; stir in gently. Rpeat, stirring in remaining flour mixture. Stir in melted butter. Spoon batter into prepared pan, filling each mold about 3/4 full.

3. Bake for 12 to 15 mintues or until edges are golden and tops spring back when lightly touched. Cool in molds for 1 minute. Invert cookies onto wire racks; let cool.

Happy Birthday Honey!

It was my Honey's birthday last night and we went to Circolo for dinner. We had a great time even though the menu had totally changed on us! We'd gone a couple of years ago and ordered this AMAZING duck dish but this time they duck was just so-so. It was good though and the Pumpkin Ravioli we ordered was REALLY yummy! I also really liked the Tuna Tartare with potato chips. I told the waiter that it was Greg's bday and they gave him a dessert with PB Empanadas and a candle! SO sweet!

Another Turkey Day with the Young's

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone...how fast is this year flying by? We had an AWESOME time with Greg's family (as usual) and there was PLENTY of food consumed! Here's pretty family portrait that I'm sure I'll be using in one of my photo projects/gifts. What a cute family huh? :)

Here we are preparing for the big Turkey Day! I baked a Pumpkin Loaf in a special Autumn Pan from William-Sonoma as a gift for the gracious hostess. It was SO yummy and not to mention cute!

And here we are on our last night at a Mexican restaurant in Palm Springs. (As if we didn't have enough left-overs in the fridge!) It was so much fun though and we got to sit outside since it was so warm! Thanks Priscilla and Jon! Come visit us soon!

Left-overs Transformed!

I had some chicken left over from my Coq Au Vin and thought it would be REALLY yummy in a pasta dish. The Mozzarella cheese and Cream of Chicken soup worked perfectly together with the chicken and bacon! Look at the ooey gooey goodness!

Ingredients: (4 servings)

1 can (10¾ oz) condensed cream of chicken soup
1 c milk
1 c shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 pkg (13 oz) Tortellini, cooked according to directions, drained
2 cups cubed cooked chicken OR turkey
¼ c grated Parmesan cheese

Prep:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. Mix soup, milk and Mozzarella cheese in a baking dish. Stir in pasta and chicken.

3. Sprinkle Parmesan on top. Bake 30 min until bubbly.

TWD: Holiday Sugar Cookies

Ok so it's not really the Tuesdays with Dorie recipe that we're supposed to make but I found this recipe on the Land of Lakes website and thought it'd be perfect! I used my Cookie Press again to make the cute Christmas Trees and Wreaths. Don't they look SO cute and festive? SUCH an easy recipe too!

Ingredients: (5 dozen cookies)

1 c (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/4 c all-purpose flour

Prep:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Combine all ingredients except flour in large mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (2 to 3 minutes).

2. Reduce speed to low; add flour. Beat, scraping bowl often, until well mixed (2 to 3 minutes). (If dough is too soft, cover; refrigerate until just firm enough to form cookies (30 to 45 minutes).)

3. Place dough in cookie press; form desired shapes 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

BB: Coq Au Vin (in the slow cooker)

It's Barefoot Blogger time again and we're making Coq Au Vin! I thought this yummy bacon and chicken dish would be awesome in the slow cooker and I was TOTALLY right! The meat was SO tender and juicy from the bacon drippings and stock. We still have left-overs and I'm thinking maybe in a pasta dish?

Ingredients:

6 slices bacon
8 chicken pieces (I used thighs)
1 large onion, sliced
4 Tbsp garlic, minced
½ lb mushrooms, sliced
½ tsp thyme
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
1 c chicken stock
1 c dry red wine

Prep:

1. Cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove bacon from skillet to drain but reserve the bacon fat.

2. Brown chicken pieces on all sides in reserved bacon grease.

3. Put onion, garlic and mushrooms in slow cooker. Add chicken, bacon and any leftover juices from the skillet.

4. Mix remaining ingredients except wine and pour over chicken.

5. Cover and cook on LOW for 6 to 8 hours. Turn heat to HIGH and add wine. Cook for an additional hour.

Raisin Bran Muffins?

I had a whole box of Raisin Bran left over from my Pear Carrot Muffins so I searched online to see what else I could make. I found this recipe on the Kelloggs website and decided to give it a shot. I jazzed it up with some Peanut Butter and extra raisin. SO yummy!

Ingredients: (6 muffins)

1/2 c all-purpose flour
1-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 c sugar
1-1/2 c Raisin Bran Cereal
1/2 c milk
1 egg
1/2 c peanut butter
1/4 c raisins
3 Tbsp vegetable oil

Prep:

1. Stir together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Set aside.

2. Stir together Raisin Bran and milk into mixing bowl and let stand 1 to 2 minutes or until cereal softens. Add egg, peanut butter and vegetable oil. Beat well.

3. Add flour mixture and raisins to cereal mixture, stirring only until combined. Portion batter evenly into 6 lined muffin pan cups.

4. Bake at 400° F for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm.