Monday, December 29, 2008

Blueberry Crumb Muffins



These are some of the best muffins ever! I hope you will try them out.

Flavorless vegetable oil spray
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
½ cup milk
2 ½ cups fresh or frozen blueberries

Crumb topping:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Pinch of salt
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (next time I think I will cut the amount of flour down to 3/4 cup to make it more crisp and sugary)

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
Spray 12-cup muffin tin with flavorless oil spray or line with paper liners (I actually got about 15 muffins out of the recipe). In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt and whisk well. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and set on medium-high speed, beat the butter and granulated sugar for 4 to 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each addition until the egg is incorporated before adding the next one, and then beat in the vanilla.

Add the milk, alternating it with the dry ingredients, in 2 or 3 additions. Do not overmix. Fold in the berries using a spatula. To make the crumb topping, combine the butter, sugars, cinnamon, salt and flour and mix with a fork or pastry blender until crumbly.

Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tin. Top each with a generous tablespoon of the crumb topping. Bake for about 30 minutes or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean. Let the muffins cool slightly in the muffin tin set on wire racks before removing.

Makes 12-15 muffins.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Christmas Snow Storm!






With the storm that passed through this Christmas, we were given a present of 7-15 inches of snow. Although it provided us with a very white Christmas, we also were unable to do much driving at all. It was a very cozy Christmas at home playing games with the family and eating tons of treats. :) So much for the diet. Oh well, that's what the new years for.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas!!!




One of my favorite songs from Josh. I hope it puts you in the holiday spirit! :)

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Another yummy holiday recipe

Shortbread Mint Cookies!



For the shortbread:
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the mint icing:
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon mint extract
4 tablespoons milk
For the glaze:
4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
2 ounces white chocolate
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1. In a bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Set aside. In a mixer, cream the butter and confectioners sugar. Add vanilla. Slowly add the flour mixture until well combined.
2. Chill in the refrigerator for about 1 hour.
3. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4 inch thickness. Using your choice of cookie cutter, cut the cookies and place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Chill for an additional 10 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for about 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool completely on a cooling rack.
4. In a small bowl, mix the confectioners’ sugar, mint extract and milk until smooth. Add more milk or sugar, if needed, to make a frosting like consistency. Spread on cooled cookies and top with another cookie to make a sandwich. Chill in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes, or until icing is set.
5. Melt the chocolate in the microwave or over a double broiler and stir until smooth. Dip the tops of the cookie sandwiches into the chocolate and let stand on the cooling rack. Set in the refrigerator to let the chocolate harden.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Recipe of the week

Since its the holidays I thought I would post a holiday recipe. I hope you will enjoy!

Orange Rolls
12 rhodes dinner rolls thawed but still cold
1 orange rind grated
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter melted
Mix orange rind with sugar. Roll each roll into a rope then tie in a loose knot. Roll each knot in melted butter then into the sugar mixture. Place on a sprayed baking sheet then cover with plastic wrap. Let them rise double the size then remove plastic and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Remove from the baking sheet and put on a cooling rack, brush with orange glaze.
Orange Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 T melted butter
3 T orange juice
1/2 tsp vanilla

Friday, December 19, 2008

Yuletide Tag

When do you start listening to Christmas music?
I LOVE Christmas music but I don't start listening to it until just after Thanksgiving.

When do you put up your Christmas tree?
I usually put the tree up the 2nd week of December cause its real and I dont want it to die before christmas is here.

Favorite Christmas movie:
I can't really name one. I have lots of favorites but I do like christmas story, charlie brown christmas and garfields christmas at the top of the list.

Favorite Christmas Song:
I have lots of favorites since christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I do like I heard the bells on christmas day.

Favorite Christmas Tradition:
Sleeping in the same room with my siblings when we were growing up and playing games listening to mom and dad and the rustling of bags and wrapping paper. Another is taking plates of goodies to random people and watching the looks on their faces when they open the door.

Favorite Christmas Food:
Any kind of christmas candy! I love fudge:)

Favorite Christmas Book:
Christmas dress for Ellen and the christmas orange

Fun Christmas Memory:
Singing christmas songs at my grandma's house with her playing the ukelele. Making gingerbread houses at my other grandma's house. Helping go up the mountain to pick out the christmas tree for the season.

If you were one of Santa's reindeer, which one would you be?
Maybe one of the ones in the middle Blitzin or Comet

I tag anyone that would like to do this on their blog. Happy Holidays!

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Oregon Road Trip








Saturday, I left for Oregon with my roommate and my sister. It was probably not the best time to go with the oncoming storm, but we faithfully prayed for our safety and reached our destination after hours of stressful driving. Although the weather was not wanting to cooperate with us, it did provide us with many beautiful kodak opportunities.