Jet-lag Boredom.

I got home from Thailand around 10am Vancouver time last Tuesday after not sleeping for 48 hours. I was determined to stay up until at least 8pm so I could get into a normal sleeping pattern. What better way to keep yourself awake then by baking muffins! I adore muffins, but they are always so unhealthy (even if they are the devious bran muffin which one would think is healthy!) so I avoid them and eat them rarely.

I came across a recipe for Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Muffins and thought I'd like to try it! They are delicious and don't cost me 400+ calories like their unhealthy counterparts! I even froze some to keep them for my lunches and by the time noon rolls around they are defrosted and still just as tasty!





Ingredients


1 1/2 cups Whole Wheat flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar (I reduced to less than 1/2 cup and it was sweet enough)
1/2 cup quick oats
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/3 cup Greek yogurt - plain
1/4 cup skim milk (I used almond milk)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 egg
1 tsp finely grated lemon rind
1 1/2 cups blueberries (I used a mix of berries since that's all I had. I also used frozen but when the blueberry season is in full force I'll try fresh!)


Method


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tin with cooking spray.

2. In a large bowl, stir together whole wheat flour, brown sugar, oats, and baking soda. In another bowl, whisk together yogurt, milk, oil, egg, and lemon rind. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Stir in frozen berries. Scoop into muffin tin, filling 2/3 full.

3. Bake in center of oven for 30 minutes!


I am still adjusting from my trip. I sleep at the right times, I just get tired much earlier than normal resulting in me waking up far too early too.

As I briefly mentioned in a previous post, Dan's deployment has been cancelled. This means he'll be coming home!! I don't know when he'll be home because paperwork and out-processing have to be completed but I'm crossing my fingers it's not too long! I've been busy cleaning my place because I have a feeling it will be spontaneous! He's trying to get on a course which will take him away from home again for six weeks, but after that, we'll be living like a regular old civilian couple for awhile!

Oh, and I happened to notice that this is my 100th blog post! So happy 100th to me!

Black Forest Cake

As a surprise for Dan before he left, I decided to make him Black Forest Cake. Cakes aren't something I have really baked much, I prefer little cake morsels like cupcakes. They're much more manageable.

While I definitely became frustrated while making the cake, in the end all was okay and it turned out well! I'm not a huge fan of this cake to begin with, but I have to admit it was yummy!

You can find the recipe here.

Dad's Pick: Butter Tarts.

My dad loves Butter Tarts so naturally, he wanted me to attempt to make them. When I asked him what made good butter tarts, he said "they need to be creamy." As someone who doesn't enjoy this particular baked good, it's hard to know what exactly he means by creamy. I figured I had to start somewhere, so here we began. They got two thumbs up, although I have yet to get feedback as to whether they are, in fact, creamy.




Butter Tarts
makes approx. 16

Ingredients:

Filling

1 cup raisins
1/2 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Pastry

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. icing sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cup shortening
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
2 Tbsp. ice water
1 egg

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

To make the pastry, sift flour, icing sugar, and salt into a large mixing bowl. Pinch shortening into small cubes and rub lightly into the flour mixture until broken into crumbly pieces. Whisk vinegar, ice water, and egg with a fork in a separate bowl. Pour around edges of flour mix and pull together to form a ball. Flatten into 2 disks and chill for at least 30 minutes.

Roll out to 1/8" thick and cut 4" round. Form circles into small muffin pan.

For the filling, combine raisins, butter, sugar, syrup, and salt in a heavy saucepan. Heat on the stove at low heat until butter is melted and the mix is warm. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and eggs. Fill the muffin pan 2/3 full. Bake for 22-25 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Mom's Pick: Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies.

Mom requested Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies which got my Christmas baking off to the right start! They are delicious!




Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies
Makes approx. 20

Ingredients:

1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 cup chocolate chips

Method:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Mix butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour until it forms into a ball. Add chocolate chips. Roll into 1" balls and bake for 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Christmas Yummies.

I used to be the Grinch. I was the little girl who yelled "Christmas is officially OVER!" as soon as I'd unwrapped my gifts. I couldn't feel the festive spirit - but that has all changed.

There is something about being able to decorate your own space regardless of how small it may be. Baking in your very own kitchen also adds some inspiration and spirit of Christmas. Having someone to love and enjoy the holidays with makes all the difference too. I couldn't be more excited to have Dan come home for Christmas so we can spend a reasonable amount of time together enjoying one of the best times of the year.

Classes are over, presents are wrapped and now I'm spending my time trying to busy myself which really isn't that difficult of a task. I have the Christmas baking bug. Right now, I'm catering to family requests. Last night I baked Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies for my mom and Butter Tarts for my dad. From what I've heard, butter tarts are a Canadian thing. To my American lovelies, do you eat them? I'm not fond because I don't like raisins, but they're a big hit with the raisin lovers!

Tonight I'm going to be baking Mincemeat Tarts for my Grandad and later this week will be making Oreo Rice Krispies Squares for my sister. All of this baking will help time fly before my love comes home!

Watch for some yummy posts this week!

What are your favourite holiday treats? Any suggestions for things to bake?