Strawberry Muffins

This morning, I whipped up a batch of strawberry muffins for breakfast.  Best breakfast decision by far!  I personally liked them better than blueberry muffins, Vivian would say she prefers blueberry.  More for this preggo lady!

This recipe is so simple, like the strawberry cobbler I made last night.

Instead of using All-Purpose Flour, I used Self-Rising Flour.  Self-rising already has the baking powder and salt in it so you can omit that.  Just a quick shortcut in baking :)  I did use semi-chocolate chips in the batter, but didn't drizzle any chocolate on top.  They were sweet enough.

    

Strawberry Muffins from here.

Ingredients:

MUFFINS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

If using self-rising flour, omit the baking powder and salt

1 large egg
1 cup granulated sugar
4 Tablespoon (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 and 1/4 cups sour cream (I used light sour cream - regular or nonfat would work too)
1 cup chopped fresh strawberries (thawed frozen would work too)
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

CHOCOLATE DRIZZLE
3 Tablespoons semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 Tablespoon butter

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425F. Line 12-cup muffin tin with liners or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl until combined.

 In a separate bowl, whisk the egg until the yolk & white are combined and light-colored. Add the sugar and stir until the mixture is thick. Add the melted butter in 2 or 3 additions, whisking slowly to combine after each addition. Add the sour cream and whisk until JUST combined. Do not overmix.

Add the strawberries and chocolate chips to the dry ingredients. Slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients in 2 or 3 additions, carefully folding after each addition. Stir until the batter comes together, but try not to over mix. The batter will be very, very thick.

Spoon the batter into prepared muffin tins. Fill the tins all the way to the top. Not 2/3 or halfway filled, ALL the way to the brim. Bake at 425F for 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350F and continue to bake for 20-22 more minutes. Allow to cool for 5 minutes.

While the muffins are cooling, prepare the chocolate drizzle by melting the chocolate chips and butter in a shallow bowl. Stir, then drizzle chocolate over cooled muffins.

Makes 12-14 muffins. Muffins taste best served the same day. Muffins remain fresh up to 4 days, covered, at room temperature. Muffins may be frozen. Drizzle with chocolate right before serving

Fresh Strawberry Cobbler

I took Vivian to Lewis Farms to pick strawberries today and it was so much fun.  This was the first time going, which is crazy, since we've been in Wilmington for over 7 years.  Better late than never I guess.  Definitely more fun going with your child than by yourself anyway.   Worth the wait, that's for sure!!

Vivian loved putting the strawberries in her bucket.  She looked so cute!  She wore a little outfit that her Nana made her and she rocked pigtails for the first time. Such a cutie pie!! 

Picking your own strawberries is cheaper than buying them in the grocery store I think.  It helps cutting out the middle man :) An almost full bucket only cost $8.25...not too shabby...vs paying $5 for a small container at the store.

After picking strawberries, we got an ice cream treat.  A cup of strawberry ice cream for Vivy and a strawberry milkshake for me.  However, after Vivian polished off her ice cream, she went to town on my milkshake.  Good thing I love her!     

With all the strawberries we couldn't possibly eat alone, I had to do a little Pinterest search for recipes.  I found a cobbler and a muffin recipe that looked delicious.  I decided to make the cobbler first and make the muffins tomorrow.  I will still have plenty left over to eat alone or make smoothies with. You can't go wrong with strawberries!

Disclaimer:  I may or may not have ate half this cobbler tonight.  I'm sure it will all be gone by tomorrow :)  I blame the pregnancy! 

Here are a few pics before sharing this amazing recipe.

  

Fresh Strawberry Cobbler, recipe from here 

Ingredients

3 cups fresh strawberries, diced
½-3/4 cup sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ cup sugar
1 cup milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 stick butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375.

In a medium bowl, add strawberries and ¾ cup sugar.

Stir to coat strawberries in sugar and set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.

Add in milk, vanilla extract and melted butter.
Stir until combined. A few lumps are ok.

Grease a 9-inch casserole dish.

Pour batter evenly into dish.

Spoon strawberries evenly on top of batter. Do NOT stir.

Baked for 35-40 minutes or until golden.

Serve warm or cold. In my opinion, warm cobbler is the way to go!! 

Enjoy!

Heart Shaped Strawberry Hand Pies

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I would make Vivian and I a special treat.  I've had a major sweet tooth lately...maybe because I have my glucose test coming up on the 25th and my high risk Dr says I'll be diagnosed with gestational diabetes again...so I'm getting in all the sweets I can.  Not great for the growing waistline, but I want to enjoy yummy treats while I can.

I did make B some Valentine cookies so he wouldn't feel left out.  I did an easy recipe of 1 cup butter, room temp, 1 cup sugar, 1-1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 egg, 1 tsp water, 3 cup self rising flour.    

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla

Add egg and water

Add flour and blend

Divide dough in half and wrap in saran wrap.  Chill in the refrigerator for an hour.

Roll dough on a lightly floured surface and cut them using your cookie cutter.  I used a heart shape since I wanted Valentine cookies.

Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes, take them out just before the edges are brown.  I like to like my cookie sheet with parchment paper for easy removal and clean-up.   

Use your favorite icing or make your own. 

Now, back to the hand pies.  These were so good and so incredibly easy to make.

The recipe makes 4 hand pies, but you can make 8 if you use 2 frozen puff pastry sheets.

Heart Shaped Strawberry Hand Pies

Ingredients 

1 sheet frozen puff pastry (I used Pepperidge Farms)
4 - 8 Tbs of strawberry preserves.  The original recipe called for cherry jam if you prefer cherry over strawberry. 
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/3 cup powered sugar
1-2 tsp water

Directions

Thaw your pastry sheet either overnight in the fridge or at room.
temperature for 40 minutes.

Preheat oven at 425

Lay your thawed pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface.  Roll out your pastry sheet to at least 12 inches long.  If there are any cracks in your pastry, add a little water to smooth it out.

Cut out 8 hearts.

Place 4 hearts on a rimmmed cookie sheet with parchment paper. My heart cookie cutter was small so I was able to cut out an extra one.

Add a tablespoon of your preserve or jam to your heart cut out.

After filling your heart, go all around the edges brushing your lightly beaten egg.

Top with your remaining heart cutouts.  Seal your hearts by pressing a fork all around the edges.

Pop in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until lightly brown.

You may have some hungry beavers trying to wait patiently :)

While your pies are baking, mix your powdered sugar and water.  Mix until smooth.  Drizzle on top of warm pies.

You can double the recipe by using both pastry sheets if you want.  This also makes for a nice after school treat for your kiddos or indulge them for yourself.

Sunday Morning Breakfast

I'm really digging this whole making a yummy breakfast on Sunday's. Lasy Sunday I made crepes. Since Vivian has a hard time going to church, we stay home and watch Dr. Charles Stanley instead.  Vivian is terrified of church nursery, they page me everytime or I end up sitting in nursery with her, and she is too wild to sit in 'big' church.  Even sitting in the very back, I hate distracting everyone.  If I can't listen to the sermon, I know no one else can.  This will only last for a short time...hopefully.

I'm going to attempt to try out a new breakfast each weekend.  I want to improve cooking skills!  Even though its me just eating it...B is more of give me an cheese omelette, sausage and toast kind of guy.  I'm more sweet and savory.  

I love oatmeal.  I eat a bowl almost every morning for breakfast.  I've tried the overnight oats before, but didn't care for the texture.  I liked the idea of not having to make breakfast, just grab and go.  When I found this oatmeal bake on Pinterest I thought I would give it a try.  It was really good!  Even better the second and third day.  I was able to eat on it longer since it was just me gobbling it up.

    

 

Baked Honey Berry Oatmeal recipe adapted here

(Serves 6)

Ingredients

Dry Mixture:

2 cups oats

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp salt

⅓ cup packed brown sugar

Wet Mixture:

2 cups nonfat milk

2 eggs

½ tbsp vanilla extract

3 tbsps honey

1½ tbsp melted butter

2 cups frozen mixed berries

¼ cup pecans, separated.  I would have used walnuts but I was out.

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a medium sized bowl, mix together the oats, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and brown sugar. Set aside.

In a seperate bowl whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, honey, and butter.

Layer half the berries in a 2 quart baking dish and top evenly with the dry oat mixture. Pour on the wet mixture, then add the rest of the berries on top along with the roughly chopped pecans or walnuts.

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the oats have absorbed the liquid. Serve hot or cold!

^^Mine took longer to bake, more like 30 - 45 minutes.  Honestly, I'm not sure what size baking dish I used and I think that's why it took longer to absorb the liquid. 

   

Sunday Morning Breakfast

I love crepes!  My favorite breakfast treat.  They are light, doesn't leave you over stuffed and just plain delicious.  I usually go to Our Crepes and More  for the yummy treat.  I always, always get the Versailles...crepe filled with strawberries, bananas, nutella, dollop of vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.  So good! Costing almost $9, I thought I would attempt making it at home.  I did leave out the ice cream and whipped cream, which worked out really well.  

I'm not the greatest cook and I am the worst at making pancakes.  I somehow have the hardest time flipping them and they become jumbled up pancakes.  For me, crepes were a lot easier to cook.  Very easy to flip.  

I halved the recipe since it was just me eating them.  V doesn't care for the texture of crepes.  She did take one bite and that was it :) B isn't a crepe fan either.  Surprise, surprise!  I did eat all, but two.  Blame the pregnancy hunger :)  

You can use whichever filling you would like, or you could make it a more savory crepe vs sweet.  I prefer sweet!  

I mixed the batter by hand vs using a blender.  Add flour little by little to make the batter lump free.  You do not want any lumps!! After mixture is too thick to mix, add your milk while whisking.  The batter will be runny which is what you want.  

Recipe adapted here for more detailed instructions on making crepes.

Skillet sizes you can use and batter amount:

8″ skillet: 2 1/2 Tablespoons batter (I used this size)
10″ skillet: 3 1/2 Tablespoons batter
**YOU WANT THE CREPES THIN, NOT THICK LIKE PANCAKES.  USE LITTLE BATTER FOR EACH ONE** 

Coat skillet well with butter.  I used the suggestion of leaving the butter in the wrapper and coating the bottom by rubbing it with butter.  I coated the bottom after making each second crepe.

Basic Crepes Recipe by Our Best Bites
Full Recipe:
  
2 eggs
2 Tbs canola oil
3 Tbs sugar (omit if making savory crepes)
1 C flour
1 1/3 C milk

Half Recipe:

1 egg
1 Tbs canola oil
1 Tbs and 1/2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/c cup and 2 Tbs and 2 tsp milk 

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on low speed until combined, or whisk by hand until there are no lumps.  

If whisking by hand, combine your egg, oil and sugar first.  Add flour little by little while whisking.  Once batter is too thick to whisk, slowly add your milk while whisking together. Remember, no lumps!  The batter will be runny which is what you want.  Not a thick pancake batter.  

Heat a non-stick skillet to medium-high heat.  Hold pan with one hand while you pour the batter with the other hand.  Twirl the pan in a circular motion pouring just enough batter to coat the bottom of the pan.   

Place on cooking surface and cook until edges are set and you can easily run a rubber spatula around the edge of the pan, 30 seconds.   Flip crepe and cook an additional 15-20 seconds.  Remove crepe from pan and either keep warm in the oven or cool to room temperature.

Fill with your choice of savory (meat, cheese, vegetable) or sweet (pudding, mousse, pastry cream, fruit) filling.  Top sweet crepes with  with Strawberry Sauce, Buttermilk Caramel Syrup, Hot Fudge, or just a dusting of powdered sugar and sweetened whipped cream.
Unfilled crepes can be stacked between sheets of waxed paper and refrigerated or frozen.  To thaw, leave at room temperature.  

 Like I said earlier, B isn't a crepe fan.  He wanted sausage, egg and toast.  What the boy wants, the boy got this morning.  I was in the mood to make a good breakfast.  

Side note:  I have one silly girl.  Loves wearing anything but a hat and bow on her head.  Also, she wanted to wear these clothes over her pj's.

Toddler Muffins

We have been going through a picky stage right at the moment.  We eat breakfast like a champ, but lunch and dinner havem been a challenge.  Takes only a few bites and then she's done.  It is frustrating, but I know she isn't going to starve.  

One good thing is she's a little muffin girl.  The great thing about muffins, you can add lots of healthy fruits and veggies and your little one won't even notice.  Fabulous!

Vivian LOVED these muffins.  She ate 3 back-to-back after they came out of the oven.  These were your regular size muffins as well, not mini muffins.  They really are THAT good!  Loaded with fruit and veggies.

I didn't take any pictures, but they're muffins.  Nothing spectacular.

The BEST Toddler Muffins via here

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar

⅓ cup of plain or vanilla yogurt (heaping cup)

⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce

¼ cup butter, softened

3 eggs

1 cup pumpkin puree

1 cup finely shredded carrots (about 2 medium carrots)

2-3 very ripe bananas, smashed (the riper the better)

1 cup quick oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

2½ tsp cinnamon

⅛ tsp nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Cream together: sugar, yogurt, applesauce and butter

Add eggs, pumpkin, carrots, and bananas

Mix well add all dry ingredients: oats, wheat flour, all-purpose flour, salt, soda, cinnamon and nutmeg

Mix until combined

Scoop batter into greased mini or regular muffin tins. Can use cupcake liners if you prefer. Recipe can make 48 mini muffins or 20-24 regular size muffins.

Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes for mini-muffins or 15-18 or until toothpick comes out clean for regular size muffins.

Remove from pans and cool on cooling rack.   

Banana Oat Greek Yogurt Muffins

Vivian loves muffins, as do I!  I was going to make some blueberry muffins, but remembered pinning a flourless and no sugar recipe.  I wanted to go a little healthy since we've been eating lots of sweets lately.

This recipe was super easy to make!

Banana Oat Greek Yogurt Muffins
(Makes 12 muffins)

Ingredients
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 ripe bananas
2 eggs
2 cups rolled oats (old fashioned or quick)
¼ cup brown sugar
1½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
½ cup chocolate chips, mini or regular

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400F and prepare a muffin pan by spraying cavities with cooking spray or lining them with paper liners**. Set aside.

Add all ingredients except for chocolate chips to a blender or food processor and process on high until oats are broken down and batter is smooth and creamy. I used my Beaba Babycook to blend everything together.  I first blended the oats first, then add each ingredient one-by-one blending.  Stir in chocolate chips by hand.

Pour batter into prepared muffin pan, filling each cavity until it is about ¾ full. Optional: sprinkle a few chocolate chips over the top of each muffin.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the tops of your muffins are set and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Allow muffins to cool in pan for ~10 minutes before removing. Store in an air-tight container for up to a week.

Notes

** If using paper liners, you'll want to spray them with cooking spray as well, since the lack of oil in these muffins could make them stick to the liners after baking.

Christmas 2014 pt 2 (Christmas Day)

I slept horrible Christmas Eve.  I don't know if was excitement for the next day or what, but I probably got a total of 4 hours of sleep.  

I got up at 6 am to start making this breakfast casserole for B.  It took a little time to prepare since I'm slow at prepping and another 30 minutes or so to bake.  I'm such a good wife, ha!

Just before 7 am I heard Vivian doing her morning jibber jabber on the monitor.  I got B up so we could get her out of the crib together.

She loves handing be all her babies before getting out of her crib.  So stinking cute!!

We wished her a Merry Christmas and told her that Santa came that night and left her lots of gifts.  

B and I got into the living room before Vivian to capture her face with the camcorder and camera.  She knew something was up!  Her little face lite up!

 Two books were left unwrapped next to her stocking.  She went straight for the books.  Obviously.  

Then she went for the stocking and pulled out each item one at a time and placed each one on her table.  This process took a little time since Santa had that stocking stuffed.

^^bath bubbles^^

^^piggy paint ^^

After getting everything out of her stocking, she moved it from the table to her highchair.  Strange little booger.

^^ car seat ^^

Then she wanted to read us her book.

Vivian reading 

Then it was time to open some presents.

^^Chica and Star plush dolls^^

^^Minnie Mouse bangle bracelets ^^

^^ Her favorite out of the bunch, Elmo who actually hugs ^^  She was a happy camper when she saw him.  Loved hugging him and kissing him.  

^^ Alex Jr Tots Finger Paint^^

^^Smocks and finger paint paper and tray^^

^^Washable markers, crayons and floor pad^^

^^t-shirt^^

^^ Elmo Boo Boo Sticker Book and Doc McStuffins sticker book ^^

Even Santa came to see Mr. Brody.

After opening Vivian's gifts, I made my Mom's little bread.  Pure sugar, but so incredibly good.  Still love it to this day and so did Vivian.  She kept going "mmmm" after each bite :) This will be part of our Christmas morning tradition.

Little Bread recipe

For your EGG MIXTURE (whisk 4 eggs...1 tbs of cinnamon...1 tsp milk in a shallow bowl...stir before each bread dip).  Make sure to use WHITE BREAD, not whole wheat bread.

For your POWDERED SUGAR MIXTURE ( 1 cup powdered sugar...2 tbs cinnamon...mix well)

FRYING BREAD (turn oven eye on low-medium heat...add 1 and 1/2 tbs of butter to each 2 slices of bread...make sure the bread is wet enough so the sugar mixture will stick...may have to rub more butter on them)

After your bread is done frying, coat bread with the powdered sugar mixture until well coated.  Cut the bread into four squares, hence why they are called little bread.  I usually add a little more powdered sugar mixture after cutting when on my plate for a little extra sugar. 

This recipe makes about 6 slices of bread.

After breakfast, B and I opened our gifts.  I got B a 

Kindle Fire HDX 7 which was upgraded to the 64 GB, a cover case and a couple of boxer shorts.  

He also got a gift card and shirt from his parents.

He got me lots of goodies.  A Keurig, a carousel holder, muffin and brownie pan from Anthropologie and a candle from Anthropologie.

My Mom got us a year membership to the aquarium and a couple of pair of leggings from J.Crew.  B's Mom got me the most comfortable pair of maternity pj's from A Pea In A Pod.

We had a FANTASTIC Christmas!!

^^18.5 weeks pregnant^^

After opening our gifts, Vivian was back to playing with her toys and trying on a couple of things.

And painted our piggies :)

 Next Christmas will be even more special having Vivian and our little boy or girl.  The Good Lord has truly blessed my little family!!!