Sabtu, 31 Januari 2015

Sweet on Trader Joe's Saturday: Coconut Macaroons

Hello, hellooooooo!  So sorry we missed last week. Someone around here turned 16 (!!!) and we were busy celebrating. I think we're still celebrating. 16!!!

Trader Joe's Coconut Macaroons review

Alrighty...today's Trader Joe's review: Coconut Macaroons. (Not to be confused with macarOns.) You'll find these in the bakery section at Trader Joe's.

Trader Joe's Coconut Macaroons review
An 8-ounce box of coconut macaroons costs $3.49.

Trader Joe's Coconut Macaroons review
A mom's (my) take: Perfection. This is what coconut macaroons should be. Chewy, sweet, chock-full of coconut. The cookie size is ideal...a two-bite sweet treat.
Overall rating: 5 of 5 stars

A teenager's (kiddo's) take: I like that these have a nice combination of textures. The outside is moderately crunchy (still sweet, of course), and upon reaching the inside, you'll find a very sweet, soft, fluffy coconut filling. Even though I'm not a coconut nut (no pun intended), these are really great!
Overall rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Trader Joe's Coconut Macaroons reviewTrader Joe's Coconut Macaroons: spot on!


Read all of our Trader Joe's sweet treats and dessert reviews!


Senin, 26 Januari 2015

Pretty as a (chocolate) Petunia


A whole new world opened up to me yesterday. 
These flowers...
petunias made from modeling chocolate for decorating cakes and cookies
...they're made from CHOCOLATE! Chocolate, people!!!

I'd heard of "modeling chocolate" before, and always thought it sounded intimidating. You guys, it's pretty easy!

petunias made from modeling chocolate for decorating cakes and cookies
Of course, my chocolate petunia flowers aren't perfect, but I'm pretty excited about how they turned out...especially for my first time!


petunias made from modeling chocolate for decorating cakes and cookies
You might remember me telling you about the Ultimate DIY Bundle. One of the ebooks is Cake Decorating with Modeling Chocolate by Kristen Coniaris. To say I'm inspired is an understatement. This ebook is filled with the recipes, instructions, troubleshooting, and a whole host of decorating tutorials.

TODAY is the last day to purchase the Ultimate DIY Bundle. 

Don't forget that along with the over 70 ebooks from modeling chocolate (where I leared to make these petunias) to photography to sewing (and more!), you'll get to chose a FREE Craftsy class (from 15 of their most popular courses). I picked the Artisan Bread Making course with (James Beard Award Winner!) Peter Reinhart.

Let's look at those chocolate petunias again.

petunias made from modeling chocolate for decorating cakes and cookies
I attached them to my mocha cut-out cookies (recipe in Decorating Cookies Party). I love the way the flowers pop against the dark background!

petunias made from modeling chocolate for decorating cakes and cookies

I wonder how I'm going to pack one of these in kiddo's lunchbox tomorrow? ;)

petunias made from modeling chocolate for decorating cakes and cookies

OK kids. You're almost out of time. Scoop up that Ultimate DIY Bundle by midnight tonight.
motionmailapp.com


*Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. Read the fine print about this bundle and read the answers to frequently asked questions about the bundle.

Kamis, 22 Januari 2015

Stone Cold Fox (cookies)

I couldn't just leave well enough alone with the skunk heart cookies.
fox cookies made from a heart cookie cutter : post has decorating tutorial and recipes
Seriously, I can almost feel a heart-animal cookie obsession starting to take hold, but I'm trying to push it down...I have too many other Valentine cookies I want to get to first. Plus, heart animals are really appropriate at any time of year. Right?

fox cookies made from a heart cookie cutter : post has decorating tutorial and recipes
These little foxes are super simple to make and will be the perfect valentine treat for your favorite stone cold fox or foxy lady.

To make fox face valentine cookies, you'll need:
how to make decorate a fox cookie with a heart cookie shape
Use a #2 tip to outline the hearts with black icing. (I used a #3 tip to outline the cookies with the "foxy" wording.")

Thin the orange icing with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup. You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin. Count of 2-3 is good. Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.

fox valentine cookies flood photo foxfacetutorial1of4.jpg
Stir the icing gently with a spatula, then pour into a squeeze bottle. Flood the cookies with the thinned icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and pop any large air bubbles. Let the cookies sit for at least one hour.

how to decorate a heart-shaped fox cookie
Use a #2 tip to outline a white heart on top of the orange icing. Reserve a bit of the piping consistency white icing. Thin the remaining white icing as above. Flood the white outline.

Let the cookies sit for at least one hour.

fox cookies made from a heart cookie cutter : post has decorating tutorial and recipes
With a #1 tip, add the ears in white. Use a #3 tip to add the nose in black, then switch the tip to a #1 and add the eyes.

Let the icing dry uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight.

fox and skunk cookies from a heart cookie cutter, simple cookie decorating tutorials
I like the skunks and foxes together, too. It's like a forest of love. Or, something like that.


fox and skunk cookies from a heart cookie cutter, simple cookie decorating tutorials
If you have any heart animal cookies ideas, leave them in the comments!

fox and skunk cookies from a heart cookie cutter, simple cookie decorating tutorials


Go forth and be FOXY
fox cookies made from a heart cookie cutter : post has decorating tutorial and recipes

Senin, 19 Januari 2015

Chocolate Banana Muffins with Cookie Dough Streusel Topping

You know those recipes printed inside food product boxes? When I was single, fresh-out-of-college gal, and learning-to-cook, newly-married-gal, those recipes were my go-to recipes. I think I ripped every product box open and read every recipe on the inside. Sometimes there would be more than one recipe! Gold mine!!!

chocolate banana muffins with cookie dough streusel topping!!!
These days, I feel like I have so many recipes I want to try, a gazillion (approximately) cookbooks, my mom's old recipes, creating recipes of my own...and let's be honest here, a whole lot of Kind Bars for breakfast and taco nights for dinner...that I just don't look at those brand packaging recipes any more. (THAT was one long sentence. Sorry.)

chocolate banana muffins with cookie dough streusel topping!!!
As I was tossing yet another empty butter box, a recipe inside caught my eye. Whew...saved it right before it hit the trash can. Chocolate Banana Streusel Muffins.

Here's the original recipe...I found it on the Land O' Lakes website.

chocolate banana muffins with cookie dough streusel topping!!!
This morning, no school, which means: extra time to make muffins for breakfast. Yay!

I made a couple of small changes to the recipe. The original recipe gets all of the chocolate from the streusel itself. I wanted the muffins to be chocolate, too. Also, as I was making the streusel, it occurred to me...this is no ORDINARY streusel, this is COOKIE DOUGH streusel.  It's a wonder any ended up on the muffins at all.

chocolate banana muffins with cookie dough streusel topping!!!
Don't worry as you're scooping the batter into the muffin cups. It doesn't look like enough, but the streusel will fill up the rest.

I liked these best at room temperature, so even if you don't have a leisurely morning in which to make them, whip them up the night before. You'll feel like a rock star serving these to the kids at 6am.

print recipe photo printrecipe.jpg

Chocolate Banana Muffins with Cookie Dough Streusel Topping

{adapted from Land O' Lakes}

for the streusel
1/2 unbleached, all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
pinch kosher salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

for the muffins
1 cup unbleached, all-purpose flour
3 TBSP Dutch-process cocoa
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Line muffins tins with paper liners.

Make the streusel: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, brown sugar, and pinch salt. Cube the butter and add to the bowl. Stir, then use your fingers to distribute throughout, until the butter is broken up and combined. Stir in the chocolate chips, pressing the mixture together into small clumps. (Not all of the mixture will clump together.) Set aside.
cookie dough streusel topping for muffins and quick breads!
cookie dough streusel topping for muffins and quick breads!
Make the batter: In a small bowl, stir together the flour, cocoa, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. In a bowl of an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together. Beat in the mashed bananas, egg, and vanilla. Add in the flour/cocoa mixture and beat on low just until combined.

chocolate banana muffins with cookie dough streusel topping!!!
Scoop batter into the prepared muffins tins. Top with the streusel.

Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
(I thought these were BEST at room temperature, but who am I to stop you from eating one warm?)

chocolate banana muffins with cookie dough streusel topping!!!
Cookie dough streusel? Let's make this happen.

*I do have a partnership with Land O' Lakes, but this was not a sponsored post...just a happy coincidence.*


Sabtu, 17 Januari 2015

Sweet on Trader Joe's Saturday: Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Slims


Happy Saturday! Happy Weekend!

trader joe's dark chocolate pretzel slims review

For this week's review, kiddo and I taste-tested Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Slims.


trader joe's dark chocolate pretzel slims review
Pretzel Slims are crunchy, thin pretzels (like a cracker), and these are covered in dark chocolate. Trader Joe's describes them as "the ultimate blend of salty and sweet - the perfect combination to satisfy both crunch and chocolate indulgence." A 6-ounce bag runs $2.99.

A mom's (my) take: Um, hang on. I'm trying to write this review as I grab my purse and car keys to drive back to Trader Joe's to stockpile these babies. Oh MY. These chocolate pretzel slims are perfection. Salty, sweet, crunchy. Maybe they should be called "pretzel UN-slims" because I can already tell these are dangerous to the ol' waistline. My only beef with these...4 servings per package? 4??? I'm thinking, more like 1.
(a very enthusiastic) 5 of 5 stars

A teenager's (kiddo's) take: Even though you may know that I'm not a dark chocolate fan, this chocolate isn't dark enough to repel me. The pretzel is crunchy and has that perfect amount of saltiness! I love these.
Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

trader joe's dark chocolate pretzel slims review
Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Slims: our TJ's location may be sold out. ;) 

Read all of our Trader Joe's sweet treats and dessert reviews!

Rabu, 14 Januari 2015

You are Too Stinkin' Cute!

For years, I've thought of making skunk cookies for Valentine's Day, but never really questioned why. It dawned on me not long ago...Pepe LePew, the most romantic of all Looney Tunes characters.
(Unless, of course, you count Yosemite Sam.)

heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
You could make these cookies into a "Love Stinks" theme for Valentine's Day, but I like the love sayings..."Too Stinkin' Cute," "You're Odor-able," "Scent-sational valentine." Also, these would make really cute valentine cookies for kids..."for my little stinker."

heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
Even if you don't make the cookies with the words to go with them, these heart skunk cookies are perfectly sweet on their own...and easy to make. I think Pepe and his kitty friend would approve.

heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
To make Valentine Skunk Cookies, you'll need:
heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
Use a #2 tip to outline the cookies with black icing. Reserve some of this icing for piping details later.

Thin the black icing with water, a bit at a time, stirring with a silicone spatula, until it is the consistency of a thick syrup. You'll want to drop a "ribbon" of icing back into the bowl and have it disappear in a count of "one thousand one, one thousand two." Four is too thick, one is too thin. Count of 2-3 is good. Cover with a damp dishcloth and let sit for several minutes.

heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
Stir the icing gently with a spatula, then pour into a squeeze bottle. Flood the cookies with the thinned icing, using a toothpick to guide to the edges and pop any large air bubbles. Let the cookies sit for at least one hour.

heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
After an hour or more, pipe the white detail outline over the black icing, using a #2 tip. Thin the white icing as above, then flood the white outline.

heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
Switch the tip on the black icing to a #1 and pipe on ears. Add a bit of icing to the back of a large heart sprinkle and add for a nose. Use a #1 tip to add eyes with blue icing.

heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
Let the icing dry uncovered for 6-8 hours or overnight.

The next day, mix 1/4 teaspoon each meringue powder and water. Brush the mixture onto the white portion of the skunk face. Sprinkle on the sanding sugar; shake off the excess.
heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}

Do you guys love Valentine's Day as much as I do? I think it has to be my favorite cookie season! ♥
heart-shaped skunk cookies ... you're too stinkin' cute!  {valentine decorated cookie tutorial}
Cheers to Pepe! ♥


Senin, 12 Januari 2015

Oatmeal Bourbon Raisin Cookies

oatmeal bourbon raisin cookies from @bakeat350
Yes, Bourbon.

My dad is a lover of the oatmeal cookie. As a kid, I remember many times being so disappointed to discover that my mom was not, in fact, baking chocolate chip cookies, but oatmeal raisin.
Oh, I had a tough childhood.

For Christmas, I told my dad I would send him a batch of oatmeal cookies each month of 2015.

oatmeal bourbon raisin cookies from @bakeat350
We're starting off the year boozy. Why not?

The raisins for the cookies are soaked overnight in bourbon.
making bourbon infused raisins is easy ... oatmeal cookie recipe, too!
See how plump they get?

The raisins really DO soak up that bourbon. As a matter of fact, these cookies might leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

oatmeal bourbon raisin cookies from @bakeat350
The cookies themselves are soft and chewy with a good hit of vanilla and salt.

I think my dad will like them...and I think you will, too.


Oatmeal Bourbon Raisin Cookies
{makes about 28 cookies}

1 cup raisins
3/4 cup bourbon (I used Maker's Mark)
2 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cup old-fashioned oats

oatmeal bourbon raisin cookies from @bakeat350
The night before making the cookies, combine the raisins and bourbon. Cover the container and let sit overnight at room temperature.

The next day, strain the raisins. (Reserve the liquid for ice cream or coffee. ;)) Set aside.

Preheat oven to 375. Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars with an electric mixer. Beat in the eggs, then the corn syrup, and vanilla.

oatmeal bourbon raisin cookies from @bakeat350
On low speed, add the flour mixture in two additions, mixing on low until just combined. Stir in the oats and reserved raisins.

oatmeal bourbon raisin cookies from @bakeat350
Roll into balls about the size of a golf ball. (I used my 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the dough evenly, then rolled into balls.)

Bake for 13 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. Remove from the oven and let sit on the cookie sheet for 1-2 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

*recipe adapted from King Arthur Flour's basic drop cookies from their Commemorative Edition Cookbook.
oatmeal bourbon raisin cookies from @bakeat350

Cookies + Bourbon? I'll never complain about oatmeal cookies again!