Easter Treats

I am sure my husband is thankful for holidays, because it's the only time I bake now. What a sad story. I do love baking, however, I hate buying the ingredients. Such is life.

This Easter, David and my family got to enjoy homemade macaroons with Nutella. I have never had Nutella, but I only hear great things. I found this great recipe on Pinterest. (I love that site) Turns out they were a hit and I am making more for Edge.

The Low Down:

• 2/3 c. sweetened condensed milk
• 1 large egg white
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 3 1/2 c. sweetened coconut
• 1 c. Nutella
• M&M eggs

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 325. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, mix together condensed milk, egg white, vanilla and salt. Stir until well mixed. Stir in coconut.
3. With a tablespoon, scoop about 2.5 tablespoons onto baking sheet. Form to nest shape and press thumb in the middle.
4. Bake cookies for about 17-20 minutes. (I baked until they were golden brown on top) Remove the cookies allow them to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, reform the center with thumb. Transfer to cooling rack until completely cool.
5. After they completely cool, scoop tablespoon of Nutella in center and add M&M's for decoration.

If you are looking for more great recipe's you should check out Two Peas & Their Pod. It is a great blog.

What was your favorite Easter treat?

Oh and remember that adorable pup we just got? Look how big she has gotten! 

Weekend Wrap Up

Boy oh boy was it a fantastic weekend. I must say it was one of the better weekends David and I had. I am sure many of you know why, but let me just announce David and I are very excited to have a new addition to our family......now don't get too wild with your thoughts.

We got a puppy! Her name is Daisy and we will pick her up on January 20th - she is too young right now to come home.

David and I set off to Port Huron on Saturday at 11 a.m. to go "look" at some puppies. He has been researching what type of dog to get for years, and we finally found a breeder in Michigan that just had a litter. I only wanted to look at the puppies, I wasn't sure if I 100% ready for a puppy. But, as it turns out, I walked in and 12 little puppies can barreling towards me and my heart melted. Right then I knew I wasn't leaving that place without putting a deposit on one of the puppies. David and I spent 30 minutes trying to choose which girl we wanted (there were 4 left), we chose the one that was playful and cuddled right up to me. (She already knows who her favorite is..duh!) She was born Nov. 22 and she was puppy #12 - the last one. After peeling ourselves away from her, David and I came back to Lansing and got her Spartan collar, leash, bed and everything you can think of. We are excited parents. Can you tell? Enjoy the pictures.

The Big Apple

Another one of my great resolutions is to travel the world. It's great to have the perfect travel partner who loves adventure but also loves to relax. About a month ago Edge sent me on a trip to New York City to attend a PRSA conference. Having David come with me and extending it into a long weekend was just what we needed. Another perk to the trip was the warm weather. Could it get any better? The answer is yes.

The first 2 nights we stayed in the Financial District at the Wall Street Inn. A great recommendation from my mom. David and I LOVED this hotel. Is was a cute, boutique hotel that was right in front of a strip of great restaurants. Not to mention it was easy to walk to my conference everyday. It made me feel like a real city girl...sorta.

After the 2 nights in the Financial District we moved to the Garment District (clearly a girl planned this vacation) and stayed at the Hampton Inn. Although, I am OBSESSED with Hampton Inn's, I would not suggest staying at this one. I didn't really enjoy the location. But, I did love the continental breakfast and the service was off the chart. :)

Probably the 2 big highlights of my trip are ice skating at Rockefeller Center and visiting the Guggenheim. Rockefeller was an AMAZING experience and it was worth the 3 hour wait. My tip on this, if you go during the weekend of the tree lighting (which we did), get there a few hours before it gets dark so you get on the rink as the tree is being lit. The Guggenheim had very interesting art in it and David loved it. Walking in a slant the entire time kind of sent my walking ability into a frenzy.

I have always wanted to move to New York, but during this trip, it kind of made me realize how much I love "visiting" it but I also love being able to come back home.

Have you been to New York? What was your favorite part?

I felt like I was at Home Alone during this picture

David in Grand Central Station - he was obsessed.

Central Park

on the ice!

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

New year and new resolutions have been made. Top on my list is to blog and bake again. David is very excited about this. My resolutions are:

1. Bake and Blog
2. Exercise
3. Decorate the house
4. Travel the world
5. Possibly get a dog

Now on to this baking. So, I can say that my first time back to baking after a VERY long time, I have learned I am VERY rusty. I wouldn't have ever thought that I would come back and my first goody would be a total bomb. But it was. Just ask David and all my co-workers.

I came across the dessert by Little Shortcake, Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars, thinking this would be a walk in the park (compared to my cheesecake), it was, but it just tasted as if it was missing something. I am thinking it needed more sugar...or more cowbell.

The Low Down:

• 1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 c. old fashioned oats
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. brown sugar
• 3/4 c. creamy peanut butter (I used Jif, is there really any other type of peanut butter?)
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1/3 c. mini chocolate chips (I didn't measure this, you could always use more chocolate)

After making the batter I thought it tasted good, but then it baked...and turned out not so good.

What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 350
2. In an electric mixer combine creamy peanut butter and sugar. Mix on high until fluffy.
3. Add in vanilla extract until combined.
4. Add in flour, oats, salt and soda until well combined. Make sure the peanut butter is all broken up.
5. Add the milk on low speed until well combined.
6. Fold in the chocolate chips.
7. When the dough is mixed well, roll into a large ball and place in the middle of an 8 x 8 baking dish. Press the dough to fit.
8. Bake for about 18-20 minutes.
9. Cool completely and nom on it!

Now that I am semi-successful on one of my resolutions, I am wondering, what are your resolutions and how are they going?

Apple Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

Let me say this about my dessert before I show pictures. My cupcakes don't look nearly as pretty as Paula Dean's cupcakes, however, I am sure they tasted just as good.

It has been a long time since I have baked, and I am now just starting to get back into the swing of things. Although, currently David and I are living with our parents seeking out the "perfect" house.....for 5 years, I am still going to manage to bake.

Once we got back from Pittsburgh, I go the itch to bake. I decided with something maybe a little healthy...sorta. It has the word apple in it. I came across Paula Dean's Apple Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes. These were pretty easy to make and very delicious.

The low down:
(makes 24)
Cinnamon Roll:

• 2 c. 2% milk (I used skim)
• 1 tbsp active dry yeast
• 1/3 c. sugar
• 2 tsp salt
• 6.5 c. of flour, divided
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 c. unsalted butter, room temperature

Filling ingredients:

• 1/2 c. unsalted butter, melted
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 3 tbsp cinnamon
• 2 c. finely chopped apples
• 1 c. loose pecans (I didn't use these)

What to do:

1. In a small sauce pan, warm milk until 110 degrees
2. In a large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar into milk
3. Add salt and two cups of flour, beat for 2 minutes
4. Beat in eggs and butter
5. Stir in the remaining flour a half cup at a time, beating well after each addition
6. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes)
7. Place dough in large mixing bowl, cover with towel. Set in a warm place to let it rise for 40 minutes.
8. Roll out dough in a rectangular form about 1/4" thick
9. Brush with about 1/2 of the melted butter

Filling:

1. In medium sized bowl mix sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, pecans and apples.
2. Spread the mixture evenly over the dough leaving about an inch on each side
3. Roll dough over on itself (making a large log) haha
4. Slice into 24 even pieces
5. Line cupcake tins with liners and place each piece in the liner
6. Cover the tins with a towel set in a warm place and let it rise for 40 minutes
7. Preheat the oven to 350
8. Evenly distribute the remaining butter over the cupcakes
9. Bake for 20 minutes or until they are golden on top

 Some Pittsburgh photos

Planking......

 

Another long time

Wow. It has been a seriously long time since I have posted and baked. I need to get back with it.

An update on my life:
1. Back in Lansing. I know, wasn't gone for long. But, David got a new job at a great new architecture firm.
2. My birthday was recently. (woo hoo) and David got me a beautiful kitchen aid. I CAN'T WAIT TO USE THIS!
3. David and I are buying a house! This will be a great new adventure, and I can't wait to get some help from everyone on how to decorate it......once we find it.

So for now, I have found a few new recipes and I cannot wait to get them in the oven and try them out on everyone. I ALWAYS make way too much. So I love having my official taste testers at work.

Wine and Pie

For my mom's birthday I wanted to incorporate what I knew to be one of her favorite cookies, Oreo's. I also needed to find a recipe that is easy to transport because we were heading to Traverse City for the weekend! Picky Palate had just posted this great recipe, Oreo and Peanut Butter Layered Baby Lattice Pies, and I knew I had to make it. Mine did not turn out nearly as pretty nor as delicious I bet.

Number one, let me say, the tops of those pies were a lot harder to make than what you may think it is.

The Low Down:

• 2 refrigerated pie crusts
• 16 Oreo cookies
• 1 cup of creamy peanut butter
• 2 tbsp of melted butter
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar

What to do:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and spray 8 muffin tins.
2. Unroll both pie crusts and cut out 4-inch rounds. Press into muffin tins.
3. Spread 1 tbsp on peanut butter over each cookie and stack 2 together, place into pie crusts.
4. With the remaining dough cut long strips for the lattice tops. 
5. Brush tops with melted butter and sprinkle generously the sugar. Bake for 22-26 minutes (until golden brown)

The pies were alright, didn't have a lot of taste I thought. I probably won't make them again.

Below are a couple of pictures from Traverse City too, ENJOY!

Bowers Harbor Vineyards

Brix - official dog of vineyard

Dinner at Boathouse