Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread

Make up a few loafs of this delicious bread, and your kitchen will smell like heavenly fall!  A nice treat during a cool fall or cold winter day.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups white sugar
• 3/4 Cup of plain greek yogurt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups grated zucchini
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon orange zest

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 2 9x5 loaf pans

Sift together, into a medium bowl, flour, baking powder, salt, spices and baking soda. *If you don't have a sifter, you can use your wire whisk to stir these ingredients works the same.

In a large bowl beat the eggs until light and fluffy.  Add sugar and continue beating until well blended.  Stir in oil, vanilla extract, zucchini, chocolate chips and orange zest.  Stir into sifted ingredients.  Mix well. Pour into loaf pans, about half to three quarters of the way full.  Bake 50 min or until top is springy to touch, and toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.  

Hiatus over!!

It's been a long looong time since my last post....our last laptop, and my one and only way to blog, met it's end....at the hands of a crafty/destructive 18 month old. The old girl just couldn't withstand the damage done by being flipped off a high cabinet onto the floor....oopsy! However, due to the generosity of some great friends I am back in business!

Raspberry Lemon Muffins

Boy another month got past me without posts, life gets busy you know?? In the meantime photos and recipes stack up and aren't getting posted...My goal, as of right now, is to get two or three posts ahead and schedule them a week apart so I'll have a few posts ahead.... :)  I've missed you guys out there!!  Oh, isn't the black and white plate awesome??? It's my MIL's, we found it in this great little kitchen store in Farmington called Mixed Up, I can no longer go to said store because, I spend wayyy to much money there! 

These delightful muffins are fresh and light.  I've replaced the oil that the original recipe uses for Greek yogurt which allows for moist, scrumptious muffins.  If you have frozen berries in your freezer, this is a great way to use them up!  The lemon really jazzes this recipe and compliments the raspberry well.

Raspberry Lemon Muffins

3/4 Cup plain greek yogurt
1 T lemon juice
2 egg whites
1 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
3/4 Cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1 - 2 cups of frozen raspberries

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a 12 cup muffin tin, or line with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the yogurt, lemon juice, egg whites. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, 3/4 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and mix until just blended. Gently stir in the frozen raspberries. Spoon batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups..
3. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the top springs back when lightly touched. Cool muffins in the tin on a wire rack.

Rosemary Mint Fabric Softener

While perusing Pinterest one day I came across a recipe that caught my eye.  It is called "Rebecca's Rosemary Mint Fabric Softener" And it seemed to be very budget friendly.  I thought, well, what do I have to lose?  I'll try it. 

These are the only ingredients you need, storage not included.  I did buy the wrong size conditioner but it is fine. 

Now I have to say that I normally don't even use fabric softener so I'm not sure why I thought I needed to make some, that said, I really like it.  In the summer I hang a lot of our clothes out on the line and they are softer when they come in, must work then right???  Here is what you need.

6 Cups water
3 Cups White Vinegar
2 Cups Suave Rosemary Mint Conditioner

Mix together in a 1 gallon container, Stir or whisk lightly but don't shake as you'll get a foamy mess.

To use, dump about 1/4 cup (the amount normally required) into the washer.  Or you can spritz a washcloth until it's pretty wet, let it dry and then use that in your dryer as a dryer sheet, you can probably get 3-4 loads before re-spritzing.

This is my yield. I'm set for fabric softener for awhile!

 

Garlic Knots

 Garlic Knots.  A really great compliment to a hearty, garden bounty salad, to a pan of homemade lasagna, spaghetti or even just for a snack.  I use this fairly basic dough recipe:
Ingredients:
For the dough:
3 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp. instant yeast
1¼ tsp. salt
2 tbsp. olive oil
¼ cup milk
1 cup plus 2 tbsp. lukewarm water
 Glaze:
3T melted butter
2 cloves minced garlic
1 t italian seasoning mix
1T grated Parmesan Cheese 


First combine the yeast and the water.  Set aside to let that yeast bloom. Then using a stand mixer, mix all dry ingredients.  Slowly add the olive oil, milk and yeast/water.  Mix until a smooth ball of dough forms.  You want it to be smooth and elastic.  Roll the dough into a lightly oiled bowl and set aside in a warm, draft free place to let rise, about 1 hr. 

Once your dough has doubled in size your are going to divide it into about 10 equal pieces.  You will roll each piece into a snake about 6 inches long.  Then take your 'snake' and tie it into a knot and tuck the ends under.  There is a pretty good picture tutorial for making the knots, along with recipe, here.  Once you have your knots made, place them on a cookie sheet (lined with parchment paper) or baking stone to rise again, about 45 minutes. Pre heat the oven to 350.  To make the glaze, melt the butter and add the garlic, parmesan cheese and italian seasoning.  Brush over rolls.  Place in oven and bake for about 16 minutes, you want them to golden brown.

BBQ Chicken Ranch Wrap and Salt and Vinegar baby potatoes

Ever just want something that is sort of light and quick for dinner? Every night right?  This sandwich should fit the bill!  This is a create it at home recipe that I made up based on a wrap you can get at your local "golden arches" fast food place.  Super easy and a great option when you are short on time, especially if you have left over BBQ chicken already waiting to be re purposed in your refrigerator.

Ingredients:
1-2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast,
lettuce
shredded cheddar cheese
homemade ranch dressing, or bottled if that is what you do :)
corn tortilla wraps

Preperation:
If you already have leftover chicken that has been grilled with BBQ sauce, great use it up! If not and you don't feel like throwing some chicken on the grill for dinner, you can always slice the chicken in to thin strips and cook them on the stove top, just cook them until they are pretty much done, thrown on some BBQ sauce and let simmer for about 15 minutes.  Just make sure your chicken is done!!

Once you have your cooked chicken it's time to assemble the wraps.  Lay out a wrap, spread a little ranch dressing on it, cover with lettuce, cheese and chicken. fold the sides in first and then roll! Voila! Dinner!  
**Obviously feel free to assemble them anyway you choose :)

Salt and Vinegar Broiled Potatoes:
While browsing on Pinterest one day I saw a picture for a pin that made my mouth water.   Salt and Vinegar Broiled Potatoes. YUM

Salt and Vinegar Broiled Baby Potatoes

-serves 4-
Ingredients
1 pound fingerling potatoes, sliced lengthwise to 1/4-inch thickness*
2 cups white or malt vinegar
Extra virgin olive oil
Kosher Salt
Pepper
Directions:

1. In a small pot, combine the potato slices and vinegar. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until fork-tender, about 8 minutes. Let cool in liquid for 30 minutes. Then drain well and pat potatoes dry with paper towels. **It's pretty important not to over cook this taters...they fall apart and it's just sad.

2. Preheat the broiler with a rack about 6 inches below the heat source. Place the potato slices onto a sheet pan, sprinkle very generously with olive oil, salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Arrange the potato slices in a single layer. Broil until lightly browned on top, about 7 minutes. Then flip the slices and broil until the underside is lightly browned, about 5 minutes more. Serve warm.

Shredded chicken caesar sandwiches

I really wish  that this picture did this sandwich justice.  I'm not kidding.  This was a very easy, very tasty sandwich, and you, yes YOU, need to make it...tonight! :) Pushy aren't I?  

Each Thursday we are blessed to be able to have a family dinner, it's crowded and noisy and crazy, and fun!  We rotate houses each week, the person who is hosting provides the main dish and the others fill in with either salad, appetizer, bread, or dessert, however it works out.  

On day I was trolling through my favorite blogs looking for something a little different to make for dinner on Thursday and I came across the recipe for Crockpot Chicken Ceasar Salad Sandwiches. At Crumbs and Chaos.  The recipe is easy, the flavor, fabulous and in general it was a major hit.  I really think you should try it, it's wonderful. 

Ingredients:

2 pounds boneless, skinless, chicken breasts

1 packet of Swanson Chicken Flavor Boost (optional)

1 full bottle of Ceasar dressing, I used Newmans Own, light

1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese

1/4 cup fresh parsley

2 Cups shredded romaine lettuce

4-6 hamburger buns

Directions:

Place the chicken in crockpot with 1-2 cups of water, and one packet of the chicken flavor boost, and a little salt and pepper, maybe a 1/4 t each.  cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours.

When the Chicken is done, remove from the crockpot with a slotted spoon and drain water from crockpot. Shred the chicken.  If you have a Kitchenaid, use it! The Paddle attachment shreds meat perfectly! Discard any fat.

Place chicken back into crockpot and add dressing, cheese, and pepper. Stir untilo mixed evenly.  cover and cook on high heat for 30 minutes or until mixure is hot.  Add parsley, stir.  Spoon mixture onto bun and top with lettuce.

This would be great in wraps as well.

Just so you know, I stopped midway through this post and put some chicken in to cook cause this is what we are having for dinner tonight!!! Maybe I'll even get a better picture!!!  Enjoy loves!

By the way, this delicious treasure is what Theresa brought for desert.  I believe she bought the chocolate cake, topped it with whipped cream, fresh strawberries and some kind of honeyed nut.  It was wonderful!