Playing with Food

After the long weekend, I wanted to make something fun for the kids.  They got a kick out of this! I usually don't play with their food much.  I always marvel at the moms who can turn a grilled cheese sandwich into a fire breathing dragon.  But this seemed easy enough so I gave it a shot.  You could also use plain toast with a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar but I had the chocolate milk bread and sweet butter spread on hand.  Hope your kids fill your kitchen with giggles and oohs and aahs like mine did this morning!      

My version of teddy bear toast: Slice of chocolate milk bread (substitute chocolate milk for buttermilk: see recipe here), 3 slices banana, 3 dried cranberries, sweet butter spread (blend 1 stick soft unsalted butter, 1/4 c. powdered sugar, 1/4 c. honey, 1 tsp. ground cinnamon), optional extra banana slices for garnish.  I doubled the recipe since I have two kids.  Easy way to get them to eat a full breakfast instead of just a banana (like my kids eat) every morning.

Cuts Like a Knife!

The possibilities are endless with this kid friendly recipe.  You can use mashed sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, applesauce or pureed baby food of choice.  Lately, I've been substituting mashed avocado for the butter and using white whole wheat flour instead of all purpose flour.  Taking little steps can change the health benefits of any baked good, which is what I try to do when I know the kids will be eating these by the half dozen!     

I sometimes double the recipe and freeze a batch.  Otherwise I feel like I'm making these all the time!  Seriously though, I don't know what I'd do without this recipe.  We pack these biscuits on car trips, bring them on our way to preschool in the morning, or just have them as a snack after lunch and dinner with some butter.  They are so versatile and so yummy :)  

Sweet potato biscuits

¾ C mashed sweet potatoes

6 T butter, melted and cooled

¼ C brown sugar, packed

½ C milk or water

2 C flour

1 ½ t baking powder

In large bowl, combine sweet potatoes, butter and brown sugar.  Stir in milk and blend until smooth.  Sift dry ingredients together and add to sweet potato mixture.  Mix just until incorporated.  Use a small ice cream scooper (1 ½ inch) and make drop biscuits.  Place one inch apart on lightly greased baking sheets.  Bake at 400 degrees for 9 ½ minutes.  Makes about 30 small biscuits. 

No Muffin Top Here

Ahh, Sunday mornings and muffins seem to go hand-in-hand.  Actually, any morning and muffins sounds good!  I recently made these carrot muffins and my family devoured them.  Packed with vitamins, fiber and protein, they keep you full and satisfied. Bake these today and start the second half of the long weekend off right.

   

Looking Forward to Fall

This hot NC weather needs to go!  So today I made apple nut cake to welcome in the start of Fall, even though we have 3 more weeks of summer.  I changed the recipe which I never do when it's one handed down but I was low on eggs and wanted to cut out some of the fat and sugar.

Enjoy :)

Apple Nut Cake

Original version:

3 eggs

1 1/2 C sugar

1 C oil

2 C flour

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

2 t cinnamon

2 C diced apples

1 C chopped nuts

Mix ingredients until blended.  Then add apples and nuts.  Spread in greased 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

My version:

3/4 C applesauce

2/3 C sugar

1/2 C oil + 1/2 C applesauce

2 C flour

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

2 t cinnamon

2 C diced apples

1/2 C chopped nuts

Mix ingredients until blended.  Then add apples.  Spread in greased 13x9 pan and sprinkle nuts on 1/2 of cake.  Bake at 350 degrees for 31 minutes.

Cupcake Haven

My daughter's room is done in a cupcake theme.  I have loved the look of cupcakes and the idea of them for as long as I can remember.  But I didn't enjoy baking or frosting them.  This made me feel a bit hypocritical!  After using the boxed mixes (and loving the texture, by the way), I realized I had to find a homemade version that worked for me and here it is: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/vanilla-cupcakes-recipe2/index.html.  These are delicate, perfectly sweet, and they require only 1 stick of butter for the batter.  This is unheard of in the cupcake world!  You will not be disappointed with these gems.    

After finding this diamond in the ruff recipe, I was inspired to make a different cupcake every three months for the first year of my daughter's life.  Here are some of my creations:

cookies and cream cupcake

chocolate covered cherry cupcake

raspberry swirl cheesecake cupcake

peanut butter filled brownie cupcake

Constant Craving: Cake

Avocado Pound Cake

Hummingbird Cake

Orange Creamsicle Cake

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Cornmeal Cake

I am constantly craving cake.  That soft, fluffy texture that springs back when you bite into it is so comforting.  I've listed 5 recipes here.  I've made the first four recipes but have not made the fifth.  Doesn't it look gorgeous??  I am a huge fan of cornmeal too so I'm eager to try the last cake!  The avocado pound cake and hummingbird cakes are a bit heavier than the creamsicle and coffee cakes but all are equally delicious.  All depends what you're in the mood for: citrus notes (the first three have fruits involved) or coffee cake notes!  You choose :)