Muffins and my new Cake Stand

I got a cake stand for my birthday and I just love it! Until today, I had only used it upside down as a fruit bowl, but I finally baked something that I can put on it and look pretty!

I made some muffins today to share with a neighbor on her birthday. I cheated and used a mix, but then made a vanilla glaze with a recipe from my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.

I think they turned out pretty, but I was really disappointed with the glaze. I guess I was picturing something more like a frosted glaze and this one ended up tasting and looking more like pancake syrup. But I gave some to the kids I teach art to and they loved them, so I guess it was still pretty good.

Note: I also had a chance to use my new silicone cupcake liners from my grandma. I think they are the coolest thing!

Nutella Crescents

Do you like the taste of deliciousness? Me too!

My sister shared this recipe with me and I finally got around to trying it. It is super easy and so yummy! It is fun to eat a dessert warm out of the oven! Sorry the picture is kind of lame, but I was in a hurry to eat them so I just took it real quick.

Basically, all you do is put Nutella onto some crescent rolls, wrap em up, bake as directed and...Voila! Total chocolate bliss!

Lemon Sweet Rolls

Like lemony sweet things? Me too, that's why this recipe hit the spot!

Lemon Sweet Rolls
2 C warm water
2 T yeast
2/3 C powdered milk
1 1/2 C sugar
2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C butter
1 egg
5-5 1/2 C flour
olive oil
zest and juice of 6 lemons
8 oz cream cheese
6 C powdered sugar

Whisk water and yeast and let sit 5 minutes.
Add dry milk, 1/2 C sugar and salt, mix.
Add 1/2 C soft butter, then eggs, mix.
Slowly add flour to make a soft dough. Knead until smooth and elastic.
Drizzle olive oil, place in a bowl and cover with a damp towel for an hour.
Divide into thirds and roll them out into rectangles.
Melt 1 C butter (you could use less), and spread on dough. Sprinkle zest and 1/2 C sugar.
Roll them together and cut like cinnamon rolls.
Allow them to rise another half hour in a warm place.
Bake at 375 for 16-18 minutes. While they are baking, beat cream cheese, lemon juice and powdered sugar. When the rolls are done, pour glaze on top and enjoy warm!

Awesome Shirt!

I NEED this shirt!!!

Chewy Granola Bars

I found this recipe on a calender and thought it would be fun to try. We enjoy granola bars around here, so this one would be fun to mix and match ingredients. I will have to try out different dried fruits, cereals and nuts. And perhaps a drizzle of chocolate...

Chewy Granola Bars
2 C crushed Chex cereal (I used cinnamon flavored Chex)
2 C dry oats
1/2 C raisins
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 C light corn syrup
1/2 C peanut butter (have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE peanut butter?)
1 tsp vanilla
Cooking spray

In a large bowl mix the cereal, oats and raisins. In a small sauce pan, mix brown sugar and corn syrup. Heat until boiling. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over cereal mixture and mix well. Press firmly into 9x13 pan that has been sprayed well with cooking spray. Cook and cut into 16 bars.

St. Patrick's Day-Sugar Cookie Sandwiches

I made sugar cookies this afternoon for Travis' potluck tomorrow. Since it is so close to St. Patrick's day, I decided to go festive. I hope people can tell they are little green clovers on them and not just some random green flower!

Of course I didn't throw out the centers, they are still yummy too!

They're magically delicious!

Flourless Chocolate Cake

Yummy! I ripped this recipe out of a magazine recently and made it this weekend. I didn't know what to expect because the process is different than other cakes I've made, but I knew it would be rich and moist and it was. I especially loved the crispy top and I actually dusted it with powdered sugar before I served it, but it didn't cut out very pretty so I didn't bother taking pictures of that.
Flourless Chocolate Cake
7 oz semisweet chocolate
3/4 C butter
1 C sugar
4 eggs, with yolks and whites separated

1. Preheat over to 300. Melt chocolate and butter in medium saucepan (doubler broiler would work best but I don't have one). Stir together half the sugar and the egg yolks, then add to melted chocolate and butter.

2. Beat egg whites and slowly add the other half of the sugar until stiff peaks form. Fold into chocolate mixture. Pour into greased 9 inch cake pan.

3. Bake 40 minutes (mine needed a bit longer), or until toothpick comes out with just a few crumbs on it. Cool 30 minutes at least, and dust with powdered sugar.