My Story in Recipes
  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect

Mexican Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2/27/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Whenever I'm on the hunt for a unique ingredient for a recipe - I almost always find it at World Market.  Let me be clear - I love World Market.  The problem is that I have never managed to leave the store with just that one ingredient.  Inevitably, I end up filling my basket with all kinds of World Market goodies.  They are the absolute best resource for creative fillers for almost any gift basket.  Darn your wonderfully unique inventory, World Market.  
Picture



When I decided to bake a batch of Mexican chocolate chip cookies, I knew that a trip to World Market was inevitable.  Of course, I found the perfect bar of Mexican chocolate for my recipe - and a few other goodies to boot.  Let's just say - I'm fully prepared for Easter now.  
Picture
Mexican Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 Tablespoons vanilla
1 Tablespoon dark rum
2 cups quick oats
1 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 ounces Mexican chocolate, chopped
​
Brown butter in saucepan.  
Beat together browned butter and sugar for 2 minutes.
Picture
Picture
Add eggs, vanilla and rum.  Beat 2 more minutes. 
Add dry ingredients and gently combine. 
Picture
Picture
Fold in chocolate. 
Drop by 1/4 cupfuls on silpat lined baking sheets. 
Picture
Picture
Bake 12-15 minutes at 350.  Cool 10 minutes on cooling racks. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Let me just say that I'm normally a chocolate chip cookie purist.  I don't like to tinker too much with my traditional chocolate chip cookie recipe, BUT - these Mexican chocolate chip cookies were pretty amazing.  The oatmeal and the cinnamon really took them out of the chocolate chip cookie category and put them into more of an oatmeal cookie category.  The fact that I gobbled up two cookies straight out of the oven ought to be proof enough that these were really tasty cookies.  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Hoping that your family loves these cookies as much as mine did.  And if your quest for Mexican chocolate happens to take you to World Market - consider yourself lucky.  

Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Baked Asparagus Fries

2/24/2018

5 Comments

 
Picture
You had me at FRIES  -- Am I right?  It doesn't even matter if you're not a fan of asparagus - if you're a fan of FRIES - this recipe is for you.  Swapping out a starchy potato with this deliciously green spring vegetable really makes these a healthy alternative to traditional french fries. 
Picture
Spring is the perfect time to give these Asparagus fries a try.  This is the season when supermarkets are stocking fresh spears of this sweet and snappy vegetable.  Pick some up on your next trip to the store and give these healthy FRIES a shot.  (Oh and this sauce is ridiculous so don't even think about skipping it.)  
Picture
Baked Asparagus Fries
1/2 cup sour cream
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 Tablespoon dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
​1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup + 3 Tablespoons flour
3 eggs
4 slices bread
1/2 pound asparagus, trimmed
cooking spray
​
Combine sour cream, lemon juice, mustard, salt and pepper.  
Place 1/4 c. flour in shallow bowl.  
Picture
Picture
Beat eggs in another bowl. Process bread until finely ground.  Add 1 t. salt, 1/2 t. pepper and 3 T. flour. ​
Run asparagus under cold water in colander.  
Picture
Picture
Toss wet asparagus in flour. 
Dip in egg. 
Picture
Picture
Transfer to bread crumb mixture.  
Place asparagus on greased foil lined baking sheet.  Spray lightly with cooking spray. 
Picture
Picture



Bake 8 minutes at 400.  


Picture
Picture
Picture


​
Serve with reserved sauce. 



Picture
I'm not sure whether it was because I wet the asparagus before dipping it in flour or because I made my own bread crumb mixture but this delicious coating really adhered to the asparagus much better than it had in my previous attempts.  I loved these "fries" so much that I gobbled up this entire batch of them for dinner.  Lucky for me - I'm the only asparagus eater in the house.  ;)

Ciao!
Click here for  printable version of this recipe
5 Comments

Banana Avocado Muffins

2/21/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Remember when coconut oil was all the rage as the new healthy fat?  Well, coconut oil is out and it's being replaced with the avocado.  You read that right - the avocado has found it's way to the forefront of the cooking world. 

Avocados are being used in place of butter and oil in all kinds of recipes.  I've seen recipes for cupcakes, breads, cookies, muffins, chocolate mousse, ice cream and pasta sauces that all make use of this nutrient dense fruit.  

I just want to go on record as saying that I'm a huge avocado lover and I am totally on board with this new trend of substituting the good fats found in avocado for less healthy saturated fats in recipes.  
Picture
This particular recipe caught my eye because I just happened to have 2 over ripe bananas and an avocado on my counter that needed to be used up.  But  be warned - this is certainly one of MANY more avocado experiments to come.  Did I mention how much I am loving this new avocado trend?
Picture
Banana Avocado Muffins
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 ripe bananas
  • 1 creamy ripe avocado
  • ​2 eggs beaten
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup freshly ground flax seed meal

Combine flours, salt and baking soda.

​Mash together bananas and avocado.
Picture
Picture
Stir in eggs, sugar, water, walnuts and flax. 
Stir in dry ingredients until just moistened. 
Picture
Picture
Divide batter between 12 greased muffin cups.
Sprinkle a teaspoon of rolled oats on top of each muffin. 
Picture
Picture
Bake 15-20 minutes at 350.  
Picture
Picture
Is it wrong that as soon as these tasty little treats went into the oven, I started to imagine what other variations I could make?  What would happen if I added some shredded coconut, rolled oats, golden raisins or even chocolate chips?  
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
These muffins were SUPER yummy and it didn't bother me in the least that they had the slightest hint of green to them.  I ate 2 for dinner and put the rest in the refrigerator to eat with my breakfast this week.  I'm guessing they wont last through the weekend though.  Lucky for me, I've got 2 more avocados ripening on the counter and ready to be transformed into something amazing.  

Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Berry Granola Pancakes

2/19/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
I've had this recipe for Berry Granola Pancakes in my blog que for a really long time.  Every weekend, I had the best of intentions of getting up and making these delicious pancakes but we've been so busy lately that I never took the time to make them and the recipe just sat there patiently waiting for me to pull it out. 
Picture
A recipe this special deserves to be savored during a long, lingering weekend brunch and not just devoured as we run out the door.  (Now you see my problem with finding a good day to make them.)  I finally resolved to forgo the brunch idea and make them for weekend lunch - I just couldn't hold out for a quiet weekend morning any longer.  ​
Picture
Berry Granola Pancakes
2 cups whole wheat flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1/3 cup applesauce
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup granola 
1 cup fresh berries
​
Whisk together flour, sugar baking powder and salt.  
Whisk together eggs, milk applesauce, oil and vanilla.
Picture
Picture
Add wet ingredients to dry.
Fold in granola.
Picture
Picture
Heat griddle and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto hot griddle. Cook until bubbles form on top.  Flip.  Cook until second side is golden.  Serve with extra granola and fresh berries. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Serve with syrup.
Picture
Picture
I have to admit that I was a bit surprised that my family liked these pancakes as much as they did.  They are pancake purists and they really don't like when I mess with their proven pancake formula.  I was pleasantly surprised to see them gobble up these pancakes in no time.  Maybe there's hope for them after all.  ;) 

Ciao!
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
0 Comments

Roasted Shrimp and Broccolini

2/15/2018

2 Comments

 
Picture
I've seen a lot of "sheet pan recipes" lately and I've got to say - I'm a fan of the pan.  Putting all of my ingredients on one pan and having a single pan to clean up at the end of a meal - win, win.  So feel free to send me all of your sheet pan recipes - I want to try them all.  
Picture
Roasted shrimp and broccolini is one of my favorite go-to meals and this homemade lemon pepper oil really took my recipe to the next level.  I pulled my shrimp directly out of my freezer and we were sitting down at the table and enjoying this meal in under 20 minutes - AND I only had 1 pan to clean!  
Picture
Roasted Shrimp and Broccolini
4 lemons
1/3 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons fresh peppercorns, crushed
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
2 bunches fresh broccolini
2 pounds peeled shrimp
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/3 chopped walnuts
​
Zest 2 lemons and add to saucepan with oil, peppercorns and garlic.  Heat until oil is hot. 
Line sheet pan with foil.  Place broccolini on one half.  Drizzle with 2 teaspoons lemon oil. 
Picture
Picture
Roast 5 minutes at 425.  Pat dry with paper towels.  
Place shrimp on pan and toss with 2 t. lemon oil and sprinkle with 1/2 t. salt. 
Picture
Picture
Cut 2 lemons in half and place on pan.  Bake 8-10 minutes until shrimp is firm.
Whisk together remaining lemon oil , 1 T. lemon juice, mustard and 1/2 t. salt. 
Picture
Picture
Drizzle sauce over broccolini and sprinkle with walnuts. 
Picture
I roasted more shrimp that I thought we would eat for dinner because I wanted to save some to put on a salad  for my lunch the next day.  Oh well - I had good intentions.  Unfortunately, I also had a giant appetite for shrimp that night.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
I had some leftover couscous in my refrigerator and that was the perfect compliment to this yummy meal.  
Picture
I'm going through some serious sugar detox after our Valentine's Day extravaganza so this recipe is right up my alley today.  This meal was so easy to make, easy to clean up and it was DELICIOUS. 

​Ciao! 
Click here for a printable version of this recipe
2 Comments
<<Previous
    Like my page on facebook.

    Follow me on Instagram


    Follow Me on Pinterest

    Categories

    All
    30 Minute Meals
    30-minute-meals
    Big Green Egg Recipes
    Chocolate
    Christmas Classics
    Comfort Foods
    Crock Pot Meals
    Fall Favorites
    Healthy Choices
    My Favorites
    Springtime Treats
    St Patrick's Day Goodies
    Summertime Specialties
    Thanksgiving Classics
    Valentine Treats
    Vegetarian
    Winter Warm Ups

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011

  • Recipe Index
  • Blog Posts
  • My Story
  • Connect