V is for Valentine's Day cookies

Welcome to day 22- the letter V!  I am sharing my kids' Valentine's Day cookies!

1 cup butter softened
2 tsp. baking powder
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. vanilla (I usually put a little bit more)  :-)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Add baking powder and flour (one cup at a time) mixing after addition. The dough will be very stiff, blend last flour in by hand. Do not chill dough. Divide dough into two balls. On a floured surface, roll each ball in a circle approximately twelve inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Dip cutters in flour before each use. Bake cookies on cookie sheet on top rack of oven for six to seven minutes, or until cookies are lightly browned.

Hope you enjoy!  They can be made into any shape you like!  :-)

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U is for Uber-easy Taco Seasoning

Welcome to Day 21-- almost all the way there!  For the letter U, I have my Uber-easy Taco seasoning.

This is simple, yet SO much healthier than the store bought varieties with MSG and other chemical additives. And it tastes great, too!  :-)


Taco Seasoning
1/2 cup chili powder
1/4 cup onion powder
1/8 cup ground cumin
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon sea salt

Put ingredients in a small mason jar and shake well.  4 tablespoons equal one packet of the store bought variety.  After you brown and drain your beef, add the seasoning and 3/4 cup of water.  Stir well.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for 5 minutes.

Enjoy your tacos!

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T is for Triple Chocolate Cookies

Welcome to Day #20, the letter T.  T is for *T*riple Chocolate Cookies!

Ingedients:

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt (I omitted)
2 1/2 cups almond flour (I used Trader Joe's 'Just Almond Meal')
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup mini white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 375 degress Fahrenheit.
Sift cocoa powder into a medium bowl.  Stir in almond flour using a wire whisk.  Cream butter and sugar until very light.  Add egg and vanilla and beat until incorporated.  Add salt and baking soda and mix well. Mix in cocoa and almond flour mixture.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Place a teaspoon full of batter at a time on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until puffed and cracked.  Allow to cool on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy!  They were SO good!  :-)

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My Week in Review #57

It is that time of the week again-- to share all about your week!  We can't wait to read all about your adventures.  :-)

An InLinkz Link-up

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*S*nickerdoodles

Welcome to day 19 of the A to Z blogging challenge.  We are almost all the way there!  :-)

3 years ago, when Kiddo #4 was only 9, she baked the most delicious batch of *S*nickerdoodles.  I am sharing her recipe below.  Looking at the photos, I cannot believe how big she has gotten.

3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided
2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg
1 cup cinnamon baking chips (optional)
1 cup raisins (optional)  (Kiddo #4 didn't use either of the optional ingredients)

Preheat the oven to 400 F.  Stir together 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl.  Combine the flour, remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon, cream of tartar and baking soda in a medium sized bowl.  Mix in the remaining 3/4 cup sugar and butter in a large bowl until creamy.  beat in the egg.  Gradually add the flour mixture until a stiff dough forms.  Stir in the cinnamon chips and raisins, if desired.

Roll the dough into 1 inch balls.  Roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar mixture until they are coated.

Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 10 minutes or just until the cookies are firm in the center. (for our oven, it was more like 8-9 minutes)  Transfer the cookies to wire racks to cool completely.

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R is for Raisinets Cookies

We have made it to Day #18!  Woohoo!  :-)

Here is an oldie but goodie in the Home to 4 Kiddos.  Kiddo #4 found this recipe on the back of a Raisinets box.  They are indeed as good as they sound and look.

Deluxe Oatmeal Raisinets Cookies
1 1/4 cups white whole-wheat or all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 1/2 cups Raisinets
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)- Kiddo didn't use these

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a small bowl.  Beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. 

Can't believe how much she has changed in 3 years!  :-)

Beat in eggs; gradually beat in flour mixture.  Stir in oats, Raisinets and nuts.  Drop by rounded tablespoon onto baking sheets. 

Bake for 9-11 minutes.

Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

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Q is for *Q*uick Bread

Wow, we have made it to Day 17 and the the letter Q!  :-)

Sharing our favorite *Q*uick Bread recipe with you today.

Apple Cinnamon Bread

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup oil

2 eggs

1/3 cup milk

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 cup grated apples

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease bread loaf pan.  Peel and grate apples.

In a small mixing bowl, add sugar.  Next, sift your flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices together.  Stir.  Make a well inside your dry ingredients and pour the liquid into the center.  Add your apple mixture.  Pour the batter into your greased bread pan.  Bake for 55 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.  Enjoy!

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