I work too hard...

Not really.
So I know in my first post I sort or explained what this blog was going to be about, and if you read that you re probably confused because it's not at all what I said it would be...
Well there are a few reason for that,
The first being things and people change, and well that's just life
the second is that my interests cooking/ baking wise have changed
And last but probably biggest reason is that my life is very different than it was a year or so ago when I started this blog.
I am no longer living in a basement with my cat and a mixer, I live with 3 boys (well 4 if you include the cat), I work till 8pm every night and when I come home have to worry about sustainable dinners and not just cupcakes (as much as I would like to live off cupcakes it's just not practical and well Joe wont let me), so a few big life changes turned into a new blog with a little different subject matter.
But my dears no need to worry!
Baking is still my first love and I promise I will be doing more of it and writing more about it.
Whoopee pies, Rory's Gory birthday treat, Gift Baskets, Holiday candy and cookies are all things to look forward to!

That being said, I am going to post a quick dinner menu.
This is a super easy had a long day feeling lazy (by my standards) healthy dinner.

Grilled chicken sandwiches, and/or grilled tofu sandwiches
with roasted veggies!

The boys won't eat tofu, but I like it and I feel I have been eating way too much meat lately so...

For the chicken sandwiches:
1 chicken breast per-person (I guess that depends on how many sandwiches each person is having but since all my boys have been complaining about the recent weight gain I am only making one per-person). You want to trim all of the fat of the chicken and while you are doing that stab a few holes in the chicken, so the marinade soaks in, then trow the chicken in a baggy with Italian dressing put them in the fridge for 20 or so minutes, and make your roasted veggies.
(...crazy time lapse...)
Take out your chicken and grill it on the Foreman grill (if you don't have one you should! or you can use a normal grill). I like to use rolls from the Shaw's bakery, that have sesame seeds on them, and place them in the Foreman for a few minutes or so to warm them. To assemble the sandwiches (you can do whatever you want but if you bothered to read all this, my way is perfect sooo...) Put your grilled roll on a place smear a little spicy mustard on each side, place the chicken on one side cover it with a slice of cheddar cheese, and top it off with mixed greens and sliced tomato, scoop some of your roasted veggies on the plate and you're done, unless you're me and then it's never done, because there is a days worth of dishes to do! Sigh!

Roasted Veggies:

I am going to use zucchini, summer squash, beets, green beans, green pepper and a few red potatoes (because I need to use up whats sitting in the fridge). Wash all the veggies, cut the squash, zucchini, beets, and potatoes. Boil the potatoes for a few minutes to cook them, the beets too or used canned. Then put everything in a deep baking dish, pour some Italian dressing mix them so everything is covered, cover in tin foil and bake at 350-400, till you can easily stick a fork through them.

Tofu sandwich:

So I do the tofu just like the chicken, except for the fat trimming. So drain the tofu, put it in a baggie with Italian dressing and refrigerate, grill it on the Foreman and build the sandwich the same as the chicken one (except with the tofu not the chicken..duh).

It's not something sweet but it is something yummy!

enjoy&junk
kj

It's been so long!

I'm a slacker...
Well not completely
Ya' see I normally do this at night at work when I have nothing to do,
but I have actually had tons of work to do, due to lots of crazy things.
But I am back now
so it's all good!

So today I am going to write about one of the most simple yet wonderful things ever!
(and some ways to jazz it up)
SHORTBREAD!
or more specifically:
Scottish Shortbread

(I LOVE PLAID)


So it's best to make this wearing plaid!
And listening to Joanna Newsom
(not relevant at all but so good)
and drinking...
Whiskey...duh!

So let's get started!
This is the easiest thing ever to make!

you'll need:
1 and 1/2 sticks of butter softened
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 and 1/2 cups flour
easy easy right!

Basically pre-heat your oven to 300. throw everything into your mixer until it moist crumbs...yes crumbs!
Then, in a greased pie pan (I like the pie pan best) or 8x8 baking dish pat the dough it should be no more than 1 inch thick, make patterns in the top with a fork or with a cookie cutter (press the cookie cutter lightly into the top, don't push all the way down just enough to make an imprint)
Then bake! For about 40-50 minutes (the edges should be light brown, and the middle soft to the touch but not doughy), cut into wedges or bars and TA-DA!
So easy right!

Now a few ways to jazz it up!

There is the very basic sprinkling cinnamon sugar over the top, very basic but totally yummy.

Chocolate dipped shortbread its a totally fantastic treat, it looks fancy and is easy:
I like to use dark chocolate, but you can use milk if you'd rather, I would not recommend white!
Double boil the chocolate to melt it, then take your wedges or bars and dip then into the chocolate, use a butter knife to wipe the extra chocolate off the bottom, then place the pieces spread out on a baking sheet cover with parchment paper, and refrigerate until the chocolate is hardened. Serve on a plate with orange wedges and strawberries, perfect for tea time!

Honey almond shortbread is another perfect tea time treat, perfect for days like today, that are gloomy and rainy, with Earl gray tea and oranges!
So all you need to do for this is, about 5 minutes before your short bread is done baking pull it out drizzle it with honey and sprinkle with almond slivers, continue baking 5 or so minutes, let it cool a bit cut and serve!

2 more...

Warm whiskey sauce is a great way to fancy anything up! it involves a little effort but it's worth it, so you'll need:
4 tbs butter softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg beaten
2 tbs whiskey (or a little more and I like Bourbon whiskey best...but it is sweet.)
Cream the butter and sugar together, blend in the egg, then double boil the mixture over gently boiling water, still until it thickens. Remove from heat then stir in the whiskey.
Spoon the warm sauce over your shortbread and serve!

And last but not least

Shortbread with warm berry sauce almode! So remember the blueberry dunking sauce we used for the Brunch?! No well here's the link because I am not retyping it! HA!
Sauce
Just whip up some of that, (I like to have some on hand in the fridge). Put 2 scoops of ice cream in a bowl (french vanilla is awesome!) add 2 slices of short bread (artfully arranged) and then spoon the sauce on top, and enjoy!!

so that's all for today
Thanks&junk
kj.

Random ramblings & JUNK

Yeah so this is the and junk part...
I had to cover for the morning person at work today so I was up at SIX-O-FREAKIN-CLOCK-AM!
Gross!
And I will be out of work early and that rocks but I am so bored none of the blogs I read are updated yet...booo!
I want to start fashion bloggin' maybe
thought?
(I mean would the six of you who read this read my fashion blog?...too much me?)


ANY WHOS,
I am going to attempt to make chili tonight...so tomorrow I will have something to write about and it will not be as boring as this promise!


okay
mornings&junk
kj

Fall, falling in love!

My most favorite time of year is finally here!
FALL
Things I love about fall:
Warm hard cider
pumpkins
hats
scarves
light coats
chilly mornings
leaves
pumpkin spice lattes
Topsfeild fair
Halloween
Tanks gibbins (Thanks Giving)
boot shopping
pie, pie, and more pies!
hot coffee, tea and me
and
last but not least,
APPLE PICKING!
(I haven't been apple picking yet, because no one loves me enough to take me)
(Buuuut my lovely sister Holly has, so this post is for her!)

The Apple Post!

Cinnamon vanilla apple cupcakes with cinnamon whipped cream!

For the cake
2 sticks unsalted butter softened
2 cups sugar (plus 1 tsp for apple mix)
4 large eggs
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon (plus 1/2 tsp for apple mix)
1 cup milk
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup apple peeled and finely diced

Here we go, pre-heat your oven to 350 and set up your cupcake pan with liners. In a small bowl mix apples with 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1tsp sugar, until they are coated, set aside. In another small bowl sift together flour, cinnamon, and baking powder, set aside. In a mixer cream butter and sugar, turn the mixer to low add one egg at a time, when the eggs are all mixed add the vanilla, then with the mixer on low alternately add the flour mixture and milk. When its all mixed add your apples then fill the cupcake cups 3/4 of the way and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove form oven and let cool completely before topping with whipped cream.

For the whipped cream, Use the recipe from "I hate my roommate cupcakes" and just add 1 tsp cinnamon! TA-DA! Way easier than pie!

And now for OOOY-GOOY Carmel apple cupcakes!

For the cake
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tbs vanilla
2 large eggs
1/4 cup milk
1 3/4 cup flour
1 tbs baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 medium sized apples cored, peeled, and chopped.

Okay, pre-heat the oven to 350, and line your cupcake pan. Beat sugar, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in your mixer, then add the eggs one at a time. Then mix in milk, flour, baking powder, and salt until blended, then add your apples. Fill the cups 3/4 of the way full and bake for 30-35 minutes. When those are baking make the caramel topping.

For your topping:
1/2 light brown sugar packed
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla

Heat sugar, butter and cream in a sauce pan over medium heat, bring to a boil. Then you want to reduce the heat to a simmer, simmer for 5 minutes stirring constantly remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla, wail the cupcakes and caramel are still warm, pour topping over the cupcake and maybe a little scoop of vanilla ice cream, and eat...so so good!


There will be more apple recipes to come I am sure but that's all for now.
(I hope that's helps you get rid of some apples Holly)

crisp&junk
kj

OH! P.S.
Another amazing thing about fall...PUMPKIN BEER!

and
Fantastic!