sharing recipes

I posted last about my Chocolate Peanut Butter cake with Cocoa Frosting but didn't share the recipe! So here it is:
1 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup milk
2 Tbsp shortening
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1/4 cup peanut butter

Mix in this order, slowly and just until mixed. Bake in a 350 oven in a greased pan (I used a bundt cake pan)for 30-35 minutes.

Cocoa Glaze
2 Tbsp butter
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3 Tbsp water
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cup powdered sugar (I put regular sugar in the coffee grinder and make it)

Over low heat, melt the butter. Stir in the cocoa and water. Cook, stirring constantly until thick. Do not boil. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating with a whisk until smooth and shiney. Add Additional water (1/2 tsp at a time) if neeeded. Spread glaze oover cake and put in the fridge to harden. It will be like frosting on a chocolate donut.

Also- and I SO wish I had a picture because these were so pretty-
Cinnamon and Green Apple Muffins
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 egg
3/4 milk
1/4 cooking oil
2 Finely cut up green apples
1 1/2 cup cinnamon chips

Add in order up to the apples/ Mix well and then fold in apples and chips. Put in greased muffin tins. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

Now I'm off to make Chicken echiladas for dinner and Rhubarb cake for tomorrow! Eat well, friends! xoxo

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake with Cocoa Glaze

I offered to make a cake for Andre's little birthday cookout; but, I couldn't go to the store and I didn't have much time. So I made this simple cake with just a few tweeks to make it fancy.

pictures from the garden

First garden bounty of 2011

My garden this year is exploding! I'm so glad to be groundhog free this year.

The first bit of produce (other than bunches of chives and basil) was this zucchini. And it was quickly turned into zucchini bread and muffins and also added to some veggie pasta salad.

I love summer!!

Blueberry Custard Pie

I am forever trying to make good, healthy food apprear out of empty cupboards and fridges. Sometimes amazing this occur. Sometimes the seed of something amazing occurs. That was tonight. The pie didn't turn out quite right but it gave me the idea for how to make it amazing.
I made a basic shortbread crust and pre-baked it.
Then I made a butter/flour roux and added 3 cups of water to it. Next time I think I need to use less water. And maybe even milk would be better. After it thickened into custard consistency, I added 1/2 cup of sugar. I think I should have added some vanilla here too. Then I added to the custard some mostly thawed blueberries, about 2 cups. I let this warm together off the heat and then added it into the crust. I baked this at 350 for 30 minutes and then let it cool for another 30 off the stovetop. I think it would have thickened better with the cup less of water. It was still good! But next time it will be even better.

Easy Peach Cobbler

I found a fruit cobbler recipe on Allrecipes.com that I tried today using the peaches my mom and I canned last summer.
You melt 1/2 cup butter and mix it in with the peaches and the syrup. Put that into a greased baking dish.
Then you mix 1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp baking powder, dash of salt and 1 cup sugar. Then stir in 1 cup milk. Pour that on top of the peaches.
Put it in a 400 over on the upper rack for 15 minutes until it starts to brown, then put it on the lower rack for 20 minutes to finish baking. Serve warm.

Banana Bread Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Cream Cheese Frosting

I was going to make these the other day but was thwarted by the stomach flu. I'm glad I waited though- the idea I had for the frosting was worth the wait!

I just used the basic Betty Crocker recipe for Banana Bread. To make these more like cupcakes, I use a little more banana and I add cinnamon. So they are softer and a bit more satisfying.

I wish I would have measured the ingredients for the frosting- but it was basically: 1 glob of shortening, an equal glob of butter and a bigger glob of cream cheese. I mixed this with a pinch of cinnamon, maybe a 1/4 of brown sugar and of white sugar. I beat it in the mixer for quite awhile, maybe 3-5 minutes, until it got very airy.
Oh My Goodness, it is so good. I licked out the bowl, licked the spoons, and ate the extra. I never ever do that!!