AWESOME Food Blog

The website ourbestbites.com is an AMAZING food blog written by two LDS moms both with a few kids. All of the recipes I have tried so far are REALLY yummy and easy. They also give tons of extra tips with their recipes so the meal turns out the best it can possibly be.

I am going to ask Brad for their new cookbook that just came out for Mother's Day. It can be found at Barnes and Noble for the cheapest price of $17. One thing that I love about their cookbook is that every single recipe has a picture! I think that makes things so much easier when trying to decide what to make for dinner :) Anyways, I love you all and hope you all have a wonderful Easter!

Mom, what's for dinner?

Does this question sound familiar? What do you do when it is about 4pm and you really don't want to cook dinner, don't know what to cook for dinner, or the kitchen is a disaster and you can't cook dinner because every dish you own is dirty? I know we have all had one or all of these dilemmas at some point. Whether it's two or ten people, food still has to be on the table. What do you do? Any thoughts, comments, ideas?

Brownie Crackles

Wow these are amazing! Super easy to make, a little messy (which makes them taste better), and the make your tummy feel oh so good!

Ingredients
1 package fudge brownie mix (13-in. x 9-inch pan size)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
Confectioners' sugar
Directions
In a large bowl, beat the brownie mix, flour, egg, water and oil
until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.

Place confectioners' sugar in a shallow dish. Drop dough by
tablespoonfuls into sugar; roll to coat. Place 2 in. apart on
greased baking sheets.

Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until set. Remove from pans to
wire racks to cool. Yield: 4-1/2 dozen.

Fall Inspiration: Pumpkin Swirl Brownies

Servings: 16

8 Tbsp. unsalted butter (1 stick) plus some for pan
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1 3/4 cups sugar
4 large eggs
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups solid-packed pumpkin
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped hazlenuts or other nuts

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch square baking pan or dish. Line bottom of pan with parchment paper; butter lining.
2. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth.
3. Whisk together flour, baking powder, cayenne, and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Put sugar, eggs, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until fluffy and well combined, 3 to 5 minutes. Beat in flour mixture.
4. Divide batter between two medium bowls (about 2 cups per bowl). Stir chocolate mixture into one bowl. In other bowl, stir in pumpkin, oil, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Transfer half of chocolate batter to prepared pan smoothing top with a rubber spatula. Top with half of pumpkin batter. Repeat to make one more chocolate layer and one more pumpkin layer. Work quickly so batters don't set.
5. With a small spatula or a table knife, gently swirl the two batters to create a marbled effect. Sprinkle with nuts.
6. Bake until set, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 16 squares.

These are so good! The perfect warm fall treat :) I did a test run of them the other day because I want to make them for a Halloween party. The recipe is from the Martha Stewart Living website...you should go there if you want some more fall inspiration.

Mom's Homemade Doughnuts

Prep. Time : 4 hours- with the raising
Serves: About 3 doz. doughnuts

-Place 1 pkg. of rapid rise yeast in 1/4 cup of warm water
with a pinch of flour or sugar --Let it rise until bubbly

-Warm 1 3/4 cups of milk to scalding(until it gets bubbly on the edges)
Cool slightly and add: 2 Tablespoons of oil
1 beaten egg
-Mix 4 cups of flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg

-Pour the bubbly yeast into the flour mix, and mix it together. Then add the just warm milk/egg/ oil liquid all at once. Knead well with a kneading hook with your mixer. By hand IS possible, but it will be VERY sticky. Knead for 4 minutes or so with the mixer. Cover and let it rise for 21/2 hours.

-When it has risen, it will be easier to handle with floured hands. It will be a very soft dough. Coat your rolling pin with flour. Roll it out on a floured surface, into a circle, and cut it into doughnuts with a jar lid ring, and cut the center out with another small cap( I used a water bottle cap). Deep fry the rings( and holes) in hot oil for about 2-3 minutes or until golden. Cool slightly on paper towels, and coat with cinnamon and sugar mix, or powdered sugar, or I like vanilla icing the best. If you put it on while they are still a little warm, it will make a glaze. Have someone to share them with, because this makes quite a few!!

* I made this recipe for Katie from an adapted scone recipe. To make the scones, just take out the nutmeg, and put in 2 T. sugar in instead of 1/2 cup.. Pull it off in snatches to fry, instead of making rings...the scones are great with freezer jam! The scone recipe would also make great Indian Fry Bread to top like a taco for Indian Tacos!

Blueberry Oat Pancakes

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 10


3/4 cup quick-cooking oats
3 Tbsp. orange juice
1 egg, lightly beaten
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp. unsweetened applesauce
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 cup bluberries

1. In a small bowl, combine 3/4 cup oats and orange juice. Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir in the egg, milk, sour cream, applesauce, and vanilla. Set aside.
2. Combine the flours, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Stir in wet ingredients just until moistened.
3. Pour batter by 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot griddle coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with blueberries. Turn when bubbles form on top. Cook until second side is golden brown.

The original recipe says to food process half off the oats, but I like the texture of just putting all of the oats in how they are. This recipe is super easy and is so tasty with only 3 Tbsp of sugar! It is my favorite new pancake recipe.

Welcome Fellow Cooks!

Hello Everyone!!

While I was in Georgia visiting with Katie and Mom it was decided that a recipe blog should be started! So here we go! I think this blog will be very useful to all of us as moms and wives since everyday we try to come up with delicious meals to feed our children and husbands! I don't know about you guys, but some days my creative cooking juices run pretty low. So, hopefully this will help all of us add to our archive of delicious recipes to make for our families!

Lately, I have been trying to find recipes that are quick, healthy, but still delicious. So, my first entry on the cooking blog will be my favorite healthy breakfast meal so check it out!