Showing posts with label baking

Happy Fall my friends! I simply adore this season for so many reasons. The crisp mornings, being able to turn off the AC and open up all the windows in my home to welcome in all that fresh air goodness, settling into a more home-centric routine, and of course- baking! I’ve already started my baking season off on the right foot by baking up a batch of tasty cast iron skillet butter-topped drop biscuits and I wanted to share the recipe with you. These were some of the easiest biscuits I’ve ever made.


Biscuit Goodness:



Cast iron skillet butter topped drop biscuits


It all started innocently enough on Friday evening. I entered a cool giveaway on Instagram for a wonderful craft prize bundle to celebrate March National Crafting Month. I entered and naturally shared the love with a couple of my crafty friends. One of these friends direct messaged me to ask what I’m going to create this month. Great question I said! Because, it seriously is a great question. I may make a new spring wreath, or new garden stakes and plant markers, or I could finally allow myself to set aside the time to learn a new craft like crewel embroidery like my Mom used to do. Or maybe I’ll make a simple pastel flower garland to brighten our hearth and welcome spring. The possibilities are truly endless thanks to all the fun classes available with Bluprint!


What will you create in National Crafting Month? #Bluprintaffiliate

Cinnamon Banana Bread Recipe

in , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, October 16, 2018
The temperatures are starting to fall here in middle Tennessee and I’m so ready for all things fall! This is a nesting season for me and lots of you I’m sure, which means I’ll be talking more about cleaning, cooking, decorating and baking! My oldest daughter was home for fall break this past weekend, and we had planned on baking pumpkin bread, so as I hurried through grocery shopping, I picked up a can of regular pumpkin. Or so I thought. Read on to see how this oops became a tasty recipe and a lot of fun!

Cinnamon Banana Bread:



Cinnamon Banana Bread recipe
Once I’ve served Thanksgiving leftovers at least twice, I feel comfortable turning my attention to all things Christmas and that means decorating and baking cookies! I love baking from scratch whenever I can, but sometimes this busy work at home Mom needs to streamline the baking process and that’s when I turn to Betty Crocker Cookie mixes. This week, I’m spreading holiday cheer with my Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies that started with a Betty Crocker mix. These cookies are so quick and delicious; nobody will believe they aren’t from scratch!


baking, holidays, cookie, season, peanut butter, toffee, cookies


I bake cookies often throughout the year, but at Christmas time, I’m baking like a boss all season long. I bake for family and friends, I bake for cookie swaps and teacher   appreciation days at my daughters’ schools and I bake cookies to give to my neighbors.

 It really is a simple and easy way to spread kindness and cheer at this special time of year. All you need is a Betty Crocker Cookie Mix, about an hour and a few Ziploc containers to put your cookies in.  I chose peanut butter because I knew it was a favorite ; but Betty Crocker has plenty of options like Sugar Cookies, Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate chip just to name a few.  Both the mixes and the Ziploc containers are on sale right now at Publix, so be sure to visit readysetsave.com to download your digital coupons. Be sure to check out all the fun holiday recipes there too! 



Here’s my quick and easy recipe for Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies. 

Simple ingredients to make Peanut Butter Toffee Cookies


Ingredients:


  • 1) 17.5 ounce Betty Crocker Peanut Butter Cookie Mix
  • 1) 8 ounce bag English toffee bits (found in baking aisle of most grocery stores)
  • 3) Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2) Tablespoons water
  • 1) Large egg


Directions:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. In large bowl mix oil, water and egg in Peanut Butter cookie batter until no longer grainy.
  • Gently fold in toffee bits.
  • Shape dough into 36 small balls or make drop cookies like I did by gently sliding off tablespoon size dough balls on to parchment paper.
  • Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes for regular size cookies or 9-11 minutes for large cookies.
  • Allow to cool.


If you are giving cookies as gifts like I am, while the cookies cool, it’s time to get your cookie container ready. I prefer using Ziploc containers because they are sturdy and reusable, which truly comes in handy this time of year! Sometimes,  I even receive my container back with a goody inside as thanks. 


Put baked cookies in a Ziploc container for sharing


I’ve found that a dozen cookies fit perfectly in the 1.25 quart size Ziploc containers. Sometimes you can get lucky and find the holiday containers, but if not, you can decorate your container as festively as you want. 


Label your cookies for gifting with a simple festive tag

Win it!


Thanks to my sponsor, Betty Crocker, one lucky reader will receive a $10.00 PayPal cash transfer so you can purchase some cookie mixes too! 


Terms: 

No purchase is necessary to enter using the Rafflecopter from below.  My WAHM Plan is  responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners will be notified by email used on entry form and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  This giveaway is not associated with nor endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, or any other social channel. You must have a PayPal email account to enter. 

Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway
Welcome to September readers! I know for most us in the United States it still feels like the dog days of summer; but I’m ready to jump back into my regular blog schedule now that the kids are back in school. With September comes a lot of prepping for fall fun and holidays, so it’s the perfect time for me to welcome back my weekly chore prompt.


This week’s chore is a pretty easy one in both time and effort, but be warned- you may get grossed out by what I’m about to show you. 

Are Your Spatulas really Clean?



You may think your spatulas are clean once you run them through the dishwasher, or hand- wash them, I know I did until recently when I was washing a spatula by hand and noticed I was able to pull the top from the handle.



Clean spatulas: My WAHM Plan




When I got it off, this is what I saw.





Dirty Spatulas: My WAHM Plan

Gross right?




Can you imagine cooking with that? No, of course you can’t and neither could I! I grabbed up all the spatulas I’d been using and started pulling the tops off. Some weren’t as bad as others, but none of them were spotless. Time to clean them!



How to deep Clean Spatulas:




Soaking spatulas in vinegar water to clean My WAHM Plan


  • Gather Spatulas
  • In large bowl or dishpan, mix one cup water and a half cup white vinegar
  • Pull tops off spatulas and place both dirty sections in water/vinegar solution
  • Soak for 30 minutes

  • Once they're done soaking, make sure the hole in the spatula top is clean as well. If running under warm water doesn’t dislodge remaining grime, take a bamboo skewer or butter knife, wrap a paper towel around the end and gently wipe around the hole until clean. Be careful not to stretch the hole or the handle may not stay secure.
  • Rinse both parts of spatulas again
  • Allow to air dry



Deep Clean Spatulas ready to use My WAHM Plan


Once your spatula parts are completely dry, reassemble and store as usual. Now you have deep clean spatulas just in time for fall baking and cooking. 



To keep your spatulas clean in the future, be sure to hand wash them after each use and take the top off to clean. If you don’t hand wash your spatulas, simply use my soaking method at least once a week and you’ll never have gross spatulas again.



Please share in comments: Is there an organizing/homemaking topic you’d like to see me cover here on the blog? Please let me know!
Thank you to Nestle Toll House for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to create delicious cookies with Nestlé Toll House Rolled & Ready Cookie Dough Sheets! All opinions and love of cookies are my own.


The winter thaw is happening slowly around our region and spring is just around the corner!  I was happy to welcome spring into my kitchen by trying out the new Nestle Toll House Spring Sugar Cookie Dough Sheets.  Whipping up a sweet spring treat has never been so easy, or delicious! 


walnut, sugar cookies, Nestle Toll House
Fresh from the oven Walnut Topped Sugar Cookies


I’ve been a fan of Nestle Toll House cookie dough’s for ages, so I was thrilled to see these  rolled and ready sugar cookie dough sheets on my last trip to the grocery store.





sugar cookies, easy, rolled dough, baking

They come with 2 sheets per pack, plenty to make a couple dozen sugar cookies in a hurry.  I usually make homemade sugar cookies, so having never used Nestle Toll House Spring Sugar Cookie Dough Sheets before; I headed to their website for inspiration.  I was not disappointed! 

There are so many delicious looking recipes there. You should check it out. I decided to put my own personal spin on their Pistachio Sugar cookie recipe by using chopped Walnuts instead since that’s what I had on hand. 

Folks- these cookies are so delicious and so simple to make. If you've got younger kids that are just starting out in the kitchen, this would be a great baking recipe for them! Anybody, even non- baking types, can whip these babies up in no time.


Here’s what you need. 



Ingredients:


Sugar cookies topped with chopped Walnuts

  • 1. Package (16 oz.) Nestlé Toll House Rolled & Ready Sugar Cookie Dough Sheets (found in the refrigerated section of grocery stores)
  • 1/3 Cup coarsely chopped Walnuts
  • 2 Tablespoons all- purpose flour (to flour cutting board)
  • 1 Tablespoon cooking oil (to grease cookie sheet) or line with parchment paper
  


Prep Time:  10 minutes  Cooking Time: 9-10 minutes


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place sheets on lightly floured cutting board.


Sugar cookie, dough sheet, cutting board,


Using a pizza cutter or pastry knife, cut cookie dough sheet into thirds lengthwise and then each third into 4 or 5 pieces. Don’t stress on precision cuts.  The cookies will look and taste fine.

Sprinkle each cookie with chopped Walnuts. 

Gently press into dough.

Sugar cookies with chopped Walnuts


Place each cookie piece 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet.


sugar cookies, topped with Walnuts, baking

Bake for 9 to 10 minutes.

Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes.

Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Enjoy!


I decided to serve these cookies paired with fresh fruit and a glass of milk to my girls for an after school snack and they were a huge hit! 

sugar cookies, after school snack, fresh fruit,
If you are ready for spring time and Easter baking, I invite you to visit the Nestle Toll House website and check out all their delicious looking recipes and dessert ideas. You are sure to be inspired by one or more of their tempting treats, just like I was.



Please share in comments: Do you have a favorite Nestle Toll House cookie dough or recipe?

Fall, One of the Happiest Seasons of All

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Monday, September 24, 2012

 
I simply adore this season for a host of reasons and I have passed on that love to my girls.

fall cooking baking fun
Courtesy Ms. T
 


The other morning it was a little chiller than normal and the front window was steamed up from our cat looking out. I hadn’t even noticed it as I got my oldest to the bus on time; but it was THE first thing my youngest noticed. She was so happy to see that steamed up window.  Why does that make you so happy I asked? Because she said “it means that baking season is here”! She is her mother’s daughter.
As if by some physic link my oldest texted my from the bus saying that the nice crisp morning made her think about my Apple Pie. Coincidence? I think not.
See it has been so ghastly hot this summer, here, there, everywhere! That I haven’t done much baking. I was loath to turn the oven on for the 2 minutes it takes to broil some sourdough crustini’s, but there was simply no way my family was doing without them.
We love fall here, not just for the baking, but for the cooking of favorite recipes and the seasonal activities- Fall Festivals, watching football games, going for nature walks on our property, driving down the Natchez Trace to look at the pretty leaves, raking up our own batch of pretty leaves, yard work and prep that is soothing in its traditions. Ever since my girls were little they have helped my ready our yard and porches for winter. This year will be no different. With one exception: they are bigger and filled with more stories and memories.
Fall is a busy, happy time here and I hope it is for you and yours. 
Do you love Fall as well? What is your favorite Fall activity? Share your love with us!



Blissfully Domestic

in , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Thursday, October 13, 2011



All week I been busy with all things domestic. And it has felt so good to be in the moment;
in the zone as the pros's call it'; where your hands are busy and your mind is free to ponder and review at a much slower pace.  Multi-tasking isn't an option and we all need the down time ladies ( and gent's if your are reading this post).



I thought I'd shake things up a bit and tell you what I have accomplished this week.



Monday- Laundry and lots of it. I had done some consignment sale shopping on Friday
and needed to launder all those finds, plus the normal loads from the weekend.

Question- Do you ever get done with your laundry where all baskets are empty?I don't and I'm just not going to beat myself up about it!

I started sorting our closets and rotating our wardrobes for fall.
I also ironed several fall pieces. I don't mind ironing one bit, I actually rather enjoy it.
It soothes, especially on a dreary day. It also calls to mind memories of my Mom and Grandma ironing 
in the kitchen, which is probably why I iron there as well, with my radio turned on low, just like them.

Question: Do you iron, and if so, do you enjoy the task?



Tuesday- The girls had the day off from school due to parent-teacher conference day. Both girls were sent home with forms indicating no conferences were needed unless I requested one, which I didn't because I am in contact with their teachers and both girls are doing great scholastically. Not boasting, just complementing them. 
We spent the day together, playing Mario, visiting the library and grabbing lunch. Oh and laughing, alot!


Ah, yes, this is why I do what I do.. for them and family.


 

Question: When was the last time you belly laughed with your kids, hubby or friends? Try it, you will look and feel better!



Wednesday- I baked! I finally got the- much requested- first of the season- Apple Pie done! I love making apple pies, or any kind of pie really, but there is something so delicious about Apple pies.
 The house smells heavenly for hours afterwards and my family could not wait for dessert. I almost hated moving on to the cupcakes I baked next fearing the smells would intermix and be icky sweet, but no; my daughters assured me that it still smelled awesome as they counted the cupcakes and agreed on how many
they would get after we sent in the dozen requested for Ms. T's class reward day. I also sorted my magazines for recycling and/or sharing.
I always keep my Better Homes and Gardens, which is my favorite magazine! My big magazine basket on the mantle is full, even with the culling of lesser magazines, so I think it's time for a new plan on what gets saved and what gets shared.


Question: What is your favorite magazine?



Thursday- Today I will be scrubbing bathrooms and floors. We have 3 full baths and I have to deep clean, it's part of my DNA handed down from the afore-mentioned Mom and Grandma, so I feel no guilt in placing clean bathrooms as my headliner for the day.
It's my least favorite task of all. I'd rather wash mini-blinds and windows! Which are on my radar.  The floor scrubbing I don't mind, but I do wish it wasn't raining so I could hang my rugs outside to dry.



 

Question: How do you rank cleaning baths on a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being love and 10 being hate?


Friday-  I'll take a stab at cleaning out the foyer closet. It looks like a mini-shoe store exploded in there. Now that we are in the midst of Indian summer, we have sandals, flip flops and slides vying for space with boots, Sperry's and sneakers. I have to push and shove to shut the door. A clear sign that I must take up this challenge! I won't even delve into the upper shelf where I store the hats, gloves and mittens, nope, I am picking my battles wisely so I'll have time to properly primp and arrive at my youngest daughters class fall party fresh as a daisy on time! ( which means 20 minutes early to help set up) and full of happiness!


Question:  Why must schools schedule all parties at the same time and in the afternoon when the kids are frazzled? We won't mention the adults here, that's got the makings of a great blog post later on.


So that's my week of domestic bliss, well almost bliss if I could do away with the bathrooms but that is highly unlikely isn't it?

I hope you'll take a minute to answer a question or two. Remember to laugh with your loved ones and pick one task and dive in!


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